Archive for August, 2010

Sydney’s Farmers’ Markets

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Enjoy farm fresh produec from Sydney's many farmers markets

Sydneysiders are renowned ‘foodies’, and the burgeoning farmer and organic food market scene in various locales is testament to the city’s strong appreciation for freshly grown and harvested food products. For many Sydneysiders, a trip to a local fresh food, famers’ or organic food market is a weekend ritual, and the source of weekend spreads.

Sydney’s farmers’ markets are more than food markets, with many of them offering some form of entertainment, coffee and other products. So where can you find the best Sydney farmers’ markets? Here’s a few of the city’s most popular.

  • EQ Village Markets. Held every Saturday and Wednesday, the Entertainment Quarter Village Markets in Moore Park showcase quality produce from rural NSW. Over 100 stalls feature premium produce from flowers to gourmet fine fare. Whether you’re doing your weekly shop or just browsing, the EQ Village Markets offers one of Sydney’s largest selections of fresh food.
  • Eveleigh Market. One of the inner west’s best fresh food markets, the Eveleigh Markets, are held adjacent to Carriageworks in Darlington every Saturday morning from 8am – 1pm. Eveleigh Markets happen rain, hail or shine under the cover of the renovated railway workshop, and are known for the diversity and quality of produce they offer. Over 80 stalls offer seasonal and fresh produce and other baked goods and local wines. The Eveleigh Markets attract shoppers from as far as the Central Coast, so if you’re looking to make a trip down to experience them for yourself, Redfern and Surry Hills, accommodation is available nearby.

  • The Rocks Farmers’ Markets – If you can’t get to a food market on the weekend, the Rocks Farmers’ Markets has your answer. Held every Friday from 9am – 4pm, these markets in one of Sydney’s most stunning locations and most popular tourist destinations offers farm fresh produce as well as a variety of freshly prepared lunch options. Pick up a gozleme or fresh salad on your lunch break, or get a head start on your weekend food shopping.
  • Sydney Sustainable Markets – Held every Saturday in Surry Hills’ Taylor Square, Sydney Sustainable Markets bring a taste of the country into the heart of the city. These markets differ a little from the others in that they are committed to being part of a sustainable food revolution, and as such, supply much organic and sustainably produced produce. It’s a plastic bag-free market, so BYO reusable bags! Easy access to the farm-fresh goods and just a stone’s throw away from your hotel.

Sydney’s farmers’ market scene is world-class, so take time out of your weekend to sample and enjoy the fresh food revolution.

Image via thejazzcat at Stockvault

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Sydney Night Life – into the early morning hours

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

As a vibrant, bustling and busy world city, Sydney has just as much to offer residents and visitors in its witching hours as it does during the day. As the saying goes, it’s a city that never sleeps! There are many night time activities and attractions to keep night owls occupied and entertained. Make the most of your time in Sydney before you tuck in for the night – here are a few ideas on how to pass those night time hours.

  • Drinking. Of course, the obvious answer is to hit the town for a good night out! Sydney’s nightlife is world renowned for a reason. Whatever your taste or preference, there’s a scene to suit everyone, whether that be cheap and cheerful pubs, pumping clubs or relaxed wine bars.
  • Late night eating. Once you’ve had a night out on the town, who doesn’t feel like a midnight snack to tide them over? Luckily, Sydney offers a range of late night eateries that dish out more than the standard service station meat pie or fast food fix. There are a number of Thai, Chinese and Indian restaurants open til the early morning in Sydney, Haymarket and Chinatown, and it’s a great place to experience Sydney’s multicultural dining scene and enjoy great food.
  • Overnight fun. There’s more to Sydney’s night scene then drinking and eating, and a great way to experience the later hours is to really make a night of it. What’s on offer? Overnight camping on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, the ‘Roar and Snore’ at Taronga Zoo or even your very own night at the museum with the Australian Museum’s ‘Dinosaur Sleepover’. These options are an especially popular choice with families and children.
  • Sydney Observatory visit and ghost tours. Experience the splendour of the southern stars from the Sydney Observatory, which offers night time tours and telescopic viewing. Or, venture into the spooky shadows of Sydney’s convict past with ghost tours of the Rocks.

Sydney’s splendour can be experienced and enjoyed in the night time hours as well as the daylight. Of course, for those visiting, somewhere to rest your head is still essential, and there is a variety of accommodation in Sydney to suit all visitors’ needs – but with so many amazing night time activities on offer, you won’t be spending too long in your room!

image via Nik Frey

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The Sydney Fringe Festival is coming…

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
graffiti tunnel

"Underground" art is emerging for the Fringe Festival

Fringe festivals the world over are fast becoming a popular staple of the art and theatre calendar. Showcasing ‘fringe’ theatre – or productions and entertainment not of the mainstream – fringe festivals celebrate unconventional theatre, art and performance techniques and are often at the forefront of underground and urban arts and cultural trends.

The history of ‘fringe’ festivals

The word ‘fringe’ originated from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (founded in 1947), when Robert Kemp described the unofficial companies performing at the same time as the second Edinburgh International Festival as a ‘fringe’. The term was subsequently adopted to describe the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – now the largest in the world – and thence by alternative theatres and alternative theatre festivals.

Many fringe festivals, including the second largest – the Adelaide Fringe Festival – started as alternatives to traditional and conservative art, cultural and theatre festivals in different cities around the globe. Different to ‘normal’ arts festivals, they focus on up-and-coming and untraditional art performances that push the boundaries.

Sydney’s Fringe Festival

With a thriving theatre and arts community, Sydney’s Fringe Festival is no exception, and in 2010 promises to live up to the ‘fringe’ promise of independent, innovative and daring new theatre, gaming, music and other art varieties.

  • When and where is it to be held? Edgy, alternative theatre, major concerts,  visual arts openings and ‘brief encounters in surprising places’ will hit Sydney’s Newtown/Marrickville/Enmore area  – Sydney’s notorious independent and edgy theatre precinct – for 17 days from 10 – 26 September 2010.

  • What should Sydney expect from the Fringe Festival? Pitched as a festival ‘bursting up from the underground in Sydney’s inner west’, the festival is set to be an innovative showcasing of new ideas, trends and art forms across a variety of disciplines such as visual arts, sports and games, film, digital arts, comedy, music, theatre, musical theatre, circus/physical theatre, dance, cabaret, books, poetry, kids and family shows and special events.

  • How much will the festival cost? While the festival will descend on the inner West mid-September and there will be many free and impromptu performances, tickets for scheduled events and performances are expected to sell for between $25- $30.

For a different taste and insight into Sydney’s underground art and theatre world, make sure to check out a performance or two at the Sydney Fringe Festival in September.

Staying in Sydney for the Fringe Festival? Book into Cambridge Hotel just near Central station – it’s just a train or bus away from all the fun!

Are you looking forward to the fringe festival? Do you think your a black sheep?

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Week 21 – Only the Scales Know

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Anton’s Studio

You can train with Anton at the Bunker Studio:

Bunker Training

Shop 50/ Regent Place
Redfern, NSW 2016
Email: info@thebunker.net.au
Phone: 0415682813

Weigh-in: 115.5 kg

Weight loss to date: 42.5 kg

Support Steven’s efforts – MAKE A DONATION

–

Hi All,

Hope this finds you all well. I like others (especially our overseas guests stopping at the hotel) are very happy to see the sun.

I must admit that I am glad that Anton has moved and has opened his personal training studio, I can’t imagine how I would be in the wet and the cold training in the early morning.

My weight loss journey continues, each week it is getting a little harder to move the kilos. I am now at 115.5 KGs.  My original goal was 110 KGs and I will reassess this when I achieve this. I am in no way disheartened by the slow down, I knew the weight loss would slow down, and I know the reasons – in addition to adding muscle, when I had first started working out, I would burn anything from 600 to 800 calories. I now burn about 500 to 600 calories (except for the last 2 training sessions where I did averaged a  1000 each time – I think Anton wanted to prove to me that I could do it. Mind you I nearly crawled home J). Anton has been very technical in explaining the change, however in a nut shell, as you get fitter you have to work harder to burn the same amount of calories, however your overall metabolism is boosted so it should help. (Anton explains this a whole lot better than I do.)

Also as pointed out to me, you also have to look at the percentage of weight loss to your body weight. 2 kilos at 158 kilos is a 2 % loss while 1 kilo at 115 kilos is almost 2 % loss as well. So I am on track when you keep in mind the percentage of weight loss.

With the slow down, Anton has introduced new torture – I mean exercises J. I can honestly say that it is refreshing to try out and learn new exercises (trust me I don’t say this when I am doing them). I know that I have to be pushed, and this is what having a personal trainer does. The session before the last I had was a prime example – I had to be pushed and encouraged or I would have given up. However, having a personal trainer (in my case Anton) encouraging me and yes hounding me not to give up, repeating over and over that I can do it, allowed me to achieve my highest ever calorie burn of 1125 in a session. It was a great sense of personal achievement.

