Tag Archives: Melbourne

Grumpy’s Green

Posted on May 13, 2009 | 8 Comments

On the night of the third, my friends and I had dinner at Grumpy’s Green on Smith St in Fitzroy. It’s fun discovering awesome vegetarian cafes in Melbourne with Sarah – I also like Vegie Bar on Brunswick St for woodfired pizza and sangria. Grumpy’s Green is another cosy choice on a parallel street. It’s an eco-friendly lounge bar, that serves a selection of vegetarian snacks and meals, keeping their carbon footprint down by serving locally brewed beer and wine and meals with ingredients that are 100% locally sourced. You can read about all their other lovely initiatives to make Grumpy’s eco-friendly here. I think its neat that they have Earth Hour three times a week and have live acoustic music by (soy) candlelight.

We missed that but our dinner was delicious nonetheless. I ordered the nachos with their chilli bean sauce, sour cream and guacamole. Sarah had the veggie burger, Turkish bread with a chickpea and sunflower seed pattie and lettuce, tomato, onion, roast capsicum, cheese & Grumpy’s mustard mayo; and Mark, a pizza off the Specials board. Their menu has lots of vegan and gluten free options. A great thing about the place is that they offer a vast array of seating choices. Barstools and regular tables and couches to sprawl on. I found it hard to choose between the low table with the massive collection of comfortable cushions by the window and the lovely beer garden at the back, settling for the former on that frosty night.

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This is their website.

Grumpy’s Green, 125 Smith St, Fitzroy, VIC

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Garance and Scott

Posted on May 5, 2009 | 3 Comments

If there was a dorkathon, I would hands-down, no-contest, beat everyone down, so when I met Garance Dore at Cutler and Co in Melbourne on my birthday, I giggled and told her how much I love her blog and her photos, and that I’m glad it’s in English too now even though I used to make my Tahitian boyfriend translate it for me and send her messages in French about how much I enjoy her work. Then we talked about how she has a good translator and that he does justice to her sense of humour even in another language and I may have said something about her ‘great personality’. Sometimes I think I should be locked up and made to wear only polyester for a week for my cringeworthy gushing. The party on May 3rd, was some sort of Sartorialist casting for Saba and many Melburnians dressed to the nines were out in droves, probably hoping to get shot by Scott Schuman, but errr.. he pretty much only shoots in natural light. Hah! I knew that. But Scott was lovely, charming and a really great conversationalist, I’ve always loved his finds and photographs, I just prefer Garance’s eye and optimism. But they’re a match made in sartorial heaven.

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Thank you to David Johnstone for the photos.

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The return of the daily delicious

Posted on May 4, 2009 | 3 Comments

Last week, Hayley, Namila and I had a lovely supper at Dante’s in Fitzroy, then went to Seventh, an art gallery on Gertrude St for a group exhibition followed by real hot chocolate with icecream which is amazing. I hung out with a bunch of international comics afterwards at a rough backpackers gig and it was the best fun I’d had in ages. The whole night reminded me why I love Melbourne. I had forgotten. Apart from the most wonderful company, these were my highlight of the night. Parmesan crumbed eggplant fries with aioli from Dante’s.

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Dante’s Fitzroy, 150-156 Gertrude St, Fitzroy 3065

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Magazine Launch Parties

Posted on April 25, 2009 | Leave a comment

I love magazines! I also love parties! Woo! (This cold is making me ever so slightly delirious.) Anyways Melbourne, I found out two dope magazines about tees and sneakers are having new issue launch parties in the near future, T-World and Sneaker Freaker. 

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Event: T-world #05 Launch Par-tee
Venue: The Workers Club, 51 Brunswick Street, The Corner of Brunswick Street and Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Date: Saturday, 25 April 2009
Time: 7:30pm. Be fashionably early to grab the best free stuff
Entry: $5 at the door

For more information, go to their blog at The Vine.

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Event: Sneaker Freaker #15 Launch Party
Venue: Revolver Upstairs, 229 Chapel St, Prahran
Date: Friday, 1 May 2009
Time: 7pm. 
Entry: Free until 10pm 

So hopefully I shall be at both. But maybe not Sneaker Freaker (Oh noes! I missed their amazing issue 10 launch parties all over the world and I cried) because I might go to Sydney next week. Also, oh yeah it’s my birthday next Sunday. Twenty threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. 

P.S. Wow brandy + honey really works for colds. And various other ailments.

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Wooden Toy Hand Made Edtn

Posted on April 20, 2009 | 2 Comments

I hurried to Gorker Gallery in Fitzroy today because I thought it was the last day of the Wooden Toy ‘Hand Made Edtn.’ exhibition but good news for everybody, they’ve decided to extend it for another week. The exhibition marks the launch of the 6th edition of Wooden Toy Quarterly and I loved it and loved what they’ve done with the contemporary space for it. I’m only sharing a single picture from the collection, Dave Collinson’s piece, one of my favourites because I’d like people in Melbourne to go see the exhibition. It made my day. You can also purchase the original artworks on display from the wonderful Wooden Toy Shop, buy copies of the magazine for $28 or buy prints at $80.

