Cities are, to me, memory factories. Streets, restaurants, museums, places of worship, stadiums, parks, transportation hubs - all examples of places where memories are entrenched. That said, here are some of my favorite spots in Melbourne, followed by some of my favorite Melbourne moments:
Little Creatures, 222 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
This is the Melbourne annex of the famous Fremantle beer garden. Plenty of tables for large groups, as well as a small cafe section.
Black Cat, 252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
A cafe with comfy sofas in the heart of Fitzroy. Plenty of magazines and newspapers for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Eclectic song selection that is sure to remind you of bygone days.
Da Giovanni, 132/136 Highfield Rd, Camberwell
Friendly Italian restaurant in the heart of a residential neighborhood. Tasty parmas which are on special for $14 on Tuesdays.
Los Amates, 34 Johnston, St, Fitzroy
The only restaurant in Melbourne that serves authentic Mexican food - therefore, also a great place to listen for American accents. A wide-ranging menu representing the diverse culinary palette of Mexico.
Trenta Cucina, 30 Ballarat St, Yarraville
The walls are sprinkled with black-and-white pictures that seem to be of a faraway abandoned land, but look closely and you'll find that they areactually street shots of Yarraville. The sticky date pudding is a great way to end a meal here.
Stalactites, Lonsdale and Russell, CBD
A rare Melbourne 24/7 eatery, which in itself makes this restaurant worth a mention. Generous soulvaki portions, and the veggie platter for two will be followed by days of guilt-free meat consumption (if you're not a vegetarian).
Le Triskel, 32 Hardware Lane, CBD
Small French cafe serving crepes as mains or desserts. Also a great place to peruse French magazines and books.
Sofia, 857 Burke Rd, Camberwell
International students flock here for the cheap pasta, but I like ordering the pizza – there's something about the crust that makes me rate it the best in town.
Cafe No 5, 5 Centre Place, CBD
A big breakfast that will keep you going all day, and artwork that will keep you returning to ponder...
Degraves Espresso Bar, 23 Degraves St, CBD
Where I usually go if Cafe No 5 is overcrowded. Similar atmosphere to the typical Melbourne laneway cafe, only a little bigger and, hence, easier to find a table.
Lord of the Fries (various locataions in the CBD, including Melbourne Central and Flinders St Station)
Serves poutine, the French-Canadian dish of fries topped with gravy and cheese curds.
Cycling the Merri Trail
A nice place to extend a bike trip on the Yarra Trail. The tree-lined river ensures that a bike ride can continue during those spontaneous bursts of rain common in Melbourne. For a bite, Sydney Road is close by.
Sitting inside AAMI Park
Opened in Fall 2010, this stadium resembles a giant soccer ball with its top quarter and bottom half chopped off. My favorite slice of modern architecture in a city filled with many other worthy candidates (ie Southern Cross, Fed Square).
Wandering the laneways at 7AM
This is the best way to see the city wake up, as the cafes open and the graffiti artists start working.
Visiting the suburban libraries
When I first came to Melbourne, I found the city library system to be a disappoinment (although the sentiment was more due to being spoiled by the convenience of the New York Public Library system). But it turns out that each suburb has its own separate library system, so book worms simply have to hop on the train a few stops to find libraries that are much less frequented, and hence much better-stocked. I recommend the Boroondara system, which includes Camberwell, Glenferrie and Kew. That's where I go for Agatha Christie novels, which are in short supply in the CBD.
Visiting the State Library
The bad news is that books can't be checked out here. But inside the library is loads of fun for the inquisitive. Go to the microfilm room, and you can read a newspaper from 1920. In the dome galleries are several art exhibitions. Listen to your favorite Broadway musicals at the CD section. But don't forget about the books - since they can't be checked out, it also means that the collection here is fabulous.
Studying French at the CAE
The Centre for Adult Education offers goverment-subsidized classes for anyone interested - foreign languages, cooking classes, and book clubs are some of what's included in the course catalog.
Doing temp work
Australia has avoided the worst of the global financial crisis, which means that experienced workers are in high demand. (On a side note, those willing to live in the outback and work in the mines will be compensated handsomely.) In this past year, I have worked for the Department of Justice, VicRoads, the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency, The Age, St Michael's Grammar School, UBS, and the Victorian Electoral Commission. The best way to find work is to register with the numerous temp agencies throughout the city.
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