This is the perfect weather for a picnic, a great movie and a a glass of bubbly.
Unfortunately, most outdoor cinemas don't start their seasons until at least next month. What to do?
Here's one idea: head to the Coburg Drive-In. Get a bunch of friends, a picnic and a few beers together and re-ignite some childhood memories.
Showing at the moment is 2012, A Christmas Carol, Twilight, This is It, and a Special Double Feature of Twilight and New Moon on Thursday the 19th.
Tickets are also onsale for the Moonlight Cinemas and Roofttop Cinemas, Swanston St, so get in while you still can!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Exploring Vintage Melbourne
My new article on Op Shopping in Melbourne has been published here.
I've spoken to the lovely Amelia de Bie from I Op Therefore I Am and Jessica Rae from Melbourne Op Shop Tours who were happy to reveal their tips and tricks for getting the most out of your shopping experience. In my personal opinion, this is the best time of year to head out there, because it's Spring Cleaning Season! I'm fresh back from Savers Brunswick, lightened considerably in the wallet area... el sigh.
If you're a student, remember Sundays at Savers entitle you to 20% off on presentation of your student card. If you make a donation you are entitled to further discounts, and the annual discount calendar is about to be released - only $5 and packed with wonderful bargains for your year-round shopping pleasure. An excellent stocking stuffer, and proceeds go straight to Diabetes Australia.
I've spoken to the lovely Amelia de Bie from I Op Therefore I Am and Jessica Rae from Melbourne Op Shop Tours who were happy to reveal their tips and tricks for getting the most out of your shopping experience. In my personal opinion, this is the best time of year to head out there, because it's Spring Cleaning Season! I'm fresh back from Savers Brunswick, lightened considerably in the wallet area... el sigh.
If you're a student, remember Sundays at Savers entitle you to 20% off on presentation of your student card. If you make a donation you are entitled to further discounts, and the annual discount calendar is about to be released - only $5 and packed with wonderful bargains for your year-round shopping pleasure. An excellent stocking stuffer, and proceeds go straight to Diabetes Australia.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Festive Season Madness!
The Festive Season is fast approaching, and with it comes a whole raft of things to see and do for nil to nearly nix! With all that Christmas shopping ahead, you have a few excuses for being skint, after all.
Summer Fun in the City is about to start again - there will be dance lessons, free music, art classes, walks, acrobatics and lots more to do! There's also plenty of activities for kids, so bring along your minors as an excuse to indulge your inner child for a day.
Check out the discounted meal deals and some top restaurants on That's Melbourne's website. There's 2 for 1 lunches, drinks specials and more.
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl holds the well-attended Carols by Candlelight every year - but if you can't afford the $125/45 entry fee, you can attend the rehersal night on the 23rd of December, for a mere $5. Get there early though, as seats go fast!
As for the big day itself, I'm plan on getting a Christmas Orphan's Club together. Yes, all we whom have to work the day before or after, and whose family live too far away to make the hike, shall come together on an undoubtedly boiling hot day in the park for food, wine and god times. There shall indeed be champagne and mezzo aplenty. Tis the season. It's a great way to ensure nobody is left out of the festive madness.
All the $ you save can go towards Boxing Day sales craziness! You know what it's like... every year, never again, then it all happens again.
Guide on gift buying on the cheap is soon to follow.
Summer Fun in the City is about to start again - there will be dance lessons, free music, art classes, walks, acrobatics and lots more to do! There's also plenty of activities for kids, so bring along your minors as an excuse to indulge your inner child for a day.
Check out the discounted meal deals and some top restaurants on That's Melbourne's website. There's 2 for 1 lunches, drinks specials and more.
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl holds the well-attended Carols by Candlelight every year - but if you can't afford the $125/45 entry fee, you can attend the rehersal night on the 23rd of December, for a mere $5. Get there early though, as seats go fast!
As for the big day itself, I'm plan on getting a Christmas Orphan's Club together. Yes, all we whom have to work the day before or after, and whose family live too far away to make the hike, shall come together on an undoubtedly boiling hot day in the park for food, wine and god times. There shall indeed be champagne and mezzo aplenty. Tis the season. It's a great way to ensure nobody is left out of the festive madness.
All the $ you save can go towards Boxing Day sales craziness! You know what it's like... every year, never again, then it all happens again.
Guide on gift buying on the cheap is soon to follow.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Pizza Ahoy!
Melbourne has always been the spiritual home of Italian food in Australia.
Lately, though, there's been a trend towards yummy thin-crusted slices of wallet-friendly delight. Often found in the scruffy chic confines of student/artist haunts citywide, now there's no excuse for skipping dinner.
There's the delightful fare of The Espy Kitchen, in St. Kilda, which has nightly specials - including $5 pizzas on Friday and Saturday nights after 11pm... just the thing for some inter-gig partying. Considering the music often rages til 3am, this is an absolute gem.
The Hawthorn Hotel has delicious $4 pizzas every day of the week, lunch and dinner, plus great student discounts on drinks.
The sister drinking holes Lucky Coq (in Windsor) and Bimbo Deluxe (in Fitzroy) boast an exciting array of $5 pizzas, between noon - 4pm (Mon - Thurs) and after 7pm - 11 (Sun - Thurs).
My favourite is in CBD, tucked away in Snider Lane - dodgy around some smelly bins and you'll find the op shop chic of Sister Bellas is a major drawcard for RMIT students. Witness their $4 pizzas (noon til 4pm, $7 afterwards til midnight)
Lately, though, there's been a trend towards yummy thin-crusted slices of wallet-friendly delight. Often found in the scruffy chic confines of student/artist haunts citywide, now there's no excuse for skipping dinner.
There's the delightful fare of The Espy Kitchen, in St. Kilda, which has nightly specials - including $5 pizzas on Friday and Saturday nights after 11pm... just the thing for some inter-gig partying. Considering the music often rages til 3am, this is an absolute gem.
The Hawthorn Hotel has delicious $4 pizzas every day of the week, lunch and dinner, plus great student discounts on drinks.
The sister drinking holes Lucky Coq (in Windsor) and Bimbo Deluxe (in Fitzroy) boast an exciting array of $5 pizzas, between noon - 4pm (Mon - Thurs) and after 7pm - 11 (Sun - Thurs).
My favourite is in CBD, tucked away in Snider Lane - dodgy around some smelly bins and you'll find the op shop chic of Sister Bellas is a major drawcard for RMIT students. Witness their $4 pizzas (noon til 4pm, $7 afterwards til midnight)
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Abbotsford Convent
I've been absolutely borderline obsessed with this place for almost 2 years now.
It's a gorgeous, relaxing happy place. Imagine an English country garden, full of farm animals, bakeries, bars, markets, galleries, natural therapists and artists, no more than a few kilometres from the CBD. The trees are often so high you wouldn't know you were in the grimy reach of a major city.
There is also the incomparable Lentil as Anything, where you pay what you feel for delicious vegetarian fare. They also host various events during the week.
Why does The Convent merit a special mention? Well, this Sunday they're having an Open Day where the artists and agencies will open forth their doors and invite you into their world. According to the website: 'Entry to the Open Day is free and the site will be alive with free music and performance, plus food, coffee and many a lively libation to be had. For more information please see the event listing.'
You can check out the website here
It's a gorgeous, relaxing happy place. Imagine an English country garden, full of farm animals, bakeries, bars, markets, galleries, natural therapists and artists, no more than a few kilometres from the CBD. The trees are often so high you wouldn't know you were in the grimy reach of a major city.
There is also the incomparable Lentil as Anything, where you pay what you feel for delicious vegetarian fare. They also host various events during the week.
Why does The Convent merit a special mention? Well, this Sunday they're having an Open Day where the artists and agencies will open forth their doors and invite you into their world. According to the website: 'Entry to the Open Day is free and the site will be alive with free music and performance, plus food, coffee and many a lively libation to be had. For more information please see the event listing.'
