Crazy Sunset

Looks like Armageddon....

Phytophthora Cinnamomi

Last week I was introduced to cinnamon fungus.  Cinnamon Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) is a microscopic, soil borne pathogen (disease causing organism) that attacks and destroys plant root systems causing plants to die through lack of water and nutrients. It can be spread through footwear.

Who knew that going on a bush walk (as it is referred to here) required passing through a “Cinnamon Fungus Hygiene Station?” It was a bit strange and a bit out of context. Just picture it... You park the car, start walking towards the trees and then suddenly are confronted with basically a turnstile to enter the national park. Sure, one can just jump over the turnstile, no one is watching, but that would be disrespectful to nature.

Instead, each person that enters the park has to go through an almost ritualistic sequence.

Step 1: Use the brittle brush to remove organic material from footwear.

Step 2: Depress spring-loaded footpad to immerse the soles of your shoes into chemical solution

You learn something new every day…

Greenhouse

I am a bit obsessed with planter walls. At some point I hope to build one (anyone interested?).  So when I saw that a pop up café called Greenhouse (literally a constructed “green house”) had come to Sydney’s Harbor, I was there!

I am definitely a fan of the oh-so-trendy new global phenomenon, the “pop up” store/café/etc.  I have stumbled upon several interesting ones since I have been in Sydney: a club, only open in the evening, transformed into an art market during the day; a designer selling handmade objects ranging from clocks to lights and other cool homewares, renting a vacant commercial space for a week. I love that they just "pop up" and disappear when you least expect it. It makes things interesting.

Back to Greenhouse, this "pop up" café has landed on some prime real estate sitting adjacent to Sydney’s scenic Harbour, just east of the Harbour Bridge in Circular Quay (pronounced key not kway), Dawes Point to be exact . I had seen the architect’s work (Joost Bakker) published before but it was great to get up close. 

On the outside, a cube constructed out of an external cladding system made of rebar and steel mesh serves as a pedestal for terracotta planter pots that grow and change with the weather (living and dying). A series of orange shipping containers provide additional space for services, the basic design strategy allowing for quick assembly and dismantling. On the inside, a sustainable and waste free café with a menu that features chef, Matt Stone’s simple cooking. The menu, black painted words on the walls and ceilings adds another dimension to the space and reads vibrantly from the outside (may hurt your neck to read but worth it).

I read somewhere that it might remain permanently in Sydney. I am pretty sure that if this is true, the location will change. Who knows where it will be next? Maybe it will be coming to a city near you? That’s the mystery of the “pop up.”

Blackmail

This past weekend I had my first NYC visitor! We have been here for five-and-a-half months (just crazy) and with the piles on my desk rising (stress), I cannot really say that I have had the time to enjoy being in a new environment. So when Jeremy told me he was coming to town, I knew I had to show him some of my favorite places and spaces that make Sydney unique. It was a perfect weekend. Beautiful weather, lots of walking (blisters included), exploring, r and r, eating and drinking. What more can you ask for, really? Here are some shots of a couple of spotlights. Hopefully the following imagery will entice (hint, hint). Start planning those trips already!

A walk around Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair and into the Royal Botanical Gardens where bats hang above you, sleeping the day away…

 The Sydney Opera House, up close and personal...

 In all its glory...

Breakfast at Bills (the best sweet corn fritters), some potato wedges as an afternoon snack (one of Australia's best inventions), Dinner at Phamish (excellent and extremely popular Vietnamese food), Yum! All are highly recommended...

A quick drive across the bridge to Blues Point for some lunch and a different perspective of the city…

An afternoon visit to Manly and  North Head, truly the end of the world, where Sydney's Harbour meets the Tasman Sea...

And some wildlife (probably deadly)…

Mardi Gras

Last weekend Sydney hosted its world renowned Mardi Gras. I have heard about Sydney's Mardi Gras celebrations for many years and always thought it was the equivalent of New Orleans Mardi Gras but in actuality it is really the gay pride parade.

It was a stressful night, as I had a work deadline but Kate and I decided to take a break and head up to Oxford Street, just a block from our apartment, to participate in the festivities. It was the perfect break. Drag queens, chaps and Dykes on Bikes. We even got to see Lilly Tomlin, who was the Master of Ceremonies (a bit random). What more can you ask for on a Saturday night?

A Vegemite Sandwich

Back in the 80’s when I was rocking out to Men at Work’s song Down Under; I did not realize that one day I would actually “come from a land down under”. Well, fast forward a few decades (holy moly) and here I am, smiling and eating Vegemite sandwiches daily. Who would have thought? I don’t think I even knew what Vegemite was. I would have probably assumed it was some processed mixture of vegetables, as the name suggests but I was obviously missing some of the key ingredients.

Vegemite, a great source of vitamin B, is actually a by-product of beer manufacturing, which makes a lot of sense seeing as it is Australia’s most iconic national breakfast item. You’ve got to start the day off right with some beer extract! And that’s what everyone does, beginning at childhood. I can pretty much guarantee that every household in Australia has a jar of Vegemite in their pantry. They even just launched a new variety called Cheesybite, a mix of vegemite and cream cheese (not for me).

Vegemite (with butter or cheese) to an Australian is like Peanut Butter and Jelly to an American, which Australians think is an even stranger concoction (jelly here is actually what we would call Jell-O in the US. They would refer to Jelly as Jam, so maybe the language differences make it sound stranger than it is). An almost black paste that has an incredibly salty taste, Vegemite can be compared to the British equivalent Marmite, which I have never tried (nor really have the desire to) but have heard it is more of an intense flavor, less sweet.

They say if you try something eight times, you are bound to like it and I have to say at first, the look and smell of Vegemite was a true turn off (note, when first attempting do not smell, just eat). But as they say, don’t judge a book by its cover; I made the plunge years ago when I took my first taste of this truly strange concoction. I have to say; surprisingly it did not take too much convincing. It was love at first bite and our relationship has flourished ever since. I truly love Vegemite (apparently Obama thinks it's horrible). It is best served on hot toast with butter and just a light layer of Vegemite. Despite being owned by a US company, Kraft (who knew), this trend has not caught on in the States. I am slowly evolving into a well rounded Aussie…