Discussion The Random Discussion Thread

[gringo2011]

Interesting take, I wonder what age you are? Working in the city in the early 2000s was just incredible. Friday in the city was electric. Lots of happy hours, quality restaurants still somewhat affordable.

Fast forward to today, and I had a meeting at Arbory yesterday. 2 schooners of Peroni was $30. I repeat schooners.

Cost of living plus working from home has killed the vibe tremendously IMO, albeit from a high base.

Add to the fact that there are meth heads everywhere. Elizabeth Street in particular is very sad. Fitzroy Street Si.Kilda died, Chapel Street miles off what it was.

Finally, the crime is absolutely real. Have 3 families I know in Bayside area that have had cars stolen in the last 6 months. There is a parent from the kids school that gets robbed weekly at the moment. It's absolutely cooked, not just some media beat up. I carry a baseball bat next to my bed, fully expect it will be our turn at some point.

Despite the problems, still a good city for now, but it was absolutely elite. It has morphed into a 3 star motel with a 5 star price tag.

Granted every generation probably thinks they had it best, I am 43 for context. Perhaps I just don't know where to go, but the pubs and restaurants I visit on rare occassion are a shell of their former self. Where is everybody? The night-life seems dead compared to yesteryear.

My mates in hospitality are all going bust, can't make a crust. Too much red tape, tax on alcohol, wages too high, people in general have slashed their discretionary spending. It's doesn't bode well for the vibe of Melbourne going forward.

A decent dinner is $400 for 2 these days and a good restaurant. I don't know how young people afford it at all to be honest, and for older people like us that have 2 incomes but mortgages, school fees etc, the value of going out and enjoying what Melbourne has to offer is not justifiable.

Would rather save the coin and take the kids to SE Asia regularly where your money goes further and you can get a cultural experience.

Every 40+ person I know is talking about leaving Melbourne, or at the very least moving post kids schooling which is our plan.

Perhaps I am just in an echo chamber, but holy moly Melbourne now to early 2000s is absolutely night and day to me, and it is not going in the right direction.

Go to High Street Northcote, Smith Street Collingwood or Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. That's where the youth and vibe is now. Chapel and Fitzroy street died because those suburbs sold their soul to the corporates who made them like shit shopping malls that are like inconvenient Chadstones.

Barcelona has had that too, places like Las Ramblas that were incredible cultural highlights are now just strips of the same shops you see in any shopping centre and the tourists look at them and walk off.

Melbourne city is still awesome if you know where to go too. Everything good is hidden now. Prices are expensive every where.

You can still get a cheap dinner in Melbourne too maybe your taste has changed. We went to Rice Paper Scissors in Hardware lane the other day. It has a banquet for $59 per person and there is so much food you can't finish it and get to choose what you want. Absolute high end quality. Booze is a bit pricy but you could drink water and go to a pub afterwards.

Should be plenty of places that do $11- $12 house pints in the city. Arbory is a novelty for tourists.

 

[saintbill]

Go to High Street Northcote, Smith Street Collingwood or Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. That's where the youth and vibe is now. Chapel and Fitzroy street died because those suburbs sold their soul to the corporates who made them like shit shopping malls that are like inconvenient Chadstones.

Barcelona has had that too, places like Las Ramblas that were incredible cultural highlights are now just strips of the same shops you see in any shopping centre and the tourists look at them and walk off.

Melbourne city is still awesome if you know where to go too. Everything good is hidden now. Prices are expensive every where.

You can still get a cheap dinner in Melbourne too maybe your taste has changed. We went to Rice Paper Scissors in Hardware lane the other day. It has a banquet for $59 per person and there is so much food you can't finish it and get to choose what you want. Absolute high end quality. Booze is a bit pricy but you could drink water and go to a pub afterwards.

Should be plenty of places that do $11- $12 house pints in the city. Arbory is a novelty for tourists.

Granted, I don't get North of the city. Will give you that. Agree, China town is still not too bad when there. Certainly the burbs are very expensive. A pint anywhere in Bayside is $15 unless you go to happy hour at Sandy or Brighton Beach on a Friday.

