If you’re a hairdresser, salon owner or lover of hair, chances are you’ll be in Melbourne this weekend for Hair Expo. In a city as vibrant as Melbourne, experiences are a plenty… though knowing where to start can sometimes prove challenging. To help you quash that pre/post expo FOMO, we’ve compiled a list of TJ approved activities for those unfilled moments between seminars and look & learns. Thank us later.
GRAB BRUNCH AT A SWANK CITY CAFE
Slept in and missed breakfast? Fear not. Melbourne is a renowned melting pot for swanky brunch spots. Take a stroll through historic Degraves Street, one of Melbourne’s quintessential laneways and home to a string of charming alfresco cafes and European style restaurants. Better yet, get your midday espresso to go and take a mindful stroll all the way through this bustling old-world haunt til you reach Centre Place. We guarantee it will leave you inspired.
Image via: http://www.visitmelbourne.com/
EXPLORE MELBOURNE'S STREET ART SCENE
Fondly referred to as our nation’s culture capital, Melbourne houses some of the world’s most creative street art, with dedicated streets, regions and laneways adorning large scale spray-paintings and colourful graffiti. With an array of hidden haunts artfully tucked throughout the city, such sites as the cobblestoned Hosier Lane remain a highlight among locals and tourists. A great spot to nab a quick post-show selfie.
Image via: http://www.visitvictoria.com
PRE-DRINK IN STYLE
No visit to Victoria’s capital is complete without a tour of Melbourne’s Crown complex. The largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere (wowza), Crown Melbourne hosts a world-famous casino, three luxury hotels, and a number of restaurants, nightclubs and retail outlets. For the ultimate luxury experience, grab a pre-award cocktail at one of Crown Towers’ iconic hotel bars. If you’re a champagne lover, you needn’t look further than Crown’s uber fancy Atrium Bar.
SEE LIGHTS AT QT MELBOURNE
While we’re on the subject of pre-drinks… QT’s famed Rooftop Bar boasts a modern boutique design and a chic, sophisticated menu. This popular split rooftop bar is the perfect place to gaze across Melbourne’s electric skyline, grab a pre-dinner appetiser or mingle with other dapper guests from around the globe. Two rules: dress to impress.. and be sure to watch the clock.
INDULGE YOUR INNER POSTERGIRL
Wine. Beanbags. Reality Bites. Need we say more?
In collaboration with Tastemakers and Hawkers Beer, hip space Howler are screening a lineup of Winona Ryder’s greatest cult hits across the long weekend. Revel in hours worth of 90’s nostalgia from the comfort of your beanbag… while you knock back a post-workshop cold one (or five). Get your tickets here.
CHECK OUT OZ COMIC-CON
Yes, you heard correct; Comic-Con’s in town. Adventure through the biggest communal celebration of pop, gaming and comic culture this side of the equator, pick up some gear from the Comic-Con Merch store or meet with your fave comic artists, actors and cosplay guests. With a jam packed schedule of activities and stalls, you’re sure to find something to satiate your inner nerd.
Image via: http://ozcomiccon.com
DAY DRINK AT A SAKE MATSURI
For those with a few spare moments (or a hankering for Japanese liquor), Sake Matsuri has your day drinking needs covered.. inviting festival goers to partake in a full day of Sake centric activities from tastings to food stalls. Whet your sake-appetite with a selection of new and traditional fermentations or swill a sip of imported Plumm wine for extra culture-cred. Get your tickets here.
Image via: http://sakematsuri.com.au
GET NAKED... FOR ART'S SAKE
Not for the faint of heart, Arts House‘s newest curation The Naked Self explores notions of physical selfhood in a removed, gallery setting. Part aural installation, part interactive experience, The Naked Self invites event goers to consider their most unique and intimate of dwellings: the human body. View a collection of intimate portraits as you listen in on a series of personal confessions. For those feeling particularly adventurous, you may consider contributing your own self portrait/confession in an adjoining sound-proof booth. Any takers?
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
Win or lose.. Hair Expo’s a great chance to let your hair down (ha!) and Melbourne is the prime place to do just that. Free from the constraints of unnecessary lockouts, party goers can dance their way into the night (or morning) with a varied host of establishments to suit any vibe. For those who fancy a nightclub, check out Bond, Glamorama or Miss Collins. Lovers of a more chilled out atmosphere will enjoy Boney or Naked for Satan. For the ultimate boozy adventure, check out The Carlton, a labyrinth of in and outdoor spaces boasting three floors and a secluded rooftop.
CHILL OUT AT ST KILDA BEACH
The weather may be verging on arctic, but that’s never stopped tourists and locals alike from flocking to Melbourne’s iconic St Kilda Beach. Take a stroll down it’s palm-tree lined boardwalk while you soak in the salty air, test out your rollerblading skills, or quieten your Tuesday hangover with lunch at one of Acland Street’s hip restaurants. Bliss.
Image via: http://www.visitvictoria.com