Latest articles by Jenny Denton
“Luminous pulse” shines through Cheng Lei’s story
A “gripping and unexpectedly revealing” work written and performed by journalist Cheng Lei that is premiering at Arts House this month is not just about retelling the suffering of her three-year detention in China, Lei says, but “explor[ing] something universal”.
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Antisemitism submission sparks protest debate at Town Hall
A City of Melbourne submission to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism that flags changes to the management of Melbourne’s pro-Palestine protests caused division as well as “furious agreement” when it came before the Future Melbourne Committee on May 5.
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Extraordinary chef shares classic dish
“If you're in a room with West Africans, and you want to start the conversation, just talk about who makes the best jollof,” says Evette Quoibia, the owner of Jollof Vibe.
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Kensington’s Bakery Hill offering new whisky tours
A boutique family-owned whisky distillery in the heart of the north-west is offering peeks into the creation of its enticing beverages as well as tastes, tales, learnings, atmosphere and a general love for the drink.
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Last chance to try Asian-inspired playful “pop-up”
Popular Victoria St pop-up Pebble Dining will close its doors on May after a six-month stint. Chef Cam Tay-Yap says he and his wife would love to find a forever home in the neighbourhood for their restaurant.
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Local comedy club focused on fun, mixed lineups
Around the corner from the Comics Lounge, tiny Club Voltaire has been hosting funny, free-spirited shows for more than two decades and the comedians are serving up the laughs every Sunday night, with or without the Comedy Festival.
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Compost critters reveal a complex picture
A group of local residents glimpsed and touched for themselves evidence of “the huge, complex food web under our feet” when they took part in an insect information session at a Kensington Compost Hub event last month.
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Dumped “nangs” on the increase
The use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, as a recreational drug appears to be increasing in the CBD and West Melbourne, with local residents reporting empty cannisters being left lying around or stacked beside bins more and more frequently.
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“Learning as we go”: Kensington Neighbourhood House thriving at 50
Despite the difficult climate it is operating in, Kensington Neighbourhood House (KNH) has been going from strength to strength and continuing to kick major goals for the community, its recently released annual report shows.
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“Special school” satire set to open at Arts House
A fierce, funny work lifting the lid on “special education” will play at Arts House in North Melbourne, which has commissioned the piece, over six nights in March.
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Kensington ghost bike symbol of human cost, advocate says
The disappearance of a white-painted “ghost bike” memorialising Kensington crash victim Will Richter has prompted a message from a cycling advocate to the City of Melbourne about the importance of remembering the victims of fatal bike crashes.
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Labor Cr Davydd Griffiths to challenge Ellen Sandell for Melbourne
City of Melbourne councillor Davydd Griffiths has announced he will run as a Labor candidate for the seat of Melbourne at the upcoming state election in November.
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North Melbourne local David Rose to feature at Comedy Festival
A local comedian skewering our markers of moral superiority is just one of hundreds of performers at the upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which marks its 40th anniversary this year with its biggest-ever event taking in more than 800 shows.
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River Nile Block Party promises joy
Organisers are hoping a rich mix of music and dance at the second annual River Nile School Harmony Block Party in North Melbourne will draw locals into the celebration along with the school’s diverse community.
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Love Letters to North Melbourne Pool
A crowd-sourced history of North Melbourne Pool launched last month is “a rich tapestry of a book” and “a great artefact of the community”, according to its local not-for-profit publisher.
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Police briefs North West City - February 2026
A North Melbourne man has been charged with multiple counts of possessing an imitation weapon after Victoria Police searched a property in Melrose St and found two 3D-printed handguns, 3D ammunition, an imitation revolver and an imitation long-armed rifle.
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Lunar New Year casts glow at Arts House
The first installation to be shown in a new downstairs exhibition space at Arts House is an atmospheric meditation on chance and life that has been programmed with “a nod to the Lunar New Year”.
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Community-minded local cop honoured
North Melbourne-based Nektarios "Nick" Parissis, who has spent almost his entire career in the inner north, was recognised for his commitment to community causes with an Australian Police Medal on Australia Day.
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On the West Melbourne streets where she lived
Thanks to a stroke of luck the City of Melbourne’s Art and Heritage Collection is staging an exhibition of work by social documentary photographer Viva Gibb, who over 20 years “lovingly portrayed” the North and West Melbourne neighbourhoods where she lived.
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Reprieve for public housing tower tenants, but bigger questions loom
“Hold-out” tenants at three local public housing towers have won a reprieve from eviction on the grounds of their human rights. But some commentators argue the loss of public housing in the planned redevelopments is an issue that affects everyone.
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