Bourne Out

Moved back home to be with Dad...

2008-09-11T15:29:00.000+10:00

Hello Gentle Reader,

I have retired this blog and am slowly adding its content to my personal blog: The Brains Trust.

Which means you can still get a regular dose of cool Melbournian things - but now mixed with obvious internet punditry and inane observations.

Enjoy

Simon

Detail of girl

2007-07-31T17:06:00.001+10:00

Suzanne is in a book!, originally uploaded by Paula Ramírez.

We've all seen her. In tunnels and alleys. On bridges & brick walls. An iconic face that is part of Melbourne's hyperactive graffiti community...

Who is she? And who's obsession is she? Well, Suzanne Brenchley has just answered those questions and a few others in this piece in The Age.

A nocturnal visit to the Shrine of Remembrance

2006-10-20T13:35:00.000+10:00

They Shoot DJs Don't They

2006-07-10T15:11:00.000+10:00

Shoot the DJ,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

The past is only a click away...

2006-04-12T14:20:00.000+10:00

The photos of an Italian visitor to Melbourne in 1959-1960 have been posted on Flickr.

Melbourne looks, well, more sparse and less green.

Ca de vin

2006-04-11T17:16:00.000+10:00

More photos after the jump,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

In Postal Lane, between the GPO & Myer you'll find the narrow but welcoming embrace of Ca de Vin.

As befits an alley venue its roof is part sky and part retractable awning, while its walls are simply the old worn stone of this Victorian era public edifice. Ca de Vin takes full advantage of the location while also successfully stopping any wind tunnel effect. In fact, once ensconced, it's hard to imagine you are only metres away from the hurly burly of the Bourke Street Mall.

The food is simple and direct - mediterranean with an obvious bias toward the Southern Italian coastline.

We came to snack. We had olives - a mix of black and green, some stuffed and most de-pipped - heated in olive oil and served in a frypan. Perfect with the house Sauvignon.

Later we tried the turkish bread and dukkah. Not as distinctive or as tasty. Apparently all the bread is baked on the premises. The pizzas look bellisomo.

Well, we're already planning what we'll eat on our next visit - possibly one of those plates of mussels we saw on a serving bench.

Ca de Vin is open most days from 10:30 and the kitchen closes around 7pm.

The tide is low...

2006-03-30T14:48:00.000+11:00

The tide is out - 2,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

And Melbourne's answer to Sydney's Olympics is over.

They had a flying girl, we had a flying tram, boy and a duck.

They had the history of Australia and we had AFL footballers walking on water.

They had John Farnham and we had, er, John Farnham.

Oh, never mind.

Commonwealth Games Whitewash

2006-03-25T07:59:00.000+11:00

In the Guardian, UK artist, Banksy rages against the obliteration of Melbourne's graffiti.

Melbourne and London are genuine epicentres of the skewed human touch that can bring a little sparkle into the drudgery of public space. A feat that is of immense value, despite its apparent worthlessness. And a feat that is not so easily achieved by trying to run around a track in under four minutes.

Which is why, of course, we now have the 2006 Graffiti Games.

CBD Beach

2006-03-22T23:17:00.000+11:00

Southbank Beach - 4,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

Surfs up in Southbank - all part of the madness that is the Commonwealth Games...

The Beach at the Arts Centre is... part of Festival Melbourne 2006.
The Arts Centre will create an iconic Aussie beach on the lawns between the Theatres Building and Hamer Hall, with free entertainment everyday of the Games from 15 to 26 March from noon until late.

Yes, The Beach will be hitting the city complete with bathing boxes, heroic lifeguards, giant seagulls and lots and lots of sand...

...watch out for the incredibly rude giant seagulls who’ll be on a chip-stealing mission; the moustachioed lifesavers on stilts who’ll be on beach patrol making it safe (and fun!) for all; the synchronised waterskiers with their wading pool stunt spectacular; and eccentric jugglers who will delight with their unbelievable sideshow tricks. And don’t miss Sink or Swimburne, a series of surreal performance vignettes and parades from the students of Swinburne’s Department of Arts.

...catch all the big moments of the Games on the big screen, as well as classic beach movies including Gidget, Storm Boy and Morning of the Earth.
So grab your towel, thongs and sunscreen, kick back on the sand or dance between the flags for Factor 30+ entertainment. And hurry, The Beach only lasts for the Games!

