When I first came to Melbourne, a Nigel-no-friends exchange student a few years ago, I fell in love with the city and its secrets. I was an great lover in the beginning, always exploring and finding new things to like but I’ve turned into this lazy girlfriend, who takes living in the CBD for granted and spends far too much time in bed alone with pudding and overdue library books I don’t even read. I’ve let myself go.
So the little sister I never had and I decided to uncover Fitzroy and Collingwood, well Gertrude and Smith St if we’re being specific, and we ended up having the best afternoon evarrrr.
Soha, outside the Dianne Tanzer gallery (108-110 Gertrude St) we visited. There are so many free art exhibitions on at Gertrude St at any given time. And how good is her hat? OMFG.
We went to so many beautiful antique and collectibles shops. You can buy all sorts of vintage – road signs, furniture, memorabilia, etc. This incredible one was on Gertrude St.
Stores with great styling. Like Shappere (91 Smith St) with their work benches for belts and hand beater collection and handbags.
Outlet stores. Sneakers and bras and lycra for miles.
Mad, cool or over the top salons like the uber pink Lure (311 Smith St) and barbers that all have beer like Dr Follicles Barber Shop (240 Gertrude St)
First we stopped off for a snack at an authentic little family owned Greek diner called Melissa (118 Smith St) which was all too cliche and amusing. The owners and their family all sat at one table gossiping and arguing. The spanakopita was delicious.
We also found the most divine chocolate cafe. Photos soon. Then this lovely, rambling Turkish man at Fitzroy Kebabs (near the corner of Gertrude St and Smith St) felt sorry for these two undernourished beige girls and kept bringing us treat after treat. We only bought a gozleme to share, and we left with free plums, baklava and filled pide for dinner.
I don’t know what he was thinking either. Seriously, best day ever.
