CP, apologies for not sending a PM but I can't on my work computer for some reason. Can you please let me know if you are coming to Red Spice Road on Friday night? also apologies if you answered this earlier and I missed the response. I'll be updating the restaurant with the numbers today.

As the group is now at 20, the restaurant have also asked if we are able to let them know if there are any Dietary requirements they need to cater to within the banquet. Marina I've included you as vegetarian and my DD and I both do not eat seafood, but if there is anything else specific please PM me.

Thanks Cookie. Will come with correct change

Welcome to Melbourne Gert.

Cocktail of the day sounds great. Like Cookie we've found the hotel central and "serviceable"!

If you didn't find out yesterday the food areas at Emporium are pretty good with a few of the more well known Melbourne restaurants having shops. There is a Jimmy Grants (George Columbaris), and they have not only great souvlaki but also the Hellenic grain salad that JulioO posted a recipe for.

Also not sure why I didn't think of it earlier but the rooftop bar which hosts the outdoor cinema is only a short walk and is a bit of quiet night time fun if you are able to get tickets.

Marina, I find it strange they don't clued vegetarian options as I'm sure it turns people off if they don't know the restaurant is happy to cater for them. In the past I've had some seafood dishes shaped for vegetarian and I thought they were lovely but there is also the plainer vegetable dish the chef has offered.

Thanks Cookie, that's the one we have gone with in the past although a few of the dishes are different to what was included last time and I don't eat seafood so mine is always slightly different.  I would recommend this or the $79 one purely because they both include the pork belly dish which the restaurant is known for - I think if you Google best pork belly in Melbourne this comes up 

CP at the moment I have you included for the dinner at Red Spice Road on Friday night - is that correct?

For everyone else that is attending I need to confirm numbers with the restaurant today so everyone is sure, the details are:
Red Spice Road - Artemis Lane (with is in the QV building complex)
* 6pm - 7.45pm. They are pretty quick with their service so I suggest we are there and ready to eat at 6pm
* Due to numbers we will be choosing a set banquet for the table. My suggestion would be to go for the middle one which includes their "famous" sticky pork belly and a good sampling of dishes across the three courses. Details of the different banquets are on their web page (just be sure you are looking at the Artemis Lane venue as the menus are slightly different. When we've had this one before there was more than enough food for everyone.
* From past meals there, they seem to cater well for food intolerances and vegetarian options in the banquet and the chef has also agreed to a single plainer dish of vegetables for a few so we were able to all go to a single restaurant.
* Drinks are purchased separately

And lastly, it looks like my DD might join us for dinner so I hope that's ok by everyone.

When I had some time in the city on Saturday, I went and looked at a few of the rooftop bars which are close by and none were able to guarantee us a table so our best option for post dinner I think is to make our way back to the hotel.
Looking foreword to seeing you all on Friday

Cookie, thanks for the offer but it looks like I will now have to drive and go back home in between the cooking class and dinner to sort DS out for basketball. I'll let you know though.

Trudy, belated congratulations to you and DH - 40 years is a great achievement

KatyJ - sorry your DD wasn't able to run, I've been fortunate to never have had to pull out due to injury and can only imagine how disappointing.

Thanks for the well wishes, I ran the 1/2 marathon (21.1km) yesterday and surprisingly loved every minute of it. I had trained properly for the first time and really noticed the difference on the day. My time was around 2.05 which I was 5 minutes faster than I was hoping for, so I was happy although a little disappointed as I feel I could probably do better  . It was a great day  in Melbourne and the course is just amazing, so for me who loves Melbourne it was great to run through the streets and past landmarks that we normally only see as you are driving past,  to get to run around the MCG at the end is  also a highlight. I  love the fact that 30,000 people all get out on a Sunday morning and are able to participate regardless of age and ability and everyone is so friendly and welcoming.