Melbourne in March
March brings an end to summer and Melbourne starts it’s transition into the colder months. However, this does not mean any lack of things to do in Melbourne. Autumn brings a whole range of activities and events for all ages and backgrounds. It’s nearly time to start rugging up and enjoying the cosy comforts that Melbourne has to offer.
2012 Alliance Françaises French Film Festival
Founded in 1883 Paris from a pure love of real cinema, the Alliance Françaises is an independent and non-for-profit organisation dedicated to sharing the French language and culture around the world. As the cooler weather starts seeping in, what better to do than soak up some real cinema culture at this foreign film festival. Now I know you may say "Hey I can just tune in on SBS and get a whole range of crazy foreign films..", but don't kid yourself. You may even meet some attractive french people. This year being its 23rd year, expect over 40 French films over a 5-week period, showcasing the best of all genres.
French Film Festival
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Fine foods, aged wine and culinary snobs. What better way to explore Melbourne's vast culinary experience than through the hundreds of events in this years Food and Wine Festival. So many of these events search out Melbourne's best chefs and food extraordinaires which you would otherwise have no idea of. Melbourne is surely on the rise in the culinary world, even competing with New York and Paris - you just need to know where to look.
2012 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Moomba Festival
Once again it is the time of year where the crazy water creatures of Melbourne come out to play in one of Melbourne's favourite annual events. It isn't essentially a water festival anymore, except for Melbourne's unpredictable rains and the 'Birdman' event, but the festival shares much excitement in the arts, music scene and cultural community areas. The 4 day event boasts a huge lineup of bands across a few stages as well as unique food stalls and things to do. One thing that I'm especially excited about is the Sunday night cultural stage (11th March). Plenty of afrobeat, funk and soul music to get your dancing feet moving once again.
Moomba Festival
Things I like to do
I think I'm going to start adding regular tips from my experiences around Melbourne so I can share with you why I love this city so much. It is hard to describe in words - wow that sounds cliche - but I think by showing you my personal favourites, you'll get a better jist of it.
Nightlife/Bars
Now I recently turned 18, so I haven't been on the nightlife scene for too long, but lets just say I look older than I am. Here are some nice - and also cheap because I'm a student - bars and places to go out.
Bar Fred - 797 Nicholson St, Carlton North
$5 pizza if you buy a beverage! A nice relaxed bar with a whole range of imported beers and ciders to get excited by!
Bar Nothing - 16 Pigdon St, Carlton North
A hidden gem in the inner north where you can go for a cosy drink and chat. Cheap prices.
Bar Etiquette 408 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Once again, another relaxing bar with friendly, witty staff. An upstairs with various couched rooms and an open beer garden with fancy fairy lights. What more do you want!? I think I was taken at fairy lights...
Coffee
Now I recently became interested in the wide world of coffee, and I guess I'm now a bit of a coffee snob. I work as a barista in a hip cafe in the north and have now started to explore for Melbourne's best coffee. Jackson Dodds 611 Gibert Rd, Preston (where I work)
This cafe got a recent aesthetic spruce with a huge street art mural outside. Its hard to miss. The food is generous in serving, but gourmet in taste. I recommend anything on the menu. The coffee uses All Press coffee on a La Marzocco machine, which means it is generally amazing.
Brother Buba Budan 359 Little Bourke St, City
This place is always extremely packed out, but for good reason. I've never tasted coffee like theirs. It had a distinct almost caramel/fruit taste to it. More on the pricy side, but recommended.
Sensory Lab 297 Little Collins St, City Placed underneath the David Jones building, this little place produces some fine coffee. Ask for an espresso from the Slayer machine... yum yum.
That's it for now I guess... I'll try and think of some more places for next month. Enjoy!
Thanks for reading this newsletter. And please give us any recommendations from your experiences around Melbourne, we'd love to hear them and share them.
The website is in the process of getting a little makeover with a new writer for the pages and newsletters, so I hope you enjoy what we're putting down.
David,
We Love Melbourne team