You can check out the website here
Monday, November 2, 2009
Festival Vollies
I've absolutely FALLEN IN LOVE with festival volunteering this year.
There's so many benefits.
Including:
1. Meeting Cool People - People from all age groups, backgrounds and parts of town put their hands up for these things. You'll also be likely to meet people with similar interests to you. It's a great way to meet new people if you're new in town, or break out of a social circle that's suddenly decided to go all boa-constrictor on your arse.
2. Giving back to your community - C'mon, it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside, you know it! Be a part of Generation Generosity and lend a helping hand to an event or festival you care about!
3. Learning new skills and getting job experience - This is a great way to learn about opportunities in the field, gaining new skills, improving your confidence, and even getting a good reference or two. Make sure you whack all of this on your resume. You'll get brownie points for being involved in your community, and if you're unemployed you are showing initiative for not just sitting on your hands.
3. Getting free stuff - Oh yes.
So far, I've volunteered for The Melbourne Writer's Festival, Fringe Festival and Overload Poetry Festival. All have been exciting, challenging and stimulating events to work for, and I've gotten to experience some great arts events that I couldn't have otherwise afforded in my wildest dreams. Also - they tend to throw not too shabby volunteer parties afterwards. :)
These things usually start searching for vollies a few months before, so you have to be onto it, as demand is usually high, especially for the particularly popular events.
Just FYI: Some of the events are so exclusive that they require quite a bit of experience before they'll accept you, so if you get some work under your belt around this time of year, you'll have a better chance of succeeding in them. These events include: MIFF, The Melbourne Festival, ANY music event, and The Food and Wine Festival.
It's a good idea to do your volunteering in 'chunks'. I've just done mine: I put my name down for Midsumma and The Food and Wine Festival.
There's so many benefits.
Including:
1. Meeting Cool People - People from all age groups, backgrounds and parts of town put their hands up for these things. You'll also be likely to meet people with similar interests to you. It's a great way to meet new people if you're new in town, or break out of a social circle that's suddenly decided to go all boa-constrictor on your arse.
2. Giving back to your community - C'mon, it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside, you know it! Be a part of Generation Generosity and lend a helping hand to an event or festival you care about!
3. Learning new skills and getting job experience - This is a great way to learn about opportunities in the field, gaining new skills, improving your confidence, and even getting a good reference or two. Make sure you whack all of this on your resume. You'll get brownie points for being involved in your community, and if you're unemployed you are showing initiative for not just sitting on your hands.
3. Getting free stuff - Oh yes.
So far, I've volunteered for The Melbourne Writer's Festival, Fringe Festival and Overload Poetry Festival. All have been exciting, challenging and stimulating events to work for, and I've gotten to experience some great arts events that I couldn't have otherwise afforded in my wildest dreams. Also - they tend to throw not too shabby volunteer parties afterwards. :)
These things usually start searching for vollies a few months before, so you have to be onto it, as demand is usually high, especially for the particularly popular events.
Just FYI: Some of the events are so exclusive that they require quite a bit of experience before they'll accept you, so if you get some work under your belt around this time of year, you'll have a better chance of succeeding in them. These events include: MIFF, The Melbourne Festival, ANY music event, and The Food and Wine Festival.
It's a good idea to do your volunteering in 'chunks'. I've just done mine: I put my name down for Midsumma and The Food and Wine Festival.
Cheap Chic City: A Melbourne Survival Guide for Students, Dreamers and the Tight at Heart-
Happy Springtime everyone!
Looks like the warmer weather's finally arrived.
I'm Ms. C x3 and I am, was, or have been drunkenly accused of all three of the above at some stage in my life. With the fresh new season comes a little mental spring cleaning, and I have decided it is time to own my bargain-hunting ways!
So here I intend to present you with a guide to Melbourne's best ways to shop, eat, experience and attend on little more than a slender shoestring of a strappy sandal.
Watch this space! :)
Love Ms. C x 3
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