Drinkers in Melbourne will be able to get a taste of something a little different later this week when a pop-up version of the Shebeen Bar opens. Taking its name from the illicit bars that sprung up in South Africa during apartheid, the full version is due to open in Melbourne’s CBD in 2011, stocking exotic beers and wines from countries such as Vietnam, Namibia and South Africa and sending all proceeds to development projects in those places.
In the meantime, you can help get the project off the ground by heading to the basement of Donkey Wheel House, at 673 Bourke Street, between Thursday and Sunday, and checking out the temporary version. It’s being erected at the exhibition for Pin Up Your Doodle, Shebeen’s latest fundraising drive that has seen leading Aussie artists, a handful of celebs and Joe Public contribute doodles that will either be available for purchase at Donkey Wheel House or at an auction at ACCA on November 24.
Shebeen co-founder Simon Griffiths says: “The pop-up bar, made from 100% recycled and found materials thanks to Foolscap Studio, will sit surrounded by the Pin Up Your Doodle exhibition, curated by Melissa Loughnan of Utopian Slumps. The concept is to exhibit and sell âdoodles’: illustrations or sketches, from artists, celebrities, designers, members of the public and other creatives in order to raise funding and awareness for Shebeen.”
Entertainment will be provided by the likes of The Suitcase Royale, Poet Laureate Telia Neville and Anna Pocket Rocket with DJs and bands soon to be announced. To find out more, visit www.pinupyourdoodle.com and www.shebeen.com.au.
