Bikes Ep. 3 ( Road Sharing )

The City of Melbourne is committed to becoming a cycling city, with a safe and easy bicycle network for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Share Our Streets is the City of Melbourne’s road safety program which encourages all road users in Melbourne to show courtesy and respect to make their journey around the city safer and more enjoyable – for everyone!

Share Our Streets addresses issues specific to the City of Melbourne’s unique urban environment such as how to use shared spaces, the impact of distractions and car-dooring.

Around a million people use our streets every day. There are some simple things you can do to move around the city safely.

Tips for using shared spaces

When you’re riding a bicycle
◾Ride at a slow speed, especially in shared and busy areas.
◾Indicate to others when you’re about to pass – ring your bell or say ‘passing’.
◾Give way to people walking.

When you’re walking
◾Stay to the left.
◾Mobile phones and headphones can distract you – be alert to what’s going on around you.
◾Look out for people riding bikes when you change direction.
◾Always remember to look up and around when crossing the street and walking along the footpath.
◾Keep to the crossings where possible and only cross on green.

Until April 2015, the Share Our Streets teams will be at busy locations across the city encouraging all road users to be alert, cross when green and look out for each other.

Wednesday Night Market @ Victoria Market

THE NIGHT MARKET RETURNS FROM 5 NOVEMBER 2014 – 25 MARCH 2015

Melbourne’s original Night Market, Queen Victoria Market’s Night Market is the place to meet every Wednesday night during Summer. More than just a market, the Night Market offers a unique platform for emerging designers, artists, musicians and foodies to showcase their talent at one of Melbourne’s favourite summer events.

Set beneath the historic sheds, you will find limited edition pieces ranging from jewellery, fashion and accessories to homewares, ceramics, prints and more! The Night Market also boasts one of Melbourne’s most impressive food line ups with over 60 foodies serving up street food from across the globe. Running every Wednesday night from November 5 2014 until March 25th 2015 (excluding Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve), you’ll find a little bit of everything at the Melbourne Summer mid-week tradition.

Spring Discovery Tour: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Discover the history, cultural significance and stunning beauty of the Gardens. Take a walk among the fresh green leaves of spring on this free guided tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with one of our knowledgeable guides.

This is a free event.

When: 11am – 12.30pm and 2 – 3.30pm
Tuesday – Sunday throughout spring, ending 30/11/2014

Where: Meet at the Visitor Centre Reception ( where the Gardens Shop is ), Observatory Gate
Pre- Bookings not essential.

Greek Festival at Fed Square 23/11/2014

Come to Federation Square for the Melbourne-Thessaloniki Sister Cities Glendi Festival to take part in the festivities.’Glendi’ is the Greek word for ‘party’ and ‘celebrating’.

The Glendi festival is a celebration of the strong and vibrant sister city relationship with Thessaloniki.
Melbourne has the largest Greek-speaking community outside of Greece with almost 150,000 people of Greek ancestry living in metropolitan Melbourne. The Greek culture has played an invaluable role in shaping and enriching the Melbourne we live in today.

Blenders Lane Art Market

The Blender Ln Artists Market is an outdoor event held every Wednesday from 5-10 pm, located in one of Melbourne’s most diverse and vibrant street art covered lane ways.

Take a walk through the quirky and colourful market stalls showcasing a variety of art, illustration, craft, design, textile and jewellery.

There is also performing arts and live music acts to soak up. Enjoy the chilled atmosphere and take the opportunity to view the open studios of the resident artists.

Location: Blender Lane | 110 Franklin St, Melbourne.
Lane runs off Franklin St (between Queen St and Elizabeth St.
Every Wednesday, 5-10pm, 12/11/2014 – 25/02/2015

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne : Garden Shop

Delicious Tokyo !

A return to Tokyo always means maximising the number of authentic Japanese meals I can squeeze in within that certain number of days I am there. And it always seems insufficient to include all my must-haves. I conclude that Japan is one of those countries where you must make multiple trips to different prefectures from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa, the southern most island to truly see the diversity in landscape, cuisine, custom and language.

On this particular trip, it is the simple food that makes me almost feel like a local there. Daily fares such as soba, curry rice, yakitori and shaved ice { kakigori ) that brings much nostalgia. Don’t worry about searching the fancy restaurants or fusion versions…. just go for the typical Japanese everyday comfort food…. Standing among time-lacking train commuters in a noodle bar, or choosing one of the many buttons on the vending machine to purchase your rice bowl ticket or wandering around the underground maze beneath every major train station…it is really hard to make a choice, or the right choice that can give the maximum satisfaction. Every window display seems to be the No. 1 choice!

Tokyo is an amazing city which is still very affordable considering you don’t have to dish out extra dollars for genuine Japanese food. And most outlets offer free water, free tea, free wet towel, free condiments and garnish. And I particularly like it that everyone returns the tray to the respective counters to always keep the table clean and ready for the next customer and speed up the dining process.

Another trip is on the way to mark the relocation of the famous Tsukiji fish market to its new premise in Tokyo Bay. The best sashimi in the world is waiting !

At the NGV: National Gallery of Victoria

Spinning slowly, inviting every visitor to climb onto one of the shimmering shiny seats, the Golden Mirror Carousel stands in the forecourt of the NGV ( International ) at St Kilda Road. It reminds one of childhood days in the theme park, riding on the merry go round, but this one is the poshiest and most glamorous one can ever imagine. Sitting on it, slowing making its round, one can almost feel royal and elegant, like a centrepiece where the spectators are watching, like some special guest on a special ride, taking your time and enjoying the moment.

This is the installation of Carsten Holler, Belgian artist now working in Stockholm. His carousels are some of his well known projects. It’s inviting you to take a magical ride and best of all, most of the collections and exhibitions in the NGV are totally free, and world class.

Finders Keepers Market @ Royal Exhibition Building

 

The 2014 Spring/Summer Finders Keepers Market was held on 17/18 Oct in the heritage REB ( Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton ). It is also being held in Brisbane ( Nov 8th, 9th) and Sydney ( Dec 12th,13th). And the Autumn/ Winter market will make its way back to Melbourne in July next year.

There are all sorts of markets: stock market, real estate market, fish market, flea market, farmers market, but this is THE Art & Design Market, and its got to be the prettiest market. See a collection of the very best crafts and unique products. For a $2 token entry, enjoy hours of live music, great food, workshops and browsing around for that perfect gift, or more likely, your wishlist, depending on your financial situation. It is a treat for the eyes to see so many interesting designs under one roof by so many talented local artists.

Garage Sale Trail – Nation Wide

Saturday 25th Oct 2014- this is the one day Australia wakes up to a massive garage sale nation-wide. Why not turn your no-longer-required stash into some extra bucks and do your part to promote the 3Rs- reduce, reuse, recycle !

Everyone can chip in to be a part of this campaign. Families and friends, church, community groups, town councils… Start sorting your preloved goods over the next 12 months and get together at the next sale, as the saying goes, ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ !