Aussie GTG - Melbourne, 22nd May 2010

ttt

Locked in my diary.A wonderful effort by you . Many thanks .

Insofar as dinner is concerned I wonder if a place that will take a group booking and do a fixed price 2 or 3 course meal is worth thinking about ?Ideally it might even be the same venue for drinks perhaps . Maybe somewhere at Southbank ? I have no experience at all with GTG so these are just random thoughts .

Hi John,

I was hoping for a venue that could cope with both the pre dinner drinks and then dinner. Somewhere at Southbank sounds wonderful actually. Great suggestion about a fixed price menu. Will look into this further.
thanks John
Stormbird

Hello Stormbird. For what it is worth I am happy as a Melbourne resident to offer assistance to you in organising this GTG . So if you need a hand please ask and if I can I am happy to help as I expect it is going to involve a fair amount of work .John

Thanks for the offer John. Perhaps you might be able to check out Southbank for me? I'm aware of it and it's location and seems to me to quite perfect for the occasion. I'd appreciate your efforts John, thanks.
Stormbird

Thank you for getting this underway, Stormbird. I have my flights booked. Sorry that I can't be of any assistance with the arrangements, but it sounds like you have good help at hand. Looking forward to putting faces to the names on the 22nd.
Rob.

Woo hoo Rob - fantastic that you can make it! C U Then!

Happy to do some research for you Stormbird .

I guess the venue/s will be dictated by the numbers attending .So to those Fodorites reading about this who are thinking about coming it would be great for Stormbird to receive advice of attendance as soon as possible .

At this time I will work on say 15-30 persons and see what is suitable in Southbank and the inner city and we can go from there . Is that OK ? All suggestions / guidance welcome especially from our convenor . John

I think those are safe numbers to work on John. Many thanks.

I'd like to come, but I'm not at a point where I can purchase a plane ticket just yet. I should know for sure in a few weeks. I'll be coming from Perth and as I'm unfamiliar with Melbourne, I could use some suggestions on what hotels are near the meeting point (when selected).

Happy to help Melnq8. I am going to try and help find a venue. That is going to take a little time as I am away at the beach with houseguests this weekend and of course work interferes during the week .But I have put out a call to friends for suggestions .

Hi Melnq8,
I'm coming and will probably stay in one of the apartments around Little Bourke Street. Walk to Southgate or 5 mins in a cab.
I'll have a look at wotif later on & let you know what I find.

Thanks guys, I'll keep my eyes on this thread.

John, no more than a thought but how about the Langham at Southbank. The location is in the right place and you could have drinks there or there are plenty of other options in the immediate vicinity. The main reason that it occurred to me is that the Melba restaurant offers a number of different cuisines Indian/Asian/Sushi Bar/Italian/Traditional so everyones tastes should be catered for.

I haven't actually eaten there myself but have been told by others to go. As I understand it, it is mainly set up buffet style but not in the it's been sitting in the bain marie for hours type. The food is cooked to order in front of you and watching the chefs in action is part of the experience.

I just looked up the prices and it is expensive on a Saturday night at $90 per person for the buffet but it is possible to order a la carte as well in which case a main averages at about $35.00. In fact you could do three courses for less than $90. I would assume there wouldn't be a problem with people wanting to do a mix between buffet and a la carte.

The website for Melba for people to check it out is www.melbarestaurant.com.au

If everyone contributes to the cost, the two of us could go on a sample of the six top recommendations in order to choose a place Ah, if only, that is on about par with me winning Tattslotto.

Just a note for other "out of towners" ... don't faint when you see the rates on Wotif now. They're reflecting the Australian Open on in Melb next week. By May 22nd(which isn't available on Wotif yet), things will be a lot quieter. And cheaper.

John Fitz & Stormbird, FWIW, I asked a Melbourne friend who eats out a lot, arranges quite a few functions and is a good judge of things epicurean,for some reccos for our GTG, and here are a few. None in Southbank, but might be worth considering. Here's what she said:

" I have thought of a few places but the location may not be what you want. It depends if the location or the food is the more important to you because I guess you also want them to see the best of Melbourne. However for food and being the right style of venue, I’m happy to recommend these:

1. Bar Lourinha. Fabulous food as the website will show you but I can even further vouch for having been there twice with xxxx and the de Bortolis, who often run their wine related functions there. Very busy little bar but check it out – they also have function rooms and “Long Table” dining that may well suit you. However it’s up the top end of town at 37 Little Collins, up at the theatre end of town.

Link: http://www.barlourinha.com.au/


2. Lamaro. I’ve been here several times – to the launch of the place, once more with xxx and I met Maggie Beer there. Good memories. However I have also been there a number of times privately and it never disappoints. However it’s in Cecil St Sth Melbourne which is down the Albert Park Lake end but it’s more or less middle of nowhere, not as if you can see the lake or anything.

Link: http://www.lamaros.com.au/

3. MoVida. I’ve never been there but it comes highly recommended and well reviewed, and the location – opposite and just up from Fed Square – may be more the sort of location you are looking for. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Link: http://www.movida.com.au/

If I’m off the mark price wise or location wise, let me know and I can refine the search criteria in my memory.

Of course Fifteen’s excellent. As is George Calombaris’ Hellenic Republic, out past Carlton."

Wow! That's fabulous, many thanks to you and your friend Bokhara.

Here's two at Southbank. I've been to Tutto Bene a couple of times and liked it. http://www.tuttobene.com.au/

My friend says Walters is good too - I've only been there for drinks.
http://www.walterswinebar.com.au/

Some excellent ideas. What I am floundering about with is
" budget " and numbers.

There are many excellent options but of course , I assume , we need to cater to everyones purse and ensure that any venue can cope with our numbers both for drinks and afterwards for dinner or lunch .

At the GTG do attendees pay for their own drinks as ordered and all we need is a bar that can hold the numbers ? Do we need to know if attendees are pleased / prepared to pay say $15 for a mixed drink or as a result such a place would deter many from coming or put a dampener on it for most ?

As for the meal after drinks ,is it usual that food is , as I suggested , a limited choice fixed price plus drinks ?

Or is a la carte preferred and if so how is the bill divided etc in order to avoid the unseemly " I had this and no bread so it is $x..." from each attendee and especially to avoid others feeling they have subsidised the eating and drinking of others to the detriment of their wallets ?

Pardon my ignorance.

Stormbird you may already know and can enlighten me and everyone else please.

Hi Bokhara - Tutto Bene is also one of our favourite restaurants- amazing rissotto is their "signature", but large group bookings may not be... the largest group that would probably fit in the confines of the outdoor area (inside too small?) would probably be about 16-18. A good idea to check?

I would not recommend Walters. It used to be a must do for any Melbournian who loved the vibe of a really great bar and grill, but having been there twice recently I was very disappointed.

The emphasis is now very much on the bar,food seems to have gone downhill,and it's way too small to cope with group bookings, and the service staff just don't seem up to it anymore.

We eat out regularly in our wonderful foodie city and I'd second Mo Vida (stunning, but pricey), or Bar Lourinha.

I do still hope to make it, but have health and home issues (hinted at here) that do make it difficult for me to plan so far ahead.

It sounds like it will be a great night!

I'm hoping that Peter S can make it.

I loved his writings on Venice!

Don't know what happens with other Fodors GTGs, JohnFitz, but just to get the discussion started, the last few gatherings of this nature that I've attended/been involved in, have been along these lines:

Pre-meal drinks: Everyone does their own thing. This works well in a bar situation where people are arriving at different times and preferences are unknown.

Lunch/Dinner: Fixed price, sometimes with 5 or 6 options for 3 courses. Sometimes it has been $x for 2 courses and $xx for 3.

Wines at lunch dinner: We've tried several options, depending on the group/venue and two that seem to work quite well are: (1) to include the cost of 2 glasses of wine (or beer/soft drink) in the meal cost. This puts a bottle of red and one of white on each table of 8 and gets everyone chatting etc., while the entrees are served.

Wine lists are left on the tables after orders for meals are taken. Depending on how many would like more different wine, another bottle/s is ordered for the table, or a if only a few, they split that cost amongst themselves & add it to their share.

(2) If there are a significant number of non drinkers, those who would like some wine with their meal buy a bottle/s and share the costs.

A la carte can work if everyone has roughly the same $ value and the total is simply divided by the number of diners, but it can be tricky, as you say.

On balance, I think if we could find somewhere to offer us a reasonable variety for a fixed price, it would probably be easier.

What does everyone else think? Stormbird?

I'm happy to go with whatever works for most. I will want to have a drink or two before and with my meal (emphasise want, not need), and I am content to pay as I go if that makes things easier. It does seem that a fixed price option would be preferable, but a la carte would be fine. I have no objection to rounding or sharing if that works best.
Rob.

I'm all for the structured approach for large groups. It avoids bill wrangling at the end.

I'm a big fan of simplicity, so fixed price works for me, as long as there's a vegetarian or vegetarianesque option. I think I made up a new word...

Sorry, I haven't been able to respond - have been flat out like a lizard drinkin'.

I agree that a fixed price option is probably best and Mel we will definitely make sure there is a vegetarianesque option there.

Give me a couple of days to analyse a couple of the posts with restaurant references - thanks bokhara and libretto and I'll get back to you,

Realistically though, John I am probably going to have to rely on you somewhat as you are in the thick of it down there.

I think we want a fixed price option of at least two courses. Wine/beer/soft drink package included.

This is a special occasion and I'm happy to let my hair down a little bit regarding cost of the dinner etc but not sure - what is reasonably priced to one person isn't necessarily the same for another???? Help!

A fixed price option sound a really good idea. People know how much they are up for and no wrangling afterwards. I have been to a Mo Vida a couple of times and love it but am not sure if they can offer a fixed price menu. Perhaps they would if they know well in advance. Also, the original Mo Vida would not take a booking as large as ours. The way their restaurant is designed, the max is 6 people.

There is now another Mo Vida (they are up to four different types now) which I gather caters for large groups. The food is no doubt still very good, but I rather wonder about the atmosphere somewhat. It is on the first floor of a large city office building - certainly not an address that springs to mind. Mo Vida is all about people sharing platters, so I suppose we could organise a whole lot of dishes to share and just split the costs but it is probably still rather messy as compared to a proper fixed price menu. I hope to be in town one day next week so will have a look if I can as several posts have mentioned Mo Vida.

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions .They are just what I , and I imagine Stormbird , need in order to set some parameters .

I checked MoVida and Movida Next Door .No bookings taken at the latter . Last I ate at Movida it was about $100 pp for Tapas and Sangria .

I know I could find us a terrific bar for drinks in one of our lanes that is close to ( short walk ) dinner venue.

Are these costs - a fixed price limited choice 3 course menu at $60 - $80 pp plus wine with good vegetarian options , catering for any gluten free needs etc - OK ?

If so I will look in earnest ,including taking suggestions from you all .

Just to give you all an idea of my recent experience of organising dinners that had lovely, careful, food of interest ,I have organised two small work related group dinners ( 8 -12 persons )in the last year in Melbourne and where we wanted a private room or semi private space .

The last was at Embrasse in Rathdowne Street Carlton ( Epicure young chef of Year , Best dish of the year etc )which was a 5 course degustation at $75 pp plus drinks .For more than 8 persons they had a room which required a minimum spend and so do others such as Bar Lourinha ( $1500 and a non refundable deposit to be paid up front )

The other was at Libertine in Victoria Street North Melbourne and was a limited choice 3 course at $60 approx pp plus drinks in an upstairs room ( noone has disability access problems ?? ) .A deposit was paid and deducted from end bill but no minimum room spend .That room can seat up to 30. Lovely French food .

Food and service was excellent at both and well reviewed by the pundits .

So that gives us some idea of costs at mid range restaurants.

I am guessing there will be 10 - 15 of us going on current expressions of interest / acceptances .

So , going on what you have all posted I imagine we would safely look at a cost of up to $100 per person for dinner if modest wines etc are drunk plus whatever you care to pay for pre dinner drinks .

If so I will do some more research as I am not au fait with latest Southbank options .

Please keep ideas coming .

Regards to all ,

John

Hi John,

I think $100 is very realistic. John, I'm sorry to put this on you but I am thinking that the bar/restaurant decision will be yours. Do you mind? If not, I have complete faith that the location you select will be perfect.

I don't feel like I can comment on any of the restaurants as I don't know them. Sometimes when a number of people are involved you just have to make an executive decision and I'm sure the others would be happy for you to do so. Again, if you don't mind.

This has been a fantastic response everyone - I'm so very pleased that this is happening and I'm sure the evening is going to be an outstanding success.

Your thoughts on the above John?
Regards
Stormbird

Virgin Blue have just added some cheap seats Brisbane -Melbourne - you might want to check your departure point and hopefully there'll be a bargain there. I've just booked mine - glad I waited - saved about $110 all up Yay!!!

Thanks John,
I'd be more than happy with $100 + drinks, etc and with your recommendation for the venue.

Are we locked into Southbank? I think it was suggested initially because it's well known, easily accessible and has a pleasant outlook, particularly on a Summer's evening. Mid May though, I would think it will be dark well before we arrive for dinner, and thoughts of strolling across from the CBD likely to be somewhat less appealing than a warm cab.

Google indicates Libertine & Embrasse & Southbank are probably all about 10 mins from Bourke Street Mall, so if we went with either of them, it would still be convenient for anyone staying in the CBD. Just a thought.

I'm also happy with $100 and to go with whatever is decided restaurant wise.

Thanks for all the research John.

Thankyou all for your comments and vote of confidence .

Now that I know what we all seem to want I am happy to help out with researching /selecting a venue . After that I would prefer to hand back the reins to you Stormbird as this is really your terrific initiative . I also think it is best to have only one person for everyone to liaise with and thus avoid confusion . I am also going to pretty busy from March with work and personal commitments .

So once I select a venue and find out exactly what they require I will pass those details to you Stormbird to let you fine tune it all . Is that OK ?

I was at dinner with friends tonight and asked them for suggestions without telling them what had already been mooted by us . The two places immediately mentioned were Movida and Bar Lourinha !!

They told me that Movida has a new venue in Little Bourke Street between Queen and William Streets opposite the rear of the Supreme Court but I think it is a little removed and has little pedestrian traffic at night .Not unsafe but it is out of the way from where most bars , restaurants , theatres and like are in the central city . Movida is also hard to get a booking , let alone for a large table ,at least at the original venue .

So I will investigate Bar Lourinha for us first and let you know the outcome , hopefully next week after the long weekend . I am out of town from tomorrow morning until Tuesday night .Happy Australia Day to all .

