Brighton

Brighton rocks for music fans, with intimate venue Komedia, Fatboy Slim’s beach party and massive regular collectors’ fairs at the Conference Centre hosted by www.vinylmanenterprises.com.

There’s even a rock hotel, the Pellirocco. From the outside it looks like another staid Georgian guest house on Regency Square. Step through the front door and you’re in a fantasy of rock-themed bedrooms. Sink into the white shag-pile of the Ocean Room, luxuriate on a red heart-shaped bed or re-live the glory days of punk. Office parties, hen nights and romantic trysts keep the Pellirocco busy so book in advance.

The Ocean Rooms are a nightclub –one of many in this party town. The hotel’s released its own CD and in the bright pink bar the cocktails have a musical flavour. Try the Poor Man’s Supernova, (Babycham not proper bubbly) or Love Potion Number 5 (vodka, cointreau, cranberry and lime). The owner’s also opened a sex shop called She Said. It’s not on the premises but tucked away in a nearby back alley. This all sounds a bit gay, but hotel spokeswoman Jane Slater assures me they welcome all sorts – including most touring bands playing Brighton…

The gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender scene is huge in Brighton, yet friendly and welcoming to straight couples, singles and students from the two universities. Check out the vintage clothes and large-size high-heeled shoes in Oxfam. Or if you want to spend real money try the quirky little shops in the Lanes. Here you’ll find the UK’s only independent perfumery, Pecksniff’s, a jewellery quarter including the affordable and hip Au, an old-fashioned sweet shop with gobstoppers, Montezuma chocolate and a treasure trove of gift shops. The Friends Meeting House hosts Fair Trade Markets selling everything from sea-glass necklaces to Palestinian olive oil. Find more treats in North Laine at Pokeno Pies (authentic pie, mash and liquor), the Wicked sex shop and Borderline Records, whose regular customers include crate-diggers from as far away as Wimbledon.

So, is there more to Brighton than sex, shops and rock ‘n’ roll? You bet! The town is also a family-friendly seaside resort with pebble beaches, fish ‘n’ chips and a funfair on Palace Pier (the burnt-out West Pier burnt is now just a rusty skeleton).$ Beach volleyball, cycling and skating are big sports and the town has a football club, Brighton and Hove Albion, known as the Seagulls. In the Sea Life Centre you can stroke a stingray and eyeball a shark.

Visit the Pavilion stately home, a glorious Russian-style onion-domed palace. There’s a festival every May and a year-round welcome from the place that is built on fun and individuality – so much so that each of its buses has its own name (Dusty Springfield is my favourite) and they run all through the night so you can always get home safe. London is fifty minutes away by train and its attractions make Brighton equally good for a day trip, a night out or a dirty weekend.

Perth

I’m going to be straight with you, reader. While I currently carve out a living as one of London’s harried, tube-dwelling residents, the place I really call home is smaller, sunnier and altogether more peaceful.

So while the following guide may be on the biased side, most always seem to find something golden and memorable to take away from my hometown, a little place they call Perth.

One of the world’s most remote capital cities, and located in Australia’s largest state, Perth’s isolation is both a drawback and a trump card. Often overlooked by bands on the Australian tour circuit because of its off-the-chart position, the city’s own music scene has grown in breadth and style, developing a healthy reputation both locally and abroad.

With a textbook Mediterranean climate, miles of pristine coastline, and a thriving, modern city centre, the jewel of the west coast looks pretty decent on paper. It can also be held responsible for a recent crop of talented exports hailing from its sandy shores. One glance at the city’s alumni brings up ‘other-worldly’ international model Gemma Ward, Borat’s missus Isla Fisher, and the late, great Heath Ledger. But while its wunderkind new generation acts out on the world stage, there’s plenty to keep Perth’s own burgeoning star well on the up-and-up.

Fanning out from the snaky Swan River, the best action is located in several self-contained enclaves in, or not far from, the city centre. In the CBD itself, don’t miss the tiki-themed Hula Bula Bar for epic cocktails and kitschy dance moments. Tiger Tiger does excellent coffee of a weekday, and be sure to totter along King Street for Varga Girl (ladies), Subway DC (gents too) and the requisite branches of all your favourite big-namers. 

