A tad earlier than usual as it’s always such a social whirl at this time of year so swing by on your way to wherever or stay for a while. It’s our last one for this year and of course we’ll be back in 2009.

Continuing with our ‘out of the CBD’ trend we are off to Southpaw. With a crisp and unpretentious fit out that happily incorporates a previously boarded up hundred-odd-year-old decorative window facing the neighbour’s wall, Southpaw is somewhere that you can sit comfortably and enjoy the past and the present without feeling like a bourgie squatter.

They’ve also got a fine selection of local microbrewery beers, a solid wine list, DJs Friday and Saturday and friendly staff.

Southpaw
189 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Tel. 9417 7057

This month’s southerly shift of FC – to Albert Park – owes itself to the migration of one of FC’s founders to a green-collar company, also located in this leafy bayside suburb. Fear not about transport connections: The Albert Park Hotel is easily accessible by the No. 1 East Coburg – South Melbourne tram, or the No. 96 East Brunswick – St Kilda Beach light rail. Fear not about getting bounced at the door: There’s outside seating where – weather permitting – we plan to stake our claim. And don’t worry about it being all about ‘savvy-b’: this Art Deco pile puts nine beers on tap with more by the bottle, as well as wines by the glass. And if you like architects Six Degrees’ work (Public House, 3 Below City Square, Wall 280 Cafe, Pelican, Meyers Place Bar…) you’ll be pleased to hear you’re in for some more of their fine lines. Join us for our first foray to postcode 3206, at the Albert Park Hotel.

Friday 14 November
5.30pm+
Albert Park Hotel
Cnr Montague and Dundas Place
Albert Park Vic 3206
www.thealbertpark.com.au

This month, we break with our FC tradition, of visiting only new bars in the CBD, to return to the beer garden at Belgian Beer Café Bluestone. The FC HQ crew, all back from short, fact-finding breaks OS, are full of fab ideas for another year of monthly FCs. We’d love to see you in the garden. Gnome outfits optional. For more info on the venue, we’ll leave it to the Belgians… the BBC Bluestone is considered one of Australia’s largest beer gardens with its beautiful surroundings, shaded by elm trees and set against a backdrop of historic architecture. It was established in the grounds of Vision Australia (formerly the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind) in 2002. Housed in an historic bluestone building, it comprises a bar and restaurant reminiscent of a 1920s Brussels bistro as well as Melbourne’s biggest and liveliest beer garden. The bar and restaurant’s interior features dark timbers, rustic furniture and leadlight windows that open out to the beer garden.

Date: Friday, 17 October 2008
Time: 5.30pm onwards
Venue: Belgian Beer Café Bluestone
Address: 557 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Phone: 9529 2899
Website: http://www.belgianbeercafemelbourne.com/bbc-bluestone.htm

Nestled in a cobbled laneway between Melbourne Central and QV, Baroq house has fast become one of Melbourne’s most sophisticated corporate hot spots. With its novel approach to presentation and service Baroq house is an excellent venue to entertain clients or host post work drinks with colleagues and friends.

Inspired by the 17th Century western art movement that nurtured an abundance of creativity to produce dramatic, romantic, exuberant and magnificent expressions of art from sculpture, canvas, literature and music, this controversially provocative venue design delivers a sensory richness of drama, grandeur, vitality, tension and emotional tenor that appeals to the intelligent and artistically inclined patrons.

From 6pm Friday 20th June

Baroq House
9 – 13 Drewery Lane
(runs between Little La Trobe & Lonsdale)
Melbourne
Tel 03 8080 5680
www.baroqhouse.com.au

YOU could call the decor at the revamped Carlton Hotel many things but you sure couldn’t call it restrained. From the tip of its luridly patterned, pub-carpeted toes to the illuminated Saturday Night Fever dance floor ceiling, there is enough going on to feel like someone has spiked your drink before you’ve even ordered one. Stuffed birds, wallpaper, flocked dogs, candelabrum and urns, neon chandeliers, a labyrinth of curved booths – you name it and the Carlton has managed to squeeze it in.

Its time for the next Friday Club from 6pm on Friday 28th March 2008

Carlton Hotel (Rooftop Bar weather permitting)
193 Bourke Street
Melbourne

They say Hummingbirds have a unique ability to fly deliberately backwards and to maintain position while drinking. We’re not suggesting you try such risky, orni-behaviour at our first FC for ‘08. Till now we haven’t seen organised drinking games at Friday Club. Could this be a first? Fly in for a drink on the rooftop of this sweet and VERY popular little bar located on the cusp of the Greek and Chinese quarters. They don’t allow reservations so be sure to fly the coop early. After all, let’s remind ourselves that its Summer, daylight savings and it could be educational. Run those excuses past your boss and we’ll look forward to seeing you with your wings on next month.

Date: 8 February 2008
Time: 5.30pm onwards
Venue: The Red Hummingbird Rooftop
Address: Level 1, 246 Russell Street, Melbourne.
Phone: 9654 2266
Web: http://www.theredhummingbird.com/

See you soon!

Simon, Danielle and Jonathan

Time for Friday Club again, and the Friday Club Research Team has found a brand new (as in just-opened-a-few-days-ago) addition to Melbourne’s thriving bar scene. Next week, we’ll be at Ondergronds (Dutch for ‘underground’) and we’ve got a space reserved and 2 platters of finger food for just us, and drink specials will be on from 5pm to 8pm. That’s $4 house wine (red and white), $4 beer on tap (Heineken and Becks), and $5 basic spirits. See you there!

Date: 15 June 2007
Time: 6pm onwards
Venue: Ondergronds
Address: Basement 27 Russell St, Melbourne 3000 (Cnr Russell & Flinders Lane)
Phone: 03 9650 3708
Web: http://www.ondergronds.com.au

Friday Club is going arty-farty and if you want a dose of culture, we’re going to ACMI at Fed Square for AD’dict, 90 minutes of cool and quirky French adverts with English subtitles, followed by a French cheese and wine cocktail party. AD’dict is organised by FACCI Junior, of whom some of their members are Friday Club regulars. Thanks guys!

Please note there is a cost to this event and you’d have to buy your ticket from the ACMI box office.

AD’dict 2007
Date: 25 May 2007
Time: 7pm – 11:30pm
Venue: ACMI, Federation Square
Price: $40
Tickets/booking: 03 8663 2583 or http://www.acmi.net.au/ticketing

Let’s make the inaugural Friday Club “Arts” a good one and pave the way for similar outings.

Friday Club is back for May, and we’ve got a place at The Trust on Flinders Lane

From their site: “The Trust is located in the grandeur of the former Port of Melbourne Authority building, in Flinders Lane between Market Street and William Street. The Trust revels, not only in its historical influences, but as the most prestigious bar and restaurant in this part of Melbourne”

Looks like a great venue some people who’ve been highly recommend it.

Date: 18 May 2007
Time: 6pm onwards
Venue: The Trust
Address: 405-411 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Victoria 3000
Phone: 03 9629 9300
Web: http://www.thetrust.com.au

Cabinet is the latest, very-well-hidden addition to Melbourne’s thriving bar scene.

The bar’s backers (Adam Kilgour, Erik Locke, Neil McCarthy and Josh Williams) are mates from Australia’s largest public relations firm – CPR (a Member of the Committee for Melbourne, and a supporter of Melbourne Cares).

They’ve teamed with one of Melbourne’s best bar managers, Kath Lunny, formerly of Hairy Canary on Little Collins Street, to create a place for journos, politicians and business people, where the stock in trade is good gossip and excellent food and drink.

As they say, “Traditionally cocktails have been shaken and stirred. Now they’re going to get spun.”

Date: 20 April 2007
Time: 6pm onwards
Venue: Cabinet
Address: 11 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne
Ph: 9654 0915

Map: