Don't retreat between the sheets – there's absolutely heaps happening this weekend in Melbourne! Bluebonnet BBQ is setting up permanent digs in Collingwood, the Mystery Market will make its grand debut and the Termi is opening after its sleek re-do. And that's just for starters!
So, without further ado, here's your guide to the best things to do in Melbourne this weekend. Pull on your winter woolies, grab your mates and get amongst the action!
Thursday 7th August
How does a banquet of bubbles sound? Pretty magnifique, if you ask us! The Champagne Dame, Kyla Kirkpatrick, is hosting a Champagne Degustation at Vue de Monde, featuring a five-course menu of delectable dishes paired with drops from some of the world's finest champagne houses. Oh yeah, and that spectacular view!
Champagne Degustation | Vue de Monde in Melbourne CBD | 7–10pm | $320
Champagne tastes on a cask wine budget? Fear not – those looking for a night of French wining and dining without the Vue de Monde price tag needn't look further than Voilà, a delectable four-course feast held monthly at Three Bags Full. French chefs Fab and Nico have crafted a French-inspired menu celebrating the best of the winter harvest, including a belly-warming pumpkin, cassia and sorrel soup and a rather intriguing '10 hour apple'. Oui, s'il vous plait!
Voila Dinner | Three Bags Full in Abbotsford | 7 – 11pm | $59
Those looking for hands-on foodie things to do in Melbourne, this is the event for you! The Danny Pasta Truffle Master Class, held at Fifteen Pounds in Fairfield, will educate you on all things fungi. You'll also learn how to make world-class pizza dough, cook up a storm, and, of course, taste beautiful truffle-y handiwork, complimented by top drops from Rathdowne Cellars. Boy, are we getting truffled tonight!
Danny Pasta Truffle Master Class | Fifteen Pounds in Farifield | 6:30 – 8:30pm | $145
My carnivorous friends, have we got some exciting news for you! Bluebonnet BBQ, our favourite Americana pop-up, is opening the doors of their permanent Collingwood digs tonight! Using a hand-built smoker (previously a nightclub smoke machine), Head Chef Terlikar is set to pump out all of your barbecue favourites, including smoked pork belly and juniper rubbed venison short ribs with guindilla cornbread, the lot smothered in a smoky house-made BBQ sauce. Droool. They're also planning a rotating menu of house made sausages, along with a 600g serve of smoky beef ribs. Stop it. Stop it right now.
Bluebonnet BBQ | 187 Johnston Street in Fitzroy
Friday 8th August
Change is a-brewing! This Friday, CafeSmart will bring together roasters, cafes and coffee connoisseurs to help raise money for the homeless across Australia, with 170 cafes in Melbourne involved (check out the list here). So head to one of the CafeSmart cafes, buy a coffee and match their $1 donation with your own. We promise your morning cup of joe will never taste as good!
CafeSmart | Various cafes
Chinese or Eastern European? Why can't we have both?! This Friday, you can have dine in Sichuan before crossing a couple of borders for dessert in Hungary, all without leaving the uber hipster strip of Johnston Street in Collingwood! The Continental Drift Dinner will start with a three-course, nine-dish, matched wine Sichuan feast at Shu Restaurant, before guests shuffle a couple doors up to Mamor Chocolates, for a sumptuous Hungarian dessert of cake and chocolate. Yum!
Continental Drift | Start at Shu Restaurant in Collingwood | 6:45 – 10:00pm | $88
The European Night Market is on for one last Friday night (sob!). Head to the Madame Brussels Lane market to warm your bellies with German beer and mulled wine, pretzels and sausages, Italian bomboloni and sweets, all to the sweet sound of live musical tunes. We recommend you rug up in your warmest winter woollies!
European Night Market | Madame Brussels Lane in Melbourne CBD | 4pm 'til late
The iconic Terminus Hotel has been given a facelift and is set to reopen her doors this Friday, under the new ownership of Sand Hill Road. She's sporting a new look described as 'Paris Tropical', but you'll be pleased to know she's kept her pea green exterior. Oh Termi, it's good to have you back!
Terminus Hotel | 605 Victoria Street in Abbotsford
Bike-peddling cinephiles, if you're looking for things to do in Melbourne that combine your two loves, you've come to the right spot! Held every Friday night, Projector Bike will have you riding through the city, stopping at locations along the route to watch short films and film video clips. Your lycra not shielding you from the chill? Reward your ride and warm your cockles with a round of beverages at the Testing Grounds Bar afterwards. Oh, and the ride and screenings are absolutely free! BYO bike and helmet.
