If your ears prick up when you hear the words ‘art’, ‘design’ or ‘media’, Semi-Permanent ought to get you absolutely frothing.If your eyes glaze over when you hear the word ‘conference’, allow us to prove your peepers wrong.Semi-Permanent is a world class design conference covering disciplines of design, including graphic design, film, fine art, illustration, web design, interaction design, photography, visual effects, animation, graffiti, motion graphics, stop motion, and architecture, and much more.The conference is the most beautiful joining together of creative minds since Confest, minus the nudity and an acid tab or four. This year’s impressive and inspirational lineup includes notorious artists Kelly Thompson, Sam Leach, Ken Taylor and motion graphics extraordinaire, Patrick Clair.The generous discounted student prices are most appealing and prove Semi-Permanent’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative designers.It is a real privilege and credit to our city to share in this event with New York and London (via satellite) and for the first time this year, Semi-Permanent extends to Hong Kong.We’re excited writing about it. You should be excited reading about it.The conference has almost outlived its title as ‘semi’ permanent, drawing tormented Creatives from their dark dens for 9 years.But we’re far from complaining-Bring on Semi-Permanent 2011!Semi-PermanentMelbourne Convention and Exhibition CentreFriday 23rd and Saturday 24th September Details: Semi Permanent

During the period of 1930-1960s, an influx of talented photographers caught the growth of Melbourne in a series of photographs. They have seemingly managed to encapsulate Melbourne as one of those 'cities of the future' that we retrospectively laugh upon because of their gross inaccuracy in actually occurring.Many of the pictures were taken for commercial activities and they're displayed amongst their original source material in magazines, fashion shoots and architectural resources.As part of the exhibition, Broadsheet have created a competition to help the gallery encourage people to recreate these photos in a modern context. We're looking forward to seeing these re-interpretations of modern day Melbourne.Exhibition until 5 FebruaryBroadsheet Comp ends 19 AugustAs Modern As TomorrowKeith Murdoch Gallery, State Library of VictoriaSwanston St, CBDWebsite

CIBI, placed on Keele St in Collingwood offers a unique retail and café space with on-point coffee and delicious eats. Their design aesthetic abounds and somehow they’ve integrated food and drink seamlessly in their space, it all just works. They’ve teamed up with Aesop to bring a little of this flavour to the city. The Flinders lane arm of the growing Aesop skincare house is hosting CIBI by giving them a place to sell their goods and welcome all shoppers with a tasty little green tea to imbibe while they stroll around. This is a unique partnership that seems to have been born out of a great mutual respect for each other’s work and is sure to be well worth a look, for reasons that reach far beyond free tea. The collaboration will be installed for a whole month, from August 12th. Aesop Flinders Lane268 Flinders Lane, CBDWebsite: Aesop or CIBI

Small House Books presents 'Resistance, Rebellion and Rhetoric,' a photographic installation created by Jared O'Sullivan. Unlike the shows of tortured artists that dwell on society's evils, this exhibition is a refreshing revelry in society's absurdity. Here’s the confusing bit from the event explanation: "If youthful rebellion has become a way to target a demographic. If the concept of resistance has been successfully co-opted into marketable iconography - then it becomes it's own contradiction. Then the value of words and experiences are diminished by hyperbolic advertising and everything is rhetoric."The non-confusing bit: This guy has contributed some wicked shots to Vice Magazine and his exhibition is well worth a look. O'Sullivan's work finds pleasure in the details, and you will too.Resistance, Rebellion and RhetoricWednesday 3rd-Monday 8th August, 2011Opening Drinks-Friday 5th August from 7pm1000 Pound Bend361 Lt Lonsdale StreetMelbourne VIC 3000Details: Resistance, Rebellion and Rhetoric

In the age of Ikea becoming an immediate go-to for moving into a new house, it's nice to know that there is someone flying the flag for refurbishing.Grandfather's Axe have recently moved from their stupidly hard to find warehouse to the top of High St Northcote, acting as a beacon for 20th century furniture with a resounding Danish bent. Most refurbs are done in-house, with furniture sourced both locally and internationally.Featherston, Kubus, Eames, all the big names and all prices that mean you can afford to have a deliciously Danish fit out throughout the entire abode. They can arrange upholstery too, helping you to get everything to match as it should.Unfortunately there's no opportunity to pick up a full set of cutlery on your way out the door, but at least you don't have to line up with the 6000 other people on a Sunday and validate your parking. But, they do stock a nice little selection of curios, knick knacks and second hand objet d'art to further set you and your surrounds apart.If you're cool, the guys will even drop your purchases round in their restored Volks van too.Grandfather's Axe171 High St, NorthcoteOpen: Thurs, Sat & SunWebsite: Grandfather's Axe

Setting the psychedelic sultry sounds of Warpaint aside, band member Stella will play a DJ set tonight at New Guernica. The set aligns with Warpaint’s two gigs at Richmond's Corner Hotel this week, part of their Splendour in the Grass 2011 tour. It’s only $5 on the door, so get on down and let Stella help you get your groove back midweek.Stella (Warpaint) DJ SetTuesday 26th JulyNew Guernica2/318-322 Little Collins StreetDetails: Stella (Warpaint) DJ Set

Clean cut, classy, oozing-with-cool clothing springs to mind at the mention of Incu. But until now the best collection of styles under one roof have only been available to the men of Melbourne with deliciously good taste. Ladies, the time has come. You don’t have to haunt the men’s store asking for the smallest size anymore. Incu Women’s has landed. The shop is a fresh, open space housing a family of killer labels-Acne, A.P.C., Karen Walker, Rittenhouse, Something Else, Elke, Antipodium, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Peter Jensen and more. Incu is short for the company’s philosophy of incubating young talent, unique collaborations and projects. The opening of a women’s store proves Melbourne’s positive reception to this mantra of creatives backing fellow creatives. Ignore the Zara hype, those clothes will buy you zero cred. Get to Incu Women’s and spend your pennies on something standout and sublime. Incu Women's Store12 Albert Coates La, QVDetails: Incu

WA clothing label Pigeonhole has moved their epic wholesale warehouse to Kensington.They’re kicking off with a massive sale that starts TODAY. Round up your pennies and prepare to snap up bargains such as jewellery from $2, leather bags from $10, designer homewares from $4, stationery from $1 and winter woolies from $5. Whoah Nelly, that is some ridiculously cheap stuff. Sure, many of you might be blubbering about waiting for your tax return but man up, it’s time to skip the office early and make the most of some crazy good savings.Pigeonhole Warehouse SaleFriday 22nd July-12pm-5pmSaturday 23rd July-10am-5pmThe Pigeonhole Wholesale OfficeSuite 104 / 10 Elizabeth St, KensingtonDetails: Pigeonhole Warehouse Sale

What’s that? An exhibition named after one of Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springsteen’s albums? Take me there.No, it’s not ‘Born to Run’. Beam Contemporary’s latest exhibition is titled Darkness on the Edge of Town, and presents an homage to consumerist landscape photography of the 1970s. Curated by Kyle Weise, the group exhibition displays video art, photography and paintings exploring the ‘darkness’ of landscape. Featuring night-time scenes and images of suburbia, the show depicts contrasts between ‘Dancing in the Dark’…ness and light (ba doom chh), interior and exterior, and the built environment and wild nature.If you were Born in the USA (or not), come help Beam Contemporary celebrate the opening of Darkness on the Edge of Town this Saturday 23 July 3-5pm. Darkness on the Edge of TownBeam Contemporary 22 July–13 AugustOpening 23 July 3-5pmLevel 1, 30 Guildford Lane, MelbourneDetails: Darkness on the Edge of TownFlora Southey

As part of State of Design festival this year, by far one of the coolest additions has to be Made to Measure. Orchestrated by Treadlie magazine, they have invited 18 bike builders, artists, anyone really that had an interest in making a bike to showcase design talent.Showing on Saturday and Sunday to the general public at the Royal Melbourne Exhibition Buildings, as part of Design:Made:Trade. Enrty is a cheeky $10 but there is host of amazing showcases to check out.Our personal favourite from last night's opening was put together by local lady Sasha Strickland from North Melbourne's Pony Bikes. Check the video below to see all the action of the bike going together and the result which is an enviable cruiser matched by none.Made to MeasureSaturday 23 - Sunday 24 JulyRoyal Exhibition BuildingsDetails: State of Design

Grolsch are incredibly good at owning the emerging art space. Their support for up and coming artists usually comes in the form of free beers at gallery openings, but their contribution also comes in the form of the Grolsch Grid. This year, a host of performers will get the chance to show their stuff across a wide range of genres, some of which rarely grace the light of the mainstream day. If you're an artist and you dabble in one of the following, get on over to their facebook page for more details on how you could earn your spot in the sunshine. Illustrators, Animators, Writers, Performers, Musicians, Street Performers, Film Makers and Poets apply within. They've got creative spaces, a VANMOOF x Grolsch bike for you to cruise around on while you're doing your thing and the chance to see you work go up on the back of a bus for thousands of punters to see.You've got until Friday, get to itDetails: Grolsch Grid

 Where will we be grabbing a warming bite to eat on a miserable winter evening? One of the two RamenYa outlets on Bourke Street. Already a lunchtime staple at GPO, a second venue opened just weeks ago opposite the Australia Post Offices, and we couldn’t wait to check it out.Occupying a wide open space, pretty white paper lanterns hang from the high ceiling, softening stark metal pipes and adding a touch of elegance to what is essentially a fast-food outlet. In fact, overall, it’s definitely more aesthetically pleasing than your average grab-and-go CBD Asian lunch stop. Actually, you might find yourself wanting to linger a while longer there with a Asahi or Sapporo beer, plus there are a few sakes on offer.Grab a menu and order at the counter, meals come out pretty quick and are presented in stylish wooden bento boxes and huge steaming bowls, a generous-sized Japanese fix that comes in at around $10 per person.If you opt for soup, choose your base: tonkotsu (pork) / shoyu (chicken and soy) / miso, and then think about toppings – seafood gyoza, kimchi, tofu, pork and more. Thick ramen noodles swirl in the flavourful broth that is swimming with herbs, veggies and an obligatory hard-boiled egg. Extra toppings seem to come at no extra cost, but maybe we were just lucky on our visit. We say: deliciously balanced and probably enough for two.As for the bento box – compartments are filled with teriyaki chicken (also on offer is tofu teriyaki, and beef and chicken katsu curries – to name a few), gyozas, steamed rice and thinly sliced radish and carrot salad with a sticky sweet dressing – all working together to provide a tasty and varied meal for one.For the best of both worlds, and if you’re hungry, go for a bento box and a ramen noodle and find someone to share with you. Green tea thick shake optional.Service is spot on – speedy and efficient.While extras and sides are on offer – you’ll probably find everything you could ever want is heaped onto the ramen, just a little tip for the thrifty out there… And for a cheap date – the new venue is open until 9pm Wed, Thur and Fri, and 8pm on Saturdays.Go eat.By Nic Crilly Hargrave@shark4chipdrinkRamenYaShop 25GMelbourne GPO350 Bourke StreetANDShop 9 The Paramount108 Bourke StreetDetails: Ramen Ya