@tippsu
Gary Tippet. Once award-winning scribe now superannuated scribbler. Ex-Age & Sunday Age. Interests: Politics, Aussie Rules, Food & Wine, dogs. Leans left. Melbourne/Naarm. Oz.
Food looks good. Head looks pretty terrible. But the carrot tarte tatin at Bendigo’s The Dispensary is to die for.
Look what came in the mail! If you haven’t caught Adrian McKinty’s Sean Duffy series, you’re missing out. The craic’s ninety.
I was dragged to the end of this remarkable novel last night. A wild work of imagination and inventive prose. As it says on the cover, it leaves you breathless — but thankful for the ride. Get it.
One-third of our extended magpie family lining up at the kitchen window for morning tea.
Mother’s Day. Treating ourselves to a little bit of France, with the best chips in the world, and a little bit of Italy — a Bianca Campania from Mastro. At the best little wine bar in Melbourne, Vinoshi’s of East Ivanhoe.
My Sidney Blumenthal Lincoln books have arrived in the mail, and my To-Read pile is reaching towering proportions.
Another time I’m late to the party, but I’ve just discovered this fantastic Texan artist, Calder Allen. His third album and he’s only 23. Great voice, top notch band and smart lyrics — probably to be expected from the grandson of Austin’s own sculptor/songsmith Terry Allen. Give him a listen.
What was I doing before I found this guy? Amazing, insightful songwriting and a fantastic voice — both with echoes of fellow Alabaman Jason Isbell. Helped that production duties are by 400 Unit mainstay Sadler Vaden. Drayton Farley is the real deal.
Blasts from the past. I discovered Janet Evanovich and her sassy, silly Stephanie Plum back in ‘94 but after a baker’s dozen books (pretty much the same story over and over) we drifted apart. Then I stumbled over this trove in the local op shop and nostalgia kicked in. Who says you can’t go back?
Fifty years I’ve been with this beautiful, smart and infinitely tolerant woman. ❤️
Discovering this today - AVTT/PTTN, the most unlikely collaboration between the Avett Brothers and Mike Patton, of Faith No More. Perhaps it shouldn’t work, but it’s a triumph. Unique, intriguing, a thing of beauty and power.
The Silo Art Trail in North Western Victoria, Australia, is an absolute treasure. Here’s four of the seven or eight we visited yesterday.
Look what arrived today! Congrats to Darren Arthur and @andrewgigacz.bsky.social @westernbulldogs.bsky.social
Another Saturday morning in the City Watchhouse, Russell Street Melbourne. But this time it’s wine tastings for NxNE, wineries from Victoria’s north and north-east. There’s even snacks from Scott Pickett. Better than gruel.
Woo hoo! Look what arrived this morning. One of the privileges of my journalistic life was interviewing the great man. (I doubt he was equally impressed.)
A long time coming, but finally fine dining has arrived in the massive Yarra Bend development at Alphington with Decca, Adam D’Sylva’s new bistro. Had a swing through the menu last night and loved the yellowfin tuna on pappadams; cacio pepe arancini; & rigatoni in spicy vodka sauce. Get along there.
So it’s goodbye again to Palermo — as always, gritty, grungy, noisy, delicious and full of heart.