A last minute Life List (things to do before we leave Sydney)

Bathers Pavilion, Balmoral, Sydney

As you know we are off to Middle Earth to live for a year and start our new 2013 Life List adventures.

But before we leave Sydney, I want to do things that I had been planning to do for AGES but wasn't able to.

So here is my 'Sydney Last Minute Life List' (must be completed by mid February):

• Go to Cornersmith and finally have the Ploughman’s lunch
• See the Sydney Festival Rubber Duck
• Take in as much Sydney Summer sun as I can
• Go to Balmoral Beach one last time and have the amazing fish n chips from Bottom of the Harbour
• Go to the Opera Bar and take in the amazing views of Sydney one last time (also go to the new el_loco at the House and do one last search for the perfect Margarita)
• Try at least 3 different Sydney Food Trucks
• Visit all my favourite 'My Place' locations one last time...
• T.I.M Products = Have the Galaktoboureko
  
• Frango Chicken Shop = Eat the best Portuguese charcoal chicken in Sydney one last time
  
• Sweet Belem Cake Boutique = Gorge on the scrumptious Belem Portuguese tarts 
• Paesanella Cheese = Make my famous Ricotta Gnocchi using the ricotta from here
• Bourke Street Bakery = Stuff myself one last time on their amazing sourdoughs, Bacon, Gruyere & Leek Quiche and Pork & Fennel Sausage Roll.
• Alpino Gelato = Eat so much of their Cassata (Tutti Frutti) gelato that I am sick
  
• Pork Roll = Eat one last Bánh mì
• Try some more of the great Black Sheep cocktails
• And have one last Yeeros from the Yeeros Shop on Victoria Road (the best Yeeros outside of Melbourne)
  

I know its only a year that we will be away for, however I know that these are the things I will crave and make me very Home Sick.

I will also have to change my Life List item #45 and change it from 'discovering the amazing things about Sydney' to 'discovering the amazing things about Wellington'.

[all images by husband]

 

Balmoral Beach, Sydney

Rozelle Markets - Challenge: Explore Sydney's Best Markets

My sister and I went to Rozelle Markets recently, so I could tick off another market from my 'Sydney's Best markets' challenge.

Rozelle Markets is set in the grounds of Rozelle Primary School. It is quite a funky little market with a variety of different stalls.



Lovely orchids

They also had some great produce available.

Rozelle Markets

663 Darling St

Rozelle, New South Wales 2039

http://www.rozellemarkets.com.au

Hours: Sat-Sun 9:00 - 16:0

Vivid Lights

All images by husband

What I loved at The Finders Keepers Market

On Saturday, Sydney had the pleasure of hosting The Finders Keepers markets, a design and art markets supporting emerging Australian designers and artists.

It is bi annual event and in Sydney it is held at CarriageWorks in Everleigh.

I love going to these markets and this year I thought I would document my visit as part of Life List #45, 'Discovering the amazing things about Sydney'.

I hope you enjoy the artists I thought were worth mentioning (of which there were many).

Carriage Works is such a great venue and is also home to one of my favourite produce markets The Eveleigh Markets, which was also running on the day of The Finders Keepers, so there were a lot of people, hence why the photos are not the best.

The venue used to be old rail yards and workshops



Ernest Hope = really loved the framed embroideries and cushions

 

Some ceiling art

Me and Amber = Really adorable one of a kind pieces

Fromage La Rue =  Funky illuminated letters and vintage style wooden letters. Loved these, but I have no clue where they would go in my house.

The Land of Fig = Beautiful hand stitched cards and prints

Kirbee Lawler = Kirbee's illustrations are simply stunning. I think I'll be visiting her online site soon to make some purchases.

Wendy June = Really loved her designs... especially the 'inner beastie'.

Deleted Scene = Such distinctive pieces

Deleted Scene

Marcue = Amazing hand made leather shoes

Gretel Girl = My biggest regret of the day was not buying one of these plates

I want the robot or the dancing bear! I just can't decide

It really is such a stunning space

Emma Leonard = Her illustrations are just gorgeous... and the neon pink in her drawings is so striking

I love this photo... if I do say so myself!

Art of Alberto Santiago = Wow! How amazing are his portraits?



The artist himself

Bonnie Poplar

Andrea Smith = An illustrator and designer who was also asked to illustrate the flyer for the Finders Keepers markets.

Ask Alice = As she says herself, she has Eco-Loving, Tree-Hugging Stationery!

More from Ask Alice

Hardwick & Cesko = Suck beautiful paper cut art, reminding me of the works of Rob Ryan

More from Hardwick  Cesko

Maya Muse = Unique textiles screen printed by hand using natural fibers

Sunday Morning Designs = Adorable collection of illustrated pillowcase and doona covers 

Lino Girl = Lovely limited edition prints, gift cards and ceramics

Some more works from Lino Girl

I hope you enjoyed finding out about some new and very talented artists?

 All images by Zahara Dessert

Blackwattle Bay... Amazing things about Sydney

Anzac Bridge with Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background [image by Zahara Dessert]

 

I am sure you have gathered by now that we have a dog. His name is Ziggy-Stardust and we have had him for just over a year... and he is a spoilt brat.

As much as he is a born and bred 'lap dog', he also loves nothing more than to go for long walks. There are many parks we can go to and walks we can do around Marrickville, but often they are not leash free. We recently discovered a walk you can do leash free and has one of the most amazing views in Sydney.

Blackwattle Bay is in Glebe and the walkway snakes around Sydney harbour from the bottom of Glebe Point Road, all the way to Pyrmont.



Ziggy contemplating if he should go in the water [image by Zahara Dessert]

 

It is a fairly new part of Sydney, before this Blackwattle Bay was quite industrial and had been abandoned for years. Along the walk there are a number of relics preserved from the site’s previous uses.

Sydney CBD [image by Zahara Dessert]

Apartments that line the walk [image by Zahara Dessert]

When they redeveloped Blackwattle Bay, they also build some great apartments and town houses. I love these townhouses that line the walk. I always have a snoop into the living rooms, some of them have the most amazing pieces of furniture and layouts.

 

There is also a great Cafe where you can stop and have a coffee and some great scones.


A Banksia bush [image by Zahara Dessert]



a wet Ziggy [image by Zahara Dessert]



[image by Zahara Dessert]



[image by Zahara Dessert]

I really am liking this Life List challenge of showing people the amazing things about Sydney.

I hope you are too?