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Party Time!

WRITTEN BY PETER RUSSELL ON 21 APRIL 2021

Fitzrovia in St Kilda image

Only 10 days to go now for party time! The good news is, this is our last ('pre-party') blog post! It's a must read, as it contains some general housekeeping information, minor changes and what to expect on the night.

It's hard to believe we are almost there. It has been a hard slog to get to here, from Jenny's idea way back in 2017, following her father's 80th, she thought she should throw a big bash for her 60th in 2020. This being a milestone birthday for her, she started planning then, only for me to (subtlely) remind her, that I was also having a one too, just 5 months before hers! So we reached a compromise and would hold a joint 60/70th celebration on her birthday. Well we know what happened to all of our plans in 2020, but the dream will be finally realised in 2021, albeit it's now a 61/71st!

Everything is now in place, the food finalised, drinks sorted and our 2020 party outfits altered to our new covid reshaped bodies (speaking for ourselves). So we thought you might like a few details of the night, from the running schedule (already available on the site but repeated here), the food menu, what's to drink (thanks for those who returned the drinks survey) and for those attending the Sunday 'Recovery Breakfast', a new location, cancellation of the Friday Tour plus a few protocol matters. So please read on.

And our final reminder, this is a 'NO PRESENTS' birthday party, your attendance is our 'gift'.

EVENING SCHEDULE

This is the proposed running sheet for the night, some times may vary, but what won't change is the start & end times. We are sure it will be a fun night. If you can't remember where the venue is then click here.

  • 6:30 - 7.00 PM
    Welcome drinks & nibbles

    Hopefully, you haven't had far to walk, so perhaps the embarassment of dressing in your favourite decade's fashion has been minimised. Time to meet everyone, some you know and most you don't, so name tags will be provided!

  • 7:30 PM
    Dinner Starts

    Dinner tonight is provided from several "food-stations", offering everyone an option including gluten free & vegetarian. And yes, there are some tables and chairs to eat at.

  • 8:00 PM
    Dance, dance, sing!

    Don't be a wall flower, they are playing your music, or will shortly, so get up and show us your style! Singing is not only allowed but encouraged, unless you get a tap on the shoulder.

  • 9:30 - 10:00 PM
    Cake Cutting, thank you & dessert

    There will be several yummy sweet options (see below), including cheese for those that prefer savoury. Coffee and tea will be available. Unavoidably, there will be a thank you speech from us, we promise it will be short.

  • 10:00 - 11:00 PM
    Dancing & singing continues

    This session should still include some of your favourite music, but if not, talk to the DJ, he may be able to include it. Whatever happens, it's time to resume the merriment and work off that cake, so party on!

  • 11:00 - 11:30 PM
    Departure time!

    Sorry, but at some stage we need to wind down the proceedings and exit the place. And remember, there is no Prince to search for the owner of that lost slipper! So make sure you collect all your belongings as you leave.

FOOD STATIONS

Catering on the night is provided by way of three food stations, called 'Modena', 'Jerusalem' & 'Shanghai' by our caterer, that will be made available from 7:30. On your arrival there will be a platter of cheeses and accompiments available, and this will also return at dessert time.

MODENA

Grilled Italian meat balls, tomato sugo (GF DF)

Campari cured salmon, caper and lemon dressing, basil (GF DF)

Fregola salad – spinach, dried tomatoes, bocconcini, basil, olives, lemon dressing (VEG)

Polenta wedges, radicchio, parmesan mayo (GF VEG)

Minted pea arancini, parmesan aioli (GF VEG)

Roasted heirloom carrots, agrodolce sauce (GF DF)

JERUSALEM

Split pea hummus, lamb, pine nuts, mint, chilli (GF DF)

Falafels and green tahini (GF DF)

Shawarma chicken (GF DF)

Burnt eggplant babaganoush (GF DF)

Classic Israeli salad (GF DF)

Freekeh, broad bean and grilled gem tabbouleh (DF)

Roasted cauliflower, peanut dukkah, tahini, parsley (GF DF)

House pickles and olives (GF DF)

Roasted za’atar heirloom carrots, labneh, barberries (GF)

Laffa bread, pita pockets, challah

SHANGHAI

BBQ duck pancakes (DF)

Beef and water chestnut dumpling (DF)

Sweet corn and shiitake fried rice, chilli oil (GF DF VEG)

Szechuan pickles (GF DF)

White cut chicken breast, hot and numbing sauce (GF)

Egg noodle, Hunan style with smoked tofu, chilli (DF VEG)

Fried beans, black bean sauce (GF DF)

CHEESE PLATTER (or Makers Table)

A selection of three exclusive Australian artisan cheeses:

Accompanied with:
Rosemary caramelised pecans,
Caraway carrot jam,
Fresh grapes,
Rosé poached pears,
Preserved figs,
Homemade lavosh sails, toasted fruit bread, crackers & sourdough.

DESSERT

Croquembouche (1 Caramel & 1 Chocolate)

Choux pastry filled with zabaglione cream, built into a tower with toffee from Brunetti's.