I look at the behaviour of my nieces and nephews who are early 20s. They definitely go north of the city. Still, they really have to pick and choose when and where to go out. They can't afford to buy drinks at a bar ever. That concept is outrageous to them. They get loaded on "pre's" as they call it.

Our day there was uni nights that made everything accessible and we were socialising 5 nights a week.

Part of it is obviously not just a Melbourne problem, but Australia wide. Realistically it is global. My nephew just finished his commerce degree at Melbourne and has a HELP debt of 93k. The exact same degree cost me roughly 20k, 22 years back.

The youth are broke AF, which makes it really hard for a city to remain vibrant and exciting.

Without getting too political, we are certainly encouraging our kids to think globally.

 

[gringo2011]

Granted, I don't get North of the city. Will give you that. Agree, China town is still not too bad when there. Certainly the burbs are very expensive. A pint anywhere in Bayside is $15 unless you go to happy hour at Sandy or Brighton Beach on a Friday.

I look at the behaviour of my nieces and nephews who are early 20s. They definitely go north of the city. Still, they really have to pick and choose when and where to go out. They can't afford to buy drinks at a bar ever. That concept is outrageous to them. They get loaded on "pre's" as they call it.

Our day there was uni nights that made everything accessible and we were socialising 5 nights a week.

Part of it is obviously not just a Melbourne problem, but Australia wide. Realistically it is global. My nephew just finished his commerce degree at Melbourne and has a HELP debt of 93k. The exact same degree cost me roughly 20k, 22 years back.

The youth are broke AF, which makes it really hard for a city to remain vibrant and exciting.

Without getting too political, we are certainly encouraging our kids to think globally.

I'm not sure it's going to get cheaper either. It's a different world now.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

I saw a punch-on in a pub once.

We all surf the seven seas.

 

[Joffaboy]

Victorians love taking the piss out of SA but it's a very nice place to visit and Adelaide would be a super easy city to live in.

It's a nice place

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Victorians love taking the piss out of SA but it's a very nice place to visit and Adelaide would be a super easy city to live in.

Would live in Adelaide over any other capital.

Sydney's roads can gagf

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Granted, I don't get North of the city. Will give you that. Agree, China town is still not too bad when there. Certainly the burbs are very expensive. A pint anywhere in Bayside is $15 unless you go to happy hour at Sandy or Brighton Beach on a Friday.

I look at the behaviour of my nieces and nephews who are early 20s. They definitely go north of the city. Still, they really have to pick and choose when and where to go out. They can't afford to buy drinks at a bar ever. That concept is outrageous to them. They get loaded on "pre's" as they call it.

Our day there was uni nights that made everything accessible and we were socialising 5 nights a week.

Part of it is obviously not just a Melbourne problem, but Australia wide. Realistically it is global. My nephew just finished his commerce degree at Melbourne and has a HELP debt of 93k. The exact same degree cost me roughly 20k, 22 years back.

The youth are broke AF, which makes it really hard for a city to remain vibrant and exciting.

Without getting too political, we are certainly encouraging our kids to think globally.

You go to places like India, and there is a lot that's shitty, but there are a lot of young ones employed, and eating out is something they can afford to do a lot of.

We've been super above board with our employment laws, and that means we're one of the few places where a dishwasher or a waitress is on the same hourly rate as a factory worker or shop attendant.

 

[Waiting for Godot]

It's a nice place

Apart from the weird gothic sex crimes and mass murders.

 

[Waiting for Godot]

Just had a moment...

I was like "today is Sunday, where did a day go?" and had to literally look at a calendar.

God when I did get to old and absent minded...

Welcome aboard!

 

[Parkysp]

Interesting take, I wonder what age you are? Working in the city in the early 2000s was just incredible. Friday in the city was electric. Lots of happy hours, quality restaurants still somewhat affordable.

Fast forward to today, and I had a meeting at Arbory yesterday. 2 schooners of Peroni was $30. I repeat schooners.

Cost of living plus working from home has killed the vibe tremendously IMO, albeit from a high base.

