Whats Happening in Melbourne

What sort of activities do you enjoy ? Ienjoy gym work. So when I get the opportunity, I enjoy working out with my weight's in gym at home.

Where do you enjoy dining in Melbourne?
My favourite restaurant in Melbourne is Cafe Greco as their menu caters for everyone's taste.

What do you think of Melbourne fashion?
I feel that Melbourne fashion is in a league of it's own with leading designer's producing high quality Australian made fasion.

Sum up Melbourne in a sentence.
"Melbourne is the most cosmopolitan city in the world".

Margaret O'hare
Proprietor and owner of the Anchorage Restaurant in Williamstown

What i love about Melbourne
Melbourne is a muti cultural city and has the advantage of many diverse cuisines. The opportunity to dine from differnet cultures, seven nigths a week, is wonderful!

The Anchorage Restaurant is unique and historical landmark in Williamstown overlooking the Melbourne skyline. It is situated on Parsons Marina and has access by boat. A warm, friendly nautical atmosphere is complimented by changing menus with an emphasis on seafood.

Hwo long have you been in hospitality?
I have been the propietor and owner of the Anchorage Restuarant for twenty years. I have a great memory for faces, especially with returning customers, whether it be from Melbourne, interstate of overseas.

Where do you like to eat? Iprefer water side restuarants to watch changing seas, but nothing beats my home cooked roast!

What makes meblournea great city for you?
The easy accessibility to visit other suburbs via Westgate Bridge and the Tunnel, whether it be west to east or west.

What do you think of Melbourne restuarants and cafes?
Among the worlds finest. Outside eating is now a way of life.

What changes have you seen in Melbourne over the years?.
The most significant changes in Melbourne are the opening of Docklands and the event areas allong the waterfront, also the increased number of charter vessels on Melbourne's waterways. Melbourne is certainly catching up to Sydney in this aspect.

Interviewees:
Sharyn Polatos - Owner of My Hamper
Glenn Donnelly & Richard Mindraoui - Managing Directors of City Residential Real Estate
Jill Anderson - Owner of Leasing Melbourne Pty. Ltd.
Joanna Pace - Owner of Casa Del Gelato
Matt Brusi - Owner of Cafe Biscotti
Keith Hill - Owner of The Vibe Cafe Bar
Kim Patterson & Bruce Alexander - Owners of The Retreat Hotel
Alex Mihailidis - Owner of Idi Bidi & Cafe Segovia
David Haddad - Owner of Aromatic
Christian Lister - Owner of Altitude
Antonio Aiello - Owner of Il Carretto
John Rerakis - Owner of Pireaus Blues
Nick Dimos - Owner of the Curry Café
Dora Georgiou - Owner of the designer lingerie label Venus Envy
Cath Latimer - Licensee of Dr. Martin's Tavern
Tom Roberts - Kew Gallery
Jerrey Stamoulis - Owner and Chef at Mykonos Greek Tavern
Roger Pitt - Manager of the Australian Open
John Poulakis - Owner/Director of Harrolds
Michael - Part Owner of Jackie-O
Lisa Flew - Owner of Orchid Blue
Joanna Pace - Owner of Casa Del Gelato
Sean Trinder - Owners of Cafe Cortile
Margaret O'hare - Proprietor and woner of the Anchorage Restaurant in Williamstown
Pat Polito - Owners of Red Olive
Mark Davy - Owner of Williamstown Cruises
Johnathon Williams - Owner of Livid Clothing

What do you love about Melbourne?
What I love about Melbourne is its diverse lifestyle. The events , culture and seasonal changes are all part of what makes Melbourne such a unique city to live and work in.

How long have you been in business?
I have been in business for 7 years although working in the CBD generally for appoximately 15 years.

What do you think of Melbourne’s restaurants and cafes?
Melbourne's restaurants are definitely comparable to some of the finest restaurants in the world. We have accessibility to good quality food to start with and creative chefs who know what to do with it! It doesn't get any better than that.

Where do you like to dine?
A couple of my favourite restaurants are Longrain in CBD, Becco for a delicious lunch, Gingerboy and Kenzan Japanese Restaurant.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
In my job I have the fortune of meeting many people from overseas and interstate. I am sometimes one of the first people they meet when they arrive here as they are often here to commence a new job and need a residence. They always have many questions for me, where to shop, where to eat and generally what places they have to visit while they are here. I have lived in Melbourne most of my life so I love to boast about all the great things Melbourne has to offer.

What changes have you seen in Melbourne over the years?
Inner city living in Melbourne has grown enormously over the past 10 years. We are seeing many people move into the new apartment market that has developed in the CBD and Docklands area. I come across many people looking for a lifestyle change who have lived in the suburbs and try leasing an apartment for awhile and on many occasions they end up buying their own apartment as they love the accessibility to everything. They are tired of sitting in traffic for hours everyday.

Summarise Melbourne
Summarising, Melbourne does offer a fabulous cosmopolity lifestyle , The people are very welcoming and friendly.They love their sporting events, concerts, shopping and dining.

Matt Brusi
Owner of Caffe Biscotti

What makes Melbourne a great city to you?
The people. Melbourne has the most amazingly diverse range of people. Warm and friendly with so many different interests, it’s inspiring.

Do you think Melbourne is unique?
Without a doubt Melbourne is unique. Melbourne has the good fortuneof being a relatively young city compared to the rest of the world. It’s people have had the good sense of learning from the mistakes of it’s ancient counterparts. We live in a modern day Avalon.

Do you have any favourite place to dine?
I love IDIBIDI in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. The food is always mouthwatering, the service friendly and the atmosphere relaxing. Perfect.

Keith Hill
Owner of The Vibe cafe Bar

What makes melbourne a great city for you?
The street culture is one thing. Take St.Kilda for example... it has it's very own street culture and attitude which you see expressed in the variety of intresting bars, cafes and restuarants, the St.Kilda markets, Luna Park, and monthly famers amrket and lets not forget the annual St. Kilda Festival! The people in Melbourne are pretty laid back... spending a lot of time at THe Vibe you can guatantee i meet some fascinating characters.

Do you think melbourne is unique?
There's so much going on here and so much choice... from eating out at one of the many funky restuarants and cafes, to sitting bcak with a beer at a trendy barm to catching a locally made flick at the film festivals, street parties, (think St. Kilda Festival!) to attending one of the many sporting events held here each year.

Do you have favourite place to dine?
When i'm not at Teh Vibe munching on one of the chef's scrumptious dishes i might dine somewhere where i can sit back, enjoy a good meal and a cold beer.

David Haddad
Owner of Aromatic

How long have you been in business?
I established Red Tongue Café 5 years ago but Aromatic has been operating for 6 months now and we are to open a chain of stores operating under CBD hours. We will roast our own coffee and serve restaurant quality food. We will be providing an unique service to our customers.

What do you think of Melbourne's restaurants and cafes?
Melbourne's restaurants and cafes are excellent and on par with those around the world. The coffee is fantastic. Generally, it's the person who makes the coffee that determines how good it really is and we have the best.

What changed have you seen in Melbourne over the years?
There's a lot more diversity in food now from all the various cultures living in this cosmopolitan city. We've become middle price range dining and the little take aways are becoming more upmarket and beginning to flourish around the city.

Do you think Melbourne is unique?
I believe Melbourne is a unique city due to the points mentioned in Q1, the diversity of culture and activity.

Do you have favourite places to dine?
My favourite place dine would have to be the many laneway eats like Momo's and Hairy Canary to name a few. I don't tend to frequent the same places too often as there are so many fantastic restaurants and cafe's in Melbourne

Summarise Melbourne
To summarise Melbourne; There is always something fun and different to do around town, whatever your mood, from the St Kilda festival to Fashion and Spring Racing, Grand Final and Grand Prix, the Australian Open and not to mention our huge selection of bars and clubs. If the weather was consistent you would have nothing to complain about! I love it!

What sort of places and activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
I like to go to as many events as possible. I have a sporting background so I go to most of the sporting events, and I love food so I eat out a lot. I love having a good time out and enjoying life so being in the nightclub and pub industry is a bonus. Melbourne has so much to offer.

Owner of Il Carretto

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
Melbourne is a beautiful city, and that’s enough for me! The food is so fantastic and everywhere you go there is something new to see or do. There’s no other city like Melbourne and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

What sort of places & activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
When I finally get some time off work, I love going to see my friends and have a coffee with them. The coffee in Melbourne is great; friends and great coffee are enough for me.

What changes have you seen in Melbourne?
In the last ten years, Melbourne has become much more alive. You’ve got all the changes at Southbank, the Grand Prix, the City, all the great festivals, all of that. It’s more of a world city. A lot more to do and it’s really easy to see. Friends who haven’t been to Melbourne for a few years tell me it gets better and better every time they come here. We don’t appreciate it so much living here.

What do you think Melbourne is missing?
Spring! Seriously, i don’t think you could ask for more in a city than what we have here. There is always so much going on in Melbourne that you don’t get a chance to think about what we haven’t got.

What do you think draws people to Melbourne?
Lots of things. The food, the people, the art, the sport. No matter who you are, there’s lots to love about Melbourne. Whenever you come home from another city or another country, you feel like kissing the tarmac, thankful that you live in such a great city. Most people in Melbourne think the same way, I reckon, and it shows.

Owner of Pireaus Blues

What makes Melbourne unique for you?
I’m in love with Melbourne’s cosmopolitan lifestyle. Rich in culture with fantastic eateries and of course the Victorian Market!

What do you think of Melbourne’s restaurants and cafes?
I’ve travelled a fair bit and our standard is better than anywhere, however, there are some that are not so that we’re better, cheaper and more diverse than other states, especially Sydney!good. I have my favourites which I always stick to. Visitors to Melbourne always tell you

What sort of places and activities do you enjoy?
Breakfast at Mario’s. Dinner at Matteos and Becco are my favourites. I enjoy attending folk festivals – all cultures. I’m a groupie and a fanatic of traditional music (especially Greek). Other things would be encouraging my kids to take up music, culture and singing.

Tell us some more about yourself.
I’m 39 and started our business 10 years ago with an ambition of introducing Greek food as we knew it at home but that was not what was being sold around town. I started with my wife, mum and mother in-law who are still cooking and can’t believe what we’ve achieved. I buy anything that’s seasoned and we cook it. Brunswick street has fantastic diners, travelled and educated people. They know Greek food is more vego than grilled gyro.

Owner of the Curry Café

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
I love Melbourne for its cosmopolitan lifestyle. Its variety of bars, restaurants and cafes gives you not only a large selection of different menu’s but also alternative atmosphere.

What sought of places and activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
Westgarth!! It’s grown to be a funky little shopping strip where you can enjoy a delicious Indian meal, watch a movie at the local theatre and kick back at a variety of cosy bars.

Do you think Melbourne is unique?
I believe Melbourne stands out as a city for the reason that it is one of a kind, it is a city that offers different places to suite different lifestyles. There is life in the calm and in the wild!!

Do you have any favourite places to dine?
Sure do!! I love the Asian cuisine, I find the spices and sauces they use in their foods really hits the spot for me.

Summarise Melbourne?
Melbourne is what each individual wants it to be!!!

Born and bred into the hospitality industry, Cath is now the Licensee of Dr. Martin’s Tavern, Collins Street. Cath has lived in Melbourne all of her life.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
I love Melbourne. i love the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Taverns, Bars, Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants. We are blessed to have fabulous parks, beaches and lakes. Most of all I love the people of Melbourne - everyone is so friendly. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful state.

Do you think Melbourne is unique?
Definitely. I come into contact with alot of people each day all with a story to tell about their days growing up in the suburbs. While the stories are being told, the narrator always has such a big smile on his face and so do the listeners. Melbourne as a whole is a real community - there are so many things to get involved in with hundreds of different clubs. Friendships that are formed and kept for a lifetime.

Do you have any favourite places to dine?
Absolutely - but too many to name! I love the great pub food of Melbourne especially with open fire places and courtyards. Great all-round pubs for summer and winter.

What sort of places & activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
I love the hidden little bars and cafes in Melbourne. Rather like Doc’s where you walk through a door into a fantastic tavern that is filled with atmosphere and open fire places, courtyards, great food and beverages. i love nothing more than taking the kids walking on the weekends to cafes for breakfast then to a park. It’s my time with them and it’s really special. Dr. Martins

Summarise Melbourne
Docs! Taverns, Bars, Hotels, Restaurants, Weekend Walks, Sunshine, Rain, Hail, Snow, Football, MCG, Luna Park, Beaches, Lakes, Rivers, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Sessions, Friendly Neighbours, Clean Streets, Happy Faces. That’s my Melbourne!

Tom has been in the Kew Gallery for thirty three years. The Tom Roberts (artist) was his great uncle so he has always been interested in Australian Art. The Gallery has paintings by more that fifty well known Australian Artists.

Have you always lived in Melbourne?
I was born in Melbourne and have lived in Melbourne all of my life except for three years in the 1960’s where I spent time in London on a working holiday.

What makes Melbourne special for you?
Melbourne is a great city for many reasons. It is large and cosmopolitan but not as busy as London or Sydney. It recently won the award as the most livable city in the world which proves a point! It has some marvelous Theatres and Restaurants. Melbourne has many first class eating places in the city plus Brunswick Street, Lygon Street and Aukland Street and many world class Wineries such as those close by in the Yarra Valley. Melbourne also is host to many major sporting events such as the Australian Tennis Open, Australian Grand Prix, the Melbourne Cup plus Cricket and Australian Rules Football to name a few.

What sort of activities do you enjoy?
I like to visit the Dandenongs and the Yarra Valley for good food and wine.A favourite pastime is driving my Grand Prix Bugatti both on the road and in Historic Race Meetings at Philip Island, Winton Raceway etc. and at Hillclimbs and the annual sprint meeting at Geelong. Great fun!

Owner and Chef at Mykonos Greek Tavern. Established for 16 years.

What makes Melbourne unique for you?
The people of Melbourne is what makes it a coming together of all cultures and nationalities.

What do you think of Melbourne’s Restaurants and Cafes?
We have so many different kitchens in Melbourne, so many to choose from. It makes it easy for people to choose a variety of cuisines and hospitality, thus making the people of Melbourne and visitors able to explore a one day tour around the world.

What sort of activities do you enjoy?
Fishing is number 2 on my list. I really enjoy the sea and lakes of Melbourne. Family is top priority in my life. I enjoy spending many quality hours with the whole family.

Tell us a bit about yourself
My first job was when I was 9 years old serving coffee at the local coffee lounge in Greece. From there I went to school and then ended up cooking for cruising boats around the world. I eventually came to Melbourne 17 years ago and after 1 year I opened Mykonos Greek Tavern.

what do you think of the Melbournians who dine out?
I have been in contact with diners for 16 years. When i first opened the doors they demanded quality food. But as the years passed, it became obvious that they wanted service first and quality second. I beleive that the Melbourne Diners are one of the best in the world!

Born and raised in Melbourne, owner of the designer lingerie label Venus Envy gives us her thoughts on her great city.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
Melbourne is made up of a multicultural society. Everywhere you look its evident. To mention a few, Lygon Street with it’s selection of fine italian restaurants and Little Bourke Street China Town. It is exciting when you can participate in cultural festivals such as the chinese new year where hundreds of Melbournians come together to experience authentic celebrations which originated outside this country but have become a big part of our city.

What sort of places & activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
Being a mother of two and one on the way, I guess it’s been all about the children lately. Melbourne is full of great activities for families to enjoy. My favourite has to be Luna Park where I can marvel at the most exquisite carousel I have seen. Literally breathtaking. Of course there’s the Melbourne Zoo where you can see some of the world’s exotic animals and have a picnic in the park at the same time.

Where do you enjoy dining in Melbourne?
I highly recommend the Kent Hotel in Rathdowne Street Carlton where you can enjoy quality cuisine from one of Melbourne’s best chef’s, Jason Aitken. My all time favourite in greek cuisine has to be Jim Tavern on Johnston Street.For a great espresso coffee you will have to visit the Kazbar on Chapel Street.

How to you see Melbourne Fashion?
Melbourne is full of great designer labels. Not only are there designers from Melbourne, a lot of these labels are manufactured here keeping local work available. Just take a walk down Chapel Street where you can view and purchase high quality designer wear at affordable prices (ie. Ellin Ambe, sleek, simple and elegant. One of my favourites.)

Do you often get a chance to visit outside Melbourne?
Yeah, my husbands family have a beach house McCrae along the Mornington Peninsula. I quite enjoy visiting the wineries in the area and the galleries are great too.

Melbourne in a sentence
If you want to be relaxed, cool and very hip, you need to live in Melbourne!

What sort of places & activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
I am keen on mountain biking so I go to places like Lysterfield Lake Park, which have good trails through the bush, they’re in good condition and not crowded. I enjoy the parks in the city; I think that in the middle of a high-density urban area it is therapeutic to have lots of open green spaces. My wife enjoys horse riding in the alpine region during summer and I also enjoy mountain biking at places such as Mt. Beauty, Mt. Hotham and Mt. Buller. I am also a sailing and scuba-diving instructor, I enjoy white water canoeing and windsurfing also, all on top of playing tennis. People may think that we have long winters and wet weather, but it’s not actually true, a lot of activities go really really well here in Victoria.

Do you think Melbourne is unique?
Each Australian city is distinctive and has its own character. But the unique characteristics of Melbourne are what make it good for me. It offers a fantastic opportunity for people working in the Sports and Recreation industry. It’s the HQ for most of the major professional sports codes in Australia; it has the best set of facilities close to the CBD of any city in Australia, possibly in the world. The range of facilities you have here is totally awesome.

Do you have any favourite places to dine?
For me, going to a restaurant is about good options for vegetarians. I mainly frequent Southbank and Crown. Mecca, Ciccionos, one of favourites is Café Greco and Automatic. I live in Elwood so it is only a short walk to Acland Street or to places like Soul Mama, another vegetarian restaurant, or the Stokehouse. Melbourne has a good variety of restaurants from all over the world.

Summarise Melbourne.
I would summarise Melbourne as being a synergy between a dynamic, positive, and confident society but in a calm secure & peaceful way, it doesn’t have the aggression that other places might have. Basically a fantastic overall package of all the things you’d be looking for in somewhere to live.

John Poulakis has lived in Melbourne since 1964. Migrated from Greece at the age of six. He is the managing director and owner of the Harrolds group in conjunction with his brother Theo.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
Well, it’s quite simple. We travel quite extensively in our industry and we see some beautiful cities. And we say, “it would be great to live here”, because its beautiful, but once you’ve been there for some time you want to get out of there pretty quick. It’s the lifestyle, the easy lifestyle and space. Space is one major, major impact.

Do you think Melbourne is a unique city?
Definitely a unique city. Being the second major city to be developed they have definitely done a good job on the planning, especially within the inner city, with the large streets, the boulevards and the architecture. The Docklands are really bringing that waterfront aspect to Melbourne; everything over there in time to come will be gold. I believe what is happening at the Docklands is going to be sensational. It will extend the city central and make Melbourne so much more cosmopolitan, and it’s just a dropkick away from the CBD. It’s just got so much to offer.

What sort of activities do you enjoy?
We tend to visit the coast, more so the Geelong way rather than down to Portsea. We go down to Apollo Bay, we go to the Yarra Valley a lot, the wine growing regions and enjoy that aspect which is so close to Melbourne. Only 45 minutes drive and you are right in the middle of wine country.

Where do you enjoy dining in Melbourne?
Well we’ve got a store at Crown, so we basically lived there when it opened. We tried all the restaurants at Crown, it’s a fantastic place for entertaining. There is such an abundance of restaurants in Melbourne that you do not get elsewhere. The quality of food is so superior, you’ve just got so many places to go to, I don’t even know where to start. I love Chinese food, love Italian and love Greek food, through that spectrum there is so many to choose from. Bamboo house in little Collins Street, Vercillis and Yani’s Johnston Street, Abbotsford and Solo di posto.

Sum up Melbourne in one sentence.
It’s a powerhouse. A powerhouse of eating, of fashion, of business. It’s very much the heart of commerce. Friendly, compared to Sydney for example, easy to get along. Melbourne is a slower town but has a lot more to offer.

