Melbourne Places

This stunning piece of urban art is a work by Frank Malerba.

You can see it yourself as you head along Cecil Street away from the South Melbourne Market.

It is wonderful to be able to see such eye catching pieces of art during an every-day shopping excursion or a walk around the local streets.  Frank Malerba [...]

Sunday. The sun is shining and the part of the world that is South Melbourne is buzzing.  A good place to take in all this buzz is at an outside table at the Red Star Cafe. On a cold day a window table inside would do just as well.

This cafe is right opposite the main [...]

For the next few Sundays life in St Kilda and particularly on Acland Street is going to get more vibrant.  St Kilda is in the middle of holding the Busking Festival.   The actual location for the buskers is being shared by various street venues.
Fitzroy Street have had their turn and last Sunday, April 18,  it [...]

The Prahran Market is a foodies market.  It is all about food, preparing it, cooking it and eating it.  If that sounds like you The Prahran Market  is the place to explore.  Take your recipes and search out those unusual ingredients.

I think it is best on Saturday.  The produce seems to be fresher as if [...]

Summertime in  Melbourne is market time and markets spring up all over the place – Pre-Christmas I had great success with some Christmas presents at a market set up in the Elwood School grounds.
This flurry of summer markets led me to forget the markets that just keep-on-keeping-on.

The Esplanade Market in St Kilda has been keeping [...]

The Carlisle Street Bazaar opened just before Christmas adding another retail experience to shopping in the piece of Carlisle Street around the Balaclava Rail Station.
This Carlisle Street Bazaar replaces a store where I often browsed.  It was one of those stores that covered an eclectic range merchandise – clothes, furniture, home ware, jewelery, gifts.    All [...]

The St Kilda Beach Night Market has become an annual event on the St Kilda  calendar.

I love night markets.  The first one I explored was in Yogyakarta in Indonesia. There was magic in the air with the music and colours but I felt uneasy being in such a crowded place with so many dark corners. [...]

Can you go past a bargain shop without popping in?  I can if I’m in one of the many shopping areas that have Two Dollar or Bargain cum Gift Shops dotted along the strip.  You’ve seen one you’ve seen the lot.
In Victoria Street, Richmond the Two Dollar Bargain and Gift Shops are different.

They can look [...]

If your idea of heaven is whiling away a few hours amongst retro/re-cycled/vintage clothing and collectibles, then head for Lost and Found 12 Smith Street, Collingwood.
It is said that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.  The odd thing is that there is so much ‘treasure’ left around.  When you walk into Lost and Found [...]

Take a trip into Asia on a Melbourne Saturday morning.
Take the 109 Tram and head to Victoria Street in Richmond. The moment you cross Hoddle Street the atmosphere changes. You are entering a different world.
Many people call this area little Saigon.  I’ve been to Saigon but it’s not Saigon to me.   To me it is [...]