The deadline for early tickets to Semi-Permanent's Melbourne is close upon us, with your last chance being this Friday to grab tickets to this increasingly amazing line up.Just added is Platon. One of the world's best known portrait photographers, having pointed the lens at the likes of Barack Obama, Muammar Qaddafi, Vladimir Putin, Al Pacino, George Clooney and our boy Heath Ledger. There isn't a well known international publication out there that hasn't purchased his pics. The line up is still growing if the current line up isn't enough to convince you to jump on early release tickets now. Semi Permanent Melbourne23rd - 24th SeptemberTickets: Semi Permanent

First line up announcements for Pyramid Rock dropped this morning. Looking HOT.If you need more convincing than GRANDMASTER FLASH to get yourself down to Phillip Island over New Years then cop some Gotye, Scissor Sisters, Drapht, Boy and Bear, Muscles, Cloud Control, SpankRock, Aston Shuffle and The Panics in your dial.For a first round announcement, this is pretty solid, word is there is some all star talent to drop in the next rounds.Get in earlyPyramid Rock FestivalPhillip IslandDec 29th - Jan 1st 2012Tickets: Pyramid Rock

Pocketto is a fresh, innovative, intelligent Melbourne fashion magazine. We couldn’t fit any more positive adjectives in there if we tried.To make themselves even more popular Pocketto are having a launch party this Friday at No Vacancy Gallery in the city.As a bi-annual book-like publication, Pocketto claims balance between visual aesthetic and a professional approach to articles and features.The magazine celebrates all things earnest, romantic, adventurous and inquisitive.Some advice from us?Take Pocketto’s simple catchphrase ‘live young, dream deep,’ in your pocket to the launch. It is sure to be a good time. Mags will be on sale on the night for $20 a pop. Oh, and free Gypsy cider. Hot damn. Pocketto Magazine LaunchFriday 26th August, 6-9pmNo Vacancy GalleryJane Bell Lane, QVOff Russell St Between Lonsdale and Lt LonsdaleDetails: Pocketto Magazine Launch

If you were planning on heading to Falls Festival this year in Lorne, Victoria then good for you. Presume you've already got your ticket there then buddy. 'Cause it's sold out.BUT, there is the far more desirable option of heading across that bit of sea down the bottom and checking out the whole show down in Tas-mania and attending what is arguably the most beautiful setting of any festival, anywhere in the world. Tickets are still available for the Marion Bay show and there is no better way we can think of to ring in the new year.Music Talents come in the form Alpine, The Kooks,  Arctic Monkeys, Crystal Castles, Lanie Lane, CSS, DJ Yoda, Kimbra, the list goes on, but in a good way, a really good way. And as always with the Falls, the focus isn't squarely on music. Arts get a good run with some comedy greats like Josh Thomas, Arj Barker and Young MC (hard to know where to categorise this if he tries to reprise 'Bust A Move').Falls Festival 2011Lorne, VIC (sold out) and Marion Bay, TAS29th Dec - 1st JanTickets: Falls Festival

We've seen a host of ready made, entry level bikes flood the scene in the last couple of years. Most have been highly customisable and for the most part, poor quality. So the opening of Tokyo bike could be considered as just another option to the entry level bike scene. It is however, just a little bit more than that. Beginning in Tokyo almost 10 years ago, they now boast stores in Berlin, Singapore and Sydney with Melbourne being the latest addition.The bikes are of a good quality considering the circa $700 price bracket, certainly the whole package is set to get you a lot further than most of it's counterparts. It's the Japanese aesthetic though that sets them apart most. Clean and subtle with great geometry for guys and girls in colours that don't resemble the ensemble of the rainbow.The store too speaks volumes to this aesthetic, clean, sparse and inviting, it's location in Collingwood is also well mapped out. The Japanese staff are attentive and helpful, but most importantly inviting. Stroll in have a chat and the chances are you'll be rolling out with at least a new light or lock, if not a fresh looking ride. The accessories line up is good, with usual suspects Knog on the frontline, but some great Japanese imports in the form of locks and racks from Wald.Tokyo Bike5 Peel St, CollingwoodClosed TuesdaysDetails: Tokyo Bike Melbourne

Everfresh main man Meggs is staging a fresh exhibition at Backwoods Gallery in Collingwood, opening this Friday.Inner Demons II takes its cues from a demonic imagery and lands somewhere between abstract and super clean graffiti. It centres around "‘demons’ as symbolic  reference of our inner most fears and desires", which then gets neatly juxtaposed with Meggs' style that has stemmed from a super hero vibe.However you interpret it, it's further evidence that Meggs is an emerging force, this is one of his last local shows before the expanding roster of his international dates kicks off. Hit the opening Friday 19th August from 6-9pmMeggs - Inner Demons IIBackwoods Gallery 25 Easey St, CollingwoodDetails: House Of MeggsBackwoods Gallery

