The smell of food cooking leads you to the Suzuki Night Market.   The smell is delicious with the main ingredient being the aroma of barbecuing.  This is strange because when you get into the market there is an incredible selection foods – a chance to eat your way around the world with food from many countries.

This market is held every Wednesday until 2nd of March on the Queen Victoria Market site. It  has  been operating on this site for a number of years and has built up a strong following.

In the unusual weather we are having this summer the evening I went was the first sunny Wednesday for a few weeks.  Not that rain really matters because most of the stalls are under cover. The market opens at 5.30pm and this is the scene at 5.45pm with the crowd  flowing in.  In the fine weather this is where the entertainment is.

There are a numerous stalls but with the stomach-rumbling smells that meet you on Elizabeth Street most people head to the food section.  There are two food areas both on the right of the walkways.  This gives you some an idea of the fare on offer.

Nepalese food – Chicken Sekuwa

African curries

Australian eating – Ostrich Burgers – Croc Burgers – Roo Burgers

Korean tornado potatoes – these were a hit with queues waiting to be served

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Beautiful cup cakes to finish you eating experience.

Prices are good for the food – mostly $10.00 or under with the Korean Tornado Potato at $5.00

Food is not the only interest.  There are numerous stalls of clothing,  jewelry, crafts and an area for tarot reading, massage, reflexology – all good things for the spirit.

Hair Sticks

coconut watches

Locally designed clothes

While all this is happening there is entertainment.  Check the web site here for further information on who is performing.

Where:-
Suzuki Night Market
Queen Victoria Market
Corner of Elizabeth and Queen Streets

Hours:-
5.30pm to 10.00pm
Every Wednesday until March 2nd
Further information

Getting There:-
Tram: Any tram that goes up Elizabeth Street or the Free City Circle and get off at Queen Victoria Market
Train; Get off at Melbourne Central

Web site:-

http://www.qvm.com.au/snm/snm_home.aspx

Related posts:

1. Prahran Market –the food lovers market in South Yarra
2. St Kilda Night Market Thursday 10th March 2011 -O’Donnell Gardens
3. St Kilda Beach Night Market – Thursdays

As you are wandering up Kings Street or along La Trobe Street at the edge of the CBD you suddenly come upon this funny old house that is completely over shadowed by the high rise buildings on La Trobe Street – so over shadowed that I have known people to walk past and not see it.  The Old Corner Shop is the oldest private residence in the city.

It is owned and lived in by Lola, the granddaughter of Valetta Azzopardi who bought the property in 1899, and her husband George Russell.  Lola was born in the cottage and has lived there all her life.

Amazing to ponder on that when you consider how we move about today.  It is even more amazing to think that the Russells sleep, eat and relax there every day while  the heavy traffic and trams grind and rattle past and the city loop train roars underneath.

If you are waiting at the traffic lights in the early hours of the morning give a thought to them asleep only a few meters away.
The plaque on the side of the house says it was built as a shop and a dwelling in 1850/1.  Its surprising the building is still standing what with the city loop train line being dug underneath it and then all the construction work for the buildings behind it.

Strengthening and restoration work was carried out in the late 1980s.  However the house still looks vulnerable to modern life.  It poses the question of what that corner may be like in another 150 years.  I hope the little house is still tucked in there and holding it’s own.
The Russells turned the original shop into a cafe and catering business and it is still a shop and cafe today with a black board menu.

I was working in the area during the winter and one lunch hour popped in for coffee.  The experience made me wonder if they don’t get many walk-ins.  The instant coffee was a very very long time coming but fine when it did.  The up-side of the wait was to give me the chance to explore the shop  – the ambiance of another era  is very strong and well worth experiencing.

I also met William, the Pekingese, who came in from the living area to say hello.  He had just returned from his daily walk in Flagstaff Gardens and is very at home in this delightful and incongruous  house on the corner of  La Trobe and Russell Streets.  He, too, has lived there most of his life.
If you haven’t seen the house take a detour that way – it is a blast from the past and if you step inside there is a moment when you believe you’re a time traveller or in a time warp.

Getting There:-

Train: The Flagstaff Gardens stop is opposite.

Trams: You can get the free city circle tram and get off at the corner of a Trobe and King Street or take any tram from Flinders Street Station along Swanston Street.  Get off at La Trobe Street and either walk or take the next tram along La Trobe  to King Street.

Related posts:

1. Peace and relaxation in the Tropical Glasshouse, Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens, St Kilda Road,
2. The Oriental Tea House on Chapel Street, South Yarra – good eating
3. Melbourne Botanical Gardens and the Terrace Cafe on a wet day