By Cristina Natoli
Music
FOLK
American singer-songwriter Steve Poltz makes his second visit to Australia this year to perform his latest album, Folksinger. Crowd-pleasers from the new collection include the title song, Mother Russia, and I Want All My Friends To Be Happy. Folksinger is the 56-year-old's 12th album in almost two decades.
American singer-songwriter Steve Poltz is heading Down Under to perform his latest album, Folksinger.Credit: Penny & Logan
Today, 8pm, Caravan Music Club, 95-97 Drummond Street, Oakleigh, $23-$38, 9568 1432, caravanmusic.com.au
CAROLS
Soprano-on-the-rise Madison Nonoa joins the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in Noël! Noël! The 90-minute Christmas concert of traditional, religious and festive songs features renditions of O Come All Ye Faithful, Away in a Manger and Stille Nacht. New-Zealand-born Nonoa starred in the children's chorus of Carmen, her first opera, at just nine years old.
Today, 5pm and 7.30pm, Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt Street, Southbank, $33-$158, 9699 3333, melbournerecital.com.au
ROCK
Florida-based YouTube sensations Boyce Avenue perform in Melbourne for one night only. Since first recording and posting their music online in 2007, brothers Alejandro, Fabian and Daniel Manzano have amassed more than 7 million subscribers. The trio will perform their most recent album, Road Less Traveled, which includes the single Be Somebody.
Tomorrow, 7pm, Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, $68-$190, 136 100, ticketmaster.com.au
TRIBUTE
The Second Hand Space Suits, a five-piece ensemble of Aussie musicians, come together to reinvent iconic hits from the likes of Marvin Gaye, Steely Dan and Sting. Michael Oliphant of The Michael Oliphant Band and Roger McLachlan, founding bass player of The Little River Band, are among the group's members.
Tomorrow, 2.30pm, Flying Saucer Club, 4 St Georges Road, Elsternwick, $20-$30, 9528 3600, flyingsaucerclub.com.au
Live
BALLET
The Australian Ballet performs Credit: James Alcock
The Australian Ballet School uses dance to retell Hans Christian Andersen's 19th-century fairytale, The Snow Queen. Featuring music by composer Jules Massenet, design by High Colman and choreography by Petal Miller-Ashmole, the story is set in icy Scandinavia and follows the adventures of Kai and Gerda and their run in with the all powerful queen.
Today, 7.30pm, Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, city, $44-$102, 1300 182 183, artscentremelbourne.com.au
CIRCUS
Trucked Up Entertainment presents Santa's Break Down Under, an open-air circus show featuring acrobats, dancers and aerialists. Global warming and melting glaciers mean that Santa's had to relocate from the North Pole and has chosen to settle in Melbourne's northern suburb of Coburg. A second and final weekend of shows will take place on December 16-18.
Today and tomorrow, 5pm-10pm, Coburg Velodrome, 30-34 Charles Street, Coburg North, $25-$35, santasbreakdownunder.com.au
THEATRE
Richard Higgins and Matthew Kelly reprise their roles as the Listies in The Listies Ruin Xmas 2016. Winners of the 2013 Sydney Theatre Awards' Best Production for Children, the duo, who pride themselves on knowing what kids love, perform a contemporary Christmas comedy with poo emojis, inflatable Santa suits and snow machines. Until December 18.
Today and tomorrow, 11am and 2pm, The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank, $30-$40, 9685 5111, malthousetheatre.com.au
Mama Alto as Billie Holiday.Credit: Duncan Hewitt
CABARET
Jazz singer and performer Mama Alto creates an underground, speakeasy atmosphere in her cabaret show, Blues In The Night. Set in the jazz age of the '30s, and starring Miss Chief and special guests, the show raises subjects that epitomised the era, from bootleg moonshine and flappers, to clashing political ideologies and scandals.
Today, 2pm and 8pm, Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran, $20-$40, 8290 7000, chapeloffchapel.com.au
Food
FOOD TRUCKS
Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival.
The monthly Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival returns for a Christmas edition. Sessions of newly released family-friendly flicks Moana and Sing will be shown on the big screen, and hungry movie buffs can gorge on offerings from several sweet and savoury food trucks, including beef and chicken burgers from Real Burgers, Twisted Fisherman's seafood snacks, and barista-made coffee and crepes with all the toppings from Crepes De L'ile.
