I expected to just browse the designers featured at the local Big Design Market, but ended up…read morecoming away with several fun Christmas gifts. There are multiple stalls with 'Melbourne' themed gifts if you are shopping for interstate or overseas. Entry is free and there is a big range of prices for various budgets, from $5 bottle cap style rings to $250+ for cotton bedding. There are also items you never knew you needed but can possibly live without, like an Australian flag moustache broche. A vast majority of the products are aimed at the ladies, but there are some good things for guys here too. You can also head here for after work drinks for a beer, wine, or cider and a taco truck is parked out front. The market features some great designers and it's worth it to have a look around at the artists and craftsmanship.

What happens when you put hundreds of Australia's young, up-and-coming (or already seriously made…read moreit) designers and creatives all in one spot at once with their crafty, beautiful offerings up for sale? The Big Design Market. Seriously, go there with a budget and only go over that budget by a hundred because things could get out of control. So much beautiful bits and pieces from dog clothes to vases, calendars to jewellery to art, plants to bicycle. EVERYTHING PRETTY. And on the crowd side, so many people in outfits that I would like to borrow. It's a little crowded but nothing compared with the alcohol tastings I've been to/work out so this level of people was actually a nice change. The biggest lines and crowds were for food (especially Miss Chu's Dumplings) but there was a couple of street food traders on the outside that you could get pass outs to. And that's not really what you're there for right..? BEST PLACE EVER FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

Quality/Quantity - I really like the dinosaur exhibits! So…read morecool. And you do not have to be a kid to enjoy this. Very immersive exhibits! Yes, this museum is very kid friendly. Current special events & exhibitions. Titanic until 4/14/24. High Tea until 4/14/24. 2/8/24 Nocturnal - Museum after dark. 2/10/24 Lunar New Year Day. 2/14/24 Valentine Day event. There are so many more exhibits and events, see website. (Yelp has the wrong website). https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/ Atmosphere - Another beautiful museum. And in the Carlton Gardens. Even the bathrooms are modern and beautiful... 4 floors, see directory. IMAX theater. Market Cafe. Open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm. Yelp hours differ slightly. Service - Good. Price - $15AUD per person. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2000.

Decently sized museum with lots of areas to explore a different variety of exhibitions…read more You can gets lots of historical information regarding the settlers of Australia, both new and old. There are also more modern exhibitions, including Lego. The place is great for both museum enthusiasts as well as for families with kids. The staff is friendly and can direct you if needed. The facilities are modern with plenty of restrooms and other accommodations. The crowds also seem to have been mostly well controlled. I'd say the dinosaur display is the one most definitely work checking out.

Red Gum Gallery in Olinda is not your typical art gallery. This one displays work from people in…read morethe area whom are lovely enough to sell it on to be loved by others. Each work is tagged with the artists name and home suburb in Victoria. It was really nice to walk around and realise how much talent exists amongst our neighbours. The gallery had a lot of wooden sculptures and objects and smelt like pine. It was very refreshing and almost energizing after being in quite a few warm and stuffy shops earlier that day. The prices for the art pieces were reasonable and modest. Some pieces obviously cost a little bit more but that was based on the quality, size and usefulness of the item itself. There was one staff member who was putting new pieces out on display. She didn't say anything to us so it felt a bit like we were intruding but other than that is was quite a nice little gallery. It is open from Monday to Friday from 11-4 however it is closed on Tuesdays. On weekends it is open from 10-5.

As you can probably tell I have been to this place quite a few times. Okay, I'd hardly say that it…read moreis my favourite bar, but it is a pretty decent bar walking distance from where I live. Actually, I'd probably say that it is more of a pool hall, and there are certainly enough pool tables to go around. However, it isn't just eight ball that they offer here, they also have video games, a poker night, and have recently introduced live bands. I've also come here to watch the occasional game of football (though they generally only have one game on at a time). The also make a decent cup of coffee (as well as a nice pot of tea). The staff are also pretty cool, especially the owner, who is a bit of a character, but then again this is one of those places were you will always see familiar faces lurking around.

The first time I came here, I was meeting up with some friends for a frisbee match. I'm not…read moreparticularly coordinated when it comes to the hand-eye activities and so I suggested I just might cheerlead from the side lines... Well, they were all running around and frolicking about in the sunshine - the huge lawns here are perfect for it - and before I knew it I was playing like a recent graduate from the Ultimate Frisbee Champion School. Apart from friendly frisbee games, the gardens are great for a stroll or a relaxed afternoon under a tree. The community garden in south-west corner is nice to poke around in, as are the hot houses. Keep your eye out for critters in the trees.

I always forget this place is here! I feel absolutely privileged to be so nearby. When you're in…read morethe mood for a beautiful scenic walk, this seems to be the place, providing you don't want to head into the city for the other one. The plant life is super abundant and the amount of grass that's available for picnic is awesome! There's even that nice little playground for the kidlets. The only downside is there's always poo on the ground, yes a big downside. I'm not a fan of that being right in the pathway, especially when you are responsible enough to clean up your own dogs poop! Be kind and keep the pathways and grass clean please!

Got to check out the famous hosier lane. So much cool art and was nice it wasn't over crowded so…read moreyou could really walk around and enjoy it. There was a little construction going on one end, but besides that, definitely a cool spot to check out!

Feels like I moved back to LA (minus the homeless people and syringes). I like all of the graffiti…read moreartwork. The rule in Melbourne is that you can only cover it up if you do better than what's already on the wall. I have no idea how often people paint over other people's work. Cool spot to take pics and walk around and have some fun.

Sticky is an artist-run and focused initiative that facilitates and promotes zine culture in this…read morecity. It's an amazing concept: you can go in, use their resources, pick their brains and be blown away by the wealth of incredible artists and artisans working in the zine realm. Sticky have a lucid idea of who they are as a collective. Their mission statement says: "By bypassing the conventional gallery system, Sticky redefines the notion of a retail environment as a non profit arts space dedicated to Australian and international zine culture." And in doing these things, the institute allow the proliferation of this otherwise underground and often off-kilter art practise -- a great thing for any city. Any gripe with the place would be that it is cramped and can feel a bit exclusive at times. I've had slightly mixed experiences with staff, but they're mostly volunteers, so there's no shortage of passion.

Zines, the DIY behemoth that excites photocopiers, writers and artists alike has a home in…read moreMelbourne. Situated beneath Flinders st as one enters the train station, one will find every surface adorned with self-made paraphernalia, complete with badge machine, stapler and photocopier for the budding Zinester in all of us, Sticky is an institution.

It is designed to be a family friendly historical establishment. I took this into consideration in…read moredetermining the ratings here; they really do care and put a lot on for their families (must be their target audience as opposed to a young person in their early thirties) so therefore, I have tried to keep an open mind here. For me I was a little bored, although I did learn something interesting about the Victorian maritime system; yet there isn't overly too much to look at, so again this establishment is slightly overrated in my eyes; I was bored. However for families that put on special events like family fun day where children can get their face painted and receive goodie bags, and also get the opportunity to dress up as pirates; only to name a few different activities as part of their family fun days which children get to relish. It is popular among families, and expect to be patient when queuing to get in. Luckily there is a cafe pit stop to enjoy the end of the journey, although I cannot comment much on this cafe because I decided to pass on my coffee on this occasion. Still interesting to discover though. Give it a go.

For a start, this place is called Polly Woodside…read more Go on, say it. Poll-eeey Wood-siide. Feels good huh? Secondly, it's a great place to wander around on a day. If you're a budding photographer then you'll find some good spots here and if you fork out $15 you can go poke around on the tall ship. Everyone loves a tall ship!