City
New York Tomato
On the corner of New and York streets, embedded in the back alleys and one-way streets of Richmond, is a garage roller door with the wonder that is New York Tomato hiding behind it. It is not the newest cafe round the traps but it is one of the Melbourne definitive brunch spots. If you haven’t been there, you just haven’t been to Melbourne
MIFF 2010 Recommendations
We never realised just how big the Melbourne International Film Festival is. This year alone are over 400 films on offer at four different locations.
So we have asked three self-confessed movie tragics and MIFF veterans to recommend some films to catch before the end of the festival.
Thanks to Steph, Luke and Colin for their help.
Gill’s Diner
Gills Diner speaks an elegant discourse of Melbourne. The mood is dark, the the place is grungy and the people effortlessly eclectic.
Tim Burton – The Exhibition
Tim Burton is exactly the sort of kook we need more of. Witty, cynical, more-than-a-little-bit-loopy. The sort of child who must have had his conventional, suburban parents at a total loss with his wild and whacky childhood tales; the sort of teenager who produced a three minute film to avoid writing a school essay; the sort of producer, who after years in the creative spotlight, still continues to amaze and entertain.
The Red Hummingbird
Hanging above an unmarked doorway was a crimson birdcage, and printed above the door was a hummingbird in the same shade – a demure, reserved reference to the venue within. This is one of those classically Melbourne bars in that it prefers its advertising medium to be word-of-mouth; and makes you work to experience the delights within by making the entrance discreet.
Sister Bella
Melbourne is renowned for bars that force you to whip out a map, find the godforsaken lane it’s hidden in, stumble down said lane, stepping in puddles, dodging garbage bins and holding your nose before finding a barely-marked doorway and entering tentatively. We seem to love the bars that make us work to find them, and let us feel like we’re in on some big secret. Sister Bella, while now fairly well-known for a ‘hidden’ bar, is an establishment that still forces you to wind your way down a dingy alley in authentic, secretive Melbourne style.
Mamasita
According to Urban Dictionary which is, without a doubt, the definitive source for all linguistic information in contemporary times, Mamasita is:
A hot mama; a hot babe; little mother. Rather like the English word “momma”, mamasita can mean a mother of both the standard and the red hot kind.
If that is what the makers of Melbourne’s newest place-to-be were aiming for, they hit the bullseye. Mamasita on Collins Street is indeed, one hot babe.
Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar
For fast service, delightful home-style Italian food and delicious coffee, it’s difficult to go past the famous (and sometimes infamous) Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar. Add the watermelon granita and the more-than-affordable prices, and it’s near impossible to pass up an invitation to visit.
Bar Lourinhã
Bar Lourinhã is simply lovely. Perched at the top of Little Collins Street, opposite Meyer’s Place, the bar and restaurant are a pleasure to be in.
One wall is decked with trinkets seemingly collected from someone’s travels. The more you look, the more you find. It could be a nice distraction from the topic of conversation – if necessary. The other wall features framed photos of various foodie destinations.
Hello Sailor Vintage Fair
Ask any Melbournian to describe their beloved city and they’ll probably tell you about the great coffee, fashion and the unpredictable weather. True to form, just a week after golf-ball hailstones besieged half of Victoria, I’m sweltering on the rooftop of the Carlton Hotel, trying on a jewel encrusted, black batwing knit. And it’s amazing.