Add to the fact that there are meth heads everywhere. Elizabeth Street in particular is very sad. Fitzroy Street Si.Kilda died, Chapel Street miles off what it was.

Finally, the crime is absolutely real. Have 3 families I know in Bayside area that have had cars stolen in the last 6 months. There is a parent from the kids school that gets robbed weekly at the moment. It's absolutely cooked, not just some media beat up. I carry a baseball bat next to my bed, fully expect it will be our turn at some point.

Despite the problems, still a good city for now, but it was absolutely elite. It has morphed into a 3 star motel with a 5 star price tag.

Granted every generation probably thinks they had it best, I am 43 for context. Perhaps I just don't know where to go, but the pubs and restaurants I visit on rare occassion are a shell of their former self. Where is everybody? The night-life seems dead compared to yesteryear.

My mates in hospitality are all going bust, can't make a crust. Too much red tape, tax on alcohol, wages too high, people in general have slashed their discretionary spending. It's doesn't bode well for the vibe of Melbourne going forward.

A decent dinner is $400 for 2 these days and a good restaurant. I don't know how young people afford it at all to be honest, and for older people like us that have 2 incomes but mortgages, school fees etc, the value of going out and enjoying what Melbourne has to offer is not justifiable.

Would rather save the coin and take the kids to SE Asia regularly where your money goes further and you can get a cultural experience.

Every 40+ person I know is talking about leaving Melbourne, or at the very least moving post kids schooling which is our plan.

Perhaps I am just in an echo chamber, but holy moly Melbourne now to early 2000s is absolutely night and day to me, and it is not going in the right direction.

I've worked in the CBD for 30 years and it is absolutely no different now in terms of drugs. People forget about the heroin era. Russell St always a no go area. Sure prices are insane but I pay similar for all you said when I head down Mordi/Chelsea. and here is a tip. Arboury is a tourist place so one to avoid...

 

[bergholt]

I've worked in the CBD for 30 years and it is absolutely no different now in terms of drugs. People forget about the heroin era. Russell St always a no go area. Sure prices are insane but I pay similar for all you said when I head down Mordi/Chelsea. and here is a tip. Arboury is a tourist place so one to avoid...

Hot tip - if you find yourself saying "back in my day" then you might need a bit of perspective

 

[Parkysp]

Hot tip - if you find yourself saying "back in my day" then you might need a bit of perspective

mate I literally said I live and work there today. Keep up.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I've worked in the CBD for 30 years and it is absolutely no different now in terms of drugs. People forget about the heroin era. Russell St always a no go area. Sure prices are insane but I pay similar for all you said when I head down Mordi/Chelsea. and here is a tip. Arboury is a tourist place so one to avoid...

My Boss lives right out in Somerville, he leaves early on a friday to catch the $4.00 Schooner happy hour.

Few years ago there were specials at the Mail Exchange Hotel, i think it was only Carlton Draught but it was really cheap for members ( and you could sign up on the spot ). Now i think its just 10% discount, which is still nearly a dollar off a Schooner.

 

[dougiemac]

Apart from the weird gothic sex crimes and mass murders.

I call it local colour.

 

[Joffaboy]

I've worked in the CBD for 30 years and it is absolutely no different now in terms of drugs. People forget about the heroin era. Russell St always a no go area. Sure prices are insane but I pay similar for all you said when I head down Mordi/Chelsea. and here is a tip. Arboury is a tourist place so one to avoid...

Worked in the CBD from early 2003 to 2023, you are correct, used to see many more homeless and beggars. The drug issue was just as bad then and as you say there were plenty of no go areas.
Used to walk every lunch time for an hour all.over the city, and prior to covid it was the safest time with the horde of Asian students up around RMIT with the hundreds of noodle shops.
Seems to have changed somewhat after covid.
As for crime, in the 80's and 90's during the great recession almost everyone I know got burgaled and had their cars stolen. Many places couldn't get insurance without bars on the windows in inner Melbourne. Heroin was everywhere and so was crime.

 

[Jesuswasacarpenter]

Not that Victoria is exactly the “place to be” right now either.
Enormous debt and out of control crime.

