January 2008

SO MUCH TO DO, SO MUCH TO SEE
IN MELBOURNE AND VICTORIA

NEW HOT SPOTS

Secret Society is not a secret anymore
Ascend the stairs, above the bustle of the dining room at Secret Society, to one of Melbourne's most stylishly adorned secret rooms. Enjoy a cocktail overlooking the plane trees of Bourke Street or head to the New York style smoking loft. Next to Secret Society is High Society, a glamorous cocktail bar that has to be seen to be believed.
Secret Society, 23 Bourke St, Melbourne Tel: +61 3 9639 2544

Step back in time at La Di Da
A cool, civilised disco-pub that’s a futuristic fusion of olde worlde glamour with 1970s disco. Sip a cocktail on a Chesterfield lounge or bop away in the dining room which has disco lighting and chequered floors. A range of tasty tapas is served by waiters wearing braces and bowler hats. La Di Da is open for lunch Monday to Wednesday and for late-night festivities from Thursday to Saturday.
La Di Da, 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne Tel: +61 3 9670 7680 Web: www.ladididapeople.com

Four levels inspired by Asia
Seamstress restaurant and bar is located in a heritage-listed four-storey building in Lonsdale Street that once housed an undergarment manufacturer, guilders, and also a sweatshop in the 1930s. This contemporary Asian-inspired locale comprises a welcoming basement bar, ground level kitchen and courtyard area, a stunning first floor dining room and impressive top floor cocktail bar.
Seamstress, 113 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Tel: +61 3 9663 6363 Web: www.seamstress.com.au

Victoria Street’s newest entry
In the past a visit to Victoria Street, Richmond, meant one thing – a good, cheap Vietnamese feed. Now with the addition of the funky new Aviary bar there is a reason to stop for a drink too. The large bar will soon feature an upstairs section and rear beer garden. It also boasts a restaurant-worthy menu with a particularly enticing dessert menu featuring chocolate ravioli and mojito mousse.
The Aviary, 271 Victoria St, Abbotsford Tel: +61 3 9428 7727

Exceptional seafood in a contemporary setting
Seagrass has recently opened in an elevated riverside location at Southbank. Head chef Jason Dixonhas created a mouth-watering seafood menu that sources the best product from some of Australia's premium producers, and boasts spectacular views of the city and Yarra River.
Seagrass, Mid Level, Southgate Precinct, Southbank Tel: +61 3 9696 7655 Web: www.seagrassrestaurant.com.au

Like fish ‘n’ chips – but with a healthy twist
After 15 years on the DJ decks, Brit export Ray Good has taken the idea of a sea-change quite literally. At recently opened Hooked – Healthy Seafood to Go, Good is turning traditional greasy fish ‘n’ chippers on their head with simple, fresh and healthy dishes such as seafood linguine, stingray laksa, whole fish with sticky rice and bok choy and gluten-free offerings.
Hooked – Healthy Seafood to Go, 172 Chapel Street, Windsor Tel: +61 3 9529 1075 Web: www.hooked.net.au

Tired of traditional jewellery?
In keeping with a growing trend of retail spaces in tiny places, Glitzern is a new boutique located in an emerging design precinct, Crossley Street. It has cleverly transformed a once-derelict storage cupboard to house beautiful and unique fashion accessories and exquisite objects from all over the world. Owners Moira Rogers and Caroline Price have created a unique space selling innovative pieces from the United States and Europe, as well as local designers.
Glitzern, 1a Crossley Street, Melbourne Tel: +61 3 9663 7921

INDULGENCE

Caca-oh! New gourmet chocolate school in Gippsland
The brand new Caca-oh! Chocolate School is set in the magnificent Tarra Valley Rainforest in Victoria’s South-East Gippsland against a backdrop that could be straight out of Hansel and Gretel! Here sweet toothed students get to taste their way around the world in a 90-minute chocolate appreciation course run by accomplished Swiss chocolatier and proprietor, Roman Manser.