Cheers ,

John

I looked at Lourinha's web site and noticed that it does not take bookings .Seems a risk to me to have us all arrive for a drink and possibly not get a table/s for dinner .

Exploring other options .

Hi John,

Yes, I will be happy to take the reins back once we have a venue. Just give me the name and I will be happy to co-ordinate the details etc.

I appreciate how busy you are and am very thankful for the assistance John. Many thanks.
Stormbird

Hi all, have been reading this thread with great interest for the restaurant tips. We are going to Melbourne in February and can't make it back in May, but hope that you all have a fantastic time.

Lavandula

JohnFitz
2 venues that are suitable size wise and , cost and menu wise are All nations Hotel Richmond which has a room that could be used and the kent Hotel rathdowne street Carltom which does large group bookings. I have used both of these for group bookings. A short taxi ride from a city hotel or walking distance for the Richmond if staying in east melbourne area.

O'Connells Hotel in South Melbourne might be worth a thought. Not hard to find by tram from the city, and it's very pleasant. Maybe drinks at the bar, then retire to a private room?

http://www.oconnells.com.au/

I shouldn't be poking my nose in from this distance and complicating matters further, and I apologise for doing so, but my sources in Melbourne suggest that the following could be worthy of consideration:

The Press Club

Circa, The Prince (St Kilda)

Lemongrass (Thai food)

Cestbon (Sth Melbourne)

A Crown Casino venue -- several options available.

It may be that some of these are too far away from the centre of the city to be viable. On the other hand, those staying centrally could meet a little earlier in the afternoon/evening and share the "thrill" of a tram ride to and from the venue.

Rob.

Thanks for the suggestions . I agree that a venue a little further afield may be necessary .

Stormbird I received a good suggestion for dinner and perhaps pre dinner drinks from a friend and want to give you the details , ,and all who are coming , so you can have a look at the web site and see if it appeals to you .

It is called TRUNK . See www.trunktown.com.au

I have driven past it many times and ate there when it was Silitto and before extensive refurbishment .It is on the corner of Little Lonsdale and Exhibition Streets in an historic building with a national trust classified tree in the front courtyard . It is at the top end of town near theatres and Chinatown and a short taxi ride from Southbank or a tram ride and short walk . It is within 2 blocks or thereabouts of the big city hotels .

It has a bar area ( not seen it but can do so ) although I wonder if we might like to go somewhere else for a drink just to keep it interesting and provide a change of scene .

It serves Italian cuisine .The web site shows you drinks /wine list / menus etc .

I have not contacted them yet . But what appeals to me is that they can do fixed price 2 or 3 course dinners for functions / groups. The menus read well . I would need to check details with them and minimum numbers etc .

The top priced 3 course dinner is $75pp plus drinks .Two courses are around $50pp. They have a private , or at least semi private , dining space you can see on a floor plan .

So please have a look and tell me what you think .

John

Wow, that's the longest beverage list I've ever seen - 14 pages!

I'm not sure if I'll be able to go yet, but the menu looks good to me.

Your efforts are appreciated JohnFitz!

I've never heard of Trunk before but the location works well and the price for a fixed price dinner is right. Virtually everyone likes Italian food and you can make a proper booking. I hate this new idea where the "trendy" restauants do not take any bookings at all, you are expected to turn up and wait and, of course, consume several expensive alcoholic drinks at the bar/lounge whilst waiting for a table.

Personally I rather like the idea of a separate place for a drink beforehand to mix things up a bit. Two places that come to mind immediately which are within an easy walk of Trunk are the Long Bar www.thelongroom.com.au/ which is the basement of the old Georges in Collins Street and Spice Market which is in Russell Street www.spicemarket.net.au The website for Spice Market is not done well. Click on Venue to get various photos of what the place looks like.

Both places are very trendy and later in the night become the line up and get checked out to see if you make the grade to get inside but there should be no trouble getting in (or need to line up) if we went for pre-dinner drinks. I believe clientale then is often made up of office workers having a quick drink before going home.

Thanks Melnq8 and Shandy . Good ideas re bar. I absolutely agree about this new ' no bookings 'caper . We would have no hope with a group of 10 or more of getting tables .

Trunk sounds pretty good to me.
I am content to have a pre-dinner drink anywhere.
Rob.

Looks good to me too.
Agree with you on the "no booking" places. Fine for cafes & casual eateries, but if they want operate & charge in the fine dining sector, I want to be able to book. Thanks JohnFitz.

Trunk sounds fine.

Good work JohnFitz.
Still not sure I can make it, but.... location of trunk gives a focus to the hotel location, too. There's some not-too-expensive hotels up that end of town.

Two questions for everyone .

What time do we want to meet for drinks ?
What time do we want to book dinner ?

Shandy's suggested bars open around 5pm and both are very well situated and look good.

I know the Longroom from the Georges days both pre renovation and post when it was converted from being the menswear floor to a restaurant in the post Stephen Bennett renovation in the mid 90's .

Once I have a consensus I can speak to the venues and pass the detail to Stormbird to firm up everything for us .

Drinks - say 6:00 PM

Table booked for say 7:30.

Cheers

peter

Ditto above. Thanks again JohnFitz

Ditto. Thanks, John.

Ditto - many thanks John!

Thank you JohnFitz!!

Been distracted by work and thus my delay in replying. Thanks everyone for your responses about booking times .

I hope to sort this out for us in the next week or so as I expect to have some free time to do so .

You may recall our early discussions about venues and the suggestion of MoVida ? Well this week the Age newspaper in its Epicure section reviewed the new ' Movida Aqui' and adjacent bar ' Movida Terraza ' which I had mentioned but had some reservations about because of what I thought was its "no bookings" policy and location .

It got an excellent review and it seems it does take reservations - at least according to its web- site www.movida.com.au.

The bar has excellent views over the Supreme Court library dome and in mild waether would be a lovely spot to have a drink and snack .

So it is a good backstop to keep in mind although I still think it is a little out of the way for what we want .

Hello Stormbird ,

I have contacted Trunk and they advised that are able to help us on 22nd with dinner at 7.30pm .

In making my enquiry I advised what it is all about and who we are - all positive - and that we will be a small group of around 10 but maybe more and can firm up the numbers closer to 22nd .

I asked for a limited choice ( with vegetarian options ) 3 course meal perhaps in their Rintel dining space .That is not essential and depends on our numbers . Drinks will be ordered from their list and paid for at the end of dinner.

The person to speak with is Nick Kutcher on 03 96637994 or email nick@trunktown.com.au . He has my email details . I advised I would hand over to the convenor of the dinner .

So , if that suits please let me know and if you can contact Mr Kutcher as soon as practicable to discuss arrangements and what they require from us all that would be good .

Please let me know if you need any other details from me .

Regards ,

John

Hi John,

I can't thank you enough for your efforts. I think Dinner at 7.30pm at Trunk's sounds fantastic. I shall get in touch with Nick tomorrow.

Now we still actually haven't resolved the pre dinner drinks. I do like the idea of somewhere different but not too far.John, is your earlier suggestion of The Longroom any good, is that nearby to Trunk?

Thank you for your efforts - we'll all shout you a drink on the 22nd May!!!

Hi Stormbird. No trouble at all for me .

I am not too worried about the pre-dinner drinks venue . Shandy gave us a couple of good suggestions .And I don't expect we need to book and I have assumed people aren't looking for canapes etc which would take some organising .

If there are a 10+ of us then I suppose we want somewhere where we can all stand comfortably , meet each other and mingle . So let me give it some further thought .

