Eating & Drinking

🍻Come to the language exchange in Melbourne! 🌍Practice your preferred language while making new friends and getting to know more about new cultures. THURSDAYS 👉🏻Where? DIESEL BAR, 202 Little Lonsdale St. ⏰What time? From 18:00 to 22:45 👨🏻‍🎓🍻The first 50 international students who register at the QR CODE entrance will get a free drink. 🤩5$ ENTRY + 1 free drink for non-students.

FREE entry if you ATTEND WITH A FRIEND! Bring a gift under $10 if you’d like to participate in secret Santa! (Optional). Come down and make new friends from all over the world on Christmas night!

**🙋‍♀️**Welcome to our THURSDAY Social + language ​exchange meetup. Meet people from many countries and make new friends. 👉We always have between 250 - 350 people attending our THURSDAY event since this event is listed in 3 different meetup groups. 👉This is a great opportunity to learn to speak English with native and non-native speakers. Many English speakers, Europeans, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and other Asians attend our fun and friendly party. 👉It is suitable for international students, working holiday people, professional ex-pats, and local Australians. 🍺: Discounted 15% house beers and wines 🍸: Extra cost for cocktails and spirit 🍲: Food available is to purchase at the bar with 15% discount on menu. 👉**Fee** of **$4.50** to be paid at the entrance OR you can buy anything from the bar. No Limited numbers but RSVP is a must. 🆔 Please carry a Photo ID as you may be asked at the entrance. 👉**Location**: Diesel bar & Eatery. we book the whole Second floor, Capacity of 500 people. and the welcoming table is at the door entrance. No entry from Melbourne Central. only from 202 Little Lonsdale St.

Meet Gillian outside Sebastian's - to walk along the beach to Green Point in Brighton (one hour round trip). There are plenty of benches along the way if you don't feel like doing the whole walk. Then back to Sebastian's for a cuppa & chat. For any queries, don't hesitate to get in touch with Gillian 0409219524 http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/8/6/8/event_431898536.jpeg http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/7/5/4/event_306566452.jpeg

Looking to get outside, clear your head, and connect with good people? Join us for a relaxed walk around the beautiful streets and coastline of Port Melbourne. This is a casual meetup—no fitness goals, no pressure. Just a friendly stroll, good conversation, and a reason to step away from screens and into the fresh air. Whether you’re new in town, working from home, or just want a social reason to walk, you’re very welcome. Come as you are. Comfy shoes, water bottle, and curiosity are all you need. **Optional:** After the walk, some of us might grab a coffee nearby — feel free to join if you’re up for it!

Join us for an evening of Japanese Riichi Mahjong at **Marché Boardgame Cafe**! Players of all skill levels are welcome, and no experience is needed! If you want to learn how to play, we can teach you, and if you already know how, then join our shuffle and monthly leaderboard! This event has a $10 fee which you can pay on the night. This money is used to pay for our use of the store space, maintaining equipment and other meetup services, and organising larger events open to everyone! Members get a special discount - ask the organisers for more details. Marché provides food and drink for purchase to consume at the table. Check out their menu here: [https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf](https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf) Tables are shuffled at around 7:00 pm and again at 8:30 pm. If you're looking to learn, please aim to arrive at 5:30 pm, otherwise there might not be an open seat - you're more than welcome to stay, watch, and ask lots of questions! Be sure as well to check your RSVPs leading up to the event as attendances and wait listed attendees may change. We take photos and videos at our meetups for posting on social media, you may potentially appear in these. Hope to see you all then! *** Scores tracking: [https://scores.vicriichi.org/](https://scores.vicriichi.org/) The mahjong ruleset we play with: [https://www.vicriichi.org/mahjong-meetups#meetup-rules](https://www.vicriichi.org/mahjong-meetups#meetup-rules) Join us on Discord and connect with other jongers! [https://vicriichi.org/discord](https://vicriichi.org/discord)

To express gratitude for a year of connection and conversation, I thought it would be nice to have a meal together while the days are long and the sun is out. Still thinking of places and cuisines we haven't tried yet, so feel free to DM / WhatsApp me your suggestions! Tentative plan is for lunch somewhere in the CBD followed by a meander in nature (Yarra River and/or a park) and coffee after. We will meet under the clocks at Flinders St and start by exploring Flinders Lane and Degraves Street. There is a $10 organizer fee for this event. You can PayID me at 0403 413 056.

