I will meet you at The District under the Melbourne Star

By Ivana Molnar

Just as we thought nothing would change, Premier Dan Andrews showed up in his North Face jacket and gave us permission to “go a bit higher up the shelf”.

And just like many households, as I fought back tears I quickly burst into laughter, all out of pure joy. We are out of lockdown Melbourne, we did it! Yes, there’s still a long road ahead and perhaps a few more tunnels, but we can finally see the light. Christmas spent with family and friends is all we’ve wished for, and we’re one step closer.

Now, let’s get down to business. I love work- ing for The District, so naturally I am drawn to the area, and I’m excited to spend a day there – as a customer, not working. The District is open and some of my favourite stores are back. I will be meeting my bestie Sarah under the Melbourne Star before we grab a coffee at the new Peter & Co café by Peter Rowland – they make a great almond flat white.

While H&M has just launched online in Australia, I still love to try things on in store, so this will be our first stop, followed by Hype DC because you can never have too many trainers. Sarah is keen to check out City Chic and Novo Shoes for an event she’s attending later in the year. And for all the staples, we’ll be popping into UNIQLO, the back-to-work wardrobe needs a serious update! That is unless tracksuit pants and oversized jumpers become the new office uniform, but I doubt it. While we’re there, we’ll check out Toyworld for Christmas gifts for the little people in our lives. Sarah has just moved into a new home, so I will take her into Dream In Style for some new linen and homewares.

Time for lunch. Yassas The Greek Way is perfect, delicious Greek street food with a Melbourne touch. Sarah is coeliac so this is the perfect lunch spot catering for all dietary requirements. We may even have a cheeky cock- tail because our next stop is a serious pamper session at Lux Beauty Bar. The mani and pedi days are well overdue and the luxurious beauty salon is just what we’ll need after all that shop- ping and food. And the newly-opened LUXM hairdressing salon has all the Aveda essentials my hair is missing.

Before we part ways, we’ll indulge at Gelateria On The Docks, they have an abun- dance of ice cream and gelato flavours with veg- an and dairy free options too. I will say goodbye to Sarah, but I’m not leaving yet. I need to stock

up the pantry and the fridge and my new go-to is Market Lane, The District’s very own fresh food precinct, and it’s grocery gold! Fish Pier has just opened, so I will spoil myself with a light dinner of oysters. I love every store there, with Gourmet Deli House, MarketPlace Fresh, The Butcher Club Epicurean, Woolworths and Dan Murphy’s – I’m sorted.

I’m looking forward to this day, catching up with my bestie for a walk through the open-air malls of The District, shopping, dining, pampering and stocking up with groceries, plus all of that for only $5 parking. The District car park is open 24 hours a day and only $5 all- day parking until the end of November. I look

forward to the reopening of Melbourne Star, HOYTS and Archie Brothers too, I’ll struggle to stay away.

Where will you go? Who will you meet? Pop Docklands on the list, The District is the perfect place to catch up with friends and indulge in retail therapy, food and so much more.