Thursday, February 26, 2009

Paul Kelly & Lior


...are playing at the Blue Mountains Music Festival on the weekend of 14th-15th of March.

I've always loved the Blue Mountains. I used to travel up there on the train every few months, primarily in winter. It is imperative that you travel on the train - driving defeats the purpose and limits your ability to read quality literature. Not that I ever read any quality literature, but that isn't the point. Instead, a few classic feminist texts (yes, Germaine) and trashy chick-lit (think 
Bridget Jones or Devil Wears Prada quality) were the flavour of the day. If you are very very lucky, you will walk down the main street in Katoomba and it will start snowing. So, you wander past the Clarendon hotel (where, incidentally, my parents spent the
first few nights of their honeymoon) and into Mr Pickwicks. Mr Pickwicks is a huge second-hand bookstore where they encourage you to read their books. If you are feeling particularly adventurous head upstairs (I'll say nothing more). 

Once the snow has stopped, take the 20 minute walk through the fog to the Three Sisters. With any luck, they too will be covered in fog and you won't be able to see any
thing. Wander past Lilianfels Hotel. This is my very favourite hotel in the whole wide world. This is quite strange really, considering I have never been inside, let alone stayed there. I like to think that I'm saving up my stay there (and my money) for a very special occasion.
 
The most important thing about your trip to the mountains is who you go with. Ideally, go alone. Rad your book, people-watch on the train, sit and have coffee and soup. If you get bored, head to Katoomba library or Leura [but that is a topic for another blog].  Then, once the Mountains are special for you, you have my permission to take a friend or family member. Keep the list small, I have only done special BM trips with three people. I can only think of a few others I would take. 

Remember to leave though, absence makes the heart grow fonder.  I should know. 

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

With a name like Dion Lee...

you must be going places.

Dion Lee might have won Westfield Chermside Fashion Graduate of the Year - but I still like his stuff. Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be much of his online yet... [watch this space, well not this space, but one very much like it]

[Currently available at Fat in Melbourne, if not already SO]

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Devil (and Jessica Biel) wear Prada

Whilst I am not usually fan of Miss Biel, she carries this off nicely. Perhaps this [rare] display of good taste [read: good stylist] will influence her choice in film and television roles? Here's hoping to you Miss Jessica. Choose the Prada over "7th Heaven - where are they now?"... 

Yes (pretty) please...

[Anne Hathaway + Armani Prive = all class]


The all-singing all-dancing Australian

I love that Hugh Jackman still sounds Australian...

I love that Hugh Jackman is wearing custom Burberry...

I love that Hugh Jackman's son is called Oscar (cute much?)...


My dear friend Oscar

Oscar likes Sarah Jessica Parker in vintage Dior...











Sunday, February 22, 2009

Public announcement (a coat like this)

$20 and much gratitude to anyone who can find me a coat like this... 





















Or this... 

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Foods that define a city

I believe that a place isn't really "it" until it it has a cult food attached to it. The best example of my theory is (arguably) the best city there is - New York. NYC makes me think of bagels for breakfast, Magnolia bakery cupcakes or - tending towards the obvious - a (big) apple. 

Admittedly, not every association is as pleasant as a tub of chocolate-peanut butter flavoured whipped air from Tasti D Lite. New York is also home to slices of pastry topped with tortured (or torched?) cheese which is (misleadingly) referred to as pizza. Budding chefs can also garnish their culinary delights with a spray of orange cheese-in-a-can. And don't even get me started on signature cocktails... cosmopolitan anyone? 

Applying this theory to Australia is more interesting (and challenging). In Canberra for example, Milk & Honey has got confused and has started serving Sydney mud cake. Unfortunately this doesn't have the same ring to it as a slice of New York mud cake [although I suspect that fat content is similar - only one country beats the good 'ol US of A in terms of obesity levels. I give you three guesses].

Australia as a whole has several signature dishes - think lamingtons, pavlova (if we can steal Russell Crowe we can steal pavlova from the Kiwis) or the quintessential prawn on the barbie. But Sydney, Melbourne (or even Canberra?) won't have really made it until own a bit of grub for ourselves. Perhaps Max Brenner will be the first - having recently moved from Australia to New York? 

Monday, February 16, 2009

Alice Burdeu

The latest winner of Australia's Next Top Model is doing great things overseas...she is seen here at Dolce & Gabbana. 

[Unlike the winner of the first series who I've only ever seen doing Target catalogues. Target is no Alexander McQueen. Oh no wait --- actually it is --- at least if you live in the United States and can go to Target for your Alexander McQueen diffusion fix... See here...]

The thing I love most about Alice (aside from how striking she is) was how much she wanted to be a model - how interested in fashion, and photography and the entire process she was. Well-spoken, her only fault would be a slight lack of confidence... completely understandable at her age and given the comments made about her weight in the press.

...love alice

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Silo bakery @ Kingston

Kingston & Manuka, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.....

[The Paris end of Canberra according to Mr Paul Keating (wearer of Italian suits and inspiration of ironic musicals)] 

Canberra newbies (read: brand new graduates) will have heard of Silo bakery in Kingston... but they may not be aware of just how hard it is to actually get there. Geographically - its easy - Giles street Kingston. But don't turn up on Sunday --- its closed. Or monday --- its closed.  Or any afternoon after 4 --- its closed. And don't try booking on a saturday morning (they don't take them). And don't try ordering coffee (a friend advises that there is only one barista on duty... and that coffee can take up to 15 minutes). 

As such the game plan is..... 

1. Wake up early on a saturday morning (nursing hangover from OPH if you are a brand new grad from DFAT/Finance/Treasury etc)
2. Head down to Giles St Kingston
3. Pick up your Saturday scroll
4. Walk through Green Square to Kingston Grind, purchase coffee. Bonus points for soy milk or added coffee flavours. 
5. Walk home to your lovely (if but pretentious and poorly fitted out) Kingston apartment. 
6. Consume above.
7. Sigh and be glad you don't live Northside. Or in Tuggers. 

Option 2... head to Silo at 7 on tuesday morning.. but the question is --- can one eat a Saturday scroll on a Tuesday? And if yes... is it the same...? 

Had better ask Paul... 

New York fashion week


Kicked off on Valentines day in NYC... Jason Wu's show was a standout with lots of striking block colours . I particularly like this (and this)






Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Model Agyness "Aggy" Deyn

Have always wondered if this girl was teased at school... 






what parent calls their child agyness? Only in Britain....

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Farewell dear Kirby

Monday 2nd February 2009 .. the end of an era as Michael Kirby retires from the High Court







[Law students everywhere will miss his easy-to-read-judgments-with-headings...]