Today and tomorrow, from 6pm, Village Coburg Drive-In, 155 Newlands Road, Coburg North, $15-$18.50, 9354 8633, villagecinemas.com.au
LUNCH
New York-style city eatery Niew Amsterdam invites guests to an educational, two-course lunch with matched cocktails at their final Embrace The Bitterness event for the year. Catch up with friends while learning about Italian aperitifs Aperol and Cinzano and how to use them to make refreshing summer tipples. Aperol Spritz and classics with a twist will complement dishes inspired by summer flavours, featuring ingredients such as orange and fennel.
Today, 1.30pm, Nieuw Amsterdam, 106-112 Hardware Street, city, $30, 9602 2111, eventbrite.com.au
El Atino and Co's puts on another of its popular cooking demonstrations; this time it's Peruvian ceviche. Credit: Bonnie Savage
PERUVIAN
One of El Atino and Co's most popular cooking demonstrations is back. Chef Martin Zozaya shares his knowledge and technique on making ceviche, a traditional Peruvian seafood dish. The lesson will begin with appetisers and a pisco sour cocktail, followed by the cooking class, and concluding with a degustation dinner and paired wines. Preparing ceviche typically involves curing raw fish in citrus juices and garnishing with spices.
December 13, 6.30pm, El Atino and Co, 366 Bridge Road, Richmond, $130, 8529 4222, elatino.com.au
Elsewhere
MARKET
CITY
More than 100 independent designers – including jewellers, illustrators, homeware creators, fashion labels and ceramicists – present their artisan goods at the biannual Markit. Sign up to be in the running to win a prize pack of stallholder items. Markit highlights include handcrafted greeting cards from Little House Stationery, Meet Me In Shermer and Elly Oak. Have a coffee break at Sensory Lab and snack on glazed baked treats from All Day Donuts.
Tomorrow, 10am-5pm, Federation Square, Flinders Street, city, free entry, markitfedsquare.com.au
WANGARATTA
Taste the first summer fruit of the season and start the day with a freshly squeezed juice at the Wangaratta Farmers' Market. Stock up on lemons and oranges from Warby Range Citrus, or try oriental varieties such as loquats, also known as Chinese plums, from Murrnong Permaculture. Add a locally made, limited edition fromage to the pre-dinner cheese board with Tolpuddle Cheese's haloumi and goat's cheese range.
Today, 8am-noon, Apex Park, Parfitt Road, Wangaratta, free entry, vfma.org.au
So comfy and such fun: Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema Sundae Sessions at Sydney University.Credit: Tyler Alberti
FILM
Cinephiles can hire a lounge, buy a drink from the fully licensed bar and enjoy feature films under the stars at Ben and Jerry's Openair Cinemas. Tonight's movie, Hell or High Water, a crime drama named "one of the year's best pictures" by the Toronto Star. Tomorrow's "Sundae Session" features free Ben and Jerry's ice-cream, live entertainment by Beth Grace and a sunset screening of American sci-fi flick, Arrival. Season concludes December 18.
Today, 6.30pm, tomorrow, 5.30pm, South Beach Reserve, St Kilda, $16-$45, openaircinemas.com.au
EXHIBITION
Visitors are encouraged to look at the world from fresh perspectives upon viewing Miyanaga Akira's first Australian exhibit, REALTIME. New meanings are attributed to everyday scenes as familiar images are projected onto a five-metre long screen and continually layered to the point of distortion. Environments change, such as a grassy meadow transforming into an urban site, to inspire viewers to contemplate their own shifting landscape. Ends April 30, 2017.
Today and tomorrow, 10am-5pm, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, city, free entry, 8662 1555, ngv.vic.gov.au
FAMILY
CHRISTMAS AT CENTRAL PARK
Pack a picnic rug and join Wicked's Lucy Durack as she hosts Christmas at Central Park. The family concert will have fireworks, children's activities and live acts, including kids' favourites such as The Mik Maks' Christmas Show, followed by carols. We Will Rock You's Thalia Smith and the Stonnington City Brass band are among the later evening lineup of performers. Buy candles at the event and all proceeds go to Connections Uniting Care.
Today, 5-9.30pm, Central Park, corner of Wattletree and Burke Roads, Malvern East, free entry, 8290 1333, stonnington.vic.gov.au
CAROLS BY KINGSTON
Multi-award-awarding singer Kate Ceberano headlines Carols by Kingston, a festive community event featuring food trucks, carnival rides, a visit from Santa, a fundraising sausage sizzle by the Edithvale Fire Brigade and a Christmas market stocked with handmade items. Hunters and Collectors' Jack Howard and jazz musician Nina Ferro are also set to perform. Limited front stage seating is available and can be prebooked online for $15.
Tomorrow, 6pm-10pm, Sir William Fry Reserve, Nepean Highway, Highett, free-$15, kingston.vic.gov.au