Anyone Game? It’s my Sep 2013 Blog! I'm home; with a TR link in #1189, 10/14

[dgbg100106]

beautiful

 

[PrincessInOz]

We don't go to Comicon though I know Chloe would flip. There's just so much other stuff going on right now. That may have to be a little trip she takes on her own. We make to So Cal and pretty much stay put in Huntington and Seal. Creatures of habit.

Me too.

Another batch of spectacular fireworks photos

I think the fireworks Gods are definitely on your side now

Thanks Zanzibar.

You continue to take wonderful firework photos!



I doubt we will need plan B, but if we do there is a wonderful Thai/Japanese place that I'm sure your DH will be able to find stuff to eat. If your DS can't there is a pizza place, fish tacos, and coffee shop next door. Across the street is and iHop, Baja Fresh and supermarket. We won't starve.

Thanks.

Great. Plenty of options.

beautiful

Thanks Brandi.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great photos of the firework trails PiO.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Great photos of the firework trails PiO.

I agree. Well done! Were you using your new tripod?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great photos of the firework trails PiO.

Thanks Bret.

I agree. Well done! Were you using your new tripod?

Yes, WanderlustNZ. I have been using the new tripod. Even updated that thread on the photoboard. Now that I've come to terms with the twist locks, I'm really loving it. Have you used yours?

 

[knewton64]

tooooooooooooooo funny!!



and those fireworks pic??
too cool!! love em!!



looking forward to hearing more.





T.T.F.N.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Yes, WanderlustNZ. I have been using the new tripod. Even updated that thread on the photoboard. Now that I've come to terms with the twist locks, I'm really loving it. Have you used yours?

Only a few times. I really need to get in some more practice with less than 2 months to go.

I'll have to check out the photo boards again.

 

[PrincessInOz]

tooooooooooooooo funny!!



and those fireworks pic??
too cool!! love em!!



looking forward to hearing more.





T.T.F.N.

Nice to see you here! Thanks for stopping in.

Only a few times. I really need to get in some more practice with less than 2 months to go.

I'll have to check out the photo boards again.

Yes....and stop by the photography scavenger hunt, whilst you're there.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Melbourne Open House





This weekend, Melbourne held the annual Open House scheme.







This scheme has been in operation since 2008 - fairly new - but is quite a well subscribed weekend!


What is it?

Well....for one weekend a year, usually in July, over 100 of the significant and historic buildings in Melbourne are opened to the general public.....for FREE! And for a sticky beak like me (and at least 135,000 other Melbournians), it is veritable Aladdin's Cave of treasures.

I normally don't have time to hit more than 2 or 3 of the open buildings and this weekend was no exception.




I started out at the Royal Society Building.

The Royal Society of Victoria has been an active and vital part of Melbourne's scientific heritage since 1854. Membership is open to anyone interested in science and the promotion of science for the benefit of the community.

Located in the heart of Melbourne, the Society's Hall at 9 Victoria Street (entrance 8 La Trobe Street) is the venue for an interesting program of public scientific lectures, symposia and events to promote the sciences to the Victoria and Australian community. These lectures are open to the public.






For any Australians out there, this room was where the doomed Burke and Wills expedition was planned and started out of.







When their bodies were returned, they laid them out in state here. Their funeral was the first State Funeral in Victoria. According to the docent, there would have been 120,000 people living in Victoria in those days. Apparently, 80,000 - 100,000 of them came to pay their respects!


The Society continues to publish various scientific journals today. And whilst a number of their journals are now of the electronic variety, the dates of these tomes stretch all the way back to 1854.







The other claim to fame of this building is this room.






Reputed to be the first raked/raised seating theatre in Australia, this room is now where the public lectures are held. In the early days, they conducted dissections in here and the raised seats allowed everyone to see.





My second go-see was Wesley Church.







I chose this church because I walk past it on a very regular basis and everytime I've checked, the church is closed. Rather an uncharitable thing to do for a church!

The church was designed by Joseph Reed, who also designed the Melbourne Town Hall, the Scots' Church and the Independent Church. It might not be as opulent as some of the major churches around town, but it was charming in it's own right.






That organ pipe? It's the first in Melbourne!

The leadlight is rather pretty in here....








....as is the front chapel.







This church goes back to the 1840's and the location in Lonsdale Street is a rather curious thing. I believe that in those days, the streets around this part of town were known for their bordello's and associated trimmings.







My third Open House was one that I was rather familiar with. I had spent a bit of time studying in this location when I was at University. The memories are always bittersweet in here but I've always remembered the architecture.

I am in the State Library of Victoria.








The State Library of Victoria (SLV) takes up a complete city block in what can only be described as super prime real estate space. It is on the block bounded by Swanston, La Trobe, Russell, and Little Lonsdale streets, in the northern centre of the central business district.

With a repository of over 2 million books and 16,000 serials, including the diaries of the city's founders, John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner, and the folios of Captain James Cook, R.N., this is THE major resource to come to when you're totally frustrated by the University libraries.

The Queen's Hall was opened this weekend. It is one of those areas that are completely closed off to the general public during the rest of the year. This hall was opened in 1856 and is in need of major refurbishment. However, take a look at it......







Absolutely gorgeous!






There are a number of reading/study rooms in the library.







