Ever since Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket from his Aunt Effie’s farm in Massachusetts, man has been launching animals into the atmosphere.

From Laika the Russian pooch and Ham the chimp, to pioneering little fruit flies, these are the quiet heroes of space exploration, whose efforts up until now have gone largely unnoticed.

At long last, Lucy Dyson has created a shrine for these forgotten champions with her solo exhibition Of Monkeys, Mice and (Space) Men. Part of the Next Wave Festival, the freelance animator (whose works include video clips for Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, and TZU)  uses a series of mixed artworks to explore and give voice to the oddities of animal space travel because it would seem that in space… no one can hear you bark.

What do you get when you cross a taxidermist with a jeweller? Some pretty interesting bracelets, that’s for sure.

As part of her jewellery line Abattoir, Julia Deville stuffs and mounts mouse heads. Sound bizarre? That’s because it is.

Abattoir draws morbid inspiration from Victorian mourning jewellery and the plague-ridden 16th and 17th centuries, when religious superstition, ritual and death pervaded all walks of life.

Recently re-introduced to independent-designer watchdog Fat, Julia’s necklaces, buttonhole chains, chunk bracelets, and fob blazer pieces combine delicate skull and bone metallic detail with heavier onyx and smoky quartz.

Using dead mice and birds donated by friends, the label’s stuffed and sordid side is primarily left for exhibition. But if you do fancy Stuart Little on a backboard, pieces can be made to order.

Some people hoard clothing, others, in fear of the apocalypse, hoard chick peas and long life milk. But Dave of Dave’s Boutique hoards everything.

Now the King of Smith St collectables, Dave’s Boutique is actually a dusty bulging space crammed with a wealth of some fascinating (and some otherwise useless) objects. Wicker chairs, massive Technics woofers, barely touched acoustic guitars and beautifully weathered leather jackets sit beside battered scrabble boards, dusty plastic figurines and enough china sets to satisfy any big Nonna, all at a tiny price.

Yet, the most genius part of Dave’s Boutique is that along with the massive second hand record collection come turntables and headphones allowing you to determine whether some albums either deserve to be added to your collection or, like an Australian Idol compilation, be completely forgotten.

This week, in order to READ first you must WRITE, so get to it and spread some patriotism around the globe by sending a Nudie Postcard on a bare-bottomed journey to a pen pal overseas.

Having peeped into the nudie postcard market to discover it was stark of any Melbournian nudies, Amanda De Simone has decided to rectify the situation by producing a series of Melbourne-centric “nekkids”.

Her collection, Nudie Postcards, is a contemporary tribute to the kitsch Australian classic, featuring alternative, unique and artistic Melbourne ladies getting cheeky next to iconic Melbourne landmarks. Flinders Street Station, Luna Park and most definitely Federation Square, never looked this good.

Nudie Postcards are cultural conservation at its most risqué so don’t let the T and A distract you, just remember to cross your Ts and dot your Is.

A good compilation is hard to find these days. As a contemporary audience we seem to take our cues from the over-thinking John Cusack in High-Fidelity and our Pitchfork shaped tongues are quick to lash out when anything falls below par.

Fortunately Go Commando, mixed by James Friedman, although being very now, is still much better than being very yesterday. Like a pinger in a pot of draft Go Commando is a dash cunning mix of electro and indie-anthems alike with Annie, Who Made Who, Bloc Party, Tiefschwarz, Tom Vek, The Knife and Out Hud to name a few. It also includes remixes by The Rapture/HushHush, Blackstrobe and Gucci Soundsystem.

So, in an age when everyone seems to be a DJ, it is nice to know that there is a compilation all intoxicated turntable hacks can rely on when they a) realise that they are too drunk to mix, or b) realise that they have no talent.

Oh Woody! We cringed watching Anything Else. We dozed during Melinda and Melinda. But finally, you’ve hit a winner.

Match Point begins like all classic love stories should. Boy from the wrong side of the tracks meets a toff girl from an English manor. Girl falls for boy’s quiet way; boy falls for girl’s trust fund. Then things get interesting.

The introduction of sultry Nola (Scarlett Johansson) signifies a departure from the regular snail-paced Allen extravaganza – boy now lusts after girl’s brother’s fiancé. From this point, a Dorian Gray-style heaviness pervades the film; lust, envy, greed and pride mingle with the deadly side of beauty and the otherworldly power of luck.

Allen’s films have often been criticised as slow but in Match Point’s case, beautifully crafted characters prevent the narrative from stalling, as do bizarre plot twists that hit just as you’d normally start to check your watch.

Jonathan Rhys Myers’ awkwardly articulate Chris, Emily Mortimer’s twee Chloe, Johansson’s Nola and the divine dandy antics of Tom (Matthew Goode) keep energy levels thumping right until the operatic climax and help to make Allen’s film more Match Point than double fault.

What:
Match Point

Where:
Most cinemas

Watch the trailer:
here

At the Order of Melbourne dark oak hues, sixties chandeliers, leather couches and a wall of fine wine accessible only by a library ladder makes us suspect that Bruce Wayne (more Michael Keaton than Christian Bale) might enjoy a night-cap here.

The artwork and Japanese lamps that adorn walls have the opulence of Wayne Manor and a plush cushion-strewn divan with in-built tables sinks to form a stage that may well be inspired by the ensconced designs of the Bat Cave.

Expect premium drinks, cocktails and a petite tapas menu, and don’t get lazy or overlook climbing the extra flight of stairs to the rooftop terrace. However, what goes up must come down, so maintain order, your footing and your dignity while descending.