- Sara

Recently, wonderful Spanish magazine Caos asked Babyccino if we could compile a list of the 10 top things to do when visiting the city of Melbourne. We were very excited to oblige! Here is the list written up which was of course then translated into Spanish (and which, most will agree, makes everything sound just so much more wonderful).

Hailed as one of the world’s most liveable cities, it doesn’t take long for visitors to see why this is so! Melbourne is lively and dynamic with style and soul and so much to do and see — not to mention a dearth of hidden treasures! And, with its extensive transport network, it is so easy to get around. Here is my ‘must do’ top 10 things to do and see in Melbourne:

Explore the Yarra Promenade:

Grab some coffee from one of the fabulous cafes along the riverfront (you’ll be spoilt for choice) and linger on! Watch people wandering by, the cyclists on their way home, groups of kids doing their thing, buskers, street artists and families walking their dogs.  You’ll discover some great boutiques, some of Melbourne’s best restaurants and incredible architecture and art. And as you do, you’ll be treated to the most beautiful views in Melbourne, especially if you ‘hang around’ until sunset. www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Go Beachside in St Kilda:

St Kilda is Melbourne’s beachside hub — beaches, cafes, shops, pubs, live music and nightlife. A bit bohemian, a bit shabby around the edges but with sleek and sophisticated elements too! Treat yourself to a slice or two of cake with a perfect coffee brew from one of the many continental cake shops along Acland Street, Melbourne’s most historic café strip. Think big city bustle, village style!  But whatever the weather (and it is notoriously unpredictable in Melbourne) a walk along the historic St Kilda pier is a must. The views are like no other.

Wander the city’s laneways:

Getting lost was never so much fun! Narrow cobbled alleys and dead-end streets hide graffiti and street art, galleries, gorgeous boutiques, quiet café’s and really cool bars. Take note — the best bars are found down the dark alleys, past the bins and through the little doorways! Sometimes it can be a bit of a climb up the old wooden stairways, but the bars are so worth it!

The Royal Botanic Gardens:

Fill a hamper and head to Melbourne’s biggest and best park, the Botanical Gardens. Established in 1846 it is home to about 12,000 plant species from all over the world. Discover the Ornamental Lake or the Australian Rainforest Walk. To explore the indigenous history take a guided tour! During the summer the gardens hosts the ‘Moonlight Cinema’ — an outdoor cinema with twilight screenings of classic and cult movies. Perfect for a summer picnic! Don’t forget the Children’s Garden if you are with the kids – they will have a ball! www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Ride a rattling tram:

Whether it’s one of the classic old green rattlers, trundling through Melbourne streets since the 1930s or a slick streamlined newer model – a tram is the best way of seeing the different faces of Melbourne as well as for rubbing shoulders with the locals. There is even a restaurant tram that glides down to the beach and back up to the city a few times a night. Be sure to look out for the burgundy-coloured City Circle tram – these ones are free and stop at all the major city attractions.

Cheer at an AFL (Australian Football League) game:

You may need help deciphering the rules of this uniquely Australian football code (hey, even I do and I’m a local) but the atmosphere at the MCG or Etihad Stadium is nothing short of ‘electric’. Melbournians are passionate about their footy. Best plan is to adopt a team quick smart! And don’t forget to have a hot meat pie at the footy – it’s a Melbourne tradition!

Head to the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) Galleries:

The Ian Potter Centre, (NGV) Australia at Federation Square: Dedicated purely to Australian art, showcasing works from colonial times to the present day, as well as indigenous art. This one is not to be missed. After this, cross the road and check out the international big names of art at the The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) International. The building itself is a masterpiece! Take note, lying flat on your back on the floor is not only accepted but it is the best way to view the wonderful stained glass ceiling in the Great Hall, created by Melbourne artist Leonard French! www.ngv.vic.gov.au

Walk or jog ‘the Tan’:

In my opinion one of the best things to do in Melbourne is to lace up your shoes and hit the ‘tan’. This 3.8km path runs around Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens – it loops around the perimeter of the gardens and is a popular haunt for joggers, dog-walkers, sports professionals and parents with prams. A beautiful way to see Melbourne. When you are done, stop for another coffee  – after all, you are in the coffee capital of Australia!

