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Welcome to 'Lost and Found', an email publication that explores Melbourne's hidden creative spaces and the myriad of interesting events that keep the city buzzing through October and November.

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Guest Editor, Lisa Gorman
 
Lisa Gorman has been making Melbourne ladies look like ladies since the launch of her fashion label, Gorman, in 1999. The designer, who once dreamt-up dresses for her Barbie dolls, now clothes real ladies from her three whimsical stores in Fitzroy, South Yarra and the city. Her soft fabrics and pretty prints have garnered a cult following in Australia and overseas, but Lisa's inspiration remains in Melbourne. Not one to get caught up in the frivolous side of fashion, Lisa is a fan of basic comfiness, independent design and a sushi handroll for lunch. Don't ask this lady to wear high heels on a Sunday.
 
 

 
   
 

^ Image: No Answer, Lush Lane
 


 
Living Proof

Deep in the labyrinth of this town's alleys and lanes there's a battle going on. It's lattes versus art. Not really. Actually, both are prolific and they seem to coexist quite nicely. In amongst the constantly evolving graffiti / stencil / paste-up work of clandestine locals, acclaimed local and international art can be found. Since 2001, an annual series of laneway artworks has been commissioned by the City of Melbourne. This year, works are exhibited at six locations and feature light and sound installations, sculpture and video art, as well as performance. In Lush Lane until December 1, you'll find Philip Brophy and Martine Corompt's No Answer - a tribute to the extinction of public telephones. When you hear the ring, look up and you'll find eight pristine public phone booths fixed uselessly out of reach, high on a wall. In LaTrobe Place, Brazilian artist Laura Vinci presents Clara Clara until December 18. These are soft luminous sculptures - public lighting fixtures netted in a tangle of wires, suspended high up between buildings. The installations seem to swell in contrast with the solid surrounding walls. Some like to stumble across art as they take a short cut across town. But for those who would rather track these works down methodically, check the map.
 

^ Image: The Yellow Wallpaper
 

Hops to Props

The Malthouse Theatre's home, the CUB Malthouse, began life as a brewery, until a dramatic series of events - including a large fire and renovations by renowned Theatre Designer John Beckett - led to its unveiling as the theatre venue Melbourne knows and loves. Today, the drama continues. The Malthouse presents contemporary Australian theatre, with a focus on collaboration between writers, directors, designers and performers. The Malthouse spring program highlights include The Yellow Wallpaper, a solo performance by Anita Hegh. This is adapted from the gripping short tale penned by American author Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who may or may not have been insane. Either way, her wallpaper becomes the backdrop to a bent and menacing domestic drama. Also on the Malthouse stage until the beginning of summer is a revival of Tom Wright's Babes in the Wood. This gothic, Australian pantomime is directed by Michael Kantor with a rock and roll vibe and a healthy respect for the music of Air Supply and Tina Turner. December 2.
 

Stats:
Laneway Commissions 2006. Runs until January 2007.
No Answer, Lush Lane (off Flinders Lane between Swanston and Russell streets). Runs until December 2006.
Clara Clara, La Trobe Place (off Bourke Street between Swanston and Russell streets). Runs until December 18, 2006.
The Malthouse, 113 Sturt St, Southbank, Melbourne. 03 9685 5100.
The Yellow Wallpaper. From November 15-26.
Babes in the Wood.
From November 16 - December 2.
 
   
 
 
 

^ Image: Don't Come
 
Lisa Gorman's Fashion
 

When it comes to great local labels, Alpha 60, by brother and sister team Alex and Georgie cleary takes the cake. It's all about clean, modern, Melbourne styling for the rocking kids about town. Both stores in Brunswick St and Windsor are crisp, white and showcase their collection as well as an art gallery at the Brunswick St store. Back in the city, Princess Tina at the GPO's Fat store creates lovely prints and awesome jewellery. The lady behind the label, Beci, has a beautiful naive styling about her design and she just keeps on coming up with the goods. For the best vintage in town, Shag wins hands down. Both Grant and Jeremy have an eye for all things dashing from the past like fabulous shoes and the best sunnies.
 
 
 

Recent Addition

Don’t Come is the flagship store/gallery of local label Schwipe, which comes complete with infinity mirrors in the change room. Famous for their satirical fashion such as their ‘Islam Is Okay!’ T-shirt, Schwipe have built their reputation on colour, cut and unconventional fashion throwbacks such as ‘New World Order’ patterned bumbags. Housed in Royal Arcade above Marais, Don’t Come ticks all the boxes of obscurity required to make it in Melbourne. No street signage. Check. No street frontage. Check. Two flights of stairs. Check. They even have a name that could imply that you’re not wanted, but of course, you are. With their official opening celebrations last Friday October 20 most Melburnians don’t even know about this store yet and that’s got to be worth something.


^ Image: LEFT by Dianna Snappe
 

Neighbourhood Watch: Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Gertrude St, despite holding the world record for the greatest number of free drinks consumed at gallery openings, is also one of Melbourne's most fashionable strips. A stone's throw from the city, Gertrude St has both contemporary and vintage fashion. L.E.F.T boutique stocks fashion from Japan's Yohji Yamamoto to Italy's Carpe Diem and has one of the most beautiful interiors - worth admiring even if you're just window shopping. Curve fly the vintage flag, which unlike many vintage retailers, is definitely more about fashion than fancy dress. And Obus win hands down when it comes to locally tailored fashion with a touch of cheek. Admittedly, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Gertrude St, but we don't want to ruin all the surprises.
 

Stats:
Don't Come,L2 Royal Arcade, 314 Little Collins St, Melbourne. 03 9639 2227.
Marais, L2 Royal Arcade, 314 Little Collins St, Melbourne. 03 9639 0495.
L.E.F.T, 161 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. 03 9419 9292. Curve Vintage Clothing, 158 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. 03 8415 1363.
Obus, 226 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. 03 9416 0012.
Alpha 60, L1 262 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
03 9416 4296.
2A Cecil Place, Prahran. 03 9525 0355.
Fat, Shop G03, Melbourne's GPO. Cnr Bourke St Mall and Elizabeth St, Melbourne.
03 9662 3332.
Shag, Centre Way Arcade, 259 Collins St, Melbourne. 03 9663 8166.
 
 
 
 

^ Image: by MVRC and VRC
 
 

Heading Out

The sound is subtle, but unmistakeable, it is the rumbling of a thousand hooves and kitten heels stampeding towards the starting gates and the Myer construct-your-own hat department. The Spring Racing Carnival is upon us. In summary, we're talking 50 days of world-class thoroughbred racing and a party season to rival Ibiza (except with more clothes). Apart from the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Spring Racing presents 78 events across the state, including the BMW Caulfield Cup at Caulfield, the Tattersalls Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and a punishing schedule of picnic-friendly country race meets from Ararat to Wycheproof. At the heart of this frenzy, of course, is the hat hunt. This year, there are a number of headwear research materials available. The new City Museum presents Hat Tricks, billed as "a splendid feast of hattish delights" on display until November 26. This free exhibition plots a history of Melbourne from 1835 as expressed, well, through hats. Superstar milliner Thomas Harrison is the focus of a free exhibition at NGV Australia until April 2007. His millinery skills were worshipped by women all over the country from the 30s until the 70s. Actually, if these hats weren't archived by the NGV, they'd probably be populating heads in VIP marquees today. Check them out and devise a headwear homage.
 

^ Image: courtesy of The Famous Speigeltent
 

Artistic Intent

Every international arts festival needs a party tent. Where else would people romance visiting performers and drink copious amounts of vino like all good arts communities should? Thus the Arts Centre has invited the Famous Spiegeltent to set up shop on their forecourt for its sixth consecutive Melbourne season. Built in 1920, this is not a tent by any modern definition - it is a portable Belgian music hall, with velvet canopies, stained-glass windows, an antique wooden dance floor and a trapeze rig. How they construct this 28-tonne structure in 12 hours is anybody’s guess. Once the Melbourne International Arts Festival program winds up on October 28, the tent will remain until December 17. Must-sees include La Clique – the world famous touring cabaret salon, direct from sell-out seasons in New York, Edinburgh and Montreal – and Melbourne’s own Martin Martini and the Bone Palace Orchestra. Martini performs “funk, junk, circus, rock, gypsy punk” late-night Sunday shows in December.
 

Stats:
Spring Racing Carnival, Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington. From October 5 – November 28. Ticketing: 1300 727 575.
Hat Tricks Fabulous, Frivolous and Functional: 150 years of head wear in Melbourne. City Museum, Old Treasury Building, corner Collins and Exhibition Streets. From September 30 – November 26.
Thomas Harrison, Milliner, Myer Fashion and Textiles Gallery, Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square. From September 29 2006 - April 29 2007.
The Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne. 03 9281 8000.
La Clique, The Famous Spiegeltent, Arts Centre Forecourt, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
Runs until December 17.

 
 
 
 

^ Image: Dinosaur Designs
 
Lisa Gorman's Design
 

Hidden down some stairs in Flinders Lane, Craft Victoria is a great find. The store space showcases local crafts, people and designers, but the beauty is that it also takes a gallery approach – and you can buy the works on display at affordable prices! The store doesn't have a mass appeal, and the goods change over often - with many one-off pieces. They have gorgeous shows in their gallery section featuring anyone from RMIT design students to established designers like Richard Nylon the milliner. It’s a little out of the city centre, but newly located store Angelucci 20th Century is full of unreal furniture and collectables from the mid century. Owner (and my partner!) Dean has been collecting and dealing in this sort of thing for 15 years so you know you’re buying something decent, and he can tell you all about it. You like to know that you’ll be picking up pieces that are still going to be A-OK next decade. Dean will also source items for you if you have something you've been dying to get your hands on but can't find it anywhere.
 
 

Freestylin

From October until February, Melbourne Museum, is home to a rather large showcase featuring the work of 40 outstanding Australian designers. Freestyle: new Australian design for living focuses on design for houses and bodies. Watch out for homewares by Jon Goulder, lighting by bernabeifreeman, furniture by Charles Wilson, textiles by Cloth, jewellery by Dinosaur Designs, personal accessories by Crumpler, and fashion by Easton Pearson and Akira Isogawa. Jointly presented by Object Gallery, and Melbourne Museum, with major support from Bombay Sapphire, Freestyle also showcases winners of the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award. In fact, visitors can go into the Bombay Sapphire draw to win $5000 worth of products by featured designers. If you’d like a sneak peak at the studios behind the work, sign up for the Freestyle Design Studio Site Tour, on Saturday November 25.

 


^ Image: Tejo Remy (1991)


Droog Design: A Human Touch

‘Droog’ is the Dutch word for ‘dry’, which by no means symbolises the Dutch collectives’ work - but does reflect their sense of humour. Breaking global design ground since 1993, Droog Design create products that merge functionality with design awareness. Running until December 10 and supported by the National Design Centre, A Human Touch will feature the work of over 40 Netherlands-based Droog designers, including furniture, homewares, accessories and other objects created under the Droog Design banner. The globetrotting exhibition will be taking place in the East Gallery of the Denton Corker Marshall -designed 101 Collins Street, merging Australian aesthetics with Droog’s idiosyncratic design views.

 

Stats:
A Human Touch, East Gallery 101 Collins St, Melbourne. 03 9654 6335.
Runs until December 10.
‘Freestyle: new Australian design for living’ at the Melbourne Museum, Nicholson St, Carlton.
Craft Victoria, 31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
03 9650 7775.
Angelucci 20th Century, 92 High St, Prahran.
03 9525 1271.
 
