Montsalvat

Montsalvat artist David Brown

Recently I blogged about my visit to the Montsalvat studio of renowned Australian artist Matcham Skipper. While I was roaming the artist community with friends, we also happened upon Montsalvat artist David Brown, one of the residents and a master craftsman and maker of shakuhachi and violins. The shakuhachi is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is … Read more

Matcham Skipper

I got lucky this weekend and got a chance to see some amazing art by Matcham Skipper up close and personal. The best camera is the one you have with you. All I had with me was my low-battery iPhone when my partner Theo and decided to go with friends on an impromptu trip to Montsalvat. I’d … Read more

Store interior. Melbourne shopping guide.

Melbourne shopping guide

I’ve written before about some great shopping spots in Melbourne, but there’s a difference between shopping like a tourist and shopping like someone who has just moved to a new city. Once you’ve got your souvenirs and gifts out of the way, you might be wondering where to buy shampoo, a new mobile phone, new camping … Read more

Suzuki Night Market banner.

Scenes from the Suzuki Night Market

In my post last week on the Big Design Market, I mentioned that there are markets galore in Melbourne. I do not get tired of them. I’m more of a looker than a buyer. I enjoy browsing and the feeling that I might find something really awesome that I can’t live without. It’s also a … Read more

Scenes from the Big Design Market

There are markets galore in Melbourne. In Miami, a farmer’s market is something of a novelty. In Melbourne, markets are just life. The Queen Victoria Market is probably Melbourne’s most famous market, but other suburbs also have a market with fresh fruits and vegetables, delis, butchers, fishmongers, and even home goods and clothing. Beyond these, … Read more

Brett Prebble on Green Moon, winner of the Melbourne Cup 2015.

The Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is the race that stops a nation. Melbourne may be the only city in the world that has a public holiday around a thoroughbred horse race. Since 1861, the city has stopped on the first Tuesday of November for this three-minute, 3,200 meter race. This year, 24 horses competed for the Cup and … Read more