I was lucky enough to read about the Melbourne International Jazz Festival while researching things…read moreto do during my visit to Melbourne. The Opening Celebration Concert at Federation Square was a lovely free event showcasing some of the artists and bands from around the world who would be playing some shows the week ahead. Can Melbourne get any cooler? I think not! Great jazz vibes on a beautiful day at the iconic Fed Square...definitely a bonus to my time here!

What a way to celebrate my bday. This festival blew my mind at every corner. I didn't want it to…read moreend! It's been a very long time since I went to a festival that was over the top spectacular. Nothing compares to Melbourne's special night. It felt like all of Melbourne came out to play and play nice! The city lights up even brighter in a family friendly event all across the city starting in the CBD. The news said about 650,000 came out but it looked like a million. Restaurants stayed opened, food trucks, so much entertainment. The artists in Melbourne are remarkable. So much to see and experience even down the Yarra river. The views from the bridge left me in awe. I was nerding out every other second. Fire breathing gigantic dragon, illuminated bird that flew along the river, projection art with a lovely message of friendliness love and togetherness. The frisky dancers and on my street corner. A young gentleman playing his sexyphone on the balcony. Across the street piano players and guitarists on a rooftop and so much more. All I could say is thank you Melbourne for an unforgettable bday at White Night. Mel M Yelp 18:42

Wow! First to review White Night?! This is one of my favourite nights in Melbourne. And I'm not…read morealone -over half a million people turn out for the all night art event this year. Running from sunset to sunrise, the event gets the creative juices flowing with music, dance, film, large scale art installations, performances, and projections. (Plus a number of unique quirky experiences - giant foam sculpture or 3am synchronised swimming anyone?) Many bars and restaurants stayed open late and food trucks were dotted around the city, helping revelers stay fortified throughout evening. A major tip for making the most of the evening is to stay up late or get up early. There are various hubs around the city, stretching from the Carlton Gardens, past Federation Square, and down to the NGV and Birrarung Marr. But expect large, dense crowds and long lines during prime hours before midnight. (There are 500,000 people out in the city!) By contrast, at 5am we waltzed right into the Melbourne Baths without a queue in sight. Central to White Night aesthetic are the spectacular, large scale projections on major city buildings. White Night is a memorable night out, with different experiences each year. I'll definitely be back in the crowd again next year!

This 3 week-long annual festival around Melbourne and suburbs is an umbrella event, presenting a…read morehuge catalogue of local, and a few international, comedy, dance, drama, music, cabaret and visual arts. The Fringe has been going for 30 years and I don't remember how long I've been going to events that have been associated with it. This year I went to a few of the visual arts exhibitions because they were conveniently located for me: there was MoreArts along the Upfield bicycle path, ArtLand at RMIT in Brunswick, at Platform under Flinders Street and in the window at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel there was my favorite "I Heart Tintin", a great little exhibition about the cartoon character. Aside from the visual arts part of the Fringe I asked C. if she wanted to see anything in the Festival program. There is a lot of comedy but I'm didn't feel like any of that. She leafed through the 80 something page program, checked the online program and in the end decided booked tickets for a play: "Closed" by The Ministry of Drama. It was a terrible play - I reminded myself to avoid collaborative theatre as actors seldom make good playwrights. That was the random quality that I experienced from the Melbourne Fringe Festival 2011.

There are no superlatives in the English Language to adequately represent the awe inspiring…read moreperformance of the actors who performed the 2 character musical stage production of "Exposing Edith". Seeing as this critic is not bound by the usual impediments associated with rating class acts on a graduated scale of one to five stars, I am giving this show 6 stars. It is the first time I have awarded 6 stars to any live theatre production. Nevertheless, I was so moved by Michaela Burger's portrayal of the legendary Edith Piaf and equally impressed with her guitarist accompaniest Greg Wain, (who slso hsd a lovely singing voice), that I felt compelled to rate this show higher than any show I have ever rated in over 30 years. The show ran for 90 minutes non-stop, and the audience was mesmerized by the most clever way in which these two performers artfully told the tragic, yet inspiring story of the late great Piaf. Yes, I did say both performers...for one without the other could not have pulled it off. Aside from the fact that Michaela bore a striking resemblance to the late great singer, Michaela and Greg's relationship on stage seemed to be symbiotic. As a musician myself with over 50 years in Show Business, I can say unequivocally that I rate these two performers amongst the best I've seen. Michaela's vocal ability and pronunciation of the French lyrics and spoken words made it oh so real, as though Piaf were among us once more. The clever use of vocal enhancers and special effects, added to the brilliant and poignant depiction of the late great French Songstress. Greg's guitar playing was flawless and tugged at the heart strings of everyone in this grand heritage listed theatre in St Kilda. In my estimation, and without reservation, I believe this show, and these two performers, to be ready for the world stage. Furthermore, I am convinced their impeccable performance, musicianship, and interpretation of one of the most colourful and celubrious female performer's lives will leave an indelible impression on theatre goers the world over and catapult this Duo to fame & fortune.

