Tastes of Rutherglen - This weekend - March 8th, 9th & 10th

Tastes of Rutherglen is being hosted in Rutherglen, Victoria this coming weekend.
As we urge people to purchase their last minute tickets any assistance is so greatly appreciated to spread the word.

Bombing of Darwin 2024 tour launched as 2023 battlefield pilgrims arrive in Top End

Bombing of Darwin Anniversary (19 February)

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours launches 2024 Bombing of Darwin tour as 2023 battlefield pilgrims arrive in Top End

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Hilton Sydney

FEELING FESTIVE FOR CAFFE CINO'S TREATS /

The famous Hilton Sydney Pastry Team have knocked the competition out of the park again with the release of their handmade Christmas treats at Caffe Cino:

• From Giant Gingerbread Houses to Marbled Christmas Baubles served with a mini hammer to crack open, Caffe Cino's treats are available now until Christmas Day

• Available to eat-in at the grand Café on the ground floor of Hilton Sydney or to take away as gifts for friends and family, prices range from $5 to $75

• Caffe Cino is also open on Christmas Day 7am - 7pm for Sydney-siders who love to be out and about celebrating in the city!
• Menus and images here: https://www.dropbox.com/home/Hilton Sydney

CHRISTMAS LUNCH BY LUKE MANGAN /

Why not sit back and let somebody else worry about Christmas Lunch this year? Luke Mangan and his team at glass brasserie have you covered for both Christmas Lunch and Dinner for families and couples alike:  

• Christmas Day Lunch:
• $195pp for a 4 course tasting menu including delights of caviar, oysters, and a stunning cheese course
• $55pp for a kids 3 courses choice menu
• Receive a Christmas pudding to take home and a visit from Santa for little ones
• 4 course vegan menu is also available at $140pp.
• Christmas Day Dinner
• x3 course set menu $120pp or x2 course set menu $105pp
• Kids x3 course menu at $55 and x2 courses for $45
• Vegan menu also available; x3 courses for $105, x2 courses for $95
• Menus and images here: https://www.dropbox.com/home/Christmas%20at%20Hilton%20Sydney 

Link: https://www.hiltonsydney.com.au/dine/

Final weeks of Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition - must close March 3

Final weeks of Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition - must close March 3

In less than 4 weeks' time on March 3, Melbourne Museum must close the doors on Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition, marking the final chance for Australians to experience a rare and touching glimpse into the life of one of the world's most iconic leaders.

Since its opening in September last year, thousands of visitors have been guided through ten expertly curated galleries, observing and interacting with over 200 artefacts from The Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela's private collection. Emotive, insightful and multi-sensory, the exhibition has left visitors with a rich sense of Mandela's extraordinary living legacy.

Produced by iEC Exhibitions, TEG Live, and Museums Victoria, in full collaboration with The Nelson Mandela Foundation of South Africa, the exhibition features the most comprehensive collection of original artefacts, documents, personal items and artworks ever to be shown outside of South Africa, showcasing personal moments in Mandela's life alongside the events and influences that led to his leadership.

The journey through Mandela's story begins with his childhood in the Transkei, followed by his early life in Johannesburg where he began to establish himself as a political activist, underscored by audio-visual pieces and personal photographs.

Visitors have discovered the covert anti-apartheid activities that shaped Mandela's daily existence, aspects of his life in prison on Robben Island, and how he felt on his first day of freedom when he was released from Victor Verster prison in 1990. The final chapter journeys through Mandela's landmark years as South Africa's first democratically elected president, and the indelible mark he made on people around the world as a global leader.

Tickets are $32 for adults, $22 for concession and students, $17.90 for 13-16s and children 12 and under free. Adult and museum general entry bundle $30. Book online at www.ticketek.com.au to save 10% on tickets for the final chance to see Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition before it closes on March 3.

Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition

Until 3 March 2019

Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria, 3053

School / group bookings available: groupbookings@ticketek.com.au and 1300 364 001

ticketek.com.au

For more information, please visit: MandelaTheExhibition.com

#MandelaMyLife #MandelaExhibition

Enjoy a ‘Cruisey’ Christmas Day on Sydney Harbour

Spend Christmas Day relaxing on Sydney's magnificent Harbour on a Captain Cook Cruises Christmas Day lunch cruise. With no meals to prepare and no washing up to be done,  the whole family can enjoy a stress-free Christmas.

Held on-board the prestigious, MV Sydney 2000, with three separate dining decks and an open top deck offering 360-degree views of Sydney Harbour, choose from three Christmas Day lunch cruises.

The Sky Deck Christmas lunch is the ultimate Christmas Day experience. Soak up the million-dollar views from the uppermost dining deck while enjoying a five-course premium menu and an open bar of superior spirits, premium wines, beers and soft drinks.

The Club Deck lunch offers a fabulous festive Christmas buffet feast including Virginia baked leg ham, roast turkey, Marinated Beef Sirloin, Sydney rock oysters, king prawns, N.Z Mussels, Barramundi, smoked salmon, a wide selection of salads and vegetables, assorted petit cakes, plum pudding and mince pies. The Club Deck lunch also includes a superior selection of wines, beers and soft drinks.

The Show Deck Christmas buffet lunch offers the same expansive feast as the Club Deck with a standard selection of wines, beers and soft drinks.

The MV Sydney 2000 departs 12 noon on Christmas Day, Tuesday 25th December 2018 from No.1 King Street Wharf, returning at 3.00pm.

The Sky Deck Christmas lunch is priced at $259 per adult and $199 per child (4 to 14 years). Guaranteed window seating is an additional $39 per person.

The Club Deck Christmas buffet is priced at $249 per adult and $199 per child. The Show Deck Christmas Buffet is priced at $199 per adult and $155 per child. Guaranteed window seating for Club and Show deck lunches is an additional $25 per person.

For further information and bookings visit: www.captaincook.com.au , Digital Link: https://www.captaincook.com.au/sydney-harbour-cruises/whats-on-in-sydney/christmas-day/

Michael Palin returns to Australia

Lateral Events is delighted that Michael Palin, iconic comedian, actor, writer and television travel presenter, has agreed to tour Australia in December with a new live show. Tickets will be on sale from 29 June at ticketek.com.au.

Monty Python, the Beatles of comedy, epitomized the innate ability to take good ideas and compress them into diamonds.

Think about Monty Python and a myriad of conflicting sketches crash into your mind: The Dead Parrot, Nudge Nudge, Argument Clinic, Hell’s Grannies, The Lumberjack Song, The Killer Joke. Then come the quotes: ‘Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!’, ‘What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, ‘It’s just a scratch, I’ve had worse’, ‘What have the Romans ever done for us?’, ‘He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy’ and so on.

Add Ripping Yarns, A Fish Called Wanda and travel; Around the World in 80 Days, Himalaya, Pole to Pole and Brazil.

Michael Palin will re-live his legendary comedic repertoire before delving into his latest project, a change of pace and focus; documenting the maritime adventures of HMS Erebus.

Erebus was part of a successful 19th-century British expedition to the Antarctic which set out from Hobart, but later met her doom in search of a Northwest Passage across what is now Canada's Arctic. Franklin's disastrous 1845 expedition saw the sinking of both the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror after they became trapped by ice. The entire expedition, comprising 129 men including Franklin, was lost.

Michael Palin will describe what life was like for the officers and crew who froze and starved to death in the Arctic wastes, driven to cannibalism and poisoned by the food that they hoped would sustain them.

“The story of the life and death of HMS Erebus appeals to me on many levels. It combines my love of the sea and ships, my fascination with those who went where no-one had been before, and my conviction that history is made by accident rather than intention,” said Palin.

Register for pre-sale tickets at www.lateralevents.com

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday 4 December Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
Wednesday 5 December Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Thursday 6 December Southbank Piazza, Brisbane
Tickets from $95.00

Bookings for all shows from 29 June at ticketek.com.au
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Oz Comic-Con returns to Melbourne

Get Set To Go Geeks Galore

Oz Comic-Con is back in Melbourne June 9-10, at the Convention & Exhibition Centre, providing Victoria’s yearly, ultimate celebration of pop-culture.

Oz Comic-Con Melbourne is an exciting culmination of multi-genre content, from across the spectrum, with a lot of everything, for everyone – appearances by film and television stars, comic book artists and voice actors; gaming demonstrations and cosplay competitions; creative workshops and master classes; and hard-to-find, exclusive merchandise from vendors that’ll leave convention goers totally geeking out.

