Around Brunswick

Have you ever dreamed of walking with dinosaurs? Well Melbourne, life finds a way. Jurassic World: The Exhibition is roaring into the city this year following a hugely successful stint in Sydney. This enormous and immersive experience celebrates 31 years of the film franchise that began with the ground-breaking 1993 movie Jurassic Park. At this family-friendly exhibit of Jurassic proportions, you can walk through the iconic “Jurassic World” gates and encounter a life-sized brachiosaurus and velociraptors, plus the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex. (We’re yet to receive confirmation on whether you’ll also encounter the glistening, exposed chest hair of Jeff Goldblum as you explore the richly themed environments.) Visitors will be able to imagine what it would have been like to roam amongst these breathtaking creatures (the dinosaurs, not Sam Neil and the gang), and even interact with baby dinos, including “Bumpy” from the popular animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (currently streaming on Netflix). Are you finding yourself thinking that the mad scientists behind this experience “were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should?” Well, hold onto your butts. They’re not playing God with real extinct creatures, but with life-like animatronics. So, Melbourne should avoid an apocalyptic T-Rex escape situation – phew! The exhibition engages audiences of all ages in settings inspired by the Jurassic...

Merri-bek dwellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to musical talent, never more than during the annual Brunswick Music Festival, when international and local acts come together for a celebration of great music. This year, you can look forward to nine jam-packed days, featuring more than 40 gigs across the suburb and surrounds. Everything kicks off with the famous Sydney Road Street Party on Sunday, March 2. This mammoth, free one-day festival takes over Brunswick’s main road (which happens to be the longest continuous shopping strip in the southern hemisphere). Last year, the party caused absolute scenes on social media when multiple dance parties randomly erupted. So, who knows what will unfold at this year's edition. Over two huge nights at Gilpin Park, expect to see the powerhouse First Nations rapper that is Miss Kaninna co-headlining with Kenyan singer-songwriter and rapper Elsy Wameyo on March 7. Dream team, if you ask us. Then on March 8, hip-hop royalty Bahamadia hailing from the United States. What an honour to catch this legend in the Northern 'burbs.  For some free entertainment you can't go wrong with Bulleke-bek Journey, a day of live music across some of Brunswick's most beloved venues like Beast, the Lomond, Rubix, Stay Gold and the Moldy Fig. From bass-heavy beats to punk, hardcore, bluegrass, alt-country and New Orleans jazz, there is a rich variety of sounds to explore. For the first time, Brunswick Uniting Church will also be hosting an unexpected...