The course covers the history of this irresistible treat and teaches students how to taste chocolate using the five senses. Participants receive a certificate on completion of the course and a sample bag of high-quality chocolates from around the globe, while those too full to go home after all that chocolate can stay overnight at the gorgeous Tarra Valley Rainforest Retreat (where the courses are held).

Two new courses will be added in 2008: teaching skills in praline and chocolate decoration making. Bookings are essential. For more information call +61 3 5186 1313 or visit www.chocolateschool.com.au

Rolls Royce? Jaguar? Bentley? Visit wineries in style
Ever imagined being whisked away from Melbourne in a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce to boutique wineries? And then taste superb wines and meet the winemakers? With Melbourne Wine Tours this can be a reality.

Melbourne Wine Tours showcase the outstanding wineries within easy reach of Melbourne for one- or two-day tours, including Yarra Valley, Macedon Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and Heathcote.

Clients travel in luxurious comfort - in a classic Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Bentley or Daimler. Uniformed chauffeurs help clients get the most out of their day, sharing their extensive knowledge of wine and wine makers, fine food, craft and art studios, local history and Australia's unique and fascinating wildlife.

As part of their personalised service, Melbourne Wine Tours can create a tailored tour to suit individual client needs.

For more information call +61 3 9833 4557 or visit www.melbournewinetours.com

It’s pinot noir but not to drink… indulge in vinotherapy
Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort in the Yarra Valley has a unique treatment at its on-site Natskin Spa: it is the only place in Victoria that offers vinotherapy treatments, which use a specially designed mud made from pinot noir grapes - a great antioxidant that helps eliminate toxins from the body.

The superbly appointed spa and health club uses vinotherapy mud in two ways – either in a special ‘geisha’ bath or in a mud wrap that encases the entire body. Natskin Spa also offers a variety of water therapies to induce relaxation and well-being, as well as a wide range of skin and body treatments, including stone treatments, milk hydrotherapy and lomi lomi massage.

For more information please visit www.balgownieestate.com.au

PERFORMANCE

Spamalot hams it up in Melbourne
Melbourne welcomed last month the Australian premiere season of Monty Python’s Spamalot.

‘Lovingly ripped off’ from the cult film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail.

The Tony Award winning musical brings the classic Python humour to life and fans will recognise silly walks and sketches, such as the fish-slapping dance. Spamalot features sexy dancing girls, knights in tights, a flatulent Frenchman, killer rabbits and flying cows.

The smash hit Broadway and West End musical will show at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne until 25 May 2008. Tickets are available through www.montypythonsspamalot.com.au

New Nicholas Cage film to be shot in Melbourne
Nicolas Cage starring US feature film Knowing is the latest large-scale production with big-name producers, directors and cast to be filmed in Victoria.

In the past five years, Victoria has attracted a number of outstanding film and TV projects, including Ghost Rider, Charlotte’s Web, Where The Wild Things Are, Rogue, Romulus My Father and The Pacific. A world-leading production destination, Victoria is chosen for its diverse locations, state-of-the-art facilities, talented crews and enviable lifestyle.

Knowing will be directed by Australian director Alex Proyas (I, Robot, Dark City, The Crow) and produced by Summit Entertainment (American Pie, Resident Evil, Michael Clayton, The Shawshank Redemption). The film is about a teacher who opens a time capsule that has been dug up at his son's elementary school and discovers some chilling predictions.

Filming is scheduled to commence in late March 2008 and will generate at least $45 million for the Victorian economy.

It’s that time of year again… Melbourne gets the giggles!
Laugh until it hurts with the world's premier funny people in Melbourne: the Melbourne International Comedy Festival bursts onto the scene from Wednesday 19 March to Sunday 13 April 2008.

One of the three largest comedy festivals in the world (along with Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival), the Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes over the city each autumn with an enormous programme of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts.

This year, a diverse collection of the world’s funniest people –including a number of UK performers- will once again join Australia’s much loved local artists at the Comedy Festival.

For more information visit www.comedyfestival.com.au


THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Spot a star at Nobu Melbourne
The newly opened Nobu restaurant in Melbourne is quickly becoming THE place to spot a star Down Under.

A firm favourite with celebrities already, Nobu played recently host to pop sensation Kylie Minogue and tennis superstars Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova on the same evening. Other celebrity visitors have included Rachel Hunter and Matt Damon, while Justin Timberlake was spotted dining with his girlfriend Jessica Biel.

Melbourne is unquestionably Australia’s culinary capital and the stylish Nobu has added a spectacular dining experience offering both visual and gourmet delight. Its star credentials are impeccable - screen legend Robert De Niro is one of its owners.

Nobu Melbourne opened last August at the Crown Entertainment Complex. It is the first Nobu restaurant in Australia and the 19th Nobu restaurant in the world.

For more information visit www.noburestaurants.com/melbourne

Crime and Justice: Melbourne’s justice hub brought back to life
The Old Melbourne Gaol: Crime and Justice Experience gives visitors a glimpse of some of Victoria’s most famous legal battles and living conditions in the jail and watch house over the past 150 years.

While the Old Melbourne Gaol, where infamous Ned Kelly was hanged, has been a tourist destination for many years, this new venture now opens up the historic Old Magistrates’ Court as well as the City Watch House, where criminals such as Mark ‘Chopper’ Read and Squizzy Taylor were locked up.

The precinct includes a high-tech, multimedia fit-out of Courtroom One in the Old Magistrates’ Court, allowing visitors to find out more about contemporary and historic approaches to justice by taking part in mock trials based on real cases, playing the role of judge, defendant, prosecutor or court clerk. Guided tours of the City Watch House, which include the interactive experience of being locked up in the cells, are also available to people with a ticket to the Old Melbourne Gaol.

For more information call +61 3 9842 9740 or visit www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au




Now you don’t have to be a pro to surf at the world’s most famous competition!

Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music Festival, the world's oldest professional event of its kind, returns to Victoria’s spectacular Great Ocean Road from 18-28 March 2008. With the world’s best surfers hitting town, the famous competition will put the seaside village of Torquay, Australia‘s Surf Capital, and iconic Bells Beach into the spotlight.

But you don’t have to leave the surfing to the pros: a number of surf schools and qualified instructors operate in the area who can teach you the basics and as long as you can swim a little and are confident in the water, even beginners can learn some skills in just one day.

More than an annual pilgrimage for surfers, Rip Curl Pro is also well known for its exuberant atmosphere, with Victoria’s famous coastline pumping with great music, parties, market stalls and, of course, high-octane surfing.

For more information visit http://www.surfingaustralia.com/

Contemplate Yarra Valley from above - come fly with Sunrise Helicopters
Sunrise Helicopters, the first commercial helicopter operator in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, offers scenic flights, joy rides, winery tours, adventure flights and private helicopter charters for special occasions... Imagine the thrill of viewing the glorious Yarra Valley from a helicopter fitted with special 270 degree panoramic windows!

The flights vary from 10 to 30 minutes and the highly trained pilots provide a running commentary during the flight.

Sunrise Helicopters is the first helicopter company in Australia to offer a booking service on their website. A minimum of two passengers are required to book a scenic helicopter flight.

For more information call +61 3 9730 2914 or visit www.sunrisehelicopters.com.au

Is this the best Australian sculpture?
The McClelland Gallery+Sculpture Park, located an hour’s drive from Melbourne at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, is Australia’s largest and most extensive sculpture park with a permanent display of more than 60 major sculptures by significant Australian sculptors.

Every two years, the Park hosts the McClelland Sculpture Survey and Award. Thirty-five sculptors have been selected to participate in the 2007 Survey, displayed across 16 hectares of bushland and landscaped gardens. The selected artists are also eligible for the McClelland Award 2007, an acquisitive award valued at AUD$100,000 (the richest cash prize for sculpture in Australia).

The McClelland Sculpture Survey 2007 will be on display at the McClelland Gallery+Sculpture Park until 6 July 2008. Entry is by donation.

For more information visit www.mcclellandgallery.com

-Ends-

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David Ezra at david@saltmarshpr.co.uk or

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