While it’s always been easy to find yourself amongst the bustle of Lygon or Chapel St, the lights of the MCG, or the corridors of the National Gallery, there are now a number of online tools that have unlocked the hidden gems of Melbourne’s underground.

Whether you are planning a night out or a solo tour to catch up on some culture, here are a few of the best websites showcase the best of what Melbourne has to offer.

Threethousand.com.au

Threethousand is a hipster’s guide to the arts scene of Melbourne (postcode 3000) and its surrounds. Operating as an online magazine with a small team of editorial staff and photographers this looks to filter the very best of Melbourne’s local arts culture. Split into categories such as “eat” “play” “stray” “watch” “make” the Thousands (they also operate in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney) offer an often cheeky view on experiences such as how to make a frozen banana or build your own “herb fortress”, as well as a great range of book, music and theatre reviews.

The cultural calendar on the site is the most useful feature with great events every day of the year.

Thatsmelbourne.com.au

This is a slightly more mainstream and family oriented site that is run by the City of Melbourne. It offers thousands of events and ideas for trips in and around the city as well as links to longer weekend trips around Victoria. The ‘What’s on’ section is the most useful if you are looking to fill your day. This one is perfect for the upcoming school holidays.

Urbanspoon.com.au

Part of the global Urban Spoon network this harnesses the networked potential of bloggers across the city to give a citizens guide of the best places to eat in town. You can filter your search by location and price and then go on to read the experiences of hundreds of diners. After you’ve chosen a place to eat you can return and place your own voice on the site! On the whole it is a fairly reliable indicator of a good feed, but unless you have booked, steer clear of any restaurants in the top 10 as they will almost certainly be full!

Also Check out

BROADSHEET MELBOURNE – Food/Drink and Culture

BAR ENGINE – Nightlife

BEAT MAGAZINE – Melbourne Music Guide

But, even better than any of these sites will be your friendly guide at reception who will be able to point you in the right direction for a great Melbourne experience.

• Arcadia – so close to our South Yarra property (this means you can stumble home!)
• Bridie O’Reilly’s – On Chapel St, it’s an Irish pub and lots of fun. An afternoon session is a must here. The perfect location for people watching, just grab a table out fron!
• The College Lawn - On Greville St. Sunday afternoons are the go for this place.
• Fog – Also on Greville St, you can get some nice cocktails here and the food menu is great.

• Borche Vodka and Tears – A polish restaurant and they have the most extensive AND DELICIOUS vodka drinks list! It’s a small place and if you want to go for dinner I would make a booking. The evenings usually see an older couple dressed in traditional Polish gear playing an accordion, very cute!
• Hoo Haa – You can grab a great Pizza or a casual dinner, after about 9pm the bar kicks off on Thursday through to Sunday. Hoo Haa has a great Vibe and is always a good place to start the night!
• Lucky Coq – Great any night of the week. They have $4 pizzas!! Woo! The décor has that ‘I found it so I’m going to use’ feel, but very chilled and its buzzing here most nights of the week.

• Orange Bar – A small, very chilled out bar/café. The vibe is often set by the person behind the bar. He plays whatever music he feels like listening too. Nice for a quiet sit-down drink.
• Railway Hotel – Has that pub feel with a bit of class attached to it. The upstairs area is great, and the best bit about it is that attached to the hotel is a 24 hour bottle-o!!!
• The Social – The crowd tends to be a little older (I suppose), a small bar with booths set up outside, couches along the wall and a dance floor towards the back. Decent music.
• The Windsor Castle – Friday nights are packed in the beer garden with an eclectic mix of drinkers. Decor is rainbow fantasia meets the tropics, with hurricane lanterns and straw umbrellas and palm trees. I would say one of the most popular drinking holes in the area.
• Bable – Next to the Coles car park. Great for breakfast or a hot or cold drink.

• Is It Café – Go just for the tagine breakfast…Oh so tasty!
• Mother’s Milk – Great for a quiet drink during the week, or a place to start the shenanigans of a Saturday night!

• Killing Time – Great music and a very cool crowd. A small bar which feels like your own backyard. I would recommend Saturday night. Start here then head to 161.

