The Weekender: June 7 – 9
TREAT yourself to good food and wine, be part of the studio audience on a live talk show, and watch some important films. Elizabeth Yick gives you the word on what’s on this weekend.
The Good Food and Wine Show
Friday, June 7 – Monday, June 10; 10am – 7pm (Fri), 6pm (Sat & Sun), 5pm (Mon); Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf)
The much anticipated and annual Good Food and Wine Show is set to return for its 13th year this long weekend, celebrating Australia’s continual love affair with good food and great wine.
As Australia’s fastest growing food and wine exhibition, the event will play host to some of our country’s most celebrated chefs including Maggie Beer, Donna Hay, Tobie Puttock, Miguel Maestre and Julie Goodwin. These talented individuals will be hosting their own ‘Celebrity Theatre’, where they will present their own recipes, tips, tricks and techniques to aspiring masterchefs.
For the self-proclaimed foodies and wine connoisseurs, there will also be a range of culinary creations and delectable delights available throughout the day. With free samples from more than 300 food, wine and coffee producers, this event is not one to disappoint.
Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased through the Good Food and Wine Show website.
Live on Bowen
Friday June 7; 8pm – 9.45pm; RMIT Studios, RMIT University (Building 12 – Level 2, 368 Swanston St, Melbourne)
Ever wanted to be part of a TV studio audience on a live talk show?
Live on Bowen is RMITV’s flagship program and the successor to their previous flagship show, the award-winning Studio A. Hosted by four up-and-coming local comedians Rob Lloyd, Aaron McCarthy, Hayman Kent, and Dilruk Jayasinha, this variety show features stand-up comedy, live music, hilarious sketches, special guest interviews and much more. Most of all, the show welcomes and encourages a fun and excitable audience atmosphere.
The show premiers on June 7 at 8.30pm on Channel 31 and will be aired every Friday. To be part of the live studio audience for a show hosted by some of Melbourne’s brightest comedians, simply email your contact details to audience@liveonbowen.com, or visit the Live on Bowen website for more information.
Czech and Slovak Film Festival of Australia
Until Saturday, June 8; Capitol Theatre (113 Swanston St, Melbourne)
This year may mark the 20th anniversary of the dissolution of Czechoslovakia but for many members of the Czech and Slovak community, the preservation of their history and culture is equally significant. The Czech and Slovak Film Festival of Australia aims to do so by presenting a thoughtfully selected program of classic and modern Czech and Slovak films through their inaugural not-for-profit arts festival.
The festival will include the Australian premiere screening of In the Shadow, as well as a range of significant and poignant films between 1948 to 2012. Often hailed as “the Disney of Eastern Europe”, a special focus on the works of animator Jiri Trnka stands out as one of the highlights of the Czech and Slovak Film Festival. One of his shorts can be viewed in its entirety above.
In addition to these film screenings, the festival will also feature a visual art exhibition celebrating Jiri Trnka’s work at Gallery Domov (511 Queensberry St, Melbourne).
For more information on ticket information, screening times and the program of the festival, visit the CaSFFA website.
A Taste of Portugal Festival
Sunday, June 9; 10am – 4pm; Queen Victoria Market (65-159 Victoria St, Melbourne)
Photo: Marc Sunstrom via Flickr
In honour of the Portuguese National Day, ‘A Taste of Portugal’ is a festival that celebrates the facets that make up Portuguese culture including its cuisine, music, dance, history and language.
Organised by the various Portuguese-speaking communities of Victoria, the festival is truly multicultural in that it unites not only the Portuguese people, but also other Portuguese-speaking communities such as those from Brazil and East Timor. At the festival, you may bite into a deliciously scrumptious Portuguese custard tart or try a Brazilian brigadeiro (a type of sweet).
If you’re feeling particularly festive, perhaps try grooving along to some Brazilian samba tunes or watch a traditional East Timorese dance.
For the more creatively-inclined, perhaps you will take home some hand-woven Timorese tais or stock up on some artistic Portuguese pottery!
The festival will have plenty of food and some cooking demonstrations, as well as historical and cultural exhibitions. Live entertainment which will include music, dance, book-readings and handcraft demonstrations, will also be present throughout the festival.
Entry to the festival is free, so head on down to the Queen Victoria Market this Sunday for some Portuguese-style fun!