Monday 4 March – Sunday 10 March

TWiSK #404

Relief as beachside yoga finds new home

New look at chair / men @ Pride
Truth about Memoirs @ St Kilda Library
Sophia Kirsanova (violin) & Berta Brozgul (piano) @ All Saints’
Chain @ Memo 

Inflexible Council rules almost cancel yoga
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West Beach Pavilion leased to giant venue corp
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Report into waste delays gets delayed


Every Lovely Terrible Thing @ Theatre Works

Tuesday 5 March – Saturday 16 March, 7.30 pm (some matinees)
A universal tale of love, courage and intergenerational trauma, this darkly comedic new Australian play boldly examines why families stay together – and what happens when they can’t.
Step inside the tumultuous world of the Colemans as they prepare to take on their greatest adversary yet: Themselves.
Tix 
Dry Land @ Theatre Works Explosives Factory
Tuesday 5 March – Saturday 9 March, 7.30 pm
Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel is an unflinching play about reproductive rights, the resilience and intimacy of young women, and what happens in a girls’ change room after a high school swimming pool has closed.
Tix 
Truth about Memoirs with Alexandra Collier and Katia Ariel @ St Kilda Library
Wednesday 6 March, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
International Women’s Day event: What are the ethics of writing about those that you love, while also revealing your most personal and tender flaws? Alexandra Collier and Katia Ariel will discuss their raw and honest memoirs that deal with family, grief, betrayal, motherhood, sexuality, and desire. Free
Bookings required 
male // chair by garrie maguire @ Pride Gallery
Wednesday 6 March – Sunday 28 April.
‘male//chair’ by Melbourne artist, garrie maguire, is a photographic exhibition with a simple set up, where each individual sits stripped of conventional gender or status signifiers, perched upon red kitchen chair. The camera serves as the audience, capturing the essence of each participant’s raw presentation. Through these images, garrie hopes to provide the viewer with glimpses into interpretations of maleness that occupy this city.
“I like a simple brief and allowing many to fulfil it. This project has taught me how males project themselves with their pose and poise,” says garrie.
Info
Monday to Friday – 9 am to 6 pm
Saturday & Sunday – 10 am to 6 pm
Global Citizen Nights @ Palais
Wednesday 6 March, 7 pm
An intimate evening at the iconic Palais Theatre, where live music, activism, and powerful stories from local and global
activists collide, headlined by the iconic Crowded House. Tricky process to get tix.
Tix
Monument @ Red Stitch
Wednesday 6 March – Sunday 10 March
After a successful season last year, Emily Sheehan’s play Monument is back at Red Stitch. With an astute and entertaining script, Monument challenges the trivialisation of beauty therapy, exploring the role that makeup and fashion play in how we perceive and receive women in power.
Info and tix 
Graham Nash Sixty Years of Songs & Stories @ Palais
Thursday 7 March
Legendary artist Graham Nash, as a founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. $99+
Tix

Wantok Musik’s Sing Sing @ Memo
Thursday 7 March, 8 pm
Telek, Radical Son, Tio, Frank Yamma & David Bridie is a vibrant, joyful celebration of culture from Melanesia and First Nations Australia, all together in one huge show. $70 +
Tix
Chinese Classical Dance & Stories @ Palais
Friday 8 March
Chinese Classical Dance comprising elite artists exclusively from the most prestigious dancing school in China – Beijing Dance Academy. $70+
Tix
The Beatnik Preachers @ George Lane
Friday 8 March, 7 pm
A blistering style of jazz with original beat-poetry.
Tix

Comedy Gold @ National Studio 2
Friday 8 March, 7.30 pm
Follow the fairy-lights to the intimate cabaret Studio 2 for an evening of comedic alchemy with Matt Stewart, Tony Martin, Anna Perry and guests. $35
Tix
Expressions Unveiled @ Minerva Gallery
Saturday 9 March, opening 2 pm – 4 pm
A diverse collection of captivating artworks from 12 talented artists:
Themla Beeton, Alice Corless, Faye Gregson, Lee Hirsh, Maria Jevic, Danny Kneebone, Ramanpreet Kaur, Qian Luo & Hye Jin Jeon, Maria Philips, Maria Rogers, Bhvinder Kaur Sidhu and Yiyang ye.
Rear of the building at 224 Danks Street, Albert Park
A Man Called Son @ George Lane
Saturday 9 March, 7 pm
A Man Called Son (AMCS) is the ongoing project of Simon Pearlman, from Brisbane.
Tix