Gain some altitude at the Eureka Skydeck 88:

One of the best views in Melbourne is not for the faint hearted! From 285m above ground (that’s 88 storeys) you get a 360 –degree view of the city. And if you really are game, step onto ‘The Edge’, a huge moving glass cube that will carry you out over the tower’s east side! www.eurekatower.com.au

Experience the old Melbourne Gaol:

A spooky collection of death masks, a gallows, clanging cell doors – hey, what’s not to love about this creepy place?!  This is where infamous bushranger Ned Kelly was hanged. You can get locked up in the former City Watch House next door, or take part in a mock court in the old Magistrates’ Court! Great for both kids and adults!  www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au

If you are visiting Melbourne, the Gold Coast or Sydney check out locations here ! If you live elsewhere in the world and you are hankering for your own sampling of Igloo Zoo  — I apologize profusely for the tease!

- Sara

Lark is an emporium of everything gorgeous. Not only do they carry their own range of hand-knitted baby toys and vintage accessories but they also carry goods from around the globe. There is jewellery, homewares, stationery, beautiful art prints by London’s Belle & Boo, Cath Kidston (finally in Melbourne!), Japanese zakka and books, picnic sets from the ethical Danish label Rice, Sparrowkids from England (so divine, my favourite!) handmade children’s clothing, craft kits, zines and a host of handcrafted products from Melbourne designers including Beci Orpin, Victoria Mason, Cuckoo Nest, Little Shop Of and Twiglet. Whew! Yes, this shop is chock full of cuteness!  And all this sweetness isn’t without substance, Lark’s ethical policies show a real concern for environmental and social responsibility…

So, if you are venturing out, anywhere near Melbourne that is,  Lark is at:

4a Duke Street, Daylesford (behind the Op Shop) and only an hour’s scenic drive out of Melbourne.

And if you’re not in the area, you must visit Lark’s gorgeous online store here. Plenty of eye candy to drool over!

- Sara

You can find Miriam Bereson’s products, including her equally stunning number frieze and alphabet frieze at stockists across Australia, NZ and online. You can also keep up-to-date on new products and musings on the Miriam Bereson blog.

- Sara

The good news is that by private commission, Jane will draw murals in homes like the one pictured here and these gorgeous examples. To see more of Jane’s stupendous work and to find out more about her private commissions,  have a look at her shop Bee and Tree. Here you can also view some of her original artwork and canvases as well as her organic range of short sleeve onesies that feature sweet and simple motifs. Too cute to resist!

-Sara

Megan Park began her career in textiles (and a long working stint in the UK), followed by women’s clothing, girl’s dresses and a range of beautiful handmade cushions and throws which are to die-for (just look at these gorgeous cushions). Megan’s inspiration comes from far and abroad — from the street markets in Old Delhi and Hong Kong to the flea markets in Paris…

Megan Park is available worldwide.

-Sara

You can see some of the progress of Aly’s toys in-the-making on her blog here.

Maiike products are available at retailers listed on her website and at kidostore for local and international shipment.

- Sara

Recently looking out of the car window at the lovely window shop display, waiting for the traffic lights to change…

Me in passenger seat: ‘Wow, is that…are they…my goodness I think they are tea towels!’
Husband in driver seat: ‘No, no darling, that’s just a painting…’
Me: ‘No husband, I really don’t think so… they look like linen… I’m sure they are tea towels. Yes, yes they ARE tea towels! Quick…STOP! I’ll be really quick!’
Husband rolls eyes and pulls over. And that was how I came to acquire 3 tea towels from Third Drawer Down. 

This Australian company produces the most magnificent linen tea towels, so gorgeous, so whimsical and artistic that upon unpacking them later I decided that I could not bear to relegate them to mere dish washing status. They were, just as my husband had said ‘works of art’. So, I had them stretched over a wooden canvas and hung them on my kitchen walls (and duly thanked my husband for being so clever, forever igniting my creative fires).

Third Drawer Down reproduces artwork by contemporary Australian and International artists as limited edition screen prints onto 100% finest quality materials including tea towels, pillowcases, aprons and art-kerchiefs. Inspired by the ’60s pop art movement, Third Drawer Down believes that by placing art into domestic environments it creates an accessibility that may not exist with traditionally elite and often highly priced works of art. Each item is gorgeously packaged in an archival envelope with details of the artist’s provenance and the Third Drawer Down project.  Not an expensive tea towel but — an affordable piece of art!! Creating art that’s accessible, functional, and affordable is in my opinion, pure genius!

Interestingly, the name ‘third drawer down’ refers to a statistic stating that 80 percent of households in the Southern Hemisphere keep their tea towels in the third drawer down! I must be in the minority then as I keep mine in a top drawer. So special, they are.

ps. the fabulous piece above is by famed Aussie artist David Bromley.