Michael is the part owner of Jackie-O and has lived in Melbourne for 39 Years, since 1964.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
Melbourne Is a great city for me because of a lot of things, the scenery, the beaches, the surf, the snow, it’s an open city, not closed up, it’s a very livable city that is not too fast paced.

What sort of activities do you enjoy?
We try and spend a bit of time in the alpine regions; we enjoy the coast such as Apollo Bay, even in winter. It’s such a beautiful place, we normally get a place across from the ocean, when its cold we open up a little log fire to relax.

What do you think makes Melbourne unique?
I think it’s so cosmopolitan, a lot of cities around the world have that mix but I think Melbourne is quite rare that is has managed to integrate it all together. You’ve got places like St. Kilda and Brunswick Street; I don’t think you would find that sort of diversity elsewhere, and its just fantastic. You look down the street and you have such a mix of people from high-class and low-class, suits, beliefs, dress codes, its just a lovely mix of everyone coming together. I think that is what makes Melbourne unique. You’ve got all the nationalities; they have combined to make Melbourne a great place to live.

Is Melbourne’s café scene different to any other city in Australia?
Its getting that way, much more diverse. It used to be that you would have to be on a main street, unlike in Sydney where you could open up around the corner and it might take off. It took Melbourne a while to catch on to that, but now that is has it has left Sydney for dead. The gardens, the food, the coffees we serve, there is more passion in Melbourne. Melbourne has more icons that have been here for years, places in Acland Street and Brunswick St where people are so loyal. Melbourne people, of course, are crazy about coffee, almost to the point where it has become an obsession, embedded into the culture.

Sum up Melbourne in one sentence.
I just love the developing culture, in fashion, in lifestyle. We’re not too fast paced; we’ve got entertainment, the nightlife here is fantastic, everything is going on, and it’s all in the CBD as well. It’s a really cultural city. Which is great. If you want to do something in Melbourne and you can’t find it, you’re probably not looking hard enough.

Lisa Flew
Owner of Orchid Blue Lingerie in Block Arcade Lived in Melbourne for 28 Years.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
I live down on the beach on Port Melbourne so I really like the
fact that it’s on the bay and the water. I do a lot of biking, boating, and walking so I appreciate that it is a coastal city. Melbourne has a lot of art and culture that keeps it changing, there’s lots of different things always happening, you can see the comedy or go to one of the different festivals all over the place. I really like the restaurants and I enjoy dining out. The fact that you can go to anything from Russian through to Japanese all in the same suburb is pretty amazing.

Where do you enjoy dining in Melbourne?
A lot of the restaurants that I go to are down in South Melbourne and Port Melbourne, all local to where I live. My favourite restaurant is Kari on Victoria Ave in Albert Park, which is a mixture of Asian cuisines.

How do you see Melbourne Fashion?
I think Melbourne is becoming more of a center for fashion, it used to be in Sydney but it seems to be coming down to Melbourne a lot more now. We’re seeing a lot of the big names moving into Collins Street such as Chanel, international fashion is actually seeking out to be in Melbourne. We’re also getting a lot of young designers opening up and coming out. Melbourne fashion is definitely becoming big.

Do you often get the chance to visit outside Melbourne?
Yeah, I do a lot of outdoor activities; I do a lot of bush walking around Melbourne. I haven’t been lately because of the fires burning out a lot of the areas, but I have done a lot of walking in the alpine national parks such as Feathertop, Bogong and the Otways, basically all around Victoria.

Do you think Melbourne is unique?
Its definitely different, each city in Australia has something different about it, whether it’s the mix of people and cultures or the size of the city. I guess because Melbourne is quite big now, it has so much diversity in it; it definitely has its own life. In regards to shopping in Melbourne, a lot of other cities don’t have that little arcade feel, its just big shopping centres, Melbourne’s arcades are pretty unique. There are a lot of individual designers in Melbourne each with their own looks and I think that works well in Melbourne.

Melbourne in a sentence?
Melbourne is a place where you can experience a lot of different cultures and a lot of different activities. It’s definitely got a unique feel to it that you can’t get anywhere else.

