My Pick

Mezzaluna Cooking classes

$50.00 per guest ( beverages extra )
Whether you are an experienced home cook or just enjoy food, their fun and informative cooking lessons can help take your interest to the next level.

Their executive chef will show you how to cook a traditional Italian 3 Course Menu
After the lesson take a seat on our terrace and enjoy the food and beautiful view of our Sydney city skyline.

Call to make a booking:

Classes run Monday – Thursday from 6pm – 7.30pm

MEZZALUNA

123Victoria St

Potts Point Sydney NSW 2011

ph: 93571988

Fax: 93572615

e-info@mezzaluna.com.au

W- www.mezzaluna.com.au

Your Town

Fashion Palette is a worldwide fashion industry first event!
Leading national & international fashion gurus & the best emerging Australian designers join Fashion Palette for the first and most influential fashion industry event in the world. SYDNEY, 1ST-2ND MAY 2009 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

Australian-owned Fashion Palette, hosted by Ruby Rose (MTV), is the world’s first ever event to allow budding fashion designers and members of the public the chance to learn from some of the world’s leading fashion figures.

Over two days, many of the biggest names in the fashion arena including Peter Morrissey, Mimco, Insight, Alpha60, InStyle, Arturo Elena, Style Hunter, Insight, Daniel Herman will share their personal career journey, each presenting a 45-minute stimulating, interactive and visual talk in front of you - the Australian public as well as a runway show that will just blow your mind away! Click here to purchase your event ticket

My Find

PoleFit

PoleFit® is a fun, well structured pole dancing for fitness program that focuses on safe practice and draws on techniques used in classical ballet and yoga.

PoleFit® courses cater for the absolute beginner commencing with Level 1, progressing through to Level 7 for the more advanced student. All pole dancing courses run for 8 weeks involving one weekly lesson and every student is guaranteed their own pole ensuring a solid workout.

PoleFit® sculpts the body with long lean muscles, strengthens the core, tones the upper and lower body, increases flexibility and burns calories. In addition to the physical benefits, a pole dancing session helps release stress and gives your self confidence a boost. Don't spend hours in the gym; get fit the fun way with PoleFit®!

www.studioverve.com.au
Suite 4, 16-22 Cooper St
SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
PH: (612) 9281 9332 1

MOB: 0405 536 496

Bookings@studioverve.com.au

Be Seen

Valereie Tolousa invites you to celebrate fashion week.

Where: Kit & Kaboodle

When: 30th April 2009

RSVP: karim@kgbconsulting.net

My Find

Zeta Bar, Hilton Bar School

Bar schools at the Zeta Bar are held for groups between 10 – 50 people and are held Monday to Saturday in the hours just before the bar is open so that the guests have the venue to them selves during the class but then have somewhere to stay and continue drinking in afterwards should they choose.

The course is 2 hours with a short canapé break in between out on the terrace. The first hour is spent taking the class through a brief history of the cocktail and then going through some classic recipes and giving people the opportunity to come up behind the bar and make them themselves. Then after the short break the group is broken into small teams and a small cocktail competition is held and Belvedere prizes awarded.

The price is $95 per person and includes the course, canapés and cocktails on arrival as well as a continuous service of cocktails throughout, however they are more than happy to work with the specifications of your group.

The team at barsolutions can build a Master Class to suit your needs; we can relocate to a different venue to cater for a variety of different occasions. Arrange a a indulgent afternoon and become a mix -master, sure to always come in handy and you are guaranteed fun while you learn!

What: Belvedere Vodka Master Class. ($95pp)

When: Saturday 25th April from 3-5pm
Location: Zeta Bar, Hilton Sydney
(Level 4/488 George St, Sydney)
With Grant Collins, Mark Tarrant & Wally Pack

www.barsolutions.com.au
barsolutions: T. 1300 557 433
2/242 Palmer St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Art Scene

Smart Light Sydney Festival Walk

Sydney will light up with an array of dynamic light sculptures as part of the Light Walk, a free pedestrian route around the city’s harbour precinct every night from 26 May to 14 June 2009 (6pm till midnight).

The main component of Smart Light Sydney, the walk will be self-guided from Observatory Hill through The Rocks, around Circular Quay to Sydney Opera House.

It will feature interactive and performance-based art displays, culminating with legendary British artist Brian Eno’s lighting of the Sydney Opera House sails.

Eno’s innovative spectacle will be supported by lighting displays from talented local and international artists at the cutting edge of energy-smart design.

Get behind this unique exhibition to reduce light pollution during the festival by turning off unnecessary lighting to allow astronomy buffs at the Sydney Observatory to better observe the natural ‘lights’ in the night sky.

Download Smart Light Map here

Your Town

Italian Festival
If it's salami you seek, Ferraris or Asti Spumante you aspire to, you'll find it in Sydney this May.

Join the party as the heart of East Sydney is transformed into an Italian piazza for Primo Italiano's giant Italian wedding. Witness the proposal, follow the bride and grooms preparations, be a guest at the wedding of the year!

With Italian entertainment on three stages, roving performances and an Italian DJ, Primo Italiano will have you dancing in the street.

Throw a coin in the fountain, take a walking tour of this historic village, experience Primo Bambini - our new area for kids or simply relax and enjoy the "atmosfera Italiana".

Don't forget to bring your appetite - Primo's fresh produce market and traditional Italian food from local restaurants and specialty providores will take you back to Italy.

When: Primo Italiano - 24 May 2009 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

http://www.sydneyitalianfestival.com.au/?m=events&cid=6&sid=35

Contribute

Can Assist's Celebrity Longest Lunch

On Friday 1 May, Sydney's top restaurants will join with celebrities to participate in Can Assist's Longest Lunch and support people with cancer. Restaurants will donate 10 per cent of lunch takings to help people in country NSW battling cancer.

Please join the first of this annual event - all you need to do is turn up for lunch with your friends and know that you are making a difference to a worthwhile cause. Celebrities include Mikey Robins, Todd McKenney, Sonia Kruger, Bridie Carter, Mike Munro, Kamahl, Angry Anderson, Paula Duncan and the All Saints cast, just to name a few.

Can Assist provides $1.8 million each year in direct financial assistance, care and accommodation for patients and families in rural NSW living with cancer. With more than 40 branches, 1800 volunteers and three accommodation facilities (including Jean Colvin Hospital in Sydney), this charity helps more than 2,000 families each year.

The event will book up fast so visit www.longestlunch.com.au for participating restaurants and make your booking today to lunch with your favourite celebrity!

When: Friday 1st May

Your Town

Annual Kings Cross Food & Wine Festival

The Kings Cross Food and Wine Festival happens every year at the Fountain, Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross The Festival offers tastes and treats galore! It is the fantastic mix of social, economic and gender diversities that makes the area - simply called ‘The Cross’ - such a popular place in Sydney’s cultural life, this festival sees the gardens lined with over 30 vendor stalls and a stage to host around 20 performing acts.

Wineries from near and far will set up shop and invite guests to sip, sample and purchase their wares, while restaurants from the surrounding streets will showcase their cuisine. Look out for Libertine’s Vietnamese French-infused dishes, local pizza pies and coffee made to perfection. It wouldn’t be apt, however, for a Kings Cross event to sidestep the sordid, so look out for the drag queens, the raunchy dance shows and a whole lot more! The festival begins at 10am and runs until 5pm when Kings Cross is obliged to put on its little black dress for the evening. For more information, http://www.kingscrossonline.com.au/

When: Sun 3rd May 2008,
From 10am - 5pm

Be Seen

Celebrate the arrival of Monkey & the BrownMan

Love your fashion organic? Don't miss out on the launch party of t-shirt label Monkey & the BrownMan- Sydney's latest addition to environmentally friendly fashion. Monkey & the BrownMan create cool threads which are all made from sustainable manufacturing methods. There is no better way to celebrate the launch of a new label than with a huge party, which is just what Monkey & the BrownMan are doing.

