The flaneur at it again

(tt) Some aspects of Flinders and Swanston in the Collins St area. The details of the various buildings in Melbourne will require a precise day for the task but here are some tasters.
My favourite hat of all time came from this fine establishment beside the steps to the station

City Hatters. Their windows pay homage to the current racing season which culminates in the rabid afternoon of the running of the Melbourne Cup. As that day begins with preliminary races the frolickers arrive quite early for their libations held in various venues from tartan rugs on the ground to lavish corporate marquees festooned with blooms and gurgling with fountains of bubbly. The end results are very much the same..tragic vomiting from every class and tired headwear that despite great care always seem to look exactly the same.  A rose pinned onto a head band looks just like a straw sunwheel weighted down with wrapping ribbon and half a ton of mixed fruit. I once saw a very handsome man, already tight from breakfast drinkies, in full cup finery, alight  from a taxi, walk straight into a traffic sign and knock himself out. As my bus pulled away from the scene I watched his date, also looking quite smart, kicking him in the stomach  in an attempt to bring him round.

The favourite hat I mentioned was a black Akubra in the style called "Jazz" and I had it for years. It finally had the pork in New York just before I left. The lining had fallen out, the felt smelt like a teenager's face and bits of wire had started to stick into my head. So into the trash it went. But weep not, dear readers, I have replaced it in Sydney where it waits for me for the trip back to winter in February.  Hat trick..if you love it in the window it will look bonza on yer dome.

How marvellous that the Wall Streeters have inspired demos all over the world. The Melbourne contingent has set up a mini embassy in the old Melbourne Square.

Another of those little devils chairs a strategy meeting

 This beautifully suited man held up some food for thought

Hardly competing in size but certainly in elegance, the thirties T & G  asks to be compared to the Empire State and Chrysler buildings

An homage to the tragic duo who attempted a trek north from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpenteria. They did not succeed but in Australian culture failure is often as worthy of celebration as success.

  A view of the Melbourne Town Hall clock, splendidly slashed by the tramway wires.

This wouldn't mean much to many but this window is in what was the upper floor of the Mary Martin bookshop near the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale