Max your summer in Melbourne

An open-air trivia night is coming over to the Common Man from Tuesday, February 12. It will be held on Common Man’s riverside garden on the banks of the Yarra River and you can enjoy the beautiful Melbourne skyline as you battle friends in a fun game of trivia. Starting from 5.30pm, your brains will be kept running with the continuous supply of food and drinks from the riverside garden pop-up bar, right until the last question is asked. You can enjoy Kahlua espresso martinis, summery cocktail jugs, Coopers beers, Squealing Pig rosé in cans and plenty of wines. Plus, the full Common Man menu along with $10 pizzas will be available throughout the night. Those whose general knowledge skills trump the quiz set up by Question One can even win prizes – a $50 voucher for first prize, a $30 voucher for second, ‘something NQR’ for the team that comes second to last and the last prize is a round of drinks for next week’s open-air trivia. Bonus mid game prizes including additional questions and activities will keep the night exciting. Gather your friends and colleagues and register your teams here. Early registrations can go in the draw for the weekly door prize pool which will be drawn before the first question. Open Air Trivia Night will be held every Tuesday till the end of March.

Each year the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival showcases the very best this delectable city has to offer. Culinary playgrounds will pop up across the CBD offering anything from sweet treats to French delicacies to fine drops from Victoria’s best wine producers. Safe to assume you’ll need to have your stretchy pants on hand for this one. Wine and dine your way across the city with highlights including the River Graze, which sees a culinary playground set up along the Yarra Promenade. Or for those looking to explore Victoria's regional highlights look out for the festival's regional long lunches. Each lunch serves a minimum of 100 guests and takes place in some of the state's loveliest locations – everywhere from beaches to vineyards. Here are our top picks for the festival and get ready to eat! 

To celebrate the NGV’s major summer exhibition Between Two Worlds which features the endlessly fascinating works of Dutch graphic artist MC Escher, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins is putting on a very special high tea experience. The Monochromatic High Tea is running at Sofitel’s first-floor café Sofi’s Lounge. Punters can enjoy sweet treats inspired by MC Escher’s black and white works, including black sesame waffle cones with salted caramel, passionfruit and coconut chiboust, white chocolate opera slices with blackened coffee gel, and a special Escher’s Black Rose with raspberry sponge and blueberry jelly, rose and white chocolate mousse on hazelnut dacquoise.   All dishes are served on custom-made Escher-esque high tea stands, so you can tuck into lime meringues with ash choux profiteroles, charcoal scones and an assortment of finger sandwiches in true Escher style. Each dish has been crafted by Sofitel’s pastry chef David Hann to bring out some of Escher’s most daring works.   Guests will also receive a glass of sparkling wine, Madame Flavour loose leaf teas and espresso coffee for $55 per person. You can also up the ante by signing up for free-flowing sparkling for $65, or replenished sweets and savoury dishes for $70, or high tea with Taittinger Champagne for $75 per person. Monochromatic High Tea is available on weekdays until March 29, with two sessions at noon and 3pm.

Spring is coming early in Melbourne as Little Collins St Kitchen at the Sheraton Hotel serves up a limited edition, floral-themed high tea.  If you’re a fan of flowers, sweets, and all things in between, this is an event not to be missed. Enjoy a delectable menu of floral-infused sweet treats such as profiteroles filled with jasmine tea-flavoured cream, and french earl grey tea and passionfruit bavarois, accompanied by select floral teas from tea company T2. You can even try a special ‘Flower Power’ cocktail. If you’re not so much of a sweet tooth, the high tea menu will have you covered with their scrumptious savoury treats, including potato and blue cheese croquettes and mini quiches filled with peas, kale, broccoli and cheddar cheese. Come down to Little Collins St Kitchen between Monday and Saturday from March 16 to 30 to have a taste of this limited edition high tea menu. You can try it for $59 per person on weekdays and $65 per person on Saturdays and it runs from 1 to 3pm. The price includes a ‘Flower Power’ cocktail and unlimited T2 teas and coffees.

Kick some serious putt at Pixar Putt, a new pop-up mini golf experience that’s landed in Melbourne. The experience is inspired by some of Disney Pixar’s most famous films, including classics like Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, Ratatouille, Monsters Inc, Wall-E, and new hits like Inside Out, Coco, The Good Dinosaur and more.   Pixar Putt completes its run at River Terrace at Federation Square on Sunday, February 3 before heading to St Kilda Triangle from Friday, February 15 until Sunday, March 31. You can choose between playing a nine-hole round or go to infinity and beyond with the full 18-hole course. Tickets will be $24.90 for adults, $19.90 for children or $79.50 for families doing the nine-hole course, or $39.90 for adults, $29.90 for children and $119.60 for families doing the 18-hole course. Best to buy tickets in advance via the 'buy tickets' button above. 

