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Food & Drink: There is an enormous variety of cuisine available in Melbourne and restaurants offering specific types can be found in sectionalised districts: Lygon Street for Italian, Little Bourke Street for Chinese, Lonsdale Street for Greek, Victoria Street for Vietnamese, Sydney Road for Turkish and Spanish, and Acland Street for Central European. Other cuisines that are well represented in the city’s restaurants include French, American, Mexican, Lebanese, African, Malaysian, Afghan, Swiss and Mongolian.
Nightlife: Melbourne is home to a vibrant and varied entertainment culture that comes alive at night. There is everything from ballet, classical concerts and opera to plays in Melbourne’s ornate theatres like the Princess and Regent and street performers. There is an eclectic array of pubs, bars and nightclubs in and around Melbourne. Whatever your taste there is something to suit everyone, whether it's a laid-back beer in an authentic Aussie pub, a comedy night, live bands playing jazz and blues music or upmarket dance clubs. The Crown Casino Complex in Melbourne is a complete amusement area that includes a casino, cinemas, restaurants, bowling-alley and nightclubs.
Shopping: Food products such as honeys, jams, chutneys and the local wines of Yarra Valley are popular buys. Tradtional sheepskins and the Australian’s answer to the raincoat, the drizabone, can be found here. Melbourne is a major fashion centre, home to the world-famous surfing brand, Quicksilver, and shoppers looking for designer wear should head for the city arcades or Howey Place. Unusual buys and bargains can be had at the Queen Victoria Market. Shopping hours: Sat-Wed 0900-1700, Thurs-Fri 0900-2100. All major supermarkets are open 24 hours. Some shops close Mon and Wed.
Special Events: For a full list, contact Tourism Victoria (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of festivals and special events taking place in Victoria for 2003:
Jan 13-26 Australian Open. Feb 11-16 Australian International Airshow. Feb 28-Mar 10 Ballarat Begonia Festival. Feb-Mar Australian Grand Prix. Mar-Apr Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Mar 27-Apr 30 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Apr 10-14 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Apr 16-27 Rip Curl Pro and Sun Smart Classic (surfing contest). Sep Australian Football League Grand Final Week. Oct Melbourne Festival; Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix; Oktoberfest, Melbourne. Oct-Nov Spring Racing Carnival, inc Melbourne Cup. Nov Wangaratta Festival of Jazz. Nov 15-23 Equitana Asia Pacific (horse show). Dec 26-30 Boxing Day Test Match.
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