Fitzroyalty http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty Hyperlocal news about Melbourne's first suburb: Fitzroy 3065 Sun, 19 May 2013 14:16:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 lunch at the new Birmingham hotel on Smith St http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/20/lunch-at-the-new-birmingham-hotel-on-smith-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/20/lunch-at-the-new-birmingham-hotel-on-smith-st/#comments Sun, 19 May 2013 14:05:19 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12561 The Birmingham hotel has had a poor recent past. Live music has come and gone, a campaign proclaiming ‘it’s not shit anymore‘ a few years ago didn’t last and it slipped into irrelevance before closing. Now it has reopened after a complete refurbishment featuring a vintage industrial theme based on the industrial heritage of its namesake city.

The interior walls have been stripped back to bare brick and the floors to bare timber, and there’s a pressed tin lined bar with stools and table with chairs and high tables with stools throughout.…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/20/lunch-at-the-new-birmingham-hotel-on-smith-st/feed/ 0 -37.7989502 144.9842682 happy Mothers’ Day http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/19/happy-mothers-day/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/19/happy-mothers-day/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 14:14:06 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12564 Yes I know it was last week but I only found this portrait yesterday. It’s in the laneway running parallel to and just east of Nicholson St between Westgarth and Leicester streets.

street art fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/19/happy-mothers-day/feed/ 0 the City of Yarra’s unreasonable expectations of food trucks operating from private property http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/18/the-city-of-yarras-unreasonable-expectations-of-food-trucks-operating-from-private-property/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/18/the-city-of-yarras-unreasonable-expectations-of-food-trucks-operating-from-private-property/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 07:03:48 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12562 The following information is fresh in via email from a reader who says he made an enquiry to the City of Yarra about what food trucks need to do to operate from private property. I’ll quote the email verbatim:

I’ve been reading your post regarding MFV’s operating on private land in the City of Yarra and just wanted to relay my experience with the council on this matter.

I inquired about MFV’s trading from private land and was informed that a planning permit must be applied for, for a change of use of the property along with a building permit.

…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/18/the-city-of-yarras-unreasonable-expectations-of-food-trucks-operating-from-private-property/feed/ 0 social media mob rule and the Astor cinema building public relations war http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/17/social-media-mob-rule-and-the-astor-cinema-building-public-relations-war/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/17/social-media-mob-rule-and-the-astor-cinema-building-public-relations-war/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 14:05:17 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=11560 This post is about the circumstances that resulted in a school buying, then unexpectedly selling, a cinema building within a few years, with the sale apparently driven primarily by negative public opinion expressed through social media. Like my previous posts about the business and psychology of social media, this one examines the power of social media and the perils faced by those who ignore it.

As usual, there is a disclaimer. I was working at St Michael’s Grammar School when the Astor saga occurred, developing its new website, and it would have been a conflict of interest for me to write about it at the time. …

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/17/social-media-mob-rule-and-the-astor-cinema-building-public-relations-war/feed/ 15 a response from the City of Yarra about food trucks trading from private property http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/16/a-response-from-the-city-of-yarra-about-food-trucks-trading-from-private-property/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/16/a-response-from-the-city-of-yarra-about-food-trucks-trading-from-private-property/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 01:38:31 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12542 I received a response to the questions I asked the City of Yarra that were included in my previous post about the issue of the legality of food trucks trading to the public from provate property.

First, the City of Yarra says that no planning permits have been issued to allow food trucks to trade on private property. I actually asked if any had been applied for, but never mind. I am sure none have been applied for because no one has been advised to do so as this advice is not in council’s documentation.…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/16/a-response-from-the-city-of-yarra-about-food-trucks-trading-from-private-property/feed/ 0 City of Yarra admits food trucks are trading without permission on private property in Fitzroy http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/14/city-of-yarra-admits-food-trucks-are-trading-without-permission-on-private-property-in-fitzroy/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/14/city-of-yarra-admits-food-trucks-are-trading-without-permission-on-private-property-in-fitzroy/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 14:05:39 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12538 The consultation period for people to comment on the new draft rules for food trucks in Yarra has closed. The City of Yarra website article on the issue has not been updated with details on which forthcoming meeting will have the issue on its agenda, so the issue has an indefinite future. If you need a refresher on the issue read my April post.

First, the council staffer collecting the submissions replied to my emailed submission by denying any knowledge of the submission I made to council in person at the March meeting (as documented in my April post).…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/14/city-of-yarra-admits-food-trucks-are-trading-without-permission-on-private-property-in-fitzroy/feed/ 0 Darryl Adams vs Melinda Tankard Reist: harassed at work for personal behaviour online http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/10/darryl-adams-vs-melinda-tankard-reist-harassed-at-work-for-personal-behaviour-online/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/10/darryl-adams-vs-melinda-tankard-reist-harassed-at-work-for-personal-behaviour-online/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 14:40:29 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12536 A man used a pseudonymous Twitter account to make a sexist comment about a woman. The woman took offence. She knew his real name. She presumably could do little to obtain a retraction or apology from him, and was dissatisfied with this. She also knew who his employer was, so she contacted them and asked them to harass him for her, and they appear to have complied.

Regardless of the tastelessness of his actions, her behaviour cannot be justified.…

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posted in Employment by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/10/darryl-adams-vs-melinda-tankard-reist-harassed-at-work-for-personal-behaviour-online/feed/ 0 Woolworths Fitzroy breaches Australian consumer law by refusing to offer a refund for faulty goods http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/08/woolworths-fitzroy-breaches-australian-consumer-law-by-refusing-to-offer-a-refund-for-faulty-goods/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/08/woolworths-fitzroy-breaches-australian-consumer-law-by-refusing-to-offer-a-refund-for-faulty-goods/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 14:41:08 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12533 Some time ago, perhaps a year or a bit more, I bought 4 Woolworths ‘essentials’ brand AAA 800mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries, made in China, from Woolworths on Smith St in Fitzroy. They recently failed to charge and are dead.

NiMH rechargeable batteries are supposed to be capable of dozens, if not hundreds, of recharge cycles, and should have a life of several years. I would have recharged these batteries only about 5 or 6 times. They can be reasonably considered to be faulty and unfit for purpose.…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/08/woolworths-fitzroy-breaches-australian-consumer-law-by-refusing-to-offer-a-refund-for-faulty-goods/feed/ 3 all that glitters http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/06/all-that-glitters/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/06/all-that-glitters/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 13:30:44 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12528 This is on Victoria St near the corner of Brunswick St. Glitter camel cum is so hot right now.

victoria st street art fitzroy victoria st street art fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/06/all-that-glitters/feed/ 3 Shoe Fitz is closing http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/04/shoe-fitz-is-closing/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/04/shoe-fitz-is-closing/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 14:19:24 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12523 This is one business closure I am genuinely sad about, because I walked past yesterday wearing boots bought at Shoe Fitz to discover they are closing. I’m hearing more and more comments from locals that retail is seriously struggling on Brunswick St.

fitzroy deadpool brunswick st …

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/04/shoe-fitz-is-closing/feed/ 4 -37.7987785 144.9785004 I’d rather be unemployed than perpetuate your management speak http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/03/id-rather-be-unemployed-than-perpetuate-your-management-speak/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/03/id-rather-be-unemployed-than-perpetuate-your-management-speak/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 00:10:57 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12521 Dear ATO, I looked at a role you are currently advertising for a Legal writer to translate complex taxation rules into plain language to help the charity and not for profit sector comply with tax law. I understand the purpose of the role. It would be a significant technical writing challenge, but it is one I would consider doing despite it not being very interesting.

I prefer to do something fundamentally useful for society rather than simply make money, and I can see that this role could genuinely help charities do better business, which is likely to be good for society overall.…

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posted in Employment by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/03/id-rather-be-unemployed-than-perpetuate-your-management-speak/feed/ 2 lunch at Masak Masak, Smith St Collingwood http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/02/lunch-at-masak-masak-smith-st-collingwood/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/02/lunch-at-masak-masak-smith-st-collingwood/#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 05:52:27 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12517 Masak Masak is a new casual Malaysian eatery on Smith St in a space where a couple of generic cafes have previously failed. In reinvigorating the space and changing its use I think it will do well, because there’s been nothing else like in the area since the closure of Roundhouse Roti a few years ago.

I had beef rendang with roti canai and my friend had soy braised pork with rice. The rendang was fantastic but the roti was a little dry, and my friend said her pork was very good.…

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posted in Collingwood by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/02/lunch-at-masak-masak-smith-st-collingwood/feed/ 0 -37.8022423 144.9839935 Daily Life, about a week behind the rest of the world http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/01/daily-life-about-a-week-behind-the-rest-of-the-world/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/01/daily-life-about-a-week-behind-the-rest-of-the-world/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:04:11 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12382 About two months ago Clementine Ford and I had a brief conversation on Twitter, which is reproduced below.

media

Since then, I have been languidly gathering examples for Ford to illustrate my claim that a significant amount of Daily Life‘s content has been recycled from other, more interesting, websites. Here are three example that demonstrate an obvious pattern of behaviour.

On 17 February 2013 Salon published an article about large labia and labia pride. Jezebel ran it on 18 February and Slate on 20 February.…

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posted in Media by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/05/01/daily-life-about-a-week-behind-the-rest-of-the-world/feed/ 15 how recruitment agencies treat job applicants like shit http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/30/how-recruitment-agencies-treat-job-applicants-like-shit/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/30/how-recruitment-agencies-treat-job-applicants-like-shit/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:05:10 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12506 If like me you’re looking for a job, you’re probably signed up to receiving emails for specific keyword searches from Seek and the Victorian government employment site, and you’re browsing jobs listed on Linkedin and other sites. Many of the jobs listed in Seek are short term contract roles.

When you see one of these jobs listed you apply for it and, most of the time, you never hear back from the recruitment agency listing it.…

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posted in Employment by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/30/how-recruitment-agencies-treat-job-applicants-like-shit/feed/ 2 media corporations don’t understand the importance of attribution to user generated content creators http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/29/media-corporations-dont-understand-the-importance-of-attribution-to-user-generated-content-creators/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/29/media-corporations-dont-understand-the-importance-of-attribution-to-user-generated-content-creators/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:02:06 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12505 Attribution of authorship in the reuse of copyrighted content is important because it recognises the moral rights content creators have in their work, which is basically the right to be identified as the creator of the work regardless of who is licensed to republish it.

The importance of attribution is poorly understood by the general public, as this example demonstrates, like much of copyright law. The importance of attribution is not only misunderstood, but deliberately and egregiously violated, by media corporations on a daily basis.…

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posted in Intellectual property by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/29/media-corporations-dont-understand-the-importance-of-attribution-to-user-generated-content-creators/feed/ 0 fire at The Commoner restaurant on Johnston St http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/26/fire-at-the-commoner-restaurant-on-johnston-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/26/fire-at-the-commoner-restaurant-on-johnston-st/#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:26:32 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12502 There was a fire in the kitchen of The Commoner restaurant on Johnston St last night. Chef Adam Lister reports that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the oven. The restaurant was closed at the time, and it reports on Twitter that the dining room was not damaged, no staff were injured and the restaurant will be closed for approximately a month for repairs.

johnston st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/26/fire-at-the-commoner-restaurant-on-johnston-st/feed/ 0 -37.7986183 144.9789886 an open letter to Sky Sports from an Australian F1 fan http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/25/an-open-letter-to-sky-sports-from-an-australian-f1-fan/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/25/an-open-letter-to-sky-sports-from-an-australian-f1-fan/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:27:56 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12500 I am an Australian who loves F1. I attend the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne each year and am there for every minute of every session. Practice 1 on Friday is my favourite session of the year. As the Australian Grand Prix has been the first race of the season for many years, I get to see the new driver / team combinations for the first time live, rather than on tv, which is very exciting.…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/25/an-open-letter-to-sky-sports-from-an-australian-f1-fan/feed/ 13 art on Fitzroy St http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/24/art-on-fitzroy-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/24/art-on-fitzroy-st/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:53:22 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12496 These are on the wall between Leicester and Westgarth streets.

street art fitzroy st fitzroy

street art fitzroy st fitzroy

street art fitzroy st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/24/art-on-fitzroy-st/feed/ 0 rainbow crossing http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/22/rainbow-crossing/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/22/rainbow-crossing/#comments Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:56:43 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12494 This is on the corner of George and Rose streets – a reference to recent protests about a rainbow crossing in Sydney.

rose st george st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/22/rainbow-crossing/feed/ 0 Citro motors on Smith St has closed http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/19/citro-motors-on-smith-st-has-closed/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/19/citro-motors-on-smith-st-has-closed/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:19:05 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12491 I loved walking past here and seeing the various cars being worked on in this garage, which specialised in Citroens. Fitzroy still has lots of car workshops but this was probably the most interesting.

smith st fitzroy deadpool …

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posted in Deadpool by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/19/citro-motors-on-smith-st-has-closed/feed/ 1 -37.8079948 144.9826050 an update on the City of Yarra’s food truck policy http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/18/an-update-on-the-city-of-yarras-food-truck-policy/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/18/an-update-on-the-city-of-yarras-food-truck-policy/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:10:08 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12489 Since the March meeting of the City of Yarra, there has been some progress on the issue of food trucks being permitted to trade in Yarra. Council announced that three permits had been approved at a meeting held on 9 April, where it also voted to publish a revised draft policy for food trucks for public consultation.

Don’t hold your breath about seeing more food trucks in Fitzroy however. As I understand it, the locations approved for these permits are on Bridge Rd and Swan St in Richmond.…

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posted in City of Yarra by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/18/an-update-on-the-city-of-yarras-food-truck-policy/feed/ 0 what’s happening at Ziegote cafe on Johnston St? http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/17/whats-happening-at-ziegote-cafe-on-johnston-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/17/whats-happening-at-ziegote-cafe-on-johnston-st/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:03:00 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12486 Ziegote cafe on Johnston St had broken, or so I thought, the curse on one of the least successful business locations in Fitzroy. I’ve enjoyed my Indian spiced breakfasts there, and hoped it would last, but now it seems closed with a notice in the window stating ‘renovation in progress’ and that it will reopen with a Spanish menu. This suggests it’s unlikely to be run by the Ziegote owner and sadly I think his business has closed.…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/17/whats-happening-at-ziegote-cafe-on-johnston-st/feed/ 2 -37.7979279 144.9756165 window antics http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/16/window-antics/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/16/window-antics/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:05:41 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12482 In the space of the former Lion in Love, something new is happening. Sort of. At the moment the window features Lego figures staring out at the street while soft toys are busy fucking.

window displays fitzroy brunswick st window displays fitzroy brunswick st …

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/16/window-antics/feed/ 0 -37.7973175 144.9785004 open space on Brunswick St http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/15/open-space-on-brunswick-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/15/open-space-on-brunswick-st/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:43:15 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12479 I love the open space alongside the new ACU building on Brunswick St.

fitzroy brunswick st …

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/15/open-space-on-brunswick-st/feed/ 2 -37.8050537 144.9773407 veiled http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/14/veiled/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/14/veiled/#comments Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:40:36 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12477 Another huge new mural by Adnate on the back of the BSG building on Brunswick St, as viewed from Argyle St.

street art fitzroy argyle st …

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posted in Argyle St by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/14/veiled/feed/ 0 how much frozen yogurt does Brunswick St need? http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/13/how-much-frozen-yogurt-does-brunswick-st-need/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/13/how-much-frozen-yogurt-does-brunswick-st-need/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:07:04 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12473 Berrisimo frozen yogurt opened recently on Brunswick St next to Babka. At the time it was the only shop of its kind in the immediate vicinity and added something new to Brunswick St. However, just across the road, in the location of the former Cruzao, a direct competitor called Frolic will soon open.

We’ve seen similar competition lead to the failure of a competitor in the past. Trampoline icecream opened on Brunswick St in 2004 and was followed by Timis gelato some time later.…

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/13/how-much-frozen-yogurt-does-brunswick-st-need/feed/ 5 the selective outrage of bourgeois feminism http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/12/the-selective-outrage-of-bourgeois-feminism/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/12/the-selective-outrage-of-bourgeois-feminism/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:38:07 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12471 Two days ago an article was published about whether it is socially acceptable for men to wear beards in corporate workplaces. The article quoted two women etiquette ‘experts’ who tell men what they can and can’t do with their bodies. The article is offensive, sexist and endorses discriminatory behaviour.

If the roles were reversed, with the article quoting men telling women what to do with their body hair and what is acceptable in the workplace, the advice in the article would be widely decried as sexist and misogynistic.…

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posted in Sex and gender by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/12/the-selective-outrage-of-bourgeois-feminism/feed/ 0 goodbye Nena, hello Kismet http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/11/goodbye-nena-hello-kismet/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/11/goodbye-nena-hello-kismet/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:09:44 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12463 Nena pizza on Johnston St lasted about two years after taking over from Mario’s and attempting to astroturf the comments on this site. Now the space is Kismet pizza and kebabs.

opening soon johnston st fitzroy deadpool …

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posted in Deadpool by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/11/goodbye-nena-hello-kismet/feed/ 0 -37.7989922 144.9837646 has Cafe Nova closed? http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/10/has-cafe-nova-closed/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/10/has-cafe-nova-closed/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:05:08 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12458 Last winter Cafe Nova on Brunswick reduced its trading days – an admission perhaps of poor profitability, where wages cost more than a cafe earns. Now the cafe is closed and the entrance is boarded over. Is it closed for good? According to a business for sale listing (taken offline within the last few days), the business is currently for sale with 19 years remaining on the lease.

fitzroy deadpool brunswick st …

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/10/has-cafe-nova-closed/feed/ 9 -37.7978516 144.9782867 lunch at Metung Galley, Metung http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/09/lunch-at-metung-galley-metung/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/09/lunch-at-metung-galley-metung/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:19:08 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12450 My party of three was about 15 minutes late for our lunch booking at the Metung Galley. When we arrived I went to the counter, explained that I had a booking and apologised for being late. We’d been on the road for hours and were in need of sustenance and relaxation.

With most of the outdoor tables taken but most of the indoor ones vacant, the venue was barely half full and seemed to have sufficient staff to deliver prompt service.…

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posted in Food by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/09/lunch-at-metung-galley-metung/feed/ 5 -37.8927193 147.8536377 Marmalade and Soul in North Fitzroy has closed http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/08/marmalade-and-soul-in-north-fitzroy-has-closed/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/08/marmalade-and-soul-in-north-fitzroy-has-closed/#comments Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:09:05 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12460 Thanks to regular reader David for alerting me to the fact that Marmalade and Soul on Queens Parade in North Fitzroy closed around the time of the Easter long weekend. It’s been open for little more than a year and seemed to be doing alright, but evidently not.

The redevelopment of the former pub into a restaurant and apartments has been a slow process with the apartments yet to be finished. It’s not clear if the closure of the restaurant is related to its profitability or to issues with the broader development of the whole building.…

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posted in Alexandra Parade by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/08/marmalade-and-soul-in-north-fitzroy-has-closed/feed/ 2 -37.7907600 144.9853516 dinner at Floating Dragon, Lakes Entrance http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/02/dinner-at-floating-dragon-lakes-entrance/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/02/dinner-at-floating-dragon-lakes-entrance/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:17:59 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12447 Floating Dragon in Lakes Entrance is an unusual regional restaurant. As far as I can tell the menu is reasonably authentic Cantonese cuisine. The food is certainly of very good quality and it is relatively expensive, with somewhat slow but very friendly service.

Located on a pontoon floating in the harbour of Lakes Entrance, Floating Dragon has novelty and great views to add to its excellent food. Even on a wet and stormy night it was calm inside, though you could occasionally feel the movement of the water beneath.…

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posted in Food by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/04/02/dinner-at-floating-dragon-lakes-entrance/feed/ 0 -37.8795853 147.9916077 complaining to Australia Post about the North Fitzroy post office http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/28/complaining-to-australia-post-about-the-north-fitzroy-post-office/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/28/complaining-to-australia-post-about-the-north-fitzroy-post-office/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:28:13 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12429 The North Fitzroy post office is notorious for providing bad service, losing parcels and generally being the Fawlty Towers of post offices. You can read many complaints in reviews. But complaining about Australia Post in a Google page is of no concern to Australia Post – I doubt they’re trawling the internets and attempting to find consumer concerns to sooth away.

The customer service is now bad at most Australia Post outlets. As an organisation, they’re too busy undermining the wages of skilled staff and replacing them with unskilled contractors who never deliver parcels, who can’t sort letters and who dump mail that is obviously for other properties in your letterbox.…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/28/complaining-to-australia-post-about-the-north-fitzroy-post-office/feed/ 8 lunch at Industry Beans on Fitzroy St http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/27/lunch-at-industry-beans-on-fitzroy-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/27/lunch-at-industry-beans-on-fitzroy-st/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:26:27 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12426 I first visited Industry Beans for coffee a few days after it opened, and while I was satisfied I was not seriously impressed and thought I would leave a couple of weeks for them to settle into trading before returning to eat. On my second visit the coffee was the same but I also ate and now have a sufficient impression of the place to write a review.

