Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 11 . MELBOURNE
you need a serious treat. Two locations: 26 Collins St. & 03/9650 2114; and Shop 27, the
Block Arcade, 282 Collins St. & 03/9654 7673.
Melbourne Candy Kitchen If you have a sweet tooth, you’re likely to spend
a fortune at this traditional little candy shop that makes its goodies before your
eyes. Rock candy is a specialty, and you can get your name (or the name of someone
back home) spelled out in its center. Shop 20, Royal Arcade, City. & 03/9663 5654.
JEWELRY
Altman & Cherny Even if you’re not in the market to buy, it’s worth coming
here to check out “Olympic Australia,” the largest precious-gem opal in the
world. It was found in Coober Pedy in South Australia in 1956 and is valued at
A$2.5 million (US$1.6 million). The store offers tax-free shopping for tourists
armed with both a passport and an international airline ticket. 128 Exhibition St.,
near Little Collins St. & 03/9650 9685.
Dinosaur Designs Dinosaur Designs is taking the jewelry design world by
storm with its range of very artistic jewelry made out of resin. The shop has
modern housewares as well. None of it’s cheap, but the odd item won’t break the
bank. 562 Chapel St., South Yarra. & 03/9827 2600.
e.g.etal Fresh innovative jewelery by 50 or so of Australia’s leading and
emerging designers. 185 Little Collins St., Melbourne & 03/9663 4334.
8 Melbourne After Dark
Melbourne can be an exciting place once the sun has set. The pubs and bars are far
better than those in Sydney. Friday and Saturday nights will see most pubs (of both
the trendy and the down-to-earth variety) packed to the rafters, and at lunchtimes
those that serve food are popular, too. To find out what’s happening, check the
entertainment guide in the Age, Melbourne’s daily broadsheet, each Friday.
THE PERFORMING ARTS
Melbourne is the most dynamic performing arts city in Australia. Its theaters offer
the whole gamut from offbeat independent productions to large-scale musicals like
you’d find on Broadway. The city is also the home of the most prestigious festivals,
with the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival (the first 3 weeks in Oct) and the
annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival, (from the end of Mar to
roughly the end of Apr), attracting the best of Australian and international talent.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival sees venues all over the city
putting on performances, while the Fringe Festival sees the streets, pubs, theaters,
and restaurants playing host to everyone from jugglers and fire-eaters to
musicians and independent productions covering all art forms. Try to get tickets
if you’re in town during either festival, but keep in mind that hotels fill up
fast at these times. For more information about these festivals consult their relevant
websites (www.melbournefringe.org.au; www.comedyfestival.com.au).
Another good time to plan your visit is during the annual Melbourne International
Film Festival (from mid-July to the end of the first week in Aug),
when new releases, shorts, and avant-garde movies are shown at varying venues
around the city. For details or to check schedules check the festival’s website
(www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au).
For information on upcoming theater productions and reviews check out
www.stageleft.com.au, or the official government entertainment information site
(www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/events), which has been designed to show “What’s