For those that aren't making the trek up to NSW for the long-awaited Strawberry Fields this weekend, here is what's going on in Melbourne.

The Headlines

• As if you weren't already planning to spend every Saturday (and Sunday etc) at the Espy for the next few months, they're now teasing us with a brand new area. The finer details are under wraps at the moment, but we know it's called The Sunroom, and it looks set to be the spot of the summer. Everything the Espy angels do is perfect in our eyes, so we're sure they'll nail this new venture too. Watch this space for more info—we won't gate-keep any of our findings.

• The people in Sydney love to be smug about their gorgeous beaches, something Melbourne can't claim to compete with...until now. Once armed with a car, Victoria is your oyster. Here’s a list of the 10 best swimming holes near the city—without the threat of sharks, so take that Sydney. Featuring some beautiful waterfalls, lakes, and coves, it's a weekend road trip waiting to happen.

• Yo-Chi is the place of the moment, with new branches popping up all over since a viral TikTok earlier this year boosted their popularity. This feature from Broadsheet covers their rapid rise in popularity and what has led to this growth. Claiming Yo-Chi as the hottest club in Australia might be a stretch, but with their long queues into the evening and good tunes and atmosphere, they could have a point. Where else can you go for a date, a post-workout treat, or a pub-replacement mid-week meet-up with friends?

Where to Go on Friday

Tonight’s the night when Eurovision on Tour takes to the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. Featuring artists from all over Europe (and Australia) who have performed in the cult competition over the last few decades, it even has a fan-zone for the ultimate Eurovision icons, ABBA. Tickets are still available for tonight in the stalls for $91—a small price to pay for a night of cheesy bangers and ballads. No need to wait until May for your Eurovision fix.

Where to Go on Saturday

Has anyone else walked down Acland St and spent far too long wondering why there are so many cream cake shops? Well, we don't quite have an answer for you, but we do have an event you can attend to honour the tradition. It's like a pub crawl but instead of beer, you get dessert. We're talking tarts, gateaux, sorbets, gelato and froyo all for $15—an absolute recipe for disaster if you decide to roll yourself down for drinks at the Espy afterwards.

Where to Go on Sunday

If you haven’t yet had the chance to venture on a Yarra Valley wine tour, East Malvern has the next best thing on offer this weekend. The annual food + wine fair is back for its 7th year, with Victorian wineries set to take over Central Park from 12 pm to 6 pm. It's free to wander around, but if you want a glass of wine (or five), you’ll need to pre-book a tasting package. You can also expect good craft beer, cheeses, chocolate, oysters, and gourmet condiments—something for all the family (or hungover share house).

Where to Eat and Drink

This weekend's rec is, you guessed it, another floating bar. Yarra Botanica is the perfect place to sip on a spritz, with 360 views of the river and the CBD. The sunny spot has partnered with Drink Victorian to make sure every pour is high-quality and local, with 90% of food items also coming from local suppliers. The menu heavily features pizzas and small plates, making it the perfect place to sit for a long summer afternoon with a bottle of wine and a nibble, watching the world (riverbank) go by.

Where to Live

The hot tubs on the roof of this Carlton flat feel a little too good to be true. Combine them with a golf simulator, pool, sauna, cinema room, and views of the gardens—there really is no need to ever leave the house. The entire two-bed apartment is available from 24th November, so if you're looking to embark on a life of luxury, now's your time.

Core selling point: every single feature of that rooftop.

Where to Work

If you've seen the miserable-looking people standing behind stalls in supermarkets, often in some kind of semi-humiliating hat, and wished it was you, have we got the job for you. This role, however, does make it sound slightly more fun. Lex Collective is looking for a casual Alcohol Sampler to work across BWS and Dan Murphy's across Melbourne. Chatting to customers about booze and pouring out samples sounds like a decent way to make $44.89 an hour on a Sunday.

Enjoying the Melbourne 417? Share this link with a friend.