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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, located on the bank of the Yarra River 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 Australian and international 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, Sun 1000-1700. All major supermarkets are open 24 hours.

Special Events
For a full list, contact Tourism Victoria (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Victoria in 2005:
Jan 17-30 Australian Open, Melbourne. Feb 19-20 Honda Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival, Yarra Valley, Dandenongs and the Ranges. Feb 22-27 Paynesville Jazz Festival/International Music Festival, Melbourne. Mar 3-6 Australian Formula 1 Foster's Grand Prix, Melbourne. Mar 11-23 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Mar 15-20 Australian International Airshow, Lara. Mar 25-Apr 17 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. May 3-5 Warrnambool May Racing Carnival. May 5-15 International Jazz Festival, Melbourne. May 6-14 Shakespeare on the River Festival, Phillip Island & Gippsland Discovery. Oct 9 Sorrento Spring Festival, Melbourne's Bays & Peninsulas. Nov 4-7 Equitana Asia Pacific (horse show), Melbourne.