there was great food wonderful cakes
Many months ago we wandered into Rathdowne Street in Calton North and found a wonderful cafe for food, cakes and coffee and super friendly service. BUT
Tag Archives: Review
The God We Made: The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence
Book Review: Quarterly Essay 102, 2026
When you take to reading a book you always have some levels of expectations. With this essay I thought the author would venture into thoughts and places to expand the thinking of AI – something I now use often. Continue reading The God We Made: The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence
The Enlightenment Myth
Book Review: The End of the Enlightenment
The world population in 1700 was 600 to 680 million. the European population around then was around 127 million. How many of these earthly beings were aware of the debates centred on the philosophies of the enlightenment?
Annie Hsiao-Ching Wang photographs
My Son and I at the Same Height
One of the artists exhibiting 14th Feb – 25th April 2026 with the Centre for Contemporary Photography (Melbourne) is (Annie) Hsiao-Ching Wang with her wonderful exhibition My Son and I at the Same Height (2002–2024). The work involved taking portraits of herself and her son every year from 2002.
Missing You is a dud!
TV series review: Missing You
To say it upfront and clearly, Missing You a TV five part series from 2025 is a dud.
The Guardian gave it 3 stars out of 5 stars; far too generous.
PIX: The Magazine that Changed Everything (1938–1972)
A SLNSW photography exhibition I will not see
The State Library of New South Wales has mounted an exhibition and produced a catalogue for an exhibition of photographs dating back to PIX magazine 1938 – 1972. Continue reading PIX: The Magazine that Changed Everything (1938–1972)
search for yummy honey
a taste of honey
A couple of months ago I wandered into the local Coles supermarket to buy a bottle of a Coles own brand of honey (Coles Finest) that I had been enjoying for a few years. It came with four different versions. All were good and I would swap between them for variation. This brand was one of my more regular choices for honey.
Biscotteria Carlton North
great food wonderful cakes
Went for a wander up Rathdowne Street in Calton North and found a wonderful cafe for food, cakes and coffee and friendly service. this is a find!!
NGV Women Photographers review
1900–1975: A Legacy of Light
With the opening of National Gallery of Victoria’s photography exhibition, open till 3rd May 2026, comes this review. There are many other online articles but most are simply rehashing the media releases.
NGV Women Photographers
1900–1975: A Legacy of Light
The National Gallery of Victoria’s photography exhibition, open till 3rd May 2026, is a highly recommended – must see – exhibition. We visited yesterday, Tuesday 9th December, and made our way through slowly. People were taking their time to take in images and to enjoy the experience.
Beyond The Basement Review
A Review of Prahran Legacy photography
We travelled down to Docklands to Magnet Galleries Melbourne to see the exhibition The Prahran Legacy: Beyond the Basement.
Review: Careless People
Book review
This book should be read by anyone who is concerned about the many nasty oligarchs that now influence so much of our lives.
Mary Gauthier
Mary Gauthier
Midnight Oil
Randy Newman
A review of Dark Matter – click here.
Justin Townes Earle
Album Review: Justin Townes Earle – Kids in the Street
This is an album I am playing a lot. My rating would be 5/5.
K D Lang
Chuck Berry
His last album: Chuck
You would have heard many songs over the decades – but this is something new.
Lyle Lovett
Review: Lyle Lovett Greatest Hits 2017
It has been a while since we have seen a ‘greatest hits’ by Lyle Lovett – and this collection is one to have.
Sgt Pepper turns 50
Sgt Pepper’s at 50 – the greatest thing you ever heard or just another album?
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band : is this the best popular music has to offer? Paul Townsend, flickr, CC BY
Architecture – on local TV
Do we have examples of good residential architecture in Canberra?
Apple MacBook Pro 2016
This is a follow up to a previous post back in 2016 – when I questioned some of the ‘innovations’ being offered in the new MacBook Pros.
Rhiannon Giddens
Music Review: Rhiannon Giddens: Freedom Highway, February 2017
My comments have nit changed much from my previous post on Rhiannon Giddens: This 2017 album features a woman with a strong and beautiful voice – singing folk songs of America – making very beautiful Americana music.
The National at the AGNSW 2017
Exhibition Review: The National at the AGNSW 2017
To link to a review of The National at the Art Gallery of NSW – click here.
GIRT
Book Review: Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia -David Hunt
My knowledge of Australian history is patchy – I know the basics and much more. History interest me but usually most history books are far too dry. Then along comes this book with that title: GIRT.
Chuck Prophet
Review: Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins
Released February 2017. Rating 4/5 – highly recommended.
Helen Garner
Review: Everywhere I Look, Helen Garner
Here’s a good read. Being a selection of essays and diary notes based on many events and sometimes those quite happenings that one observes.
I have not read any Helen Garner’s work but have a reasonable awareness of the topics she writes on. Other reviewers have related this work to previous writings – for me I had to take it all on face value.
Suzanne Vega
Review Suzanne Vega: Carson McCullers Lover Beloved
One very nice recording just out by Suzanne Vega.
Being Turnbulled
The Curious Story of Malcolm Turnbull, the Incredible Shrinking Man in the Top Hat
Here’s a book for anyone puzzled by the current loser who is Prime Minister. I am still reading it… click here or on the image. and here’s an article by the author about his dilemma–click here. Review to follow…..
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker
Yes, there’s a new album out by our man, Leonard Cohen.
weatherland
How does the weather affect us?
Van Morrison
Music Review: Keep Me Singing, Van Morrison 2016
Here’s an album for the many Van Morrison fans. They will love it.
Quarterly Essay: Trump
Enemy Within: America politics in the time of Trump
This essay by Don Watson, is totally recommended. If you are wondering what is going on with the USA and what is happening to democracy, then read this. It is not necessarily about Trump, but more about Don Watson’s observations of the American people and how they have ended up in this place – it is logical. This is in fact where the USA is today.
Photography at Nishi Gallery – Beauty In This
Beauty In This is a wonderful photography exhibition, by Maryanne Voyazis, on for a short time at Nishi Gallery, New Acton.
Continue reading Photography at Nishi Gallery – Beauty In This
Architecture
Architecture
More on the Australia’s contribution to the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale
