The Weekender: August 1 – 3
HEAD down to the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome, warm yourselves up at the Hot Chocolate Festival, peruse through the Lost and Found Market and Record Fair or have a peek at what’s on the Southbank Farmer’s Market. Plenty to keep you occupied this weekend as Daniel Driscoll explains.
Hot Chocolate Festival @ Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
Friday, August 1 – Sunday, August 31 (9.00am – 5.00pm); Yarra Vally Chocolaterie (35 Old Healesville Rd, Yarra Glen)
Photo: Jo Anslow via Flickr
Head to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie for the second Hot Chocolate Festival. With free chocolate tastings, thousands of premium chocolateson display and for sale and European chocolatiers handcrafting creations on site, it’s really something not to miss.
The Festival has over 150 different chocolate varieties and seven new limited edition hot chocolate flavours being introduced each week of the festival. Indulge your sweet tooth in the showroom and watch the art of chocolate making before your very eyes as they run through the process from hand-crafting to final packaging.
Head to the cafe after your chocolate indulgence for a light lunch before you leave or to break up the sweet goodness and finally pick up some chocolate inspired gifts for a friend or the ride home.
For more info head to the Festival’s site
Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome
Saturday, August 2 (2.00pm – 5.00pm); The Couch (69 Bourke St, Melbourne)
The Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome is on at The Couch this weekend!The Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome is a special event that recognises and celebrates students’ contributions to the cultural life and diversity of the city (including nearly 36,000 international students who live and study in Melbourne’s central city.)
The free event, produced by young people for young people, will be full to the brim with things to see and do. Music and dance performances will include Australia’s number one Michael Jackson tribute artist, TJ and Melbourne’s Latin and Brazilian Dance Crew, Katumba along with cultural dance performances & workshops.
The LMSW2014 Fashion Runway Show will feature up and coming designers including Zsaneta, Sleep Couture and House of BohoChic. Roving reptiles will let you get up close and personal with some of Australia’s fauna including a crocodile and a python! Information stalls will also be available for any enquiries you have about the city, employment and more.
Win prizes including a hamper pack from Eureka Skydeck, a Scuba Dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef and movie tickets! Free food will be available during the Official Welcome by the City of Melbourne from 2 pm – 2.30 pm so bring your friends and have a blast at this fun and informative event!
Meldwill also have a booth at the event so feel free to drop by, say hi and meet some of the team!
For more info on the event and to stay up to date with what’s on for international students in Melbourne visit the City of Melbourne International Student & Youth Activities page or like their Facebook page.
Southbank Farmers’ Market
Saturday, August 2 (8.00am – 1.00pm); Boyd Community Hub (207 City Rd, Southbank)
Image by Wikimedia Commons.
Head over to Southbank for the first Farmers’ Market located in the City of Melbourne. The free market will be held on the first Saturday of each month and with 40 plus stalls on site, the market is a great way to find all your pantry essentials including milk, eggs, cheese, ethically produced meat and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Take a break from the browsing and find some inspiration with a cooking demonstration from chef Nic Poelaert of Brooks Restaurant or grab a snag and burger from the Rotary Club’s BBQ.
Catch some local music with South American inspired guitarist Nadav Tabak followed by Indie blue grass outfit The Scrimshaw Four.
Grab some healthy food, enjoy some music and make a day of it!
For more info head to the Farmers’ Market’s site.
Lost & Found Market and Record Fair
Sunday, August 3 (11.00am – 4.00pm); Lost & Found Market (511 Lygon St, Brunswick East)
Image: Stephen Willis via Flickr
Head down to Brunswick for the Lost & Found Market and Record Fair. The market will have more than 60 stall holders selling their wares across 1000 square metres of space for you to peruse. Pick up something vintage or some sweet vinyl to add to your collection.
Haven’t got a record player? No problem, you’ll probably find one here going cheap along with the usual vintage clothes, accessories, handbags, hats, jewellery and just about anything else you can think of!
They’ve got crates and crates of vinyl for you to peruse and chances are they’ll have some rarities along with tons of classics and some new stuff to snap up.
Independentradio station PBS will be broadcasting live from the event, so you can search for music while you listen to music!
If you’ve built up an appetite on your search for that piece you absolutely must have, the Taco Truck will be on hand with delicious food and drinks to quell the hunger.
For more info head to the Market’s Facebook page or call 03 9383 1883