Feel like heading out to Gisborne for a day trip or check out the market?

Great food at Jed

Anyway, check out our review of Jed Cafe that is a fantastic cafe and well worth a visit if you go to Gisborne. Highly recommended.

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As usual there is a lot going on in West Melbourne and Beyond this weekend.

• Kiwi Festival, 15 Feb 2020 (Footscray). Fees apply. $$$.
• Yarraville Festival. 16 Feb, 9am–7pm, Yarraville Village Precinct.
• Strictly Vinyl Sunday Sessions!. Sun, 16 Feb, 2PM. The Park, Werribee. 12 Watton St, Werribee VIC 3030.
• Kensington Market. Sun, 16 Feb. 10:00-3:00pm  Kensington Town Hall, 30-34 Bellair Street Kensington
• The Beerlander: 2020 Ballarat Beer Festival by heritage train. Sat, 15 Feb, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. Departs Southern Cross and Geelong. Fees Apply. $$$.

Looking Ahead

• Laverton Festival. 23 Feb, 11AM - 4PM. Epsom Street Neighbourhood Park, Epsom St, Laverton, VIC 3028.
• Vernon Street Festival (Kingsville). Sun, Feb 23, at 11 AM – 3 PM. Vernon Street, South Kingsville 3015
• Williams Landing Makers Market. Sat, Feb 29, 2020, 10 AM – 3 PM. Williams Landing Shopping Centre.
• Food & Colour Festival (Williams Landing / Tarneit). Sat, Feb 29, 11 AM – 6 PM. 100 Overton Rd, Williams Landing VIC 3027. 
• Altona Meadows Farmers Market. Sun, Mar 1, 9 AM – 2 PM
• Pasifika Festival (Footscray Park, 7 March 2020).
• Wyndham Holi: Festival of Colours. Sat, Mar 7, 12 PM – 8:10 PM. Presidents Park, Werribee.
• Brimbank Multicultural Festival. 28 March 2020.
• The Chevron Market (Werribee). Sunday 29 Mar, 10AM - 2PM. 601 Heaths Rd, Werribee VIC 3030, Australia.
• Seddon Laneway Party. Sun, Mar 29, 12 PM – 4 PM. 5 Gamon St, Seddon, Victoria 3011. Fees Apply. $$$.
• Tarneit Night Market (Tarneit). Sat 28 March, 5PM. 83 Penrose Promenade, Tarneit VIC 3029.

Markets

Check our calendars for regular markets in West Melbourne and Beyond.

• Country markets
• Western Suburbs Markets

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Chinese New year is such a big thing and gets even bigger with each passing year.  It's great that there are festivals celebrating the Chinese New Year out in the West so people don't have to go to the city if they do not want to.

As always, it's best to plan ahead.  If fireworks are your thing then it's best to come out in the evening.  If you want to see the dragon dance then check out the timings so you can maximise your time.

As per most festivals, the Point Cook Lunar New Year festival has plenty of food stalls, some information and marketing stalls from local businesses and rides and activities for the children.  Plan ahead as the rides do cost some money.  There is also plenty of free entertainment such as the fore mentioned Chinese Dragon Dance, Chinese dancing, songs and other cultural performances as well as other live performances representing other cultures.  In fact it's kind of a multi-cultural festival at the same time.

The festival keeps things moving spritely which may or may not be your thing.  For example, some singers do sets of 2-3 songs.  Great if you are not interested but disappointing if you are getting into it.  There's no right or wrong here.  It's just an obvious observation as it's a bit different from other festivals.

What I will say is that it didn't seem overly populated during the day time although that may have changed in the evening.  I'll never know as I was only the during the day.  If you don't like large crowds then that's great but I did miss the atmosphere of a bigger crowd.  

According to organisers the current Coronavirus did put off a few performers.  It may have put off attendees as well but I'm only guessing.  Anyway, if you do like a bit more atmosphere I'd suggest going to the Footscray Lunar New Year Festival instead.  It's just  a lot busier.  I'm not knocking the Point Cook festival, it's just a reality.

Anyway, all up I quite enjoyed it.  There's plenty of food to choose from, the crowds aren't over whelming, the performances move on quickly and there is plenty of variety of performances and all the car traffic is blocked off.  They also have a fireworks show that is always great for the children.

Photo's
You can check out a few more photo's from the festival, here.

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As usual there is a lot going on in West Melbourne and Beyond this weekend.

Get out to Point Cook this Saturday to Celebrate the Year of the Rat

• Friday Night Live - Jason Coghill and The Other Brothers: Point Cook Pop Up Park - Murnong Street (Point Cook). Fri 7 Feb 5:30pm - 9:30pm.
• Festival No. 23 (Macedon Ranges).  Fees Apply.  7-9 Feb 2020.
• That Time Everything Went Well and We Were Totally Fine (Live Theatre). Fri 7 Feb, 8PM. The Bowery Theatre, St Albans.  Fees apply.
• Yuan Xiao Festival (Sunshine). 8 February 2020 - 9:30am. 270 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
• Dome Under Fulldome Festival (Spotswood). 8-9 Feb. Fees apply. Scienceworks.
• Point Cook Lunar New Year Festival 2020. Sat 8 Feb. Main Street, Point Cook. 12PM-9:30PM.
• Brimbank Festival of Play - Fun on wheels. Sun 9th Feb 2020, 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Looking Ahead

• Kiwi Festival, 15 Feb 2020 (Footscray). Fees apply.
• Yarraville Festival. 16 Feb, 9am–7pm, Yarraville Village Precinct
• Pasifika Festival (Footscray Park, 7 March 2020)
• Brimbank Multicultural Festival. 28 March 2020.

Markets

Check our calendars for regular markets in West Melbourne and Beyond.

• Country markets
• Western Suburbs Markets

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Check out our review of Pelican's Landing restaurant in Williamstown here.

A great pub styled restaurant with kind of waterfront reviews, great atmosphere and good priced quality food.

I recommend the small shared platter that is fantastic value.

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As usual there is a lot going on in West Melbourne and Beyond this weekend.

• Eurogliders: Pop Up Park (Werribee). Fri 17 Jan 5:30pm - 10:00pm, Station Place Werribee VIC 3030.
• Eynesbury Big Weekend (Eynesbury). Fri 17 Jan - Sun 19 Jan
• Toy Story 4: Outdoor Cinema (Outdoor Cinema, Werribee). Sat 18 Jan 2020 6pm-8pm. Station Place Werribee VIC 3030.
• Asia Fun Day (Werribee). Sun 19 Jan, Station Place, Werribee.
• St Albans Gift & Free Family Fun Day. Sat 18 Jan.
• Pongal Festival (Melton). Sun 19 Jan.

Looking Ahead

• Quang Minh Tet Festival. 24 Jan, 6pm–1am. Quang Minh Temple, Braybrook
• Kiwi Festival, 15 Feb 2020 (Footscray). Fees apply.
• Yarraville Festival. 16 Feb, 9am–7pm, Yarraville Village Precinct
• Point Cook Lunar New Year Festival. Sun, Feb 16, 2020 at 12 PM – 3 PM 
• Pasifika Festival (Footscray Park, 7 March 2020)
• Brimbank Multicultural Festival. 28 March 2020.

Markets

Check our calendars for regular markets in West Melbourne and Beyond.

• Country markets
• Western Suburbs Markets

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Read our review of Cafe Polo in North Melbourne here.

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A budget eatery that is good for what it is.

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Check out our review of French restaurant Bon 'Ap on Brunswick St (193 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065) in the city here.

Escargot

Bon 'Ap is a cute, stylish and overall great French restaurant worth checking out.

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As usual there is a lot going on in West Melbourne and Beyond this weekend.

East Meets West

• East Meets West Lunar New Year Festival (Footscray). Sun 12 Jan 10 AM to 10 PM.
• Pete Murray: Pop Up Park (Werribee). Fri 10 Jan 5:30pm - 10:00pm, Station Place Werribee VIC 3030.
• Aladdin (Outdoor Cinema, Werribee). Sat 11 Jan 2020 6pm-8pm. Station Place Werribee VIC 3030.
• SMVS Kite Festival (Mt Cottrell). Sun 12 Jan, 10am - 4pm. 435 Davis Road Mt Cottrell Vic 3029
• So Frenchy So Chic (Werribee Mansion). Sun 12 Jan. Fees apply. Book tickets ahead of event.
• Sunset Safari. Werribee Open Range Zoo. Fees apply. Book ahead of event. 11-12 Jan.

Looking Ahead
Quang Minh Tet Festival. 24 Jan, 6pm–1am. Quang Minh Temple, Braybrook
Yarraville Festival. 16 Feb, 9am–7pm, Yarraville Village Precinct
Pasifika Festival (Footscray Park, 7 March 2020)

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Check out our review of Niku Niku Japanese restaurant in the Melbourne CBD (338 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000) here.

Lobster

Niku Niku is a nice looking reasonably priced restaurant with a bit of quirkiness thrown in as well.  For a Japanese restaurant that is a bit different they are worth a try.

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Check out our review of New Taipei restaurant on Swanston Street in the Melbourne CBD here.

New Taipei is a Taiwanese restaurant specialising in dumplings and noodles for the budget eater.

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