Neighbourhood Watch

Sunday, 2 August

Sundays are made for sleeping in; long, lazy brunch and idle talk. And so we did just that.

Living where I do, we are alway spoiled for choice and I am ashamed to say we haven’t really been exploiting the variety available to us.  We have made it a point then, not to go to a cafe or restaurant that we have already tried, until we have given at least half of the other establishments in this charmed suburb of ours a chance.

Why, it was only last week when we realised that there is a whole area we have yet to explore. So instead of turning right towards Johnston Street, we veered left to get to Gertrude.

And there we were confronted with brunch heaven. We decided to walk the length of Gertrude Street from Brunswick to Smith before deciding on where to eat and this exploration lead us to Arcadia.

Arcadia 193 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

The place was packed but had a fast turn over and in no time we were led to a table out in the small courtyard. There is no table service, orders are placed at the counter so while Jack and I deliberated over what to eat, next table’s meal arrived and we looked at it wistfully. We knew what we are getting! Who needs menus when you can stalk other diner’s food instead?

The food was fantastic! Service friendly. And for two of those plates in the photo + 2 lattes = $40.50 the price was ok.

back from our sunday stroll

Thanks Gertrude Street, so far you haven’t disappointed us.

Fridays are for FUN

Jack & I were feeling celebratory (for a reason that will remain undisclosed) and planned a night of ‘things we’ve never done together before’. So we started with an early dinner at Houndstooth on Johnston Street inspired by this rave review.

The place is a great find! Excellent service, awesome atmosphere (if it is nice out, ask to be seated in the courtyard), great music selection and sumptuous and cheap food!

Finished the meal at 7:30 and made our way to the Comedy theatre along Exhibition Street. Saw Avenue Q and loved it!

Avenue Q: it doesn’t suck to be you

I had my first ever theatre experience in Melbourne last Friday (unless watching Arj Barker during the comedy festival counts?) and I couldn’t have asked for  a better introduction to what Melbourne theatres have to offer. Avenue Q was fantastic! There I was fully expecting a crass version of sesame street with lots of cussing and rudeness but was very very pleasantly surprised to sit through a hilarious and stimulating show led by a talented cast that sang brilliantly memorable songs.

The musical tackled subjects such as pornography, one’s purpose in life, homosexuality, racism, sex, relationships, failures, helping others to make yourself feel better and the real world. These perennial topics were seamlessly weaved into the lives of the residents of Avenue Q in catchy songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist”, “The internet is for porn” and “What do you do with a B.A. in English”.

I loved the venue too! I remember watching The Producers in L.A. from nosebleed seats because we were skimping on the ticket. The place was so gigantic (I forget which theatre it was now but it was somewhere in Hollywood) and ended up renting binoculars for $25. The Comedy Theatre in Melbourne is good sized in that even if you’re on the last row the actors don’t seem ant-size.

Thought provoking, easily relatable, a little bit controversial and hilarious to boot! Go on.. watch it.. let’s see if you don’t go home skipping while siging “It sucks to be me”.