Projector Bike | Begins at Testing Grounds in Melbourne CBD | 6:30 – 7:30pm
Saturday 9th August
Melbourne marketeers, our beloved North Melbourne Market has gone through a complete re-brand, ditching their Lithuanian Club in favour of a life on the road as Mystery Market. A roving market filled with music, art and interactive fun times, Melbourne's first Mystery Market will be held at The Jam Factory this Saturday, featuring indie fashion designers, talented musicians and a host of crafty activities for you to get gluey in.
Check out our Melbourne Market Calendar for more August markets.
Mystery Market | The Jam Factory in South Yarra (changes) | 11am –4pm
Fancy salami? Swoon over sausage? If you're looking for Melbourne events that cover your two meaty loves, Bar Idda has just the class for you! Traditionalist Alfredo La Spina will be sharing his family secrets in his salami and sausage making workshop this Saturday, where you'll learn the tricks of the trade before you dine on a delicious three-course pork feast. Snags can be taken home at the end of the class, while salamis will have to be left to cure for two months before they're collected. Oh, well, what better excuse to go to Bar Idda than to pick up your salami (like we really needed an excuse!)
Salami and Sausage Making Workshop | Bar Idda in Brunswick East | 10:30am – 2:30pm | $150
Collingwood's Happy Valley bookstore is celebrating National Bookshop Day (yep, it's a thing) with a host of celebrity shopkeepers, including local Greens MP Adam Bandt, Marieke Hardy, Michaela McGuire, Dave O'Neil, Darren Hanlon and Erik Jensen, who'll all be rolling up their sleeves for hour-long shifts on the floor. All proceeds will be donated to the Cancer Council Victoria, and many artists and suppliers have also donated goods that will be given as hampers on the day.
Happy Valley Charity Day | Happy Valley in Collingwood | 294 Smith Street in Collingwood
Sometimes the heart-eyed emoji just doesn't cut the romantic mustard. Learn how to write a love note to your sweetie at Hand Crafted Letters and Typography 1, running this Saturday as part of Craft Cubed 2014. You'll be taught how to correctly work with pen and ink and craft your own unique hand lettering and fonts, exploring various techniques and materials, including the romantic Modern Copperplate.
Hand Crafted Letters and Typography 1 | Old School in Coburg | 10am – 4pm | $150
Getting hitched soon? Good for you! Encore St Kilda Beach Wedding Open Day will give brides-to-be the opportunity to meet and speak with professional event coordinators, sip champagne and sample wedding goodies such as bonbonniere, canapés and sweet treats. Your mood board is about to get mighty full!
Winter Wedding Open Day | Encore in St Kilda | 10am – 3pm
Dapper gents of Melbourne, have you heard of Menske? A series of quarterly pop-up events, Menske is a curated market showcasing Australian designers of men's luxury goods and wares. Running this Saturday and Sunday, their Winter Selection will boast the best locally-designed products, featuring brands Ben-Tovim Design, Carl Navè, and Temple Town, along with an exciting list of others. There are also coffee classes, barber cuts, live tunes, plus a whisky bar!
Menske Winter Selection | 9th & 10th August | Allpress Studio in Collingwood
Vino swillers, here's one for you! Held at the Wine House Tasting Rooms in Southbank, Palate Trainer will teach you all about wine evaluation techniques, how to improve your palate awareness and properly impress all of your friends at your next dinner party.
Palate Trainer | Wine House Tasting Rooms in Southbank
Sunday 10th August
What's on in Melbourne for us crafty folk, you ask? Melbourne's finest local crafters, makers, stitchers and designers will descend on The Fine Design Market this Sunday. Held inside the MC Square building in Doncaster, the market will boast over 50 stalls full of fashion, handmade jewellery, homewares, ceramics, hand poured candles, tasty treats…and oh so much more! Oh my, are you looking fine!
The Fine Design Market | MC Square in Doncaster | 10m – 3pm | Gold coin donation
Still looking for things to do in Melbourne this weekend? May we suggest you check out Aztec before it's packed up and moved to the Australian Museum on Monday. The exhibition, held at the Melbourne Museum, features over 200 cultural artefacts and dramatic multimedia from Mexico's major museums. We love a little cultural education on a Sunday!
Aztecs | Melbourne Museum | 10am–5pm
Urban Listers, that's what's on this weekend in Melbourne!