Bundle up and set out on an exploration of Gertrude Street. The Projection Festival features both…read moresmall and large scale projections - from small works lighting up shop windows to whole sides of buildings awash in colourful light. There are plenty of cosy venues along the route to duck into for a warming drink or a cold beer if you're feeling the chill in the air. The scale and 'wow factor' aren't as massive as the Christmas and White Night projections, but the crowds aren't as big either. This event is more suited to conversation and casual strolling at your own pace. With the bright lights and friends & families roaming the street, it almost feels like Christmas... in July!

This festival of light happens annually in July on Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. I first heard about…read moreit through tram advertising and then read more advertising in the local street press. I highly recommend becoming a viewer next year. Whole buildings are turned into projection screens that have static and moving light displays. Also used are smaller projections within store windows and even projections on to the footpath and trees. No space is spared and the imagination of the artist is limitless. I love the concept of light as art and this festival has chosen wisely and collaborated with some fantastic artists. It is a fun and innovative festival that is free for the general public to view. Normally a five-minute walk form Nicholson St to Smith St - this exhibition takes about an hour to take in and appreciate. A small amount of time that will leave a large impression.

A brilliant wine festival at Atrium, Federation Square! I'm often at a loss as to which bottle to…read morebring to events. A Summer Chardonnay, for example, could either instantly delight or cause repugnant disgust. This is why VIC100 is a standout event. You get to sample the top 100 approachable and accessible wines from Victoria's burgeoning wine regions. This selection makes picking some real winners a breeze. A handy brochure showcasing the cream of the crop was a definitive keepsake. I'll be sure to keep it handy when next prepping for a soirée. The master classes were a lot of fun too. Prosecco and Aperol Spritz cocktail making was a particularly fun standout. The Riedel glass for your wine tasting pleasure was a classy touch too. A fun crowd and entertaining winemakers topped the afternoon. I'm looking forward to next year. Thanks for putting this one on the radar Yelp, and for the standout hospitality.

Different (in a good way) from other wine festivals. Victoria's finest in a small /medium…read moreproximity meaning you will get to taste a number of quality wines and some in your time there. Ticket price is money well spent , includes a high quality Riedel wine glass + generous pours. I tasted some fantastic Pinoir Noirs , Shiraz Blends and Prosecco. Do yourself a favour and get there next year!

The announcement of the next MIFF schedule always reminds me of two things; That we're now…read moreofficially in the depths of Melbourne's miserable winter and memories of huddling into cinemas to escape it. I do try and get to at least 2-3 films every year for MIFF. There's always a great selection of films and it's a good excuse to take a gamble on a couple of sessions out of your usual movie-viewing comfort zone. Sometimes going to the movies outright infuriates me. Sharing the movie-going experience with a large crowd leaves yourself open to every annoyance in that otherwise quiet audience. Loud chip eating, armrest hogs, sniffling, talking, iPhone glows - you know the type. For some reason though, watching a movie at MIFF in a packed out theatre actually adds to the experience. I think it's because you get a full crowd of people that just love cinema. You laugh together, cry together and people clap at the end in acknowledgement of the filmmakers - a tradition I suspect starting in case people involved are at the showing. While Australia may not have many Hollywood stars in attendance, having been to the film portion of SXSW in Austin a couple of years ago, I can definitely say that Melbourne's festival is of the same world class-quality and well worth getting excited about. This year I caught a couple of brilliant films, both that I could have waited for the general release in a month or so, but glad that I got to cry with the rest of Melbourne into my lecture stand at the gorgeous RMIT Capitol theatre instead.