- Sara

Here are a few of my top Aussie label picks (thus far!) for Autumn/Winter 2010.

Fred Bare : I can’t wait for my daughter to wear this coat (pictured) – nor can she which is fortunate as these days it doesn’t happen often that we agree on her fashion choices. And the rest of the Fred Bare range? I love!

Chalk n Cheese: I am also completely enamoured with this Orange cashmere number….stunning!

Minti: This groovy grey coat caught my eye, for my son this time…. (on second thoughts, it isn’t looking promising with that price tag….I suppose I could always extend the mortgage..)

Cried Wolf : This marle sweatshirt for a bit of fun and humour and as you can see, I really love grey especially when it is marle. This brand does the most fantastic casual sweatshirts – perfect for kindergarten and for the weekends.

Seed : A rubber boot is a must and call me boring but I love the simplicity of these — navy with a brown leather toggle — gorgeous and classic.  I’m thinking the red for my daughter, the blue for my son.

Polka: For a colour riot. Really, winter is grey enough! This knit is truly divine and really pops out at you, but as my 8 year old daughter has done a complete turnaround and refuses to wear dresses I will not succumb to its cuteness or it will call out to me every time I open her closet…. and of course I will then berate myself for having wasted the money… etc etc.

Oh, bring on Winter so that we can start wearing our winter woolies! I do love rugging up and the heat is stifling at the moment. And – happy cyber browsing!  More fun than the real thing….no?

-Sara

1. Melbourne Museum –  This fabulous museum, located on the northern border of the Carlton Gardens behind the Royal Exhibition Building, is futuristic and interactive and connects architecture and nature – in the middle of the museum, you can walk through a forest! The Children’s Gallery is designed for children 3 to 8 but I would think it would delight even the younger toddler. The children’s exhibition, entitled 1,2,3 Grow, explores the many ways things, including humans, grow. Activities, children’s art, stories, an indoor sandpit with fossils beneath the sand which children are encouraged to discover, a kids puppet theatre and an outside play/picnic area including games such as skittles for the whole family, are just some of the attractions. It doesn’t matter how often we visit (we try to put our membership to good use after all) my children are always stimulated and engaged. Young children particularly love the insect section and the Forest gallery. Click here for more details.

2. Scienceworks – My kids’ favorite! This museum is situated in an old plumbing station and is simply brilliant. It is dynamic and interactive and a must for children who are inquisitive especially in matters relating to science and technology. The museum collection objects are combined with hands-on exhibits so you can test your reflexes, jumping and kicking abilities and are designed to be explored. Amazingly the exhibits continuously changes so repeat visits never get repetitive. The Planetarium is particularly fabulous and without fail my children always protest when it is time to leave! For more details click here.

3. Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) – One of our newest art spots in Federation Square, dedicated to the moving image in all its forms including cinema, television, computer games and interactive media arts. This place is amazing. I think the official emphasis here is on older kids but I could not get my 2-year-old out the first time we visited. In addition to the babies screenings there is so much child-centred programming, all very high tech — with free animated flicks and the annual International Childrens Festival. Kids can even create their own short film! The Games Lab is a changing exhibition of computer games with exhibits showing the development of the game and several consoles on which to play the current game. Needless to say, kids love this area and given that so many young children are techno savvy these days, even the toddlers can be seen having a go. The Memory Grid has more than 200 short films in free futuristic ‘lounge rooms’. Just brilliant. Small pods of seats surround a screen from which short films can be chosen from the touch screen. I cannot recommend it highly enough, for kids and for adults! See here for more information.

- Sara

The book is created using uncoated paper, a great surface to sketch on and is staple bound so the pages open flat. It is printed in Australia on 100% recycled paper. It isn’t too long or too short — just perfect to capture their little attention spans.

Available through weheartbooks for local and international shipment.

- Sara

To view their stunning collection and for online orders, click here!

-Sara

And so, when I discovered a cute little pop-up store in King Street, Prahran that specializes exclusively in children’s jeans,  I couldn’t wait to spread the word.

Little Rivet Jeans is a gorgeous shop offering a seasonally relevant denim range for boys and girls aged 1-6 years where the focus is on fit, construction and quality – but without the ridiculously expensive price tag that we have come to expect from premium denim. The jeans are soft and simple, just as children’s jeans should be, in a really impressive range of fits and finishes — including a vibrant coloured range for the girls. And whilst they have a ‘vintage’ feel about them, they are still modern and trendy.

