Northcote Rise

A bit of rain forecast for the week ahead but High Street doesn't do fair-weather only.

The shopfronts are open, the ovens are going, and the bars are pouring regardless of what's happening outside.

If anything, a grey sky is the perfect excuse. Duck into a café for something warm, book that appointment, grab a long lunch somewhere cosy, or settle in for a drink while the rain does its thing on the awnings outside. Northcote's traders are open, ready and glad to see you — wet weather gear optional.

Umbrella in one hand, coffee in the other. See you on the strip.

Next Tuesday, Nina turns 80!

It's also the day she steps back from Silk Road Rugs & Tours, the Northcote gem she's run for the past decade at 306 High Street — so it's a big one all round.

For ten years, Nina has welcomed people into her world — handmade rugs, lamps, jewellery, art, books and Tibetan singing bowls sourced from all over the globe. Her Mongolian yurt has hosted sound bath healings, shamanic drumming circles, tea ceremonies and poetry readings, alongside a warm team of healers always up for a chat.

She's given just as generously behind the scenes too, spending years as a Northcote Business Association committee member, offering her time, energy and wisdom to help guide the local business community.

Two milestones, one very big day. Swing by 306 High Street between now and next Tuesday, wish Nina a happy 80th and a happy retirement.

Winter's quiet on High Street, but it's not quiet for the traders. The heating's still running, the rent's still due, the staff still need their hours — even when the foot traffic drops and the days get short.

Your local is counting on you. Not in a dramatic way — just in the everyday way that a coffee here, a birthday present there, a Friday night booking instead of a delivery app, adds up to someone keeping their lights on.

So next time you need something — a gift, a haircut, a good feed — maybe start here before you start scrolling.

Winter calls for something warm, indulgent, and a little bit alpine, and Zsa's Chalet has it covered. Every Wednesday in winter, Zsa's transforms into a cosy alpine retreat with Alpine Winter Wednesdays.

Expect raclette and tartiflette, golden schnitzels, oozy baked brie, and a charcuterie board loaded with saucisson sec and gurkensalat. It's a spread built for slow eating and good company.

To match, there's a line-up of alpine wines including Prié Blanc, Kerner, and Nebbiolo, alongside warming winter drinks like spiced apple pie cider and hot buttered rum.

Rug up, pull up a seat, and settle in. Alpine Winter Wednesdays run every Wednesday throughout winter at Zsa's Chalet.

To book, head to their website.

There's a new destination on High Street for beautiful hair. Blow Bar & Co has opened at 266 High Street, Northcote, with owner Aneta bringing her vision to life—a salon where clients can relax, unwind, and leave feeling their absolute best.

Blow Bar & Co offers expert colour services, precision cuts, signature blow waves, and styling. Whether you’re visiting for a complete colour transformation or simply treating yourself to a blow wave, every appointment is designed to feel like an experience rather than just another salon visit.

With a complimentary barista-made coffee or one of Blow Bar & Co’s signature cocktails, with homemade cookies adding the perfect finishing touch.

To book an appointment, visit their website or click the booking link in their bio.

There's a kind of magic that doesn't happen on a screen. The barista who remembers your order. The shop owner who tells you exactly why that jumper's worth it. The stranger who tips you off about the best bites two doors down. You don't get that from a scroll.

This winter, put the phone away for an afternoon and take a walk down High Street instead. Duck into somewhere new. Ask what they'd recommend. Let one shop lead you to another — that's half the joy of Northcote Rise, not knowing what you'll find until you find it.

Rug up, head down, and see who you meet.

Steak Mondays have landed at .melbourne, and they're worth planning your week around. For one night only, the bourbon and whiskey bar sets aside its usual menu and turns its attention to a single, serious piece of meat.

The centrepiece is a 600g Southern Ranges M3+ Rib Eye, tallow confit sous vide, then finished over Iron Bark burning at 400 degrees. It's plenty for two to share, and at $60, it's the kind of value that gets people talking. Starters and sides can be added for $25 per person, or if you're dining solo, keep it simple with the $20 counter meal.

There's real care in how this dish comes together, and it shows in every bite. Perfectly cooked, deeply smoky, and best enjoyed slowly with a cocktail in hand. It's the sort of night where you walk in, take one look at the room, and know they've nailed it.

Steak Mondays only, at Goodwater 300 High Street Northcote.

Walk down High Street lately and you might notice some subtle changes. Northcote Rise is looking sharp! Fresh paint has gone up on a few shopfronts, old tags have been cleaned away, and some spaces are undergoing renovation, gearing up for their next chapter. New traders are settling in too, filling gaps and adding fresh energy to the strip.

None of this happens on its own. A big thank you goes out to Anthony from the Darebin Community Clean Up Crew for kicking off the movement, and to every volunteer who's donated their time since. Thanks also to Robert for generously building a website to support the effort, and to local Bunnings and Dulux for their donations along the way.

Looking ahead, keep an eye out for a new stage being built at The Chalice, Northcote Uniting Church, ready for community events in the months to come. Northcote Portraits is also continuing to unfold across the strip, with artists bringing local stories to life through public artworks at sites throughout the precinct.

Korean fried chicken has been a High Street favourite for a while now. SamSam Express, at 315 High Street, Northcote, has built a loyal following with its bold flavours and a menu made for sharing.

The chicken comes both bone-in and boneless, tossed through a choice of house sauces, with soy garlic and spicy Korean chilli among the regulars' picks. Alongside the chicken, there's tteokbokki stir-fried with rice cake and fish cake, kimbap rolled a handful of different ways, and bibimbap served with either wagyu beef or tofu. It's the kind of menu that rewards a group order, where everyone gets a taste of something different.

SamSam is part of a small family of Korean chicken and beer venues, and the Northcote spot has become a regular fixture on the street, drawing steady crowds through the evening.

Whether it's a quick boneless box on the way home or a proper sit-down group feed, remains one worth pulling up a seat for.

Best mates for 21 years and proud Northcote locals, Age and Jools have always called High Street an extension of home — the lounge room, as they put it.

For years there was a running joke between them: one day they would open their own small businesses, side by side on High Street.

Then one afternoon, while enjoying a Guinness and sitting outside Buck Mulligan's, they spotted a for-lease sign across the road. The joke stopped being a joke and instead of two shops next door, they built one, North Star Barbershop at 204 High Street Northcote.

Age brings 18 years of barbering to the chair, along with years spent training the next generation of barbers. And with Jools at the helm alongside, the pair are shaping what they've always dreamed of: creating a space for the community to gather, connect and feel at home. Swing by for a master cut and enjoy a complimentary beer, whiskey or espresso while you're there.

They've also paid quiet homage to Open Studio, by installing a beautiful new bar, keeping the original stained glass windows, and thoughtfully fitting out the space with art deco light fittings, art and plants. Somewhere between a barbershop and a lounge room which is exactly the point. But Jools and Age aren't stopping there. The barbershop and space is about to evolve into much, much more - stay tuned for more exciting news to come.

Ask them why Northcote, and the answer comes easily: the people. A city version of a country town. The village.

Bookings can be made online, and walk-ins are always welcome.

4 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY

Northcote Portraits — Artist EOI

Calling all artists.

Northcote Portraits is seeking creatives who want to be part of a community art and storytelling project right here on High Street.

Expressions of interest have been open for two weeks — if you've been thinking about applying, now is the time. Submissions close THIS Friday 17 July at 5pm. Full details of the project are available via the link in bio.