When: Thursday 23rd April - 6pm

Where: de nom, 231 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst

launch party invite
http://www.monkeyandthebrownman.com.au/pages/rsvp.php

Escape

Brooklyn Arts Hotel, Melbourne

Brooklyn is a perfect place to stay if you are not looking for a standard hotel room in Melbourne. Filmmaker, designer and public artist, Maggie Fooke (the owner), has made Brooklyn a place to stay for people…artists, makers and lovers of the arts, of literature,painting, music, sculpture, philosophy, craft, film, animation and people who want to get amongst it!

The atmosphere is relaxed and personal. One guestroom even has a piano in it and there is a lovely garden to sit in and birds to listen to. Brooklyn is a big old house on the city edge of Fitzroy. Fitzroy's great mix of people makes this one of the most interesting parts of Melbourne to hang out in. You can walk through parks or take a tram a few minutes from the door, to city venues, stations and airport connections.

This is one of those quirky places you will be glad that you found and for just $125 per night it's a bargin!

48-50 George St Fitzroy Melbourne, Australia

Telephone +61 3 94199328email: info@brooklynartshotel.com

http://www.brooklynartshotel.com/

Chomp

Spice Temple

feel the heat at this new lunch hotspot. Neil Perry reignites his passion for Asian flavours with a great regional Chinese restaurant.

The menu has almost 50 dishes, clearly laid out and designed for sharing. Stir-fried lobster ($120) from the live seafood tanks is the only extravagance. Many mains fall under $30.

The room, strives to evoke Oriental mystique and exotic sensuality and lures you in from the busy lunch set.

The fun cocktail list is based on the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac and a menu of 12 fabulous teas does justice to China’s reputation. The wine list, capped at 100 bins, provides plenty of interesting drinking.

Exciting and enticing this is worth a peek for a hot lunch encounter.

10 Bligh St Sydney 2000 NSW
Phone: (02) 8078 1888
Show street map
Website: www.spicetemple.com.au
Chef: Neil Perry and Andy Evans

Your Town

German Bier Week - Bavarian Bier Café

Every year on April 23, Germans celebrate the creation of the Bier Purity Law. Created in 1516, the law states that German Bier may only contain four ingredients: malt, hops, yeast and water. This year, Sydney¹s great German Bier venues have created German Bier Week from April 16-23. So, why not celebrate and sample some of the delicious Pure Biers for which Germany has become famous.

Where:
Manly Wharf, York, O'Connell, EQ Moore Park, Parramatta also Lowenbrau Keller, The Rocks
http://www.bavarianbiercafe.com.au/What-s-On.aspx

Your Town

Cinem-Attic: Weekly Movies in the Attic Bar

Lights, Camera, Action The ArtHouse Hotel Proudly presents Cinem-Attic $25 meal with a free movie ticket. Cinem-Attic is a collection of cult, classic and short films.

You’ll begin the night dining in the Dome Restaurant from 6-7pm you will then venture upstairs to our funky Attic barwhere the movie will commence.

MENU: Handmade corzetti pasta with grilled prawns, chilli and asparagus.The movies will keep your eyes engaged while the brilliant handiwork of Sydney icon Franca Manfredi, the “mother” of Italian cuisine and the creator of the finest hand-made pasta in Sydney will fulfil all your other senses.

Reservations are essential

Ticket purchase options1. Purchase online (see below)2. Come in and purchase your tickets at any of our bars3. Contact Katherine e: info@thearthousehotel.com.au or t: 02 9284 1211

http://www.thearthousehotel.com.au/index.asp?id=354

See below for movie listing

22nd April – Sex in the City ( $15 Cosmo & Movie ticket also available)
29th April – Jaws
13th May – Dirty Dancing
27th May – The Dark Night

Indulge

Body Inc Bathhouse and Spa

Escape for an hour or a day in the heart of Potts Point.
Sydney's Korean Bathhouse has had a slick makeover and now includes 7 spas, 'Couples Rooms', yoga/pilates room, hair studio and an extensive menu of traditional treatments. Take a dip in the famous baths or indulge in tandem massage - you will be hooked!

Whether for an hour or a day,
the experience will last a lifetime!

Address Level 1, 224 Victoria Street, Potts Point
Website www.bodyinc.com.au
Phone T: 9356 3477
Hours 7 days 8am til late
Email bathhouse@bodyinc.com.au

Download the Potts Point map

My find

Ici et La

I recently stumbled across the tiny unique furniture store with fabrics and accessories from France. Vibrant striped canvas deckchairs, 19th-century garden furniture and a multitude of upholstery fabrics - old and new - highlight this enchanting store with a distinct French flavour. Check out the industrial pieces and quirky objets d'art.

Address 7 Nickson Street & 588 Bourke St, Surry Hills
Websitehttp://www.icietla.com.au/
Phone 02 8399 1173/ 02 9699 4266
Hours Tu to Sa 10-5

Download the Surry Hills map

Camping @ Cockatoo Island, Sydney

Cockatoo Island camping is a world first:

• a waterfront campsite in the midst of a city


• a campsite on a national heritage-listed island


• a campsite in the middle of the world's most beautiful harbour


• a campsite ten minutes by ferry from the centre of Sydney
  
• http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/index.html

Enjoy a barbecue as the sun sets over the Parramatta River. Sleep under the shadows of dormant cranes and chimneys. Watch the sunrise over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A camping experience like no other.

- you may reserve up to four sites per booking (maximum site capacity - 4 persons per site)- sites are allocated on arrival

- you may book up to six months in advance

- packages include 1 tent, 2 sleeping mats, 2 chairs and 1 lantern and can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 small children OR 3 small adults.

- additional sleeping mats may be hired on arrival (subject to availability).

- bring your own sleeping bag/pillow

If you wish to make a booking which does not meet these conditions or obtain a refund, please contact the campsite reception directly by phoning 02 8898 9774 or email camp@cockatooisland.gov.au.To view Cockatoo Island Camping’s booking terms and conditions, please click here.

Campground
Prices to 31 August 2009
Site hire $45 per night
Camping Package: Includes site hire, tent (Oztent RV3), 2 x mattresses, 2 x camping chairs, 1x lantern. Extra sleeping mats may be hired for a fee (subject to availability). (All prices include GST) $75 per night

Historic Houses Getaway

If camping is not your cup of tea, we also have two beautiful Federation cottages available for holiday lets. Make Cockatoo Island your home for a relaxing weekend break. http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/camping/houses.html

Getting to Cockatoo
Catch a public ferry to Cockatoo Island from Circular Quay. Or, if preferred, you can hire your own water taxi to the island. Check ferry and boat information

underground communal dining, Sydney

Table for 20
182 Campbell St
Surry Hills 2010 NSW
Phone: 0416 096 916

http://www.tablefor20.blogspot.com/

Diners text Fantuz (0416096916) to book their place at the communal table - kind of like an RSVP to a universal invite - arriving with bottle in hand by around 7.30pm. The tone is that of a private dinner party (albeit a very large one, including strangers as well as friends) and the homely space and the serving of the food on large platters help to facilitate this mood.

Unlike most dinners at a mate's place, there's naturally a cost involved; however, a portion of this goes to the Hope Street charity - adding a virtuous feel-good vibe to proceedings. In a city adept at sitting at communal tables without making eye contact, Table for 20 aims to bring a bit of sociability to an arguably antisocial neighbourhood.

Sticky Bar home roast starting Wed 4th March

Go up and see the bar between 6.30m and 9pm on Wednesdays for a home roast feed and a glass of wine from the Sticky brew barrel for $15.