Joanna Pace
Owner of Casa Del Gelato

What makes Melbourne a great city to you?
Melbourne’s mix of streets with distinctive personalities – the great number of owner-operated small businesses gives it character and flair, unmatched by any other Australian city – and are alive with people. Friday nights in the city are an experience not to be missed.

What sort of places and activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
Lygon St, Flinders Lane, Hardware St, the Block Arcade, Collins St, Bourke St, Lonsdale St, the State Library, Botanic Gardens, Princess Theatre, Job Warehouse, the Athenaeum Library and the new City Lending Library for shopping, unique treasures, meeting friends,, talking, walking, entertainment, information, dining…or just being in.

Do you think Melbourne is unique?
Yes. Melbourne’s mix of residents, students and small businesses means its streets are alive and buzz with energy.

Do you have any favourite place to dine?
We work in one of the great “food” streets and have a great number and variety of dining places – Stuzzichino, new and nearby, old favourites Papa Ginos, Il Gambero, Nyona and Watson’s Wine Bar for something different. But sometimes we need to escape – to Florentino’s, Pellegrins, Journal in the central city, the Stokehouse in St Kilda, Don Camillo in North Melbourne or Loi Loi’s in Richmond.

Summarise Melbourne
Melbourne has retained a balanced mix of old, new and recycled buildings and businesses which give it personality and atmosphere – walking it is a journey through our history and the small businesses are a testament to the success and invaluable contribution of our multi-cultural community. Melbourne is an alive, exciting, eclectic, fun and safe city – it has everything.

Kim Patterson & Bruce Alexander
Owners of The Retreat Hotel

How would you describe Melbourne's hotel industry today?
The increase in licensed premises has remarkably increased competition with an overall improvement in the quality of choices available to the consumer.

What changes have you seen in Melbourne's hotel industry over the years? There has been a definite swift away from the traditional aussie pubs. The introduction of pokies has been a major influence and the increase of bars and restaurants has caused a shake up in the industry. Hotels now seem to have something for everyone - at The Retreat, we pride ourselves on being a good quality pub with good food, wine and conversation.

What makes Melbourne unique for you?
The amazing quality and variety of food, the amazing diversity of the people and the amazing changes in the weather.

Alex Mihailidis
Owner of Idi Bidi & cafe Segovia

Alex, how many years have you been operating your business?
1 year and two months.

What makes your business so unique?
We have brought the city element into Brunswick Street with a change of seasonal menus and a quick pronto service style. We pride ourselves in knowing the customer.

What do you think of the Brunswick Street culture?
It has changed over the last 10 years. It used to be more of a village atmosphere where everyone knew everyone, people living in the area have changed and it is more diverse. We have a blend of the hippy, the suits and the locals.

Mark Davy
Owner of Williamstown Cruises

What service do you provide for those wishing to see Melbourne by the Yarra River?
Our ferry service's include linking historic Williamstown with St. Kilda and we offer stopages to all major locations in between, allowing people to stop over and enjoy the various attractions. They can also compliment this by taking the St. Kilda Rd tram back into the city, enjoying our world class boulevard and visit the Shrine of Rememberance.

How long have you been oporating in Melbourne?
We are in our 20th year now. We were the pioneers, as such. Having a knowledge of Melbourne and boating has allowed me to share with others. What sort of clientel do you get on your ferries? There is a good mix of locals and many tourists, we provide a personalised service where the crew chat with the passengers. They not only see Melbourne, but find out about our way of life which adds another dimension to their cruise. What's your favourite place in Melbourne? No favourites, I like it all. It's goo to see Victoria Harbour developing along the waterway. Williamstown has been very special for me.

How would you describe Melbourne?
It's a waterfront city. Alive with arts and parks which makes it a vibrant city. there's alot happening in Melbourne!

How do you compare Melbourne to other cities?
Melbourne is unique in it's design. Different to Sydney, which has a magnificent harbour and waterfront, whereas we have great parks, restaurants and other attractions with great people. The most livable city without a doubt!

How has Melbourne's skyline changed over the years?
Drastically! The tallest building was the BHP building which now looks half the height of most that are there now. The skyline is magnificent and that half moon shape is absolutely stunning!