I suppose the choice of venue might also depend on what people are prepared to pay for a drink . I don't go to a lot of bars in the " city of bars " and therefore don't frequently buy drinks but I am told that a standard mixed drink anywhere these days is $10++ .

What do you think ?

John




















oe

Hello Stormbird , just wondering if you have had a chance to speak to Trunk ? If you have what was the outcome ?

As far as a bar for pre dinner drinks I went past The Longroom and noted that they have a strict dress code which basically requires a jacket and smart casual attire - no trainers on feet etc .So if any attendees are wanting to dress very casually that may present a problem .

The Spicemarket at the Grand Hyatt is marginally closer to Trunk .

Everyone might want to also look at www.deckofsecrets.com which has a fairly comprehensive directory and description of bars with views . Nice options but of course we are talking May and cold in Melbourne so a view or at least a deck is probably irrelevant .

Hi John,

I have just sent an email off to Nick - I do apologise for my delay but I have just had an awful couple of weeks with health issues and honestly I haven't been able to even think straight.

Anyway, the ball is in motion and will let you know when Nick confirms our date etc.

I really appreciate your mighty effort to date John and am grateful for your help and support.
Regards
Stormer

Dear Stormer ,

I am very sorry to hear that you have not been well . I hope things are better for you now .

Apropos of our GTG I have booked a work related dinner at the new Movida Aqui next week for a work related function .It is convenient to work so a good option .

My assistant did all the ground work for me but they do a $65 pp fixed price dinner , no dessert and drinks extra , for groups over 6 persons . So just in case we need it we can always use it if good.I expect it will be good .

They required a credit card as security for the booking and if it is canceled there is a fee of $20 per person but maybe more if it is done at the last minute . So worth knowing .

Keep well and happy .

John

Hi All,

I have had confirmation from Trunk for our dinner on the 22nd May. We would love to hear your report John re Movida Aqui - you just never know - so thanks for that.

Health issues are taking their time getting sorted - I'm sure I'll get there but can't get into a specialist until early May! Doh!!! I'm sure it will sort itself out! Doctors have to start at the obvious and work their way back - it seems I'm a complete mystery - well, nothing new there!

Will post again soon.
Regards
Stormbird

Fantastic .

I will pick a bar for pre dinner drinks asap .

And I will report on MoVida Aqui after dinner next Thursday night .

And as for your health my only ( gratuitous and I hope not impertinent ) advice is to get second opinions if serious things are being discussed .Most importantly be well for 22 May !

Cheers ,

John

I went to MoVida Aqui a couple of weeks ago when I was down in Melbourne for the Cubism show at Heide. It was absolutely fantastic food, can't recommend it too highly. Cafe Vue at Heide was fabulous also.

Pleased to read that Susan.Looking forward to it as I certainly always enjoy the food at the original in Hosier Lane.

Susan, I hadn't realised that the new Cafe Vue at Heide was already opened. I've been looking forward to it. What did you think of the cubism show? Is it worth going to?

Hi Shandy, the cubism show is fantastic. Incredibly well researched and installed, one of the best Australian art shows I've seen in well over a decade. It's on until April, I'm tempted to make another trip down to see it.

Book a table if you go to the cafe, it's very busy.

Well MoVida Aqui was excellent . We had a fixed price 7 course menu , which is coimpulsory for groups of 6+ , at $65 per head plus drinks.The chef selects whatever is good but they ask if you dislike certain things or are allergic etc to certain foods when you are first seated .The wine list is no bargain and the cheapest seemed around $50 to $60 but what we got at that price was excellent - a Heathcote Marsanne / Viognier and a Spanish red that was a Pinot / Shiraz blend .

The food included slow beef cheek on soft polenta , paella , jamon , roast quail on chick peas and black pudding . There was more food than we could eat . But I still shared the trifle and another had creme catalan which looked wonderful . So dinner for 9 with about 5 bottles of wine and some coffees and 3 desserts was about $950 plus tip .

Topping this as it took me a while to find it!

I'm just looking for cheap flights ....

Funny, I was going to bring this back up yesterday but ran out of time. I'm currently on hold with Telstra so I know I will have a lot of time to talk here now.

I was going to see if we're all finalised and happy with Trunk - I have booked it, as you know. We still haven't finalised a bar to meet at. Honestly, John I'd be happy and I'm sure everyone else would also, for you to make that decision.

And ..numbers - who is definitely in ...or is it too early to ask yet?

was about to book flights - and now house sitter problem...

Hoping.

Stormbird, John et al, you've done such an amazing job organising this! I do hope you all have a great time!

Although I would dearly have loved to meet you all - Neil (hope he is well enough to make it),and Bokhara especially -I've decided to become a "rarely sighted Fodorite".

I'll drop in sometimes but I've decided that personal circumstances at the moment that have led to my supposedly somewhat fragile feelings might not be entirely suited to Fodors just now....wishing you all the best, though, it should be wonderful!

Libretto

stormbird -

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend, but I hope everyone has a wonderful time! Please report back afterwards.

Well I am disappointed that a number of our favourite members cannot make it but I well understand .

Funny that this came up because I was " up the Trunk " end of town today walking back from the dentist( my mouth represents many,many,many equivalents of return First Class airfares )and was thinking about bars for the GTG and the need to do as I said and nominate a good one .

I am happy to select the bar venue that I think we will all like .

It would be helpful Stormbird , and everyone ,to know how many we will be at drinks and dinner in case the numbers are different as that affects the choice of bar .

Otherwise Stormbird what else is needed ? Deposits for dinner cost ? or ?? Just let me know .

John

I'm in - looking forward to it.

Okay sorry for the size of this post BUT WE HAVE TO CHOOSE A MENU OPTION!!! Please read and let me know your thoughts. We also need to decide if we want a beverage package, details continue after the menu options.

So could we have a vote for MENU/BEVERAGE OPTIONS AND NUMBERS PLEASE OF WHO IS COMING!! Many thanks in advance.

TRUNK
SET MENU OPTIONS
2 course $55 per person (Option A)
Set Entree and Main
Choose from the following mains only:
Entree
Trunk’s antipasti for the table
Main
Aged sirloin, pearl barley, mustard onions & Nebbiolo sauce
Fish of the Day with cauliflower puree, fennel & celery salad
Potato gnocchi, heirloom tomato, basil & parmesan (v)
Includes coffee/tea

2 course $60 per person (Option B)

Main and Dessert

Choose from the following:

MAIN

Aged sirloin, pearl barley, mustard onions & Nebbiolo sauce
Fish of the day with cauliflower puree, fennel & celery salad
Potato gnocchi, heirloom tomato, basil & parmesan (v)

Dessert

Mascarpone panna cotta & berries
Chocolate & hazelnut semi freddo
Italian cheese selection

Includes coffee/tea









TRUNK
SET MENU OPTIONS
2 Course $65 per person (Option C)
Entree and Main
Choose from the following:
Entree
Tuna Carpaccio, pickled vegetables & micro herbs
Wagyu breasola, goat’s curd & grilled artichoke
Crostini of roasted cherry tomatoes, pine nuts & fried basil (v)

Main

Aged sirloin, pearl barley, mustard onions & nebbiolo sauce
Fish of the day with cauliflower puree, fennel & celery salad
Potato gnocchi, heirloom tomato, basil & parmesan (v)

Includes coffe/tea

3 course $75 per person (Option D)

Entree, Main and Dessert

Choose from the following:

Entree

Tuna carpaccio, pickled vegetables & micro herbs
Wagyu breasola, goat’s curd & grilled artichoke
Crostini of roasted cherry tomatoes, pine nuts & fried basil (v)

Main

Aged sirloin, pearl barley, mustard onions & nebbiolo sauce
Fish of the day with cauliflower puree, fennel & celery salad
Potato gnocchi, heirloom tomato, basil & parmesan (v)

Dessert

Mascarpone panna cotta & berries
Chocolate & hazelnut semi freddo
Italian cheese selection

Includes coffee/tea

TRUNK
BEVERAGE PACKAGES
UPTOWN
Baumard Carte Turquoise NV Anjou, France
Craggy Range ‘Old Renwick’ Sauvignon Blanc 2008 NZ
Springvale Pino Gris 2008 TAS
Gembrook Hill Chardonnay 2005 VIC
Morilla ‘Praxis’ Pinot Noir 2008TAS
Wanted Man Shiraz 2008VIC
Stoney Vineyard Cabernet Suavignon 2004TAS

Please choose two whites and two reds in addition to your Champagne which is included.

Duration: Cost per head:

2 hours $75
3 hours $90
4 hours $125
5 hours $135

All wines are poured in the package. Includes all tap beer, soft drinks and mineral water. Wines are subject to availability and change.


MIDTOWN

Jansz Brut NV TAS
Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Bloanc 2008NZ
Gabbiano Pinot Grigio 2007ITALY
Red Claw Chardonnay 2008VIC
Yering Station Pinot Noir 2008VIC
Mount Langhi Cliff Edge Shiraz 2005VIC
Penley Pheonix Cabernet Sauvignon 2007SA

Please choose two white and two reds in addition to your Sparkling which is included.

Duration: Cost per head:

2 hours $42
3 hours $52
4 hours $65
5 hours $75

All wines are poured in the package. Includes all local tap beer, soft drinks and mineral water. Wines are subject to availability and change.






TRUNK
BEVERAGE PACKAGES
DOWNTOWN

Ville de Tronc Fizz NV McLaren Vale, SA
Wine No. 5 Cabernet Shiraz 2006VIC
Wine No. 5 Semillon Sauvignon 2007VIC

Duration: Cost per head:

2 hours $35
3 hours $40
4 hours $50
5 hours $60

All wines are poured in the package. Includes all local tap beer and soft drinks.

I should clarify that we do not have to take the beverage package. We can pay individually or have a tab!

I was a 'maybe' but have just found out that I double-booked! Hope it goes well!

I'm a definite starter and Mrs Rob will be there too, if that is ok. She is not sure what to expect from a bunch of Fodorites (I think she considers us all to be a bit odd), but I have assured her that most of us are normal people.

I like the look of the 3 course option, but would be happy with either of the other two choices.

Having the beverage package may be a bit of an imposition on someone who is a very light drinker (I believe that there are some) and I wouldn't want anyone to be subsidising my consumption. I'm happy to do a package if that is the preferred option, but would be content to pay as I go or operate a tab, whatever is the easiest.

Rob.

I have no preference with respect of the food .

I will go with the majority or , if needed , your casting vote Stormbird as the convenor.
If we get a drinks package I vote for the midtown .

I agree with Rob about alcohol . I like a glass of wine with my meal but unless it is a dessert wine will stop after the savoury courses and perhaps have a cognac over coffee. But there is nothing worse than the 2 glass person or teetotaller having to subsidise others.

What about everyone who is coming advising if they drink wine to gauge demand ?

Once we know that we could check with Trunk ,as an alternative to their beverage package , if we can select from their wine list , at an agreed price point , a red and a white wine or sparkling for the night .

If an average bottle holds 5/6 ? standard glasses we can add the cost of " X " bottles to our bill and cost per person . We can calculate it by the numbers attending and allowing
" X " glasses per person ( 3 or 4 ??)each to our base package . They have wine by the glass and perhaps those who want to drink more can set up their own tab ?

Of course in the end there may not be much difference in price doing this and their packages include soft drink etc .

But that alternate option all takes time and energy .And how often do we do this ? Answer = never before .So if the decision is to take a drinks package I can happily live with it.

ps If it ends up that we are only a small number at table then subject to the numbers who drink alcohol I am sure we could sort something without the package inclusion.

Hey stormbird

Count me in to stop by for a bit. A GTG would be a first for me.

I've got simple tastes and an even simpler budget these days but I'm generally flexible. I doubt I'd drink more than a glass or two of whatever goes best with the main people want.

I'm happy with either food option. Not a mad dessert fan, but like a good cheese platter ...

Typically at something like this, I'd have a glass of champagne or a cocktail at the "meet & greet", and 2 or 3 glasses of wine with the meal. Unless there were an absolute stand-out sticky on offer, that would be it.

Agree with JohnFitz & KiwiRob, perhaps we should see how many are coming and decide what to do about drinks then. Like them, I'm more concerned about someone who only has 1 or 2 glasses (or no alcohol at all) subsidising those of us who'll have 1/2 bottle during the course of the night + a pre-dinner drink.

I'm happy to simply share the cost of the wine selection on the night, or run my own tab & just buy by the glass. Not sure how the latter option would sit with the restauranteur, though.

Honestly, I don't mind. If the package ends up being the best option, I think the "Midtown" one looks the most appealing.

I know all these "we're happy with whatever" votes just put the monkey back on your shoulder, Stormbird - but I think we're a pretty casual bunch and will be happy with whatever you think.

Hi All,

Of course Mrs Rob is most welcome Rob!! The more the merrier. I don't drink alcohol at all (long story...you don't want to know but it was the tequila that did it to me) I think we should just organise drinks on the night and decide then if we just tab it or pay for our own. I don't think we need the drinks package from what I'm hearing.

Regards the menu I'm leaning towards the 3 course option or the main/dessert option.

I am happy to go with the flow in relation to the menu. Either 2 or 3 courses would be fine by me. My personal preference would be to give the drinks package a miss. If I have had a couple of drinks at a bar before we go out to dinner my limit would probably be only another 2 glasses of wine before driving home - alternatively I will end up bunking in with someone staying in the city if I have more Definitely we should have Mrs Rob along.

Hey Stormbird-
What's funny is that I leave on the 4th for my Australia trip but...I'm going to be hanging with Hugh Jackman at Gwinganna Resort during your GTG! Well, I don't know if he'll actually be there but since he is an investor I am hoping he shows up.....I would die if he did!!! Sorry to miss the GTG but have fun!

Unfortunately I will be in Bali during this time. I would have loved to meet some of you at this GTG. The night sounds so much fun already. Fabulous food,Aussie wines,great company. What more do you need. Have a wonderful night!

Hey Skiergirl,
I knew you were going to be downunder sometime in May - was wondering if you were going to Melbourne.

Catching up with Hugh sounds like it could be a bit more fun than our GTG. Good luck with that one!

Let me know if you want to have a catch up as I'm not that far away from the resort or maybe you are coming to Brisbane?

Stormbird!!! How dare you dis us as being no match for that Jackman bloke in the fun stakes? I just hope that Trunk has got good rafters (for the climbing of), a strong chandelier (for swinging from) and good tables (for dancing on) -- and that's just for the women!
Sulky Rob.

Whadderyerthinkinggirl?! Never mind "3 courses choices" ... you'll be having hot tongue & cold shoulder, followed by 'umble pie after that slip

Just for starters ... first shout's yours & I'm planning to console myself for being 2nd best with a glass of the very finest French!

Hugh Jackman, indeed! He may well be the thinking woman's (and a good number of the boys' too, no doubt) crumpet - but really, he'd be struggling to compete with us. Especially after a few of your reparation drinks.

Do want a bar for pre-dinner drinks that is more formal eg jacket reqired - or something more raffish .A view ? It needs to an easy walk to Trunk ./

Do we know our numbers yet ? By what date Stormbird must we confirm them to Trunk ? I would not want them gearing up and hiring extra staff etc and it is just 8 of us and able to eat a la carte and in the restaurant proper .Might bew worth a check up with them

I am getting anxious as I want us to know what we are ,
doing and no confusion .

Will select the Bar this week and let you all now .

Oh my I am sooooo sorry if I've offended - not my intention - because Skiergirl hasn't got a hope in hell of catching up with Hugh because he is MY boyfriend (he's desperately trying to fit in a visit to our GTG but he is heavily booked so he might not be able to make it). So I was being a little bit facetious with skiergirl - of course our GTG is the social event of the year IMHO!

So -

I count us currently as seven - Stormbird, John Fitz, Kiwi Rob and Mrs Kiwi Rob, Shandy, Bokhara, Clifton.

I agree John that we should now make a booking where we can go a la carte. I'll make an executive decision and just go ahead with that now. Hope that's okay.

I'm still a dunno!

What about Peter S - he was coming some time back? Planning yet another trip to Venice!

Yes I had Peter S down as a definite maybe along with ozgirl!

Okay so all is sweet with Trunk we are now a table of 7 a la carte - that takes a bit of the stress out doesn't it?

Ok John so may we leave it up to you re the drinks venue? We have complete faith in your decision as I'm sure it will be great. It will definitely need to be within walking distance to Trunk or at least I think that would be best.
Really appreciate all your assistance John thanks so much.

Oh Margo - I hope you turn into a definite instead of a dunno! Come on it will be fun and we'd all love to meet you.

Neil_Oz how are you going - you were maybe hoping to join us. I appreciate you have some health issues to deal with so hope it is all going well. BUT will we see you there in Melbourne?

Skiergirl: Nice article in the latest World Vision news about Hugh & Deborra-Lee's trip to Ethiopia with Tim Costello last year.

The article's too big for me to produce here, but there's a paragraph that I thought everyone would appreciate.

"We came home profoundly challenged by the lottery of latitude; that people whose only wrong was to be born on a latitude with little opportunity, educationally or economically for their future. We do not choose where we are born, or what stage of life we are thrown upon."

I'm out, I'm afraid.

It got too difficult on the domestic front.

Have a great time - and we'll wait for the stories.

Bokhara - perhaps next in Sid-en-ey?!

Can you squeeze another in? I'm still not organised, work has been so hectic, but I'm really going to try to come!!

Absolutely Susan - the restaurant is on standby for more numbers so that is not a problem at all. Keep us posted!

An elite and excellent group converging .

This is really starting to sound fun. It will be great to put some faces to the names. Perhaps we should be starting off with guessing who is who but, then again, may be not.

Hello to all those coming to the GTG.

I am now looking to settle somewhere for drinks before dinner ,if that is what we still want to do ?

Our two previous nominations were Spice Bar at the Grand Hyatt and The Long Room . Both are about 2.5 - 3 block walk to Trunk.If it is wet / cold ( of course it will be cold ) it may be a chore .

If there are just 8 of us it makes it easier to select a venue.

Does anyone have mobility issues / hates stairs - up or down ?

Was looking at Seamstress in Lonsdale Street as a closer option but not been there . Cocktails about $16 .

So let me know what you think please .

John

No mobility issues here, John; at least not pre-drinks

My apologies, but a home/family situation will keep me from making it for early drinks that night. I'm not sure yet about how it will affect me making it down for dinner. I'll keep the group posted.

Clifton nice if you can come along .

Bokhara that is why I asked about stairs up and down - 2 good matinis or some cocktails and a dim bar might be the cause of our demise !Although I like to think it will take more than that to ' down ' me .

Stairs up and down are fine with me. Dim light is also good - it doesn't show up as many of my wrinkles

Clifton do try to make it, even if it is only for coffee and chat at the end if you can't get there earlier. We would love to meet you.

No mobility problems here, either.

No problems with stairs here either and completely concur with shandy regarding dim lighting. The dimmer the better!!!!

So we had all better wear something in dayglo / fluoro so we can spot who are the Fodors people in the dim light .

I actually have a skirt with a fluoro feature! I am fine with stairs also.

I am intending to inspect Seamstress tomorrow to make sure it suits us for a pre dinner drink .It reads well on its web site .I expect to make the decision and post all the details over the coming weekend .J

It does look interesting on the website doesn't it? Very funky. Of course, you'll have to try a cocktail to make a proper evaluation, John.

Great minds Bokhara !! Apparently they are excellent ------- and ought to be for $16 -------- although that is pretty standard if not cheap these days .

Okay so we are getting so close now everyone! It's very exciting.

We need to make that decision on pre dinner drinks. John I'm at your mercy so would be very happy if you came back with a time and place. Just make an executive decision and we'll be more than happy with absolutely no complaints!

I'm with Stormbird, you decide John.

I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone!!!

So cross as I just tried to send all the details from my work computer and it failed to send and deleted ! So I will try again .

Sorry for the delay and well appreciate any anxieties as a result .

Whilst I did not get to Seamstress Bar as I intended on Saturday I have spoken with Andrew thereof who was very nice and sounded welcoming , despite my mentioning we are Fodorites .In fact he suggested we ought be in the eponymous Seamstress Bar on the top level ( 4th floor ) on the strength of my best " telephone voice ". Mistake .

I was assured that we will have no difficulty in getting in nor arranging seats etc on Saturday between 6pm and 7.20pm . Friday night is the really busy end of week " let's go for a drink " nights and Saturdays is more likely to attract people later in the evening .

So here are the details :-

AUSSIE GTG PRE- DINNER DRINKS

When - Saturday 22 May

Where - Seamstress Bar , Level 4 , 113 Lonsdale Street Melbourne , telephone 96636363

Time - from 6pm until 7.20pm approximately

Directions/ Location - It is on the southern side of Lonsdale Street abutting Cohen Place and quite close to Exhibition Street .It is a short walk to Trunk for dinner at 7.30pm .

I won't give further directions as I may confuse you and we are most likely all coming from various locales . Google maps can show you easily .

Looking forward to it and meeting everyone . I will likely be dressed in 'Melbourne Black' - for a change .

Great! Thanks for all the good work.

We are flying over to Melbourne on Thursday afternoon to allow a bit of time for shopping and family visits, etc.

Looking forward to meeting you all. I won't wear a sheepskin jacket, Stormbird.

Rob.

Great, John - many thanks. The Seamstress looks quirky & fun from its website. Natural match for us really!

See you on Saturday, everyone. Looking forward to it.

Thanks so much John for all your efforts it is very much appreciated it!!

Rob how will I recognise you then?

Easily, Stormbird. Just look for the scar from the docking ring.
Rob.

Hah! You're a funny man Mr. Kiwi Rob! Really looking forward to meeting everyone - see you on Saturday!!!

Rob are you going to at least wear possum fur socks ?

Stormbird there are 8 of us ? Is that right ? And all are coming to dinner as well ?

Sox 'n' jocks probably - Melbourne in Winter!

John,

I don't know the count, but I thought I'd come in by train and meet the group at Trunk for dinner only, if that's not a problem. I've just got a little one to care for earlier, so unfortunately I can't make it for the early drinks.

I'm trying to back track a bit now in the thread and see when you anticipate moving from one spot to the other. Shall I look for the boisterous crowd with a well traveled look about them?

ps - I'm afraid my jackets didn't survive the recent overseas move. I don't see anything on Trunk's website regarding a need for one, but wonder if it's common to see a gentleman without?

It's common to see my husband without a jacket Clifton! And John there will be 7 of us to my reckoning.

Absolutely welcome for dinner only Clifton .

We are booked for 7.30pm . Seamstress is only about a block away from Trunk and so it ought to only take 5 minutes or so to move between the two . I think we are dining a la carte now for with with just 7 or 8 of us there is no need to have a set menu .

No jackets required although the long range forecast is sunny with minimum 8 degrees and maximum 18 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday .

It will no doubt be cool if not just cold in the evening and so I suggest wearing warm layers that can be easily shed or put back on if too hot / cold .

Thanks for all the research John, it sounds great. I'm in for drinks and dinner! Not sure if that makes 9?

Hi Susan7 - it's great that you can make it! Will it be just yourself or will you be bringing a partner along?

Attendees so far -

Stormbird, John Fitz, Kiwi Rob and Mrs Kiwi Rob, Shandy, Bokhara, Clifton, Susan

Excellent Susan .

The weather forecast has improved - 12 to 20 degress and sunny .But if it is a clear night it will be cold by the time we finish dinner .

Am I the only person here who thinks 12-20c is absolute heaven?

Just me, my partner plays geriatric soccer on the weekend so it's not possible to move him from Sydney on Saturdays!

Fantastic Susan - you've evened the number up!!!

Mel, I'm afraid 12-20 is cold to me. We'll be sure to raise a warm glass of red wine to you Mel though!!!

Forecaast revised today to 7 -18 and partly cloudy .

But being Melbourne it may , on the day , be 15 - 28 or 5 to 19 with wind , showers or rain or all three. It is why I love the place .

Numbers adjusted at trunk - we are now a table of 8 - perfect!

Re the weather - you'll have a Queenslander among you so the weather should be well ....perfect!!

Nice little recommendation for S

Ooops- hit send before I finished .

As I was saying , I only noticed yesterday that there was a nice little recommendation for Seamstress in an article , last Sunday , in the Age newspaper about good things to do and places to go in Melbourne over Winter . A good sign .

Thanks again to both Stormbird and JohnFitz!!! See you all tomorrow.

I would love to come along for a meet/greet/drink, prior to going to see Jersey Boys on Saturday night. WOuld that be possible/OK with everyone else??
The stairs at Seanstress are "open" which makes them look more rickety than they are.

Have a great time people! Wish I could join you but as I have to be in Melbourne next Friday and cannot take that much time out just now I'll have to stay home.

Miss, the more the merrier. Not too many cocktails before The Jersey Boys though. You will be very embarrassed if you start throwing your knickers at the stage or fall asleep and start snoring loudly, depending on how much you enjoy it.

Any chance an attendee will post some photos after-the-fact for those of us who can't make it?

On the weather front, it was beautiful 23c here in Perth today. I actually got hot! I'm a weenie, I know.

Miss do come . Most welcome.

And as for photos Mel , we may have to take steps to preserve anonymity or we could have one of those " Guess Who It Is " competitions .

Great, MissB99 - look forward to seeing you at "Seamstress".
Jersey Boys is fabulous and a cocktail or two will put you right in the groove.

Have a great time, people - post photos!

Sorry I can't get away!

I am just popping in to wish all of you cousins across the pond a wonderful Fodor's GTG! I know you will have so much fun as we always do. So good thoughts are sent your way from Northern California.

okay it's 9.15pm here in NZ need a trip report!!!! I guess you are still at the GTG so I will wait another couple of hours for a report.

Hope you had a nice time!

Well it was terrible .A disgrace really. Why ?

Everyone was nice. Everyone was polite .Everyone behaved as good Fordorites ought .
No " Oh my lord what have we got here......get me out ..."
I couldn't fault anyone . So this little report is going to be a bit dull really .

Stormbird was the official photographer and assures us that they are all " flattering " but funny that she did not show them to us ....and asked permission to post them .....so we shall see .Will I regret it ?

It was a very good night which finished around 11pm after drinks commenced at 6pm at Seamstress - nearly a day's work really except it was all fun.

I will give a quick overview as others will no doubt post other reviews .

Seamstress was a good spot for a drink and to meet although in our banquetted booth in a corner lit by 2 tea light candles it was dim .If you were a crime boss not wanting to be seen it was perfect . But could be heard if not seen .

Nonetheless they serve a good drink and were very pleasant. We had a range of non alcoholic , wine and cocktails .and water was served and replenished on the side gratis . I had concoction of Aperol , lemon juice and Piscio with fizz . One of those sweet / sour drinks that you cannot tell just how potent it is but it was very good .

Of course as I arrived a little later than everyone , bar Shandy who was last and Cliff who joined us at dinner ,I had to guess who was who ------- big mistake .Got everyone wrong bar kiwi rob .Noone looked as I imagined ,which is not to say they did not look very nice and in fact better than that looked terrifically good . A " smart group " .

And as always happens it turns out MissB knows and works with one of my old collegues ( who I like a lot ) very well. What do they say about no degrees of separation !!

It took 2 or 3 minutes to walk from there to Trunk . We had a long table .With hindsight it would have been better with just 8 of us to have tried to get a round table to ensure easier chatting as it was a busy place and a little noisy .But I diod not notice ay round tables . But that did not stop mingling and chair hopping.

Very pleasant dinner which we ordered a la carte with some excellent Victorian red wines .

Everyone was as I had expected them to be from our interactions on Fodors - polite , fun , interested and interesting.

Stormbird had done a wonderful job and we all received, compliments of Fodors , some light nylon travel / shopping bags and a choice of one of their excellent travel guides which had been sent from the USA to Stormbird . I selected one for the Amalfi Coast and Naples . Thankyou Fodors.

We all agreed that we will do another in 2011 in Sydney .

So over to the others for their reviews in due course .

Thanks John Fitz, now waiting for photos!!!

It was great fun getting to put faces with the names and for those of us whose screen name has no relationship to their real name, it was sometimes a bit hard to remember the real name rather than the screen name. However either name seemed to work.

As I had spent the day working out our tax, hence my rather late arrival, it was just the panacea I needed - a most enjoyable evening with some good conversation and a few drinks.

Many thanks to Stormbird for organising the first INAUGURAL Australian GTG. Stormbird, hang onto your bright orange Fodor bag and you can use it as a flag at the next GTG so the participants know which table to head to when they arrive. As already mentioned by John Fitz we are already talking about Sydney for next year. Thanks also to JohnFitz for his choice of Seamstress and Trunk, both were good.

For those of you who went to the time and expense of flying in to Melbourne for it, well done.

What fun! It was so nice to see everyone in the flesh!!! A huge thanks to JohnFitz and Stormbird for organising everything!! Thanks to Fodors for the orange shopping (?) bags and the guides.

