Melbourne Places » books

Salvos move to Carlisle Street, St Kilda and take on a new look.

Melbourne — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:00:22 +0000

The say good things come in small packages and the St Kilda, Salvation Army Opportunity Shop is proof of this. They have downsized. In doing so they have created a much better outlet in Carlisle Street than the previous one on the corner of Inkerman Street and St Kilda Road.

That huge rambling and messy warehouse on the corner of Inkerman Street and St Kilda Road has closed. The site has turned into a bike emporium.

The new shop in Carlisle has style compared with the old one and they have cut down on their stock. I always believed that there was so much ‘stuff’ in the old warehouse no one would be able say exactly what was in there.

The new store has added style to a Salvo browse. The shop is laid ‘out’. The dressing rooms are no longer a sort of curtained box, designer gear is in the front when you walk in.

Shoes are ordered on racks and someone keeps them tidy.

Home wares tend to be colour coded for example there is a shelf of blue. Books are newer – less knocked about, It feels cleaner and there are less of the things that no one is ever going to buy. It also feels as if the place is dusted sometimes – perhaps regularly.

I have been told they are charging more that they did in the old warehouse. This could apply to their designer gear although my black Country Road singlet was $5.00.

Last time I was there they had a piano, which seemed odd because the shop next door is a piano shop. I was hoping some one in the large browsing crowd would play it. If they did it was after I left. I also noticed some crutches in one corner should you ever need any.

The Salvos, St Kilda:-
Opposite the City of Port Phillip Town Hall in Carlisle Street.

Opening hours:-
Monday to Wednesday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Thursday to Friday 9.00 to 7.00pm
Saturday 9.00a, to 5.00pm

Getting there:-
Trams No 3 or No 16
Get off at the stop on the corner of St Kilda Road and Carlisle Street.

Sticky Institute for zines, creativity and the rumble of trains

Melbourne — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:21:35 +0000

The Sticky Institute was a great Melbourne Place to find. I came across it one day when I was hurrying through the underpass from Degraves Street to Flinders Street Station. I ducked into the subway under Flinders Street to speed up the journey and came face to face with the sign. I pulled up short, stared and trotted in and was so absorbed I missed my train.

I hadn’t heard of a zine before. It is pronounced ‘zeen’ and is a small, self published magazine with a small circulation and is usually reproduced by photocopier.

You can make your zine at the Sticky Institute. I haven’t made a zine yet but I enjoy browsing though the dozens on display and always buy one or two. For a couple of dollars, and that is all they are, you can share someone thoughts and get a peep into their world. The zines come in all shapes and sizes and they are a personal publication straight from the author’s mouth as it were – there is no editorial input. The ideas, the style of presentation, the layout and illustrations are the authors. Zines give complete freedom of expression and allow anyone to express themselves.

This is called ‘Mixed up Files of an Unusual Teenager’s Brain’ and made at the Sticky Institute. It comes with a badge which was also made at the Institute.

This is an American zine ‘Love Letters to Monsters #2′ and sold here in Melbourne.

Zines can be any size or shape you like. This is locally made zine is called ‘ The Day of the School Bag.’

Anyone can use the The Sticky Institute’s shop/workshop to make their zine or badge. You can also spend as long as you like browsing and reading and when you feel the creative urge talk to the staff. They are mostly volunteers and of course love the world of zines.

The most you pay for a zine is $5.00 but many are just $1 or $2.

The Sticky institute is alive with creative energy and music. This is often intensified by the rumble of a passing train, just to let you know you are underground.

The shop/work space has been around since 2001 so it definitely works as a creative space . On the shelves you can find zines from all around Australia and the world.

Getting there:-
Shop 10 Campbell Arcade
Degraves Street
Melbourne Phone 9654 9559

If you are getting off the train use the center stairs and find the exit to Flinders Street.

If you are on Flinders Street duck down the subway, opposite the side entrance to the Flinders Street station, at the end of Degraves Lane – there are two entrances.

Opening Hours:-
Monday to Friday
12.00 (noon) to 6.00pm
Saturday 12.00(noon) to 5.00pm
Sunday closed
CAMPBELL ARCADE IS CLOSED ON SUNDAY.

Find out more about the Sticky Institute from their web site here

The Myer Christmas Window Video

Melbourne — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:59:26 +0000

I was looking up the Olivia helps with Christmas story and came across this video of the Myer Christmas window. If you can’t make it down this year here is the next best thing.

The Myer Christmas window video, staring the book Olivia helps with Christmas

Myer’s Christmas windows – Olivia Helps With Christmas

Melbourne — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:08:59 +0000

Christmas tradition is always good and this year the Melbourne tradition of the Myer Christmas window display is a winner – one of the best I’ve seen – perhaps even the best. It is the story from the book “Olivia Helps Santa” by Ian Falconer.

If you have any young children in your family you’ll know that the heroine of Ian Falconer’s story is a pig, her family and the family dog.

Not having young children in my life I wasn’t familiar with the cute and enthusiastic Olivia but I immediately fell in love with her.

