one for the diary ....


Saturday 11th August 2012 is National Bookshop Day 

Potts Point Bookshop is having a kids' super story time, celebrating some favourite Australian authors. Stories of wombats and a chicken who goes to Paris.  And of course there will be balloons....

Stories from 10.30 - 11.15 am.

For grown-ups, there will be give-aways and the chance to win books and gift vouchers.

Kings Cross Whisper

The latest addition to the Kings Cross bar scene is 'Whisper' situated right in the middle of the action on the strip and taking it's name from the infamous 'Kings Cross Whisper'  a notorious, satirical newspaper of the 60's that regularly shocked, and poked fun at, the establishment of the day.

Long time local Charles Butler-Bowden has created a place that could quickly become the go-to hangout for locals - serving world-class coffee during the day and offering an extensive cocktail list as soon as the sun passes the yardarm.

The interior design would be described as 'deconstructed' which, in this instance, says "look honey, I'm halfway through the renovations, but think I'll stop for a drink"..... It's a mix of rough hewn walls, Broadhurst-style wallpaper, kitsch memorabilia and comfy club leather chairs. It works!

Oh and did we mention the local historical book collection?

Whisper offers a laid-back vibe, the staff are friendly and knowledgable and patrons can either sit by the large open window and watch the passing street parade or hide themselves in the secluded lounge nook.

There's an entertaining collection of R-rated retro movie posters, original works by pop artist Denis Roper and memorabilia donated by local collectors.  It's saucy and sassy and truly capturing the essence of the Cross that's, sadly, relegated to memory nowadays.

Also on display are covers from the sixties naughty-newsrag Whisper...... my favourite story concerns a local little old lady who popped in one day, pointed to a racy picture and announced to Charles "that's me!" Oh, if these walls could talk!

One night that's proving to be extremely popular at Whisper is the monthly One Deck DJ Sessions, heaven for vinyl junkies and music lovers alike. Each month a guest selector chooses two albums that have heavily influenced them, changed their lives in some way or played a significant role in the soundtrack to their lives. It's an album they want to share with you and then tell you why they love it.

No fancy mixing involved, just popping the album on the turntable, lowering the needle and playing it through [how old-school!]. It's a listening party with a difference. Last month was the esteemed Steve Kilby [The Church].

In August - that's this Thursday - it's local author and columnist Mandy Sayer. [Mandy co-edited this fab book].

WHISPER is open sunrise to 10pm Sunday to Thursday 
with late 2am closing on Friday and Saturday nights....

WHISPER ARTICLE REGARDING NEW YEARS EVE FESTIVITIES IN KINGS CROSS......

"The Sydney City Council has decided to put man-eating piranha fish in the El Alamein fountain at Kings Cross. Revellers traditionally jump into the fountain every New Year's Eve. 'This should add to the fun of our next New Year's Eve'..."

(Kings Cross Whisper, No. 29)

El Alamein Fountain

night-time view via Owen Wilson Photography

This Saturday locals are in for a treat as the restoration of the  El Alamein Memorial Fountain will be celebrated at a special 'switching-on' ceremony, hosted by Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.

The internationally renowned fountain is one of the key landmarks of the Kings Cross and City of Sydney area.

 El Alamein by day

According to the Lord Mayor the return of the famous dandelion-shaped fountain, which commemorates the Battles of El Alamein in Egypt during World War II, would be warmly welcomed by many residents and visitors to the area.

"The El Alamein Memorial Fountain, built in 1961, is one of the city's most remarkable water features because of its striking circular spray, which has been the backdrop for, and subject of, countless photographs."

where : fitzroy gardens
when : saturday 28 july
time : 10.30am

Bird and Bear

If, like the rest of Sydney, you were sorely disappointed by last summer's offering of grey, cloudy and rainy days spare a thought for the guys from Bird and Bear Boathouse who opened a cafe in arguably the worst summer holiday weather in 20 years [or living memory if you can lay claim to being a 'millennial'].

Owners Dale Hunter and Adam Marshall knew they were on to a winner with this impossible-to-beat location by the water in Elizabeth Bay. They just didn't factor in the cruel Sydney summer....luckily for them, winter has turned on some dazzling days and I suggest at the first sign of a blue sky, you pack a cardi and head on down!

The cafe is a delightful mix of rustic and nautical themes.... rough hewn tables, aluminium chairs and a few vintage props, that reflect nicely it's function as an operating marina and a place to idle away a few hours in the middle of the day. It's also a place to hire kayaks, if a trip round yonder island takes your fancy.

The word here is laid-back which is exactly what we want on a saturday morning as we ease into the rest of the weekend, right gang?

The set-up is pretty basic and the menu covers off the essentials. Kids will love the coconut drinks presented in a real coconut shell.... there's also coffee and juice; and toasties; and the salads are pretty generous. Somedays, you may even be offered a treat from the free fruit platter!

Order at  the counter and grab a perch by the water - the cafe is on a deck that is surrounded on 3 sides by the glistening and always inviting Sydney Harbour.

There has been some online debate about the quality of the coffee or the servings of food, but to me it seemed like good honest fare, pretty reasonably priced.  And if you can sit by the water with a multi million dollar view and relax uninterrupted for the price of a bottle of mineral water.....who's complaining!?

It's pretty busy on the weekend - filled with locals and visitors alike......so always a good sign.

where: Elizabeth Bay Marina, 1 Ithaca Rd
when: every day
good for : couples, groups, singles, kids that can swim

Le Tour Lounge

If you've put the finishing touches on Le Fixie and are looking for somewhere to ride it over the next week or so, head on down to Le Tour Lounge, a new pop-up cafe on Oxford St that's dedicated to  Le Tour de France a bike race with a fanatical following and a special resonance for Aussie cyclists everywhere.

The custom-designed café, Le Tour Lounge, features a large viewing screen for fans to follow the famed yellow jersey, lounges and rugs as well as $2 coffees, baked goods and bikes for sale.

The boutique café has been set up by the Under New Management collective, which is leasing the shop at 118 Oxford Street for six months under the City of Sydney's Cultural and Creative Spaces program.

Under New Management director, Josh Capelin, said each month the interior of 118 Oxford Street would be transformed into a unique art, sport and retail experience.

"Under New Management is a space for ideas and will be pop-up in nature with a new idea, function and use each month, if not more frequently," Mr Capelin said.

"Le Tour Lounge will be open until 23 July, then we will close and reopen with an entirely new theme.


Le Tour Lounge will be open daily from 11am-7pm with race highlights broadcast at 12.30pm and 6.30pm. The café will also be open for all-night viewing on 12, 15, 18 and 21 July.