Laneway Learning's General Manager Maria Yebra has been helping people find hobbies since 2012.

The learning institution offers affordable classes in the heart of the CBD, from print-making to history classes.

Filipino-born Rod Romero would recommend Melbourne to anyone who asked him where in the world they should study. His favourite things to do in his adopted city are to go out for coffee and explore by bike.

For this international student, success is about creating a network in Melbourne.

French-born Christopher Alory says Australia is the happiest, most vibrant place, with the most opportunity and international people of the cities he's visited.

The international student has lived in Australia for five years and says other students can benefit from the support networks on offer.

Queues at the Queen Victoria Market often lead to one of Melbourne’s best-loved treats – a doughnut produced by the same families for 70 years.

The American Doughnut Kitchen was recently recognised in the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards.

Few people have had a greater impact on Melbourne than City Architect Rob Adams AM, who’s retiring after 40 years.

Since the 1980s, Rob and the City of Melbourne’s urban design team have led the nation in successful city-shaping projects.

There’s no doubt about it, Melburnians love pets. Dog and cat registrations are booming as people seek out loyal companions and exercise buddies, so we’ve put together some top tips for responsible pet owners.

Read on to find out Melbourne’s top dog breeds, how you can help people and pets live in harmony, pet ownership alternatives for short-term residents, the city’s best pet-friendly staycations and more.

The world’s first cheese shop that showcases all-Australian artisanal produce has taken out top spot in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards.

Located at Queen Victoria Market, RIPE Cheese is a treasure trove for cheese connoisseurs, offering everything from prosciutto-wrapped treats from Bruny Island to gooey truffle toasties.

Gig workers across the city now have a dedicated communal space to take a break and meet others. In time, the program aims to provide a series of permanent staff rooms for gig workers across the CBD. Gig Workers Hub currently operates out of Micro-Labs on Bourke Street, every Thursday and Sunday from 2-5pm.

In 1983, a group of Melburnian women shared an ambition to empower women with information, resources and education to help them lead their best lives. Their vision became the Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE). Now, you can access confidential and anonymous support through its phone line, web chat or in person at WIRE'S Walk In Centre on Bourke Street.

Our libraries provide a sanctuary of learning, creativity and relaxation across the city. Books are just the beginning of our library services – connect with the community at workshops, unleash your creativity in a makerspace or book one of our many meeting spaces. Visit our CBD or Elizabeth Street pop-up library now.

The new Melbourne Chinatown Business Association has attracted 115 members from across the hospitality and retail sectors, some with generations-old connections to the iconic precinct.

Imagine that drab stretch of concrete near your apartment or business transformed into a lush oasis with cheerful flowers, hanging vines or a mini orchard. We want to help make your greening ideas a reality.

Head to Riverslide and Kensington and skate parks to enjoy welcoming and inclusive skateboarding sessions every week. Supported by top coaches, some participants have Olympic dreams in sight.

A cheese toastie expert and an artist turning algae into biodegradable plastic are among the finalists of this year’s Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards.

Enjoy music, food, art and culture in the moonlight at RISING from 7 to 18 June. The team has been preparing a practical “12 Rs” framework to help festival staff, artists, audiences, suppliers and partners make green choices.

As one of the very first residents to move into Melbourne’s social housing addition to the Drill Hall building in 2011, Martin Mulvihill has been instrumental in building a sense of community among its residents and neighbours.

Meet Daniel and Jade – some of Melbourne’s youngest buskers. At just 11 and 15 years old, this musical sibling duo is taking the city streets by storm.

Watch wildflowers bloom on top of tram stops and see desolate concrete transformed into community gardens with support from our Urban Forest Fund grants.

Melburnians with vision loss became reacquainted with the CBD, in a safe and supported way, at several recent walking tours, organised by Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria (BSRV).

Ann-Sofie received a virtual garden visit, hoping to get a bunch of plants to thrive on a 25th floor balcony. Before the visit Ann-Sofie didn’t know anything about native Australian plant life, let alone how to care for it on a balcony.

Laneway Learning has been running one-off workshops and classes in the CBD for the last decade and now Queer Social is bringing us classes by and for Melbourne’s queer community – creating a safe space for social connection and learning.

If you see someone pushing a trolley packed with toasters and kettles at your local Kmart, give them a wave – they may just be a Melbourne Rotary Club member, purchasing goods for someone experiencing homelessness.

City of Melbourne has partnered with not-for-profit iGen Foundation to provide start-up training for 40 migrant families with a business idea. With a handful of Big Ideas Days coming up late May and open to all, feel free to share the news with local communities.

Help prevent violence against women and their children in your neighbourhood by taking part in new community training.

Share your stories of street harassment to help make Melbourne a safer place for everyone.

Businesses across Melbourne are signing up to a new charter to make the city safer and more enjoyable for everyone after dark.

Situated in a tranquil pocket of the CBD, you’ll find one of the most community-orientated apartment buildings in Melbourne.

More than 20,000 residents will live on the doorstep of the Queen Victoria Market by 2040.