I'm moving to Melbourne Australia

[SoulOfTheFlame]

Got a new job, so I'm moving to Melbourne from Brisbane in a couple of weeks.

Anyone live here?

If so... I'm in need of some good advice as to what neighborhoods and stuff are good to live in near downtown..

Also wondering if this city could possibly be big enough to boast a sports bar that has NHL Center Ice

Any advice would be awesome!

[burn_baby_burn]

The heart of Aussie rules. Who you going to cheer for?

[icarus]

I think Flame of Liberty lives there.

I don't know Melbourne too well but you'd probably want to look at living in St. Kilda or near there. It should be fun. My girlfriend is from Brisbane but loves Melbourne more than any other city in Australia so maybe you will too. Hopefully you won't start drinking VB though... ugh.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Buy a bunch of black clothes. Last time I was there, everyone was dressed in black. I think it has the largest Greek population outside of Greece.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by icarus

I think Flame of Liberty lives there.

I don't know Melbourne too well but you'd probably want to look at living in St. Kilda or near there. It should be fun. My girlfriend is from Brisbane but loves Melbourne more than any other city in Australia so maybe you will too. Hopefully you won't start drinking VB though... ugh.

VB is good stuff! I've never been to Melbourne if that is a pre-requisite for liking it though!

[Flame Of Liberty]

South-eastern suburbs are way to go. South Yarra, Toorak, Prahran. St.Kilda is in the same area, it is right next to the sea. Chapel street and Toorak road cross this area, lots of city life, night life, shopping, eating out, pretty much the "melrose place" of the city. But it's still a great residential area. Downtown is close, several met lines go through this area so you dont have to wait on your train, you get on any east bound, they all have a station in South Yarra.

If you are on a budget, then keep going south-east, Ripponlea, Armadale and so on, it gets more quiet and "residential". Or Brighton Beach, if money is not a concern, is one of my favorites Or Williamstown Beach on the other side of the bay is a great place to live.

North-western suburbs are more blue-collarish, if you will (Essendon area). I'd say eastern suburbs Hawthorn, Camberwell,... are better choice (never lived there tought).

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Slava

VB is good stuff! I've never been to Melbourne if that is a pre-requisite for liking it though!

Sick. Even Foster's is better than VB and that's saying a lot.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by icarus

Sick. Even Foster's is better than VB and that's saying a lot.

No way! Ugh Fosters is terrible. VB is ok, I like M (or Melbourne Bitter) same company, redish bottle instead of green.

I forget my favorite Aussie brews though. There was a Tazzie one I liked, and one called something Boag's I believe. A guys name... Jim Boag?

Yeah St. Kilda is definitely the funky downtown party type district with all the pros and cons that go with living in a place like that. I'm pretty sure there is a poster on here who lives there (maybe two actually). I've visited many times, but I wouldn't know enough to really tell you anything new.

[valo403]

VB is okay, it's simple boring beer though. Cooper's red is the way to go, just make sure you roll it first.

I much prefer Sydney to Melbourne, but it's still a step up from Brisbane IMO. A major issue is having to deal with AFL, which is a ridiculous sport played by men with shaved armpits and faux hawks. League is by far the best game in the country.

I'm not sure about centre ice, but the sports bar at the crown casino used to host monday night football during the NFL season, so they'd be a decent bet. You might want to check out hockeypulse.com.au, I know there's a Hockey Night in Sydney thing they do, maybe there's something going on in Melbourne.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Daradon

No way! Ugh Fosters is terrible. VB is ok, I like M (or Melbourne Bitter) same company, redish bottle instead of green.

I forget my favorite Aussie brews though. There was a Tazzie one I liked, and one called something Boag's I believe. A guys name... Jim Boag?

Yeah St. Kilda is definitely the funky downtown party type district with all the pros and cons that go with living in a place like that. I'm pretty sure there is a poster on here who lives there (maybe two actually). I've visited many times, but I wouldn't know enough to really tell you anything new.

James Boags, and yes it is delicious. If you ever get a chance to get down to Tazzie the brewery tour is pretty cool.

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by Daradon

No way! Ugh Fosters is terrible. VB is ok, I like M (or Melbourne Bitter) same company, redish bottle instead of green.

I forget my favorite Aussie brews though. There was a Tazzie one I liked, and one called something Boag's I believe. A guys name... Jim Boag?

James Boag's... it's a pretty good beer, my aussie friend was always going on about it and I finally found it last month at the wine store behind the Wild Rose Brewery, next to the Currie Barracks farmer's market.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by valo403

VB is okay, it's simple boring beer though. Cooper's red is the way to go, just make sure you roll it first.

I much prefer Sydney to Melbourne, but it's still a step up from Brisbane IMO. A major issue is having to deal with AFL, which is a ridiculous sport played by men with shaved armpits and faux hawks. League is by far the best game in the country.

I'm not sure about centre ice, but the sports bar at the crown casino used to host monday night football during the NFL season, so they'd be a decent bet. You might want to check out hockeypulse.com.au, I know there's a Hockey Night in Sydney thing they do, maybe there's something going on in Melbourne.

