VIC

PIZZA & MOVIE NIGHT
This Sunday 7 July St Panteleimon Greek Orthodox Church (19 Herbert St, Dandenong) is hosting a pizza and movie night at 4.30 pm. The first film being screened is ‘The Prince of Egypt’, suitable for kids (rated G), followed by ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ for the adults (rated MA). Go along and enjoy film with great company, pizza, popcorn and drinks. $5 p.p.

GREEK NIGHT
The Alpha and Omega Greek Dinner night is back by popular demand this Sunday 7 July at the Reservoir RSL (251 Spring St, Reservoir) from 5.30-11.00 pm. There’ll be plenty of food and glendi, with entertainment by the Alpha and Omega band. $45.00 per person (children 6-10 $25.00), includes set menu/banquet and live music (drinks extra). Dress code: Smart Casual. For reservations, contact Christos Ambelidis 0406 101 574.

‘THALASSA’ ART EXHIBITION

Stella Zicopoulos-Greig’s latest solo exhibition of oil paintings ‘Thalassa’ explores the artist’s cultural identity and lifelong relationship with the sea. As a child of Greek migrants, her own memories of the sea and the long voyage from Greece to Australia had a profound influence on her artistic practice, further reinforced by her family’s annual summer holidays spent at the beach. These personal and symbolic memories continue to inform the narratives and technical compositions of Stella’s highly abstracted and gestural oil paintings. More recently, she has been exploring the compositional motif of ‘two-thirds of sky’ within the surface of her paintings, presenting the horizon line as a force which connects, disrupts, and creates discord within the picture plane. See her work first-hand. ‘Thalassa’ opens on Friday 12 July (6.00-8.00 pm), and is on show until 10 August at G3 Artspace (64 Parkers Rd, Parkdale). Catch Stella giving a talk at the exhibition space on Saturday 20 July at 2.00 pm. Free admission.

OUR PONTIAN KITCHEN
After last years huge success and increased demand, the Panagia Soumela Pontian Association of Whittlesea Youth Committee are presenting the 2nd Annual Our Pontian Kitchen. Taking place on Saturday 13 July at 18 Spring St, Thomastown at 7.00 pm, guests will be transported back in time with a night full of traditional Pontian food, live music, and performances by the Panagia Soumela dance groups. Pay at event.

BYZANFEST FILM FESTIVAL SCREEN & AWARDS NIGHT
Byzanfest Film Festival Screening and Awards night is taking place on Sunday 4 August at 6.00 pm. Byzanfest is a worldwide online film festival that promotes filmmakers of the Eastern Orthodox faith, and has a large following across the world. Tune in via YouTube. The Byzanfest Premiere Screening will take place on Sunday 21 July at St Haralambos Greek Orthodox Parish Templestowe and Doncaster (190 Porter St, Templestowe) from 5.00-8.00 pm. Free to attend.

GREEK DANCING WITH RUSH
RMIT United Society of Hellenes is hosting Greek Dancing lessons for people of all ages and backgrounds, taking you from the bare basics to different styles around Greece. Schedule: Friday 26 July: Cretan Dances, 9 August: Lakonian Dances, 23 August: Island Dances. Taking place at RMIT – Building 8, Level 3, Room 10, Wales Cor, Melbourne. Free to attend.

THE PHILHELLENES LIVE
Catch The Philhellenes, Mairead Hannan (from the Xylouris Ensemble – violin & voice), Wayne Simmons (from Polyxeni – guitar, accordion & banjo) and Con Kalamaras (from the Melbourne Rebetiko Ensemble – guitar & tzouras) performing at The Post Office Hotel (229-231 Sydney Rd, Coburg) on Saturday 3 August from 9.00-11.00 pm. They will play a mixture of traditional repertoire from Asia Minor and songs composed by Greek refugee musicians from the region, such as Dalgas (Antonis Diamantidis), Panos Tountas and Kostas Skarvelis. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Y9az6O

COOKING CLASS: GREEK PROVINCIAL FARE
Expand your repertoire and knowledge of Greek cuisine with Niki Louca’s delicious selection of provincial dishes. On Saturday 31 August at The Neff Market Kitchen (Stall 90, Cecil St, South Melbourne) (11.00 am-1.30 pm), Niki will show you how to make prawn saganaki, kalamari krasato, spanakorizo, and to finish, traditional rizogalo. $120 p.p. includes lunch/dinner and a recipe pack. To book, visit https://bit.ly/2XJ9DZK