• One Six One – Go for the music and stay for the retro dance-floor. Thursday nights have live music.

• Electric Land Land – Again, great for a quiet drink during the week, or, Friday and Saturday nights here get very busy. More of a sit down kind of place with heaps of cosy corners to tuck yourself away in.

Please feel free to add anymore to the list! We are always looking for new places to go and to recommend to our guests!

Melbourne Winter Festival;

Running from 18^th of August to the 3^rd of September, The Melbourne Winter Festival is set to cast a spell over Melbourne this August – transforming the city into a winter wonderland and warming hearts with all the delights of an alpine snow-season abroad. Fall under the Winter Festival spell and enjoy some of the best entertainment your city has to offer. Glide across the oversized 1100 metre square outdoor Strepsils Cool Ice Rink with the first ever Ice fun Track, be warmed by cosy wood fires in the original winter-lands Alpine Ski Hut, succumb to the delights of the international Alpine food stalls and share a new-found love for your city this winter. Another highlight includes the St Moritz VIP Winter bar and Alpine food stalls with winter delicacies from alpine regions across the globe including Poffertjes, Glühwein and Swedish Meat Balls.

Be entertained by skating performances as dazzling ice skaters from Ice Skating Australia fly and twirl around the Ice Rink. New to Skating? Take lessons with Aussie Skate coaches and learn a move or two.

Entry to the event is free. Tickets for the Strepsils Cool Ice Rink and Winter Festival Packages are available on the website.

Melbourne International Film Festival;

From the 27^th July to the 7^th August, The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an iconic Melbourne event with a devoted audience. MIFF hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 50 countries for some 17 days each winter, heavily garnished with a range of parties and special events that envelop the CBD. In addition to screening the very best in world cinema, MIFF is Australia’s largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local filmmaking talent.

MIFF has a rich history, celebrating 60 years in 2011 which makes it one of the oldest film festival’s in the world (one year younger than Cannes!). From its earliest days, MIFF has provided audiences with a unique window on the world and has acted as the leading intellectual and artistic catalyst in Australia’s screen cultural landscape.

The Festival enjoys annual admissions of 185,000, making it one of Melbourne’s significant public events.

Good Food & Wine Show

3^rd- 5^th June 2011.

Feed your inner foodie; Spend a day exploring the ultimate food and wine playground. Watch live demonstrations from celebrity chefs. Indulge yourself in a delectable array of local and international produce. See the latest in kitchen appliances and cookware and stock your pantry with new and exciting products.

Love Never Dies

22^nd May – 24^th June 2011.

Personally, I am so exited about this one, a musical lover at heart, this will probably be the highlight of my winter… now to get my tickets! – Anna

The world’s greatest love story continues in the musical LOVE NEVER DIES.

Having been seen by over 100 million people worldwide and having taken more than US $5 billion at the box office, The Phantom of the Opera is widely regarded as the most successful piece of entertainment in history. Now, the story of The Phantom of the Opera continues in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest musical masterpiece, LOVE NEVER DIES.

The year is 1907. It is 10 years after the Phantom’s disappearance from the Paris Opera House and he has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak-shows of Coney Island. In this new electrically-charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar. All that is missing is his love, Christine Daaé.  In a final bid to win back her love, the Phantom lures Christine to the glittering world of Coney Island with her husband, Raoul and their young son Gustave… unbeknownst of what is in store for her….

LOVE NEVER DIES will be the first new Australian production of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in more than 20 years – Directed by Simon Phillips, Choreographed by Graeme Murphy and Designed by Gabriela Tylesova. Melbourne will also be only the second city in the world to host the musical after London, setting the stage for a theatrical experience of a lifetime.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition.

From 22^nd April 2011.

Uncover the myths of Ancient Egypt when the captivating exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohsarrives in Australia. Learn the history and see artefacts belonging to Ancient Egypt’s ‘Boy King’ before this acclaimed collection returns to Cairo.

Untold riches
Discover more than 130 artefacts, including 50 from the tomb of Tutankhamun, and get an insight into the daily life and burial rituals of Ancient Egypt’s ‘Golden Age of the Pharaohs’. See statues, mummies, jewellery and weapons along with the crown from the young pharaoh’s resting place in the Valley of the Kings.

