TWiSK #395
Festive entertainment galore
A Very Naughty Christmas @ Alex Theatre
A Very Big Band Christmas @ Memo
Chocolate Starfish Christmas Show @ National
Waz e James Band Christmas Party @ George Lane
A Mighty Wilde Xmas @ Memo
Song cycle bike ride @ Elwood Singing Walking Trail
Meanwhile @ Council’s last meeting
Inkerman plan unrest
Triangle seeks investment partners
Vicious assault stirs up locals
Beach volleyball @ St Kilda Sea Baths
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 6 pm start
Social 4’s beach volley ball followed by pizza & drinks at Republica.
$120/team = $30/player or $25/student
Info 
Book launch: Dig Deep by David Bereson @ Europa on Alma
Tuesday 12 December, 11 am-1pm
Professor Kim Rubenstein will launch Dig Deep by David Bereson – a memoir of how he survived brain injury after a serious car accident 40 years ago.
With joy, humour, bravery, curiosity and learning his stories journey to the centre of his disability — what he found, who was missing, what he learnt and what he gained through what he’d lost.
Includes a musical performance. No need to book. Just turn up.
4th floor, 31 Alma Rd, St Kilda
Merchant of Venice @ St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Thursday – Sunday until Saturday 23 December, 7 pm (some matinees)
Melbourne Shakespeare Company presents a family friendly show combining live music, larger than life characters and lots of laughs. This action-packed show will run for 90 minutes without an interval. $33/$30 Children $20
Tix
The Rose Garden, enter via Cnr Tennyson and Blessington Streets
2024 Season Launch @ Theatre Works
Thursday 14 December, 7 pm
The grand unveiling of our 2024 season featuring live performances and a full presentation of the season. 120 minute duration
RSVP required 
A Very Naughty Christmas @ Alex Theatre
Thursday – Sunday until 23 December, 7.30 pm
Direct from Brisbane, A Very Naughty Christmas is an adults-only comedy concert with stand-up comedy and skits, parodied songs, fantastic dancing, singing, burlesque and a whole bunch of silliness. $53+
Tix 
Green Cuisine: Plant-Powered Lunch @ EcoCentre
Friday 15 December, 11 am -1 pm
Cultivating community through green cuisine, the Econcentre is hosting monthly nutritious and delicious lunches. These meals bring people together to enjoy a delicious and healthy meal while exchanging plant-based recipes, zero-waste cooking tips and discussing the benefits of simple and sustainable eating.
Spots are limited so register your attendance! Free
Tix
38 Blessington St, St Kilda (across from previous EcoCentre)
A Very Big Band Christmas @ Memo
Friday 15 December, 7 pm
An enchanting evening of Yuletide magic as Belinda Parsons, Fem Belling, and Nina Ferro, accompanied by the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra, take you on a musical journey through shimmering Christmas carols like you’ve never heard before. $55/45/35
Tix
Broadway Bar
Friday 15 December, 7.30 pm
Immerse yourself in the ambiance as the talented Mark Bradley takes the stage at the piano, the spotlight beckons both performers and spectators. Will you seize the spotlight and lend your voice to the crowd? No sheet music required—just bring your voice, enthusiasm, and dreams of being a Broadway star. $5
Info
Chocolate Starfish Christmas Show @ National
Saturday 16 December @ 7.30pm
Chocolate Starfish announces the return of ‘The Greatest Christmas Show on Earth’. The second annual extravaganza with all of the favourites plus, in true Starfish style, some Christmas surprises that will delight. $79+
Tix 
Waz e James Band Christmas Party w/ Andrew Pendlebury @ George Lane
Saturday 16 December, 7 pm – 10:30 pm
Come celebrate Christmas with a special Waz e James band show.
Tix
A Mighty Wilde Xmas @ Memo
Saturday 16 December, 7 pm
Wilbur Wilde & The Troublemakers present their special Family Christmas Show with all your favourite dancey hits from The Countdown Years +GST. Taking family literally, Wilbur’s sons Elliott, Howard and Toby will amaze your ears with sibling harmoniousness, including Toby’s Band ‘Dear Judy’.
Tix | YouTube promo 
Song cycle bike ride @ Elwood Singing Walking Trail
Sunday 17 December, 10.30 am – 1.00 pm
Join the PP Bicycle Users Group to cycle the Elwood Singing Walking Trail stopping at 12 Song Sites to sing (or listen to) a song created or chosen for that location reflecting the history, flora and fauna, stories, and people of Elwood. Ride along backstreets, the Elwood Canal, the Beach and through the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve stopping at each Song-Site. They will finish up the King of Tonga Bar for a celebratory drink and nibbles.
Total ride Distance: 10km. Riders of all ages and abilities are welcome.
Bookings
Meet at Elwood St Kilda Neighbourhood Learning Centre, 87 Tennyson Street
Peter Cupples presents Stevie Wonder & Burt Bacharach @ Memo
Sunday 17 December, 3 pm
After the success of ‘Songs in the key of life’ a tribute to the genius of Stevie Wonder. And ‘The Look of Love’ a celebration of the timeless classics of Burt Bacharach, Peter has decided to combine the two shows into one with a nine piece band. $55/45/35
Tix 
Neil Murray @ George Lane
Sunday 17 December, 4:00 PM 8:00 PM
Hurry. A rare chance to hear Neil Murray a founding member of the pioneering Warumpi Band, which over three albums and twenty years of performing thrust contemporary indigenous music into mainstream Australia.
Tix
A feast for our friend, Nayran @ Space2b
A feast for our friend, Nayran @ Space2bSunday 17 December, 12.30-2.30 pm
Sunday 21 January, 12.30-2.30 pm
Sunday 11 February, 12.30-2.30 pm
In October, Space2b’s beloved chef and owner of Flavours of Syria Café and her family experienced a terrifying home invasion.
At 3 am on 11 October, three hooded men armed with machetes and guns smashed into Nayran and Majid’s Braybrook home. The family were left injured, severely traumatised, and confused because despite the damage to them, their property and vehicles, the violent group stole nothing.
“It was worse than Syria because we were all targeted in Syria, but here, it was only us and only our house”, Nayran said afterwards.
So far they have received no help, no counselling nor any support to repair the damage.
So Space2b is holding a ‘Feast for our Friend’ where Nayran can share her love for food.
Show our love and support to a wonderful family at any of the special lunchtime events in Flavours of Syria’s cafe.
All money raised will help Nayran and Majid repair their home and car and provide an opportunity for them to relocate to somewhere they can feel safe.
Info
What does AI say about the future of St Kilda 2050?
What does AI say about the future of St Kilda 2050?Long time St Kilda resident Stan has been exploring the world of AI out of interest. He asked one program to predict what St Kilda would be like in 2050. He sent the response to TWiSK …
Q: What will St Kilda be like in 2050?
AI response: “That sounds like a challenging task. I’ll try to create an image of St Kilda in 2050 based on the web search results. ????
According to the web search results, St Kilda is a coastal suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia1. Scientists are forecasting sea levels will rise between 0.4–1.1m over the remainder of this century depending on how rapidly the world reduces emissions of greenhouse gases. This could have a significant impact on the beaches, buildings and infrastructure of St Kilda. I also found some information about the proposed extensions to Melbourne’s rail network, which could include a new rail loop in the industrial Fishermans Bend precinct with seven new stations to transport workers. This could change the landscape and skyline of St Kilda as well.
I hope you like the image I created.
Please note that this is only a hypothetical scenario and not a prediction of the future.”
TWiSK note: AI is already amazing, but if it doesn’t know the answer, it makes one up. Ouch, that reminds me a tiny bit of me! But just a tiny bit!
Musical Triangle to seek potential partners
Council has voted to spend up to $110K to seek potential partners to help bring the St Kilda Triangle musical and event space to reality.
The ‘plan’ is to construct a ‘flexible 5000 standing live music and performance venue’ with ‘carparking, public realm and other uses.’ The estimated cost ranges between $113m- $139m, including the venue, basement carparking and public areas.
Cr Bond, who has championed this vision, said it was time to find out if there were investors serious about supporting the project.
While council voted overwhelmingly to support this step, the meeting also heard from people who were less than convinced.
In public submission time, representatives of current foreshore operators Luna Park and the Van Handell family seriously questioned the merits of having more visitors and less parking in St Kilda. Other submitters described the plan as grandiose and un-fundable.
Cr Robbie Nyaguy was the only councillor to vote against the plan. He said the Council had already spent too much pitching development ideas for the site. He branded it the ‘triangle of hubris.’ However, he successfully proposed amendments including investigation of greening of the carpark and improvements to the pedestrian crossings towards the beach – which he later voted against.
Inkerman bike plan blasted by vocal locals
An extraordinary parade of Inkerman Street locals attended question time to interrogate Council over the handling of the proposed ‘safety improvements.