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is the most significant screen event in Australia,…read moreand now in its 60th year, it is also one of the oldest film festivals in the world. The festival programs literally hundreds of international and domestic features and short films, exhibiting them at a number of cinemas around Melbourne over a period of three weeks in July/August each year. MIFF is definitely one of the most exciting times to be in Melbourne. There's a real sense of community and camaraderie as hundreds of enthusiasts wait in queues in the blistering cold, to see their second or third highly anticipated film for the day. Bars and restaurants are filled with wildly animated conversations as punters battle it out with debates over a film's status as masterpiece or rubbish. In the winter cold, there's not a whole lot else to do in Melbourne, so buy a mini-pass, watch some films, drink some wine, and get your critique on!

This will be an unbiased view, telling it like it is from both sides of the fence…read more Situated on the scenic Harbour Esplanade, this is truly a great place to hold events, as there is just so much real estate down here to put these sort of events on. The Lunar Markets is no exception. Food, Chinese dragons, two separate bars either end of the area; it had all all the makings for a good night. We ate at only one of the food stalls tonight, and it was delicious. It is however a little disappointing that there are not as many food stalls/trucks that I was expecting. They could have made such more of an effort to get people down. We attended on the first night which was a little quiet, but there was heaps of room to sit & eat. We will definitely be back to try out the other food stalls, but then again, we only live across the road so it's extremely convenient. We only moved to Docklands a few months ago from out in the south eastern suburbs (about 30min away). If I did still live there and come down just for this, I wouldn't be happy. You need to come here if you are doing something else around the area, and not come down specifically for this. If there was more stalls, you might be able to justify. If you live in the city, come down every night (I probably will).

I had a very enjoyable evening at the Age Lunar Market that is currently happening on the Harbour…read moreEsplanade at Docklands until 14th February. It's the first year that this pop up event has happened, which probably explains why it's a relatively small affair (much like the first night noodle market) I'm sure if it's deemed a success it will be repeated and grow each year. Perhaps because of it's Docklands location it is not oversubscribed when compared to the Night Markets at Victoria Market. Thankfully the location really lends itself to food stalls with plenty of space to move around & the smells from each stall not blurring into one...made choosing what to have all the more difficult...although I already knew at least one dish that I had to try. There was ample seating both in sunny & shaded spots with table service for drinks, which was great!!! There are two bars at either end of the Lunar Market serving a small but adequate choice of drinks. An Instagram post led me to the Everybody Loves Ramen stall & the delicious Sakura Glazed Ramen Fried Chicken Burger. It looks quite hideous what with the fluorescent pink coating to the bun but the flavour combination of the sweet cherry blossom glazed bun with strands of seaweed coupled with the fried chicken & Japanese curry sauce just works & I feel is a must try if you make it to the market. The burger is randomly placed on to top of a small portion of miso & butter flavoured popcorn (nice popcorn but I would never have guessed it was flavoured). I finished my visit with a maple & sesame coated waffle on a stick, a sweet treat but a bit of a disappointment after the burger!!!

Of all the people that I've seen pass through this area, am I really the first to review??? I think…read morepeople might have been too preoccupied checking out all the awesome places nearby!... The Atrium is located inside the big building at Federation Square between Beer Deluxe and the NGV Design Studio. Every now and there, there are markets that take place in this area. Sometimes there are arts & crafts, books, and other stuff. There might be also a running club that meets here every week. Make sure to check the schedule of events on their site. Today, there was a pop-up market of some local businesses! Some of these included Shortstop Coffee & Donuts, Mork Chocolate, Those Girls, and Dad's Oats. I really loved checking these booths out! The workers/owners were really passionate about their business! You could tell by the way they talked about their product that they really believed in it and were very proud about it! From Shortstop, I had a matcha donut- Delicious! Speaking with the staff, you can tell how carefully they crafted each detail of their baked goods! Each one of their donuts looked like a work of art! At Mork Chocolate, I sampled their 70% drinking chocolate. Most of their chocolate inventory was dairy-free and contained coconut sugar as a natural sweetener. It was so good that my friend bought a bottle of chocolate milk and I got a tin of their drinking powder! At the next stall, Those Girls was providing some refreshing drinks! The Lime Mint Mojito was delightful! Dad's Oats was one of my favorite booths to visit. There was a miniature stone-milling device that showcased the process of milling each groat to create oats! So fascinating! Minimal processing is done with their products to make it as natural as possible! This event was such a great way to explore and support local businesses! It was nice to see local business that come together for events like these! Sometimes, it can be difficult to go to each one individually because they can be out of the way from one another but when there are markets like these, it is so much more convenient!