Coffee

I don't even think I liked coffee until I got here. I have added caffeine to the list of legally addictive substances that I now enjoy. Melbourne is good for sitting outside smoking clove cigarettes and drinking a latte. Today I tried Cavallero...




Other amazing cafes for coffee include Three Bags Full...




And of course, Proud Mary again.


I think all these places use the same brand, 5 Senses. And while I don't know much about coffee really, everyone I know who does says this stuff is what the whole world should be drinking.

Also, I didn't know things like long black (espresso served with water which you add at your discretion) and a flat white.

I pulled this bit from wikipedia...
"A flat white is similar to a "wet" cappuccino (meaning made with "wet" microfoam, rather than dry foam), and differs from a latte in that it is smaller, and served in a ceramic cup,whereas a traditional latte is larger, sometimes much larger, hence more dilute, and served in a glass, though modern lattes are often served in ceramic cups or bowls.A shorter antipodean drink is the "Piccolo" ,smallCaffè Latte, which is a 90 ml drink made with a single espresso shot and 1:2 milk, with relatively little foam."

The point is: Australia takes it's coffee pretty seriously.

More City Scenes

I took a walk down South Bank the other day and took some more pictures of Melbourne...and here they are...

Hot Chocolate

It's winter here. And while I feel like a real midwest pansy--I'm wearing my winter coat and hat here in, and I'm not kidding, 60 degrees--I am enjoying my usual winter pastimes. Like, hot chocolate. This place Monsieur Truffe on Smith has the best hot chocolate I have ever had. EVER. Seriously. It's insane.
This amazing french man owns it. And every time I go in now he says, "You want a cocoa? You like it dark, no? Easy. Hot cocoa for you." Adorable.
This chocolate...I don't even know...but it's really high in cocoa % and it's amazing.

Fringe

OK, so now that everything is in and official I can tell you all and not worry about it back firing. I am registered for 2010 Melbourne Fringe Festival.

http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/

I will let you know when they post anything. There will be a blurb about the show coming. The show is mostly about mom :)

And ya, I'm heaps excited and nervous. And excited. I have a director. And a place to put it on. And a first draft. And now, I just need lots and lots of work and rehearsal and better drafts. And people to come see it.

Food

Melbourne is full of the most amazing food. There is even some Mexican. Not much, but some. I try to stay as close to my house as possible when I venture out. And with good reason--smith street is glorious with little cafes and bakeries.

My friend took me to this place last week and I got a potato hash which has potato, spinach and a poached egg with anchovy mayo on the side. But, when I went I saw ricotta cheese hotcakes, which were a favorite of mine at North Star in Columbus I decided I must go back. So, Mary and I went for brunch today. Covered in syrup, mascarpone and caramelized pears, it was amazing.

Ages

Sorry it's been so long since I have updated this. In truth, there is very little to tell you, though. I have been working, 3 days a week :) And I have been hanging out with my friends a lot. Eating delicious food and drinking a lot of hot chocolate. I played some board games last Saturday, which was amazing. And I have been going on runs down to the river and back about three times a week. It's about a 3 mile round, I run under this bridge...


In other news, I have been attempting some writing. I put together a zine, which is just a self published magazine, and it's at a little shop here called Sticky. And I am trying to write a show that I want to put on somewhere. I have even been meeting with some other writers who I really admire and they have been looking over it. Which is exciting. So, hopefully there will be some more news on that soon.

Here Momma, There Darlin'....Everywhere HAIR

Is this not the most adorable hair salon you have ever seen? I picked it because it looked like the place in Grease that the girl worked at. And because it was right across from my house. And because it was $25.