We all had a great time at Seamstress and then dinner at Trunk. Seamstress is such a cute bar, the ceiling was festooned with brilliantly coloured fabrics in memory of the building's past. Typical of Melbourne, wish we had something comparable in Sydney!!!

GTG in Sydney 2011, or maybe Perth?

Many thanks for Stormbird and JohnFitz for the arrangements and to everyone for the great company.

I had a nice time, a nice dinner and hope I can make it next year.

Lovely to see the family snaps Cliff and especially of your gorgeous little girl as a baby and of the family.I hope your time in Melbourne continues happily .

Susan I have cut the bag tags as you suggested !We ought to coordinate trips to Venice for the Art Biennale when next we go .

More shoes purchased yesterday Bokhara ? Did I mention and do you know of the only Australian outlet for Hugo Boss and Ben Sherman mens and womens wear in Preston ? Some girlfriends from Adelaide swooned on seeing it and then revived and pounced .

And Shandy I pushed myself to look at tax papers yesterday as well - inspired by your dedication .

In short it was lovely to have had the privilege to meet everyone and exchange personal information and stories that enable me to now put your faces in my mind when I write and enjoy that extra link in the chain of creating friendships beyond a computer screen .That was your achievement Stormbird by your initiative in getting the ball rolling .Salute !

Salute indeed, JohnFitz & Stormbird, for the idea and inspired choices of Seamstress & Trunk.

I really enjoyed meeting everyone - couldn't put it better than JohnFitz's last paragraph.

Seamstress was fun,funky,atmospheric and did we mention, dimly lit? There we were, gathered around our booth with cocktail menus in hand ... and using our mobiles as torches to read it! Had we needed an ice breaker, which we didn't, that would have provided it - very funny. I had an El Diabalo which, now I can read the menu on line, I can tell you was a mix of tequila, cassis and spicy ginger beer. Very good it was, too.

Here's the link for everyone else http://www.seamstress.com.au/ Just click on the silk reels.

By the time we left for Trunk, and Miss B99 for "Jersey Boys" (How did you enjoy it B99?), we'd found links between her & JohnFitz; that I'd lived in Susan7's suburb; Shandy wasn't thinking of beer & lemonade in choosing her name; Stormbird's a rev head; Mrs Kiwi_Rob is charming, has two legs, any wool she was wearing was elegantly processed and the only "Baaaaa" was on the other side of the room - rumours of sheep sh ..earing scuttled! Me? I can't resist a fabulous shoe, impulse trips or a pongy cheese & failed 100% on the "Guess who?"

Trunk's exterior & interior are interesting & quirky and I suspect some of us now have a new purpose in mind for some of those discarded clay plant pots! http://www.trunktown.com.au/

With several inviting choices,I finaly settled on a starter of mussels & mascrapone, with a very good piece of veal to follow. JohnFitz's choice of red was good - even better was the superb drop that was delivered by mistake, discovered by the waiter only after we'd had our first glasses! Some excellent cheeses, accompanied by a wonderful honey (Leatherwood? Manuka?) for some of us, while 2 or 3 opted for sweeter offerings.

We had a very entertaining & happy night, table hopping and chatting, exchanging stories and tips on everything from menus to shoe shops. It was lovely to see your gorgeous little daughter Clifton, and chat with you about the treasures we find on our travels that become part of our family history. I hope you & your family will be very happy in Australia & look forward to seeing you at future GTGs.

This one ended with a short walk back to my hotel .. the new shoes fitting like gloves and pleasant thoughts of 8 interesting & charming people, who were now much more "3D" than their Fodors names for company.

I'd booked into the Grand Chancellor (131 Lonsdale St) because of its proximity to both venues & favourable rate. It doesn't rate all that well on Trip Advisor, but a call to the Operations Manager confirmed what it'd suspected. It's an older property undergoing refurbishment; changes in cleaning contractors & an occasion of lift malfunction being highlighted on Trip Advisor skewing its rating somewhat unfairly. It suited me because it was close, cheapish and I'd only be there a few hours. The staff were unfailingly helpful, one spent nearly 10 minutes trying to print out my QF Boarding Pass yesterday without a blink. My room was perfectly adequate; refurbished, clean, good size and had a door which opened onto a small balcony. Fresh air in the city. The Mantra on Russell is a far better property - but it's in a different market and at a somewhat higher price point.

Yesterday, I went to Prahran with a friend (markets, Chapel Street shopping) and .... didn't even enter a shoe shop! Thanks JohnFitz for the tips - next trip.

We had a very good yum cha at Oriental Tea House (455 Chapel St.) www.orientalteahouse.com.au before I flagged a cab & headed to the airport for my flight home.

Thanks everyone for a really lovely weekend.

Thanks for posting Bokhara, sounds like ya'll had a good time. Sorry I couldn't make it...next year maybe.

What!? N
Glad I didn't come - I do hate to be the odd person out!

Sorry - that should have read:

No-one was arrested? No-one was drunk and disorderly?

Glad I didn't come - I do hate to be the odd person out!

I can only endorse all that has been said. Thanks so much to Stormbird and JohnFitz for the great work done in organising the event.

I agree that the venues chosen were ideal. It is just a pity that it was so dark at Seamstress, because it looked a great place to be enjoyed visually.

As the only non-Fodorite in attendance, my wife was pleasantly surprised to find that all in attendance were nice, ordinary people, who were very easy to talk to.

Sydney (or Perth) 2011 sounds good. Now that we have broken the ice, we can get down to the business of getting drunk and disorderly, etc, next time.

But what about the photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Did anyone take any?

JohnFitz, it's a date, next Venice Biennale!

Shandy I'm booking into the hotel you recommended in Krakow. It looks perfect.

Stormbird took pictures, but maybe the light was too dim! We can only hope.

Well, I am finally back home and have access to a computer with the internet working. I arrived back last night and was up at 5am today - bright and early - as we moved offices today. So to say I'm a little weary is an understatement.

I have to tell you that I had the most wonderful time at the GTG! I thought the night went off really well and could only be described as a success! It's so nice to meet like minded people, who have a passion for travel and who as it turns out, are extremely darn nice!

My thanks to you JohnFitz for the time you contributed in finding our venues. They were fabulous and well chosen. I really loved meeting everyone and chatting but agree with John that the rectangular tables did make it a little difficult to engage everyone in a conversation - no matter we got around that by switching seats after our main course.

Lord only knows how we'll solve the problem next year when we have soooooo many more Fodorites attend!

I'm just thinking how funny it was that Seamstress was so dimly lit wasn't it - but geez we all looked extremely fabo in that light!!!

Now as to photos - yes I have some - I didn't take more than a couple really as it was a bit rugged on the old eyes, with the flash and all, but I did get a strong feeling that a number of attendees would rather remain anonymous - so I am a little torn as to whether to post them or not. And I am too tired to think about it at present.

I really want to thank you all so much for a great effort and I think all the posts above say it all really and I completely agree that it was a great event and worth doing again.

So if you want to know what you all missed out on you're just going to have to join us next year for our next GTG. Here is your advanced notice - it was suggesed Sydney next June but Perth was also mentioned so why don't we definitely book June and decide on the destination a bit later.

Thank you JohnFitz, Kiwi_Rob and Mrs. Kiwi_Rob, Bokhara, Shandy, Clifton, Susan7 and MissB99 - it was a pleasure to meet you and I'll look forward to our chats here on Fodors!

If you're watching "Masterchef" right now, it's at Movida - one of our choices for the GTG.