Flavours of Peach Melba

A delicate, gluten free coconut & raspberry sponge, layered with peach cream, lemon curd and raspberry cream all encased in a peach, vanilla & white chocolate mousse and finished with a chocolate velvet spray (GF & nut free) from Burch & Purchese.

Lamington Cake

Lamington sponge | raspberry jam | raspberry cream | coconut jelly | coconut cream | dark chocolate mousse | from Burch & Purchese.

Tiramisu Cake

Multi layered chocolate and coffee cream patissiere dusted with cacao powder. (free from gluten, dairy and nuts) from Glazed Gluten Free

Croquembouche

Flavours of Peach Melba

Lamington Cake

Tiramisu Cake

BEVERAGES

Hopefully, we have catered for most of your tastes with the selections of alcohol (thanks Chris Stanley for the wine choices) and soft drinks listed below. Thanks to your 'survey' responses, we should have got the ratio of wine & beer drinkers correct.
  • Red Wine
    Hardy’s HRB Shiraz
    Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
  • White Wine
    Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
    Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay
  • Sparkling Wine
    Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée
    Chandon Brut
  • Beer
    Little Creatures Pale Ale
    Stone & Wood Pacific Ale
    Corona Extra Lager
  • Soft Drink
    Still Water
    Sparkling Mineral Water
    Coca Cola Classic
    Coca Cola No Sugar
    Lemonade
    Solo
    Orange Juice

HOUSEKEEPING

Just some housekeeping notes for the night that you should be aware of.
  • Photobooth
    And remember, to keep us all entertained throughout the evening (when not dancing), we have a Photobooth! This is where you can all have some fun creating picture memories for both yourselves and us. You will get two prints for each photo session you create, one for you and one to add to our 'guestbook', where you can also write something kind and loving, smart and funny or even rude! You will even be able to post these images directly from the photobooth to Instagram using our #tag (#jpmelb2021), how 21st century!. We will also publish any images you take on the night to the websites photo gallery (see social etiquette note below) after the party for you to relive (or not!) the night. You can send any images to us via email or text.
  • Instagram Tag
    Should you want to post any images you take on the night with your smartphone to our Instagram tag #jpmelb2021, then please do. And we please ask you to consider our social posting etiquette note below.
  • DJ Music Requests
    While we have chosen a playlist for the night, obviously music from the 60s and 70s, we may have missed a favourite of yours. So, just email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or text (0408119504) us your suggestions by the 28th April. We make no promises however!
  • Social Posting Etiquette
    This is a private party and while it's fun to share images on social media sites, just be careful that you protect the privacy of other people who may appear in them. So please get their permission before posting.
  • Victorian Travel Permit

    Yes, we have mentioned this several times before, but travel to Victoria still requires you to register. It takes only a minute or two and assists contact tracing efforts in case of a local covid case. Click here to register.

  • Mask Wearing

    If you are flying, then masks are required on aircraft and at airports. While in Melbourne, and Victoria in general, masks are only mandatory on public transport. So remember to bring them with you.

Recovery BBQ Breakfast Location Change

For those attending the breakfast on Sunday starting at 9am (we have over 30 of you), then we have relocated it. While the location we had chosen was great (on the Yarra across from the Tennis Centre), it would have been a 'longish' walk for people who had partied all night and no easy access to our great Melbourne coffee (you will definitely need coffee!).

So, we have moved it to a newly installed BBQ area just near us, at 120 Southbank Boulevard (ABC Studios). My first reaction when I saw them build this, was "WTF!, who will use this facility on a corner near traffic lights!"  - Turns out it's us!

This location will have the added benefit of having access to proper coffee and toilet facilities (our home). Also, should the weather turn, we can move to our place.

Melbourne Tour - Friday Tour Cancelled

The Friday session of this tour has been cancelled due to only a couple of acceptances. The primary reason for low numbers is that most people will be travelling on the Friday and so will not be avaialble. The Saturday tour will take place as planned, we have some 20 attending this one.  The walk starts at 10am, so meet in front of the coffee shop ('The Protagonist') at 9:45am, outside the Arts Centre Spire building. Look for three lovely gents (Peter & grandsons Jai & Kohen) wearing 'I Love Melbourne caps'.

A reminder that this is a walking tour of our local Melbourne neighbourhood, starting at the Arts Centre building. This 90 minute tour (about 4km), will be taking in such icons as the:

  • Arts Centre
  • NGV (National Gallery Victoria)
  • MTC Southbank Theatre
  • Melbourne Recital Centre
  • Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
  • ACCA & Malthouse Theatre
  • Queen Victoria Gardens
  • Yarra River Boatsheds (check out the party venue)
  • Federation Square
  • Flinders Street Station
  • Hosier Laneway (graffiti)
  • Bourke Street Mall
  • Royal Arcade (meet Gog and Magog)
  • Block Arcade (see Hopetoun Tea Rooms)
  • Degraves Street
  • Favourite eating places and coffee spots will be pointed out

We finish at the famous Brunetti's in Flinders lane, where you can get a coffee & iltalian pastry or even have lunch.