My lunch companion and I marvelled at the large and diverse menu.…

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posted in Coffee by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/27/lunch-at-industry-beans-on-fitzroy-st/feed/ 2 -37.7960243 144.9777527 splat http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/26/splat/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/26/splat/#comments Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:12:02 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12424 On the wall of the laneway parallel to and west of Brunswick St near the corner of Leicester St.

street art fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/26/splat/feed/ 0 Raimond Gaita on Spring St http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/24/raimond-gaita-on-spring-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/24/raimond-gaita-on-spring-st/#comments Sat, 23 Mar 2013 13:32:27 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12417 A portrait of Raimond Gaita on Spring St near the corner of Rose St.

street art spring st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/24/raimond-gaita-on-spring-st/feed/ 0 go fuck yourself http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/23/go-fuck-yourself/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/23/go-fuck-yourself/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:28:53 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12421 I think it looks better like this, not new and undamaged. On the wall of the laneway parallel to and west of Brunswick St near the corner of Leicester St.

street art fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/23/go-fuck-yourself/feed/ 0 bureaucrazy http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/22/bureaucrazy/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/22/bureaucrazy/#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:22:40 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12419 In the window of Palookaville on Brunswick St.

fitzroy business brunswick st …

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posted in Brunswick St by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/22/bureaucrazy/feed/ 0 lunch at 2 Bob on Queens Parade, North Fitzroy http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/21/lunch-at-2-bob-on-queens-parade-north-fitzroy/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/21/lunch-at-2-bob-on-queens-parade-north-fitzroy/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:30:35 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12415 This is the big breakfast at Two Bob cafe on Queens Parade North Fitzroy – toast, poached eggs, bacon, fried tomato, onion jam, wonderful pork and fennel sausages, mushrooms and a triangle of what they call rosti. Normally rosti is made with grated potato but this was a surprisingly light concoction, like the lightest fluffiest polenta, and was made with mashed potato.

The coffee is very good, or at least it is exactly as I like it: strong.…

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posted in Coffee by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/21/lunch-at-2-bob-on-queens-parade-north-fitzroy/feed/ 0 -37.7889748 144.9884644 a review of Melbourne local government online communications http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/20/a-review-of-melbourne-local-government-online-communications/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/20/a-review-of-melbourne-local-government-online-communications/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:02:07 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12367 In 2009 I reviewed and compared all the inner metropolitan Melbourne local government websites. I’m now going to do the same for the broader online presences for the same local governments. Some have replaced their websites in this time, and most demonstrate that they are investing more in trying to communicate with the people they represent.

Mostly, however, their communications are amateurish and well behind what may be described as best practice. One of the clearest indicators of an amateur client in web development is when they allow a developer to advertise themselves in the footer of the sites they build for clients.…

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posted in Hyperlocal by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/20/a-review-of-melbourne-local-government-online-communications/feed/ 0 you don’t have an inalienable right to breed http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/18/you-dont-have-an-inalienable-right-to-breed/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/18/you-dont-have-an-inalienable-right-to-breed/#comments Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:34:57 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12290 Animals living in a state of nature reproduce according to their nature and the limits of their habitat. People, in contrast, mostly live not in states of nature but in political states and societies. Our reproductive freedom to have unplanned (and sometimes unwanted) children imposes a financial burden on the state (and thus taxpayers), which becomes responsible for financially supporting custodial parents in the absence of support from the other biological parent, or in providing for children when both parents are unable to.…

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posted in Marriage and relationships by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/18/you-dont-have-an-inalienable-right-to-breed/feed/ 2 Woolworths on Smith St bullies local government representative http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/17/woolworths-on-smith-st-bullies-local-government-representative/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/17/woolworths-on-smith-st-bullies-local-government-representative/#comments Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:41:31 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12403 The City of Yarra councillor Steve Jolly, of the Socialist Party, is more active than most councillors in engaging with residents and ratepayers. He sometimes has a stall outside Woolworths on Smith St, and it was there on Thursday 14 March that Woolworths management called the police in an attempt to evict Jolly from the footpath.

smith st politics fitzroy city of yarra business

Courtesy Steve Jolly / Twitter / photographer: unknown / copyright: used under the fair dealings provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 / 2013

Jolly reported on Friday 15 March on Twitter that ‘Wollies @ Smith St called police on our 8-yr long stall yesterday!…

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posted in Business by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/17/woolworths-on-smith-st-bullies-local-government-representative/feed/ 12 new works on Leicester St http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/16/new-works-on-leicester-st/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/16/new-works-on-leicester-st/#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:29:04 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12400 Two of several new works on Leicester St.

street art leicester st fitzroy

street art leicester st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/16/new-works-on-leicester-st/feed/ 0 two portraits of Lewis Marnell http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/15/two-portraits-of-lewis-marnell/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/15/two-portraits-of-lewis-marnell/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:34:40 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12397 Two portraits of the late Lewis Marnell, on Rose and Spring streets, the top one by Dvate and the bottom one by his brother Jonas.

street art smith st rose st fitzroy

street art smith st rose st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/15/two-portraits-of-lewis-marnell/feed/ 2 con men http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/14/con-men/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/14/con-men/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:17:28 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12394 This is on Spring St.

street art spring st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/14/con-men/feed/ 0 lunch at Gypsy Hideout, High St Northcote http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/13/lunch-at-gypsy-hideout-high-st-northcote/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/13/lunch-at-gypsy-hideout-high-st-northcote/#comments Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:34:05 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12390 In between French films at the Westgarth on the weekend I enjoyed an amazing lunch at Gypsy Hideout. This is a lunch plate that is like a sample plate featuring items from the lunch menu, including stuffed vine leaves, meatballs, a stuffed tomato, baba ghanoush, feta and bread. The coffee is good too. I haven’t eaten there since my first visit and I’m releived to find it as good as it was then.

northcote food coffee …

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posted in Coffee by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/13/lunch-at-gypsy-hideout-high-st-northcote/feed/ 0 -37.7805824 144.9968109 preparing for the future of web publishing http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/12/preparing-for-the-future-of-web-publishing/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/12/preparing-for-the-future-of-web-publishing/#comments Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:29:14 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12323 You may have noticed some changes to the design and information architecture of Fitzroyalty. I have been busy preparing the site for the future. The site has used a responsive Wordpress theme for over a year now, and I keep reducing the amount of content in the menus and sidebars. I’m still working on the information architecture, but the overall experience should now be as good on a phone as on a desktop computer.

An exception to this that is beyond my control is the embedding of Vimeo videos, which basically don’t work.…

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posted in Fitzroyalty by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/12/preparing-for-the-future-of-web-publishing/feed/ 0 The CEO of the City of Moreland demonstrates that he can’t read http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/11/the-ceo-of-the-city-of-moreland-demonstrates-that-he-cant-read/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/11/the-ceo-of-the-city-of-moreland-demonstrates-that-he-cant-read/#comments Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:40:41 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12387 On 18 February I published the post ‘the City of Moreland has falsely accused me of defamation‘ and sent the following email to all the councillors:

Dear CEO and Councillors

I recently applied for a contract role at the City of Moreland. I was treated unprofessionally in the recruitment process and I published a critique of this on my blog at http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/02/13/employment-incompetence-at-the-city-of-moreland/.

As a consequence of this, one of your employees has accused me of defamation.

…

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posted in City of Moreland by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/11/the-ceo-of-the-city-of-moreland-demonstrates-that-he-cant-read/feed/ 1 shrieking at the void http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/09/shrieking-at-the-void/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/09/shrieking-at-the-void/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:04:38 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12384 An impressive if bleak painting on the corner of Rose St and Napier St.

street art rose st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/09/shrieking-at-the-void/feed/ 0 wasted http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/08/wasted/ http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/08/wasted/#comments Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:42:48 +0000 brian http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/?p=12359 This is on Rose St. Ghostpatrol, Kaffeine or a copyist?

street art rose st fitzroy …

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posted in Fitzroy by brian

]]> http://indolentdandy.net/fitzroyalty/2013/03/08/wasted/feed/ 0