A little further afield, and a little less populated by tourists and city kids, Mt Lawley is your go-to place for records (Planet Video), books (Planet Books), and your fill of quirky one-off shops. The Flying Scotsman is popular among (thirsty) artful boys in slim jeans and girls with Betty Page fringes, and Globe does a yummy weekend breakfast-with-the-papers. For obliging bar staff, Aussie pub grub, and a refreshingly periodic spritz of water on sweltering days, point your toes in the direction of Beaufort Street’s The Queens, a city stalwart from afternoon to evening. Finally, The Brisbane has brought the west’s famous Sunday session back to Mt Lawley. The best in the country by geographical fortune (the sun sets over the ocean here), The Brissy’s version promises only nice drinks, nice setting and nice clientele – it would be rude to ask for more. Finish with a nightcap at Luxe (within staggering distance) and go home happy.

Located conveniently next to one another, old-money Subiaco and Leederville boast tree-lined promenades, some pretty fine green spaces, and lot of choice if you happen to be hungry, thirsty, or looking for attention. Tucked away in a Subi side street, George’s Meze does quality Greek food with a smile, or for Indian butter chicken and a well-stocked drinks cabinet, try Buddha Bar on Rokeby Road. Incidentally, tipple is what these suburbs do best. Dress up, avoid the queues (it’s likely to be empty inside), and get a little tipsy at Niche (Leederville), Pure Bar (Subiaco), or the Subiaco Hotel.

It would be somewhat remiss of me not to mention Perth’s more natural charms, because life isn’t all about getting on the lash. There are surf beaches (Trigg, Scarborough), glam beaches (Cottesloe), and beaches where you can park your towel in the sand and not catch glimpse of another human for hours (scan West Coast Highway until you find an empty carpark). The Swan River foreshore is a winner on both sides (north and south), but there is an especially good view of the cityscape across the water from the Mends Street jetty in South Perth. While you’re in the vicinity, breathe in a view of the entire city from King’s Park, take a tree-top walk, and mingle with the native fauna in one of the expansive park’s many quiet corners.

Finally, and farthest away from the city centre, Fremantle is both a suburb of Perth and its own miniature city. Mojo’s heavily supports local musicians and holds regular open mic nights, and you’ll find live gigs there to remember and respect. Bigger names (Augie March, Paul Kelly and Josh Pyke to name a few) often grace Fremantle’s Fly By Night, conveniently located near the suburb’s central strip. And don’t leave the area without sampling Cicerello’s famed fish and chips, and some sweet amber ale at local brewery and restaurant on the water, Little Creatures. Good food and a chilled beer within sight of the ocean – just what Perth does best.

Check out more from Melissa at her blog: http://morningelectric.wordpress.com/

East London

On Rivington Street near Hoxton Square, behind an enormous pane of glass, sits a single K-Swiss trainer on a white plinth.

East London is like nowhere else. It is a world where armed sectarian gang leaders rub shoulders with middle-class privately educated ‘gentrifiers’ and starched city workers, bludgeoned by the recession. It is a dizzying latticework of different cultures and social classes. Invisible fault lines cut through the area, transcending postcode and borough, visible only to those who live here. The northern half of Brick Lane is staffed by synagogues and bagel shops, but walk a hundred meters south and you are in Banglatown where the street signs are in Bengali and the shops sell Saris and Indian sweets. Even the poverty here is trendier than poverty elsewhere. Would Ian McKellen, who recently ran a workshop teaching kids in Limehouse to rap the works of Shakespeare, have bothered visiting the slums of Glasgow or Birmingham?

This guide offers three things to do and visit for those, like me, who are trying to make sense of this cultural bedlam.

Broadway Market, Hackney: Broadway Market is on the frontline of the gentrification of the Bethnal Green area. Ten years ago a handful of locals sold veg from a few stands every Saturday. Ten years later and the street is rammed with yuppies vying for cupcakes, DVDs and exotic fruit. One man sells Vietnamese coffee from an exact replica of a South East Asian street stand catering, as far as I can tell, exclusively to nostalgic post-gap-year-ers.

The most interesting thing about Broadway Market, however, is ‘F. Cooke’s Jellied Eels and Mash’. Don’t be fooled. This is not an ironic Shoreditch parody of East End life, this is the real thing. Bob Cooke’s family has run this shop since 1900 and he hopes his children will inherit this slippery business. Lucky them. This shop is a last stand for East End life on a street where French bakeries and shops selling European art movies are the norm.

Shoreditch and Hoxton: On a Friday or Saturday night, Shoreditch is a terrifying and crowded labyrinth of alleyways and railway bridges. Take a wrong turning and you can end up in a Nathan Barley-esque nightmare, a bar or a club where irony is taken very seriously indeed. It will be populated by Shoreditch slumdogs who fetishize ukuleles and attend 1940s blitzkrieg parties, where drinks are rationed and the windows are blacked out. The last time I was in Shoreditch I saw a fully grown woman using a camera the size of a Nissan Micra to take photos of a crisp packet on the ground. It is only a matter of time before the centre of gravity shifts again, and the gentrification continues eastwards along the Central Line. Eventually everyone from Liverpool Street to Gravesend will be wearing enormous glasses and eating rustic sandwiches while the poor will have been driven out into the channel.

Know where you are going in Shoreditch, however, and you can avoid all of this. The Bricklayers on Rivington Street is a laid back renovated traditional East London boozer with a good atmosphere. When that closes go to the The Strongarms on Curtain Road. With a stringent one-in-one-out policy The Strongarms is never packed to the gills. Booze is cheap and there is an awesome dancefloor in the basement.

Walk from Liverpool Street to St Paul’s on a Saturday: This surreal walk taking you past the Bank of England has become a Saturday afternoon routine for me and my next door neighbour. In order for this to work the weather needs to be good and you need to be viewing the world through the lens of a mild hangover. It is a surreal example of how certain parts of London are literally abandoned during the weekend.

The clothes stores and sandwich shops, frequented during the week by local workers, are mostly closed or stand bleakly empty. While Oxford Street on a Saturday afternoon resembles London Zoo after all of the animals have been forc-fed speed and left to roam freely, this small strip of London is serenely quiet. Arriving at St. Paul’s, which on a Saturday is throttled by tourists, is like stumbling across a lost civilisation in a jungle clearing.

And don’t forget how easy it is to navigate your way around the city – have a look at the London tube map right here for some assistance!

Camden Market

Looking for something to do? Happen to be in England’s great capital? Well, in that case, head north of the river, ladies and gentlemen, to discover more than you could have ever bargained for. Whether you fancy a quiet nibble on some top quality nosh, a good old knees up watching your new favourite unsigned band or the perfect excuse to spend your hard-earned cash on the high street, North London just can’t fail.

Before getting into the meat of this city guide sandwich, let’s concentrate on the greener side of things. London can be a daunting place for anybody, so relaxing in a wide open space once in a while is a real must. North London is home to some gorgeous parks, with Clissold Park in Stoke Newington and Regents Park in Camden being prime examples of places you can enjoy the pure delights of grass stains and wildlife, Clissold has some cute goats and a butterfly tunnel, while Regents Park trumps everything with London Zoo, the perfect way to get away from the hustle and smoke.

They say that the most important meal of the day is breakfast. While there are plenty of sumptuous cafes to enjoy around the place, the most notable must be the wonderfully titled S&M Cafe. Located opposite Islington Green, in the heart of the bustling Angel, S&M (Sausage & Mash) was made famous for appearing in the cult film classic Quadrophenia, while it was known as Alfredo’s. Re-furbished and re-named in recent years, its art deco style and friendly service (not unlike them to take your mobile number and call you as soon as a table is free) is the perfect accompaniment to your ideal start to the day.

While in the area, check out the local shopping opportunities at the N1 Centre, which includes the likes of Borders, HMV, Lâ Occitane, Gap and French Connection. Meanwhile, a welcome change of pace can be found at the weekend antiques market. Lining the tiny corridors surrounding Camden Passage, the various stalls and shops boast cute trinkets and retro goodies of all shapes and sizes. You never know when you may come across those yellow leather ankle boots you’ve always hankered for! Or even those ones that you never knew you always wanted!? After all, the real beauty of any good market is the element of surprise.

If all of this harking back to a by-gone era business is making you feel a little dizzy, head up to Harringay, Green Lanes to discover an entirely different experience all together. Often known as Little Istanbul for its predominantly Turkish community and culture, this part of town can’t be overlooked. For delicious fresh bread, cream cakes, lahmacun (Turkish pizza), baklava (at a very good price) and other groceries, including an outstanding array of olives, look for Yasar Halim on the main road. This supermarket is world-renowned; a gem surrounded by some superb restaurants, all of which providing great food at affordable prices.

In terms of your music fix in North London, you are well and truly spoilt for choice. Camden Town is one of the most prolific places for live music in the world. Up on Parkway you have Dublin Castle, where you are guaranteed to hear at least one band you have never heard every night of the week. There are very few big British bands that havent played here, so get your Alan McGee hat on and spot the next big thing. The Barfly isn’t far away and often provides the last chance to get up close and personal with the bands that are destined to never play such a small venue again. Camden Town is a thriving area that has bounced back stronger than ever from a fire that threatened to erase much of its character and history. The shopping isn’t too shabby either, be it a glow stick, Led Zeppelin T-shirt or an antique rug that catches your eye.