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Pieces by artists Acorn • Bec Winnel • Biddy Maroney • Big Gav • Cat Rabbit • Clemens Habicht • Craig Spark • Dave Collinson • Ghost Patrol • Jae Copp • James Looker •  Justin Lee Williams • Karl Kwasny • Kelly Thompson (NZ) • Lilly Piri • Michael Perry (USA)
 • Nate Holmes Trapnell • Nawlz •  Nior • Rik Lee • Rohan Hutchinson • Santha King
 • Sean Morris • The Contextual Villains • Timba • Tristan Jalleh • Twoone




There’s a single copy of Wooden Toy Handmade Edition personally signed by many of the artists and released with the rest for retail, so it could pop up in store anywhere. One of the gallery’s directors Luke who I met today, informed me that they’re offering the lucky person who finds it and gets in touch, a Wooden Toy t-shirt. (Just quietly, I hope it’s me. Or you.)

Gorker Gallery, Corner of Gore St and Kerr St (geddit?), Fitzroy, VIC 3065

Exhibition now on till Sunday, 26th April, 2009. Timings: 3pm – 7pm Wed-Fri, 11am – 7pm Sat-Sun.

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More laughs than you can muster

Posted on April 15, 2009 | Leave a comment

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The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is about halfway in and I’ve seen only half a dozen shows so far, but they’ve all been great, no duds. I love seeing the smaller shows do well, I know I sound like a huge art faggot but so be it. I cannot stress enough how important to support upcoming artists, nurture their talent and sponsor their enthusiasm.

A cute show I was invited to last week was Eric Hutton’s Jokey Joke Time at the Old Magistrates Court at the Melbourne Gaol (killer venue, awesome medieval candlelit bar/sitting area too). Eric’s observational ramblings coupled with music, freestyle rap and illustrations were quite memorable. The end of the show was too funny and despite it being a little gross, imagine a PG two girls and a cup, I was terribly hungry afterwards.

I’ve also heard very good things about Luke’s Got Cancer and Wilson Dixon Rides Again. With the imports, I prefer the comics who endear like Josie Long, Maeve Higgins, David O’Doherty (le sigh). I’d love to see some more comedy this week and next, I hope I get a chance. You should too.

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What I wore: Layer Cake

Posted on April 6, 2009 | 9 Comments

Smith St in Fitzroy ranks in my top 5 favourite streets in Melbourne. I took the opportunity to stroll along Smith St on my lonesome today browsing through the many stores and co-ops and salivating at the windows of the cafes and bakeries. I only had a fiver in my pocket but lo and behold, in a thrift shop was a wonderful nana-esque knit cardigan in immaculate condition for $2. Melbourne is starting to get quite cool and I’ve already been layering like a trifle.

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There are all these weird light bubbles on me but I sort of like them. Also, I should get a remote.

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I pinned a purple velvet bowtie that matches my purple stockings to my third layer. I strung a silver necklace through it so it all stays in place and I don’t have to wear any other jewelry.

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Mmm texture. Mmm cake.

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Festival fever

Posted on April 5, 2009 | 3 Comments

Since around 2004, this time of year has meant comedy to me. Last year I was the promotions manager at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, running the information booth on Vulcan Lane and hiring ‘Comedy Crusaders’ which is what I was in the years before, planning their street presence and pushing shows each day and night, photographing them for future publicity, etc. Ya know, like this.

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I have a huge soft spot for comedy and I especially love stand up. I have since a young age. I have mad admiration for many comedians, I ignore their often awful getups because they make me laugh, I feel a certain attachment to Danny Bhoy because we’re the same mixed race combo ($4.95 plus one free coke) and if I was funny and/or brave, I’d be into doing it myself. I’m not so I befriended a bunch of comics instead.

Okay I digress, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on now and I’ve seen four shows so far. I went three nights ago and last night, and felt the biggest pangs of nostalgia. I love the atmosphere around the festival. It’s a delicious buzz, that envelopes chilly nights with laughter and excitement.

Magician James Galea charms in his show I Hate Rabbits’. Jamie Kilstein mothereffing kills. My buddy Nik Coppin is fantastic, lively and warm. I might be seeing Charlie Pickering and Josie Long early this week. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to post some of my recommendations and my favourites on my blog and link to my reviews for the festival publication The Pun if I deem them worthy.

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Lenko continued

Posted on March 31, 2009 | 4 Comments

Even though I’m a practicing recessionista at the moment, I’ve seen several incredible stores in Melbourne lately so prepare for an influx of words and pictures about them. I’ve blogged about Lenko before albeit briefly, so here are some more photos from the Melbourne Central store that make it the happiest place on Earth. Well, after Disneyland, The Fairy Shop on Ponsonby Rd, American Apparel..

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They have unlucky dips. Curiosity got the better of me and I tried. They’re really unlucky, it’s not even ironic.

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Despite Edward Said making me miserable when I had to write research papers at university, I’d like his face on my lapel.

They sell funny gum.

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And hilarious tees.

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This is their website.

Lenko Boutique, Shop 308, Level 3, Melbourne Central, Melbourne, VIC 3000

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Roulette

Posted on March 28, 2009 | 1 Comment

So I’ve been at the Australian Grand Prix, risking hearing loss, perving at Lewis Hamilton, eating brownies and mingling with suits, which is all part of my job (I think). I’m loving making my little brother who studies car design in Turin, Italy jealous; the sand bank in front of us where all the ugly stuff happens; the historic car parades each day and the entertainment and today I managed to sneak a few photos of The Roulettes in action. The Roulettes are the Royal Australian Air Force aerobatic team and the six red and white aircrafts are a freaking delight to watch.

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