Cold Snaps

Judging by the chilling wind whistling down Russell Street this morning, winter is upon us. Season of doonas, dvds and bar heaters, many of us choose to stay at home.
Even so, there's plenty of things going on around town. Get out of your trackie dacks and Ughs this weekend and head on down to one of these exciting events for a rosy winter glow.

The Next Wave Festival is here. From the 13th of May until the 30th, the festival always presents a clutch of gems that showcases Melbourne's best edgy art. This year the festival features roof-top art, fascinating short film and left-field comedy, the greater part of which is entirely free. Get amongst it.

Buddha Day is celebrated in the city with a festival on the 15th - 16th May. Celebrating the birthday of one of the world's most influential spiritual leaders, the event features an art installation in St. Paul's Court, Federation Square, a concert, workshops, meditation classes, Tai Chi , and vegetarian cooking demos, amongst many other goings on.

Fancy warming up with a little dancing? Learn to salsa for free! Classes are 530pm Every Wed and Thu in Melbourne CBD, venue is Syn Bar, Level 1, 163 Russell St, Melbourne (enter via alley behind Hungry Jacks). Bookings are essential in order to balance male and female numbers. To book, SMS 0400 933 285, or visit www.thesalsafoundation.com.au.

This week is National Volunteer Week 2010. Consider learning a new skill, and giving back to the community. Sure to give you a warm toasty feeling inside!
Visit here for thousands of volunteer opportunities.

Autumn in Melbourne Brings Plenty of Fun

It's cold, you say. It's comfy inside with my heater and DVDs and soup.
Bah! How about one of these worthy pursuits to heat up your Autumn?

The Melbourne Jazz Festival has a bevy of wonderful events running, many of them for free. Witness their daily lunchtime, and post-5pm concerts.

Their opening concert in Fed Square on May 1 between 3pm - 5pm is also free, and features some of the finest acts of the festival.

There's also an all-day festival, The Overground: A Festival Within a Festival, this Sunday May 2.It's only $30, and is a groundbreaking multi-stage event, held in the stunning innards of Melbourne Town Hall. According to their website:

'Overground celebrates the rich diversity of underground musical culture in Melbourne in a day-long event set in the many lost spaces of Melbourne Town Hall. It will be an event where new sounds can be made and heard as the outer limits of jazz and improvisation are explored, incorporating avante-garde, grindcore, big band, expanded cinema, contemporary classical and performance installation.'

Sounds awesome. Will most definitely be there.

---

Also coming up, the annual Zombie Shuffle. Operating under the tagline of 'promoting nothing other than the simple pleasures of being undead' this free event will run this Saturday from Carlton Gardens to Flinders St Station. Dress up in your best un-dead attire, smudge on a bit of fake blood and come join the zombie hordes from 12.30pm - 3.30pm this Saturday!

--
Mary and Max: The Exhibition has just opened at ACMI in Fed Square. This is an interesting little showcase of the technical and creative processes behind the film. Get along if you are interested in animation, or even if you just need to kill and hour in the city. Good stuff.
---

Half-Tix Bulletin: The Man in Black - The Johnny Cash Story - 7pm - Atheneum - $30
Dracula's Dinner and Show - Carlton - 6.30pm - $40
MTC - The Grenade - Playhouse - 630pm - $46

Coming soon: A guide to the best uni bar nights in Melbourne. Cheers!