The Colours of Athens: No.3 Wine and Basil

A staircase leading down into a swirl of sounds and smells is too intriguing to walk past.
The sweet and unmistakable scent of basil is the first of many aromas to wash over the diner as they enter into a world almost completely gone from the streets and neighbourhoods of Athens.
The basement space is filled with very old large wooden wine barrels full of white wine (lefko), tables, chairs, diners, plates of honest, old school Greek food,
and metal karafes which are placed on small disks of ice to help the wine cool down.

The colours of terracotta and green, are popping out of this whitewashed space which only sees a suggestion of direct sunlight. It is a blissful situation.

Wallism_Athenian Phoenix

Beautiful homes and buildings in inner city Athens are crumbling due to neglect and hard times. But this sad situation is the bringer of an opportunity by giving young artists a strong visual presence.  

These buildings are being reinvented and turned into canvases upon which wonderful, playful imagery is placed. 

A statement of renaissance and defiance driven by the artists of Athens which ensures this eternal city maintains contemporary relevance.

Nicks and Nacks @ NookVintage

Another outing in Melbourne brought yet more discoveries for shiftazine.

This time it was the warehouse of Nook Vintage in North Fitzroy.

A great owner, with a smile, a laugh and a great eye.

The following copy was found on the Nook Vintage website. They can tell you about themselves better than we can.

"A vintage store named Nook Vintage opened at 258 Johnston St Fitzroy in January 2010,
right opposite Dimmneys. 
It has a vast range of delights from vintage clothing to industrial homewares and accessories.
Always call if you have any queries on a stock item as they are happy to hold if the store is closed.

The owner’s mobile is 0417187196. The Warehouse at the rear 304-308 Queens Pde, 

now open weekends 11-4 or by advanced appointment only. 
Enter laneway on Michael St North Fitzroy.

Follow Nook Vintage on Facebook and Instagram.

They BUY SELL and HIRE."

Phone: 0417 187 196 Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday: 12 – 5pm Wednesday – Saturday: 11 – 6pm Sunday: 12 – 5pm

Nook Blogspot   nook.vintage@gmail.com

Rome : PMS 1355, 197, 1365, 199, 158, 157, 137, 142, 143, 128, 130.

The golden and eternal city. The beautiful metropolis.

An extensive colour audit of the ancient town of Roma resulted in the selection of  pantone colours, and they are:

1355, 197, 1365, 199, 158, 157, 137, 142, 143, 128, 130. 

Roma: The movement of the continuous life and energy
blurs the edges of everything.

One time bleeds into another.

One space or and shape blends
lends support, foundation for the next.

Sun, terracotta and blue skies.Layered in
time and aperture;

for which thing;
season;
space is

definitive of Roma.

Jacqueline Hill

Street Chairs from the Fern: No. 19: A Couch

There is something about an abandoned chair or couch, placed randomly on a suburban footpath, that one simply cannot ignore.

Their presence often makes us reflect on many things.

 “The most luxurious thing to me is having an hour of my day, which rarely happens, to listen to my iPod and sit on my couch.
That's how I unwind.”
Grant Achatz

ChalkTalk Pixelations

A pink pixel-like creature lies flatten on the deep grey tarmac.

A pair of bright orange Mary Janes and navy blue nail polish bears witness to the chalktalk. 

Place: William St., Redfern, Sydney. Time: Afternoon. Evidence: Play sometime after school. Engagement: Imagination and some hot pink coloured chalk. Result: Delight from all who come across the drawings.

Hey there foxy

“We're always on the side of the animal that's being chased.

  We always seem to be on the side of the rabbit or the fox and not on the side of the hounds.”

   http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/fox_2.html

These pretty things were found in the shop window of Ici et La.

255 Riley St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Phone:(02) 9281 6089

Hours: Monday:10am–5pm, Tuesday:10am–5pm, Wednesday:10am–5pm, Thursday: 10am–5pm, Friday:10am–5pm, Saturday:10am–5pm,Sunday: Closed.

Issue No.20: The Brisbane Issue

Sending and receiving

Shiftazine was recently in Bucharest, Romania. 
Now Romania is not a place one thinks to go to, like one would plan and save to go to Italy, or Greece.
  But that is a pity as it is a land of strange connected beauty,
the city of Bucharest is an odd blend of parks that are more like deep green forests right in the middle of the urban centre and architecture,
which defies classification, which just keeps on surprising, bemusing and intriguing.

Anyway, while shiftazine was wondering these strange, unfamiliar streets, they discovered this exhibition. 
The artist only spoke Romanian, and shiftazine, while speaking the universal language of creativity, does not speak that particular tongue. 
So it was up to the work to speak for itself.

Make of it what you will, shiftazine thinks it is all very beautiful.

The artist is Victoria Zidaru. And you can contact her on mvzidaru@gmail.com

Or www.marianzidaru.com

And relax, two, three, four.

This is one of shiftazine’s secret, quite retreats. 

A place to just truly relax…so why am I telling the world about it? Because a beautiful place, thing or experience should be shared.

It is old (actually the oldest in the southern hemisphere) and it is not so glamorous like so many fabulous swimming pools and spas one can find in BrisVegas, 

but it is honest and (dare I say it) authentic.

I don’t want you to go there, I just thought you might like to know that it exists.

Every dog has their day

Every dog has their day, and today is that day.

National Dog Day.

On the 29th of June.

So pat a pup, say hello and enjoy our sweet canine citizens and friends.

They are the great bringers of JOY.

Remember to celebrate JOYDAY on the 25th November every year.

This is my Mandy (the name came with her). I adopted her 3 years ago when she was already 6 years old. She is a darling girl, although not too bright, she has a capacity for love that is limitless.