It's nice to see something more local and personable during our recent flight from the States. As…read morecasual patrons and supporters of local goods and creative makers, it was actually a nice touch to complete our trip, as it reminded us of vibes previously accessible from past areas of residence. The entrance is by a very narrow street. It's not hard to find, but it may be tough to park. They didn't necessarily have anything I would have wanted, with the exception of graphic display blocks of various sizes, which I thought were very well-made. Prices were decent. Not irrationally cheap, but enough to support the vendors significantly. You likely can only walk here from the main street, as the road/path by this place is very narrow. The tram will definitely take you here.

A really cool little market full of local artists and designers. it is nice to buy products from…read morethe person who designed and made it, you get so much more information and it is nice to support local people not big business. Most stores accept cards so you don't have to carry cash. My girlfriend purchased some Kinetic Jewellery that looked great and was fun aswell, someone really put some thought into it. We then purchased a cool soy candle in a scientific looking jar. there was so many items we both liked, we will be back here for sure!!

This is the first of the galleries in Albert Street there are four more on this very short street…read morein Richmond. Albert Street is a good place to start if you want to see some of the best, new contemporary art in Melbourne. The gallery has several large windows at the front giving people walking by a preview of the art within. It is an elegantly converted former factory space with white walls, high ceilings, track lighting and polished concrete floors. There is an office/reception area at the front and a stock room somewhere out the back, but it's not open to the public. As a commercial gallery it represents many notable, contemporary Australian artists including sculptor and taxidermist Julia deVille, painter Michael Zavros and photographer Selina Ou. There are monthly exhibitions from the artists represented in the gallery.

Some of the best art you will see in Australia, artists like, Julia Da Ville, Michael Zavros, Danie…read moreMellor, Selena Ou, and currently Vera Möller. Also Nicholas Harding and a whole raft of younger artists. Its low key and not at all pretentious. Edwin the gallery manager is a delight. Richmond is hard to find a car park, so public transport is the best.

Not really going to miss the old Chaps when I move away from here in the not too distant future…read more Used to be a lot more exciting years ago but is now a bit drab. Lots of vacant shops, places to get a decent coffee or fancy cocktails in this SY strip of Chapel St are few and far between. Lots of shops to buy polyester clothing if you're into that. Most exciting thing to happen this year on this strip was the fire above cafe Sienna. And that's saying something. Not going to miss the parking officers, the attention-seekers on their over-powered bikes and in their yellow and red Lamborghini's (parked in all of the no standing zones of course)... Nor will I miss the puke on the streets on my early Sunday morning walk or the hotels dumping glass bottles into their bins at two AM. Saying that, I will actually miss B'Stilla, G-Star & Market Lane plus my walks to the lovely Fawkner park... But I shall come to visit you guys so don't worry. I think I've overstayed my welcome. See ya Chapel St. x

This is where an abundance of cafes, restaurants and clothing outlets comes up, almost giving High…read moreStreet Armadale a run for its money. If you do not have much money to spend and/or you are not in the mood to go shopping; well then forget about it. Save your visit to Chapel Street for another time. This experience is not to be rushed either; it is meant to be enjoyed and appreciated at a slowish pace; so make a day out of this experience on your day off. I am not joking about the money part. You need to also be in the mood to reward yourself for all your hard work; otherwise the experience will be made redundant. The vibe is like a visa platinum credit card with a credit limit of anywhere from $20,000 upwards. South Yarra is a great, trendy area (kind of like Newtown in Sydney) yet it is expensive. You could even live in the city on less rent than what your might have to pay to live in this area. I love Chapel Street, and it is usually always on the agenda of visitors to Melbourne in particular: not many people visit Melbourne without having to visit Chapel Street; and it is also a common theme among the locals who are in the mood for a great day out.

While I was walking around Collingwood's gallery district I saw this little gallery. There are…read morestreet signs with an orange circle pointing down the section of street that there is a gallery on. And in the gallery district that is practically every street. And the galleries have these metal signs with the same image and the word gallery on them. I hadn't been in the Cambridge Studio Gallery before. It is new, only three years old. It is a very attractive series of white walled spaces in a renovated, heritage-listed Collingwood brick house. The redesign has done the best with the narrow space; there is a ground floor space and another gallery space on the mezzanine floor. There is a bit of a kitchen office area, where a woman was working, out the back of the ground floor, but as a gallery visitor I didn't more than a glance at that. It is probably worth visiting this gallery just to see the attractively renovated space. Unfortunately the paintings in the exhibition that I saw were not good; certainly not as attractive as the space they are hung in. I suspect that it is a rental space gallery where the space is rented out to artists for exhibitions, although the gallery does have a stockroom of art that they have previously exhibited.

One of my favourite places to get inspired, buy gifts for friends and bits and bobs for my wardrobe…read moreor home. Craft Victoria celebrates local artists and it certainly the place to go if you want to take a gift interstate or overseas. There's beautiful jewelry (my favourites are hand painted porcelain beads by Abby Seymour), ceramics, knitted hats and scarves, craft and design books and lots of cute cards if you want to complete the gift giving experience. Their window display is always a treat too... even if it's late at night and closed, it's nice to peer in to the window and dream about having a designer home filled with expensive hand crafted goodies.

I went into Craft Victoria to see the gallery and not the shop. This is not knitting granny craft…read morebut the most avant-garde and progressive craft in Victoria, it is more like contemporary art than anything grandma would recognize. There are three exhibitions in the long narrow gallery spaces; the exhibitions change every six weeks. Even though I have went there to see the exhibitions I still have to have a look around the shop area in case I see that perfect gift for someone. There isn't - maybe next time. Craft Victoria is also a great place to find out more information about art exhibition openings. I leave with the free InTrouble magazine and some exhibition invite cards.

On a wednesday night once every month or so you can see a group of artfully dishevelled folk…read moredrinking in Waratah place. This is just a normal art opening and the location of the inner laneway gallery TCB. Through the front door and upstairs opens to the white gallery spaces displaying the works of young/emerging artists in a non commercial environment. The gallery is an artist run initiative aimed at nurturing and supporting artists that may not have the opportunity to exhibit at conventional gallery spaces. This is kind of a cliquey space and openings draw a regular crowd however there is usually some free beer and interesting art.

Don't tell anyone, this is one of Melbourne's best kept art secrets…read more Tucked away in the seedy end of Williamstown. Open only on weekends. With commensurate openings of similarly seedy or weird art, is this gallery that hosts the most avant grade of Melbourne's avant grade art scene. Either that or a bunch of social misanthropes. Busy making art and burning sausages on a BBQ, I can never tell at any of the openings I visit these days. Techno Park is an artist's run initiative and as such shows art by artists for artists. Check it out.... next weekend.

A great art space in the backstreets of St Kilda. With loads of natural light, it's a great place…read moreto get your arty hat on. I've been to a couple of events here and love the set up with little bar areas and different spaces within then venue which make it feel more intimate.