4 types of street art, 3 types of food

Melbourne seems to inspire street art and food (among other things). Here is an incomplete catalog:

Street Art Type 1: Unintentional Plant Sculpting

There are a lot of low power lines in this city (they could also be phone lines), and many of them are located right above rows of trees. To avoid conflict, the trees are trimmed into 'Y' shapes. This seems to start early, so there are rows of mature Y trees all over the place.

Street Art Type 2: Intentional Street Art

There is also a vast amount of street art in the traditional sense (according to the aesthetician Nick Riggle: art that makes material use of the street). It's everywhere. We need to devote at least one proper post to this, but the above is one especially clever (and subtle) example.

Street Art Type 3: Coffee Art

Two flat whites with feather designs that we drank sitting on Acland Street. One came out better than the other (we've heard about places with fancier stuff too, but this is pretty representative).

Street Art Type 4: Strangely Dressed Americans

Let us explain. It was a friend's birthday party, and we'd promised to bring him brownies. Our plan was to bike over, since there's not a good way to go via public transit. A storm rolled in, though, and tested our resolve. We decided to put everything in plastic bags, including ourselves. This was the result.

And yes: it stopped raining moments after we'd left the house. But by then we were running late, and didn't want to turn back. Also: Colin did put on a helmet.

Food Type 1: Homemade Vegetarian American-Style Food

This is a Reuben Sandwich. The sauerkraut is homemade (all Naomi's work). The fake meat was imitation bacon, but it was more like corned beef than like bacon. The only thing the sandwich'lacked' was thousand-island dressing...

Food Type 2: Slightly Fancier Versions of Australian Junk Food

This was called a 'Tim Tam Slice.' Naomi picked it up at a cafe in South Melbourne. Tasty even without coffee being drunk through it.

Food Type 3: Fancy-ish Desserts Brought Home on a Bike, Getting Only Slightly Squished

A 'Royale' from Brunetti's bakery in Carlton (near Melbourne Uni). Sort of a chocolate hazelnut mousse cake. Colin stayed at the university for dinner recently, but wanted to bring home a dessert.


Here are some words that will appear in upcoming posts: 'grading,' 'garden' and 'Canberra.'