If you're partial to a fiddle on the pokies, the government is stepping in to save you some dollars by slashing the max amount you can put into the machines at any one time. Probably not one anyone will argue with. Remember, chances are you're about to lose—iykyk. Anyway, here are some ways you can spend your newly saved money today across Melbourne.

The Headlines

• You may have noticed the empty shelves sweeping the supermarkets of the city à la March 2020 this week, with Woolies and Coles facing some major supply issues. The staff at the regional distribution centre are currently on strike due to tough working conditions and unfair wages, leading to the bare shelf domino effect. Moral of the story, your local IGA is the way forward on both practical and moral grounds.

• The prestigious best restaurant in Australia title has just been awarded to Melbourne fine dining establishment Vue de Monde. The restaurant, located on the 55th floor of a building in the CBD, placed an impressive fifth in the world. Priced at a hefty $360 per person for their very fancy tasting menu, it lies far far out of the backpacker budget. Of course, Melbourne graced the list... not that any of us will probably ever go.

• Me, you, and a bottle of prosecco in the park. Picnic season is well and truly upon us, and Melbourne has plenty of grass waiting to be sat on throughout the summer. From Edinburgh Gardens to The Median Strip, here's a list of the very best spots for strawberries with a side of people-watching. Proximity to a toilet comes into the ranking to make your trip that little more enjoyable.

Where to Eat and Drink

Taco Tuesday, step aside—it's time for Taco Wednesdays. It doesn't quite have the same ring, we'll admit, but the Plough Hotel in Footscray is coming through with the midweek deals. Tonight, you can treat yourself to $5 tacos, $2 wings, and $12 margs, can't complain there really. It's a charming local pub/bistro and has food specials most nights of the week. Settle in for the night with $4 pots and $8 spritzes to wash it all down.

Where to Live

The decor in this lounge tried so hard to be arty but failed at the first hurdle of the cyan blue sofa draped in a zebra-print blanket—and that's before we get to the purple leather dining chairs. If you can look past the clashing colours, this Collingwood house may be the one for you. The room is unfurnished, so maybe you can find some other bits for the shared areas whilst you're scrolling FB Marketplace.

Core selling point: plates on the butchers block absolutely desperate to be smashed.

Where to Work

Pure Pie are hiring for a hospo expert to host their Melbourne Metro pie stand at the market. This casual role selling absolutely unreal-looking sweet pies sounds like a lovely little weekend side-hustle, especially since they pay up to $40 per hour. Surely, they’ll let you take home the unsold pies—would be rude not to.

Where to Go

Swanky jazz club Bird's Basement in the CBD host The Jazz Alchemists tonight in their bi-monthly residency at the venue. The quartet apparently bring 'deep grooves and free-form creativity'—whatever that could mean, you'll have to go along for $35 to find out for yourself. Check out this past performance from their residency earlier this year, bringing sultry midweek vibes.

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