Thursday, August 03, 2006

10:30am: Sydney Road shopping

It's a little over a kilometre, west along Blythe St, from CERES to Sydney Road - you don't mind walking, do you? Sydney Rd is the longest shopping strip in Melbourne but you won't find Gap, Gucci or Tiffany's here. Rather, it's a hodge-podge of Brunswick's immigrant history and contemporary gentrification.

Amid bridal dressmakers and traditional Italian furniture stores lies Mediterranean Wholesalers. It houses a staggering range of fresh and dried pasta, olive oil, canned goods, cheese, liquor and sweets. Though it's tempting to fill an entire trolley, you can also make a meal sing with just one or two purchases - try the porcini stock cubes, a bottle of black cherry syrup, or, if you've brought more than our $50 budget, some limoncello.

We could walk north to some factory outlets for clothing and the like, but I'd prefer...

... Savers! I am a chronic op-shopper and I've found some brilliant clothes (and party costumes) here. It's difficult not to, given the volume of stuff on offer.

If you like retro kitchenware, you're sure to find some funky dinner plates, cut-glass tumblers or twee tea sets too.

There are a couple more op shops and $2 stores to browse through as we walk south, and there's an unassuming Indian grocery packed with frozen paratha and Bollywood DVDs as we approach Brunswick Road. Sydney Road has its fair share of great cafes, too, but we need to pace ourselves!

And anyway, it's just about time to meet Michael for lunch.

No comments: