suburbs

HOT: Shark Fin House, 131 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

April 26, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Trust me – the best yum cha in Melbourne is from Shark Fin House. Don’t get it confused with Shark Fin Inn, also on Little Bourke – they’re in the same group of restaurants, but House is superior. You’ll be able to work out which is which, as House always has a line of eager [...]

NOT: Little Cupcakes, Shop 7 Degraves St, Melbourne

April 24, 2009 ⋅ 5 comments

Aww – I feel dastardly giving cute candy-striped Little Cupcakes a NOT. But really, it’s only because their red velvet cupcake ($4) didn’t compare favourably to the red velvet cupcake from London’s Hummingbird Bakery. The cream cheese icing and the flavours were right, but it was just a bit too crumbly for my taste. Perhaps [...]

HOT: Alain de Botton and Michael Leuning, RMIT, Storey Hall, Swanston St, Melbourne

April 23, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

My book club buddy Jane has a keen crush on the author Alain de Botton, but I’d never really understood what it was about his big bald forehead and boring jumpers that she found so attractive. Well, now I have to agree with her – if nothing else the man is delightful to listen to. [...]

HOT: Stellini, 6-8 Howey Place, Melbourne

April 23, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Dear Mum I think I’ve just found my wedding dress! Five minutes after entering ever-reliable dress shop Stellini, the decision was made. Every time I’ve needed a special occasion dress I’ve popped into Stellini ‘just for a look’ and come out with something wonderful, in exactly my size. And this dress? Well, it’s white and [...]

HOT: Koko Black, Shop 4 Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke St, Melbourne

April 23, 2009 ⋅ One comment

In need of a chocolate boost, I ducked into the artisan chocolatier Koko Black and discovered that they’ve developed a product which taps into a lucrative market – students. I remember that as a uni student, I would regularly take a Fruit ‘n’ Nut into lectures, as it helped me to stay awake under a [...]

HOT: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Classic Cinema, 9 Gordon St, Elsternwick 3185

April 22, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

It’s not often that I’d say that a film adaptation is better than the book, but to my surprise that was the case for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I really didn’t like the book, mostly because I thought the protaganist Bruno was rather annoying and frustratingly dim about what his Nazi commandant father [...]

HOT: Phillippa’s Breads, 1030 High St, Armadale

April 22, 2009 ⋅ One comment

Philippa Grogan is the doyenne of her eponymous artisanal bakeries in Melbourne, and her breads and pastries are right at home in chi-chi Armadale. Although I really did fancy one of her expensive cakes for lunch, I opted instead for a pasty ($7.50) as I was starving and in need of carbs. It was an [...]

HOT: Mark Watson, All The Thoughts I’ve Had Since I Was Born, Melbourne Town Hall, Cnr Swanston and Collins Sts, Melbourne

April 21, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Sometimes, quantity does equal quality. UK comedian Mark Watson sold out his 7:15pm session at the Main Hall of the Melbourne Town Hall, and with good reason as his show was the best act we saw in this year’s festival. It wasn’t pee-your-pants-funny, wow-that’s-so-clever-funny or that’s-really-cute-funny, but pretty much straight-down-the-line-stand-up from a likeable guy. And [...]

HOT: Mr Tulk, State Library, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne

April 21, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

The State Library’s resident cafe, Mr Tulk, is not just a mere sideline to the books – I’ve often eaten at the cafe without stepping foot into the library, my only reading material a copy of The Age’s weekly Epicure section. The light-filled space is decorated with the jewel colours and scarpering curlews of Spike [...]

HOT: Genesis Fitness Club, Level 2, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

April 20, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

In a bid not to start sagging at 30 or to have my wedding photos recording unsightly bulges for posterity, I’ve decided to join a gym. Well, sort of. Budgetary constraints and a lack of certainty in my living and work locations mean that I’m actually being a guileless gym tart by lining up a [...]