Forum Fest 2015 Melbourne

[gertbysea]

Hi everyone, JD updating this first posting to make things easier if you are looking for information about this year's Forumfest.

The dates are Fri 23rd, Sat 24th & Sunday 25th October.

The venues have been chosen, a cooking class has been booked and the following people have committed for rooms. Other activities still to be finalised.  Firstly, details of the accommodation from our contact Sarah Maunder

From: MAUNDER Sarah <H3028-RE7@accor.com>
Date: 12 March 2015 9:46:00 am AEDT
I

Thank you for choosing the Mercure Welcome Hotel and Swanston Hotel for your group accommodation. I have now set up your special code which is THERMOMIX15.
 
Guests will need to quote this code to receive the 5% discount off our best available rate at the time of booking. This special rate will have a cancellation policy of 7 days prior to arrival, if anyone needs to cancel they will be able to do this up until 6 pm 7 days before they are due to arrive without any charge. Any cancellations received after this date will incur a charge of the first nights’ accommodation per room. To book their reservations guests will be required to provide valid credit card details as a guarantee, they will not need to pay for their accommodation until they arrive at the hotel.
 
This discount is available at both the Mercure Welcome Hotel (3.5 stars) and the Swanston Hotel, Grand Mercure (4.5 stars) on all room types. If they wish to add breakfast, we can do this on booking at the discounted rate of $18 per person, per day. This is a special pre-booked rate, if they would prefer to wait and decide on the day breakfast is $25.
 
Please note that rooms and rates are subject to availability at the time of booking. Our rates are also dynamic which means they are constantly changing therefore not everyone will receive the same rates.
 
Bookings can be made via email or phone the details of which are as follows:
Phone: 03 8662 1312
Email: H3028-RE7@accor.com

Further details regarding shuttle bus/taxi to the hotel

We are approximately 30 minutes by Taxi from Melbourne Tullmarine Airport and it will cost approximately AUD $65.00 including 10% tax to the Hotel per taxi per way. Alternatively, the Skybus Airport Shuttle is only AUD $18.00 including 10% Tax per person each way and takes approximately 1 hour.  The Skybus will drop you off at Southern Cross Station and from there you can take their complimentary hotel shuttle right to our door (within certain time periods). Advance bookings are not required - simply proceed to the Skybus desk at the airport terminal. For the return trip, our Concierge Desk will be happy to help you book the hotel shuttle back to Southern Cross Station; you will need to book at least 24 hours in advance for this service. For more information on the Skybus please click on the below link.
 
http://www.skybus.com.au/

LIST OF THOSE WHO HAVE CONFIRMED THEY ARE PREPARED TO BOOK NOW  (list started 28/2/15)

Chookie & Ral booked Swanston for Fri, Sat & Sunday with breakfast
Gert booked Swanston for Fri, Sat, Sunday with breakfast
Judy booked Swanston for Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sunday with breakfast. Flights booked
Gayle booked Swanston Fri, Sat, Sun with breakfast
CP & DH booked for Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun
Aussie Brenda booked Welcome, Friday & Saturday night with Breakfast.
Uni booked in for Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, booked 6.30 am flight
Cookie booked Swanston for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and leaving Monday with breakfast. Flight booked. Arriving Thursday. .
Denise & Evan booked Swanston Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun with breakfast
kezza booked Swanston Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun
Trudy & Wayne booked Swanston Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun with breakfast. Flights booked.
kmw, DH & 1 child booked Welcome Hotel Fri, Sat, Sun
MF booked Swanston for Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun with breakfast. Departing Perth 9.35 am Thursday arriving Melbourne 4.05 pm. Departing Melbourne 3.00 pm Monday arriving Perth 4.05 pm.


An Alyce Alexander 3.5 hour Yum Cha cooking class has been booked for 10 am on Saturday 24th October. 417 City Road, South Melbourne, Victoria, Melbourne VIC 3205
(03) 9690 5509  Class is full but Chookie will start a waiting list for anyone else wanting to attend in case there are cancellations. The $83 per person has to be reimbursed to Chookie by those who booked.  We will be visiting the nearby South Melbourne Market after the cooking class, we will have an hour there before it closes.

Final cooking class details 6/10/15
Yum Cha class at Alyce Alexandra cooking School for Forum Fest
24th. October, 10.00 am to 1.00pm, with 1/2 an hour for shopping, if desired.
( the South Melbourne Market, close by is open until 2.00pm).

There will be a booklet of recipes available and plenty of food to sample. No lunch needed afterwards.
Parking available.  Details to come.