🍝✨ **Lunch at Vibrante’s Italian – Templestowe!** ✨🍝 Did you *make it through Christmas* in one piece? 😅🎄 If so — bravo! You deserve a long lunch, good laughs, and conversation with people you *actually* want to talk to! 💃🍷 Join us for a relaxed, post-festive catch-up at **Vibrante’s Italian Restaurant** in **Templestowe** — great food, warm vibes, and plenty of room for stories, sass, and maybe a little tiramisu therapy 🍰😉 📅 **Saturday 28th December** 🕧 **12:30 PM** 📍 **Vibrante’s Italian Restaurant, Templestowe** Come hungry, come chatty, come fabulous! Let’s toast surviving the silly season — and celebrate friendship, laughter, and the joy of still showing up! 🥂💖 MENU: https://www.vibranterestaurant.com.au/_files/ugd/a4475d_b65c33fa38a1468da546ec2105259dbf.pdf AND YES!!!! THEY SPLIT BILLS!!

Let's have a coffee at a cafe in Eaton Mall, Oakleigh. We can meet corner of Eaton Mall and Portman Street. As it's not quite lunch time, we should be able to find a cafe and seats easily. We can look around and pick a cafe. If the weather is nice, we can sit outside.

I invite you to come along to celebrate my step mum's 68th ( Kath) Birthday ( which is in jan) but treating her to cats for an early present We will be seated in Stalls-4 row Y seat 11 & 12. This event will be at Hamer Hall in Melbourne. Please book your tickets online through ticketek Under cover secure parking is availble at the theatre. ( Please look at website for more details).

Friday night sessions are open for all levels - from beginner to advanced players. We've got a great group of players and all games are organised, so no need to worry about matchups! Sunny will be there to welcome all new players. Bring: Your baddy gear Water bottle - drinking fountain on site, just ask us to point it out A fun and open attitude - friendly competition only please 😊

**🚲 Eat, Drink & Dance Melbourne: The “Not‑Really‑a‑Cyclist” Bike Adventure**! A super‑chill trial ride for absolute beginners, wobbly riders & the bike‑curious. Give yourself and hour or two to go from wobbly to having a quick ride around some of Melbourne! For people without a bike try the city based bike hire company[Blue Tongue Bikes (Rental and Tours)](https://bluetonguebikes.com.au/) Or bring your own. Ready to see Melbourne from a whole new angle—the bike seat angle—without needing Lycra, fitness, or any idea what “cadence” means? This playful warm‑up ride is designed especially for people who don’t ride bikes… but like the idea of cruising, chatting, laughing, and discovering the city at a very easy pace. Think of it as: Eat. Drink. Dance. Pedal (gently). **🌟 Where We Begin** We’ll meet at Blue Tongue Bikes, Batman Park (King St & Flinders Lane). If you don’t have a bike—no worries! You can hire one there for a few hours, or grab an e‑bike from other spots around the city. If you need to hire a bike please get there 30 to 60 minutes beforehand to iron out all the hiring details with the shop or hire a bike the day before if you go elsewhere. Just make sure you’ve had a little practice beforehand so you’re not learning from scratch on the day (unless you enjoy chaos, in which case… bold choice). 🌟 **What We’re Doing** This is a 5 km-ish practice loop around Fishermans Bend, a flat, friendly circuit perfect for building confidence. We’ll roll back into Batman Park at the end—smiling, slightly sweaty, and feeling very Melbourne. If the group is feeling good, we might extend the adventure toward St Kilda or nearby paths. Totally optional, totally vibe‑dependent. 🌟** **Why We’re Doing It**** This is the warm‑up for a bigger 30+ km Capital City Trail ride happening about a week later. Think of this as the “first date” before the “proper date.” **🌟** Who It’s For**** - New riders - Nervous riders - Social riders - People who haven’t touched a bike since primary school - People who want to see Melbourne’s gorgeous bike paths without pressure - People who want to meet fun humans and enjoy the city in a new way 🌟 **What to Bring** - A helmet (non‑negotiable) - Water - A sprinkle of road‑rule awareness (we’ll mostly stick to bike paths) - Your best “I‑might‑fall‑over-but-I’m‑still‑having-fun” attitude Good idea to bring a lock for the bike **🌟 Pace & Vibe** Super easy. Super social. Zero ego. If you’re a bit clutzy, that’s fine—we’ve all been there. We’ll help you out, cheer you on, and keep things relaxed.