The chance of a lifetime
Don’t miss out on this remarkable exhibition that has broken attendance records all across the globe. The collection of Egyptian treasures comes direct from New York City after showings in London, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and forms part of the celebrated Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series.

And one for the kids… and big kids at heart!

Moscow Circus

April 28 – May 15

‘Renowned Russia performers together with exclusive International Guest acts from around the World, showcasing a performance of sensational skill and agility.’ Over 2 hours of breathtaking entertainment from the worlds most famous circus.

The Performers will astound you with a thrilling combination of acrobatic artistry, along with Incredible magical illusions – ” Its not possible how do they do that?”

Not only does the Great Moscow circus feature sensational death defying acts…. The Wheel of Death, but wait! The Grande Finale, the Highly Tuned Spectacular of Four Daredevil Motorbike’s from Brazil in the splitting ‘Globe of Death’ never seen before in Australia.
Watch in wonderment…. spellbound, at the precision juggling, silks, hula hoops Cubes, and the famous statue act, not forgetting the clowns, who will leave you in stitches!
If you thought you had laughed enough wait for the Wacky Ringmaster with his trampoline and the fastest somersault in the world.

So, get out there and enjoy this winter!!

Trivia hasn’t been the most popular choice of entertainment in Melbourne’s modern, fast paced society, which is why I was so surprised when my sister started going religiously every Wednesday. As it turns out, trivia is slowly climbing up the social ladder and there are so many restaurants and bars that are embracing the culture and offering trivia nights. Many bars and restaurants are holding trivia nights, mostly on a Wednesday or Tuesday, and they vary in difficulty, and some even have themes, perfect for you specialists out there!

I decided I had to check out a trivia night, so, apprehensively I must admit, I went along to my sister’s Wednesday trivia night with a group of friends to St. Kilda’s Treehouse Lounge (a great tapas bar on Carlisle St), and I was soon proven wrong! It was such a great night out, with a great atmosphere and yum food! Our team even managed to come second and won a bottle of wine! The Treehouse made it such a fun night with 7 rounds, including a ‘bevvie round’, where you got bonus points for buying drinks! Definitely my favourite round…

I started having a look at a few bars around Melbourne that offer trivia, some of which I have been to before and had no idea of their trivia antics! The College Lawn on Greville St in Prahran host trivia on a Wednesday. The College Lawn has the great feeling of a favourite local so you can really get comfy while quizzing!

After a few more Wednesday trivia nights at the Treehouse, I have to say I am a trivia enthusiast! That’s not to say I’m any good (at all!) but it’s such a fun night out to catch up with your friends, have a drink and (most likely) make a fool of yourself with the extra spontaneous rounds!

A few tips for your next trivia night:

-          Round up a team, include your mates that are talented in different areas- it will come in handy when you get that ‘outside the box’ question about Lord of the Rings!

-          Find a local venue and give them a call to confirm what time the fun begins (you’ll want to get there earlier to order a your meal and get settled in)

-          I’d also recommend booking a table because they can get quite busy!

-          Leave your inhibitions at home; don’t be surprised if you get called up to sing to gain a few extra points for the team! And remember, you can’t let your team down…

-          Think of a kick ass team name, one that will make your team shudder with excitement and the other teams with fear!

So go on, make a start and join the new trivia culture today! Grab a posse, a pint and happy quizzing!

“Wow! I’ve always wanted pink bed socks!”

As mothers Day creeps up on us yet again, I ponder what my mum thinks every time she opens her gifts. Each year mum is lucky enough to spend the second Sunday of every May opening boxes of chocolate and fluffy warm bed socks.  But does she really need another pair this year? I think not!

So, for all you fluffy sock buyers out there, I’ve given you the easy way out and done some extensive research on what to get my mum this year. Now, I promise to share my ideas, if only you promise to share yours!

Now there is nothing wrong with giving mum a bunch of flowers, but what about a bunch of flowers she can eat!? Edible Blooms provide gourmet chocolate bouquets, home baked cookie blooms, fresh fruit flowers and hampers including French champagne and specialty beers. They are based in Adelaide with stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Australia-wide delivery is available for most items, score!

