Kate LOVES Sydney

They call it a Fun Run?

Over the past month, Kate Loves Sydney has morphed into a fitness fanatic. There’s a new gym membership, a sudden desire to go jogging during the lunch hour, even a few laps at the pool.  Unlike most fitness kicks that Kate Loves Sydney has partaken in over the years, the motivating factor has not been the threat of swimsuit season. No, this time it’s all been motivated by the impending doom and realisation that I am soon to run 14kms. And for fun no less!

City 2 Surf is nearly upon us once again and this will be the 3rd year that Kate Loves Sydney has participated in the Fun Run. I’m sure there are many of you reading this, scoffing at the suggestion of a 14km Fun Run but what you’ll discover is that like most things, it’s the journey that makes it worthwhile. So whether you’re planning to run in City 2 Surf or would never contemplate it in your life, let me share with you the ten things I’ve learnt about City 2 Surf:

1. It’s ok to wear a garbage bag before the race. Apparently this is a really good way to keep warm before the run begins and I’ve actually seen quite a few people do it.
2. If you get hot during the race you’ll need to dump a layer of clothing. Each year hundreds of jumpers, jackets, long-sleeved tee’s are discarded along the City 2 Surf route. They’re collected after the race and donated to charity. If you don’t want to lose yours, refer to lesson no 1.
3. Crazy costumes are ridiculously popular. Last year I saw Superman, Wonder Woman, ballroom dancers from Dancing with the Stars, Roman’s with a chariot filled with beer and Smurfs.
4. The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay always has a fantastic band playing on the roof top. Last year it was an 80’s soft rock cover band that was performing Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger as I jogged past. Eye of the Tiger = Rocky = Motivation. Need I say more?
5. Heartbreak Hill is exactly that. But just when you think you may have a coronary as you reach the top, look back and you’ll be rewarded with a view of Sydney Harbour that is nothing short of spectacular.
6. You’ll feel like a sausage sizzle at the end of the race after going past the many bbq’s the local residents have set up in their front yards.
7. The local residents will cheer you on and you jog past their bbq’s. You’ll look at them with envy as they sit in their deck chairs and you begin to wonder why you decided to join in a 14km fun run. But it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy too and you’ll want to keep going to the finish line. Especially if they’re playing Eye of the Tiger at said bbq.
8. Others can benefit from your efforts. Not content with the personal satisfaction of running/walking 14km? Get your friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you and donate the money to a charity of your choice.
9. The last 1km is the hardest. You’ll think that you’re through the worst once you’ve passed Heartbreak Hill but it’s the last km that will get you. Why? Because you’re already at Bondi Beach by this point but still have to walk an entire kilometre to the Finish Line.
10. You'll feel pretty chuffed with yourself when you cross the finish line. And why shouldn't you? As you cross the finish line you realise that you’ve just travelled 14km from the City to Bondi Beach with 60,000 other people and it wasn’t by public transport.

And what happens then? Well, it’s off to the pub to celebrate of course! Whether I’ve swayed you to join in or not, make sure you get down to Bondi Beach on Sunday 09 August. The atmosphere is amazing and you’re sure to meet some interesting characters. Papa Smurf will even be there.

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Fancy some festival fun?

Sydney is Australia’s festival capital. We have the world-famous Sydney Festival, the Biennale of Sydney, the Sydney Writers' Festival and not forgetting the community and music festivals that take place throughout the year.

Summer immediately springs to mind when you think of festivals held in Sydney, but as the Winter Festival recently demonstrated, there’s no chance this city will let the winter chill halt the festival frivolities and this weekend is no exception. Here’s how you can get your festival groove on this weekend:

Bondi Bohemia
Hidden behind the façade of Bondi’s surfy exterior is a community of alternative, bohemian creativity which is on show over the next two weekends. The Bondi Bohemia Festival features poetry workshops, an Eco Kids Festival and the Bondi Winter Music Festival. Bondi Bohemia runs from 11-26 July.

The Rocks Aroma Festival
Coffee, coffee, coffee… did I mention there’ll be coffee? If you’re a caffeine addict then head straight for The Rocks on Sunday 19 July to get your fix. Not a coffee lover? Try chai and tea from only $2 and for those with a sweet tooth, there’ll be plenty of chocolate on offer too. From 10am – 5pm.

Christmas in July – The Loft
December 25 not rolling around quickly enough for you? Why not get into the Yuletide spirit this weekend at The Loft, King Street Wharf. Sit back and relax as you’re served a special Christmas-themed High Tea with yummy drinks of mulled wine.

Follow me on Twitter @katelovessydney

Cocktails and Parties - Sydney Fun in the Sun

The gorgeous summer days in Sydney just keep coming and despite many of us heading back to the office after weeks of holidays - that holiday vibe is still in the air. It seems the sunny skies are calling to us all to venture away from our desks, to move off the couch and to embrace this fantastic weather while it’s still here. In fact, at this time of year it seems that everything in Sydney revolves around the outdoors.

Take a stroll past any of the cities bars and you’ll discover their beer gardens and balconies bursting with patrons. This trend is evident as I enter the Zeta Bar at the Hilton and discover the roof top balcony is the place to be. The hip bar in the heart of the city recently launched its Summer Sundaze series so I’ve decided to pay a visit with some friends and sample the bar’s impressive cocktail menu. We’re introduced to Zeta’s bar supervisor, the charming Frenchman Jean, who talks us through the inspiration for the latest additions to the cocktail menu. After a few minutes with Jean I’m surprised to discover the intricacies behind the cocktails at Zeta as he takes us through a sampling of cocktails available before, during and after prohibition.

The first cocktail we sample is the Charlie Chaplin, a martini-style cocktail with equal parts slow gin, apricot brandy and lemon juice that was widely available before prohibition and a favourite of the man himself. The level of detail in the presentation is impressive with the cocktail served in an antique stainless-steel goblet as it would have been in the era before prohibition. The unique presentation of the cocktails turns out to be one of the talking points of the evening as we’re presented next with a cocktail in a brown paper bag – from during prohibition of course! From there we’re served Pina Coladas (a Hilton claim-to-fame we learn) in a hollowed-out pineapple, complete with a fireworks sparkler then yummy Mai Tais in Tiki mugs.

The showstopper of the evening arrives when Jean serves us a ‘bacon-infused’ cocktail. Yes, my friends, a cocktail with bacon as the garnish! Jean warns us that it’s a very “masculine” drink and as soon as it hits my lips I realised what he’s talking about. A little too potent for my sweet tastes so I promptly move back to the Mai Tai. For all the men out there though that believe cocktails are a women’s domain, I can safely assure you it’s not and recommend you hightail it to Zeta to give the bacon-infused cocktail a go. To see the bacon-infused cocktail in all its glory, take a look at the latest photos I’ve updated.

The past weekend took me out onto the harbour to All Tomorrow’s Parties, a music festival held at Cockatoo Island. The event was part of the program of activity taking place this month for the Sydney Festival which is an annual cultural celebration of Sydney in summer. Cockatoo Island is heritage listed site with many guises over the year ranging from an imperial prison to a naval shipyard. In recent years it’s been re-opened to the public and with its mix of industrial and colonial buildings set against stunning views of the harbour, it was an amazing site to host a music festival.

All Tomorrow’s Parties was curated by musician Nick Cave and featured over 25 of his favourite acts playing on four stages. During the day, the mood was relaxed with groups of friends exploring the island or chilling out listening to the many performances. However by night the mood had changed and it was clear that Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were who everyone had made the journey to see. It was a fantastic day and impressive to see Cockatoo Island used as a festival venue.

So as you can tell, there’s still plenty of exciting things taking place around Sydney at the moment so why not get out there and explore and enjoy Sydney in summer!

Summer in Sydney

2009 has arrived and it’s summer in Sydney.

As I write this post it’s 31 degrees (87 Fahrenheit) outside and sunny with not a cloud in the sky. I’ve been lucky enough to be on holiday for the last three weeks and while I’d love to be at the beach today instead of working, I can’t complain after the fantastic holiday I had.

New Years Eve was amazing. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I had never seen the midnight fireworks up close, choosing to watch the display from afar in past years. So this NYE, I decided to venture into the heart of Circular Quay and get amongst the action.

The first thing that I noticed when I arrived was the sheer number of the people lining the harbour. It’s estimated that over a million people converge on and around Sydney Harbour each NYE and the vibe of the crowd was nothing short of electric and amazing. Everyone was buzzing, happy and ready to celebrate.

The fireworks show was absolutely spectacular and seemed to be never ending. At one point I wasn’t sure where to look – at the Harbour Bridge with its flashing illumination, at the fireworks in the sky above or going off on the many city skyscrapers behind me. For much of the display I couldn’t help but look at the group of people I was with. For the duration of the show everyone was mesmerised by the display - old and young were wowed.

New Years Day was spent relaxing and swimming at Coogee Beach with a big group of friends. Looking at the crowd when we arrived we realised we weren’t the only ones with the idea to venture to the beach that day. There were families with the kids riding waves on their boogies boards, teenagers playing volleyball, people sheltering in the shade and our group, just happy to find a nice plot of land to converge. Despite everyone feeling a little worse for wear, a dip in the water seemed to re-energise the group as did the yummy fish & chips we ate for lunch.

In fact, summer seemed to be a blur of beaches in Sydney. Riding waves at Cronulla, chilling out at Shelley Beach and swimming laps in the ocean pools around town. I never realised just how much going to the beach has become a part of life in Sydney until these holidays. Actually, the more I talk about the beach and as I watch the clock inching closer to home-time, I think I’ll head to the beach for a quick dip after work!

If you know of any other great beaches in and around Sydney let me know. There’s still another month of summer left and plenty of time to keep exploring!

Read more about fun Things to Do in Sydney this Summer. 

Eastern Village Hubs - Charing Cross

If you pick up a copy of any tourist guide and search the eastern suburbs, you’re likely to read about Bondi and Coogee ad nauseam. So rather than talk you about all of the places you’ll find in the standard tourist brochures, I’m going to take you on an insider’s tour of one of my favourite places in the eastern suburbs, Charing Cross.