 

NSW

QUINCE SPOON SWEET PRESERVE DEMONSTRATION AND SAMPLING
Spoon Sweets (glyka tou koutaliou) have a special place in the kitchens and social interactions of the Mediterranean, symbolic of hospitality, welcoming and a readiness to open your door at any moment. Using quince, a fruit associated with love and fertility in Ancient Greece, Eleni Christou will teach you how to make spoon sweet preserve and take home your very own sample to share with family and friends! Drink a Turkish coffee, while Eleni discusses spoon sweets in a contemporary context, drawing on experiences in Sydney, Cyprus and Greece, navigating identity, community and always being ready for unexpected guests. Taking place on Saturday 20 July at Thirning Villa (40 Arthur St, Ashfield) from 10.30 am-12.30 pm. To book, visit https://bit.ly/2XlFall

 

TAS

GREECE: THE WINES, NOT THE MUSICAL
For those of you not jet setting off to Europe this year, Sommeliers Australia is bringing Greece to you. On Monday 8 July sommeliers from across the country who have had the chance to travel to Greece over the last few years are coming together to give their perspective on the wines of Greece and how they can be showcased in the context of the Australian dining scene. In Hobart, the session will be guided by Kavita Faiella and Pip Anderson, and will give you a broad lay of the land to give context with a focus on Assyrtiko and Xinomavro – the Queen and King of the Greek viticultural landscape. Taking place at Faro @ MONA (655 Main Rd, Berriedale) at 4.00-5.30 pm. To book, visit https://bit.ly/2LuAzpQ

YOUNG DANCE NIGHT
The Young Hellenic Association of Tasmania present their first ever Young Dance Night, their only event exclusively for under 18s on Friday 12 July at The Greek Club (69 Federal St, Hobart) from 8.00 pm. There’ll be House music, RnB and Greek to satisfy everyone’s tastes. For pre-sale tickets, visit https://bit.ly/2JlHBdA. For enquiries, contact 0475 471 040.

 

QLD

BRIBIE OPA GREEK FESTIVAL 2019
The Bribie ‘OPA’ Greek Festival is taking place this Sunday 7 July at 2-12 Third Ave, Woorim from 9.00 am-4.00 pm, showcasing Greek culture to the wider community. Celebrating the diversity of people from various regional and ethnic backgrounds through food, dance, music, informative displays, tutorials and children’s entertainment. Free to attend.

STAR OF GREECE HERITAGE WALK
Take part in the annual National Trust (Willunga Branch) commemoration of the sinking of the ship Star of Greece in 1888 at Port Willunga on Sunday 14 July at 10.00 am. The Star of Greece shipwreck heritage walk enables you to hear about the dramatic shipwreck event and visit some of the places associated with the shipwreck and its aftermath. Meeting point: Star of Greece Car Park (Port Willunga, Morphett Vale). Gold coin donation appreciated. Bookings essential.

 

SA

TAVERNA 60’S NIGHT
Taverna Night returns to the Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc. (288 Franklin St, Adelaide) on Saturday 13 July, this time taking you back to the golden era of music and films – the 1960’s. Enjoy music from famous composers and song writers, music that made films, actors and singers household names to this day! Featuring Greek band MUSIC 3000 with Nick Arabatzis and Polixeni. $20 p.p. Mezze platters available for purchase. Doors open 7.30 pm.

KARAMELA GREEK NIGHT VOL. 2
On Saturday 20 July N&B Catering together with Dj Stelio present Karamela Greke Night Volume 2 at the Cypriot Club (8 Barrpowell St, Welland). Go along and party to all the latest Greek tunes together with some of the best laika. Enjoy Greek Happy (long) Hour between 8.30-10.30 pm. Entry fee $10.00 p.p. Wine barrel seating available and complimentary souvlakia throughout the night. To book a table, call Nick
on 0404 847 897 or DJ Stelio 0412 399 169. Doors open 8.30 pm

MODERN GREEK LECTURE SERIES
The LOGOS Australian Centre for Hellenic Language and Culture continues its lecture series on Tuesday 20 August at Flinders at Victoria Square (182 Victoria Sq, Adelaide) at 6.00 pm. Free to attend.