Chain @ Memo
Saturday 9 March, 8 pm
Heritage rock at its finest. They work so hard that their back’s near broke. $55
Tix | YouTube Black and Blue live in 2022 
The Human League, Dare! @ Palais
Saturday 9 March (Sold out) and Thursday 14 March
The Human League celebrate their iconic synth-pop masterpiece DARE!, by performing the album in full, alongside other anthems and classics from across their extensive back catalogue. $89+
Tix
Mussel & Jazz Festival @ South Melbourne Market
Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March
Saturday Jazz
11 am – Noria and the Parisians (2 sets)
1 pm – Jen Salisbury Trio (2 sets)
3 pm – Miss Lizzy & The Night Owls (2 sets)
5 pm – Joys Jambi
6 pm – Elvis
7 pm – The Jackson Combo (2 sets)
Sunday Jazz
11 am – Hoodoo Mayhem (2 sets)
1 pm – The Bluetone Assembly (2 sets)
3 pm – Margie Lou Dyer (2 sets)
5 pm – Steve Sedergreen Trio (2 sets)
7 pm – Adam Rudegeair (2 sets)
Info
St Kilda Repair Cafe and Bike Kitchen @ EcoCentre
Sunday 10 March, 2 pm – 5 pm
Bring your broken items to the Repair Cafe to reduce waste and learn new skills. If you have any unwanted phones or laptops, please bring them along to donate. Free / by donation
38 Blessington St, (across from previous EcoCentre)
Sophia Kirsanova (violin) & Berta Brozgul (piano) @ All Saints’
Sunday 10 March, 3 pm
Latvian violinist Sophia Kirsanova with local favourite Berta Brozgul play:
Claude Debussy, Sonata in G minor for Violin and Piano
Lili Boulanger, 3 pieces for violin
César Franc, Sonata for violin and piano in A Major
$25 full / $20 concession; students: granted free
Tickets at the door (no EFTPOS) or Trybooking 
entry with a valid student card.
More info
2 Chapel Street (opp. Astor Theatre)

Oppenheimer – 70mm film @ Astor
Sunday 10 March,3pm (single feature)
Long film, big story, big screen
Tix

Next Week
Monday 11 March – Sunday 17 March

Nik Kershaw & Go West @ Palais
Monday 11 March, 8 pm
An 80s double header when chart toppers Go West and Nik Kershaw $89+
Tix
Gilberto Gil @ Palais
Tuesday 12 March, 8 pm
Brazilian Legend Gilberto Gil. $99+
Tix
John Craigie (USA) & Cat Clyde (CAN) @ George Lane
Wednesday 13 March, 7 pm
Introducing Portland, Oregon singer, songwriter and producer John Craigie and spellbinding Canadian troubadour Cat Clyde. Almost sold out.
Tix

Judy Collins @ Memo
Wednesday 13 March, 8 pm
Judy Collins will perform an intimate concert of songs from throughout her career, accompanied by pianist Russell Walden. $99
Tix
Cheap Trick & The Angels @ Palais
Wednesday 13 March, 8 pm
Remember the dream police? Will you ever see their face again? $142+
Tix
Habitat Gardening Workshop @ St Kilda Library
Thursday 14 March, 6 pm to 7:30 pm
A habitat gardening workshop presented by AB Bishop, a horticulturist, writer, and conservationist. You’ll discover how we care about local wildlife, what to bring into our spaces and how to set up your garden in a way that local critters can’t resist! Free
Bookings

Book Launch: Bully Blocking @ Readings
Thursday 14 March, 6:30pm
Celebrate the launch of Evelyn M Field’s Bully Blocking: Empowering Students to Manage Bullying.
Free but booking essential 
112 Acland St
Sunset Market @ Acland Plaza
Thursday 14 March, 4.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Esplanade Market traders (except the food trucks) appear in Acland Plaza for the last time this season.
Info