The Danks Street Depot 'Early Dinner Club'

Every Friday and Saturday evening at 6.00pm, Danks Street Depot will open its doors and set the communal table with shared platters and step back for you to help yourself and enjoy. In true Danks Street Depot style the menu will be created on the day in response to the best seasonal produce. Platters of shared food will be placed on the table, including starters, mains and dessert.

Bookings: on 9698 2201

Email: enquiry@danksstreetdepot.com.au
Time: 6.00pm (sharp)

Cost: Pay only $35

for a platter style feast with a glass of wine to match

join the Kirribilli House garden party for a good cause

This is the first time the Prime Minister has donated his residence for a Garden Party charity event. This is an exclusive event with only 200 places available and it’s a once in a life time experience to visit the residence of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has donated his residence Kirribilli House to the Bonnie Babes Foundation to conduct a Garden Party on Sunday 22nd March 2009. The Kirribilli House function is a way the Bonnie Babes Foundation can raise vitally needed funds and awareness to support our important community services. The Bonnie Babes Foundation helps save babies lives through our vital medical research and medical equipment for prematurely born babies in intensive care units in hospitals. The Bonnie Babes Foundation also supports families after the loss of a baby with 24 hour, 7 days per week free grief counselling.

Time: 4.00 - 7.00pm
Dress: Lounge Suit/Cocktail
Price: $450
Phone: (03) 9803 1800
Email: enquiry@bonniebabes.org.au
Venue: Kirribilli House, Kirribilli Ave, Kirribilli (Sydways Ref 46 M9)

give back to your community

OzHarvest is a non-denominational charity operating food rescue programs in Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra. They:

collect excess fresh food that would otherwise be thrown away by corporate offices, delis,restaurants, caterers, function centres etc; and

provide the food to charities which support the disadvantaged and at risk communities in Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra.

With the support of volunteers charities re able to operate more effectively within the communities they support. OzHarvest volunteers assist our drivers, source food donors, provide admin support, help out at special events, produce care packages and help out at the charities we support. One thing can be assured; food will be at the heart of it.

If you would like to learn more about OzHarvest and get involved:
Call on 02 9516 3877
Send an email on info@ozharvest.org
Write to PO BOX 255, Alexandria, NSW 2015
Contact OzHarvest Canberra on 02 6288 0709
email Canberra on Ozharvestcanberra@commsatwork.org
Write to Canberra at PO BOX 1066, Tuggeranong, ACT, 2901
Visit their website at http://www.ozharvestcanberra.org/

see, smell, touch, taste, explore . . . .

This is your passport to Australian wine’s finest destinations

Looking for a unique wine experience in Sydney? Want to try the best Australian wine – including Penfold’s Grange? At our Heritage-listed wine bar in Sydney’s The Rocks, Wine Odyssey Australia offers an experience that goes beyond traditional wine tasting or wine appreciation. We take you on a sensuous wine adventure.

The Aroma Room and Tasting Theatre offers Australia’s premier wine appreciation experience. You’ll expand your wine vocabulary and taste six world-class Australian wines - including the World’s Greatest Shiraz - as you are guided on screen by the winemakers who made them.

Price: $39.95 per ticket (must be 18 years and older) Times: Shows run every hour on the hour starting at 12 noon. Bookings: Places are limited and purchasing your ticket as soon as possible is recommended. Pre-buy your tickets online from the link below or Freecall 1300 136 498 for phone or group tickets.

Wine Odyssey’s Wine Journey Room is the ultimate Australian Wine discovery experience. In an elegant bar in Sydney’s The Rocks, you can taste 44 of Australia’s very best wines – including Penfold’s legendary Grange.Try a taste (25ml), a half glass (75ml) or a full glass (150ml). But it gets better.

How the Wine Journey Room works

When you arrive, you’ll receive a Wine Odyssey Australia Card. You can pre-pay and use it as a debit card, or run a tab and pay for your wine when you leave. This is your passport to Australian wine’s finest destinations.

LOCATION

39-43 Argyle Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000(Corner of Argyle & Harrington Sts)Freecall 1300 136 498

HOURS

Wine Bar: Sunday to Wednesday - 12 noon to 10pmThursday to Saturday - 12 noon to 12pmWine Store: 12 noon to 9pm 7 days

spectacular dining adventures in NZ

BRACU Restaurant, Simunovich Olive Estate, Bombay, NZ

Set amongst 30,000 olive trees on the Simunovich Olive Estate in Bombay Auckland, sits Bracu Restaurant, a destination maintaining the highest standards for hospitality and culinary excellence. Bracu aims to indulge its guests with flexible dining options to suit every taste. For those who desire only the finest things in life, we know you will enjoy the privacy and prestige of Bracu's Rare Wine Library, the restaurant’s working wine cellar.

In the Kitchen is a unique opportunity to place yourself and your companions right where Peter Thornley, Bracu's chef de cuisine, and his team, work their magic. You will dine at a special table where you can see, smell, taste and experience everything that happens in the Bracu kitchen. In the warmer months you may preferthe simplicity of a Bracu picnic basket supplied by the kitchen, and enjoyed in our olive grove.

Heletranz adventure includes:

A scenic adventure flight from Albany, over the North Shore and City, Eastern shore line, Musick Point, Whitford Valley with its fabulous life-style blocks, Clevedon, Hunua Ranges to land at the beautiful Simunovich Olive Estate. (Mechanics Bay departure/return optional - add landing fee $105 per helicopter/landing)

A glass of Champagne on arrival.

A superb brunch (Sat/Sun), 3-course lunch or dinner prepared by executive chef Peter Thornley and his team.

Return by limousine (3 limo style choices) or by helicopter to Albany or City heliport

www.heletranz.co.nz/dine_bracu.htm

49 Main Road Bombay, Franklin

Phone: +64 9 236 1030

Email: reservations@bracu.co.nz

Web: www.bracu.co.nz

Wharekauhau Lodge and Country Estate, Wairarapa, NZ

Jump aboard one of Helipro’s comfortable helicopters and enjoy spectacular views of Palliser Bay before your pilot sets you down outside one of New Zealand’s most exclusive lodges.

Wharekauhau heralds a new era of elegance and graciousness without losing the warmth, conviviality and intimacy of country hospitality. Situated on over 5,500 acres of working sheep station, it has been described as one of the most spectacular farms on earth.

Reawaken your taste buds…
Relax and revel in the splendour of the surroundings while our chefs thrill you with a gourmet three course lunch, or four course dinner—the most taxing thing you will have to do is select something from our award winning wine list.

For the ultimate in experiences, why not fly from the city into Palliser Bay and admire the surroundings from the air. Land on Wharekauhau’s front lawn only metres away from the main lodge.

Wharekauhau are able to arrange a flight from anywhere in Australasia to Wellington via private Jet. We have access to a range of aircraft, so why not take the hassle out of airports and travel and allow us to source the ultimate in travelling, and sightseeing.

Wharekauhau is home to a private airstrip capable of landing light aircraft. You will get the chance to fly up over Wellington and around the rugged coastline before touching-down on our private airstrip located atop the cliffs overlooking Palliser Bay.

Find out more about transfer by Light Aircraft.-->

Wharekauhau Lodge and Country Estate

Western Lake Road, Palliser Bay, RD3 Featherston,

Wairarapa, New Zealand

Telephone: +64 6 307 7581

Email: reservations@wharekauhau.co.nz

Highlife Delux Pool Party, Auckland, NZ

To finish off the hot season of events in style, Highlife Entertainment has secured the new Backyard venue to throw an all out, no limits summertime pool party! Situated just off the Northern Motorway, The Backyard is a recently reconstructed and renovated multi-room venue connected to the legendary Poenamo hotel. Indoor spaces, a large courtyard, outdoor swimming pool and grass area.

Highlife Entertainment has booked out the entire hotel, so people are able to hire one of the 20 plus rooms that overlook the party. A wide variety of genres, five party areas, private booths, poolside rooms, VIP lounge. Don’t forget to bring your togs and towel. There are changing rooms on site and a coat check. No drinking in the pools. Lifeguards on duty.

When:
Saturday 28 March, 1.00pm – 3.00am

Where: The Backyard, Auckland North — Show map
Restrictions: R20
Ticket Information:
First issue: $25.00
iTicket – 09 361 1000

http://www.highlifeentertainment.co.nz/

An escape to luxury...

La Prairie Getaway

Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd March, 2009

Friday 16th - Sunday 18th October, 2009

There is nothing more indulgent, invigorating or relaxing than a weekend at Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, spectacularly nestled on a cliff top overlooking the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park.

Embracing these three elements, the La Prairie Getaways will not only rejuvenate but will also leave you feeling luxuriously pampered and utterly spoiled.

Day One Indulge
After you have settled into the resort, you are invited to join the La Prairie and Lilianfels team for a welcome Duval-Leroy Champagne reception in the picturesque Rose Garden before indulging in a seven-course degustation dinner in Darley's, a two Chef's Hat restaurant, cooked by award-winning chef, Hugh Whitehouse. Each course will be expertly matched by the resident Sommelier.

Day Two Invigorate
After breakfast, kick start the day with an invigorating walk to absorb the sights and sounds of the surrounding forest or perhaps a pampering spa treatment is more your idea of invigoration.
Choose one of the two La Prairie workshops that will run throughout the day to learn insider secrets and the best in skincare and beauty advice from the La Prairie experts. This is a unique opportunity to have the perfect skincare program designed just for you. The evening will be at leisure however, you will be invited to join the La Prairie and Lilianfels team for a sunset Duval-Leroy Champagne reception in the enchanting Pine Forest.

Day Three Relax
Guests will enjoy a late check out time of 3pm allowing for a full day of total relaxation. While away the morning with the weekend papers in The Lounge, take a refreshing dip in the indoor pool or outdoor infinity pool, or indulge with a final La Prairie treatment before you leave.

La Prairie Getaway includes:
. Two nights accommodation in a Deluxe Room with breakfast daily
. A Duval-Leroy Champagne reception each evening
. Seven-course degustation dinner in Darley's on the first evening with matching wines
. One pre-booked 90-minute Caviar treatment at The Spa
. One La Prairie Workshop

Costs $1,247 AUS per person or $937 AUS twin share

For more information or to book, please phone Lilianfels' reservations on 02 8248 5230 or email reservations@lilianfels.com.au

A Sunday Aphrodisiac

Oyster Festival - Manta Restaurant

Taste freshly shucked oysters harvestedby renowned oyster farmer Tim Dumbrell ofMoreton Bay Oysters. Enjoy seafood dishes created by head chef Daniel Hughes.

Sunday 22 March - 1pm until sunset.

A great way to while away a Sunday afternoon on the wharf deck.

For more information, call 9332 3822 or

email reservations@mantarestaurant.com.au

Woolloomooloo Wharf

6 Cowper Wharf Road Woolloomooloo
www.mantarestaurant.com.au

Steal a deal & shop till you drop

Fashion Weekend Sydney is the ultimate fashion event. It's the highlight of the fashion calendar giving fashion lovers the chance to shop for great designer clothes and accessories from over 80 of Australia’s leading fashion designers offering fabulous discounts of up to 70% off their current and last season collections. Reinvent your look for less at Fashion Weekend Sydney, the only fashion event to give you access to such a large number of designers selling their current and last seasons collections at a fraction of their retail price.

Highlights are:

The Fashion Weekend Catwalk presents an exclusive and unique view of this seasons hottest collections.

The Shop Til You Drop Designer Sale at Fashion Weekend features a wide range of your favourite designers.

Take time out to compare your fashion bargains with friends at the Bar whilst sipping on a delicious Cham-Cham cocktail.

No look is complete without perfect nails. An manicure at the Essie Nail Bar, will ensure tip-top nails in the latest colours.

Have your shot taken at the Shop Til You Drop photo booth and take the cover home with you.

Fashion Weekend Sydney,

14 – 17 May 2009

Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park.

Thursday 14 May
5pm – 9.30pm

Friday 15 May
2pm – 9.30pm

Saturday 16 May
10am – 6pm

Sunday 17 May

10am – 5pm

Tickets go on sale for Fashion Weekend Sydney in March 2009. To receive an email newsletter about when tickets go on sale and for special pre-sale offers, join the Fashion Weekender e-newsletter.
http://sydney.fashionweekend.com.au/rhoi/index.html

Yob to snob

Wine courses
The mission of The Wine Society’s Education Program is to provide the answers to all the questions about wine worth asking. Accessible to the layperson and valuable to the connoisseur; our courses are designed to satisfy the curiosity and educate the minds of the most critical thinkers and leave even the most mildly interested, positively enthused.
Wine education gift certificates and 2008/2009 Timetables for all our education courses are available – simply contact Gus Lander on 1300 729 657 for any wine education query, no matter how large or small!

Classes available:

Introduction to Wine - Level 1

Introduction to Wine - Level 2

Both education courses cost $200

& a Masterclasses

Wine Society events
Correct wine appreciation requires the company of friends. This philosophy existed at the birth of The Wine Society and is stronger today than ever. Our events are aimed at bringing people together in an atmosphere where enjoyment is the ultimate goal and gaining wine knowledge is all a part of the game.

These include:

Social tastings

Wine Society dinners

Friday lunches

Winemaker hosted dinners

Riedel masterclasses

Join The Wine Society

there's heaps of brilliant benefits, there's a fab joining gift and it'll only take 2 minutes. Lifetime membership for only $50.

https://www.winesociety.com.au/jointws/form/join

Heels and Wheels, baby.

This is an exclusive Fraser Motorcycles women’s only event for women who have the attitude and confidence to take the reigns of a two-wheeled machine and show it who’s boss. Fraser Motorcycles welcomes all women of all ages and all levels, whether you’re just thinking about getting your motorcycle licence or should be riding alongside Casey Stoner in the MotoGP. Their doors are open to you and your friends for their Heels and Wheels events.

When:

Sydney
Wednesday 4th March

Perth
Tuesday 10th March

Melbourne
Thursday 12th March

Wollongong
Wednesday 18th March

Newcastle
Thursday 19th March

Register here: http://www.frasermotorcycles.com.au/heelsandwheels/index.php

Dames. Drinking. Drawing & Debauchery!

Dr Sketchy’s takes place every 2nd Tuesday at The ArtHouse Hotel, at 275 Pitt Street Sydney and turns a mere drawing class into a cabaret extravaganza. Artists are treated to burlesque dancers, carnies, and fetish models posing in elaborate costumes. Artists compete for prizes, along with great tunes, sweet treats, a shimmy here and there between poses and a tell all photo and sketch blog updated after each session.

Started in Brooklyn by artist and burlesque girl Molly Crabapple,Dr Sketchy’s now has over 30 branches around the globe, including Hollywood, London, Berlin, Edinburgh, Toronto, Auckland and Melbourne. It’s also spawned a companion book, Dr Sketchy’s Official Rainy Day Colouring Book, Crabapple and John Leavitt, published by Sepulculture Books.

Dr Sketchy's Sydney
Tuesday fortnightly

The ArtHouse Hotel

275 Pitt Street, Sydney

6:30pm - 9:30pm

http://www.drsketchy.com.au/

Auckland, NZ class:

http://www.drsketchy.co.nz/

Burlesque Ball - join the best dressed

Lavish costume design, elaborate props and music - The Burlesque Ball is everything you want Burlesque to be. This event only showcases the high end performers.

Since it’s humble beginnings , the event has now grown into a huge Burlesque spectacular, always showcasing Australia’s leading acts and we are now internationally renown as the biggest and most sophisticated event on the Australian Burlesque calendar.

All Artists will be debuting brand new shows, and of course, the Guests are encouraged to dress to impress in black, red or burlesque, with a spectacular prize for the Best Dressed Award.

Need an outfit? Don't look past:

Dirty Pretty Things

Sydney’s newest little shopping secret for those looking for that certain je-ne-sais-quoi. Nestled at the quaint Five-Ways intersection in Sydney’s designer shopping district of Paddington.

Phone: +61 2 9331 2066

Fax: +61 2 9331 2166

Address: 225 Glenmore Road, Paddington, NSW, 2021

Click here for directions

Wheels & Doll Baby has been described as everything from Posh Punk and Parisian Scruff, to old world movie star glamour. Although the label constantly evolves, there is always a strong sultry feel and its perfect for the urban minx.

Wheels & Dollbaby

259 Crown Street Darlinghurst 2010 Sydney Australia

tel: +612 9361 3286

fax: +612 9331 1825

email: mailto:info@wheelsanddollbaby.com?subject=%20WHEELS%20&%20DOLLBABY%20Wholesale%20enquiry

The Burlesque Ball
Sydney - Saturday 14 March, 8pm
The Gaelic Club, 64 Devonshire St Surry Hills
$59 - $79, group tickets available

Also touring Brisbane and

March into Merivale’s launch parties next week

March into Merivale Launch Party
3rd March. 6pm - 9pm, FREE no R.S.V.P needed
We’re kicking off our first-ever March Into Merivale food festival with a gourmet extravaganza; Establishment will be transformed into a culinary exhibition for food lovers. Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival before sampling taste sensations from each of Merivale’s participating restaurants. All of our talented head chefs (including est.’s Peter Doyle, widely regarded as the "father" of Mod Australian cuisine) will be exposing their talents in the one room.
Establishment 252 George Street, Sydney 2000

Live Jazz Under the Skyy - Launch Party
When: 6 - 8pm Wednesday 4th March

Where: ivy bar

FREE no R.S.V.P needed

Highlights in March

Death by Chocolate
23rd March. From 7pm, $60pp with matched wine and cognac
Calling all chocoholics! Our progressive dessert degustation event will take you on a journey through four Merivale destinations. You will indulge in four decadent desserts with matching dessert wines and cognac. This one’s definitely not for the faint hearted.
Start from Bistro CBD, Level 1, 52 King St, Sydney

Ash Street Cellar Wine, Tapas and Film Nights
Screenings commence at 8.30pm, $40 includes a film, tapas and a glass of wine or beer
Our in-house cinephiles have selected their favourite food-themed art-house flicks for a month of Monday night movies at Ash Street Cellar. Chef Lauren Murdoch has also joined in the fun, creating a range of tapas dishes to reflect each film’s theme. Pull up a director’s chair in the laneway, mix and match tapas dishes with your favourite wines, and enjoy an outdoor urban cinema experience like no other.

Mad Cow BYO Cellar Dinners
4th, 11th, 18th, 25th March. From 6pm, $80pp (3 courses)
Have a special bottle stashed away in the home cellar? Bring it along to one of Mad Cow’s first-ever BYO cellar dinners, where you can savour your own wine along with a delicious three course tasting menu by head chef Christopher Whitehead including his signature dishes.
Mad Cow ivy, Level 1, 330 George Street, Sydney 2000

Turning Japanese Nights at sushi e
10th, 17th, 24th March. 6.30pm, $80pp including a cocktail and wine
Plunge into the orient at one of our special Japanese-themed experiences. Start the night with a cocktail at Hemmesphere before moving on to sushi e for a dinner with a difference. As well as feasting on exquisite Japanese cuisine, diners can enjoy a traditional geisha show.
sushi e Establishment, Level 4, 252 George Street, Sydney 2000

Sushi Choo Sushi Making Classes
2nd, 4th, 9th, 11th, 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th, 30th March. 6.30pm, $40pp
Last year’s sushi making classes at Sushi Choo sold out in a flash, so be sure to get in quick for these ones. Our second generation sushi chef, Shimpei Hatanaka, will share the secrets of making perfect sushi in this hands on class that allows participants to eat what they make.
Sushi Choo ivy, Ground floor, 320 George Street, Sydney 2000

If you haven't picked up a brochure visit www.marchintomerivale.com to take a look at the events calendar.

anchors away . . . .

Queen Mary 2 Harbour Cruises 26th February 2009 , Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell

Get up close and personal from the deck of one of Sydney Princess Cruises fantastic vessels as the majestic liner is due to arrive in Sydney at approximately 7:00am. Sydney sees Queen Mary 2 halfway through her world voyage. It will again set the record as the biggest passenger ship ever to visit Australia.
This spectacle will definitely be one not to be missed. The awesome size and grandeur of the ship is one that will last in the memories of people forever. Get your friends and family together now for this great experience. Different sightseeing cruises to choose from.

Whitsunday Rent A Yacht

Rent A Yacht can arrange all your bareboat charter holiday requirements, including skippered yacht charters, accommodation and bareboat charter holiday packages. You decide when you want to take your boating holiday, and leave the rest of the bareboat charter to them. They can also stock your bareboat sailing yacht or motor yacht with food and beverages to save you time on your sailing holiday of a lifetime!.
http://www.rentayacht.com.au/

Croatia Rent A Yacht

Croatia is bordered by Italy on the West/across the Adriatic Sea - Slovenia & Hungary on the North - Serbia/Yugoslavia on the East - Bosnia/Herzegovina on the South.Most of the west coast is on the Adriatic Sea which is one of Europe's main beach/sea tourist destinations. Croatia has three geographically distinct landscapes - Mountains mostly in the North and inland from the Adriatic Sea - Coastal in the West - Plains in the eastern third of Croatia.The tourist industry is very diverse offering sailing, diving, beach activities on the seaside -climbing /hiking /health resorts in the mountains.The Croatian coastline is perfect for sailing holidays. With so many islands and small ports, you can stop as many times as you like or sail for as long as you wish.
http://www.croatiayachtcharter.com/

Own the experience and choose something unique!

35m Ivana Porfiri designed Guilty
Guilty, a new 35 metre superyacht built in Italy at Cantieri Navali Rizzardi, is one of the most striking superyachts recently launched. This tri-deck superyacht is unique in many ways. It features an art work paintjob, stunning interior design, and a highly unusual layout.
If the interior is like an art gallery, the exterior camouflage design, by Jeff Koons, completes the work, creating a pure travelling work of art.
http://yachts.monacoeye.com/pages/guilty_001.html


Wallypower 118 superyacht

The oddly named 118 WallyPower is a luxury high performance superyacht which brings technology and fashionable design together in perfect harmony. So much so that the 118 WallyPower won the

MYDA (Millennium Yacht Design Award). The Wallypower 118 is a unique yacht with marked characteristics like the vertical bow, lateral air inlets, and angular deck superstructure. The sleek minimalist lines of the 118 WallyPower are the result of an extensive research and development program that included water tank testing at the SSPA facility in Goteborg, Sweden, and wind tunnel testing at the Ferrari facility in Maranello, Italy.
http://www.wally.com/jumpch.asp?idChannel=44&idUser=0&attivo=2

chef experiences, up close and personal

Star Quality Chef John Oyagawa for the Pacific Rim
John Oyagawa is a Specialist Caterer and Personal Chef to the stars.
His love of food stemmed from growing up in Fiji. "With its tropical flavours and the influence of the Indians, Chinese, Europeans and Pacific people, it set a brilliantly diverse range of dishes."
Today he operates in Auckland New Zealand, while offering catering services in the Pacific Rim. His talent and love for food have seen his career skyrocket - even jetting him off to exclusive islands in the Pacific to expand his services to the Hollywood elite.
http://johnoyagawa.com/home.php

Chef’s Table with Luke Mangan, Chef @ Glass Brassiere, Hilton, Sydney
Restaurateur Luke Mangan likewise opted for simplicity and elegance. Making the most of Sydney’s abundant resources, his emphasis is on fresh, local and seasonal produce prepared using classical French techniques. Luke Mangan is no stranger to Sydney gourmands having opened three of Sydney’s most loved and awarded restaurants: Salt, Bistro Lulu and Bondi’s Moorish. He has also worked alongside Chef Michel Roux at the world famous three Michelin star restaurant Waterside Inn, London.

Share the kitchen with one of Australia's most celebrated chefs with a seat at Luke Mangan's Chef's Table. Situated in a corner of the kitchen of Glass Brasserie within spitting distance of action, you are treated to the unique experience of watching as chefs prepare a special degustation menu, designed by Mangan himself (or your choice from the a la carte menu) right before your eyes. Accommodating groups of four to eight people, the table itself is laden with Georg Jensen designed cutlery, bowls and wine decanters as befits such an opulent experience. Your own personal waiter will attend to your table for the evening and if you're lucky the man himself might stop by for a chat about the food he has created for you.
http://www.glassbrasserie.com.au/about.htm

Luke is also available for catering private and corporate.
http://www.lukemangan.com/

Learn from the best @ Sydney Seafood School
The School is now widely regarded as one of the country's leading cooking schools, with over 12,500 guests a year attending classes.
Leading Australian chefs teach classes, including Christine Manfield, Cheong Liew, Damien Pignolet, Matthew Moran and Guillaume Brahimi.

Sydney Seafood School classes include:
Demonstration by a leading chef or seafood educator
Hands-on cookery
Seafood meal
Complimentary wine tasting
Recipe kit
Parking at Sydney Fish Market

http://www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/SeafoodSchool/AboutSSS/tabid/82/Default.aspx

hidden getaways

Pretty Beach House

bouddi peninsula, nsw australia

bookings: stay@prettybeachhouse.com

http://www.prettybeachhouse.com

An exclusive private beach house resort just outside of Sydney that is a food-lovers haven.

Three private homely beach villa pavilions are situated amongst a picturesque, peaceful landscape full of hundreds of old gum trees. The interiors are luxurious but are raw with natural materials and has a sense of a real home away from home - well the one you always dreamed of!

Each villa also has its own private swimming pool, a Bose Soundock with iPod and wireless internet so the focus is a relaxation which is found by sliding from day bed to pool and the attentive staff who materialise just when you need them.

Renowned Sydney chef Steve Manfredi is largely responsible for the best part of the trip, Manfredi often serves guests himself. This unique getaway may all be worth it just for this, where else can indulge in one of Sydney's top chefs cooking just for you and a tiny handful of other guests?!

Otahuna Lodge
Rhodes Rd. Tai Tapu

Christchurch, New Zealand
www.otahuna.co.nz

64-3-329-6333

Set on 30 acres amid soft, sheep-speckled hills that look like the backdrop for a Masterpiece Theatre production of a Jane Austen heartbreaker, Otahuna Lodge is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture in Australasia. The interiors celebrate the Arts and Crafts movement: embossed green-and-gold William Morris wallpaper in the grand dining room; cast-iron fireplace inserts, enclosed by glazed tiles patterned with sunflowers, in the guest rooms. The lodge’s romantic, loosely stitched patchwork of arbors, drives, ponds, bridges, lawns, and woodlands so beloved by the colonialists was designed by a man who trained at Kew Gardens in London.

Kims Beach Hideaway
Charlton Street

Toowoon Bay 2261 NSW

(On the beach)

http://www.kims.com.au/

Less than two hours from Sydney, Kim's Beach Hideaway is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.
Kim's was established 118 years ago and is dedicated to providing luxury holidays with secluded bungalows and complete privacy in a picture perfect setting. The hideaway is nestled in a horseshoe bay between a sub-tropical forest and a Norfolk Island pine forest. It is surrounded by an abundance of native wildlife for guests to enjoy while taking a peaceful stroll.
The main aspect of Kim's Beach is that it's a kid-free zone, making it a paradise for doing nothing. The list of nothing you can do is endless: read a book, walk on the beach, have a massage or really do just nothing!

The Pink Flamingo Resort

115 Davidson Street

Port Douglas QLD 4877

Australia

http://www.pinkflamingo.com.au

The Pink Flamingo Resort, located in Port Douglas, offers stylish resort accommodation for intimate getaways, 18+ years only.
The resort boasts just 10 One Bedroom Villas and two Garden Studios all fabulously appointed. Each villa has its own private courtyard fringed by lush tropical gardens and an outdoor bath!

Tower Lodge

Halls Road,

Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW.

http://www.towerlodge.com.au/

Set among the vineyards of the Hunter Valley wine region of Australia, in a climate of rare tranquillity, Tower Lodge has been designed as the ultimate retreat for discerning guests. Tower Lodge is the latest addition to the Tower Estate which includes two restaurants and the Tower Winery monitored by the watchful eye of Australia's pre-eminent ambassador of wine, and Tower Chairman, Len Evans AO OBE.

Tower Lodge is beautifully furnished, as you would expect an exclusive house or chateau. A paua shell encrusted mirror of significant dimensions crowns the enormous, baronial fireplace in the lounge room, typifying the nicely eccentric excess that prevails throughout the Lodge.

Pacific Resort Aitutaki

Amuri, Aitutaki

http://www.pacificresort.com

Pacific Resort Aitutaki offers boutique style accommodation and facilities, with Polynesian architecture, fine food and wine, and luxury accommodation. One of two luxury resorts, this property is located on the western side of Aitutaki with wonderful sunset displays each evening direct from the resort. Definitely an ideal South Pacific destination.

Don't forget to visit the paradise that is One Foot Island with the most amazing water in the entire South Pacific. Go on a hot, hot day but don't forget the sunblock!

sweet little treasures

Boon - Chocolate Experience, Sydney

251 Victoria St, Darlinghurst

Tel: (02) 9356 8876

www.boonchocolates.com.au

Brother and sister enterprise of Alex and Fanny Chan have opened the first boutique handmade chocolate shop in Darlinghurst. Inspired by the chocolate experience in Hasselt Belgium and France, the upstairs offers a quaint chocolate lounge/gallery - The Boon Terrace Lounge is a quiet romantic environment for the ultimate chocolate experience.

Sparkle Cupcakery, Sydney

132 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills

Tel: (02) 9361 0690

www.sparklecupcakery.com.au

Adventurous flavours, stylishly presented cupcakes, this is the spot for some cheeky indulgence. Each cupcake is made from scratch and baked fresh every day with the world's best vanilla and Belgian chocolate. Each cake is hand finished and topped with a splash of colour. A divine experience!

Chocoholics Tour, Melbourne, VICTORIA

Explore Melbourne through a chocoholic haze. Indulge chocolate fantasies with tastings from some of Melbourne's finest chocolate specialists, and at the same time discover some hidden arcades and laneways.

A 2 hour tour starts from $28 a person
Includes chocolate, ice cream & truffle tasting and bookings are essential.
Chocoholic Tours: Ph. (03) 9815 1228.
www.chocoholictours.com.au

Chocolate Boutique & Dessert Cafe, Auckland, NZ

Chocolates are bought in from 7 local chocolatiers (mostly trained in Europe) and all using Belgian Barry Callebaut Chocolate which is imported and then tempered and converted into finished products here in New Zealand using our Unique and local ingredients for the centres creating - Handmade works of art……

http://www.chocolateboutique.co.nz/

I scream the best thickshakes known to man
Drop into the newly renovated I scream kiosk in the BNZ foodcourt for amazing thick shakes only made with the best real icecream and the service will also keep you coming back for more!
BNZ Centre
1 Willis Street
Wellington, CBD, NZ

image overhaul

Personal Stylists...Movie stars and celebrities have them and now so can you! With the help of a Personal Stylist you can know what's hot, what's not, what's what, where to get it and most importantly what's right for you!
With a one-on-one session you can discuss your fashion needs and then shop 'til you drop. A session with a personal stylist will make you feel a million dollars (without spending it) as there is no obligation to purchase!

Sydney Sylistas:

Fiona "FiFi" Milne (Bondi Junction)

Previously a stylist and Fashion Editor at Instyle, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Fashion Director at Elle, Fiona Milne (AKA FiFi) has worked with many celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Elle MacPherson and supermodels around the world. Rate: $150 for the first hour, $120 each hour thereafter.Payment: Cash only

Olivia Morgan (Bondi Junction)

Olivia currently writes and styles for Body + Soul. Fashion clients for advertising and film work have included: The Corrs (video clip), Kasey Chambers, Toyota commercials, men’s styling and grooming for FHM Collections magazine, catalogue and commercial work. Olivia also produced and managed fashion and lifestyle events and MAFW for the past five years, with clients such as Zimmermann, Kate Sylvester, Tsubi, Sunjoo Moon, Princess Highway and New Generation designers.Rate: $150 for the first hour, $120 each hour thereafter.Payment: Cash only

Bookings: http://whatswhat.com.au/fashion//fashion-services/personal-stylist/book.html

Auckland Fashion Assassins:

Ingrid Vink (www.vink.co.nz)
A personal shopper and fashion stylist working in Auckland, working as a freelance stylist for various New Zealand magazines and television programmes.

time for a thirst-quenching brew or two

The Liquorland New Zealand Beer Festival is excited to add a Wellington date in 2009, the uniquely Kiwi mix of Beer, Food, Music and Summer creates an unforgettable atmosphere for Good Times with Great Mates.

Over 60 beers from more than 20 breweries will be represented at the festival, featuring a wide range of New Zealand beers, with a few notable overseas visitors. The festival will also feature an amazing range of quality food to compliment beer tasting, from traditional New Zealand fare to European, Asian and Middle Eastern.

During the day you can enjoy an eclectic line-up of great summer sounds, from a chilled vibe during the day to energetic acts you’ll know the words to later on.

cost: Adults $25 plus booking fees.
featuring: the tutts, the recloose live band, charlie ash, sjd, the north shore pony club
dates: Sat 28 Feb 09, 12:00pm - 9:00pm
venue: Waitangi Park, Between Te Papa Museum and the beginning of Oriental Parade bordering the waterfront, Wellington
region: Wellington, New Zealand
ticket outlets: Ticket Information

Croquet in the Cross

Every Sunday, The Lincoln will be transforming The Deck into a Croquet Court! The Deck will be matted with an artificial lawn, with hoops installed to create a one-of-a-kind indoor croquet lawn. Pick up a mallets and swing to run a hoop or even try for the golden sextuple peel.

Lincoln bartenders will be able to help to teach anyone who wants to learn The Lincoln House Rules and help make the game as relaxed or heated as you want. Sponsored by Beefeater Gin, the Sunday games will have pickup Croquet Games being played from 6pm until 12am with Specials on Beefeater Cocktails and a nice and strong Gentleman's Pour of Beefeater Gin with Tonic all for $9

http://www.thelincoln.com.au/

Hola! Zeta Sundaze, Hilton, Sydney

Just when you thought that summer in Sydney couldn’t get any better, Zeta at Hilton Sydney launched the ultimate in Summer Sunday sessions.

Kicked off on January 18, 2009, and now every Sunday afternoon ‘til the end of March, the luxury Zeta bar will host Sunday afternoon drinks and a Spanish BBQ, on the picturesque rooftop terrace.

See you on the terrace… bring on the Sangria!

Where: ZetaLevel 4, Hilton Sydney488 George Street, Sydney
When: From Sunday, 25 January 2009 to Sunday, 29 March 2009
What: Featuring live music, drinks specials and complimentary tapas on the terraceWhen: Sunday afternoons!
http://www.zetabar.com.au/ZetaSummerSundaze09.html

Club Couture: Pool Party, Auckland, NZ

Get your dance on and kit off, amongst a great venue & stunning views. If weather turns it on then it will be the best place to be in the city. Dancing to sexy summer beats with the pool to cool down when things get hot, hot, hot!

SkyCity Pool Deck, Level 7, Federal St, Auckland central - Tickets $29 from dswift@aa.co.nz. 2Pm – 12am

Absolut Summer Sundays @ The Pool

An Absolut World is lived out on a hotel rooftop, around a sunny, warm deck with a cool swimming pool and succulent cocktails (Absolut vodka cocktails of course). In fact, a special Absolut cocktail has been concocted by the mixologist masterminds of Absolut, especially for the Summer Sundays sessions being held throughout, well…summer.

Launched a month ago, invitees get indulged in their own private oasis, shared only with other models, pr personalities, socialites and local celebrities. It’s like the alternative to Ivy Pool.Guests are entertained by a top bunch of dj’s and music acts, and can choose to either soak up the views or Bondi Beach or watch the amusing antics usually served up in the pool.

10 Summer Sundays in an Absolut World
Sundays until 1 March 2009, noon - 9pm
Swiss Grand Resort & Spa
Corner Campbell Parade and Beach Road, Bondi Beach
Invitation only - See Daily Addict giveaway
Email them for your chance to enter. You must be subscribed to Daily Addict.

March Into Merivale as chefs showcase thier raw talent

This March Merivale is going mad for fine gastronomy, topped with a generous serving of value from chefs such as Peter Doyle, Dan Hong, Chris Whitehead and Massimo Bianchi.

Chef’s from nine of Merivale’s venues - including est, Sushi e, Ash Street Cellar, Mad Cow, Uccello, Teppanyaki, Lotus, Bistro CBD and Sushi Choo – are to hold 30 events during March with culinary events and offers.

At Sushi Choo you can see a Geisha show and learn how to make sushi. There’ll be cocktail-making classes, weekly carvery and BYO evenings. Housed in the laneway at ivy’s Ash Street Cellar a series of Monday art-house cinema nights will screen showing a selection of food-themed flicks.

March into Merivale Mondays – Fridays during March 2009, 12-2pm and 6-8pm
$33 lunch or dinner menu and a glass of Chandon wine / Kirin or James Squire beer
$40 (includes film, tapas and glass of wine/beer) Ash Street Cellar film nights
Full ticketed events schedule soon to be released
For bookings T: 02 9240 3000

Give love the slip

It's back bigger and better, the annual Anti-Valentines Day event held at the Slip Inn, 11 Sussex St, Sydney.

Sick of seeing all those snogging couples, smug girls carrying bouquets and cosy little tables for two around this time of year?

So get yourself down to this event to celebrate everything there is about being single, featuring the La Fiesta sound System and the biggest, sexiest game of twister Sydney has ever seen. Not to mention the Virgin Mobile flirt fest where you can text flirt with other singles to your heart is content.

For information call 02 8295 9999 or go to http://www.merivale.com/whatson/slipvalday

Bondi Openair supports the Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Sydney's ocean-edge festival is the best way to celebrate summer. Chill-out with a drink in front of our giant movie screen... under the summer stars.

As well as great movies, at Bondi Openair you can enjoy dj's, live music and entertainment, drinks and dining during our signature "Sunsets" before each openair cinema screening.

Bondi Openair has been part of Sydney's summer event calendar since 2003.
This summer we are screening 30 movies over an 8 week period from 22 January to 15 March. The film program is an eclectic mix of retro classics, summer hits, great Australian films, documentaries and European stand-outs.

