Category: 111 Things

#97 – Stroll the little boutiques and shops in the Dandenongs and eat out at Cockoo and take a hike along the thousand steps – Sunday, June 9 2013

This is basically a triple feature of (i) the thousand steps, (ii) the little shops in Sassafras (great name!) and (iii) an “authentic Bavarian experience” at Cuckoo’s. But let’s start with the thousand steps. As we were in the middle of a long weekend and anticipating crowds, we got up bright and early to get to the Dandenongs. The streets were empty and the drive was smooth. I’m still getting used to driving on the left side (which is not the right side) and I’m still missing the efficiency of the Autobahn and its lack of traffic lights.

It can be difficult to find presents for Michael, but this year, I felt like I was onto a good thing. Our friend Lucy had recently visited San Fransisco and explained about a list (*alarm bells* Michael likes lists), which her local friends made with the top 100 things to do in San Fransisco. I thought that could transfer quite nicely to Melbourne.  So I sent this email to a bunch of friends on April 30, hoping to elicit excellent ideas for my list:

Hi,

Michael’s birthday is coming upon May 25th and I’m hoping you’ll help me with a gift…
I want to make him a book of “Top Things To Do In And Around Melbourne” and I would love your contributions :)

Please send me your top 5 things to do (10 if you’re ambitious), in either English or German. And as I have learnt from teaching 5 year olds, the best writing is always accompanied by a picture. Thus please attach a photo, hand drawn picture or use your mad MS Paint skillz. The more personalised the recommendation and picture, the better.

I will collate the pages and make a book to present him at his party on the 25th. You’re invited.. Michael will be in touch soon.

Please send me your contributions by Saturday May 11.

Thanks in advance!

#54 – Have dessert with your breakfast at Chez Dre – Saturday, June 1 2013

Having had dinner at the Waiters Club the previous night, we were brave and chose to tackle Chez Dre directly the following morning. Chez Dré is a patisserie/ boulangerie, or as normal people call it, a café located in a small side street in South Melbourne. One week into the list and we kind of get it: good venues are in lane-ways and you have to know in advance where to go to. There is no such thing as discovery by chance. Similar to last week, when we had breakfast at St Ali’s, we just went there without making a reservation. However this week we arrived two hours later, i.e. during the breakfast rush hour in South Melbourne. The place was packed and so we had to wait some time to be seated. We put our names on the list, went out to get some groceries from the South Melbourne market and came back about 20 minutes later. Not much progress on the seating front. So we waited and engaged in light people-watching. A fashionable crowd, not quite as hip as you would see it in Brunswick, but definitely paying attention to their outer appearance. Harriet was very intimidated.

#41 – Watch a movie in art deco at The Sun Theatre in Yarraville – Saturday, June 1, 2013

I’ve got a couple of cinemas on my list and The Sun Theatre was not my initial choice. But I have to say I was so wrong and so glad I included it rather than the Gold Pass seats in one of the Village Cinemas. The Sun one of the classic Melbournian cinemas that managed to stand the test of time. It originally opened in 1938 as a single-screen cinema with 1050 seats. At that time it was the most luxurious cinema in the area and drew large crowds each week (that was before TV). Today, it sports six boutique cinemas with a total of 660 seats. The six cinemas are named after classic cinemas from the area that have now long gone. You quickly get a feel that it not only was once a great cinema, but still is.

#42 – Rescue ricotta ravioli out of the pool of tomato sauce at the Waiters Club – Friday, May 31 2013

A good restaurant is like a good person. At first sight, a person appears more attractive if they are better dressed, have a nice tan and charming manners. But the more you get to know someone, you quickly realize that it’s the inner values that make them really attractive … or not. You want to spend more time with them because they have good stories to tell, make you feel comfortable despite your own shortcomings and in the end make you have a good time.

I took the time and laid The List out on a Google Maps. You can also view it larger: 111 Things to do in and around Melbourne.

#28 – Beat the Tan Track – Sunday, May 26 2013

One of my good intentions when coming to Melbourne was to exercise more regularly. Being close to the beach helped and getting the excellent tip to “get a good rub down” for my calves did wonders to my injury problems. With this re-discovered love for running, it was clear that I had to put Melbourne’s prime location for jogging on the list, the Tan Track.

#56 – Take overexposed food photos of your breakfast at St Ali Coffee Roasters and immerse with Melbourne’s most colourful people – Saturday, May 25, 2013

Since the 111 things to do in and around Melbourne (or The List) is an epic list by definition, it is intimidating just starting that list. What is the best first of 111 steps to get to know Melbourne? Why wander around in the distance, when good things lie nearby? i.e. why not start in the neighborhood? We opted for getting some breakfast at St Ali’s (I’m still not sure whether it is written with a capital or lower case ‘L’).

Without further ado (read the full story about the list here), here are the 111 things I will do in the course of next year:

1. Get the big picture of Melbourne from Eureka tower’s Skydeck 88 shortly before sunset
2. Go to the Red Hill community market
3. Ride the roller coaster in Luna Park
4. Indulge in freshly baked scones with jam and cream at high tea at the Windsor
5. Shamelessly devour a Bogan Burger at the Napier Hotel
6. Have fish and chips at Brighton Beach
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