Thursday, August 30, 2012
I needed a few hours alone; to gather my intentions and put pen to paper. When your art becomes your profession it's easy to fall out of love. Mundane editorial puts food on the table but it also steals the very last of my words. Every single day I sit at my desk and type. Clickety clack with a Poet at my feet and a little boy close by. It's rare for me to handwrite my stories but I always come back to the pen when I seek inspiration.
St Jude sits lonesome on a corner of Bourke Street; the Redfern end. With its white-washed exterior and timber-framed cafe windows, it lures the locals who linger on the step, chatting about the sun and the blossoms and the new baby next door.
I was the out-of-towner with a rare hour of solitude. I found a seat by the window, ordered coffee and brunch and began to scrawl a who we are across a new white notebook. Within twenty minutes the blue cup was empty, the page covered in ink. As it should be.
Luisa turned up soon after and between sips of coffee and excitable exclamations she took shots of cafe details....and portraits of a writer who can't wait to share her project with the world.
The ever-lovely Mandy, who regularly meanders the streets of Surrey Hills, recommended St Jude. Thank you!
Labels: from the city (sydney) , the cafe series
Monday, August 27, 2012
from the city: the grounds of alexandria
A celebration of coffee, food and the simple, good things in life, The Grounds beckons with it's intriguing indoor/outdoor space. The coffee beans are roasted on-site in a dedicated research facility and the menu is inspired by the herbs, vegies and edible flowers growing in the garden (there's a horticulturist on staff). Aesthetically The Grounds is beautiful; industrial meets rustic with a touch of bohemia, the details stole me away from conversation more than once.
The Grounds has created a unique experience - intimate dining and boutique coffee in a warehouse setting where professionals, tradies, hipsters and young families gather - happily so.
Come summertime there will be alfresco dining under the lanterns, pizzas straight from the woodfire oven and drinks from the outdoor bar. Sigh.
We were there for morning tea and I can highly recommend the blueberry and ricotta brown muffin. If you go for lunch I have heard the ocean trout with pearl barley, broccolini and preserved lemon is delectable.
As for the plethora of photos - apologies. But oh the details, the light, the coffee, the teapots....etc......!
Labels: from the city (sydney) , the cafe series
Sunday, August 26, 2012
And then we spotted a familiar beaming face behind a trolley stacked high with luggage. Hello! Uncle Josh and Immy were here, safe and sound. We spent the rest of the day wandering the city and while she tried, Immy couldn't quite believe that she was experiencing Sydney in the winter-time.
That photo of Poet and Popa up there...see her little hat? It was the very first thing I bought her after she was born, an ada ada bonnet from the spring/summer 2010 collection. Absolutely darling she wore it for the first time at the airport. As we walked I wore her in the sling and within minutes she had pulled it off and dropped it. And then it was gone. It's ridiculous how sad I am about that silly little hat. But if there's anyone out there who has one and would like to sell it or knows where I can buy one I'll be forever grateful.
Labels: from the city (sydney)
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
from the city: all the bright lights
Exciting times included:
- sleeping in an inner-city hotel
- adventures at the Australian Museum
- homemade picnic in Hyde Park (while listening to three brothers beat out Beatles tunes)
- chatting to every.single.person in every.single.elevator (we're a friendly bunch)
- overwhelming wonder at the colour and chaos of the Chinese New Year Parade
- feeling oh so lucky when a performer from said parade gifted Che with a flashing smiley face badge
- late night swim in the rooftop pool
- watching late night fireworks from the rooftop pool
- the smoothest, most wonderful coffee.
- underwater fun at Oceanworld (while I attended an editorial meeting)
The experience was fabulous, albeit exhausting. Daniel summed it up when we got home: "What a relief, we didn't lose anyone."
Happy Year of the Water Dragon! Blessings of good fortune....
from the river house
from the farm
from the mountain house
Photos by Daniel and I.
from the river house
from the farm
from the mountain house
Photos by Daniel and I.
Labels: from the city (sydney)
