it has been a while

Things I have done recently that might be of interest:

Went to an incredible food show at Victoria Park. We had free tickets and wandered around stuffing our faces with cured meats and cheeses and ciders and breads and chocolates and NO VEGETABLES. There was an unattended table with a giant plate of shredded roast duck on it and I ate heaps of it. It made me spin around slowly with my arms stretched out in the fashion of Bill Murray in Ghostbusters after he meets up with Sigorney Weaver after her orchestra rehearsal. If you know what I mean. Oh and fried HALOUMI, too. We stayed there, just eating, for four hours. Four of the best hours of my life. 

Then I went to Tawaharanui with some pals and we basked in the sun and New Zealand's ridiculous beauty and built a boat out of sand. Seriously, that beach is one of the most beautiful in the world. New Zealand's beaches tend to be surrounded by rolling hills covered in little sheep, which is pretty idyllic. The water was clear and warm. It was a nice way to end a really sad week. I know two people who lost loved ones last week and along with the horribly sad Pike River Mine...well, I think we were all in dire need a good surf battering. 

to do

It seems this blog has spiralled into a stream of what we did this week/weekend lists and seventies adoration. That's okay, I'm not sure what it spiraled from and whether this was a downwards spiral either.

Here's why I'm happy: it's a bright Friday afternoon and after work I am going to drink beer in the sun with a sweet girl, and tomorrow with a sweet boy in another sunny spot (I hope), this weekend I'm planning to go to the giant hardware store and buy paint for my bike and a friend's, finish my book, bake this cake, transplant the seedlings from my windowsill to the garden (despite the impending house move - it would be a waste not to plant them...), listen to this and go to a barbeque to raise funds for a friend who was arrested last week for swearing at a police man who swore at him first.

two days

This weekend has been one of birthdays, beers, an enormous house party and up until six. Not showering, coloured tights (milky pins) and too many smokes. Nursing a new friend, voms, neurofen and lunch in the garden courtyard of a new favourite spot, chipped manicures, a bunch of white sweetpeas, a lovely afternoon over beers and too many smokes and a delicious meal cooked too late and shared with three of the longest friends. Clean white sheets and a shower before climbing in.

The pictures were nicked from here here and here.

'bric a brac'

Tomorrow we're having a yard sale.

It occurred to me as I started writing this that it may be redundant as I have no intention of publishing my address on this blog, but I've continued to type all the same.

If you happen to be having breakfast at Mitte you may come across one of the posters my lovely flatmates put up down the street, if that happens do come and say hello before you vote...

champ

This weekend I plan on getting things done. Furniture shopping and new-room setting up, some gardening if it's sunny and probably a bit of work too. Before all of that though I'm going to the launch of Champfest magazine's second issue, and a travelling exhibition along with it.

Champfest is produced by my lovely new friend Jo and her twin sister in London, and I've been lucky enough to flick through the latest bilingual edition already. It's filled with the work of some incredible international artists, some who will be there tonight and are showing this month at Gorker.

If you're in Melbourne, come along tonight, openings at Gorker tend to be the small, crowded, well-stocked with beer afair you'd hope for and this one will have some reasonably priced prints and a beautifully put together little magazine on offer too. If you're not in Melbourne, you can pick up a copy of Champfest at West Berlin Gallery, Hamburger Eyes in San Fran, ReedSpace in New York, and Colette in Paris. And a bunch of other places besides.

TGIF

Oh my.

Oh my oh my. It has been a long and busy week and I haven't had a chance even to reply to Han's emails let alone write anything worth anything. I've been busy moving bedrooms (though the new one may only be temporary), finishing my 30 day bikram challenge, and working furiously to a few deadlines that mysteriously lost a day mid-week.

I'm off for a well deserved (if I do say so) beer at one of my favourite Fitzroy pubs, the start of what I expect and hope to be a quiet weekend in, working on wedding stationery for friends and reading the Journal which arrived rather late in my mailbox yesterday.

I promise I'll be back soon, and with more to say. I'm going to see Here We Go Magic play on Tuesday night which is very exciting and there's the film festival on too!

weekender

Tomorrow I'm off to Sydney and I can hardly contain my excitement, here's why:

I'm meeting up with one of my beautiful, bestest friends from Auckland (the one that's not Han, but who is a bit famous today!) and staying in a fancyish hotel.
We're going to drink wine and get pedicures and go shopping and talk wedding! Not mine, jeez, but still. You'd be forgiven for making that mistake considering how EXCITED I am about it.
Also, the Biennale is on which is exciting, though I have no idea how much I'll make it to in two days. I've also had some great must-do easting and drinking and exploring tips from an ex-sydneysider pal, but would love more if any of you have any recommendations!

Unfortunately* I will be out of town for the first weekend of the Gertrude St Projection Festival (part of State of Design which officially opens next week) but if you're going to be in Melbourne, do go along. It's a lovely stroll, perhaps after dinner at one of the great restaurants along Gertrude Street, on your way to a drink and a board game at Collingwood World? Rug up, because it's bloody freezing at night these days, and make sure you take a little detour past the Brooklyn Arts Hotel (my neighbours) even though they're not quite on Gertrude, I'm sure there'll be some illuminated lovely going on out the front. The festival projects the work of various artists onto the outside of buildings the length of Gertrude Street, there are also a few indoors events at bars and galleries along the way. Keep your eyes peeled, last year some of the sweetest pieces were those that were easy to miss - projections onto the sidewalk beside you, shadows of leaves against a wall down a side street.

*it's not that unfortunate, I'll be weekending away! And the festival will be on for another few nights next week

nice

Have a swell weekend, I'm going to wear gloves and wooly socks and plant some bulbs in a terrarium, and go to an expo for work and drink tea and listen to Mountain Man.
For those of you in the northern hemisphere here's something Summery and great (watch it in the South too, just be warned it may make you wish for the beach):

long weekends

Happy Easter, hope it's a lovely one filled with hot cross buns and pals xox

These beautiful pictures are from This is Naive.

rock n rolla

If you're in Melbourne this weekend and find yourself all dressed up with no place to go on Saturday night, might I suggest Bama Lama at The Order of Melbourne tomorrow from 9pm. Here's a little bit more information for your perusal.

I don't think these pictures are entirely appropriate to the theme, but I like them, they're both from we heart it.

f f f friday

It's almost the weekend! I'm super happy because I can see blue skies and sunshine outside and it's supposed to be sticking around for a few days... What are you doing this weekend? I'm going to the opening of Insert Coin Here tonight at 1000 £ Bend, if you're coming make sure you bring your $2 coins! On Sunday I'm going to pop my Camberwell Markets cherry - apparently crazy that I've still never been - but other than that this weekend is going to be nice and quiet. Have a lovely one you guys!

The beautiful photos above are by a new favourite of mine, Jody Rogac. How amazing is the hair in that last one?

but I'm not the only one

We drove right past Dargaville this weekend, with a stop at Mangawhai Heads and a visit to Tane Mahuta. The drive was long and idyllic and we sang along to the radio as we travelled along gravel roads and through Kauri forests to our friend's new home. It was built in the 1960s and is perched in a clearing at the end of a 16k road in the middle of the bush. It has no electricity but has an outdoor bath, a huge wood burning stove, a fresh water river nearby and the most incredible views. He lives alone, but has plenty of visitors. While there we realised how brave he is to live this way, and how much we would love to do something similar, someday...

Kauri image by Josiah Martin cira 19th Century, photo of Managahwai Heads from here.

long weekend

Hey you guys! It's long weekend time, if you're in Australia anyway, yay!

Some things to fill the time:


Phoenix are playing tonight at gross Festival Hall, and I can't wait!! I don't care if it's an old boxing arena, which reminds me sadly of the Queen's Wharf Events Centre in Wellington, Phoenix are lovely and it's going to be fun!

Penthouse Mouse opens tonight in Coates Lane, off Little Collins Street. It's supposedly invites only tonight but should be free the rest of the time (from 11am-9pm, tomorrow until the 16th). I went last year and wrote something boring and un-informative about it*, but if you're still interested it's a fashion/art event with a whole lot of local designers and artists showing and selling their stuffff. If you go tonight there will be booze and beautiful people, I'm sure.

There's an ICERINK at Docklands. How did I not know about this?? Well, it's expensive to go there and it looks crazy modern and nightclubbish and weird ("cool beats, hot nights"), but in a fun way! I might not be there this weekend but I plan to do it soon and if you're bored and can afford it then you should go, and then tell me all about it...

Besides that I think I'll eat delicious leftover chilli, potter in the garden, and watch some Movies

*reading that post it seems I planned a 'regular' feature on local designers. Looks like that never really happened huh.

birthday girls

Guess what? We turned one today! It's been a whole year since Han and I started this puppy with talk of mobiles, the weather (of course) and gazing out of moving windows...

Have a lovely weekend!

If you're in Melbourne perhaps you'd like to...

Pop into the Grace Darling on Smith St for the Hello Sailor Vintage Fair from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. I can't really find anything online to link this to but there'll be clothes, beer, hipsters and probably music...

Hear the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra play an opera showcase, for free, on Saturday night at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl...

Browse the Brunswick St Books' sale, which starts tonight, with an additional 10% off this weekend...

Go and see A Single Man, Tom Ford's debut film which is full of Colin Firth, Juliette Moore, and an Oscar nomination. Someone at USA Today described it as 'Stunningly Gorgeous' which made me giggle, but I do want to see it. It's playing now at Nova. Or go and see one of the films in the Claudia Cardinale retrospective at ACMI in Fed Square, she is a super uber babe and was in some of Italian cinema's most notable films. Also ACMI is cheaper than the regular movies!...

Visit Lamington Drive gallery and buy a Where the Wild Things Are skateboard, or just look at Mike O'Meally's huge photographs...

Or celebrate/lament the final day of Summer at the NGV's sculpture garden (180 St Kilda Road) from 1-8pm on Sunday. There'll be live music, a picnic, and Ron Mueck's work...

It's all free except the movies, yay! And who cares what's happening tonight, I'm working. xox

into the woods

See you guys later!

I'm off into the forest for my friend's woodland wedding. Hurrah! Halloo! Hallay!

one night stand

Best Weekend Ever!

In the wee hours of Saturday morning I flew out to Auckland for two of my bestest friends' engagement party, it was so much fun!! I got to experience the joys of international travel with only carry on! I didn't even take a pair of flats (eat your heart out sea of shoes)! I had a blast 'DJ'ing and dirty dancing with my beautiful friend Natalie and drank far too much chamagne. Actually, too much bubbles, not enough champagne... Someone told me I look tanned! I got to see so many of my favourite people all in one place and also made some new friends! My feet hurt! I'm exhausted! But it was worth it, thanks so much to the lovely Kate and Scott for such a wonderful party, and as usual the hospitality, and now I CAN'T WAIT for the wedding!

xxx

next i want to try coachella

This weekend was Incredible.

I drove up to a huge music festival at lunch time on Friday. My friends had arrived early and set up camp in an excellent spot, near the ferris wheel and only moments from the stage and all the fun! I danced and danced. My shoes turned brown. It didn't rain. I wore the same shorts and t shirt for three days, despite having packed plenty of changes. I didn't shower. I drank gin and soda from a water bottle in the afternoon. We made punch. I found everyone I knew who was going without the assistance of cell phones or prior planning...

Highlights:

Friday night: Patrick Wolf - Body glitter, Union Jack overalls, costume changes, feathers, face paint

Saturday morning: Coffee, a brass band marching around the campsite waking people up before getting on stage and playing a cover of Hey Jude.

Saturday afternoon: Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - Gorgeous, multi-talented, teenagers, a harmonica, a banjo, a slide guitar, a double bass, dancing like crazy in the middle of a thousand others doing the twist.

Saturday night: Animal Collective - got lost in the throng and all I could think of was my lovely friends getting engaged to this.

Finding my way to the very front of the crowd just in time for Jarvis Cocker and not moving for four hours.

JARVIS - the man with the moves, trying to think of a way to get over the barrier and throw myself at him.

Trekking to the outdoor cinema for a 2am movie date, and finding that my friends had done the same, despite being sure we would all forget/get lost/not want to leave the music.

Sunday: getting home last night and showering, twice. Putting on an Aesop face mask and hair & scalp mask and watching tv in a big warm sweatshirt.

Other highlights included the incredibly orderly lines for the not-even-disgusting composting toilets, which were consistently full of toilet paper and didn't stink. Pink flamingo cocktails from the bar; when you've been drinking slightly warm beer (or gin, or anything) all day a pink drink with grapefruit juice and crushed ice is exactly what you need. Jerry's Vegie Burgers, they were Amazing. People watching, besides the OTT 'festival outfits' here and there, the odd streaker and occasional bogan, everybody was really, really Good Looking.

The photos are from the Meredith website and their Flickr stream, where they're credited to photographers.

angela

I'm going to Meredith this weekend.

I'm excited about seeing Jarvis Cocker, Animal Collective, Patrick Wolf, and Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. I may even buy gumboots (despite what Han might try to tell you, it will always come back to shoes).

I also found this video this morning by Sia, which I've never seen before, and I think it's pretty, though it reminds me of that scene in Napoleon Dynamite.

yay

Happy weekend!



It's pretty dismal outside, and I've had a pretty dismal week to be honest, but I'm still rather excited about two days off.



There's a music festival tomorrow that I've been rather vague and ambivalent about, much to the chagrin of my enthusiastic friends (one has 11 house guests coming from, another lined up hours for tickets, and all of my workmates under 30 looked positively aghast when I said I'd gotten the weekend off for this but didn't have a ticket and wasn't really in the market for one).

However a ticket has materialised, at the last minute, and now I need to work on turning the ambivalence to enthusiasm. It shouldn't be so hard seeing how little effort I put into this and when I know that it will likely end up being lots of fun...



So rather than being the grinch who stole Parklife, I'm going to do my best to get a decent night's sleep this evening and wake up on the right side tomorrow.



Saving the gumboots for Meredith (which I'm actually quite looking forward to), the question is now of appropriate footwear.

It probably won't look like this.

you've made THE LIST

I'm happy because:

1) the sun came out and burnt me a little on the weekend
2) it was so warm that I did yoga on my little deck in my undies
3) my flatmates are mostly away so noone saw
4) lots of birds were singing and the kitten was hanging out
5) I watched the Princess Bride and the Rodent of Unusual Size
6) I had brunch twice. 1st was an eggs benedict and 2nd was a bruchetta. Bruchetta wins!
7) I'm reading a super trashy book and I LOVE IT

"classic bestseller"? Really?