Own Voices Forum @ St Kilda Library
Friday 15 March, 11 am to 3 pm
An event for local writers with disability who are interested in joining the Writeability Goes Local Writers Group running at the Library between April and November. Jenny Hedley, local mentor who will facilitate the Writers Group, will be speaking with presenters Jessica Walton and Nicole Smith (pictured). Free
Register 
TWIGGS performs the music of The Allman Brothers Band @ George Lane
Friday 15 March, 7 pm
TWIGGS brings a 7 piece band that has the original double drummer set up in the form of Chris Cameron (The Rookies) and Johnny Tesoriero (Blues Roulette) , dual guitar duties from Duncan Schmoll and Glenn Ford, Keys from Joel Smithard, Craig Kelly (Dan Parsons/Stetson Family) on Bass and the mighty Paul Slattery (Moreland City Soul Revue) on Vocals.
Tix

Screaming Jets @ Espy
Friday 15 March, 7.30 pm
Touring to support a new album Professional Misconduct. $45
Tix 
Bethenny Frankel @ Palais
Friday 15 March, 8 pm
Entrepreneur, Producer, philanthropist, bestselling author, and CEO of lifestyle brand Skinny Girl. $120+
Tix
Tasty local events @ Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Friday 15 – Sunday 24 March
Donna Chang @ Mya Tiger
Friday 15 March, 7 pm
The Espy’s Mya Tiger hands over the reins to the team from Brisbane’s Donna Chang for an evening of Cantonese deliciousness. $123
Info
Desserted @ Stokehouse
Monday 18 March, 6.30 pm
Five courses of dessert. $148
Tix
Italian-American Beats and Eats
Friday 22 March, 7 pm
For one night only Jimmy Hurlston from Collingwood cult eatery Easey’s pairs up with chef Telina Menzies and star pizza chef Salim Gafayri for a mash-up of all things Italian-American. $148
Tix
SummerSalt @ Catani Gardens
Saturday 16 March, 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm
Festival style event featuring James Bay, Matt Corby, Ziggy Alberts, Thelma Plum, Kita Alexander and Mia Wray. $139 +
Tix 
St Patricks Festival @ O’Donnell Gardens and Acland Street
Saturday 16 March and Sunday 17 March, 10 am to 10 pm
Now a two day event starting with a free family fund day on Saturday with live music and a parade. Sunday has a ticket event with The Tumbling Paddies from Co. Fermanagh, Sharon Shannon & The Lost Backpackers
Tix and times 
A Famous Sri Lankan Garden @ U3A Port Phillip Zoom Saturday Seminar
Saturday 16 March, 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Presenter Lynsey Poore is a volunteer guide at the Royal Botanic Gardens. In this seminar she describes the Sri Lankan Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, close to Kandy. In The Guardian (2018) it was listed as one of the ten great botanical gardens of the world. Free
Register for link 
Sisters in Crime. Unmasking the Truth @ The Rising Sun Hotel
Saturday 16 March, 8 pm
Authors of three new novels will ‘tell all’ under interrogation of journalist and Sisters in Crime convenor, Leslie Falkiner-Rose. The authors are Louise Milligan (Pheasants Nest), Sarah Bailey (Body of Lies), and Abby Corson (The Concierge) expose the perfidy, duplicity, and brutality that define some people, and far too many institutions.
Info  | Bookings 
Jessica Mauboy @ Palais
Saturday 16 March, 8 pm
“Expect an unforgettable journey through her classics and new hits.” $80+
Tix

Harry Manx (CAN) @ Memo
Saturday 16 March, 8 pm
He’s Canadian. Seven time Maple Blues award winner, Folk Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year. $60
Tix
Swing to the music @ Elwood Croquet Club
Sunday 17 March, 10 am – 4 pm
Drop in anytime to learn to play croquet and listen to live music from Team Love, Elwood Community Choir, Elwood College Band, and the Piano Accordion Group. Free BBQ, café cart and mini mart with local artisans and crafts.
Info 
Head Street, Elwood
Festival Africa @ Space2b
Sunday 17 March, 11 am – 5 pm
Featuring Astral African Market showcasing treasures from Black-Owned businesses, including clothing, vintage finds and jewellery; lively performances throughout the day; drumming, henna and face painting workshops and an African art exhibition throughout March.
Info

