There's just a week left until Christmas Day, and just six chocolates left on your advent calendar. Here’s your reminder to go and buy your secret Santa present, and don't forget your red bikini. This is what else Melbourne has to offer today.

The Headlines

• Melbourne born and bred DJ Boring has announced a special one-off show for the 5th Jan at The Timber Yard. He's had a big year with shows at Glasto and for Boiler Room, and his homecoming show is a big start to 2025 following on from his appearance at Beyond the Valley. The venue has been called 'European-style rave paradise', so it's not one to miss. Presale starts tomorrow at 12pm, and general admission on Friday.

• No doubt your festive plans are locked in by now, but if you're still unsure as how to spend the big day, here are some suggestions aside from just eating a roast. The famous hot springs are still open on the 25th for a pamper day, and the zoo is surprisingly open for an even more unconventional Christmas. Take a look at the options, even though we all know it's inevitable everyone will just flock to the beach.

• Attention fans of the Windsor Castle Hotel or The Carlton Club, your pints there are unfortunately numbered—they have both gone into administration. The iconic Melbourne venues have had the same owner of 24 years, making it a sad day for the locals. The good news is that they are still currently running as usual, but they could go any day. Rumour has it they are looking for new owners to take over to save the popular venues—any budding pub landlords with some extra cash, now's your time to shine.

Where to Eat and Drink

Steak with a side of burlesque? Immerse yourself in New Orleans culture at Voodoo, Melbourne’s newest hotspot. Bringing a Southern charm to the heart of the CBD, you can indulge in handcrafted cocktails and delicious food whilst being treated to some live entertainment. Expect Creole-inspired dishes that embody the Southern spirit, like slow-cooked brisket and cajun-rubbed chicken paired perfectly with cornbread and slaw. Its midweek offering means you can feast on an all-you-can-eat BBQ for just $45 per person every Wednesday, too, with the first ten through the door bagging a free cocktail.

Where to Live

When life gives you lemons, pick them from the yard of your new Hawksburn house. The current tenants have a room to rent from mid Jan in their gorgeous Victorian style three-bed, for the price of just $270p/w, a bargain for the spacious rooms and exposed brick. They're after a late-twenties/early-thirties female to join the clan, if you come with your own chairs to replace the current school-style foldable ones, we're sure you'd get the room in a heartbeat.

Core selling point: You'll get really good at making fresh lemonade.

Where to Work

Today's job is about as painfully Gen-Z as it gets: Social Media Manager for Mighty Munch, a dog supplement company based out of Richmond. They’re on the hunt for a content creator who’s on trend and knows their way around TikTok, an loves dogs (obvs). Requirements include being a 'meme master', 'pop culture savvy' and being comfortable on camera. However, with a potential six-figure salary on offer to film dogs all day, if you fit the brief then surely it's worth a look.

Where to Go

Seasonal favourite A Christmas Carol is currently showing at the Comedy Theatre here in Melbourne for the rest of the year. With old-school outfits, live music and even fake snow, it has everything you'd expect from a cheesy but comforting Christmas performance. A little festive trip to the theatre is enough to get even the biggest Scrooge into the spirit. Tickets start at $90—cheaper than a round of beers on a Sunday.

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