The cobblestone path is smooth and well worn, the tell-tale sign of hundreds of years of history impounding its surface. The stories of foreign merchants wheeling their wooden carts down the side streets are eminent in the chipped corners of the path. Legends of forbidden lovers at midnight scurrying through back alleys whisper through cracked edges and the saga of village sieges are etched into the stones as knights can be heard stomping down the high street.
As young Australian’s flee the winter and flock to Europe, those of us who are working towards career ambitions or just simply can’t afford the trip are graced with hundreds upon hundreds of snaps from cherry-faced European travellers (and secretly we want to punch them all).
Never fear my money-savvy European-less nomads, we can still have fun here back at home too. We can still post envious foodie-grams and cute cosy beanie snaps as we enjoy the winter and all the awesome events our capital cities have on offer. We will make those European snobs feel like they never should have left.
So what can we get up to for the remainder of July and August?
Sydney
Whale Watching – The first season for whales to pass Sydney are typically around May to August however from August to December the humpbacks in particular head back to the Southern Hemisphere for the summer to feed in Antarctic waters. Why not trek it to a headland (Barrenjoey at Palm Beach is a popular Instagram – worthy spot), get fit and watch these awe-inspiring mammals travel down the coast, plus it’s all free of charge.
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera – For all you art aficionados you can not go past The Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibition held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales Art Gallery Road, The Domain. No need to rush through this collection of masterpieces will be running until Sunday October 9.
Italian Food and Wine Festival – do not eat anything before you enter Sydney’s Town Hall on Sunday 21st August. Actually don’t eat for the entire week prior. 200 Italian food and wine stalls will host Sydney’s largest annual celebration of Italian food along with cooking master classes and demonstrations from some of the best in the business like Pilu at Freshwater, Mantecato, Capriccio and Osteria Russo & Russo.
Sculptures at Barrangaroo – Saturday August 6th to Sunday August 21. This new outdoor sculpture festival is a collaboration between Sculpture by the Sea and the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, and will feature 12 works (six new commissions and six existing works) installed along the Harbour foreshore promenade.
The Fifties Fair- Sunday August 21 get out your hair rollers and leather jackets baby because we’re going to The Fifties Fair. At 71 Clissold Road
Wahroonga 2076, Sydney’s Living Museums is celebrating the mid-century masterpiece of Rose Seidler House. With vintage wares for sale, Rock-A-Billy sounds a competition for the best dressed.
Volumes – don’t miss Oxford Art Factory’s music dance party for a weekend of cool vibes of epic proportions. It all starts on Friday August 26. Make sure you check out the line up and get your tickets here: http://www.volumes2016.com
Frenchs Forest Organic Food Markets – Every Sunday no matter rain, hail or shine the awesome stallholders at the Organic Food Markets will provide you with hearty food (make sure you try the corn fritters-they are to die for), organic wares and fresh produce. See you at the Parkway Hotel Grounds, 5 Frenchs Forest Rd, Frenchs Forest 2086.
Melbourne
Batman Night Market- All around Coburg on Saturday July 16th and Saturday July 23 food trucks, arts and craft stalls and street performers will be showcasing local artisans and food cultures. The best locations will be between Gaffney Street and Sydney Road intersection with craft beer on tap from 4-9pm.
Gertrude Street Projection Festival – Running from July 15th to July 24th this festival is in its second year running and bigger and better than ever. Festival director Pastore has curated a program that connects audiences with their surroundings in highly unusual ways. In ‘Wheel of Fate’ by Uprising Youth Theatre, (6pm. Free. Jul 23-24) visitors can choose their own adventure, led by mobile LED technology through the streets of Fitzroy. Over at the Atherton Gardens precinct inside the community housing estate, live drawings by local artists will be projected onto the towers of the buildings. As usual, the festival hub will be The Catfish, which will play host to live performances and projection pieces; see the website for the full line-up: http://gspf.com.au
Carlton Book Store – While in Melbourne you can’t go past Carlton Book Store. Located at 309 Lygon St Carlton this hub of creativity has anything from fiction book, cookbooks, coffee table tomes, children’s book, to CDs, vinyls, and gifts.
Brisbane
The Regatta Fair- located at The Regatta Hotel 543 Coronation Drive, Toowong from Friday July 29, 4:00 pm; Saturday July 30, 12:00 pm; and Sunday July 31, 12:00–6:00 pm, in the second year running the Regatta Fair is a free three day festival. All about food, beer and wine, ‘The Lane’, the Regatta’s famous fairy-lit laneway, will be jam-packed full of mouth-watering food and drink stalls, DJs and live music all weekend.
The food, created by the Regatta’s award-winning culinary team, will include delicious winter warmers such as freshly made churros, wood-fired pizzas (including a Nutella flavoured one), And never one to miss out the fun, you’ll find live music, a fortune teller and flaming cocktails in the Walrus Club across the weekend