Yeah the casino there is pretty cool. They keep bragging it's the biggest one in the southern hemisphere. Sound pretty cool but really, who is the competition? lol It's still a fun place though! Way different than anything we have here in Calgary. Actual clubs and boutiques and theaters and stuff.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by valo403

VB is okay, it's simple boring beer though. Cooper's red is the way to go, just make sure you roll it first.

I much prefer Sydney to Melbourne, but it's still a step up from Brisbane IMO. A major issue is having to deal with AFL, which is a ridiculous sport played by men with shaved armpits and faux hawks. League is by far the best game in the country.

I'm not sure about centre ice, but the sports bar at the crown casino used to host monday night football during the NFL season, so they'd be a decent bet. You might want to check out hockeypulse.com.au, I know there's a Hockey Night in Sydney thing they do, maybe there's something going on in Melbourne.

Sydney is a Disneyland compared to Melbourne And I like Sydney (except for REALLY ugly parts such as Liverpool...glad Melbourne doesn't have that. Sydney is such a beach-culture hippie town; this surfing billabong wearing crowd can get annoying

But you are right about AFL, that stuff is terrible. Only cricket is worse.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by valo403

I much prefer Sydney to Melbourne, but it's still a step up from Brisbane IMO. A major issue is having to deal with AFL, which is a ridiculous sport played by men with shaved armpits and faux hawks. League is by far the best game in the country.

I heard that argument a thousand times when I lived in SA. As an outsider not having any preconceived notions about either sport before I lived in Oz. I would have to say that the AFL is one of the greatest spectator sports in the world in my opinion. Still it seems that anybody I talked to from up North about it wouldn't even give the AFL the time of day. Must be a cultural thing.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Sydney is a Disneyland compared to Melbourne And I like Sydney (except for REALLY ugly parts such as Liverpool...glad Melbourne doesn't have that. Sydney is such a beach-culture hippie town; this surfing billabong wearing crowd can get annoying

Haha, Sydney is more hippie than Melbourne? And I thought Melbourne was pretty beach/hippie. Obviously not as surfer but, probably just my take as a Calgarian where there is no beach, few hippies, and obviously no surfing.

And I haven't spent enough time in Sydney to know, but it just strikes me as funny that it's even more hippie than Melbourne. I thought it would be more corporate, more serious being the largest city.

I always though Melbourne was a lot like Vancouver.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Haha, Sydney is more hippie than Melbourne? And I thought Melbourne was pretty beach/hippie. Obviously not as surfer but, probably just my take as a Calgarian where there is no beach, few hippies, and obviously no surfing.

And I haven't spent enough time in Sydney to know, but it just strikes me as funny that it's even more hippie than Melbourne. I thought it would be more corporate, more serious being the largest city.

IMO Melbourne is more cosmopolitan with a strong European touch (and I don't mean just the Italians and Greeks). If I had to compare it to European city, I would say it is a lot cooler Paris (while I maintain that Sydney is a lot cooler Disneyland

But I don't think they are THAT different. If you took away the biggest landmarks such as Opera House or that silly bridge, you would have a hard time to tell them apart.

Originally Posted by Daradon

I always though Melbourne was a lot like Vancouver.

You and I can no longer be friends

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

IMO Melbourne is more cosmopolitan with a strong European touch (and I don't mean just the Italians and Greeks). If I had to compare it to European city, I would say it is a lot cooler Paris (while I maintain that Sydney is a lot cooler Disneyland

But I don't think they are THAT different. If you took away the biggest landmarks such as Opera House or that silly bridge, you would have a hard time to tell them apart.

Melbourne does have a lot of different ethnicities, very cool. And the restaurants... OMG! I've thought of moving there just for the food!

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

You and I can no longer be friends

Haha, just my opinion. Both have that coastal beach feel without being too tropical. Both are very laid back. Both have huge asian influences. You always seem to see people toking up everywhere both places, lol.

EDIT: More similarities: They're both roughly the same size. They both often rank in the top five of best cities in the world by that famous ex-pat survey that comes out every year that the Canadian cities do well in. I've seen them ranked as a tie for second actually.

I hate the Canucks, but I do think Vancouver is a pretty nice city.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Haha, just my opinion. Both have that coastal beach feel without being too tropical. Both are very laid back. Both have huge asian influences. You always seem to see people toking up everywhere both places, lol.

EDIT: More similarities: They're both roughly the same size. They both often rank in the top five of best cities in the world by that famous ex-pat survey that comes out every year that the Canadian cities do well in. I've seen them ranked as a tie for second actually.

I hate the Canucks, but I do think Vancouver is a pretty nice city.

Haha I know. But it's like saying Calgary is like Edmonton. Even if true, you just cannot say that, ever

[RW99]

Enjoy the spiders!

/shudder

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Haha I know. But it's like saying Calgary is like Edmonton. Even if true, you just cannot say that, ever

Lol, I thought that might be more of what you were getting at, still, I wanted to see how many similarities I could come up with.