Kids can try their hand at comic art, at the kids’ comic artists workshops, or even get into cosplay for the Kids Cosplay Parade. Comic collectors can head over to the comic grading area, and to the main stage for guest panel discussions. Anime fans will have their knowledge tested with trivia, and die-hard cosplayers can kick off their journey to take home the international title, in Melbourne’s Championship of Cosplay heat. Gamers will be getting a work-out too, with Couch Warriors, putting their skills to the test in daily tournaments of new and classic titles. And this is only a preview of what’s on offer!

Jono Whyman, Event Manager of ReedPOP says: “This is the biggest Oz Comic-Con to hit Melbourne. We’re proud to be supporting great, local Victorian businesses and talent at this year’s expo and in Artist Alley. It’s going to be an awesome showcase of all things pop-culture, from original and fan art, to comic books, art prints, novels, jewellery, clothing and homewares. If you’re looking to buy the next closest thing to Thor’s mighty hammer, this is where you’ll find it!”. 

WHEN: June 9th (Saturday) - 10th (Sunday) from 9am - 6pm, daily.
WHERE: The Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC 3006.

TICKET INFO: Advance tickets are now on sale – save 24% with General Admission Single Day Passes and 16% with Weekend Passes! General Admission tickets will be $42.50 at the door, children under 12 are free. There’s also a variety of online exclusive tickets on-sale, while allocations last.

For tickets and additional information visit www.ozcomiccon.com
Follow Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @OzComicCon for guest announcements and show updates.
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It's Pie Time you visited NSW Southern Highlands

David Ellis

PIE EATERS unite – June's around the corner and that means it's time again for Australia's biggest celebration of everything pies in NSW's Southern Highlands… that becomes the Southern Pie-lands for all of June.

Based on the towns of Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale and the many picturesque little mountain villages around them, the Southern Highlands have more pie bakeries and pie outlets per capita than any other region in Australia and is arguably the unofficial Pie Capital of the country.

Last year's inaugural Southern Highlands' Pie Time drew thousands of pie-lovers to the Highlands through the month of June who, with enthusiastic locals, chomped their way through just over 100,000 pies – and which helped win Pie Time a major award in the 2017 Qantas Tourism Awards for best Destination Marketing Campaigns.

And last year's Southern Highlands Best Pie Competition has been expanded this year to become the NSW and ACT Best Pie Competition, with five categories of pies both savoury and sweet and with the winning pies being available for visitors to search out and chomp into.

Plus Pie Time's month-long celebrations will culminate in a two-day "Pie Fest" on the weekend of June 23 and 24 that showcases all things pies and their best accompanying wines, beers, ciders and spirits made in the Southern Highlands, and further afield, will this year be held at the vast Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse just outside Bowral to accommodate a greater number of stallholders and activities – and with plenty of visitor parking as last year over 4000 attended the weekend.

Organisers suggest pie-lovers interested in visiting this year's Pie Time book any accommodation needs early, and can do this and get any further information, by phoning Destination Southern Highlands on 1300 657 559 or visiting www.visitsouthernhighlands.com.au

And ask also about Pie Time's Pinot and Pie Tours, Pie Trike Tours and the Pie-cycle for cycling enthusiasts to enjoy their sport and a pie or three along the way.


PHOTO:

[] JUNE – and its Pie Time in NSW's Southern Highlands that's everything pies both savoury and sweet, plus the best of local wines, beers, ciders and spirits to go with them. (Image: Destination Southern Highlands)

Noosa celebrates 17 years of ‘Beach Culture’

Full Program Announcement
Tickets on Sale NOW

CULTURE STATEMENT

At first, we were a beach…Australia’s finest, in an environment we carefully guarded. Then, seventeen years ago, we became a community that recognised we could be so much more than a picture postcard.

We embraced the arts. We enticed the world’s finest performers to this special part of the world. We welcomed the dancers, the actors, the musicians, the writers And now they can’t wait to join us every July, at NOOSA alive!

