So, the ol' Bend as it's known amongst some circles, or '1000 where the fuck is the pound key on my keyboard? bend' or just 1000 £ Bend are trying to drive some trade on 'Doldrum Tuesday'. Get down the ol' Bend for a ripping deal on pots for $2.50 and Burgers for $8. Suburban RSLs manned by volunteers can't even match those prices and struggle to beat this quality too. And while we're at it, we better throw in their other shameless cost cutting scheme, with solidly drinkable coffee for $2.50 before 10am. Pretty good deal if you're one of those creative types that works down that end of town. You can get at least three caffeine injections in before 10am or take meetings in the cafe with prospective clients on the vintage couch and 'seal the deal'. 1000 £ BEND - $2.50 POTS5pm-11pm Tuesdays361 Little Lonsdale St, CBDDetails: 1000 £ Bend

Opened with no notice to anyone last night and then first thing again this morning, Bar Americano is now officially open for business. From the team at Der Raum, this latest offering is an all day affair serving, light meals, mean espresso and cocktails based on the Italian aperitivo culture. Down an alleyway of another alleyway off Little Collins St, the space holds about 10 people, 2 bartenders and a vibe that's already buzzing. It looks like this might be the start of a turnaround for city drinking culture, encouraging good drinking in a relaxed environment, straight after work, everyday of the week. With long time bar manager from Der Raum, Matt Rees holding the reins along with some new and old faces, Der Raum regulars will feel right at home (and maybe a little closer to their homes). The cocktail list is succinct, but awesome. Simple, no fuss, but perfectly executed with fresh ingredients and quality booze. The espresso comes courtesy of Supreme with a focus on pushing a traditional Italian style and you can even pick yourself up some custom sweets by Burch and Purchese. Let's hope this is the first of many new small bars in the city to bring back our world renowned laneway drinking culture. Bar Americano 20 Presgrave Place (off Howey place, which is off Little Collins) 7am - 4pm Monday 7am - 11pm Tuesday - Saturday No Photos, No Credit Cards, No Bookings (Great Chat!) Details: Bar Americano

So many ‘heroes’ in the public eye are a sham. Cousins, Sheen, Spears, Trump.Rightful respect then goes to the crew from ‘No Scribbles’ for their recent artistic celebration of everyday heroes. Northside Heroes exhibition explores varied interpretations of heroism ‘amidst the rising tide of gentrification of Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs.’ Community and culture have been combined like the powers of those Captain Planet kids, resulting in diverse pieces that capture the spirit of local do-gooders and generally outstanding characters. Opening night was Thursday June 9. I am not a hero for failing to post this in time for the opening. But there is still this weekend for you to trek out to ghetto Brunswick to view the work of some very talented heroes. These artists might even lend you some coins on the tram or give you their still-valid Metcard, offer you some of their Pick and Mix, or pour you a beer, being local and all.It would be nice to support their creative brilliance and see the people they think are heroes too. Northside Heroes Lot 5/29 Tinning Street, Brunswick June 9th - 19thOpen Thursday – Sunday11am – 5pmDetails: Tinning Street

The makers of Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF, if you please) have embarked on a genre side project whose name says it all; Bloodfest Fantastique. A niche festival that is dedicated to the genres of Sci-Fi and horror, all showing in the Memo theater in St Kilda. This is a festival for the lovers and enthusiasts, Rom Com fans need not apply. Titles such as Dead Hooker In A Trunk will be sure to sort the men from the boys in the audience.Hit the site or check the flyer for the full session times. Take your pick from Bloodfest Nue, Bloodfest Bites, featuring a selection of shorts of Futurism and Barbarism, the retrospective line up for the die hard fans. Bloodfest FantastiqueJune 10-18Memo Theatre, 88 Acland St, St KildaDetails: Bloodfest Fantastique Catalogue

If you roam around the Fitzroy/Collingwood area at all, even just a little bit, you've come across the work of Everfresh. Massive pieces that grace entire walls (cite the huge Nicholson St 'Welcome to Fitzroy' piece) through to the stickers that grace every single street sign. Most notably, the 'How'd they do that?' giant presence that graces the top of the Collingwood silos.Even after a book launch last year, the members of the ultra talented crew have remained an enigma, operating on the fringe of accessibility. But now, that's all set to change. Taking up residency at The NGV Studio for close to a month, they'll be working on pieces out in the open for everyone to see. A working, living, breathing inside look at the city's best street artists. It all culminates in a major event to sell off all the fine pieces that have been created throughout the month. For more details, check the flyer or the vid. Everfresh at NGV Studio10 June - 8 JulyFederation SquareDetails: Everfresh NGV

‘Chin chin’ in Japanese means ‘penis’. This useless fact bears little relevance to the city’s new Chin Chin Restaurant. Chin Chin serves modern Thai food with further genital references not included. Or are they?Just a few weeks old, Chin Chin’s no booking policy already means waiting an hour for a table. Thankfully a cocktail bar with classics for just $15 enables enjoyable time killing. Standouts are the ‘rose petal infused’ drinks that draw curious glances from your fellow bar friends. Do not be distracted by what appears to be a frozen testicle floating in your glass. It is actually meticulously sculpted iced petals and makes your beverage taste a bit like a bouquet of flowers. Odd. But good. Plenty of reasonably priced titbits makes Chin Chins perfect for a laid back meal out with friends. Be wary, friends could become enemies as you fight over who gets the last delectable dumpling ball. Succulent seafood, salads and curries are on offer for something heartier. Chin Chin buzzes with as much energy as a Thai man at a Bangkok market selling you some cheap plastic shit you don’t need. Or a typical dude you run into on Khao San Road, completely wired.Attentive, unpretentious wait staff process the dinner rush extremely well. This uber cool space, donned with vintage pop art posters, welcomes Suits, Hipsters and hungry hedonists until around 3am. Unsurprisingly, hype surrounds the anticipated opening of Go Go Bar downstairs. Chin Chins is impressive, fun and as devious as you wish it to be. Perhaps the name doesn’t make complete sense. But the rest certainly does.Chin Chin125 Flinders LaneLicensed and BYO (Wine only)Open 7 days. 11am till late.No reservations. Details: Chin Chin