What an exciting press release! Here's more gumpf on "the event".

All the world's a kiosk

2006-03-20T13:34:00.000+11:00

The world's a kiosk II,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

Plasma & LCD screen manufacturers must love the latest trend of incorporating large touch screens into public signage. Naturally, Federation Square has got into the act.

Note that touching the individual building shapes on the screen triggers nothing.

Luna Park Writ Small

2006-03-18T16:41:00.000+11:00

Luna Park Writ Small,
originally uploaded by pyjama.

Someone's been busy in the sand pit.

Stencil Graffiti Capital: The Exhibition

2006-03-11T21:47:00.000+11:00

Stencils & Exhibitiion,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

An exhibition of photographs of stencils & graffiti from a book shown on lightboxes by the Citylights crew in Hosier Lane, one extremely graffitied & stencilled alley...

Permutations.

Braimfood is gone

2006-03-01T12:57:00.000+11:00

Braimfood is gone,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

No surprise here, Braimfood has closed.

When it was good, it was damn fine.

Rusty Pigeon

2006-01-31T11:25:00.000+11:00

Rusty Pigeon,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

A visit to the tourist slum that is Melbourne's Southgate.

More snaps after the jump...

Shipshape

2005-12-02T18:01:00.000+11:00

Shipshape,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

The Silos Apartments by Architect Nonda Katsalidis. Lovely to photograph, but don't look at the back of it... This 1997 creation is not ageing well with clear signs of render rot. Mmm, maybe I should show you rather than tell you about it. STAY TUNED.

Photo du jour: Star Grid

2005-11-17T18:10:00.000+11:00

Star Grid,
originally uploaded by One Thousand Words.

Another month, another Bourke Street mall shot...

Juliet's Balcony

2005-11-02T17:36:00.000+11:00

Julet's champagne bar is a fine way to look down upon the fashionable. Sit on the 1st floor of the GPO and stare into the shallow souls of its customers. A nice way to end the working week.

Photo du jour: Bourke St Flapping

2005-10-30T12:45:00.000+11:00

Macro Wholefoods

2005-10-28T09:33:00.000+10:00

New South Wales organic & health foods supermarket chain, Macro Wholefoods, has opened one big-arse store in Richmond. It goes the whole free-range hog, selling fruit and veg, meat, prepared meals, cakes, wine, incense, water filters, cosmetics and more. The prices are comparable with most health food stores (and often a little lower) and they have a full range of house brand products. And not a dreadlock or pierced lip in sight. What is the world coming to?

Macro Wholefoods Market, 153 Bridge Road, Richmond

Wake up, you've arrived

2005-10-19T09:26:00.000+10:00

Sydney has the Harbour Bridge & the Opera House. We have the Cheese & Crabsticks.
On the 30 minute drive from the Airport along the Citylink tollway you'll be struck by the sight of the Melbourne Gateway. Built by Kennett Government favourites Denton Corker Marshall (a la Verge) it is clear signpost that you're entering a town with plenty of architectural attitude.

A dinner at Taxi

2005-10-02T10:00:00.000+10:00

Verdict: the food = great good; the location = great position. The rest = not so great.

A couple weeks we booked a birthday dinner at the Taxi Dining Room. Not long after this we were excited to learn that Taxi had been named Restaurant of the Year by The Age. Wow, now we were looking forward to experiencing a culinary event.

Pity that.

Let's first mention Taxi’s location – which must be the envy of every restaurant in Melbourne - Taxi is opposite Flinders Street Station, flanked by the Yarra River & Princes Bridge, with Southbank in the distance and having it's own corner of Lab's now iconic Federation Square.

So, it is in the heart of picturesque, postcard perfect Melbourne. Which has the natural disadvantage of being a geek magnet - attracting tourists, out of towners, or, shudder, all those suburban folk who flock to the unofficial Town Square or meander across from the station.

Luckily, Taxi (and its downstair bar, Transport) have put measures in place to deal with the tide of human detritus that washes upon their shores… They have created a large squadron of bouncers in black suits (who've possibly watched the Matrix too many times) and who are ready to ask "Is your name on the list, have you booked, etc." using a very intimidating questioning tone. They also carry clipboards and have earpieces. Nice touch.

