It’s that time of year again, where the weather gets hotter, holidays are a little longer and theres plenty to do and plenty to see. We know it can get stressful to manage life in this period, but fret not dear friends! We’ve compiled a list of the top things to do this upcoming week – all you need to do is bring your award winning smile and stellar attitude.
Jazz and Champagne at Philippe
115 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Who says Monday nights have to be dreary and boring when there’s music and drinks to indulge in? Enjoy live jazz, champagne and bar snacks on the first Monday of every month at French bistro, Philippe. Drink champagne or sparkling wine and enjoy some yummy freshly shucked oysters or petite tart flambé among many others. If champagne isn’t your style, Philippe offers a variety of beers, wines and spirits for you to treat yourself to.
It seems only fitting that, right in the heart of the Paris end of Collins street, an exquisite French gem features both classic and contemporary French concoctions. The ambience at Philippe’s will trick your brain into thinking you’re still in weekend mode!
Where: 115 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
What: Jazz and Champagne
When: Mondays 6pm – 8pm, open from 5pm till late
Chinatown Market Day
Heffernan Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Dumplings, noodles, satays and stalls –oh my! On the second and fourth Saturday of every month, Heffernan Lane in Chinatown will be packed with the heady fragrance of hawker-style stalls selling dumplings and noodles, cakes, souvenirs and themes memorabilia. The whiff from the abundance of stalls will entice you to stay until night, and see the transformation of the lane way into a twinkling night market with magical Mirabella lighting.
Where: Heffernan Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
What: Chinatown Market Day
When: Saturdays, 4pm – 10pm
Myer Animated Christmas Windows
314-336 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
The 63rd Myer Christmas Animated Windows are lighting up the Bourke Street Mall once again. Don’t miss this traditional Christmas event with this year’s theme being Alice in Wonderland! The Myer Christmas Animated Windows are recognized internationally, and each year more than 1.2 million children and adults visit them, making it a traditional part of their Christmas celebrations. In previous years the windows have brought to life Christmas stories including The Twelve Days of Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Carol and How Santa Really Works, Fairy Tales including Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Why not make a day of it? Start with the Christmas Windows located in the Bourke Street Mall and then on up to Santaland on level six of Myer Melbourne.
Where: 314-336 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
What: Myer Animated Christmas Windows
When: Nov 11th till Dec 12th, all day!
Pop-Up Christmas Bar at Humbug
338 Queensberry St, North Melbourne VIC 3000
From Disney-themed soirees to lego-themed pop-up bars, the trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down. And now comes along Bar Humbug, a Christmas-themed pop-up for “everyone on the ‘naughty list'”.
Guests can book in for a two-hour time slot in which they can take their pick from a two-cocktail list before loading up on images in front of the Mistletoe Corner and Bad Santa’s Grotty Christmas Grotto. This immersive bar will fill your ‘gram with Christmas spam as you make your way around the many Christmas installations. See how Santa lets loose when he’s not delivering presents and have a snap with him inside his ‘Grotty Christmas Grotto.’
So grab a drink and dance the night away to a Christmas playlist filled with all your favourites – from Mariah Carey to Wham, Buble to Bieber!
Where: 586 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
What: Pop-up Christmas Themes Bar
When: Dec 7th – 23rd
By Penelope Amanatidis
