A wander through the lanes...an oasis in the sky!

In a previous post, I have all too briefly mentioned the many bars that line the maze-like network of Melbourne's lanes but I know "our lanes" require a more detailed examination.  Melbourne lanes have become the focus for casual, alfresco cafe dining in the CBD and have become such a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, that the many cafes, bars and tiny boutiques now feature on tourist maps and in "Where to Eat and Drink" guides.  Degraves Street running between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane is one of the more popular and now even has its own business directory!

But what appeals to me most, and increasingly to more and more tourists, is the more 'grass roots', even seemier nature of our lanes.  Street art has taken over a number of less well frequented and known lane ways...and Melbourne loves it.  These smaller (and often smellier) lanes have fast become a 'must see' for our international backpacker brigade and are even promoted by the City of Melbourne in its What's On website. Well, there goes the street cred!

None-the-less, the street art lanes are a fascinating and rewarding glimpse of Melbourne and the art work is at the very least skillful and well worth a visit.

One aspect of the street art that I particularly like is the emergence of what I like to call, Wallposter Art...pre-prepared installations that are often very two dimensional and are usually designed to provoke an idea or concept in the viewer.  I am still looking for the creator of this wonderful piece to take them up on the offer. 

As with any day of adventure and exploration in the sun, one must eventually seek a shady spot to recharge the batteries. Looking to the sky for inspiration (and to see where in the city I was in relation to my favourite drinking holes), I found the perfect location...the roof top bar of the Carlton Hotel.  While not a spot I frequent often, it is perfect for a hot summers day and an unusually novel oasis in an often frantic city.

Given my surrounds, the shady spot provided by the roof top trees and the warm scent of jasmine in the air, I decided to start the evening with an old standard...a Negroni. I have just rediscovered the Negroni after many years of neglect.  Made this time in an old fashion tumbler with one part gin, one part Vermouth rosso and one part Campari, poured over ice and garnished with a sliver of orange peel, I feel that I am not only floating high above the city but truly in aperitif heaven!

A summer of tennis...and houses made of sticks?

After feeling somewhat liverish and bloated from a rare over-indulgence during the hurly burley of the festive season, I thought it important that I participate in a sporting activity before I started to feel more than a little out of sorts.  Luckily, Melbourne has a myriad of activities on offer over the summer period, and none more exciting than the Australian Open.  I was fortunate indeed this year to be a guest at the opening day of this year's tournament and was pleased that I could vaguely assert to anyone who cared to ask that I had recently taken up an intensive sporting activity!

While my experience at "The Open" was wonderful due to the electric atmosphere of the crowds and actually being part of the event, I lamented that not all tennis lovers can enjoy the experience of a live crowd enjoying centre court action. However, I was pleased to discover today, that Melbourne has done all it can to create centre court atmosphere for those not fortunate enough to attend the live action.  Dotted through the city in scenic, well appointed and convenient locations to transport, food and beverages are public "tennis points" where all and sundry can pull up a deck chair, relax and watch the live action on big screens...all free of charge.  It made me very proud of the thoughtfulness of my city.  Tennis Australia had even set up tennis activities and give aways at each location to amuse the punters between matches. 

My other pleasant discovery today was the charming and somewhat enchanting installation that currently graces Melbourne's Federation Square. Titled "Ballroom", the structure is by Patrick Dougherty, who over the last 20 years has built more than 200 gravity defying works around the world.

Patrick has bent, woven and flexed a humble pile of sticks to create this wonderful freestanding structure that quite frankly, left me, and those around me, more than a little gob-smacked...

...but not quite gob-smacked enough not to find myself a comfortable seat along the river to enjoy a cold, and refreshingly crisp Red Hill Estate 2010 Pinot Grigio from Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula. A most fitting drop to end a fruitful day of exploring. 

Game, set and match!

To market, to market...too much fun in the sun!!

Inspired, and somewhat shamed into action by the Christmas cheer and preparations made by Mary Kay, "Out and About in Paris", and Joseph the Butler, I have sallied forth to stock up for Christmas.  In an effort to 'shop local', thus supporting neighbourhood businesses, I have confined myself to the broad jurisdiction of Port Phillip Council, wherein my house resides.  So, it is to South Melbourne market I go with the view of securing all foodstuffs and condiments.

As with any other foray to South Melbourne market in the warmer months, the first stop is to the oyster bar,  a huge favourite with most market goers,  where one can indulge in those fresh, succulent and milky delights that are so good at this time of year.  I always purchase the beauties by the half a dozen, freshly shucked and dressed with a squeeze of lemon to gird my loins for the shopping ahead.  A perfect counterpoint to the heat outside.

Moving on to the delicatessen section of the market before the joy of the oysters wears off and the crowds start to get to me, I realise I can pretty much get everything I need and want to adorn a platter should hungry hoards arrive for a Christmas drink...or I get a bit peckish throughout the day. With Ligurian olives, prosciutto flecked with fine shavings of redolent truffle, taramasalata and tzatziki, a rich King Island double brie, a washed rind goats cheese, an Ashgrove Cloth Matured Cheddar, locally produced quince paste, spicy pickled quail eggs (I love them) and assorted greens, grapes and crunchy stuff in hand, I have just about all I need.

Satisfied that I had emergency food requirements covered, I felt I had time to take a quick break and...smell the roses so to speak, and notice the beautiful array of flora available to Melburnians at this time of year.

With a quick whip around the other market stalls, I was able to purchase quite a few interesting "stocking fillers" and even leave myself with enough time and the inclination for a nice sit down at one of the little establishments opposite the market.

To round off what has proved to be a very effective shopping expedition and in reverence to the heat of the afternoon, I have chosen a delightfully fresh Gapstead Limited Release NV Prosecco from the King Valley region of Victoria. Mmmmm!!  This tipple would be perfect with the oysters. Shucks!

Happy season of the pointy tree to all!

Favourite cafés and sticky treats...Part 1

I spend so much time gallivanting from place to place outside of Australia and my home patch, that I rarely get the opportunity to explore, really explore my own neighbourhood.   So with that objective in mind and with a curious and inquiring mind and aiming to look at my world through a different lens, I present to you a first glimpse of...da hood!

A short stroll from my front door brings you first to Little Captain, a charming and quaintly unpretentious establishment that has great coffee and an el fresco dining area that is both rustic and ample in what it has to offer...a delightful outdoor setting and oversight of the park and playground next door for those with sprats in tow.  The perfect combination...the children play in the park...the adults enjoy a moment's respite.

A mere hundred or so meters away from Little Captain and under the our very own image of the Lady of St Kilda, is the justifiably and hugely popular Las Chicas.  Always busy with locals and tourists alike but consistently good, Las Chicas is packed to the gills on most days and all day...so much so that I will only go there mid-morning and early in the week when the crowds are tame and a tad more neighbourly! However, for those unjaded by the weekend throngs, it is certainly worth a look in.

Cafés and neighbourhood sailing ships aside, one really can not and most certainly should not go past the sticky treats that my good friend SVP is able to produce, seemingly at the drop of a hat, when  one calls.  It never ceases to amaze me that people I know, have these sort of culinary treasures and pleasures on hand just on the off chance that someone may call. Not so surprising however, but definitely pleasing, is that people I know are able to produce a sticky tipple to accompany said sticky feasts and SVP is no exception.  A quick rummage in the cupboard and SVP has produced a more than acceptable Paul Jaboulet, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2009... full, velvety and intense. Marvellous!!