Charro, as the locals call it, is a small village bordering the suburbs of Waverley, Bronte and Randwick. It’s a true blink-and-you’ll-miss-it location but this tiny strip is full of gems. Start your day with breakfast at Bellagio Café on Bronte Road. Grab a seat on the deck out the front or perch yourself out in the courtyard with a newspaper. The food is super tasty and the service is tremendous.

After breakfast, take a stroll down Bronte Road and discover the many cute boutiques that call Charro home. The gals will love Elodie. I have to restrain myself from hitting the ‘stop’ button whenever I drive past on the bus. A fleeting glance at the window display with its gorgeous dresses as I pass by is all it takes to bring out my inner impulse shopper.

Another fave is homewares store, Jo & I. It’s yet another store where I am forced to show restraint. I have been known to walk out with ten scented candles, some joke fridge magnets and a bunch of gorgeous hand-painted ornaments for the Christmas tree as I think to myself “Do I even own a Christmas tree?” In fact, if I talk for too much longer about shopping I may very well put myself on the next bus to Charro… so lets move on!

Bronte Road Bistro is a reasonably new addition to the area and by all accounts is ‘the’ place to dine. On a warm evening, the outdoor tables are a popular pick with guests. According to the reviews the menu is smart and reasonably priced, the wine list gets a big tick of approval and the service is top-notch. So why haven’t I been there yet I hear you asking? Well I’m going next week so watch this space for a review.

As reasonable as the menu at the Bronte Road Bistro appears to be, for a cheap feed and great company you really can’t beat the Robin Hood Hotel. Every night of the week you will find this place bursting with locals getting their fix of the popular $8 steak. And let me tell you, it’s a damn fine meal. Over summer it can become difficult to find a table as the Hood faces an influx of patrons from the near-by OzTag competition (an Aussie version of touch-rugby) at Queens Park. So get in early, stake your claim (excuse the pun) and settle in for a night with the locals. You may even spot Australian Idol winner Wes Carr who until he struck fame in Idol, was working behind the bar and doing regular gigs at the hotel. 

So now that I’ve talked up the virtues of Charing Cross, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the eastern suburbs. Do you have a favourite restaurant or bar? Where’s the best place to relax with a few drinks on a Sunday afternoon? Or if you haven’t visited before, what’s on your wish list of places to visit?

Beach Hot Spot - Manly

Sydney is all about the harbour, the Bridge and the Opera House. Yet to Sydney-siders, the emerald city is a series of distinct villages, broken into East, West, Inner West, the City, South and North. Locals are fiercely protective of what they call their 'home turf' and can spend hours arguing the finer points of why their region is superior. I will put my hand up and admit that I have always lived around the eastern suburbs, mainly because after moving from a town 3 hours from Sydney it’s still a huge novelty for me to live near the beach.

Coming from outside of Sydney, I’ve never quite understood the competition and like visiting new places all around town. So, to get to the bottom of this friendly rivalry, I’ve decided to visit each of the areas over the coming months and share with you the highlights

Beach Hot Spot – Manly

Ah, Manly. There really is nothing like catching the Manly Ferry on a warm, sunny day. I couldn’t believe our luck as we cruised along the harbour and stumbled across a yacht race. Despite being deafened by the horn of the boat signalling the yachts to move, it was a real postcard moment watching the vessels cruise past. Not bad for a journey that cost $6.40.

First stop on the itinerary was Manly Wharf Hotel. For those of you that haven’t been, it’s located (funnily enough) at Manly Wharf and has stunning views of the harbour. It’s a huge stylish venue but don’t let that deceive you. Get in early to grab a table before the place gets packed out, particularly if you’re planning to visit on a Sunday afternoon. The crowd is relaxed with people cruising in after a swim at the beach. Although we did see one exception on the day - a guy dressed in a suit arrived at the wharf on a super yacht, escorted by two girls in bikinis. This was a bit more like a scene from Entourage than a regular Manly moment, but hey, there’s something for everyone it seems!

After lunch, we wandered up to The Corso which is the main shopping and dining hub between the wharf and the beach. Not surprisingly there’s a huge number of surf stores here including Billabong and Quicksilver. The Manly Markets are held every weekend and are a fab place to pick up jewellery, clothes, homewares and art work from up-and-coming designers.

One thing that really stands out is that Manly has a really serious surf culture – you can tell that once the call of a big wave comes, everyone just hits the water. I really wished that I had a surfboard and that I could actually surf! I then discovered you could pop down to the beach and take a surf lesson. And the beach - Manly seems to stretch on for miles. Sitting below the towering Norfolk Pines that line the esplanade, you forget that you’re only 20 mins from the city. Maybe this is why the locals love it so much?

Have you been to Manly? Let me know your thoughts, do you have a secluded spot you love to visit? A fave bars or restaurant? And if anyone’s been to the Safety Wolf on Belgrave Street, let me know what it’s like. I can’t wait to check it out!

Read more about Manly and the Northern Beaches.