September 04, 2010

Melbourne Memories

It seems like so long ago now but it was only a couple of weeks ago that my partner and I spent a beautiful long weekend in wintry Melbourne.
There were of course books purchased;
February by Lisa Moore (long listed for the 2010 Man Booker Prize), A Moleskine book journal which I just couldn't resist even though I haven't ever really kept a hand written log of my reading - I would like to begin and No and Me by Delphine De Vigan which has recently been named as a book in the upcoming Richard and Judy Bookclub - not something I knew when I purchased the book.
There was also art viewed. We managed to get to the Tim Burton exhibition at the ACMI at Federation Square which was definitely more something that my partner enjoyed but I could certainly appreciate the talent and imagination that comes from Burton. We also went to the European Masters exhibition at the NGV of which my two favourite paintings were Henri Rousseau's The Avenue in the Park of Saint-Cloud c. 1908 and Monet's Houses on the bank of the River Zean 1871.
There was much food and tea and coffee consumed! The Tea Room at the NGV was visited...
and dinner was eaten at the Jamie Oliver Fifteen restaurant in the city...

and after all that there was still room for cupcakes!

14 comments:

Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chick said...

There is *always* room for cupcakes! Look like a fabulous trip!

Karen said...

Hi Coffee - it so was! I am thinking of going back later in the year for a conference - and cupcakes!

Jess said...

This sounds like the quintessential Melbourne visit: books, art, coffee & food!

(and thank you for the timely reminder for me to get to the European Masters exhibition before it closes.)

ds said...

I will probably never get to Melbourne, but you clearly had a fabulous time--cupcakes and books being an essential requirement ;)

Thomas Hogglestock said...

My partner and I loved Melbourne when we visited in August 2007. Your pictures bring back fond memories.

Dot said...

It looks as though you had a lovely time! I really enjoyed No and Me and I have just got a moleskin notebook too, I think they're great for jotting stuff down in!

Karen said...

Hi Jess - I hope you enjoy the European Masters exhibition - I didn't think it was the best exhibition I had been to at the NGV but it was still enjoyable.

Hi ds - I think it is sad that so many people will never get to experience some of the great things that Australia has to offer - we are just so far away!!

Hi Thomas - it is such a great city!!

Hi Dot - thanks for the heads up on No and Me - I'm looking forward to it.

Tamara said...

You guys know how to fit alot into a weekend. Shounds like the perfect weekend. Welcome home.

Nadia said...

What a great weekend! Sounds like such a fun time! And cupcakes - yummy!

Karen said...

Hi T - it definitely was a packed weekend! I didn't even mention the trip to uni which was the whole point of the visit in the first place!

Hi Nadia - Cupcakes are always a winer!

Marg said...

Sounds like a great trip!

I want to go to the European Masters, but went to the Titanic Exhibition instead last weekend. Must try and get to the Art Gallery.

Did you like the food at Fifteen? I am supposed to be organising a night out to there a bit later in the year.

And yay for cupcakes! There's a branch of that chain just around the corner from work and sometimes it takes all my self control not to go there more than once a week.

Karen said...

Hi Marg - I am so jealous of you living in Melbourne! I really wanted to see the Titanic exhibition but we just couldn't squeeze it into the weekend unfortunately. I thought the food at Fifteen was fabulous - so yummy and the whole experience was great.

Meg @ write meg! said...

Cupcakes! Ooh, looks like so much fun. I would love to visit Melbourne someday!

Chat Noir said...

So glad you made it to the NGV for the exhibition AND the high tea. And wasn't the Burton exhibition overwhelming? There was a Shelley cartoon in The Age a couple of weeks ago which said it all: a man with an explosion of Tim Burton drawings coming out of his head and his friend looking at him saying "Have you just come from the Tim Burton exhibition?". I had sensory overload when I went.