(See minutes for an official record of the questions and answers)
Questions included concerns about disabled access, deliveries, garbage collections and safety. Business operators warned of catastrophic impacts, threatening unique services like hydrotherapy and Kosher butchers. Many were disappointed with lack of consultation and a bias in the survey that made it difficult to oppose the proposed options.
After the barrage of questions, the answers became limited to a generic ‘thank you for your feedback.’
Watch this space
Council CEO Chris Carroll said all feedback would be considered and collated in a report to Council.
‘The community will have an opportunity to speak to that again prior to Council making a decision.’
Sunday 8 am street attack stirs action
The vicious attack of a 33 year old woman while walking to Coles on a Sunday morning at 8 am prompted an onsite discussion between locals and senior police last week.
Organised by local police command, the discussion included a group of outspoken locals ‘telling it like it is.’
TWiSK attended as an observer
For an hour or so, next to the National Theatre besides the Great Wall of St Kilda mural, the participants shared their experiences of crime, fear and frustration.
The police talked about the positive effect of CCTV including the mobile trailer. They also said the crime statistics and internal incident reports showed improvements in some areas. They were frustrated that the public were not aware of the daily arrests and investigations.
The locals reiterated their often-repeated chorus that calls to police about anti-social behaviour including drug dealing seem to go unanswered. They desperately wanted to know what could be done to improve community safety and the welfare of the vulnerable.
Having said that …
After getting to appreciate the variety different points of view, discussion turned to what could be done differently ….
And the first step was better communication and co-operation.
The police pledged to use their media to better communicate the outcomes of police investigations.
The locals agreed to share practical ideas with police command.
In a first step, the police provided the following to TWiSK:
Man arrested and charged after Barkly Street assault
A 30-year-old male from Richmond was arrested and charged with assault related matters after an incident near the National Theatre on Sunday 26 November at about 8 am. He has been remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 12 December.
I support live music, but …
Serge Thomann
I support live music, but …“I support live music. What is proposed is an appropriate use of the Triangle – live music and significant public open space as envisaged by Foreshore Urban Design Framework.
Unlike the past, there is no need for a big commercial development to cross-subsidise the saving of the Palais.
But is this just an expensive vanity project that raised people’s hopes in the short term but has no chance of actually being implemented?
Who is going to fund a $200m project (current estimate) plus extra car parking spaces that is needed to sustain the Palais, Luna Park, foreshore traders and other activities?
Disappointed by consultation participation
I am also disappointed that Council is drawing its conclusion on strong support for its proposal when only 229 residents of Port Phillip contributed to the Have your Say consultation (including 119 from St Kilda).
Council has excluded the State government from working with it on the best use of the Triangle site. The state government has invited the Council to partner with it but Council did not take the offer.
Unless Council can resolve the two key issues of funding and car-parking, we should not waste more ratepayers’ funds on the expensive next steps.
Better to keep exploring alternatives
As I have said before, we should keep exploring alternatives. The cultural faculty that we envisaged should be used during day and night 7 days a week. The way forward is to accept the offer from the State government that has been on the table for 5 years – for Council to cooperate with the State government to establish the future and best use of this iconic site.”
Unlocking St Kilda Triangle’s Potential
Cr Marcus Pearl
Unlocking St Kilda Triangle’s Potential Councillor Marcus Pearl has thrown his support behind the proposal for the St Kilda Triangle’s transformation into a world-class live music venue.
He provided this comment to TWiSK
“For over a decade, the St Kilda Triangle has been trapped in political limbo, bleeding taxpayers’ money with no progress in sight. This prime foreshore land has been nothing but a car park since the failed 2009 development proposal.
Time to break free
Now is the time to break free from this stagnation and breathe new life into this iconic site. The City of Port Phillip is embarking on an ambitious journey to revamp the St Kilda Triangle into a bustling live music hotspot, capable of hosting up to 5000 standing fans.”
My endorsement underscores our shared commitment to revitalising the St Kilda Triangle and reestablishing Melbourne as a thriving cultural epicenter.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Melbourne’s status as Australia’s arts capital has wavered. To reclaim our city’s artistic vibrancy, we urgently need top-tier entertainment venues that can attract global artists and foster emerging talent. The construction of this live music venue is pivotal to Melbourne’s live music revival and economic future.
Call to State government to reshape the triangle
I call upon the State Government to work with the City to help reshape the Triangle. The Government has already committed $250k for a business case for the site and it’s time to get moving.”
TWiSK invites other opinions
About 200 words – respectful copy only please
Best to chat first 0418345829
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This Week in St Kilda respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this land, the people of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land.