There are no itchy tags (a constant source of annoyance for my 4-year-old) or bothersome grommets (a constant source of annoyance for me!).  Just good, wholesome classic jeans. And they all feature adjustable waistbands, another reason to rejoice! These are definitely jeans that are meant to be worn and handed down.

-Sara

- Sara

Many cafes in Melbourne answer this need, providing crayons and butcher paper to occupy the kids. And that certainly helps! But Family Life Home & Café in Grattan Street, Prahran goes one step further. Not only is it a divine Balinese inspired space, incorporating a cafe and boutique, but it has a gorgeous imaginative play area for the children.

So… whilst you leisurely sip your cappuccino on a comfy couch, chat to friends, read the newspaper (without being interrupted every. single. sentence) and shop for hand-made toys, eco homewares, exotic recycled furniture and some great kidswear — the children are happily playing nearby in the enchanted forest or putting on a show in the gazebo! Happiness all around!

If you are visiting, be sure to check out the kidswear. Not only do they carry some great Aussie designers like Mill&Mia, Sudo and Jellyfish but they also carry a more obscure Balinese designer called Paul Ropp. His distinctive and vibrant pieces are truly amazing!

Family Life will also throw a fantastic kids birthday party, with every little detail taken care of!

- Sara

In line with the later books in the series, the colours are slightly vintage and the images are retro and whimsical. And Sasek’s mode of travel to the land down under? Not in chains like the first British colonists, but on a Qantas big bird!! (which incidentally, ‘flies very well’, unlike the Australian penguin and emu!) I absolutely love these books — they introduce children to the people, customs and places of interest in cities around the world, captivating young readers with gorgeous illustrations and a witty narrative. I also think it’s fascinating to see each city from a 1960’s perspective. And…needless to say, in my family we just love the Aussie edition!

Available for worldwide delivery at Amazon.

ps. Courtney, this is the perfect souvenir for your children and will remind them for years to come of their great Aussie adventure!!

- Sara

Here, children can get up close and personal with all the typical farmyard animals and immerse themselves in farm chores.  They can get their hands dirty milking the cows, bottle feeding the lambs, waddling with the ducks, patting the rabbits, feeding grass to the horses and all the while marvel at the sight and smell of the pigs.  They can also look for eggs — a great way to teach them that eggs and milk don’t come out of cartons (as I am lead to believe some ‘other’ children think is the case… not mine, of course! )

And, after all that exhausting animal frolicking, if you haven’t brought your own picnic, there is the delicious Farm Cafe where you can enjoy a decent coffee made with Eureka beans and a hearty farmer’s breakfast or lunch, always reliably good.

Needless to say, this is truly a hidden oasis for us Melbourne city dwellers.  Every second Saturday of the month the farm hosts a wonderful farmers’ market selling fresh produce from the farm and from dozens of other Victorian producers. I am always gutted when I miss this. And despite a little mishap with an enthusiastic cow I was attempting to milk several months ago (I won’t divulge but it didn’t end so well for me), it really is one of my favorite places to take my children. We always have a ball.

ps. Should you happen to be a germaphobe like me, don’t forget this!

- Sara

A friend recently introduced me to a great children’s cooking website called Wholesome Productions which creates a fabulous range of children’s cooking kits.  They also sell party cooking kits for those brave enough to host their own kid’s cooking party.

The Pizza Baking Kit (pictured) is particularly adorable because it comes in a genuine pizza box and includes an apron, chef’s hat, a pan, rolling pin and an easy-to-follow washable recipe book… a great present for this holiday season!  I have also found a ton of kid’s cooking utensils and baking sets at Mini Whisk and these are worth a mention because they come in a range of cool themes (Australiana, love hearts, flying etc.) and they are really well-priced too. Alternatively, add a cute little recipe book to some mini-sized cooking tools, or a little chef’s hat to a pint sized rolling pin and there you have some practical and fun gift ideas for all the aspiring master chefs out there!

-Sara

They are delicate and soft, understated and ….  just so very adorable! Not to mention, they come in the most gorgeous of textures (honestly, I’m not sure that these pictures do them justice).  They are perfect for the special occasions in life or ‘just because’.  After all, there is nothing more frustrating than spending money on something special for your children only to have them outgrow it after two wears. What a waste!

Czarque baby shoes are handcrafted in Australia in the finest quality Australian leather and they all feature soft, flexible brushed suede soles that are perfect for babies’ delicate feet (from newborn size to age 2). As a first shoe I think that they would make the sweetest keepsake.

They are available at Bon Bon Tresor for both local and international shipment.

- Sara