🌿 **The Social Stroll Plan** Date & Time: 27 December, 1pm Start/Finish: Rushall Station car park (station entrance) Distance/Duration: ~10km, ~3 hours (leisurely pace with stops) 🚶 **Segment 1: Rushall Station → Merri Creek Circuit** - Kick off with a flirty, social vibe—think light banter and playful “post‑Christmas detox” jokes. - The Merri Creek bushland offers shaded paths, bird calls, and a gentle warm‑up for the legs. - Incorporate a “Grievance Alignment Chart” moment: everyone shares one funny holiday grievance (too much pudding, awkward family karaoke) as a satirical ritual. 🌊 **Segment 2: Merri Creek → Dights Falls (Yarra Bend Park)** - Arrive at Dights Falls, where the Yarra cascades over the historic weir. - Pause for a mini‑ritual: “Dance of the Falls”—a playful group stretch or sway, channeling the Eat Drink Danc ethos. Yoga instructors wanted otherwise we'll learn Gangnam style dancing from a Kpop YouTube video. This certainly assists in my attempt to start a Korean boy band! - Snap group photos with the falls as backdrop—badge‑worthy material for your satirical campaign kits. ☕ **Segment 3: Dights Falls → Studley Park & Studley Park Boathouse** - Meander through Studley Park picnic areas, weaving in bushland and river views. - Arrive at the Studley Park Boathouse for coffee, snacks, and a cheeky toast to “post‑Xmas drop tour hair and relax vibes.” - Suggested ritual: “Compliance Log of Indulgence”—each person logs their chosen snack as part of the satirical kit. 🌳 **Segment 4: Return via Yarra Bend → Rushall Station** - Stroll back along the Yarra Bend bushland, soaking in late‑afternoon light. - Close with a “Re‑Education Pamphlet” reflection: what indulgence will you drop before the Kokoda prep walk? - Finish at Rushall Station car park, energized but relaxed. 🎭 **Thematic Layering** - Eat Drink Danc Melbourne spirit: playful rituals, spontaneous stretches, satirical mottos. - Post‑Christmas vibes: light detox humor, relaxed pace, indulgence logs. - Preparation for Kokoda 1000 Steps (Jan 4): - Treat this as a training stroll—steady pace, mindful breathing, light climbs and dumb jokes and an attempt to create a bachelorette style recruitment drive for groupies for the Korean boy band I'm planning without the swimsuit competition. - Encourage group camaraderie: “If we can laugh through 10km, we can climb 1000 steps.” 🪧 **Suggested Motifs & Slogans** - “Falls, Feasts & Footsteps” – motto for the day. - Badges: - Commissar of Coffee (for the first to order at the boathouse) - Dance Marshal of Dights (for leading the falls stretch) - Studley Snack Auditor (for logging indulgences) --- This stroll becomes more than a walk—it’s a social satire circuit, a playful ritual of bushland, falls, coffee, and camaraderie, all while gently prepping for the Kokoda 1000 steps climb and walk next week

Yes, the [Chocolate Café](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/menu-1?menu=signature-desserts) serves chocolate fondue *(Chocolate Fondue Day is Feb 5th)*! No one does chocolate fondue like they do. It's rich, creamy, and served with an array of fresh fruit and other dipping items. They encourage making it a party! A perfect winter warmup to share with friends! **Chocolate Fondue Kit:** Served with dippers, including marshmallows, Rice Krispie treats, graham crackers, pound cake, strawberries, and pretzels. **COST**: Bring ***$5.00 cash*** to cover your portion of our delightful dessert bar. **EARLY ARRIVALS**: Go ahead and order dinner (before dessert). I love their toasted sandwiches and their soups. **PARKING**: In our parking lot, on the street (but not between 4-6 pm) or behind the Buckeye State Building. [Chocolate Cafe](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/): A fully stocked amount of *chocolate candies* including truffles, chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate and caramel turtles. We have menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Join us for brunch or a late night meal. Soups, salads & sandwiches served daily. Check out our [menu](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/_files/ugd/7ea733_0ebab62dcfc0435aa189b6d1a3c3ec82.pdf) for more information. We also offer wine, martinis and cocktails! Enjoy a *famous chocolate martini* or hand crafted cocktail, too!