 
 
 
   
 
^ Image: Cookie by Aidan Cass
 
Lisa Gorman’s Cafes/Restaurants
 

Ezard has been my all time favorite Melbourne restaurant since I started going six years ago. Not only does it have the best oyster shooters ever, but also the most delicious suckling pork in town. As a whole, the menu is beautifully balanced with just the right amount of Asian influence. The wine menu is amazing, service is excellent and the interior comfortable – here you can actually hear yourself speak! The staff are great and know what they’re talking about, especially when it comes to wine. On that topic, if I’m after an afternoon wine, morning coffee, dinner, lunch... City Wine Shop is perfect at any time of the day! It mixes Italian flavor with a wall full of great wine you can drink there or take away. There’s also a snuggly eating area at the back, which is great for a group, or you can sit at the bar. But if it’s a splendid Melbourne day then I like to sit outside and admire Parliament House across the street.
 

^ Image: Longrain by
Jeremy Simons
 
 

Bright lights, big Cookie

Melbourne already serves up brilliant Japanese, Vietnamese, Italian and French - and Thai is no exception. But in the southern city’s case, sometimes the best culinary things can be hard to find…
Up one floor of the Curtin House microcosm, Cookie manages to make “kitsch” cosmopolitan and doilies cool in a lofty bar and Thai restaurant. Whether your taste be traditional Thai or fusion - sweet or spicy, Cookie caters for both. Expertly crafted red curry, crispy fish salad or thick noodles with duck should shut up even the pickiest of Thai purists. The restaurant also offers wireless internet, brews a fine cappuccino and is open until 3am if you’re in the mood for a nightcap (or two). Nab one of the teeny balconies overlooking Swanston and soak up the view.
 
 

Sibling rivalry?

It might carry the same name as its big Sydney sister, but Longrain Melbourne is no ankle-biter. Created by Melbourne designers Hecker Phelan & Guthrie, the restaurant’s moss-green ceramics and curving walls recall the sea depths, (minus the deep-sea gropers). Fish, however, is on the menu. Kingfish, swordfish, trout and cuttlefish come drizzled with Thai flavours like mint, basil, chilli and ginger. There’s no room for food-envy here, because long communal tables let you have a sneak peek at your neighbour’s dish before ordering. Accompanied by a glass of distinctly Victorian wine from a list devised by Chris Crawford of The Prince fame, and you have a meal that is worth the hour-long wait that can sometimes hit at around 7pm.
 

Stats:
Cookie, L1 Curtin House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne. 03 9663 7660.
Longrain, 44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne.
03 9671 3151.
Ezard, 187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 03 9639 6811.
City Wine Shop, 159 Spring St, Melbourne.
03 9654 6657.
 
 
 
 
 
 


^ Image: courtesy of Madame Brussels

 
 
 

Pimms on the roof

When it comes to kicking back with a long drink, Melbourne’s got her game-on both inside and out. Inspired by a real Madame in the improper sense, Madame Brussels on Bourke Street brings the outdoors in – and then out again. Lined with a faux grass carpet, the bar recalls a country garden with white iron furniture and blooming flowers. Not one to shy away from the grandiose, at Madam Brussels’ fake vines curl around the awnings, luxurious chesterfields are supplied for the lazing; even the lavatories are “rather grand”. Waiters dressed in their conservative best serve out large jugs of Pimms number one, and will also whip up a poached chicken or cucumber sandwich if you’re feeling peckish.
 


^ Image: The Melbourne Supper Club

 
Wine on the sofa

If you ask owner Con Christopoulos, The Melbourne Supper Club’s success is due to the city’s “indoor culture.” It also might have something to do with the fact that The Supper Club stays open until 6am and boasts a dictionary-thick wine-list. With over 86 pages of wine, a Sommelier on-hand and a menu boasting everything from caviar to Peking duck pancakes - you’ve got yourself an after party. There’s also an array of beers and champagnes on offer if you’d prefer not to mix drinks, because we all know how tough that can be come 8am.
 

Stats:
Madame Brussels, L3 59-63 Bourke St, Melbourne. 03 9662 2775.
The Melbourne Supper Club, 161 Spring St, Melbourne. 03 96546300.
   
 
 
 

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