No Longer active, but we are!

As you can see we have not been on this blog for a few years, we are busy on our website and our social media..
so please visit us at http://www.hiddensecretstours.com to see what we are up to..

thanks Fiona and the team

The Nicholas Building Open Studios

As tenants of the wonderful 1926 Nicholas Building we are always excited when Open Studios comes about.. Sure after 8 years, the studios that take part change... But it's always lovely to wander with other Melburnians to see what happens within!!!

Here are just some of our photos from the evening...

Follow the building activities via Facebook page and also twitter @nicholasbldg

See you soon for more adventures

POP UPs everywhere!!

• THIS IS NOT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL post... - but an invaluable list!... to start with at least

Ok, so we know Melbourne loves a pop up, and some of our lovely friends who share our City Studio have been involved in a pretty ambitious one - Melbournalia - they Have 4 locations until Christmas eve!!

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY MORE!!!  ( pics from ones we have visited below)

• Also the LUMBI Melbourne store that opens in Equitable Lane 16th Dec

• The Nicholas Building is the HOT SPOT of Pop Ups this Month...
• Moulin Rouge - was on !st - 3rd December ( sorry but still have a peek!! at Luccello
• HandmadeLove Christmas Pop up 8th - 10th December
• The Quick and The Dead - open since 1st Dec ( every Wed to Saturday)
• Tailor Made - just one night - tonight until 9pm!!
• Craft Victoira's Craft Hatch is on tomorrow - December 10th
• Bend And Snap Craft Market -  - on Dec 18th
• Designed in Brunswick has a Pop Up in Brunswick 9th - 18th December
• Indigo Prarie Pop Up in Brunwick this Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December
• and how about The Kirkdale Christmas Pop Up?? - 9th - 10th December 
• and we have already been to The Design Files House - you can still buy online!
• The Christmas PopUpMarket in Prahran - December 17th
• the Until Never Grand Sale - amazing Street Art ( but portable!) 15th - 18th December
• and the Beloved Modern Times is continuing on with its POP UP in Brunswick
• THERE ARE SO SO MANY MORE i am sure... we will post when we know of them!

   
More will be added soon!! or send us your suggestions!!!

SALE - Shoes! Need we say more. Melbourne Made

So..... in times of hypnosis ( yes we are under the Preston Zly spell) , 

why rewrite things when they are so beautifully done already!!

These are seriously some of the most delicious SHOES - not crazy stilettos, ( ouch!!)  not runners, nor flip flops, but SHOES... and if you are at all inclined to adopt the austerity measures of the current season - 

Read on!  

( thanks to the Preston Zly Mail out today - direct copy - for you!) 

"I am too poor to buy cheap shoes" Preston Zly Online Sale 24 Hours Only From 11am Friday 2nd September -  Ends 11am Saturday 3rd September 2011  Winter 2011 Collection 50% OFF While stock lasts You will need the Online Discount Code: 24hours  (to be entered when prompted at the checkout) www.prestonzly.bigcartel.com

BEES - Join us in the crusade!

Do you Subscribe to DUMBO FEATHER?  
We love that they are now MELBOURNE based... oh, and here is a wonderful opportunity to see their amazing - yes amazing new diggs..           This post below - is from their recent update...                                                                                                                                  

Direct import Via - Dumbo Feather...  Keep your own bees with Vanessa and Mat Photo via Dumbo Feather After profiling urban beekeepers Vanessa Kwiatkowski and Mat Lumalasi for our current issue, we fell in love with all things bees and honey and decided that the logical next step was to get our very own beehive. To share in our excitement, we would like to invite you to take part in a hands-on workshop on bees and beekeeping, run by Vanessa and Mat themselves. As well as offering a wealth of information the workshop will give you the chance to handle bees inside a real hive and taste the different honeys from Melbourne’s own Urban Beehives. All attendees will receive a gift bag packed with lots of info, sweet goodies and the wonderful Bee Book by Ann Cliff. When: Sunday 25 September 1pm – 5pm Where: 11 Princes St, St Kilda How much: $150 (includes workshop, gift bag and afternoon tea) Places will be limited to 20 people so book now to secure your spot.

Hidden Secrets Tours is very excited to be a sponsor of one of the newest Hives on a Little Collins Street balcony!

GETAWAY - Get out of the Big smoke.. and discover ARCHITECTURE

Wow, a special event needs to be celebrated sometimes, whether it is a coming of age, or wonderful achievement.. OR just because... - We love those ones the best ...  so where do you go, what do you do...

THIS time... Melbourne is not our destination.. ( we will miss it though ) but Melton and Bacchus Marsh... WHERE you say... I too agree, so we did a reccy today to one of Melbourne's   Australia's most influential Architect's masterpiece..  The Boyd Baker House.

We are not sure what more to say other than its booked out for weekends until early next year... and we are super excited to know some people who have asked us to share in the place with them!!!

Feedback - we love your emails!

Today we received a lovely email from on of our guests... I couldn't help but post it here.. 
  : :  Of course whilst we enjoy a cup of Chilli Hot Chocolate at Koko Black

Q1. The tour was FAR MORE than what we expected because a) it was well organised and we saw many more arcades and laneways than if we were wondering around by ourselves and b) if was really really interesting to take some time to learn about the history of the beautiful buildings and arcades of Melbourne.

Q2. It is hard to pick one thing that we liked about the tour because we really liked EVERYTHING but, not wishing to sound naf but, what I liked the most was that as we went along and saw all the beautiful shop window displays, architecture etc an sense/feeling developed that I was in Australia's Paris (rather than just another Oz city so's to speak)...Melbourne became something for me.

Q3. I have been to Melbourne many many years ago with my husband...can't remember anything about all that except that I bought some stunning boots and I enjoyed the Dandenong area. I also went in 2009 again with my daughter Lee for my 60th birthday and we did your Vintage Tour and had THE BEST time which is of course, why we came back to you guys again.

Thanks Rae, we too enjoyed your enthusiasm... 

Do you have any feedback for us?    send it to : feedback@hiddensecretstours.com