Melbourne is big on covering the walls of its laneways with street art. We like that. But apparently lots of Melbournites think that the latest decorations of Spark Lane off Flinders Street are taking things too far.

As part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, a British graffiti artist with the less-than-original name of Mohammed Ali--aka Aerosol Arabic--has been flown in to cover Spark Lane with a mix of street art and Islamic calligraphy.

We’re more than happy to wander Melbourne’s sidestreets to check out this kind of art, but apparently there’s a group called Graffiti Hurts Australia who think otherwise--and are sure the festival will only lead to more vandalism.

Check out Spark Lane when you’re next in Melbourne and see what you think--we're pretty sure that this graffiti is totally not hurting Australia.

--AmandaK

Related Stories:
· Imported Street Artist Cops a Spray [Herald Sun]
· Free Stuff in Melbourne: Street Art is All Around [Jaunted]
· Melbourne Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Aerosol Arabic]]]> pbb 2008-10-27T14:59:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/5/63913/77865

Usually throwing yourself off a building is considered a fairly anti-social act, but in Melbourne they're encouraging tourists to do it. But it has to be the sixth-floor roof of the Urban Central backpackers' building, under the guidance of someone from Macka Mackail's Rap Jumping.

Rap jumping is a bit like abseiling, except that you're staring down at the ground, which makes it a whole lot scarier. For A$65 ($55) you can jump off the hostel not once but three times. It's not that tall--but it looks kind of terrifying.

Rap Jumping in Melbourne boasts a 100 percent safety record (which sounds kind of like Aussie carrier Qantas, until recently) but if you're still not sure, check this video and decide if you're brave enough to rap jump or not.

Related Stories:
· Rap Jumping [Official Site]
· Over the Top in Melbourne [The Advertiser]
· Melbourne Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Micheletti11]]]> amandak 2008-09-05T09:30:22-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/1/6598/34659

Jaunted's Amanda Kendle just got back from Melbourne. This week: Read all about it.

Melbourne might have great cakes, but it's got even better chocolate. With half a dozen excellent chocolatiers across the city center, it's hard to choose but once you've tried the chocolate mousse at Koko Black you'll be completely converted.

Koko has several locations across Melbourne and a store in Canberra now, too, but the sweetest shop is in the Royal Arcade off Bourke Street.

Head upstairs and order a sit-down chocolate meal with a smooth and steamy hot chocolate, or just buy up a selection of incredible truffles and other assorted chocolates at the front counter on the ground floor. Or do both.

Related Stories:
· Koko Black [Official Site]
· When in Melbourne: Must Have Cakes at Brunetti [Jaunted]
· Polish Cuisine in Melbourne: Borsch, Vodka & Tears [Jaunted]]]> amandak 2008-08-01T09:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/31/62614/6953

Jaunted's Amanda Kendle just got back from Melbourne. This week: Read all about it.

You don't have to spend all your time eating cakes or drinking vodka to enjoy Melbourne. Just wandering the central streets of downtown Melbourne is probably going to get your camera clicking.

Melbourne has a well-deserved reputation as Australia's cultural capital and it does a much better job of supporting art, music and theater than other cities. Street art is alive and blooming in Melbourne and you can find it along heaps of alleyways running off the main streets. Just follow your nose and turn right or left--the grid layout of Melbourne makes it impossible to get lost.

For example, stumble into Heffernan Lane between Bourke and Lonsdale Streets, and you'll see the results of a "camouflaged street art" project where street signs are actually full of wise sayings. Others have spectacular graffiti and then there are lanes with cool names: There's even ACDC Lane, named after the great Aussie band. Only in Melbourne!

Related Stories:
· When in Melbourne: Must Have Cakes at Brunetti [Jaunted]
· Polish Cuisine in Melbourne: Borsch, Vodka & Tears [Jaunted]]]> amandak 2008-07-31T09:18:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/30/81814/5850

Jaunted's Amanda Kendle just got back from Melbourne. This week: Read all about it.

OMG. There is actually a heaven on earth and it's at Brunetti, Melbourne's most famous spot for cakes. You might not even be in the mood for cake--or even particularly like it--but walk into Brunetti and you will be converted for life.

All Melbournites seem to know that the best Brunetti cakes are at the Carlton branch--try to head into the City Square branch and you'll only find tourists. The best way to deal with the mind-boggling selection is to go for a few of their bite-sized cakes and if you find your favorite, take away an entire cake. It's not even expensive.

Curiously, Brunetti all started because owner Giorgio Angele came to Melbourne as the Italian chef for the 1956 Olympics. He liked it and later migrated; everyone but the Italians should be grateful for that. Don't leave Melbourne without your Brunetti sugar fix or you haven't seen Melbourne at all. Of course, we could be biased towards cakes--but all the best travelers are.

Related Stories:
· Brunettti [Official Site]
· Melbourne Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> amandak 2008-07-30T09:18:26-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/29/65622/7061

Jaunted's Amanda Kendle just got back from Melbourne. This week: Read all about it.

Melbourne's got a reputation for being ultra-multicultural, along with being a place where you have a great meal out without paying a fortune. On Chapel Street there's a thousand and one places to eat but only one famous Polish spot: Borsch, Vodka & Tears.

If you can't remember that name, it also gets referred to simply as the Vodka Bar, with good reason--they stock over a hundred different European vodkas and have a huge list of incredible vodka cocktails that will guarantee you have trouble finding the tram stop to get home.

The best chance you have of limiting the effects of the booze somewhat is by gorging yourself on their Polish food. Served on particularly funky plates, it's a kind of Australian twist on Polish food that's not as heavy or rich as you might get in Poland. But be warned: It doesn't soak up everything. Stand up often during the meal to test your vodka legs or you'll really be in danger of not making it back to your hotel.

Related Stories:
· Borsch, Vodka & Tears [Official Site]
· Melbourne Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: memily]]]> amandak 2008-07-29T09:18:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/9/7/15423/96885

Classy, artsy Melbourne would never invite those dirty "Real World"-ers in. Find someone who will be with you off-camera at these hot spots:

Amaretto Pasticceria -- Get your espresso straight or sweetened with a liqueur at this coffee bar, which also features delicious gelato. 565 Hampton St.

Double Happiness -- Travel + Leisure recommends the ginger-and-vodka Great Leap Forward cocktail at this chic little lounge. 21 Liverpool St.

B.coz -- Take your honey to this tiny fusion restaurant with a liberal wine list. (Don't worry, the waiters are there to help, not embarrass.) 403 Riversdale Rd.

Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Melbourne Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: phildickenson]]]> egw 2007-09-07T16:15:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/