What attractions have you seen along the Yarra River over the years?
The World Trade Centre in 1984 was the start. In the early 80's it was realised that the waterway needs to be utilised and 'Give the Yarra a go' was instramental in seeing the new attraction develop. the new developments included the Crown Casino, the Melbourne Aquarium and Southbank.

Roger Pitt is the manager of the Australian Open and has lived in Melbourne on 3 separate occasions for about a total of 15 years, and has been in Melbourne since 1996. Thoroughly well traveled, having visited over 40 cities throughout the world, he chooses to call Melbourne home.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
Melbourne has the best services and amenities of a city and provides excellent city living. It is a large enough city to be cosmopolitan and sophisticated, but not large enough to become overwhelming. The countryside and coastlines are accessible and I think the city has a human scale to it, which makes it very attractive. People say Melbourne is one of the most livable cities in the world and I wouldn’t disagree. Melbourne is a very straightforward city, very accessible, easily understood, a really good public transport and road system. Its easy to get around and commuter friendly.

What do you love about Melbourne?
We love Melbourne. We love the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Taverns, Bars, Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants. We are blessed to have fantastic parks, beaches and lakes. We are so lucky to live in such a great city.

How long have you been in business?
After selling real estate in the CBD for a combined 18 years period and working together for over 4 years, we both made the decision to go out and open our own business called City Residential Real Estate approximately two years ago. Real Estate is a full-time business and it requires enthusiasm & passion! We work full time to secure the best possible price from our prospective buyers and keep abreast of all the events and market conditions affecting real estate in the community. We also conduct extensive research of the market sector relevant to the property market in inner Melbourne. All of which we pass on to our vendors, to whom feedback is very important, it allows them to make an informed decision at the critical time of sale.

What do you think of Melbourne’s restaurants and cafes?
Glenn Donnelly - A lot of the restaurants that I go to are down in South Melbourne and Port Melbourne, all local to where I live. My favourite restaurant would have to be The Point in Albert Park.
Richard Mindraoui - I think that Melbourne has a large range of cafes and restaurants to cater for our muticultural community. However the outdoor style of dinning is what I really enjoy but I would have to say my favourite spot would be the Waterfront in Port Melbourne.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
We both live in the Docklands so it’s one thing for us to be an inner city agent, but it’s quite another for me to bring to the role of an estate agent, the passion of the inner city that we both have. We both can convincingly explain and sell the joys and benefits of living here. This adds credibility and excitement to the campaign to sell clients properties. Our love of the area is infectious and it is often of great assistance in enhancing a buyer’s enthusiasm for the area, thereby achieving top results for properties. We both are doing what we love and would never change professions.

What changes have you seen in Melbourne over the years?
The inner city of Melbourne continually grows, more and more owner occupiers are opting for the inner city life style.
Most of these people are simply looking for a change of lifestyle and let’s face it Melbourne has so much to offer.
The apartment market continues to be a lifestyle choice that people consider whether it be in Melbourne, Southbank or located on the waterfront at the Docklands.

Summarize Melbourne
Well, it’s quite simple. We both travel around and we see some beautiful cities. But living in the Docklands it really brings the waterfront aspect to Melbourne. With everything that’s happening at the Docklands it is going to be sensational. It will extend the city central and make Melbourne much more cosmopolitan and it’s so close to the CBD. It’s just got so much to offer. It is certainly a great place to live.

What makes Melbourne a great city for you?
Melbourne has always been my home, I love the diversity, the multiculturalism, the people and the ambience. Melbourne invokes a relaxed, down to earth, talented, creative, caring & no nonsense type of atmosphere.

What make Melbourne unique?
The people.

Do you have a favourite place to dine?
There are so many wonderful places to dine in Melbourne, but I would have to say the one I frequented most in my life is the Tica Tera restaurant in Lygon st. Their four cheese pasta sauce is divine.

What sort of places & activities do you enjoy in Melbourne?
The beaches, parks, restaurants, shops, spring racing, bars, etc,etc.

Summarise Melbourne?
The place to create the lifestyle you desire.