Daoirí Farrell (IRE) @ Memo
Sunday 17 March, 3 pm
Dublin-born singer and bouzouki player Daoirí Farrell direct from Port Fairy. $45
Tix  | YouTube 

Hornstars @ Espy
Sunday 17 March, 6 pm
Three sets of soulful, funky tunes. Free
Tix 

Plan ahead

Urban Heat or Cool Green forum @ Pride Centre
Tuesday 19 March, 6.30 pm – 8 pm
Organised by Port Phillip Climate Emergency Network (PECAN), Port Phillip EcoCentre, and City of Port Phillip this community forum looks at Port Phillip’s draft Urban Forest Strategy.
Jen Witheridge (Port Phillip Urban Forest Planner) and Greg Moore (Senior Research Associate, University of Melbourne) will reveal the benefits of canopy cover and address challenges on the journey to a cool green future. Gio Fitzpatrick (Local Naturalist) will talk about the importance of planting for increasing local biodiversity.
Engage in a dynamic Q&A session and be part of the discussion shaping a more sustainable and resilient urban environment. Free
Tix 
79-91 Fitzroy St
MICF The Gala @ Palais
Wednesday 20 March, 8 pm
Comedy Festival Gala always sells out – hurry $193+
Tix
GP Formula 1 @ Albert Park 
Thursday 21 March – Sunday 24 March
All the usual zoom zoom and boom boom
Info
Comedy Festival Opening Night @ Palais
Wednesday 27 March
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow. $73+
Tix

Sonya Semmens announced as Greens candidate for Macnamara

The Greens have announced Sonya Semmens as their candidate for the marginal Federal seat of Macnamara currently held by Labor’s Josh Burns.
Sonya is described as “an NGO consultant, educator and small business owner”. The Greens announcement says she has lived in Macnamara for the past decade with her partner and their four children who attend local schools.
Sonya has a background in public relations and general marketing – BA(Psych), Grad Dip(Comms)(Hons) – and has worked in-agency in the NFP sector as a fundraiser for twenty years.
Sonya was candidate for Higgins in last 2022 federal election where she secured nearly 23% of the vote and her preferences helped Labor’s Michelle Ananda-Rajah (28%) defeat the sitting Liberal Katie Allen (40%).
Greens announcement  | Sonya’s business site  | Greens 2022 announcement about her Higgins campaign 

By the way, what’s happened to Steph Hodgins-May
After being Green’s candidate for Macnamara in 2016, 2019 and 2022, Steph is set to become a Senator replacing the retiring Senator Janet Rice in coming months. 
Green’s website
Grand Prix is a billion dollar drain say tireless locals
 Joan Logan, FOI officer for Save Albert Park Inc, is calling for a rethink about the cost benefit loss of the GP.
“30 years ago, then Premier Jeff Kennett told Victorians the grand prix would not cost taxpayers a cent. $1 billion later, it is obvious he was wrong,” she writes.
Read more 

Weekly beachside yoga finds rooftop home

After running foul of Council rules, Eliza Hilmer’s weekly ‘free or by donation’ yoga session has found a new home on the roof of the St Kilda Sea Baths.
The weekly Sunday yoga started during COVID and quietly grew in popularity, attracting up to 100 participants to the St Kilda foreshore.
But a front page photograph in The Age earlier this year prompted Council to limit the classes to 15 participants or only four times per year.
After fours years of weekly yoga, Eliza found this hard to comprehend and disappointing.
After meeting the Mayor Heather Cunsolo, Eliza was told the rules were the rules and nothing else could be done. (See The Age report 6 Feb)
A win for local knowledge
Eliza contacted former Councillor Serge Thomann for ideas on how to respond to Council. Serge suggested seeking alternatives, including the Sea Baths. And now Eliza’s Feel Good Flows yoga has a new venue.
Join the sessions on Sundays from 9.30 am – 10.30 am.
Visit the Feel Good Flows website