Really enjoyed my weekend in Adelaide Round 1 ( except for the game). Lots to see and do.

The game in 2023 was a ripper, wrong result granted, however edge of the seat stuff.

 

[bergholt]

mate I literally said I live and work there today. Keep up.

Yeah sorry wasn't clear - that was exactly my point, I completely agree with you - was responding to the guy you were responding to.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I was just reading a HUN bulletin regarding Henry Brayshaw's ( son of James ) fiancé.

What a peculiar life some people choose.
Is it prostitution if its paid for by a third party?

 

[From 45]

Don't worry my mother is like that.

She thought I went out last night and asked what time I got home. I did not go out.

 

[Sully111]

Sick of Melbourne tbh. My gypsy arse would love to get out of here and head towards Byron Bay, but I'm stuck here until at least when my kids finish high school.

 

[bergholt]

I was just reading a HUN bulletin regarding Henry Brayshaw's ( son of James ) fiancé.

What a peculiar life some people choose.
Is it prostitution if its paid for by a third party?

?

 

[From 45]

Worked in the CBD from early 2003 to 2023, you are correct, used to see many more homeless and beggars. The drug issue was just as bad then and as you say there were plenty of no go areas.
Used to walk every lunch time for an hour all.over the city, and prior to covid it was the safest time with the horde of Asian students up around RMIT with the hundreds of noodle shops.
Seems to have changed somewhat after covid.
As for crime, in the 80's and 90's during the great recession almost everyone I know got burgaled and had their cars stolen. Many places couldn't get insurance without bars on the windows in inner Melbourne. Heroin was everywhere and so was crime.

The issue nowadays with drugs is the type of drug that’s being used. ICE addicts are far more prone to more violent crimes/behaviour whereas a heroin addict were far less prone to same levels of violence. I’m not saying heroin is great but there’s is a significant difference

 

[bergholt]

Sick of Melbourne tbh. My gypsy arse would love to get out of here and head towards Byron Bay, but I'm stuck here until at least when my kids finish high school.

I have a mate who did that after his kids finished school. He lasted about nine months - turns out moving away from all your friends at like 50 isn’t the easiest thing!

 

[SaintsSeptember]

?

A typical day-in-the-life for Annie Knight starts with a 5am gym workout and walk with her cavoodle dog Billy.


Later she might catch up on some emails, or do some marketing admin.


By afternoon Knight will gear up her “collabs” for the day. She prefers to bulk them together, sometimes around 10 for thearvo, meeting at different locations, so she can opt for a rest day the following day.

Arriving back to her Gold Coast home that night she likes to wind down and make dinner with a glass of wine. She cooks a meanhomemade chicken parma at the moment for her now-fiance Henry Brayshaw, most well known as the son of AFL commentator andformer North Melbourne president James Brayshaw.

Sounds like a fairly normal run-of-the-mill day. But for Knight her “collabs” are having sex with different men for explicitadult content on OnlyFans.


She proudly wears the moniker “Australia’s Most Sexually Active Woman”, but wants to tell the world she is no “dumb blonde”.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Worked in the CBD from early 2003 to 2023, you are correct, used to see many more homeless and beggars. The drug issue was just as bad then and as you say there were plenty of no go areas.
Used to walk every lunch time for an hour all.over the city, and prior to covid it was the safest time with the horde of Asian students up around RMIT with the hundreds of noodle shops.
Seems to have changed somewhat after covid.
As for crime, in the 80's and 90's during the great recession almost everyone I know got burgaled and had their cars stolen. Many places couldn't get insurance without bars on the windows in inner Melbourne. Heroin was everywhere and so was crime.

Remember talking to a guy who had a Nissan 300ZX back then. He said he bought a loud alarm and de-mobiliser, never left anything in the car, and always left his doors unlocked.
He was worried more about some druggy breaking the windows or doors than anything else.

I used to have to park in the street at one time, and quiet court, but the doorlock was screwdrivered. They didn't even get in, just stuffed the lock. Who'd have thought you couldn't open a lock by just shoving something into it and turning it hard.