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The White Hat Melbourne NewsletterArchived Newsletter No.184 - 10 August 2006Contents
Theatre Portraits Food Comedy Science & Engineering Week Music From the White Hat Inbox Jazz Debunking Myths Fairs & Fetes Family Portrait Exhibition +----------------------------------------------------+ THEATRE “Boring – I’ve done that before!” Well, what about a cabaret performance at the Swedish Church – bring your own picnic basket and wine glass. I bet they haven’t done THAT before. A major production Porgy and Bess comes to town next week for a short time. Next weekend we get to see how the newly formed Victorian Opera stacks up in the mainstream repertoire with Cosi fan Tutte. A new production called Construction of the Human Heart opens at The Malthouse and an Arena production of The Boy from Oz opens at Melbourne Park. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Events/TheatreM.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ PORTRAIT 1 “About the portrait of my wife Mr Gill. Make sure you get the homestead and the bull in the picture and could you make them look a bit more impressive. You see, we’re sending it back to England.” +----------------------------------------------------+ FOOD This weekend there is a specialist cheese show and also a gluten free wheat free food expo. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Victoria/Other/FoodWine.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ PORTRAIT 2 We’ve done well Mr. Roberts and my wife recently had a portrait of her mother sent back from England and she has got it into her head that she wants one. The only problem is – how can I put this – she’s no oil painting.” “Never mind,” says Tom, “she soon will be!” (“Doing portraits in a warm studio sure beats camping out in the rain with those losers in Heidelberg” he thinks.) +----------------------------------------------------+ COMEDY This Friday & Saturday there is a ‘Stand up Comedy Spectacular” at the Athenaeum. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Events/ComedyM.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ PORTRAIT 3 “My wife’s always admired her mother’s portrait, but as a modern industrialist I don’t want anything as old fashioned as that. There is however this problem with her skin.” “Do not concern yourself sir. Each of our photographs is afterwards hand coloured.” +----------------------------------------------------+ SCIENCE & ENGINEERING WEEK If you are interested in how stuff works in Melbourne then you have a big week coming up. There are lots of visits and presentations, many of them free but requiring online registration. Events include underground tour of Fed Square, tour of the new facilities at the Sports & Aquatic Centre, A Synchrotron breakfast (and long-term White Hat subscribers all know how a Synchrotron works), tours of various traffic and public transport control rooms, Qantas flight simulator visit and Bionic Ear open day. Details at: http://www.vic.engineersaustralia.org.au/events/week2006_02a.html +----------------------------------------------------+ MUSIC The Boite Winter Festival (world music) commences this weekend. Details at: http://www.boite.asn.au/winterfest.asp There is more classical music this week than you can shake a stick that has been hollowed out with some holed drilled in it and a mouthpiece added at. (I think the syntax of that sentence is correct even if the spellchecker didn’t – what would Microsoft know about elegant prose?) Performances include a free Percy Grainger concert on Saturday and a free lunchtime concert by the Benaud Trio on Monday. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Classical.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ FROM THE WHITE HAT INBOX We had this personal message: “hi from nat at leongatha. it seems pretty quiet here but were waiting for the weekend when the nitelife should really ramp up. in the meantime crystal is decorating an old lamp which she sez will make us good money at a market. luv nat.” +----------------------------------------------------+ PORTRAIT 4 “I never met her mother Mr. Nolan, but judging by her photograph she had beautifully pure skin. I wouldn’t want my wife to feel inadequate.” “Not a problem” says Sid, “by the time I’m finished no-one will recognize her.” +----------------------------------------------------+ JAZZ For the next 3 weekends the B# Big Band will be performing at the Copacabana in Smith Street Fitzroy. Highly recommended. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Jazz.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ DEBUNKING MYTHS If you feel that there is a large amount of hogwash out there that passes as ‘fact’ you might be interested in the following competition. “The Australian Skeptics Prize for Critical Thinking will be awarded for work that investigates conventional wisdom and beliefs which lack reliable evidence or scientific method, and that promotes rational thinking about such matters by the public, educators and the media. The prize of $10,000 is to reward critical investigation of irrational paranormal beliefs or pseudo-scientific claims. Entries are welcomed from any interested Australian, whether involved professionally or by way of private enthusiasm.” Entries are open to all and close on October 6. If you would like more information, send us an email to skeptics@whitehat.com.au +----------------------------------------------------+ FAIRS & FETES This weekend there is the 3MBS book and record fair. Just the place to pick up The Ring of the Nibelung on four hundred 78rpm shellac discs. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Festivals/FairsFetes.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ PORTRAIT 5 “After her mother’s abstract portrait she wanted something more realistic. I know you are a professional photographer but such bright lighting may be a little too realistic.” “Mate, I’ve got one word for you – Photoshop!” +----------------------------------------------------+ FAMILY Next week at the Athenaeum is a production by scouts and guides entitled “The Ungrateful Children's Guide to Grandpas and Guitars”. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Lifestyle/Children.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ PORTRAIT EXHIBITION There is an exhibition of photographic portraits (and the camera doesn’t lie) of famous Australians in the Atrium at Crown Casino. The photographer is internationally acclaimed Australian, Robin Sellick, and portraits include Germaine Greer, Barry Humphries, John Howard, Kylie Minogue, The Wiggles, Megan Gale, Harry Kewell, Jack Thompson, Dannii Minogue, Bert Newton, Cate Blanchett, Shane Warne, Ron Barassi, Pauline Hanson, Sir Donald Bradman, Pro Hart, Steve Irwin, Julia Gillard and others. You can find more information at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Events/Exhibitions.asp or if you are on Shane’s contact list I’m sure he will SMS you about it. As to some of the painters we have mentioned above you can usually see paintings by S.T.Gill at the Potter Museum at Melbourne and at the State Library, paintings by Tom Roberts at the National Gallery in Fed Square, and paintings by Sidney Nolan also at the National Gallery and probably at the newly re-opened Heide Gallery. +----------------------------------------------------+ THE WHITE HAT QUIZ How well do you know Melbourne? First to last week’s quiz. First correct entry came from Brigid, followed by Lisa, Murray and others. Here is a compilation of answers from subscribers. Melbourne Film & TV. 1. What Melbourne suburb is associated on film with death? Brunswick. There is a 1991 movie entitled "Death in Brunswick" 2. What international film star is reputed to have commented that Melbourne was an appropriate place to make a film about the end of the earth? Ava Gardner made the statement in 1959 while filming of "On The Beach". The quote is attributed to Ava Gardner but may be more correctly attributed to Claude Forell (from the media) - who took credit for the quote in the '90's 3. What is the everyday name of Ramsay Street? Pin Oak Court (Melway 62E8) Vermont. Near where Springvale Road meets Burwood Highway - and about 10 minutes drive from nearby Channel 10's Nunawading studios if driving the 1960's Bedford bus that the stars used for wardrobe, etc that was always parked in adjacent Billabong Park during shooting. 4. What iconic Melbourne building featured in the TV series Homicide? Russell Street Police Headquarters, 336-376 Russell Street, Melbourne 5. What pub was used for many scenes in The Sullivans? The Retreat Hotel, 226 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford. Murray adds “And I believe the Sullivan's house made the press one last time a few years back when marked for demolition. I'd like to know the address (or former address) of the house if anyone knows it.” 6. In what suburb was Secret Life of Us shot? St Kilda, at 14a Ackland Street and 22a The Esplanade. 7. What connection does a current Melbourne television studio have with harmoniums? GTV 9 Studios in 22 Bendigo Street Richmond was once a Wertheim Piano Factory (1908-1935) Now to this week’s quiz. How stuff works in Melbourne. 1. The giants Gog and Magog strike the hour in the Royal Arcade. How are they powered? 2. Outside a number of pubs in Melbourne you will find a metal or wooden trapdoor in the footpath. What is this for? 3. Outside numbers of older city buildings you will find glass bricks in the footpath. What are these for? 4. Where would you find the motor on a cable tram? 5. In what suburb are you likely to find your suburban greengrocer at 6am? 6. For several decades people in Melbourne would watch the coloured light display on the T&G Building (now KPMG) tower. What message were they receiving? 7. The publican decides you have had too much to drink and as you are being escorted to the door a passing taxi pulls over as if by magic. The publican did use a phone. How did this happen? 8. In the back lanes and alleys of inner Melbourne you will find many tiny doorways, usually now bricked up. This shows that the early inhabitants of Melbourne were much shorter than they are now. True or False? Send your answers to quiz@whitehat.com.au No prizes – just glory and a warm inner glow.
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