Get something that will make even the daggiest of mums say “That’s cool!” Check out Cool Things’ online store for some quirky gift ideas. The Piggy Door Stop and Body Stroker are two of my favourites!

I often think that an experience is worth a thousand gifts…

Deals offers great deals in Melbourne with many businesses offering discounts on services, dining, great products and more.

With daily updates of discounts of up to 90% off the normal price, Deals.com.au is a great way to find gifts for mum. Daily deals include day spa treatments, Dining Packages, and great getaway deals.

Or alternatively (this is my favourite!!!), for the extreme Mummy, Red Balloon has everything from Rally Car driving, Helicopter rides, Barista courses, hot air ballooning and shopping (with champagne of course!) tours.

So when your mum opens her gift this Sunday, I’ll know who you (or she!) will be thanking – ME!

Do you have any other great Mothers Day ideas? I would love to hear them. Who knows, maybe I’ll be thanking you next year!

Here’s a few prankster ideas:

• Put Sticky-notes on every item on someone’s desk, (or in their room) labelling what each item is

• Pass a message onto your friend, saying that while they were out a “Mr Lyon” called, and would like them to call him back. List the number of the local zoo

• Make someone a cup of coffee, but replace the sugar with salt

• Photocopy a paperclip on a few blank pages, then place those pages at the top of your photocopy machine paper tray. Watch as your co-workers keep looking at the machine and trying to figure our where the mysterious paperclip is on their photocopies

• This one is thanks to Mashable, but I thought it was a good laugh so have added it here:  Speech Recognition. Make an official looking notice, as might be the style in your workplace, informing staff that an item in the office is now equipped with voice recognition technology, and add a few suggested commands. Stick the notice to the equipment, and watch as your colleagues try to communicate and shout at the object.

Hope you’ve all got eyes in the back of your head on this April Fools Day! Let us know if you try any of these, or if you’ve got some other classic pranks that have been tried & tested.

Our lovely neighbours at the Half Moon hotel have finally re-opened after an

extensive year-long renovation, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait!

On the 1^st of March, Alison and I were lucky enough to be invited the guest list only Grand Opening of the Half Moon Hotel. In attendance were all of the who’s who in Brighton, not naming any names, and us! We were wined and dined, literally, with beautiful cocktails, wine and bubbly, as well as gourmet finger food! Yum!

Lychee Martini's

The venue itself is beautiful, boasting six new drinking and dining spaces over 2 levels, the mix of indoor and outdoor areas are all interconnected by a stunning new timber staircase and an open walkway. The front open area is perfect for a relaxing drink or casual meal, while the indoor dining room provides a relaxed environment to enjoy their fantastic pub food.  Next to the main restaurant is the Molina Room, a private dining seating 12 people, is perfect for your intimate dinners or functions, or can also be used to corporate presentations!

Upstairs is the ultra-cool cocktail bar with adjoining balcony looking out over Church St, where we were treated                                          to these tasty beauties!

So far, Brighton’s favourite pub, has been exceedingly popular for old and young alike, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or casual drink any night of the week! I highly recommend you all visit – and tell them Caroline sent you!

This particular Melbourne event is very close to my heart as I live only one block away from all the action. I am lucky enough to be able to catch a glimpse from my apartment window as the amazing race cars zoom past. However for those of you not lucky enough to have a prime seat in your family home, I would recommend to grab a ticket and enjoy all the action first hand. There are so many cool things that the Grand Prix has to offer.

The 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix runs from the 24th to 27th of March, gates open every day at 10:30am and will close after race activity is finished.

One of Melbourne’s premier sporting events, the Grand Prix, offers an action-packed extravaganza of on and off track activities for people of all ages and families to enjoy. The event has been taken to the next level this year with an extraordinary line-up of elite motor racing, not to mention so many off track events that will keep you entertained throughout the day.

If you’ve never witnessed the sensation of a Formula 1 car racing at speeds of 300km/ph before, 2011 should be the year to do it. If you’re not from Melbourne and wondering were the best place for accommodation is, Caroline Serviced Apartments in South Yarra is just a small hop, skip and jump away from all the Grand Prix action. To be precise, South Yarra is only a five-minute car trip to the fabulous Formula 1 racetrack.

