Downtown Melbourne is full of tight laneways that house all types of fantastic small businesses from vintage stores to cafes. Matt and I had gone into the city to run some errands so we decided to have a walk around and explore some of these halfway hidden spots. Mixed in between the various arcades my favorite of these alleys was called Centre Place. There is a feeling of old Europe with the overhead lamps, flower boxes hanging from the windows of the apartments above and people camped all over sipping lattes, chatting, smoking and reading the paper. This blends together with hints of the Village in New 
York City since half of the alley way is covered in graffiti and some of these coffee patrons at the cafe Hell's Downstairs (the lower level of popular bar and show venue Hell's Kitchen) were using milk crates for chairs and tables just around the corner from the dumpsters.Ah yes the dumpsters. These little alleys are fun to explore but along with these hipster cafes and artist galleries this is also the home of many a trash can so there is often the su
dden waft of last nights throw-aways. I myself may had over indulged in a few Carlton Cold beers the night before so my tummy wasn't feeling the best already and the smell of garbage wasn't exactly really my nose's flavor of choice. Luckily we came across a cure. We were walking down Elizabeth Street when we spotted (you can't help but spot this place) the Tropicana Juice Bar. Being a child of Florida there is always something comforting about an orange and this place was literally covered with them. There was a very friendly man behind the counter who was super enthusiastic about his juice. On explanation of our "hangover" predicament he had just the thing. The Tropicana's signature drink is the "South American Delight" full of top secret ingredients and given that it takes a few minutes to make and I sucked up some chunks of fruit and rind, made fresh on the spot. This fancy juice even comes with a money back guarantee if you don't agree that it is the best juice ever. Matt and I walked away very happy with indeed a delicious juice that actually made me feel MUCH better. Yay South American Fruits!!
dden waft of last nights throw-aways. I myself may had over indulged in a few Carlton Cold beers the night before so my tummy wasn't feeling the best already and the smell of garbage wasn't exactly really my nose's flavor of choice. Luckily we came across a cure. We were walking down Elizabeth Street when we spotted (you can't help but spot this place) the Tropicana Juice Bar. Being a child of Florida there is always something comforting about an orange and this place was literally covered with them. There was a very friendly man behind the counter who was super enthusiastic about his juice. On explanation of our "hangover" predicament he had just the thing. The Tropicana's signature drink is the "South American Delight" full of top secret ingredients and given that it takes a few minutes to make and I sucked up some chunks of fruit and rind, made fresh on the spot. This fancy juice even comes with a money back guarantee if you don't agree that it is the best juice ever. Matt and I walked away very happy with indeed a delicious juice that actually made me feel MUCH better. Yay South American Fruits!!We did
a bit more alley exploration. There are many old warehouses from the 1800's whose insides have been converted into apartments. Touches of the buildings past are left intact including most facades and barrel hoists which were used to pull supplies up to the higher stories.
a bit more alley exploration. There are many old warehouses from the 1800's whose insides have been converted into apartments. Touches of the buildings past are left intact including most facades and barrel hoists which were used to pull supplies up to the higher stories.There was even some public art on display over one of these lanes. Now some of Melbourne's public art is questionable. For example along the highway there are several slabs of concrete that look like someone bent the sidewalk up in a vertical manner and painted it yellow. I assumed they must be old places for advertisements that just weren't used anymore but I was oh so wrong. Matt informed me that they were art. He also haughtily added that I just must not get art. Then he told me the price. Why? Why? Why? When did ugly concrete slabs become something people wanted to look at. Me an
d much of today's modern art just don't get along. There is one story of public art in Melbourne that I can't find any articles on but Matt told me about. Evidently some giant spheres were made to go in a pond on the side of Princess Freeway. One day the wind picked up and so did the balls leaving the lake and rolling along side drivers on the highway. Gives new meaning to movable art. We came across an installation sponsored by the City of Melbourne's Laneway Commissions. "The Laneway Commissions are dedicated to commissioning new temporary art works developed in response to Melbourne’s unique laneway topography." This piece is called "Chandelier" by Angela Morgan, Isla Shaw and Kylie Mitchell. It looks like it may light up which would be pretty at night.
d much of today's modern art just don't get along. There is one story of public art in Melbourne that I can't find any articles on but Matt told me about. Evidently some giant spheres were made to go in a pond on the side of Princess Freeway. One day the wind picked up and so did the balls leaving the lake and rolling along side drivers on the highway. Gives new meaning to movable art. We came across an installation sponsored by the City of Melbourne's Laneway Commissions. "The Laneway Commissions are dedicated to commissioning new temporary art works developed in response to Melbourne’s unique laneway topography." This piece is called "Chandelier" by Angela Morgan, Isla Shaw and Kylie Mitchell. It looks like it may light up which would be pretty at night.I don't want to sound like I am bagging Melbourne at all. This city is MILES above Chicago in supporting artists. There are always adds up for art competitions sponsored by the city. There is one sculpture in downtown Melbourne that I love, Alison Weaver's and Paul Quinn's Three Busines
smen Who Brought Their Own Lunch: Batman, Swanston and Hoddle in Swanston Street. Of course one of the best things about art is there is no one piece that everyone will think is wonderful. As I criticized the concrete slabs by the freeway many criticize my favorite sculpture. Australian author Ken Scarlett who was interviewed by The Age newspaper about Australian identity and globalisation said "public works of art that are liked and popular can trivialise the art form, like The Three Businessmen Who Brought Their Own Lunch, which is low-grade caricature which makes fun of what's supposed to represent three of our forefathers". So you can't please all of the people all of the time but the alley ways of Melbourne were certainly pleasing to me.
smen Who Brought Their Own Lunch: Batman, Swanston and Hoddle in Swanston Street. Of course one of the best things about art is there is no one piece that everyone will think is wonderful. As I criticized the concrete slabs by the freeway many criticize my favorite sculpture. Australian author Ken Scarlett who was interviewed by The Age newspaper about Australian identity and globalisation said "public works of art that are liked and popular can trivialise the art form, like The Three Businessmen Who Brought Their Own Lunch, which is low-grade caricature which makes fun of what's supposed to represent three of our forefathers". So you can't please all of the people all of the time but the alley ways of Melbourne were certainly pleasing to me. 