To appreciate the diversity of North London’s music venues, also be sure look out for anything that is on at Union Chapel, an old church that can be found hidden behind some greenery at the Highbury Corner end of Upper Street. The brilliant acoustics of this grand, yet slightly odd setting have played host to the likes of Beck and Jose Gonzales in recent times, with more and more acts taking the opportunity to visit their spiritual side as time goes by. A nice little secret this part of the city has to offer anybody willing to look closer.

If all this excitement leaves you yearning for a slap-up meal that hits the right spot, there are few places that can compete with Upper Street (quite a street it is), running all the way up between Angel and Highbury & Islington tube stations. Amazing South American dishes with a vibrant, authentic atmosphere (La Piragua, Cuba Libre) are combined with Italian elegance and sophistication (La Porchetta) and French finery (Le Mercury, La Petite Auberge) to provide an incredible level of choice. Meanwhile, Fishworks Seafood Cafe is fast becoming one of North London’s best-kept secrets. Lobster, prawns, octopus and shark are all regulars on the lavishly tempting menu – not the cheapest place to go but somewhere that brings ocean life a little closer to the concrete jungle, in remarkable fashion.

And don’t forget how easy it is to navigate your way around the city – have a look at the London tube map right here for some assistance!

Flinders Street Station, Melbourne

Once regarded as the poor man’s supporting act to Sydney’s glitzy lead role, Melbourne has come into its own of late, now heading up the parade of must-visit Australian capital cities.

With more than its fair share of stately Victorian-era architecture, a labyrinth of snug back laneways, and plenty of bars and pubs to sate all you thirsty kids out there, Melbourne is the closest thing to Euro-style you’ll find south of the equator. And with better weather, a coastline within range, and a world-class wine region on its doorstep, there’s every reason to get yourself acquainted with the classy minx that is Melbourne.

Come laden with freshly minted Aussie dollars ready to unload? Stop by the city centre for big-name local designers and quirky boutiques, or head to the very central GPO for a high-concentration fashion fix set in a faithfully restored former post office. Discount shopping galore can be found along Richmond’s Bridge Road, including antipodean icon Mimco flogging their barely-out-of-season wares at affordable prices. For quintessentially Melbourne souvenirs, fresh foods, and genuine ambience check out the Queen Victoria Market, or engage in a Sunday-morning meander a little further afield at the popular Camberwell Market, for second-hand scores and old vinyls.

There is no excuse for eating poorly here, with back-to-back cafes, gastro pubs and fine dining restaurants of all shapes and sizes. Melbourne’s steadfastly multicultural make-up and huge immigrant population means you can pick up anything from foie gras to Peking duck guaranteed to have you smacking your greasy lips with glee. For buttery fruit tarts and a neat spiral staircase, Laurent Patisserie on Little Collins Street is a little slice of frou-frou France in the heart of Melbourne. And while celebrity chef wars rage all over the city, Shannon Bennett’s painfully chic Vue de Monde adheres to its modern French menu whipped up using olde-worlde ingredients.

For late-night mischief, Madame Brussels is a little bit trendy and a little bit camp. Named for a local 1930s working girl, here you can sip Pimms, indulge in a cupcake and lounge around on outdoor furniture artfully positioned atop astroturf (yes, indoors). Seamstress on Lonsdale Street offers tasty morsels and cocktails with an Oriental twist, with cheongsams hanging from the rafters, intimate booths for the lovers, and a decent price point to boot. With a hundred-year history and a huge back catalogue of Aussie and international performers, the Esplanade Hotel is still doing what it does best cranking out live music, or for a more modern incarnation, St Kilda’s The Prince Bandroom is a local favourite by the sea.

While the city is noted for its nice-to-look-at Victorian cityscape and heritage-listed terrace housing, don’t miss Melbourne’s more natural face. Impressive green spaces can be found within easy reach of the city centre, including Fitzroy Gardens, resting place of Cook’s Cottage, Captain James’ family home. During the summer months, St Kilda’s sandy white beaches are a popular spot to cool off, with the area characterised by California-style palm tree-lined boulevards. An easy hour’s drive out of the city, why not wander through the Yarra Valley, Victoria’s premier wine producing region and a cosy country escape. Nestled in native tall timber east of Melbourne, the Valley’s big-hitting wineries churn out excellent chardonnays and are supplemented by ample places to rest a sleepy head.

Check out more from Melissa at her blog: http://morningelectric.wordpress.com/