If there’s one benefit of living in Melbourne, it’s how amazing our summers are. Jam-packed with new places to eat, festivals, live music, art — it’s all happening, and it’s all here. In partnership with City of Melbourne, we’ve selected three must-do activities to create your perfect summertime experience in our city.
1) Melbourne Symphony Orchestra‘s free concerts at Sidney Myer Music Bowl
It’s no secret we’re huge fans of the MSO at The Plus Ones. They’re always up to something cool, be it playing the soundtracks to screenings of Star Trek or The Godfather or running through Beethoven’s concertos. They even combined with circus performers. And have we ever talked about their popup Secret Symphony events?
This summer they’re taking over the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with a series of free concerts. There’s nothing better than packing a picnic and being bathed in the sounds of world-class music. Each concert has a different theme, from Romeo & Juliet to the Russians. Keep an eye out for the puppets!
The MSO plays free concerts on Feb 8, 11 & 15 at the Sidney Meyer Music Bowl. Gates open 4.30pm, performances 7.30–10.30pm.
2) Pickett’s Deli & Rotisserie at Queen Victoria Market
Hellllo, Queen Vic Market, could you get any cooler? We all know about the Summer Night Markets, right? How, every Wednesday, you and hundreds of the cutest people in the city all show up for a night of free live music, feasting, and drinking Frosé?
But you don’t have to limit yourselves to Wednesday evenings. Swing by the brand-new Pickett’s Deli, whydoncha? Founded by Scott Pickett of Estelle fame, it features an enoooormous rotisserie with free-range chicken for sale.
The shop ‘showcases everything the market has to offer’. So if you need wine, rillettes, pickles or more, it’s a one-stop shop for small purveyors. Best of all: it’s open till 11pm Thursday, Fridays, and Saturday evenings. Now there’s no excuse not to have something great to eat for dinner (the aforementioned chicken, or bar snacks) or for lunch at work the next day.
Pickett’s Deli
507 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
www.pickettsdeli.com
Open Sun-Wed: 7am–3pm, Thu-Sat 7am–11pm.
3) ArtVo – a new immersive gallery at Docklands
If ever there’s a reason to head to Docklands, it’s for ArtVo. This brand-new gallery is one-of-a-kind: it’s immersive. Yes, you can play with all of the artwork.
Let’s break it down with some numbers for you: 1,900 square metres. 11 themed zones. 14 different artists.
They worked together (over an amazingly short 60 days) to create 100 hand-painted artworks. The key point — all of the pieces are interactive. Let it never be said ‘don’t touch the art’ again. It’s encouraged. We sense some #ArtVo selfies coming up.
ArtVo
Harbour Town
Level 1, 26 Star Crescent
Docklands VIC 3008
The venue is accessible.
So there you have it: three amazing things to discover in Melbourne. On behalf of the City of Melbourne: you’re welcome — and enjoy yourselves this summer!
– Theresa
Co-founder of The Plus Ones, Theresa never ceases to be amazed by the endless happenings in Melbourne.
For more about summer in the City of Melbourne, visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/summer. Plus, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