Flight time from Melbourne to London is 22 hours 50 minutes, but it would take around 30 minutes to take a tram from the CBD to Melbourne's own little London, Lizzie’s Lane by Pullman Melbourne. Located in the midst of Albert Park, just off Queens Lane, Lizzie’s Lane will be open until April 2019 each Wednesday to Sunday. Staying true to the theme, the bar offers plenty of classic UK beverages, London-inspired cocktails and bites. The relaxed garden setting is made complete with a pop-art mural, inspired the love affair of Melbourne and East London, styled by local street-artist, Sheldon Headspeath. The cocktails are like the love child of English culture and Melbourne summer, with selections like the Eurostar (D1 London Dry Gin, St Germain liqueur, cucumber and mint), the Hogwarts Express Martini (D1 London Potato Vodka, Kahlua and espresso coffee), and the London Mule (D1 London Potato Vodka, ginger beer and lime) and the traditional Pimm's Jug, just to name a few.  Created with celebrations in mind, the food menu features feasts that are perfect to be shared among friends. Think warm roast beef rolls, prawn cocktail rolls and even wagyu cheeseburgers with dill picks, English cheddar and house-made relish.  Alternatively, you can choose between an assortment of nibbles including buttermilk spiced chicken pops, salted cod croquettes, or the hefty ploughman's platter, which includes smoked ham, piccalilli, pork and chicken terrine, aged English cheddar and freshly baked s

The Castlemaine Fringe Festival runs alongside the Castlemaine State Festival every two years. The event is run by local artists who curate a program of diverse creative projects for the Fringe Festival.  The festival regularly includes offerings from across the arts sphere including music, theatre, visual art, writing and performance art. 

The Old Melbourne Gaol closed in 1929, but by then there had already been more than 130 hangings in its 80-odd years of operation. The site housed some of Australia's most notorious criminals as well as prisoners who were unlucky enough to be caught up in the period's punitive justice system. And that means there are plenty of former residents at the gaol who never "moved on". The Old Melbourne Gaol's 'Ghosts? What Ghosts!' tour takes a group of intrepid guests through the gaol after hours. As you walk through the gaol in the semi-darkness you'll be told about some of the most spooky sightings that have been witnessed, as well as see photos taken of suspected ghosts. Both staff and visitors at the gaol have had unusual things happen to them within the prison walls, and anyone who values their life should stay away from cell 17 – the gaol's most haunted room.  Guests also get roughly ten minutes to explore the gaol with the lights on at the end of the tour. Arrive at 8.15pm for an 8.30pm start. 

When it comes to comfort foods dumplings are pretty high on the list. The team at Horse Bazaar are taking dumplings to a whole new level of cosy by offering a dumpling and massage combo on Tuesday nights.  Every Tuesday night at Horse Bazaar is Dumplings 'N' Massage night where you can get three dumplings and a ten-minute massage for $15 (plus online booking fee). There are six flavours to choose from ranging from Horse Bazaar's classic pork and vegan dumplings to stranger concoctions like fried cheese, Nutella and nuts and the very experimental 'Aussie breakfast' dumpling (that's egg, bacon and Vegemite).  Your massage will be delivered by resident masseuses from Soul Aquarian Therapy who will work the knots from your back as you work the dumplings into your mouth.  Make the worst day of the week just a little bit better – Dumplings 'N' Massage is on every Tuesday at Horse Bazaar. Bookings are a must and can be made online.

Last winter, a pop-up museum dedicated to all things sweet landed on Smith Street. Open for only eight weeks, Sugar Republic eventually sold more than 25,000 tickets – but for those who missed out, never fear. Sugar Republic is back!  This Instagrammable event has arrived at Myer in Bourke Street Mall. Several different sensory rooms will be taking over Myer's sixth floor, and we can guarantee they will satisfy every kind of candy lover.  The Sugar Republic team are expecting to build on their previous pop-up with a host of new rooms and interactive installations to play with. There will be a giant rainbow ball pit, a cookie house to relax in, a licorice playroom, a big gum bubble and candy-filled swing, a confetti shower and plenty of lollies to enjoy as you wander through (including some old-school favourites including Wizz Fizz, Hubba Bubba and Arnott's biccies).  This time around, the Sugar Republic team have introduced after dark adults-only sessions which kick off at 6.30pm on Thursday and Friday nights.  Tickets are on sale now and will need to be purchased in advance online. Prices start at $30. In the meantime, take a look at the last time Sugar Republic set up shop in Melbourne.

