HOT: 1277 Past Use By, Adelphi Hotel, 187 Flinders Ln, Melbourne

Another free exhibition in State of Design (seeing a theme here?), this time in the foyer of the Adelphi Hotel. All in Good Hindsight is a design practice all about sustainability, so they’ve come up with a novel way to use up all those millions of metcards Melburnians throw away every year.
‘1277 Past Use By‘ [...]

HOT: Baking Architecture, 41 Exhibition St, Melbourne

I was pretty sure that I’d enjoy the Baking Architecture exhibition (part of State of Design festival) as soon as I walked into the foyer of the Australian Institute of Architects and sniffed the aroma of patisserie.

Melbourne architectural practices and chefs have collaborated to construct delicious models of unbuilt architectural structures in order to [...]

HOT: Visible Markings, Craft Victoria, 31 Flinders Ln, Melbourne

My favourite of the three exhibitions that Craft Victoria are hosting as part of the State of Design festival is Visible Markings.
In a dimly lit room various pieces of armoury hang with ghostly stillness. However, the breastplates, collars and neckpieces have been constructed out of unexpected materials – knitted wool interspersed with leather, oak, organza [...]

NOT: Morphed, Craft Victoria, 31 Flinders Ln, Melbourne

Simply put, I didn’t like Emma Davies’ exhibition Morphed (another State of Design show) because I thought it was ugly. The works were apparently inspired by Davies’ recent trip to South Africa and ‘the visual intoxication of busy streets, road-side performances, and the bustling Johannesburg market’. I [...]

Ask the Doctor: Best Peking duck

Help me Doctor!: I have a craving for Peking Duck. Which restaurant does the best duck in Melbourne? - Michael S

Your prescription: Rumour has it that the best Peking Duck can be found at Old Kingdom, 197 Smith St Fitzroy. Other Peking Duck establishments include: Flower Drum, 17 Market Lane, Melbourne (very nice, very expensive) and the specialist [...]

Ask the Doctor: Great breakfasts close to the city

Help me Doctor!: can you recommend a cafe close to city which does great breakfasts? (i m taking my ex boss and his wife out on sunday! – so funky but not too funky if you know what i mean!) - Andrea F

Your prescription: More information needed! Which side of the inner city do you want [...]

HOT: Telegramstop

Today I’ve been channelling my inner Swedish housewife by baking some cinnamon buns and walnut and sultana bread. As I haven’t managed to leave the house yet (it’s so warm and smells so good!), I thought I’d write an overdue HOT about Telegramstop.
Everyone’s communicating via the electronic world these days. I confess that I write [...]

NOT: Degraves Espresso Bar, 23 Degraves St, Melbourne

Blind dates are always a risky endeavour. But I’ve always had good luck forming close friendships when my friends set me up with their friends, and even once managed to sustain a two year relationship as a result of a blind friend date. So when Matchmaker friend H suggested that J and I meet A [...]

HOT: Alice in Wonderland, Cafe Vue, Little Collins St, Melbourne

As I mentioned before, my birthday treat from my parents was dinner and drinks at Cafe Vue.
It wasn’t as busy on Friday night as I was expecting, so we had our pick of the outdoor tables (with overhead heaters). For the next three hours, we tripped through Alice in Wonderland with drinks in hand, alcoholic [...]

HOT: Stephanie Alexander, NGV Australia, Federation Square, Melb

I come from a family where food is what binds us together. We reminisce about food we’ve eaten, anticipate the food we’re going to eat, compare cooking methods, discuss Masterchef and take family outings to farmers markets. I think I’m very fortunate that my upbringing has taught me how food gets to my [...]