The windows are the book come to life and it is joy to view with or without children to accompany you.
You will come away smiling and feeling that all is good with the world. Olivia is endearing and the story is narrated by Dame Edna Everage which adds some local input to the charm of it all.
I thought Olivia and her family were so lovable that I found myself in the local bookshop browsing through the Olivia books – there’s a series – and wishing I had an excuse to buy a copy. I thought afterward that I didn’t need an excuse I could just buy a copy for my own pleasure. I will do that.
This animated, energetic pig who is full of ideas, raises grins and chuckles and enthusiasm from the crowd and the night I was there a sort of fellowship was created among us as we journeyed through Olivia’s Christmas.

I saw the show in the early evening, after the store closed and the crowd was manageable especially with the ropes controlling the direction viewers need to take.

Useful Information

Myer’s Christmas windows in Bourke Street, Melbourne’’s CBD are there until the 4th of January.

They operate from 7.30am until 1am – I have yet to see them in the dark but I am planning to. The illuminations should be even more striking and beautiful.

Booktalk Cafe, Richmond– a different style of food-and-coffee-break

Melbourne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:45:12 +0000

At the Booktalk Cafe, 91 Swan Street, Richmond food, coffee and books seem to be of equal importance. The cafe is central to the ambiance of the shop. The tables and chairs are in the middle of the space and then they wander between the book cases to the back of the room. This is not one of those book shops where the cafe is an afterthought and tucked out of sight.

I like the name. It suggests coffee food and a chat about books we’ve read or want to read. Booktalk has shelves of new and pre-loved books. The mixture of new and used is interesting.

A notice tells you that you can’t take new books to the cafe tables. You can browse these at the shelves and people do.

Another notice tells you that you can bring in your own books to exchange and if you buy a book and return it, you get 50% off the purchase price. A lot of information but it does clue you into what it’s all about.

If you drift in by yourself there’s plenty to read with your coffee. Besides the books they have the daily papers and great selection of magazines.

The atmosphere is relaxed and slightly bohemian. The tables are busy and used by people in heated discussion, people studying, people writing and people chilling out and just people. They are always being used this has to have something to do with the quality of the food and coffee.

New and used children’s books are are available for browsing.

The food is good, well priced and healthy. Their Thai chicken salad $9.50 was delicious and a recent special of the day beef lasagne for $9.50 was a nourishing and tasty meal.

Thai chicken salad

The bacon and mushroom roti, that I would recommend, is $9.80. There are vegetarian dishes as well. I understand the breakfasts are great but I haven’t tried them yet. There are also Vegetarian meals and a Veggie Breakfast. Apple Crumble with a Muesli crumble.

Mushroom and chicken roti

To keep the literary theme many chairs are labelled with a writer’s name. I would like to choose my chair to match my mood; a heavy weight like Charles Dickens on grey overcast day when I’m feeling thoughtful and introspective or, Dick Francis if I’m in a light frivolous mood. This has never been possible as the place is too popular to leave many chairs available.

Agatha Christie

Dick Francis

An inviting and comfortable couch at the back.

Swan Street, has some factory outlets and check out Dimmeys at 140 Swan Street – the lovely old building with the clock tower – you can find some great bargains there if you hit it right. Bargains come and go quickly.

The Booktalk Cafe, 91 Swan Street, Richmond. Phone 9428 1977

Opening Hours

8.00 to 5.30 every weekday

8.30 to 5.30 Saturday and Sunday

Getting there:

Tram 70 from Flinders Street. You need to catch it in Flinders Street not outside the Flinders Station

Tram 78 runs from St Kilda East along Chapel Street and Church Street to the corner of Swan and Church Streets

Parking in Swan Street is metered but there is usually free one hour parking in the side streets.

Window shopping in Greville Street, Prahran

Melbourne — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:55:16 +0000

Greville Street, Prahran is a favourite street of mine. My first encounter was a few years ago when I walked from the Prahran Railway Station along Greville Street on my way to Chapel Street

The late afternoon sun gave an orange glow and a touch of magic to this unique street. I feel in love.

I fell in love with the funky edgy designer shops, the retro and second hand and places. There was a feeling of being outside the mainstream – a place where exciting, new and experimental things were happening. I felt it strongly then and I still do

The street has changed over the years. Less funky and ‘out-there’ but the magic is still there. Where else in Melbourne would you see a window mannequin wearing a purple dress with fuchsia tights and a pair of yellow Doc Martin boots.

A couple of my favourite shops have closed and disappeared but Palm Beads is still there as it was on my first visit and the Greville Street Bookstore gives personal service as it has for over 20 years. Greville Records has been there for ever and although other shops have come and gone the vibes have re-adjusted themselves and evolved as everything evolves with the time. The street is still one of Melbourne Places that is unique.

This a pictorial stroll showing you what caught my eye during a recent visit.

Greville Street, Prahran is a great place to be from midday onwards and in the weekend. Cafes do open early to catch the morning-workers trade and many have regulars who come at the same time every day. However many of the shops don’t open until 10am or 11am.
Coffee and food is good at most places and people-watching is a fascinating past-time in Greville Street.

Getting there

Train: The Sandringham Line to the Prahran Station and you are there.