A fully licensed bar and catering options are available from our catering partners, Ravesis. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnic food.

What About Me? (MA 15+) - Sat 21 Feb 2009 7:00 PM

$5.00 from all tickets sold for 'What About Me?' go to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Find it at: http://www.bondiopenair.com.au/findus.aspx

Hello Sailor

At 220 metres, Sky Deck is the highest vantage point in Auckland and the only public viewing deck where you’ll be able to see the entire Louis Vuitton Pacific Series race course. The event will be spectator friendly ‘round robin’ style and raced on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour between Orakei Wharf and Rangitoto Island.

As well as spectacular panoramic views, you’ll also see:
Live broadcasts of the racing daily on TVNZ Sport Extra (Freeview channel 20) Freeview in both Main Observation Deck and Sky Deck
Live Virtual Eye animation playing on large Panasonic plasma screens in Sky Deck
The never–seen-before Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Trophy on display in Sky Deck
Stunning images by renowned yachting photographer Chris Cameron throughout Sky Tower

For up-to-the-minute information on the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.
http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/Attractions/Skytower/Explore-The-Sky-Tower/Sky-Tower-Demonstration.html

Head to the Regatta Village on the west side of the Viaduct Basin to farewell and welcome the boats each day. Grab some autographs from the sailors and enjoy all day activities for the whole family. The Regatta Village is a great place for everyone to experience the excitement of world-class sailing.

You will be able to:
see animated boat tracking on a big screen
test your own sailing skills in the Interactive Zone
mingle with the sailors at the end of the day.
The two top crews will battle it out on the water in the grand final on Saturday, 14 February.
Be sure to catch the action on the big viewing screen in the Regatta Village and cheer on the winning team as they dock in.

It will be a fantastic day and night of entertainment, culminating in a big party with live music and DJs following the presentation of the LVPS trophy to the winning team.
See the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series website for more information >>

Last week: headland SCULPTURE ON THE GULF, Waiheke, NZ

New Zealand’s premier outdoor sculpture exhibition, held every two years to showcase the country’s leading sculptors. The event takes place on the magnificent two kilometre Matiatia–Church Bay coastal walkway, a public track administered by Auckland City, located at the western tip of Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. The exhibition is a not-for-profit event and is free to the public.

First held in 2003, headland Sculpture on the Gulf arose from a desire to host a sculptural event outside gallery walls in a way that would acknowledge, embrace and enhance the stunning coastal scenery of Waiheke Island.Consequently, one of the main criteria for the selection of works is their appropriateness to the site; how they fit into the landscape; and what visual and physical connection as well as interaction they have with the environment.Placing the works and the public under the sky, beside the sea, in valleys and on headlands creates a unique opportunity to experience thought-provoking and innovative works for sale by New Zealand’s leading sculptors in a stunning location.

The full list of artists for 2009: Tony Bond, Paul Cullen, Charlotte Fisher, Meiling Lee, Kazu Nakagawa, Pauline Rhodes, Jeff Thomson, Leon van den Eijkel, Richard Wedekind, Graham Bennett, Lucy Bucknall, Gill Gatfield, Chris Hargreaves, Robert Jahnke, Gaye Jurisich, Nic Moon, Stephen Mulqueen, Christian Nicolson, Louise Palmer, Louise Purvis, Paul Radford, Brydee Rood, Graham Snowden, Serene Thain, Fletcher Vaughan, and Graham Fletcher.

Visit: http://www.sculptureonthegulf.co.nz/

A night at the movies under the stars

Telecom Movies in Parks is back again in 2009 with a longer series of midweek films with a kiwi connection.
While staking your spot in the park, live New Zealand music will set the scene for the feature film, projected after sunset onto a large inflatable screen.
Movies in Parks is an exciting new addition to the 15th year of Auckland City Council’s Music in Parks programme, which features more than 40 free events this summer. The weekly, mid week line up begins on Waitangi Day with Niki Caro’s Whale Rider and opening act Jonny Corker. Other flicks coming up include Sione’s Wedding, Sleeping Dogs, Goodbye Pork Pie and The World’s Fastest Indian.

Check out the program at:
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/events/moviesinparks/docs/telecommviesinparks.pdf

Eat your way around Centennial Park Sydney

For four days, 15 selected restaurants will set up full professional kitchens to deliver a degustation menu like no other. These restaurants are offering 45 of the city's most tantalizing signature dishes and this is just the start.
It all takes place in one place in Centennial Park from March 12-15 and will be the ultimate dining experience.

These taste-sized signature dishes are purchased with "Crowns" – the festival currency which can also be used to buy fine wines, champagnes and specialty beers from a range of bars and quality drink purveyors. Each signature dish will cost just 8-14 Crowns ($8 - $14).Add to this menu an unbeatable line up the country's top chefs demonstrating their talents, expert-led wine and beer tutorials, hundreds of like minded socialites and a lively musical backdrop - this is Taste of Sydney. A Taste Session lasts for 4 hours (5 on Sunday) and allows you enough time to browse around the event and enjoy the various features such as The Australian Gourmet Traveller Taste Kitchen, Taste Wine with Gourmet Traveller Wine, the James Squire Beer Masterclass, the Australian Gourmet Traveller Chef's Table and the Producers Market with over 100 fine food and drink exhibitors.You will undoubtedly have a fabulous time, try cuisine that takes your breath away and discover some new delicacies to buy and take away with you.

Taste of Sydney Restaurants:
Becasse & Etch • Longrain Restaurant & Bar • Pilu at Freshwater • Berowra Waters Inn • Jonah's at Whale Beach • Restaurant Assiette • Restaurant Balzac • Bird Cow Fish • Sailors Thai • Danks Street Depot • Civic Dining • Ottoman Cuisine • Flying Fish • Centennial Parklands Dining • Buon Ricordo

VIP tickets and presales can be found @:
http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=tastesyd08&view=vent

Sydney Taste Safaris 2009

Sydney has a number of distinct "villages" around which the people of particular nationalities have settled - the Italians in Haberfield, the Turkish around Auburn, the Lebanese in Punchbowl, the Greeks in Marrickville, the Vietnamese in Cabramatta....These villages are full of different sights and sounds that you may even feel like you're in that particular country. Gourmet Safari aim to take you behind the secret door, to give you some knowledge of the culture as well as the cuisine and send you home with loads of great food finds, recipes and a desire to return.In 2009 Gourmet Safaris are continuing with their successful World in a Day tours, and they now have more scheduled on a Saturday! Or come and join them on our new safaris - French Regional Lunch at Apres, Italy on Wheels safari, World in a Day - Middle East, French Safari on Wheels, their New Spanish Safari on Wheels and due to popular demand we will be running another Spanish Paella lunch. We're also continuing their Sweet Indulgence Safaris. Spend the day discovering some of the best sweets and chocolates in Sydney. So go and join them to celebrate great food and good company!
All safaris are led by experienced guides. All Gourmet Safari Tours are subject to minimum numbers.
For more information, bookings or to purchase a gift certificate Ph: 02 9960 5675 Mon-Fri or http://www.gourmetsafaris.com.au/

Freedom above the clouds

"Ladies and gentleman, in preparation for take-off, please ensure your seatback is upright, your hand luggage is safely stowed, and that you've removed all your clothing."

The first nude flights will be a day-trip on July 5 between Erfurt in southeast Germany and the Baltic Sea island of Usedom, which is fringed by white sand beaches.
Tickets cost E499 ($A838) and there are just 50 seats on board the jet.

"All the passengers will fly naked, but they are only allowed to undress once they are in the plane. But then they will be able to enjoy the hour-long flight in the way God intended. The pilot and the flight attendants will however keep their clothes on.

If the virgin flight is a success, regular flights to Usedom or other destinations will be planned.

Bookings @: http://ossiurlaub.de/