We are lucky enough to have some very special guests that are staying during this exciting event which are closely involved in the Grand Prix. With names we could not mention we are very excited to welcome them back to Caroline Apartments South Yarra for yet another the 2011 Grand Prix.

Nothing compares to the adrenalin that you will be feeling whilst watching the races from the edge of your seat. Racing is synonymous with glamour, sophistication and cutting-edge technology and when all combined, it presents the perfect day out for you and your friends and family.

There is still time to become part of this year’s Grand Prix action with many tickets still available.

I personally can not wait to see some marvellous cars zooming past my window!

I noticed that Caroline Apartments have many repeat guests that come to stay with us on a yearly, monthly or weekly basis. Each guest has a different reason as to why they are staying in our fabulous apartments, from business meetings to holiday getaways or attending special events. I wondered to myself what makes our guests come back for more, so I decided to become a guest myself and experience the Caroline difference.

As I checked in to a lovely two bedroom premium apartment, I see two very spacious bedrooms, two large bathrooms and a great open plan kitchen and living room, and to top it all off, a large balcony. As I started to settle in I noticed how luxurious and furnished to perfection this gorgeous apartment was. It had a very tranquil and peaceful feel that made me relax instantly.

I started to understand just why our guests keep coming back for more, after only a few minutes the apartment started to feel like home and I decided to explore and find out what makes South Yarra tick. My first walk took me to the spectacular Royal Botanic Gardens. Here you can enjoy a leisurely stroll inside the garden and see many different types of plants, trees and find peace overlooking the beautiful scenery of the lake. The Royal Botanic Gardens run a range of activities throughout the year so be sure to check out their website. For the athletes that enjoy a good run, there is a great running track that is approximately 3.8km, give this track a go and who knows, you may meet a fellow running buddy. Be warned it’s not for the faint hearted!

My second stop of the day was the famous shopping strip Chapel Street, visiting here is a must! The minute you set foot on this street, you instantly get a vibrant and funky feel from the amazing shops, cafes and restaurants. You are sure to get a great bargain and a great feed! Once you have experienced Chapel Street, its time to explore a little further and detour to Greville street just off Chapel Street in Prahran. Here you will find offbeat retro clothing and eclectic gifts, jewellery and record stores. If you’re in the area on a Sunday afternoon, wander through Greville Street Market!

I also discovered some classy boutique stores further along Toorak road in the Toorak village. To wrap up my day I drove through the Albert Park Lake, where the Grand Prix is held each year, secretly feeling like a race car driver! This led me to The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, MSAC as its known to the locals is the perfect mix of family fun with a wave pool for the kids and an olympic size lap pool for the adults. If you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of one of our famous athletes.

Melbourne has been awarded “Most Livable City” and South Yarra is one of the best parts!

Melbourne is full of diversity, in every possible way; food, entertainment, people!

The vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere of this historic site has endeared the Market to Melburnians for 130 years. The Market is probably best known for its huge variety of fresh produce. Almost 50% of the Market area is dedicated to the sale of fresh produce, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, chicken, seafood and delicatessen products.

The remainder of the Market is used for variety and speciality goods, with Sundays being the most popular day for this category. On Sundays, the hustle and bustle of the weekday Market gives way to a more relaxed and leisurely family day. Queen Street is closed and converted into an outdoor cafe area, with children’s rides and other activities.

The Market is divided into Market Precincts; Deli Hall, Elizabeth Street Shops, F shed laneway, Vic Market Place Food Court, Fruit & Vegetables, The Meat Hall, Organics, General Merchandise, Victoria Street Shops & the Wine Market.

My personal favourite thing about the  ’Queen Vic Market’ is the ‘Suzuki Night Market!‘ Every Wednesday night from 5:30pm ’til late the market is filled with people gathered to watch a variety of live entertainment, and enjoy the fully licensed bars where you can select from a range of Victoria’s regional vineyards. Taste their best vintages by the glass or bottle on the night or take some home for the cellar. If your looking to relax there is an area dedicated to mind, body and spirit - enjoy massage therapists, visit tarot and aura readers, reflexology and iridology practitioners.

Wednesday's Night Market