Last week, when I hopped off the scales, I put on a suit I used to wear 5 months ago; all I can say is WOW, there was room in the pants for another small person and I was swimming in the coat. At times, when the scales aren’t telling you what you want to hear, take time and reflect on the achievements you have made. This is what I did and let me tell you it really helped. Just putting on that suit uplifted me and gave me the boost I needed. A 42.5 Kilo Loss since I first started in late February and early March is something.

The hotel is abuzz with the upcoming “Dragons Abreast Charity Cabaret” – to date we have over $5000.00 in prizes for the night. It promises to be a great night with prizes from Ray Ban sunglasses and cases of wine to a session in a music studio where you can record your own record (oops I mean CD 0 showing my age ). So if you haven’t booked, do it now as there are limited seats left.

Well tomorrow (Saturday 7th) is my official weigh in day and I am not sure what the figures will be, I don’t feel that there will be a big loss this week, however as I have learnt “only the scales know”.

Until next time

Cheers,

Steven

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About Dragons Abreast

Track donations that has been raised for Dragons Abreast or MAKE A DONATION.

The negative Steven this week is that  training might getting harder but the positive is you have listened and you understand the technical side of exercise and weight loss and are still very committed to change your lifestyle. Well done !!

- Denise

Track donations that has been raised for Dragons Abreast or MAKE A DONATION.

You can learn more about DRAGONS ABREAST on their website:

http://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/

Posted in Steve's Biggest Loser | 7 Comments »

Enjoying Sydney for free

Thursday, August 5th, 2010
Sydney Harbour Bridge

A million dollar view to be enjoyed for free!

With it becoming increasingly clear that ‘nothing comes for free’, or indeed that ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch,’ touring a city or enjoying the attractions that it has to offer can cost you. Sydney is an amazing city and there are a million and one activities and attractions to keep residents and visitors occupied. And luckily a large number of these activities and things to do in Sydney are still free! They’re also fun, family friendly and allow you to enjoy the beautiful city without having to dig deep into your pockets.

Whether you live in Sydney and are looking for some weekend activities or a traveller who’s money is running dry, try these Sydney attractions and activities that are ‘on the house’.

  • Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s an iconic landmark that spans one of Sydney’s most beautiful assets – her harbour. The sparkling waters, floating sails and the best view of the Sydney Opera House can all be viewed for free from the walkway that runs from one side of the bridge to the other.
  • Sydney beaches. Whether in summer or winter, Sydney’s beaches are amongst the best in the world. With soft yellow sand, clear water and some of the best waves around the beach is one of Sydney’s best assets. If you like crowds and people watching head to Sydney’s famous Bondi or Manly beach, but if you’re just looking to relax in the sun or have a relaxing swim there are stunning, quieter beaches that line the Sydney coast.
  • The Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens is one of Sydney’s finest natural assets. Established in 1816, the 30 hectares of garden are home to over a million plant species. The grounds and gardens are beautifully maintained, and even better they sit on some of Sydney’s best real estate. Wrapped around Farm Cove on the edge of Sydney Harbour and enjoying spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge the site is perfect for a picnic, afternoon stroll or jog.
  • Museums. A number of Sydney’s museums can be entered and enjoyed for free, which is a great way to spend a day in Sydney particularly if Mother Nature isn’t putting on the best show weather-wise! There’s free entry to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in The Domain, the Museum of Contemporary Art at The Rocks, and the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour to name a few.
  • Street life. Sydney is full of interesting characters and people from all walks of life. A day can easily be passed down at Circular Quay or Darling Harbour listening to the street musicians and buskers and watching the impromptu routines and shows by street performers. If people watching is your thing, then free entertainment in Sydney won’t be hard for you to come by!

As a world city Sydney boasts a long list of attractions. Her stunning natural setting adds to that list.  With many of these attractions accessible and enjoyable for free, exploring the city doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. If you’re after a quality hotel, Sydney delivers but cheaper and bargain accommodation can also be found. Check out some of our amazing accommodation deals at Cambridge.

They say that ‘the best things in life are free’, so get out there and enjoy all the free things that Sydney has to offer!

What are your favourite free activities in Sydney?

Image: Christopher Chan

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