The Weekender: November 22 – 24
TRY some free Spanish tapas, reboot an entire street, indulge your artistic senses at the Islamic Arts Festival or go shopping at the ‘Markit’ at Federation Square. Pick your poison this weekend as Elizabeth Yick fills you in.
Olive Oil from Spain: Food Truck Tapas
Friday, November 22 (11.00am – 3.00pm); Piazza Italia at Argyle Square (153 Lygon St, Carlton)
Dig into free Spanish tapas this weekend! Photo: Supplied.
The only thing better than Spanish tapas is FREE Spanish tapas!
This Friday, Olive Oils from Spain will be providing locals and visitors with a sample of delicious tapas cooked with olive oil in an effort to promote the health and dietary benefits of cooking with olive oil.
There will be meatballs, mushrooms, peppers, goat’s cheese, and of course the famous Spanish olive oil cake.
This is a free event, and no bookings are necessary. So pop on down to Lygon St on Friday to sample some delicious Spanish tapas and perhaps pick up some inspirations for tapas at home!
Dodds Street Reboot
Saturday, November 23 – Tuesday, November 26; 9.00am-5,00pm; Dodds St, Southbank
Photo: Supplied.
Be a part of ‘rebooting’ Dodds St this weekend in Southland as the Southbank community, with help from CoDesign Studio, will be prototyping the vision of Dodds Street many residents have asked for – with new shops, stalls, street seating and some beautiful urban greenery to bring life back to the old Melbourne street.
There will be a mini Boyd Community Hub on Saturday, where visitors will be able to donate, trade, or purchase pre-loved designer pieces at Revolution. If vintage clothing is not quite your thing, there will also be a stall from the Melbourne Farmers Market selling some of the freshest produce from around the area.
Sunday will see the creation of a greener Southbank on Dodds St, with the Green Renters workshop and a free bicycle maintenance kiosk from Jetnikoff Bicycle Co. And while you’re waiting for your bike to be checked out and fixed, why not relax grab a delicious Melbournian coffee at Wild Horse Café?
Of course, there will be live entertainment, as well as music and performances throughout the weekend. More importantly, perhaps, is that there will be a number of food trucks selling their finger-licking goodies for visitors to Dodds Street!
Islamic Arts Festival
Saturday, November 23, 11.00am-4.00pm; Immigration Museum (400 – 424 Flinders Lane, Melbourne)
Photo: Mashahed via Flickr
The Immigration Museum will play host this weekend to the Islamic Arts Festival. It is a celebration of the richness and beauty of Islamic arts from all around the world, which is practiced by a diverse number of cultures and communities.
Visitors can enjoy live music and performances, or have their names written in Arabic by expert calligraphers, all whilst feasting on some delicious Middle Eastern delicacies.
For those who want a more involved experience, there are a number of craft activities throughout the day, including henna painting, and also the opportunity to create a glass and tile mosaic under the guidance of acclaimed artist Anisa Sharif.
Tickets are priced at $10 for adults, and is free for those with a valid concession card. Bookings may be made online through the Museum Victoria website.
It is a culturally unique festival with a rich history that should not be missed – so come along to the Immigration Museum this weekend to experience the beauty of the Islamic arts for yourselves!
Markit @ Fedsquare
Sunday, November 24; 10.00am-5.00pm; Federation Square (Atrium & Deakin Edge Theatre)
Photo: vincentq via Flickr
Markit @ Fedsquare is a curated retail market for Australia’s most coveted independent designers.
The market focuses on illustrative and decorative design products, and items on sale will include fashion pieces, jewellery, shoes, accessories, homeware, artwork, stationery, collectibles, and much much more.
Visitors will be able to meet the designers in person and speak to them about their creations and products – many of which are completely handcrafted and truly one-of-a-kind.
Entry to the event is free, and the market is really well worth a visit – both for those who buying or simply browsing. For more details, visit the event’s official webpage for information on the various designers, or enter the event prize-draw here.