Good news that turned sour.
The Age front cover that prompted Council to restrict the yoga

But wait there’s more …
volleyball permitted, yoga is not

TWiSK wondered how weekly activities like the beach volleyball could be permitted and yoga could not?
So we asked Council, and their response created more questions than answers..
Here is the Council statement in full:
“All permits have different requirements and restrictions. The beach volleyball on St Kilda Beach is permitted under the Outdoor Commercial Recreational Activities Permit, not the event permit.
“The beach volleyball fees are $341 annually plus they are required to pay the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA) mandated participant fee of $1.60 per child and $2.40 per adult each session.
“Our Commercial Recreation Policy excludes any activity which is identified as personal training, such as yoga. This is why yoga classes require a personal training licence.”

Hands up who supports yoga? Yoga  participation is growing 

Opinion
Time for Council to wake up and smell the coffee (or chia latte)
Take a lesson from yoga and be more flexible

TWiSK likes to think that St Kilda could be a magical place where the community can thrive, connect and share.
Surely a community organised, self-supporting and effectively free weekly yoga session on the foreshore is a dream come true.
Yet after discovering that such an activity has been happening weekly for four years, the Council moved to shut it down – because there are rules.
But as we have reported above – there are many rules and the decision to exclude yoga is revealed to be arbitrary, narrow and out of step with reality.
If the current foreshore rules forbid weekly yoga sessions with more than 15 people, the rules need to be changed.
Indeed an online petition attracted over 7500 signatures support the yoga session quicker than you can assume a downward dog pose.
Data quoted in The Age from the Australian Sports Commission confirms a long-term decline in organised sports in favour of lifestyle activities, with 1.17 million Australians 15 and older practising yoga – ahead of soccer (1.13 million), golf (1.04 million) and tennis (1 million).
Council needs to take a lesson from yoga and be more flexible.
View aerial video of the beach yoga as it was until Council found out

West Beach Pavilion leased to Australian Venue Co until 2030

The historic West Beach Pavilion has been acquired by the operator of the Espy, Village Belle, Newmarket and Middle Park Hotels (and nearly 200 other venues).
TWiSK can report that the Australian Venue Co (AVC) has taken over the lease of the West Beach Pavilion on Beaconsfield Parade in West St Kilda.
The lease runs until 30 November 2024 with two 3-year options taking the lease up to 2030.
The Pavilion is a council managed crown land property.   
Rent free bonanza?
As reported in by TWiSK in October last year, the 2009 – 2024 lease offered extraordinarily favourable terms in return for a $4m investment in refurbishment. The initial rent was $1 per year for the first 5 years. After the 5th anniversary, a turnover rent applies at 5% of turn-over in excess of $2.3M (food and beverage) and $1.4M (retail).
Smooth operators with deep pockets
The Sydney based AVC has been picking up leases on smartly renovated food and beverage outlets in Melbourne with gusto. Dr Google reports the Village Belle lease was $1.458M per annum in 2021. The Espy was also picked up as part of a package of 8 Melbourne pubs in 2021 as the Corporation rampaged through the post COVID period backed by Wall Street private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR).
AVC also operate the Fairfield Boat House, that was formerly operated by the outgoing West Beach Pavilion crew.
Clearly these people have a good eye and a flair for quality F&B.
TWiSK is interested because the Pavilion is on Crown Land and managed by Council.
TWiSK will contact AVC to learn more about their plans for the Pavilion.
In the meantime, let us know if you’ve noticed any change in the Pavilion’s service.

No haste for waste review
Report into delayed waste collection is delayed

Council has delayed the delivery of a review into waste collection to ensure quality.
A council statement to TWiSK said the waste review is nearing completion and is expected to presented at the 20 March Council Meeting.
“This is slightly later than estimated due to the time required to complete the review and ensure its quality.”
The report findings are expected to be publicly available “shortly” after Council consideration.
The report was promised before the end of 2023. 

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