1. Cinema Nova – distance approx. 3 mins
The movie theatre near our house is amazing. It is in the middle of a busy street on top of a little shopping centre with a brand new fancy little bar overlooking Lygon Street. You can have a cocktail or appetizers before the movie and/or bring them in with you. They are always showing documentaries and movies that wouldn’t be at the big box cinemas as well as a few popular films such as Eat, Pray, Love – which Ash and I just saw. The smaller films are in theatres that can accommodate around 10-15 people max. The theatres have two seater couches and you can snuggle in just like you were watching a movie at home. The bigger cinemas don’t have couches but they have big comfy lounge chairs. It’s also not too expensive, cheap for students. We saw a particularly disturbing film the first time we went. The Killer inside Me, my suggestion – absolutely unnecessarily violent and disgusting. I thought it’d be okay because it had Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson, but they are both just bludgeoned to death by this cruel protagonist. Don’t see it. But the theatre was lovely!
2. Carlton Gardens – distance approx. 30 seconds
Across from our house is an enormous park with running trails and fountains and massive trees. It’s the perfect place for a run because you don’t have to worry about cars mowing you down or directions. It’s a little more than 2km around and is quite hilly so you get an amazing work out as well. The grounds are just perfect for a walk or a picnic or for photographs. The other day Ash and I went for a walk and there were 4 wedding parties having pictures taken. The Exhibition centre is also on the grounds and it looks like a massive mansion/castle, it’s absolutely stunning and often has wedding shows or garden shows or food exhibitions! It’s full of beautiful trees and ponds, it’s so nice to find in the middle of a big city. Walking through the gardens is never boring and there’s always something to catch your eye. I feel so lucky to have it literally on my doorstep.
3. Carlton Chinese Noodle Cafe – distance approx. 4 minutes
Ash and I are in love with this adorable old Chinese couple who own the Chinese Noodle Cafe. They make the best noodles and stir fry’s for super cheap with such fresh ingredients. We probably go for dinner once a week. We can both get dinner for under 20$ which is a steal in Melbourne. I get Asian noodles with veggies and chicken topped with satay sauce and Ash varies it every time. I don’t like pork and this lady made me this specialty dish the first time and now she knows every time I come in what it’s going to be. It’s usually busy and I have to sit on these tall stools where my feet don’t even touch the bar it’s really humorous. We are always disappointed because she is closed on Sundays and for some reason always forget and crave noodles on Sunday nights. Anyway, we are already regulars at this delicious gem of a cafe.
4. Carlton Baths outdoor swimming pool – distance approx. 6 minutes
The YMCA gym we belong to just opened their outdoor pool. It’s beautiful to just sit in the sun or go for a swim with the sun beaming down on you. It’s a Carlton hot spot and is usually packed with people but it’s a beautiful place to swim when it’s not busy. Ash is trying to get me into more swimming but I’m not very good. I went and watched him do laps the other day after my race and just sat on a bench outside reading the paper. The pool is pristine and only a few minutes’ walk from our house – perfect for cooling off and working out!
5. Brunetti – distance approx. 2 minutes
Brunetti is the most perfect little (and by little I mean ENORMOUS) cafe about a block from our house. It is so cute but massive. It has two entrances. One side of the cafe you can get gelato and you pick up your coffees and the other is a massive and I mean MASSIVE bakery with little delicate pastries, cookies and a vast array of specialty chocolates. Ash and I usually get a tiny chocolate each when we go to treat ourselves as well as lattes, because they are ridiculously good. It is so busy you have to fight for someone to take your order. The front windows are also chock full of the most beautiful decorative cakes you’ve ever imagined. Beautiful sharp pieces of chocolate topped with candied oranges and limes and swirling pieces of marbled chocolate toppling over the top. Just crazy artistic and impressive. You pay for your treat and get a number then you go to the coffee section and wait for them to call out your number to pick up your coffees. We went after our movie at 11:30 the other night and it was booming. All of the 50+ tables outside were taken and the entire inside was filled, we had to sit at the front bench on these tiny stools, they were the only spots left at almost midnight!!! I can’t imagine the profit this place rakes in, especially with their 55$+ cakes. Tiny cakes are 50$. We need to bring Brunetti to Canada; it’d be an enormous hit. The staff all dress in maroon and white and it has just such a fancy air about it. I love it.
