Best of the Melbourne Fest – for free!

Wednesday 6 October 2010, 2:56 PM
By The Team | Posted in Events

The Melbourne International Arts Festival is back and it can only mean one thing: the city will be set alight with a creative fervour for all arts lovers to enjoy, whatever their budget or passion. We’ve pulled out some of the best free options for MIAF 2010 for you to enjoy.

Opening the festival, and on until 10 October is the astonishing K@osmos, a 21st Century aerial theatre show.  The dynamic visual spectacular K@osmos is brought to you by Argentinean production company Grupo Puja! and combines theatre, circus, dance, aerial sport, architecture, engineering, multimedia and music in a performance that is out of this world.

Those pondering their own existence will love MORTALITY, a visual journey from the cradle to the grave at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.  The free exhibition is curated by Juliana Engberg to reflect the Festival’s visual arts themes of spirituality, death and the afterlife by some of the world’s leading artists.

If you’re wanting to sneak a peek into the minds of the artists involved in this year’s Festival, the daytime Melbourne Festival Artists In Conversation could be for you.  An intimate series of discussions held at BMW Edge in Federation Square will leave you inspired by the diverse imaginations of some of the world’s most creative minds, from Melbourne Festival director Brett Sheehy, through to songwriters from Seven Songs to Leave Behind.

Or if it’s a digital post-modern experience you’re after, venture to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image to revel in Bill Viola’s The Raft.  This video homage to The Raft of the Medusa by French Romantic painter Théodore Géricault is recorded in high-speed film and described by the artist as “an image of destruction and survival.”

At the end of an illuminating day of artistic discovery, take a dazzling journey from the NGV to the Forum and let the Halo project light up your night. Lighting designer Allan Parkinson brings the Festival precinct to life with a specially designed lighting project, flooding the space with a through a purple haze. From the footpath, to the trees, to the roofline, wherever you look you may discover exquisite lighting installations designed to bring some more spark to your 2010 Festival experience.

Melbourne International Arts Festival runs 8 – 23 October at a myriad of venues across the city.

Melbourne Insider: Tiffany Cherry’s a good sport

Thursday 16 September 2010, 12:52 PM
By The Team | Posted in People and Places

Tiffany Cherry’s life and loves seem to match those of many Melburnians: sport, the city and a Saturday morning coffee with a dear friend. Seems you can be a super athlete, a sports presenter, totally glamorous and still treasure simple pleasures.

Tiffany Cherry spilled some of her city secrets in today’s City Weekly. Here’s the extra intel she saved especially for you!

What is your absolute favourite sport to participate in, in the city?

I LOVE running the Tan.

What’s the best time to run the Tan?

Best time to run the Tan is in the morning all year round… and especially on the weekend when, after your run, you can kick back with a friend, share a coffee and a laugh and catch up on the weekend’s papers. It is my absolute favourite run in the world.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen either on a city bike track or running track?

Santa running on Christmas Day.

Best place to grab brekkie in the city after a workout?

Liaison Cafe, Monaco House, 22 Ridgeway Place is the BEST place in the city for brekkie or simply a coffee.

Best place for ‘pre-gaming’ in the city, uh, pre-game?

Transport Hotel, Fed Square is the perfect location for your pre-game warm-up.

Best non-sport-sport and favourite place to play it?

Crown has the best non-sport sport … take your pick with bowling, poker or simply watching sport on the big screens.

How do you think Melbourne came to be so sports mad?

Melbourne is so sports mad because we have such a great layout for sporting facilities. If you build the stadiums, people and sports stars will come.

Greatest Melbourne sporting legend?

Raelene Boyle is Australia’s greatest sporting legend who deserved to be an Olympic champion. Kevin Sheedy and Craig Bellamy close runner ups.

 Greatest moment in Melbourne‘s sporting history?

Phar Lap’s 1930 Melbourne Cup-winning run.

Five words to describe Melbourne‘s sports scene?

Educated, passionate, world class fanatics.

You can catch Tiffany every Friday night as part of SEN radio’s broadcast of the AFL, as well as weekdays Monday to Thursday during 6-8.30pm as sports presenter on SkyNews and as one of the hosts of Foxtel’s coverage of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. 

Melbourne Insider: Lucy McIntosh

Thursday 2 September 2010, 8:03 AM
By The Team | Posted in Events

Melbourne model Lucy McIntosh – and the face of this year’s Melbourne Spring Fashion Week – spilled some city secrets in today’s  City Weekly ‘Melbourne Insider’ column. Between parades and other fashion engagements, Lucy also found time to answer our questions on a subject she knows well: style.

Here’s what she told us.

Define Melbourne’s style. 

Melbourne’s style is unparalleled by any other city in the world. Its unique culture clash of urban chic, eclectic vintage and corporate couture is always bound to impress.

Who is the most stylish Melburnian you know?

Style comes in many different shapes and forms. The great thing about Melbourne is that it’s a place that allows you to express yourself!

If I had to nominate anyone, it would be my friend Bree, she has a natural sense if style with retro pieces and experiments with new styles all the time.

If I had to nominate anyone famous, I’d actually say Ruby Rose! She is this year’s ambassador to MSFW so I think everyone thinks the same thing. She is cool!

Favourite spot in the city to people watch?

I love Madame Brussels! Love the garden inspired ‘tea party’ set up and they have an amazing terrace overlooking the city. Beautiful!

Must have for spring in the city?

Always dress in a gorgeous flowing spring dress, comfortable clogs and sunglasses. Then you’re always prepared for a sunny afternoon reading a great book (Eat, Pray, Love is one of my faves at the moment) in one of Melbourne’s beautiful parks.

Best way to spend a spring evening in town?

Lounging on a rooftop bar, watching a movie and hanging with friends.

Favourite place in the city to shop?

The city! It has everything from high end designer labels to the funky little boutiques…I love mixing  eclectic and vintage styles with a more structured, high-end piece! 

 Most suave live music venue in the city?

In spring, I love live music festivals in the warm outdoors.

What is Melbourne’s best-kept style secret?

Melbournians are great at having such a cool style. So many people here have their own individual fashion styles – but pull it all together with ease.

 What would you pack in your handbag to prepare for a night out in the city?

The essentials – wallet, phone, house keys and lip gloss.

Five words to describe Melbourne?Stylish, trendy, chic, cultural and alternative!

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week finishes this Sunday 5 September. Lucy appears in each nightly Designer Series show. Some tickets still available – but be quick.