Paine Field Aviation Day this Saturday May 20

This Saturday, May 20, 2017, Historic Flight Foundation, the Washington Pilots Association, Paine Field Airport, and the Flying Heritage Combat Armor Museum will host the 22nd Annual Paine Field Aviation Day from 10am - 5pm. Or arrive at 8 a.m. for the 5K/10K airside run/walk followed by a delicious pancake breakfast courtesy of Kiwanis. Experience interactive displays, flight simulators, robotics and modeling. Walk among static aircraft, vintage military vehicles, classic cars, and contemporary aircraft courtesy of the U.S. Navy. Vintage aircraft rides will be available throughout the day. At least one lucky patron will win a free ride in a B-25 Mitchell bomber. Warbirds fly at noon!

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, aviation historian David Lednicer will present “The Remarkable History of the B-25 Mitchell” at 11:00am and 2:00pm. Two B-25s will fly.

Contact:
10719 Bernie Webber Drive
Mukilteo, WA 98275
(425) 348-3200
visitorservices@historicflight.org
www.historicflight.org



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Vivid Sydney: Five More Nights to See Sydney Up in Lights

Have you taken a selfie in the Cathedral of Light? Cut some shapes on the dancefloor at Central Park's Silent Disco? Voted for your favourite burger at Martin Place's 8Bits+Bytes pop-up?

You may have ticked those off your Vivid Sydney list already, but have you stumbled across 'Human Touch' in a quiet courtyard in The Rocks, seen Vivid Sydney from the sky on Taronga Zoo's sky safari chairlift, had a drink at Busby's Bar at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney or seen your own face projected onto a 13-metre high water screen in Darling Harbour?

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said: “There's still five more nights to enjoy the bright lights, diverse music and dynamic ideas events that Vivid Sydney brings to our city. So plan your trip, leave your car at home and get out to Vivid Sydney to see what's left on your check-list before the lights go out this Saturday, 18 June.

“As always, we encourage you to visit early in the week and early in the evening, as we expect the last few nights to be quite busy as visitors take their last chance to see the city up in lights.”

Some suggestions of what else can be ticked off you Vivid Sydney to do list across Light, Music and Ideas over the next five nights include:

Night One: Be sure to visit Martin Place to see Fountain, which depicts the global human birth rate. Mountain of Light in Martin Place is also a gorgeous installation that changes colour throughout the night.

Whilst there, board the burger bandwagon at 8Bits+Bytes in Martin Place and vote for your favourite burger at the retro arcade game-inspired digital playground, with burgers from five of Sydney's best burger houses including Mary's, Milk Bar by Café ish, Pub Life Kitchen, Bang Bang, and Sammy's Burger Bar.

Night Two: Wander through Kendall Lane in the Rocks to see Tectonic, made from tonic water and 1,500 upcycled PET bottles, creating a constantly moving, luminescent installation that emits a calming blue glow by night.

Then, transport yourself to a world of heroes, villains, and paranormal phenomenon with a week of Marvel-themed madness just up the road at The Argyle hotel. Lose yourself in a world of superhuman characters, electrifying lighting displays and music from Minx, The Backhanderz, Bassik and Dave Winnel.

Night Three: Stroll down George St and take in Perspectives at The Galeries, which is made from a massive LED screen divided into 18 fragments, and illuminated with video art from prominent video artists from Australia and around the world.

Then, learn from the best in the business at an 'In Conversation with Director of The Dressmaker, Jocelyn Moorhouse' at Event Cinemas. Presented by The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Jocelyn is joined on stage by Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career, Oscar and Lucinda), and celebrated film critic Margaret Pomeranz. Tickets are available here.

Night Four: Dance the night away at the hugely popular Silent Disco, whilst learning about the future of the workforce at Sydney's funky urban village, Central Park. Created by Ample Projects, the heritage listed Carlton & United Brewery building is animated to showcase the dynamic factory as it once was, and explore what it means to be X Factory.

Post boogie, head on down to Darling Harbour to take in the astonishing and technologically advanced Laser Dragon Water Theatre. Floating high above fifty-six fountains, arranged in snake-like coils, this moving water-screen assumes many forms, from ferocious dragons to the characters of commedia dell'arte.

