Latest Articles

I worked in Carlton for 3 years and used to know it well, but that was nearly 3 years ago. Despite its wealth and style, I get the impression that Carlton has lost some of its cool. Compared to Fitzroy and Brunswick, where bloggers document the street art and review every new cafe within days of them opening, Carlton is significantly underblogged although there is much to write about and review....Read Full Article»

The Johnston St Spanish Fiesta celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008. The fiesta on the weekend of 15-16 November was incredibly busy, with thousands of people filling Johnston St on both days. During the day it was so packed you could barely move. On Saturday night the music pulsed loudly and could be heard from blocks away, though I had no problem with it....Read Full Article»

I used to love World Wide Wash on Brunswick St. Over time it changed, removing the washing machines in 2006 so that it was no longer a laundromat internet cafe. Then it lost the computers so it was no longer an internet cafe, though now with wifi most cafes can be internet cafes. Then came a change of name to The Wick in 2008. The interior has been repainted and is now darker and more sombre. The only point of continuity is the location and that it makes crepes.

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In early October Deb and Phibs and other local street artists created this new mural on the side of the rear building of the Fitz cafe. The work is on Kerr St near the corner of Brunswick St. It"s light and bright and very cool!

The photo was taken before Melbourne Cup day - headless women in frocks. Does this count as social commentary?

I can"t make up my mind about the issue of extending clearways on major roads in the inner city. The aim is to extend clearway hours (by reducing the times when parking is allowed) to enable better traffic flow during peak morning and evening commuting times.

Local businesses located on major roads are concerned that the clearways may make doing business more difficult (for example in terms of receiving deliveries) and that it will reduce customers, who may be unable to park near their premises and thus reduce their patronage....Read Full Article»

On Saturday 11 October 2008 I attended the election campaign launch of the Socialist Party for the City of Yarra local government elections to be held on 29 November 2008. During November I will be featuring regular posts about the election, the major policy issues and what potential councillors plan to do if elected....Read Full Article»

The owners and residents of flats behind the Mirrors lounge bar at 388 Brunswick St Fitzroy are very concerned about construction work currently being carried out at the rear of the premises (photo taken on Wednesday 29 October 2008). It appears that the venue is building a beer garden at the rear of the block. According to my enquiries and those of other neighbours, Mirrors does not have a building permit or authorisation for these works....Read Full Article»

Beginning today and continuing for several weeks, I am going to trial posting twice a day. Since the start of 2008 I have been posting daily, whereas previously I was posting on average 3-4 articles a week. I have such a backlog of content that it may lose its value if it is delayed further....Read Full Article»

The Bullring latin music venue on Johnston St closed in 2004 and work has slowly progressed. Behind the preserved facade the building has been demolished and replaced with a new apartment complex that will feature a Coles supermarket on the ground floor.

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