Participants ( please tell me by PM if there is a problem with the list.)
Chookie
Marina
CP and DD
Jeninwa
Kimmyh
Kezza
Cookie
Gert
Judy
Bedlam
Wonder
Bruce( friend)
Aussie Brenda
Mamma Fergie
Trudy and Wayne
Djinni
Michele
Bogie 1, ( Jenny)
Kerry
Kerry's friend.
Wendy, ( my DIL) and GD.
Anita, ( Ex TMX consultant)..

Oops, forgot to put in address
417 city road
South Melb
Phone 9690 5509

Local Melbournites who will be attending but not staying at the hotel.

Kimmy
Cuilidh (Marina)
Wonder (Nadine)
bogie1 (Jenny)
deedub (Debbie)


More activities will be posted as they are arranged, I believe CP is looking into the Tram restaurant and arcade tours.  Marina has booked and those interested have paid for the tramcar restaurant for the Sunday lunch .




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ORIGINAL POST

Inviting member show of interest for Fest in Melbourne 2015

Looking for ideas and places to stay as well as members who may be interested.

October 23/24/25 ?

Location near Markets?

Apartments are good.
Hotels where we can gather  are good.

Victoria Markets
High Tea Windsor Hotel or Hopetoun Tearooms.
Casino
Outlet Shops
Essential Ingredients
Maybe a group booking at a show or event?
Play.
Concert.

Update - An Alyce Alexander 3.5 hour Yum Cha cooking class has been booked for 10 am on Saturday 24th October.  Class is full but Chookie will start a waiting list for anyone else wanting to attend in case there are cancellations. The $83 per person has to be  reimbursed to Chookie  by those who booked.

Already interested.

Gretchen
Cookie
Chookie
Bedlam
Uni
Gayle
Jenni
Judy
kmw
CP
RC + DW
Cuilidh
Wonder
Katie
Aussie Brenda
kezza
Mcmich
Jamberie
bogie1 - Jenny

LIST OF THOSE WHO HAVE CONFIRMED THEY ARE PREPARED TO BOOK NOW  (list started 28/2/15)

Chookie & Ral
Gert
Judy
Mcmich & Don
Gayle
Narelle
CP
Aussie Brenda
Katie & Richard
Uni
Jamberie, DH & 1 child
Cookie
Denise & Evan
kezza
Trudy & Wayne
kmw, DH & 1 child
MF

[judydawn]

I've stayed at the Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens which is just around the corner from the Vic Markets. That was nice but there may be cheaper and just as nice.

We really need a local Victorian resident who maybe has contacts and can do the bookings for us. Anyone prepared to take it on, Victorian or not?

[fundj&e]

363 more sleeps  

[cookie1]

I've stayed at the Swanston Mercure in Swanston street, they also have a slightly cheaper hotel attached to it. Also the Westin and the Crown.

[kmw]

Count me in 😄

[CreamPuff63]

When I go to Melb and need accommodation I book The Flinders Lane apartments. Nightly rates start from about $145pn and upwards for 1 bedroom self contained apartment, linen incl, kitchenette. Located just off Flinders Lane so right in the heart of things. I can enquire with the booking agent cos he remembers me. Most of the apartments can sleep 2-4 people as the sofa beds fold down.

I'm keen as mustard to attend this 

[judydawn]

We would love to have you too CP, Gert's got in early again so that you can all block out those dates from other events.

[Aussie Brenda]

When I get home I will check my cruise dates, if there is no clash I'll be there too.

[achookwoman]

Some might be interested in a bus tour of the cheap outlet shops.

[cookie1]

Are the outlet shops they take you to good?  I usually take myself to Bridge Road and Swan st which are easily accessible by tram.

[obbie]

OK shock horror, count us in. Melbourne I can do.   DH says yes we can come.

we have stayed at Crest apartments just off Bridge Road before..

[rainbow]

Add me in, loved the Gracetown Wa but haven't been able to do last two, so Melbourne here I come.....

[cookie1]

Excellent news.

[Kimmyh]

It's only 1hr down the road from me, so no excuse.......count me in too.
Chookie, just did a bus outlet tour two weeks ago. Very disappointing and a waste of a day in my opinion.
South Melbourne market is worth a look.
What about a guided walking foodies tour of Melbourne's lanes and arcades. There's a great chocolate one I saw on tv once.....just saying 😉.
Also, dates might be an issue or book early. It's spring racing carnival time with the cox plate (big lead up race to Melbourne cup) that weekend. Accommodation could be hard to find and at a premium price. Just thinking out loud.

[judydawn]

The list is growing by the day, welcome aboard everyone. 

Thanks for your input Kimmy , we need some local knowledge.

Might have to look at those dates Gert?