Night Five: On Saturday 18 June, be the little piggy that goes to market and get along to the Carriageworks Night Markets on 18 June. Showcasing the very best producers and chefs from across Sydney and Regional NSW, The Night Market will be Sydney's first large scale immersive contemporary food and wine event. With over 50 stall holders highlights include offerings from Cornersmith, Icebergs, Porteno, Archie Rose Distillery and Young Henry's.

Whilst at Carriageworks, don't miss your last chance to catch the world premiere of the Bjork Digital exhibition a new virtual reality project from the iconic musician. Register here.

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the State Government's tourism and major events agency. In 2015 it attracted 1.7 million visitors and delivered more than $63 million in visitor expenditure to the local economy.
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Centenary of two most significant battles in Australia’s history – Fromelles and Pozieres commemorated in July 2016

July 2016 marks the centenary of two of the most significant battles in Australia's history – to be marked by official commemorative services coordinated by the Australian Government in France and Belgium. In the lead up to this historic 100 year anniversary, Australian historian and battlefield guide, Mat McLachlan is available for interview.

"The Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916, marked the first action on the Western Front for Australian troops - an absolute disaster, recognised as the worst day in Australia's war history with over 5,500 men killed and wounded in 24 hours," said Mat McLachlan. "A few weeks later, Australian troops were heavily involved in the Battle of Pozieres (23 July to 5 September 1916) – a six week struggle which resulted in victory, but at a terrible cost with over 23,000 men killed and wounded."

Mat McLachlan will be in Australia until 13 June 2016, and will then be heading to Europe where he will be leading a tour for the Centenaries of Fromelles and Pozieres – which will see Mat, together with his Australian tour group, attend the respective commemorative ceremonies on 19 July 2016 and 23 July 2016.

For more information on Mat McLachlan and Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours, please visit: http://battlefields.com.au/

Bundanoon is Brigadoon for 39th Annual Highland Gathering

#newsouthwales

STRUTH! 10,000 to visit Bundanoon is Brigadoon on April 9th

IN his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says that when some locals of Scottish descent decided to add a touch of their homeland heritage to the annual Boronia Festival in the little village of Bundanoon in the NSW Southern Highlands back in 1978, they wouldn't have realised quite what they were starting.

Because today their now-annual Bundanoon Highland Gathering, also dubbed Bundanoon is Brigadoon*, is one of the world's biggest gatherings of all things Scottish – and while the tiny town's population is still just a little over 2,500, an amazing 10,000-plus visitors will pour in for the 39th kilt-swirling fling on April 9th.

CAN'T miss it: Bundanoon railway station becomes Brigadoon
for the day on April 9th. (Destination Southern Highlands)

And they won't be disappointed for there'll be everything from a colourful street parade including the pipes and drums of an amazing twenty-one Scottish bands. And on the local oval no fewer than 120 food, crafts and souvenir stalls, massed performances by those pipe bands, Highland and Scottish country dancing, fiddler performances, traditional and not-so-traditional Highland games like tossing the half-power-pole caber, and a show by the always popular Southern Highlands Kennel and Obedience Club.

And for the 23rd consecutive year, the strong men of the Tartan Warriors will compete in the lifting of the Bundanoon Stones of Manhood… to see who is the quickest to raise five massive round stones weighing from 115kgs to 165kgs from the ground onto a row of barrels 1.2m high.

1954 movie poster

For us, however,  the interest will be more in the culinary creations from Brigadoon's many food stalls – delights like Scots pies and fresh-baked Highlands biscuits, butterscotches, chocolate and other fudges, drop scones, gingerbreads, shortbreads, the delightfully-named Tipsy cake, pancakes, hot potatoes... as well as traditional confectioneries, jams and preserves.

And if you're visiting by train, you won't miss just where to get off… CityRail gets into the spirit of things and re-signs Bundanoon station Brigadoon for the day.

For full details www.brigadoon.net.au

Top image: The pipes and drums of some twenty-one Scottish bands will lead the Bundanoon is Brigadoon street parade on April 9th and perform on the local oval during the day. (Jeff McGill)

* Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Songs from the musical such as "Almost Like Being in Love" have become standards. The story involves two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a mysterious Scottish village which appears for only one day every hundred years. A film was also made in 1954 starring stars Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, and Cyd Charisse (Wikipedia)

West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval.

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