It’s that time again when you need to head out east - Brunswick East to be exact - and check out Kumo Izakaya & Sake Bar.Kumo ('cloud') Izakaya opened during the first week of August in Lygon Street, Brunswick East. Izakayas are known for having have a great range of small and large dishes ordered as-you-like-it as the night unfolds and this is no exception.Andre Bishop who also runs the two Chuji’s, Nihonshu and Robot Bar has put his sake knowledge to the ultimate test and is focusing on what he knows best. Andre was nice enough to walk us through the full sake list and give his recommendations. With his help we settled upon a bottle of Kitzakura Draft Blue Sake. It was a mellow sake with the aroma of pear – light easy drinking.We started with the ceviche which was glorious and the chef must have had some fancy knife-work to dice the chives so finely. Next up was oysters served natural with Ponzu and Lemon were a perfect mix of cream and understated heat. The Asian mix of juices complemented the salt of the oysters.Another standout dish was the King Prawn Fry Wrapped in Potato with Green Tea Salt with its outer layer of crispy beautifulness and a fat prawn that was cooked perfectly. The Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly Pie kicked a goal with pastry done to perfection with chunks of pork belly in the centre. The accompanying sauce played a major part adding to the succulence of the dish.The Fruity Plum Wine Karaage Chicken was another star dish. It was perfectly tender inside and crispy on the outside – just how it is meant to be. The plum sauce is drizzled over the top to give the chicken and accompanying salad a nice sweet edge.Andre Bishop has served up a great location to lose yourself in Japaese Sake, food and culture on the main drag of Brunswick East.  Take the time to visit Kumo Izakaya & Sake Bar where they are keeping up with the traditional elements of izakaya but also breaking new ground.Kumo Izakaya & Sake Bar152 Lygon StreetEast BrunswickPh. (03) 9388 1505Monday-Saturday, 5:30pm-lateDetails: KumoBy Nic Crilly Hargrave

P.A.M., Perks and Mini, the multi-coloured, uber-wonderous, super brand are the brains behind the Someday store in Curtin House. But even this wonder store has excess stock that cashed up trust fund kiddies don't want to pick up, and thus the need for a sale arises.Enter the off site sale of the year down in Fitzroy town. Starting Thursday 18th and finishing on Monday 22nd. All the heavy hitters will be there, quite obviosuly some P.A.M. but Norse, Supreme, WoodWood, Neighborhood, BBC, White Mountaineering and Original Fake will be in full force to entice your hard earned cash with magnetic force from your purse/murse.Someday Sale181 Brunswick St, Fitzroy11am - 7pm18th August - 22nd AugustDetails: Someday Store

There are burgers and then there are burgers. Some chains operate under the guise of trying to be the latter, but in all honesty, there are only a few real burger joints in this town. Embassy Cafe in West Melbourne is the real deal. Open 24 hours for the express purpose of allowing cab drivers to chew the fat during that mystical 'changeover' period they use as an excuse for not taking you home at 3am. For the most part it's good old blokes chaining smokes and swapping war stories. The good folk at Embassy even installed a massage chair to fix the back after a hard night on the beads. As for the burgers, they are the best. Period. Endless options are available but you shouldn't look past the double with the lot. Patties are perfect and succulent, bread is thin and double cooked. It means that there is nothing to get in the way of the all importnant middle bits.Some of Melbourne's best food is free of marketing fanfare and mostly they don't know their delivering the best the city has to offer. The case is true for Embassy and it's unassuming friendly staff, just doing what they do, better than anyone else. Embassy Cafe541 Spencer St, West MelbourneHours: All of them (i.e. 24/7/365)Website: Naa, just go eat there

Of all the shops that 'pop-up', it's hard to say that any make more sense than this one. Wet & Wendy have popped up to deliver umbrellas and sexy ponchos to cater for those sudden rain showers. Their opening collection focuses on delivering a healthy dose of style and practicality, something that is sorely missing from women's rainwear, especially at this attractive price point.It opens today and it looked like it might rain, but disappointingly, it's just cleared up. So head down and grab yourself a brolly just in case. Otherwise, you know where to run next time you get caught in a shower and you have to protect your head just after you got 'yo hair did.'If you miss the pop up, be sure to check out their online presence or head to FAT stores and CycleStyle. Wet & Wendy Pop Up Umbrella ShoppeCnr. Swanston & Lonsdale St, CBD16th August - 25th August (Weekdays Only)Details: Wet and Wendy

It's fair to say that the pestering of your high end barista to force you to drink black coffee has filtered down enough to make it so that you actually enjoy that Brazilian Cup of Excellence through a Hario siphon. Or, in lamens terms, it's not just baristas heading to other cafes that order black coffee using methods other than an espresso machine. It's gone mainstream.Enter Mark W Free, long time man behind the machine at Brother Baba Budan has set up a temporary space to showcase some of the best black coffee styles and the beans that go with them. Located in the gallery at the top of the stairs inside Somewhere store, you'll be able to grab a cup until 18th August.With a host of baristas and roasters coming to the party, all the big names have been keen to get involved. Seven Seeds, Market Lane and Small Batch should be pretty familiar to everyone, with each of them being pioneers in getting Melbourne folk excited about drinking their coffee black.Artist collaborators, volunteer baristas, the roasters and Somwhere store all get props for bringing together an impressive initiative. Open until Thursday, August 18th, 10am - 6pmSomewhere Store Gallery Level 2, Royal Arcade 314 Little Collins St  Details: FacebookTwitter: @blackcoffeeshop

Curtin House - home of Cookie, The Toff and a rooftop cinema and bar - it's a Melbourne institution. So what better place to open a new pop-up venue? With ventures 'popping up' all over the city, Roof Pop - sponsored by those bubbly chaps at Veuve Clicquot - occupies what was the cinema's box office and promises a space for drinks, functions and live DJ sets just one floor below the astro-turfed glory of the sprawling top level.Admittedly, when we paid a visit it was the slow start to a slow Saturday night, so everything looked a little subdued. Even the wall-mounted shot glasses and umbrella-handle champagne stoppers failed to distract our attention from the decidedly dead atmosphere. But no doubt when the weather warms up and the word spreads, things will liven up.DJ booth? Check. Intimate lounge banquette seating? Check. Cheapest glass of champers in the CBD? Possibly. Potential for pulling shapes on the dance floor? Most definitely. Open all summer, you should pop in.Roof PopCurtin HouseLevel 6252 Swanston StreetMelbourneBy Helen Alexander