Walking home last night, about 10.30pm, I caught ZAP in the act.

Nonchalantly, I walked through the car wash between Victoria Street and Darlinghurst Road, silently cursing myself that I’d left the camera at home. All the while, 2 capped men plastered a “J” on the wall of the stencil gallery, adjacent to the rapping dinosaurs.

This morning, their handywork was up for all to see.

Strange message, Zap.

UPDATE: 21/8/09

Mystery solved. But like most solutions to mysteries, it’s a bit disappointing.

On the corner of Victoria and Surrey Streets, Darlinghurst, sits a one-time laundrette.

Months ago, we noticed a development application plastered on the wall outside with plans for a new pharmacy.

The DA was approved, according to the City of Sydney Council’s records, on 22 January this year.

Inside it is still the shell of a laundry.

Outside it is a partly boarded up wall of graffiti, chicken wire, stickers and posters for upcoming gigs.

With the cost of the development estimated at $65,000, is the continuing state of disarray a sign of the GFC?

Walking past the Green Park Hotel this morning, I caught sight of a familiar couple.

Keep your eyes peeled.

They get around those two.

The car wash between Victoria Street and Darlinghurst Road is home to a veritable stencil gallery, but it’s been quiet for a while.

It was shut for a couple of months over summer, and the latest car wash business to step in to the space – Star – might have dampened enthusiasm. But this week, we spotted some new activity.

Looks like the artist, ZAP, might have done a large scale paste-up to get around the proprietor.

Two dinosaurs rapping? Hip-hop gesticulation?

A month ago we blogged about our favourite local French cafes serving takeaway coffees in styrofoam cups.

At Strawberry Cream, on Victoria Street, today – looks like the message got through!

Always keen to see what new gelato flavours Messina has on offer, I was delighted to experience their latest creation on the weekend.

Liquorice.

Signor Palumbo saw my eyes light up as I spied the new tub. He confessed that this was batch no. 3 of liquorice, but that it had indeed taken 3 attempts to perfect. First it was too aniseedy, then too sweet.

Now, by God it is truly creamy and altogether sensational.

We love having a coffee at the local Frenchie, Strawberry Cream, on Victoria Street. It’s a perfect spot to sit and watch the crowd stream by.

But the $2.70 takeaway coffees from Strawberry Cream come in styrofoam cups. Besides any environmental considerations, styrofoam cups don’t work with coffee. It just doesn’t taste as good.

Same at Le Petit Creme, just around the corner on Darlinghurst Road, where a takeaway coffee is $3.00.

Fortunately, Sel & Poivre on Victoria Street has excellent takeaway coffee. In paper cups. And at $2.50 it’s the cheapest of the three.

Plus Sel & Poivre’s country pate baguettes and rillettes are fantastic.

The space previously known as Pelagio looks all set for an imminent opening, as Omerta Wine Bar …

…now keep your mouth shut.

As the sign in the window says, Pelagio has been closed now since 11th March.

I get an occasional glimpse inside, when I’m walking past, and it looks as though it is being completely re-fit.

But when are you going to re-open? Anyone?

It’s basically Easter and shops on the Darlinghurst strip have hot cross buns for sale.

I like Croissant D’Or at 117 Macleay Street. Their macaroons are amazing. And their hot cross buns (pictured above) at $7.50 for half a dozen seem pretty good. Infinity bakery, next to the fire station at 225 Victoria Street, has delicious hot cross buns for $7 a half dozen.

Then there’s Fratelli Fresh on Macleay Street.

Six hot cross buns for $15.95 and it’s a “Speciale.”