FF:VIC Things to do in Melbourne ...

I've been offered a chance to go to Melbourne for a few days in July.

So I open the floor to my dellow fellagates:
What does Melbourne have to offer a sprightly young FFer?

I have been before, but it was years ago and all I remember is Dracula's Theatre Restaurant (altho they did do a nice potato soup...)

I'm going to look into this myself, but I was hoping the FF network could suggest things that aren't in the tour guides - eg, scifi type shops, etc, stuff that a like minded FFer would be interested in ...

Cheers

Oz

 

Hmmm... I'm not too sure about the sci-fi stuff (LVFF might be the man for that I feel), however we do have many fine public houses that FFers such as myself and PoT would be more than happy to initiate you with...

 

One of these days we will actually have a VicFF pub crawl, and it will consist of more people than just RP, PoT and JE.

Indeed, for all things sci-fi I point you in the direction of our resident sci-fi scholars, LordVaderFF and Dags. However, I suggest Minotaur for all your science fiction needs, it's got plenty of things you can't find anywhere else. You pay for the privilege, but if you've got money to burn it's a great place. Hopefully someone else can tell you the address because I've forgotten it right now.

 

From memory, it's on Elizabeth St just near the Collins St corner.

 

I will second that recommendation on Minotaur. It's somewhere on Elizabeth St in the city. I'm sure Lordvader or Dags will know the number.

 

Ah, to suggest places to visit in this, the greatest city of the greatest country: Meblourne in Australia!

Well, to be frank (which I often am), you can't go past the already quoted Minotaur store in terms of Sci-Fi paraphenalia [sic?].
Likewise, a trip to Melbourne ISN'T complete without a stop over at the local watering holes, the Casino, and of course, Southbank: a place where food is a religion and the worship is all in the eating.

Chinatown is much like any Chinatown anywhere: except our restaurants are a tad more world class then anywhere else. Flower Drum = teh win, again, again and again.

Apart from that, I'd be needing a more specifically crafted question, as Sci-Fi is one of the things we really lack in any auspicious quantity. Mainly because we have too many Kev's that drive up and down Chapel, and not enough nerds reading a comic in preference to having a gary.

Sad in it's own way. But whose complaining?

 

I'll be staying in Southbank, so that's handy ... any SB food places in particular?


And of course my main obsession in life - any secondhand bookshops?

Or other good retail bookshops ... as long as there's books, really.

Does anyone know if Dracula's is still open ?

 

No, Unfortunatly I think that closed, I'm not sure though. Bot their is Witchs in Britches... Unless I'm mistaken about what it is. :S

 

If you get a chance visit sunny Ballarat.

 

Minotaur - 121 Elizabeth St. Its between Lt Collins & Collins St. I think their phone number is (03) 9670 5414.

They should receive Force Heretic II: Refugee in 2-3 weeks. (Normally a week after USA release date.)

 

Dracula's is still alive and kicking... no need to fear! As for good places to eat on Southbank, take your pick. Cafe Greco is good if you're feeling rich (buggered if I'll pay $5 for a cup of coffee, regardless of how good it is... but my parents can!) As for the general consumption of food, may I suggest any restuarant in the crown complex... otherwise, there is a great sushi place on bourke st (above russell st, from memory) and anything italian on lygon st is great!

 

cough..yuppie...cough


Erm, where was I? Ah yes. Melbourne.

Force Heretic II can be ordered online within 24 hours right now if you want it, the link is in the "What a pissa thread", but otherwise in terms of books, there are a great few lil' niche book stores on Swanston chock full of alternative (read Sci-Fi and fantasy) books.

And depending on how soon your coming down, I hear there is a bloody extensive SW libary open at Whitley College tommorrow.

 

ETA is July 4. Staying a few days (ie, for the weekend...)

However, there is a chance I might not make it, depending how busy I am at the time.

What about comedy venues ? I hear Melbourne is the place for comedy ... ?

 

PoT's place, any night, comedy provided as long as you want. Price of entry is a bottle of scotch.

 

Yeah, the Comedy Club is the place... although you've missed the Comedy festival by about 4 months. If anyone would like to pipe up with the Comedy Club address, it'd be appreciated.

 

Dude what are you saying Cafe Grecco suck big time arse, and i probably the cheapest place on south bank, and PoT as for it being snobby i used to eat there all the time.

Might i suggest if you enjoy food and have money to burn, that you travel out to a quaint little mansion in parahan call Jacques Reymon and have a lazy meal in their courtyard.

Expect to pay no less than $150 without wine for this tough.

 

Do not forget CHUTE, home and birthplace of Vegemite

 

For book shops go to Lygon St. There is Readings, open til 12pm I think, Borders bookshop/cafe in Lygon Court, right accross the road. Second hand bookshops are everywhere in Melbourne. There's two next door to each other in Elgin St, near the corner of Lygon, accross the road from the servo. To get to them catch the No, 01(East Coburg) or 22(Moreland) trams from the city and get off at Lygon St, you can get the tram driver to tell you when. Walk back toward the city along Lygon for Borders and Readings or keep walking down Elgin st for second hand bookstores.

 

Beaufort, pastly known as Fiery Creek, is a haven of history and fun times

 

Hmmmmmmm...I can smell a FanForce meet coming on (or is that just Mixo's sock?).

July 4th, Better make it indoors I think.

 

Hey is it going to be in Ballarat?