This is the Redmond Barry Reading Room, where I spent quite a few afternoons in. Redmond Barry was the founder of Melbourne University.







I used to head upstairs.








Which is where I headed to for a trip down memory lane.








There are also a number of Galleries in the SLV. This one is the Cowen Gallery.







It is flanked by the Red and Blue Rotundas. Guess which one I went into?







But the place I was really heading to in the SLV is the Dome Galleries. I've never been able to bring a camera in here until now!







Each level in here houses amazing artwork and there is even Ned Kelly's armour on one of the floors. But I was really here for the view.

Top......







...and Bottom!









Every year, I keep saying that I need to dedicate the whole weekend to 'go-see's. Maybe next year!


For now, those were the 3 buildings that I managed to squeeze in my jam-packed weekend.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Thanks for sharing PIO that library especially ! What beautiful architecture The view from the top looking down on the study tables stunning as is the red wall 2 million books, amazing I wonder if any library here has anything like that well the library of congress of course ( 35 million had to look that up) but I meant in addition to

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

Wow, beautiful!!! I love old buildings and their history. It looks so nice there!!

 

[dgbg100106]

Lovely update.... How wonderful that they open everything up for a weekend, I am sure it was packed.

Baltimore does a $1 weekend, were the entrance fee for many many attractions is a dollar.

I went to the Aquarium one year, and decided that I could pay full price next time, it was just too crowded...

 

[SadieDog]

I hope you'll post your experience next year. Stan Lee was here last year; and he was a huge drawcard.





It was. I'm glad that they added this event to the Melbourne calendar.






Even DS had fun!






William Shatner was rather efficient and gracious. His line moved very quickly and he looked everyone in the eye and thanked them for supporting him.






If I never tell, you will never really really know.





For someone living in Australia, seeing American celebrities like these are a novelty. Everyone that was there that day were huge fans of Charmed. I really enjoyed seeing all 3 of them.

I'm in the US, but I live in Maine, celebrities are a novelty here as well.

 

[franandaj]

That sounds like a neat weekend. I really liked the picture from the upper level looking down at the library. The way that it was laid out so symmetrically was cool.

So for those of us who are not Australians, what was the fated expedition where the people's bodies were put on display (in a nutshell...)?

 

[ACDSNY]

Beautiful pics of all three building.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks for sharing PIO that library especially ! What beautiful architecture The view from the top looking down on the study tables stunning as is the red wall 2 million books, amazing I wonder if any library here has anything like that well the library of congress of course ( 35 million had to look that up) but I meant in addition to

I think it's rather austere from the outside but it is a beautiful building on the inside.

35 million in the library of congress? Now, that's a library!!

Wow, beautiful!!! I love old buildings and their history. It looks so nice there!!

Thanks!

Lovely update.... How wonderful that they open everything up for a weekend, I am sure it was packed.

Baltimore does a $1 weekend, were the entrance fee for many many attractions is a dollar.

I went to the Aquarium one year, and decided that I could pay full price next time, it was just too crowded...

There were 111 buildings on the list this year. I think some of them get packed but the 3 that I visited this year were busy; but not uncomfortably so. There is the crypt section of the State Library and visitation rights to that part of the library was by random ballot selection. I did put my name down; turns out over 40,000 other people did as well. Guess I wasn't unlucky enough this year to have my name drawn out. Maybe next time.

I'm in the US, but I live in Maine, celebrities are a novelty here as well.

That sounds like a neat weekend. I really liked the picture from the upper level looking down at the library. The way that it was laid out so symmetrically was cool.

So for those of us who are not Australians, what was the fated expedition where the people's bodies were put on display (in a nutshell...)?

In a nutshell? It was a disaster at practically every stage!! And right at the end.....Pure stupidity - if they had communicated with the Aboriginal people, they would have worked out what local food they could eat. Instead they starved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_and_Wills_expedition

Beautiful pics of all three building.

Thanks Angela.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Lovely pics - I love the Dome galleries. Brisbane has done this the past couple of years too - around October-its in my diary as a must this year as there are a couple of buildings I am looking forward to seeing-always depending on which ones are opened up this time round.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lovely pics - I love the Dome galleries. Brisbane has done this the past couple of years too - around October-its in my diary as a must this year as there are a couple of buildings I am looking forward to seeing-always depending on which ones are opened up this time round.

I hope you'll share pictures!

 

[PrincessInOz]

It was a VERY busy last Weekend in July - Part 1




We headed to the Victoria Market on Saturday morning.








We do normally go every fortnight to shop for our meats....








.....chicken....








...deli goods and cheeses......

































...and fruit and vegetables.








This weekend, we played tourists! We didn't buy anything but rather just headed to the market for the pure pleasure of looking. As a consequence, we headed to the tourist market section of the market.....a section that we rarely go!









I was tempted; but none of these made it home with me.








It was a very pleasant start to the morning! I even saw a few things that I don't normally see!















(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It was a VERY busy last Weekend in July - Part 2




After the market, we headed for breakfast. We went into the city and found somewhere different for breakfast.

DH had scrambled eggs with his vegies.









DS wanted the waffles, with grilled bananas and ice cream.









I loved my French Brioche with berries on top.









After breakfast, we went to see a couple of the Open Houses. I had to leave DH and DS at around 11 am as there was something else I needed to go to........





(Continued in Next Post)