YRBA

The frenzy of school holidays at Southbank has passed, and now we look forward to the key festivals of late February and early March: White Night (February 22/23), Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (March 1-16), Moomba (March 8-10).

New Years Eve was a logistical triumph this year – thousands of people moving through our precinct comfortably and without incident. Congratulations to the City of Melbourne and Victoria Police. While our traders lament the fact that the fireworks are no longer fired from the river, the spread of pyrotechnics fired from rooftops throughout the CBD certainly makes for a safer event.

Southgate and the Yarra River Business Association has teamed-up this year to fund a very special installation on the Yarra footbridge for White Night. “The Vortex” will be a pulsating tunnel of light that responds to the number of people passing within it. It will only be there for one night, so make sure you catch it.

On a more regular basis is the introduction of free film nights on Thursdays during February and March at Point Park at Yarra’s Edge. A free ferry will depart Federation Square at 6.30pm and the first 100 people to get there can claim a free been bag for the session. For more information head to www.destinationdocklands.com.au/movies-under-the-stars-at-yarras-edge/ Please also remember that at dusk every Tuesday on the mid-level of Southgate you can enjoy a free feature film while sitting in deck chairs.

Recent releases, classics and art house films are screened. Bookings are essential so head to www.celebratesouthgate.com.au/experience/southgate-cinema/ to find out more.

Southgate’s La Camera restaurant has just released its 2014 program of community nights. Hats-off to the people at La Camera, because they have been running these feature nights on the last Monday of every month for seven years, to help build the community spirit of Southbank. Monday, February 24 is their Opera Challenge evening, when singers from the Australian Opera, Opera Victoria and local singers take to the competition floor. The community nights are always popular and you need to book ahead. Also remember that every Monday night at La Camera, Southbank residents receive 25 per cent off their food bill, to a maximum of $75.

A new initiative of the Yarra River Business Association is an event seeding fund, which can provide up to $5000 to assist an organisation establish new community events in our precinct. The events need to take place for at least one day or night and have the potential to attract new customers to the precinct (ie not just provide something for local residents to do). Enquiries can be made to [email protected]

One final reminder – the first Yarra River Business Association quarterly luncheon for 2014 is Friday, 21 February, 12noon-2pm, The Wharf Hotel, WTC Wharf. Two courses plus drinks for $66. The guest speaker is one of Australia’s leading tourism marketers. 

Book at www.yarrariver.info/event/yarra-river-quarterly-business-luncheon/

[email protected]