Choosing a place to live can be a hard task. Where you work and what you can afford are often the deciding factors, but for those who consider lifestyle one of their priorities in choosing a region, the North has so much to offer.

As a child, I grew up in the outer east, far away from the hustle and bustle of café culture and trams that take you anywhere and everywhere. When I moved closer, I chose southside. Soon, my partner and I will move west – a decision motivated by (you guessed it!) work and money.

But it is the North with its hidden treasures and cosmopolitan lifestyle that often takes my fancy. While I begrudge crossing the city in peak hour to meet northside friends, I find myself trekking over there more often than they sail southside, and I can’t say I’m disappointed.

Over the past week, I’ve found myself crossing the river more than a few times. Last Sunday morning, friends and I dined at Industry Beans, a cool café in the back laneways of Fitzroy, hidden among one way streets and construction zones.

Smashed Avo on gluten free toast at Industry Beans. Pic thanks to Airdrie Makim.

A stroll down Gertrude Street on Tuesday to visit Fatto A Manno, my go-to gluten free bakery, revealed more boutique stores than I had thought were there, leading into the artisan stretch of Smith St where designers and jewellers make their mark. A sneaky look in an Acne Studios pop up (in residence til end April at Shop 1/150 Gertrude Street) was a discovery worth making before I popped into Arcadia for a coffee. I swung past North Melbourne on the way home – the Salvos here is great!

Bargain Alpha 60 dress, reduced to $40!

Thursday I was beating a track down Brunswick Street where I made my most important find – the Alpha 60 and LIFEwithBIRD outlets, right next door to each other (179 and 264 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy)! An hour later, I was exhausted from trying on all the clothes but thrilled to find last season designer threads at high street prices.

Alpha 60 knit, reduced to $50, and Uashmama bag from Feathered Arbour, Carlton.

Brunch is the meal of the day on the weekend, and Saturday saw another visit, this time to Proud Mary in Collingwood, to meet up with a girlfriend who has recently moved to Melbourne. I took her to the Tony Bianco outlet store, where everything had been marked down to $30. Brilliant.

The best stories finish with sweet treats, and stopping by the new Yo Chi store in Carlton provided a fitting end to my week checking out the sights and sounds of the North.

If you have the notion to check out the North for yourself, Live North , in conjunction with hockingstuart, are running a fabulous competition to win an amazing northside experience valued at $4000! Enter via facebook to experience your own northern adventure!

Cute pin from Alpha 60 – $2!!!

I also visited Third Drawer Down, at 93 George Street Fitzroy; LUPA, at 77 Smith Street Fitzroy; and m.e & co fitters st 57 Smith Street Fitzroy.

This post was sponsored by hockingstuart, who have created Live North to share all the wonderful things these suburbs have to offer.