Walking through the streets of Melbourne is a fantastic way to soak in the charm and the vibrant edginess of this Australian city. The diversity surrounds one as the neighborhoods and the architecture, from a pre-colonial Victorian era Melbourne luxury hotel, to the trendy punk rock club just next door. One of the most trendy, alternative and artistic neighborhoods is Fitzroy. Much as in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago or the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, Fitzroy is where the bohemian cultures live and work. There are many theaters and galleries located along the streets and this section of Melbourne provides most of the venues for the Melbourne Fringe Festival each year. The festival runs through the entire month of September with plays, art openings and musical shows happening throughout the days and nights.
One of the most happening streets in Fitzroy, is Brunswick Street. There are many quirky second hand stores, antiques shops and book stores. Murals decorate the walls of the buildings, and the street is home to many artists, who often have the doors of their studios open and welcome those coming through looking at their work. There is an open air market that takes place each Saturday, the Rose Street Market of artists, wherein one can find treasures amongst the works of more than seventy of Melbourne’s artists and clothing designers. And of course, there are many bars, pubs and coffee shops, that are busy just about every hour of the day, and night. One may find an all day breakfast restaurant in the neighborhood, and the nightlife is hopping. Gertrude Street is famous for retro-clothing stores and contemporary art galleries. Many speciality book stores are located on Gertrude, and there is here as well, many choices in restaurants and cafes. Smith and Johnston Streets are a haven for vegetarians, as the variety of cuisine ranges from whole foods, to Moroccan to Greek and Mid Eastern. This is also the Spanish sector of Melbourne, so the tapas and the flamenco shows are abundant. This is one neighborhood that has quite a bit to offer in such a small area.
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