Cultural Diversity Week is being held all across Victoria from March 16 to March 24. It is the state’s largest multicultural celebration with an exciting program of festivals and events. On Saturday, March 23, this free celebration will be brought to Federation Square. From midday, Victoria’s multicultural festival will showcase the state’s rich and vibrant cultural traditions through a free one-day program of live performances, music, food and activities. Dallas Woods’ headline act tackling the stigmas and stereotypes of growing up Indigenous through a combination of old-school and new-school hip hop. Also performing will be the YAY dance group, started by the late JJay De Melo, the culturally diverse singers and MCs from Heard Instinct Shepparton crew and other soul, funk, reggae, jazz and other musical performances, as well as East European gypsy, and Middle-Eastern dance performances. Plus, Cultural Waves music festival will begin at 6.30pm with a diverse line-up of free gigs. Baker Boy, who raps in the Yolngu Matha language that represents his Indigenous bloodline, will be headlining the evening. Kaiit will also give a future-soul and R'n'B performance, and Adrian Eagle will perform after.  Head on over to Federation Square on March 23 to enjoy a day of diversity and culture.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival returns to take over the city this March, and an annual highlight is always the River Graze. This event will mark the closing weekend of the festival, with the south bank of the Yarra River transformed into a culinary playground full of food trucks and stallholders.  Highlights of the graze include City Cellar, a wine and cheese section celebrating Victoria's brightest winemakers; Starward's Whisky Garden, a delightful pop-up bar from the Starward Whisky team with barbecue from Hoy Pinoy and Bluebonnet and dessert from Bibelot; Stomping Ground Beer Garden, where the Collingwood brewery will be serving up some of its best beers; and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, a seasonal garden set up along the riverwalk.  Bring the kids along too! The festival's family-friendly opening weekend will have plenty for littlies to enjoy as well.  The River Graze will run from Federation Square to Crown Riverwalk. 

Are you sick of salad? Maybe you’d like to kill kale? Perhaps you hunger for something with a little more meat on its bones? Well, hunger no more! Meatstock returns to Melbourne on March 23 and 24 to satisfy your carnivorous cravings. For 2019, Meatstock will be bringing two of the best barbecuers in the biz: Brad Leighninger and Tim Scheer, whose barbecue teams are ranked number one and number four in the United States, respectively. Leighninger is pitmaster at Gettin' Basted in Missouri, and Scheer is pitmaster of Shake 'n Bake BBQ, also in Missouri. Scheer also owns barbecue sauce brand Blues Hog.  They'll be running live demonstrations at Meatstock and will also be offering cooking classes at the Que Club, Fitzroy. It's not all international guests, with Texas import Hillbilly Wes, who owns  Bovine and Swine Barbecue Co in Sydney, will be sharing his expertise as well.  This weekend of meat mania will also feature the Barbecue Wars, a battle with over 50 teams competing, as well as Butcher Wars, when 20 butchers going up against Melbourne’s best to see who can slice and dice the best piece of meat. The festival will also host Culley’s King of the Que – a competition in which contestants must use a traditional barbecue to cook various meaty delights to perfection. The winner will travel to Texas to represent Australia in the World Steak Championships.  There'll be plenty of meat to eat, and you can wash it all down with a cold beer. Entertainment will come by wa

This annual cheese fest is back for 2019 on March 24 with a one-day event celebrating the world’s most delightful dairy product.This year the festival returns to Werribee Park Mansion with lots of local cheese makers and producers on hand to make sure you stay full and happy. Attendees will be able to taste delicious artisan cheeses and complement meals with some craft cider, ale or wine.All guests are encouraged to DIY their own picnic hampers throughout the day, selecting tasty items from all the local producers showcasing at the event. There will also be a grape stomping competition with Pyrenees Wine Region, masterclasses and demonstrations on the Chef Stage, mozzarella stretching, cheese-inspired ice cream, among plenty of other surprising cheesy delights. Keep your eyes peeled for fried mozzarella burgers and blue cheese cannoli from That's Amore Cheese, goats cheese and black cherry ice cream from 196 Below, macaroni cheese croquettes from Pasta Face, plus tiramisu on a stick, blue cheese ice cream and so much more.And along with the festivities, there would also be performances by local bands, including the sax-laden disco sounds of Vaudeville Smash and Bec Sandridge. Limited early-bird tickets are $37 and can be bought online.

Head over to The Barre on Sunday, March 24 for an exciting autumn feast. Led by Victorian wine connoisseurs Hilary Fordham and Matt Withers (from Jovial Wine Group), guests can enjoy a four-course lunch paired with a different riesling wine for each dish. Depending on where they're grown, the riesling grapes surprise your palette with their variety of tastes, ranging from the crisp and tangy citrus styles of Clare and Eden Valley (from South Australia) to the richer and more textural styles of Alsace (from northeastern France).  Dig into dishes like pickled kingfish with quinoa salad, yuzu sorbet and hijiki marinade, and riesling poached pear with pain perdu, golden hazelnut dust and vanilla ice cream for dessert. All dishes can be made vegetarian or gluten-free upon request.  Secure your spot now for this one-off feast for $85 per person. The event is strictly for those aged 18 and over. 

You’ve no doubt binged the second season of Making a Murderer, sitting on at the edge of your seat as attorneys Laura Nirider and Steven Drizin pick themselves up from yet another defeat in the US court system and continue their fight for Brendan Dassey’s release. And was it even 2018 if you didn’t have at least one argument about whether or not defence lawyer David Rudolf from The Staircase really believed his client Michael Peterson was innocent of the murder of his wife, Kathleen Peterson? All questions you shouted at the TV screen (or wherever else you watch your Netflix shows), you can now ask in person at Melbourne Convention Centre, when all three lawyers will be sharing their insights into the US justice system. Nirider, Drizin and Rudolf will be taking questions from the audience, too, so have your all-important questions ready, such as ‘How does Steven Avery keep getting girlfriends and I can’t get a boyfriend?’ and ‘Where is Avery’s lawyer Kathleen Zellner? Will she adopt me?’

Everyone knows that good things come in small packages, so find out why the tiny house movement is taking off at Australia’s first tiny house festival. Brought to you by Tiny Houses Australia, an online community dedicated to celebrating living in tiny houses, the Tiny House Festival will be held at Bendigo Racecourse on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 in 2019. The event will showcase vendors and suppliers, as well as live builds, workshops and demonstrations that will give you the inspiration to create your own tiny home. On top of guest speakers and screenings, there will be plenty of tiny houses, buses and vans on display so that you can properly stickybeak into the lives of those who choose to ditch the rat race for a simpler (and smaller) life on the road.

Each year the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival showcases the very best this delectable city has to offer. Culinary playgrounds will pop up across the CBD offering anything from sweet treats to French delicacies to fine drops from Victoria’s best wine producers. Safe to assume you’ll need to have your stretchy pants on hand for this one. Wine and dine your way across the city with highlights including the River Graze, which sees a culinary playground set up along the Yarra Promenade. Or for those looking to explore Victoria's regional highlights look out for the festival's regional long lunches. Each lunch serves a minimum of 100 guests and takes place in some of the state's loveliest locations – everywhere from beaches to vineyards. Here are our top picks for the festival and get ready to eat! 

Werribee Zoo will be opening its gates to a brand-new village market experience this summer. The market will show off the many flavours of Africa every Sunday in the months of February and March. Expect plenty of market stalls, performances, food, drinks and craft activities on the lawns of the zoo.  The Village Market won’t just have African-inspired food for your stomach but will also have a treat for your eyes as well. South Sudanese Yirol dancers in their traditional attire will perform at the market and you can join them in dancing to the beat of African drums. Activities like hair braiding, banana leaf weaving and traditional games will keep you busy. Plus, visitors can get a taste of the rich smells and flavours of an Ethiopian coffee ceremony and specialty Sudanese tea. Beaded sandals, hanging planters and African fabric tops and skirts are just a few of the items that will be available to buy at the Village Market.  Experience this exciting new market at the Werribee Open Range Zoo starting from February 3. Entry to the Village Market is free with zoo admission. 

What do zoo animals get up to when all the daytime visitors have headed back to their cars? Quite a lot, it turns out, with many African animals most active at dusk. That makes Werribee Open Range Zoo's Sunset Safari the perfect time to see giraffes, rhinoceroses, elands, zebras, scimitar-horned oryxes, hippopotamuses and other incredible African animals.  Visitors are divided up into two groups, Kipenzi and Lataba (named after two of the zoo's seven rhinos). There are three activities on the night, but the order changes by group. Everyone gets a welcome drink on arrival, after which the groups go their separate ways.  One part of the night is an African drumming and dancing performance, which includes a workshop on how to do some of the simpler moves. A second part is an African feast, where visitors can enjoy tagine, couscous, salads and other delights, all topped off with a chocolate fountain, into which you can dip marshmallows, strawberries and meringue pieces. The best part, and the reason for the event, is the safari itself. Visitors pile onto the safari buses and travel out to the 45-hectare open savannah section of the zoo. Sunset is the best time to see the magnificent creatures who live here, and safari guests will get to see all kinds of cool African wildlife at their most active. The luckiest group goes out at the same time as the truck that delivers their food, which is sure to bring the animals running from all corners of the savannah.  Proceeds from the ni