**MEET FOR DESSERT**: Since it's cold outside, let's meet for warm chocolate inside! Hot chocolate and warm chocolate fondue (chocolate fondue day is Feb 5th) are offered at this cafe filled with the smell of chocolate! *The hot chocolate at Chocolate Cafe is arguably the best hot chocolate you will ever have.* They have a huge variety, including Hot Chocolate, Dark Hot Chocolate (my fave), White Hot Chocolate, as well as specialty hot chocolates, including Cherry Jubilee, LaSalle Mint, Caramel, Mexican, Kaffee Wien, Peanut Butter, Nutella, and Butterscotch. **EARLY ARRIVALS**: Go ahead and order dinner (before dessert). I love their toasted sandwiches and their soups. **PARKING**: In our parking lot, on the street (but not between 4-6 pm) or behind the Buckeye State Building. [Chocolate Cafe](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/): A fully stocked amount of *chocolate candies* including truffles, chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate and caramel turtles. We have menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Join us for brunch or a late night meal. Soups, salads & sandwiches served daily. Check out our [menu](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/_files/ugd/7ea733_0ebab62dcfc0435aa189b6d1a3c3ec82.pdf) for more information. We also offer wine, martinis and cocktails! Enjoy a *famous chocolate martini* or hand crafted cocktail, too!

Your Friday night just got sweeter! Join us at select [#MarketDistrict](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/marketdistrict?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXglupYTNnuPXhU3gU2DI9GInOg8OWWSvEJTry0VDGnMwh3tC6LxAkyc13s7j-hzoCa7zpemBLJbwdOAIfL-4l-h-eX3x7UFBl6CgHm1ijsL9C9hR_jWvIa_CNOjxBCQzMpVcaRfKr1LrRukr4nY0KHoqN2w3gXLadSqHBf6hPcBx13ltDk2suI8GhnjfjDOUs&__tn__=*NK-R) (we are meeting at Grandview Yard) locations for Flights & Bites on the third Friday of the month from 5-8pm. We'll meet about 5:30pm til 7:00pm. Feel free to join us anytime before 6:45pm. **Cost: $15.00 per person *(covers 4 wine or beer samples paired with gourmet appetizers)*** **Meet**: I'll post our location once we assemble and start our tasting.

This is "***New Members Night***." If you are one of the many folks on the fence about coming to your first wine tasting with the *Hilliard Wine Club*, this is the night to come. There will be many other new people, so you won't be alone. And the regulars will be there to help make you feel welcome. We're a relaxed and warm group. We hope to see you. **SIDE NOTE:** New members are welcome to ALL our Friday night wine tastings, but this night is a special overture to those who don't want to feel that they are the only new person in the room. Don't worry. You won't be. And don't hesitate to RSVP to other events. **OLD MEMBERS NOTE**: Hey Old Members! You're not excluded from this event. We expect to see you there to help make the new members feel welcome. **Sample 4 different wines** this Friday for $15 (*Cash or Venmo only please*). Glasses are provided. Bring a snack to share. Bring a bottle to share if you care to. See all the details below for the Hilliard Wine Club Wine Tasting. In Person. In Real Life. Actual Wine from glass bottles with corks and everything. **Wine**: Tastings will be $15 for four samples as always. And you are welcome to bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share with others. Participation in the wine tastings is optional. But since you’re going, I will buy enough wine to cover you. If you bring your own wine and do not participate in the tasting you will only pay $10 to cover the door charge. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **Extra Wine**: After everyone has had their samples, we remove the pouring spouts and any remaining wine is poured freely to whomever wants it. I hate having leftover wine. **Queen of Hearts**: The Queen of Hearts raffle is a fundraiser for the club and a Barnum and Bailey type extravaganza - minus the dancing ponies, clowns, and actual circus. Bring your ***cash*** as the Queen does not accept American Express or other plastic. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*