Trams: The 72 from the CBD crosses Malvern Road and Chapel Street, get off at that junction and head north. Greville Street is on your left by the Stonnington Town Hall.

The 78 Tram runs along Chapel Street from East St Kilda and Richmond.

Explore the Books @ the Fed Square Book Market CBD

Melbourne — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:10:05 +0000

A regular Saturday Book Market is held in the Atrium of Federation Square from 11am to 5pm. There are over 5,000 books displayed at a variety of stalls that command the entire floor area of the atrium.

It is a great place for a market – warm on a cold winter’s day and cool in the height of summer and it has got atmosphere. The books create a welcoming and relaxing vibe – ideal for browsing. You can browse. No one pressures you to buy.

There are books on Oriental art, poetry classical literature, music. One stall specialized in Russian literature while another has Australian books. There are stalls for children’s books. I saw an elderly lady buying a very vintage copy of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ by L.M. Montgomery. I got an instant head picture of her going home reading it and reliving a period of her childhood. The book was first published in 1908.

It is a good place for a trip down memory lane. It’s the place I find books that I had always intended to read and then forgot about and books I’ve read and loved and want to dip into again. I found ‘Justine’ by Laurence Durrell. A book that gripped and fascinated me as a teenager.

Then there are those books that grab your attention. How can you resist a book titled ‘Espresso with the Headhunters’ by John Wasser. This unlikely title is about a trip through the jungles of Borneo. With an espresso machine? The blurb doesn’t say

If you want your own espresso or latte without the Headhunters the market is surrounded by cafes.

It is a friendly market, the books easily accessible for browsing and the stall holders knowledgeable. Most of the novels are priced about $8 to $10 and all books are in good condition.

The market will be held on every on every third Sunday of the month for a trial period. This is happening at the moment and will go on for an indefinite time. The same time as Saturday – the Atrium Federation Square, 11am to 5pm.

Books for Cooks Gertrude Street – Fitzroy

Melbourne — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:16:18 +0000

Books and Cooks they go together.

Dedicated cooks and the rest of us who dabble in cooking and who eat, can’t resist books about food. Take a look at any book shop and there are whole sections of these books covering every possible aspect of food and eating. Often they display mouth watering photos of food, that probably looks better than it tastes. So it’s a great treat to spend time in a place where the only books to wallow in are cooking books, wine books and books about food and the philosophy of food.

It’s all about eating at Books for Cooks 233 – 235 Gertrude Street Fitzroy.

There are new and re-cycled books, antiquarian cook books and you can’t help but love the retro books at the back of the shop.

Take a look at the photos and you can see it is a unique place to hang out. Great staff too. They know everything. You can talk to them about a cook book you once saw and wanted. They’re happy to chat and try to source it for you.

To my delight they have a re- publication of Elizabeth David’s original Cook books. Elizabeth David’s book ‘Mediterranean Food’ was the first book that taught my family, in small town New Zealand, that olive oil could be used for cooking and not only for soothing an inflamed ear. It’s amazing to think that that was only a few decades ago. Books for Cooks give the opportunity to leap back into those exotic and sensual and pages of Elizabeth David’s early Books.

If you are a cook-book-junkie Books for Cooks is definitely your shop.

You’ll also love Books for Cooks if you are keen on eating. After a browse your taste buds begin to zing you can head for one of the many eateries in and around Gertrude Street. A popular place is Birdman Eating – don’t you love the name? It’s right opposite Books for Cooks.

Books for Cooks is at 233-235 Gertrude Street – just around the corner from Smith Street.

Take the 86 or the 95 tram from the city

Chapel Street – They Funky End at Windsor

Melbourne — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:27:53 +0000

The funky end of Chapel Street – that is the end by the Windsor Station and Dandenong Road – is one of the first places in Melbourne that I explored. It was different from any place I’d seen and it is still different. Over the years places have come and gone and some have stayed the same.

You can buy designer clothes, designed by local designers. You can get fashionable shoes for huge feet at Rosenberg’s Shoes. You can prowl various op shops and you can buy second hand books from Syber’s Book Shop.

It was the cats I first feel in love with at Syber’s Book Shop, the books came later.

Syber’s Book Shop is a treasure trove of books including rare and out of print books. The wonderful thing is that they know what they have and where to find it. I wanted a book by the German writer H.H. Kirst. Often when I ask I get a blank stare. Not this time.

“Oh. Yes,” said Penny Sieber getting up from her desk and putting her hand on a book by Kirst.

The chairs at Syber’s Book Shop give an atmosphere to shop but you may have to compete with one of the three cats for the most comfortable one.

Syber’s Book Shop is a good place while away some time if you are into books and of course there are the cats to meet.

This is also the retro end of Chapel Street and even the Op Shops go in for presentation and stylish window dressing.

The best way to get to this funky end of Chapel Street is to take the Sandringham Line Train to Windsor Station. Come out of the Windsor Station and you are there.

Trams 78 and 79 run the full length of Chapel Street between St Kilda and Richmond. If you are coming from the CBD by tram you need a tram number 8 or 6 or 72. These trams intersect with Chapel Street at some point.