Showing posts with label Melbourne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melbourne. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Melbourne you stole me heart again...and more of my money

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I have mad love for this city
It’s Friday evening and I’m sitting in Brisbane’s Domestic Airport eagerly awaiting my flight to Melbourne. Some M&Ms accompanied by Grazia Magazine and a few Chapters of Northern Lights and the flight’s over. I stride into my best friends flailing arms as we both squeal with excitement.

As we make our way to the car the download of what’s been going on since we last saw each other begins. Bitchy friends, birthdays and dye jobs - I have missed not being able to do this like we used to when we lived together.

I change my gladiator flats to my black New Look wedges and we head into the city to Berlin Bar in Chinatown.

Now I’m not sure if I’ve spoken in detail about my love of Berlin and its history but let me tell you -Berlin Bar was right up my alley. To get inside we had to go upstairs and ring a doorbell where we were let in by a rather attractive foreign bartender…and what did we find once we entered?

An ode to a city that was once split in half. One side of Berlin Bar is fitted out to be ‘West’ Berlin -think Luxe cabaret setting and a decadent cocktail list - and the other side is decorated with bunk beds and army nets – essentially like an East German air-raid shelter or bunker.

We drank amazing cocktails and gossiped the night away, but the exhaustion of a long day finally began to have an affect so we drank up and headed home.

On Saturday morning we went to Vanilla Cafe at Oakleigh for a brunch of Eggs Benedict and coffee to fuel us before hitting the shops at Chadstone. One dress, a pair of shoes and a belt later and we moved on to Fitzroy for more shopping combined with some wandering and food.

The Vege Bar was our destination for ‘Dunch’ (my name for a [generally large] Lunch/Dinner combo meal). We both had the burritos. They were so a-h-maz-ing, we had to roll out of there! Thankfully, we had left our wandering to after Dunch so we attempted to walk off our tasty meal by taking in some of Fitzroy’s spectacular street art.

You already know I delight in street art.

Fitzroy’s street art is clearly some of the best in Melbourne. I don’t understand why more cities (read: Brisbane) can’t have street art initiatives like Melbourne. The streets would be much more beautiful. 

Just look at these examples:

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Gorgeous

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Pure admiration

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It's Tricky
Told you so.

Saturday night.  

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My beautiful bestie
We drank cider and bantered with our old housemate over the old school hip hop at Sista Bella, then found the cheapest drinks in Melbourne at the science lab themed The Croft Institute.

I would highly recommend both bars for a fun night out. Sista Bella is relaxed and a great place to start the evening off…the Croft Institute is a good place to keep it going!

Our evening ended with the demolition of a tube of Pringles and a long cab ride home. Surprisingly, despite our 4am bedtime, we all felt pretty good on Sunday morning. We had brunch at a café in Gleniris then skipped over to St Kilda to meet a friend of mine who has just returned to Australia after about 4 years overseas.

Cake on Ackland street, then a cheeky cider at The Vineyard ended my whirlwind weekend in Melbourne.



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Luna Park at St Kilda

Monday, January 31, 2011

Street Art Inspiration

After seeing so much street art in Melbourne, I've decided to post some photographs taken on my travels of  my favourite murals, stencils and generally amazing wall pieces. I have to say that I don't think any city can compete against Berlin's phenomenal underground art scene and I think I may dedicate a  future post to my favourite city and everything that makes it tick.
The following pictures are just a handful of my collection, so there may be another street inspiration post in the future!
Which is your favourite?

Barcelona, 2009

Barcelona, 2009


Berlin, 2009


Berlin, 2009


Berlin, 2009

Berlin, 2009

Brooklyn, New York, 2009



Lagos, Portugal, 2009

Melbourne, 2011

Melbourne, 2011


Melbourne, 2011


Berlin, 2009


So it's been a while...

Noosaaaaaah

Yes. It’s been a couple of months since I’ve written a post but in my defence life has really gotten in the way! Namely, Christmas, New Years, and a visit from the boy.

Seen as he came all the way from the UK and we only had 2 weeks together I felt that I needed to take the time to show off my Country and give him a few great reasons to come back – other than me of course.  

So, here’s a quick run down of how I made him fall in love with Australia:

1. I debuted Betty on Main Beach at Noosa – the boy was an instant fan and I felt like a 1950s siren. Double win.

2. I took him to Australia Zoo and forced him to get his photo taken with an array of Australian fauna including Kangaroos and a Koala. He liked the furry cuteness but not the smell. I like feeding Kangaroos and patting Koalas too = another double win.

This is a pic of a little Koala we saw in the Wildlife Hospital. What a cutie!
3. Remember this Motel dress? I posted about it in November? Well I bought it at Youth Culture at Noosa with The Boy’s nod of approval. He appears to be one of many males who find this dress alluring as I have since learnt. Get yourself some Motel in that wardrobe ladies!

This is me a wearing it. Pretty don't you think? You can only really see the top but still..
4. I introduced him to my friends with casual beers at Archive, in West End, Brisbane. Australia beer boutique with a library theme? Puuuurfect for an English literature major.

5. We spent a few romantic days and nights holed up in a luxurious hotel in the city centre. Nice girls never kiss and tell.

6. We went to MELBOURNE to visit one of our best friends! Good coffee, icecream, shops, bars, loads of amazing street art as you can see below…everyone loves Melbourne. The Boy wanted to move there.
 
Flinder's Street Station
Notice anything weird in this picture?
Union Lane
 7. We drove along the Great Ocean Road and had a picnic on the beach at Lorne with two of our friends/housemates from Canada. Our roadtrip = good tunes, beers in the backseat (but none consumed by the driver) and a fun time had by all. The boy bought Percy Pigs for car trip consumption and we got to snuggle and snooze in the back seat on the way home.

It's Love...
Just one of the many stunning views along the Great Ocean Road
8. We went shopping on Chapel St and I bought these AH-MAZ-ING shoes. I like, The Boy likes.
Thank you Wittner!
9. We went dancing and drinking at Cookie on Swanston St in Melbourne and I wore my new Motel Dress. The boy said I looked ‘well fit’ and we snogged, amongst the crowds on the rooftop bar, overlooking the city.

10. I got him addicted to this…and he is moving here in June!

I have to say that my Grandmother was right. Absence does make the heart grow fonder, and love can conquer anything - especially a minor thing like living on opposite sides of the planet in different time zones...

Until next time xo