These brave people are the frontline troops. Mission: to keep the hoi polloi from getting in. They are the membrane, the bulwark, the last line of defence. God bless them. They’re out the front, on the red (?) carpet, doing their tour of duty in The Cool Wars. "Is your name on the list, have you booked, etc."

Cunningly, even if you are cool enough to get into the bar or perhaps like us, are privileged to have a dinner reservation, you will still have face another squadron of crack security staff who, once again without a moment’s hesitation are ready to shoot down intruders with questions like "Is your name on the list, have you booked, etc."

Woe betide any of you the dim young drunks who wander upstairs looking for a souvlaki... I believe the bodies of such enemy combatants are deposited into wheelie bins and ferried away in wee hours of the morning…

The final obstacle in what it starting to seem like a video game is the staff that greet you inside.

Yes, we have booked, etc.

Very quickly, after being given the wine list, we are told that a sommelier is available who can help you with selecting a wine... Nice to know.

The wine list is at least 8 pages long and takes a good five minutes to read. Helpfully, while we read it, we were told 6 times that they had a sommelier available. Great, but we’ve agreed on a choice. We ordered a bottle and then rubbernecked the aforementioned view.

And now I'm afraid my reporting skills were completely overshadowed by the vivid cityscape outside. I presume the restaurant has a well though out decor of the but I can’t remember. The view I can. I am, however, trying to forget the posy misstep of having a DJ providing the music for the dining room. Read that last sentence again. Well, no doubt in theory, having a DJ sounds cool but in practice it looks a little bit desperate. Bookshops wannabe coffeshops. Writers wannabe celebrities. But why would the restaurant of the year wannabe a nightclub? Beats me.

Okay, so what about the food? Well. It's good. The menu features strong Japanese influences with a dab of haute cuisine. Wagyu beef seems to be all the rage at the moment. The food is just good. But nothing that had our table dropping their utensils and staring at each other in disbelief. Nope.

(I was sort of embarrassed by my childish instinct to order the banana and chocolate chip souffle for dessert. Let's just say my curiosity wasn't rewarded.)

By the way, it is advisable to make a reservation. And a sommelier is available who can help you with selecting a wine.

A visit to the NGV

2005-09-30T11:33:00.000+10:00

With only a couple of days remaining, we went to have a look at the Dutch Masters exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.

It was very much a faux exhibition with very few masterful pictures other than 4 or 5 Rembrandts and 1 Vermeer. The majority of the paintings were 17th Century lifestyle pornography from a burgeoning Dutch bourgeois high on their spice, colonial wealth and influence. More social than art history. Still (no pun intended), it was nice to see real life objects featured side by side with their painted counterparts.

Indavertently choosing an After Dark session, it was a most charming evening - being soothed by the élan String Quartet, being sated by Peter Rowland's terrific food and being mesmerized by Mario Bellini + Metier 3's renovation.

Cute manipulation: the exhibition's exit, of course, delivers you inside the NGV store...

Photo du Jour: August Backpacker

2005-09-21T09:56:00.000+10:00

The Shopper in a bubble

2005-09-19T08:04:00.000+10:00

In July 2002, when Japanese department store, Daimaru, closed its ambitious Melbourne Central store, it left most of the remaining tenants for dead.

Two years later the centre has re-opened with some of its original stores as well as a freshly minted but predictable collection of up-market fashion chains shops. Nothing new or that interesting really - and apart from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store - just a junior Chadstone.

The basic layout hasn't changed much but both the internals and externals have been re-skinned.

Inside the main Lonsdale to Latrobe drag, chocolate and cream regency stripes cleverly conceal the complex's water pipes, conduits and air-con.

In particular, I like the large bubbles that now cover the two storey walkway over the Little Lonsdale street. Here's Norman Day's take on Ashton Raggatt McDougall's makeover.

More photos & impressions soon.

Melbourne in a nutshell

2005-03-24T09:21:00.000+11:00

This Opinionated Guide to Melbourne gives a pretty good summary of our fair city - it's just a pity author Mark Nottingham left out the Mornington Peninsula & Yarry Valley wine regions.