Up There Store is the business. If you're yet to ascend the stairs to their midtown shrine to high end street goodness, you've picked a good time to become acquainted. Their mid season sale is on right now. The highlights include up to 70% off some stuff and your chance to pick up some 3sixteen denim from $150 and the amazing handmade Yuketen shoes from $230. Up There Born 2010Level 1, 15 McKillop StreetMelbourne, Victoria, 3000Details: Up There

Local label Syke are having a sale. A warehouse sale. From their warehouse. Not just some burnt out hardware store that they got on a short term lease to unload a whole bunch of shit that nobody wanted when it was in season, but somehow it seems more attractive in a whole pile of other shit surrounded by dudes that remind you of circling vultures with those weird ponytails and long black leather jackets that they wear even when it's 40 degrees, that incidentally they bought real cheap at one of those shit warehouse sales. SYKE is rad, so get on down to their REAL Footscray warehouse on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th June to scoop some threads that sport some super great illustrations with a killer hentai anime vibe by Tri Vo and some other rad babes, one in particular (Talia, big ups). SYKE WAREHOUSE38/91 Moreland St, FootscrayDetails: Syke on FBBRING CASH MONEY!

Dangerfork is a Melbourne based print making studio that are dropping some hot hot prints. Todays sees the first of their curated exhibitions (INSERT NAME HERE) where they are hosting their own work and that of some of their closest friends. Lance de France, Prizm Mayonnaise, Chris Drummond, Megan Quigley, Hamish Munro and more are set to throw up originals and prints on the wall of the rad converted warehouse space in the city. Running from tonight until Sunday, the space will be manned by the artsits so you get the inside word on the art and the true stories behind the artists. LAUNCH PARTY tonight sees the Sailor Jerry crew delivering free booze for what is set to be a pretty killer launch. Get down from 6pm. Temporary Gallery Space at the rear of 126 Franklin St in the CBD. Details: Dangerfork

Ben Sherman is at it again. Taking a host of local talent, letting them thrash out their tunes and politely requesting they make some covers of British classics to create an altoghether tangible link to British music culminating in an extraordinarily good gig that we are highly recommending you go and check out. Previous years have seen some acts that have now gone on to big things, and this year it's the turn of the new guard including Strange Talk, Ball Park Music and Boy in a Box. In order to encourage the love of all things 'British Pop' those kind folk down at Ben Sherman are giving you the chance to !!!WIN!!! two (2) tickets to the gig at The Corner AND a $100 gift voucher for Ben Sherman swag so you don't look like a total noob when you show up at a British gig. Just Send us a YouTube link or photo of your favo' Brit Pop Trashbag. Pete Doherty, Katy Perry (acceptable due to the tangible link of her being married to 'The Brand') or from a time when men were men and The Specials reigned supreme. Send it to subculture@dailymelbourne.com for your chance to !!!WIN!!! Otherwise, buy some tickets here - $10 + bf (Bargain) Ben Sherman Big British Sound The Corner Hotel May 11th Details: Ben Sherman on FB

The crew from Acclaim Magazine have put together a fairly ridiculous line up for their upcoming forum series called Carbon.Amassing a 'who's who' of the street and counter culture from locally and abroad, there has undoubtedly never been a series to parallel this within the country.Start out with Futura, this guy owns graf. Bobby Hundreds from LA, Noah Callahan Beaver, current editor of Complex Magazine and a host more internationals.Locally Tristan Ceddia, the King of the Serps and current trendsetter at Ksubi pairs up with Jimmy Bliggs of Grand Scheme and local darlings Beci Orpin and Alex Weiland head the domestic team.A series of four forums entitled BEYOND THE BRAND, BUILDING A T SHIRT LABEL, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND IMAGINATION and THE ART OF HYPE cover some exciting niches that are doubtless going to be beneficial to a broad cross section of people from a host of industries or those looking for an excellent source of inspiration.There's also a host of side events on the bill including workshops and parties to get involved in. CARBON29th April - 1st May, Federation SquareDETAILS: Carbon

Knowing that you have been 'labelled' and then being able to take the piss out of it at the start of your show is a powerful thing for a comedian. And that's precisely what Jack Druce has done in response to the hordes of people that have labelled him as the fastest rising star in Australian comedy and other such phrases to the same effect.But the thing is, he may well be the next big thing, this 20 year old is funny and he's working hard at getting the word out. His show this year for Melbourne International Comedy Festival named 'Too Short to be a Stormtrooper' is genuinely good.Now, we don't claim to be comedy critics and don't have any criteria beyond whether we laughed to judge how good a comedian is. But if we had to guess, the reviewing criteria of delivery, content and worldliness would have all been scoring well on Jack's score card.An awesome combination of a well read and travelled kid that still has the innocence of youth mixed with a solid cynicism had us laughing for the entire duration of his show.Go and see him before he gets massive (or words to that effect)Jack DruceUntil 24th April at Trades HallCnr Lygon and Victoria St, CarltonTickets: MICF