Sunday 13th March



Virgin Australia Melbourne's Fashion Festival is back and this year we were lucky to be offered tickets to attend the second last runway with front row seats and access to the VIP bar. 




While we've been to Spring Fashion Week in September we have never been to the one in March, while was sponsored by L'oreal before Virgin took over, and was located out in the Docklands area. This year for the first time the show is being held up at the Royal Exhibition Building (where Melb Uni has exams and balls) and at the Museum.







Running (fashionably) late as usual we made it for dessert and a couple drinks before the show. While the food is moving around and others around me are being offered I'm often not. Is it because I'm not pretty? I might not have that going for me, but I'm a great potential bounty hunter/PI.







For everyone else there was a food & drinks marquee, with sushi packs though they didn't look very fresh or appealing. I would have liked to seen food trucks, something with cranberry & turkey.










The show was held underground. In the carpark, which was very bright, a bit stuffy and worked well with the sound. I was hoping we'd be in the royal exhibition building. But it was an interesting space.

There were 200+ front row seats which were ticketed at $100 each. Why people pay to be exposed to marketing is still beyond me, as a major introvert with less friends than fingers on one hand. But as a marketer it's all about the social experience, a night out with the girls, selfies and to say/show "I was there".

A woman in her 50s wearing a very short dress took my seat. My assertiveness skills are more like aggressive boot camp leader, so I got an usher to do it. The woman shot us a dirty look when asked to move back to her second row seat. Later she'd jump next to me nearly knocking me over. I had my showbag under my seat and didn't realize she'd grabbed mine and ran. This happened to jas and I wasn't there to confront her. Because with me I specialize in violence, and I find the sword mightier than the pen. Though if I don't have a sword a pen will do. I am fully capable of killing someone with a pen, I may be 5" but not to be underestimated.

Fortunately everyone else I encountered was lovely.



The show we saw was Premium Runway 6 - Presented by frankie and Fiat supported by Nude By Nature at Priceline Pharmacy, I'm guessing they supplied the makeup for the models.










I'm most excited about using the contouring kit! A discussion with a friend, bought up who the target audience for this package was, which would be a majority of attendees. Obviously female, but she's also very pale/white (the kit is for light skin only) wears pink lip gloss and fake tans. 




As usual Priceline did all the hair and makeup, for the show and as an express service. Free, no tickets to the show required. We had our hair done and the stylist was great! He had some very good tips.




The beer photo booth guy was very cute :P Samsung had a pop up box, with a selfies hall of mirrors booth and a photo studio setup. I also saw two other areas within the event space. Camwhore heaven.

The best time to check out event space is during the show, because there's less people around, less lines and less waiting. During the show before yours or after is ideal.


So why did you go if you're not into fashion?, asked M. For the showbags (I have a slight obsession with them, related to a childhood experience). And because we were offered tickets from work. But it's not something I'd pay to see/experience, like concerts or the theatre. Still we had a good time, with almost no regrets. Other than my lack of assertiveness.



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Friday 11th March





This week's food adventure was a pop-up in Carlton by Mason Dixon, an American sandwich bar located in a food court on Collins St serving big and bold American flavours. Created by Garrett Huston, from who's from Boston, Massachusetts (north of the Mason Dixon Line) and grew up in Georgia (in the Deep South).



A pop-up took us out of the city, out of the free tram zone towards Melbourne Uni, but left then heading up Hyam Lane at the top of Argle Square, a garden to the right of Stop 3 Lincoln Square. A top secret pop-up, follow the colourful chalk road to a backyard party, with cool vibes, no-smokers (there were none when we were there) and pie!

The reason why we often sometimes don't have pictures of other diners in the background is because we like to eat off peak, when everyone's at work. During peak we sometimes avoid people by ordering in. Yes I am an introvert, though my job needs me to be a major bright and bubbly extrovert, who's possibly a bit high.  



With a kitchen set in a caravan converted stationery food truck and marquee in a backyard. Bright painted walls, and cool vibes this was the place to be on a warm Friday afternoon. 

A place to chill with a beer in one hand and a fork with pie in the other, actually just hold one thing at a time, I need a hand for the camera!





Being in a smaller space the menu was limited though there's something for everyone who loves their freshly toasted sandwiches. There's also a larger range available at the Collins St store, scroll down for that menu.























Boston Boy's pick, which he really enjoyed. Guys are often easily pleased. :P While I didn't try it myself the garlic and cheese along with ham sounds like a gourmet version of the classic ham and plastic cheese sandwich you'd find in lunch boxes. 

Meanwhile I had the veggie option, as I quite like mushrooms. This reuben had a range of textures and flavours, the smooth soft portabella, the sour cabbage (sauerkraut), the richness of the cheese sandwiched between two slices of toasted light rye - my favourite bread. In one word it was tangy. I like it, but don't love it, as I prefer something sweet as strange as that may sound. Sauerkraut is still a strange concept to me.







An American Classic, made correctly it doesn't taste like a lemon tart as we are sad to say that's what Father's Office's version tastes like. Garrett makes his own pies, pumpkin which we had last week, and lime this week. And this one was perfect! The textures, smoothness, it was rich but not like a NY cheesecake, as the lime lightened it up. 

Crust, cream and condense milk are among the list of ingredients and things we love. 






Food Plaza, 7/480 Collins St, Melbourne
Open Weekdays. M-T - Lunch Only. W-F - Open till 8pm.




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