Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Where Art Though For Sydney Exhibition



From the 18th July to the 27th September, the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, and art event, takes place at the NSW Art Gallery so if you’re heading to Sydney, add this to your calendar.  With its first award in 1921, this is the country’s most prominent and favourite art recognition event. As a highly prestigious Expo, the Archibald Prize brings together a who’s who of Aussie culture including artists, sports heroes, celebrities and politicians. The Wynne Prize award focuses on the best landscape painting of the country’s scenery, or it may be a figure sculpture who grabs the prize – who knows? Finally the Sulman Prize is awarded to the best genre painting, mural (oil, watercolour, mixed media and/or acrylic) or subject painting.

Annually, the Art Gallery of NSW trustees judge the Wynne and Archibald Prizes, where as invited judges focu on the Sulman Prize (this year’s being Jenny Watson). There’s also a People’s Choice Award category so you can vote for your favourite – it’s all about the attendees, right?


Since it established in 1871, the Art Gallery of NSW heavily supports fine international and native art in one of the globe’s most stunning art museums.  From contemporary and modern collections to exhibitions, programs & lectures to the Brett Whiteley Studio, the Gallery is a mecca for locals and visitors looking to educate their inner artistic creativity.

Online tours are also available or you can search the entire collections on their website, so you can plan exactly what you want to see before you arrive in Sydney.  Fancy checking out the Gallery late in the evenings? Each Wednesday, the venue hosts an ‘Art After Hours’ event where displays are available for viewing until 10pm and the stores, cafes and galleries until between 9.00-9.30pm (check the link above for each specific closing time). 

Not only is general admission free (yes free), but the Gallery also runs a courtesy bus every 15 minutes from 7pm until closing on Wednesdays to surrounding car parks and Martin Place. 

From Martin Place, you can take a leisurely 10 minute stroll to Circular Quay and hop on the ferry. Within a few minutes, you’ll be at Cremorne Point and six minute walk later, arrive at Cremorne Point Manor. The views of the city on the ferry and also at the Manor are sensational, voted one of the best skyline scenes by tourists and locals alike. Want to see what we see every day? Check our home page video and yes, the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are in our peripheral vision daily - talk about a canvas worth gloating over. Contact us about our winter deals and once you’re here, will give you more tips on more great attractions to visit!

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Get you’re A-Game on for August, Sydney



For anyone in the tech gaming scene, from the 11 – 13 August, the Sydney Exhibition Center at Glebe Island raises the technology bar with the Australasian Gaming Expo. One of the globe’s biggest events of its type, there will be 15,000+ square metres of gaming mayhem by over 180 exhibitors.
 
From 10am to 5pm on day one and two, and 10am – 3pm on day three, you can hob nob with the world’s most prominent industry movers & shakers. This event is only for gaming and hospitality executives so if you’re involved in this scene, then you receive complimentary access as an executive using the link in the first paragraph. 

Celebrating 24 years of annual events in Sydney, you’ll see the newest and latest in gaming equipment, design and an incredibly proactive environment for buyers and sellers to network.

From computer science, hardware machine tools, software (web and apps) and video games, the new rising stars will be demo’ing their innovation.  Pioneers in the industry will also be showcasing new features and interactive gaming technology. We highly expect that wearable gaming tech will be a major attraction talking point.


Recently featured in the Australasian Gaming Expo Facebook page is BMM Testlabs. An exhibitor spotlight, BBM is the longest established and most experienced private independent gaming certification lab in the world. So if you’re looking for the legal requirements and compliances, these are the people to talk with in August.

If your business model is looking to generate new sources of revenue with additional partners, Cashpoint Payment Solution’s EFTPOS may be worth investigating.  Additionally Futurelogic could be an alternative option, with their innovative ticket printing for gaming tech providers.  With loyalty retention as a core need to generate stickiness for scaling, Gobsmacked Loyalty will be exhibiting at the event, showcasing their reward technology through integrated platforms for you to provide your customers reward points, promo offers and cash prizes.

The greatest way to wind down before, during and after the event is to return to a boutique Sydney hotel by ferry.  Just a short ride away, Cremorne Point Manor has affordable rooms with priceless views of the Harbour and downtown skyline. Winning our fifth consecutive Certificate of Excellence by Tripadvisor, during the expo, our hotel does book up fast so we recommend you reserve your room sooner than later.  And let the games begin…

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Ice Skating in Sydney’s Summery Winter



For all visitors from the Northern Hemisphere, heading to NSW in the next few weeks, your summer is now flipping upside down so you can enjoy winter in Australia. When’s the last time you ice skated in winter, in June or July at the Bondi Ice Rink, on a warm day overlooking the beach? It’s Australia’s only beachside ice rink and you can now cross ‘skating in the sunshine or under the stars at night’ from your bucket wish list. From 20 June to 12 July, skating sessions start at the top of the hour for 45 minutes.  Yes, Bondi Winter Magic is the place to be if you’re heading down under. 
 
Sessions start at 9am and prices vary for toddlers ($20) to kids ($29) and adults ($35) but we advise you to book your tickets in advance on the website. It’s a popular attraction and you’ll need to arrive 30 minutes at least, before your skating time. Kids can also use the Penguin Aid while they perfect their axel jumps!

If you’re heading to Sydney on business and looking for an event to wow your clients, you can book the ice rink as a private hire at $3000 per hour. This includes skates, and up to 150 guests, but doesn’t include potential bumps and bruises…all the fun of skating, right?



While you’re there, check out the Bondi Farmers Market including Artisan breads, homemade jams, herbs and spices. There are also gluten free products so snoop around for these and take note that the market’s open Saturdays from 9am – 1pm. Just in case you arrive in Sydney and missed the Farmers Market, don’t fret. The Bondi Markets are open on Sundays from 10am – 4pm and focus on accessories, home décor, books, candles, art and all works of creative forces including vintage. 

If you’re planning to visit Sydney mid to end July, the Bondi Fest takes place from the 11th thru 25th comprising 50 shows over 11 nights and 100+ artists. It’s like a pop up festival with theater, visual arts, comedy and music at the Pavilion. 

Finally, if history is your vice, then the Bondi History Walks take place every Sunday in July. You do need to book with them first to find out the location, adding to the excitement of this bohemian two hour walking trip.
Only 25 minutes north by car, you’ll be back at Cremorne Point and our boutique Manor.  Winning our 5th consecutive Certificate of Excellence Award by Tripadvisor, we’re a short walk to the famous Maccallum Pool. Replace your skates for a swim suit and give your feet a well deserved break.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Creative Crafting Comes to Sydney



From the 17 – 21 June, the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair returns to the city. As the country’s largest and most prominent craft event, the Sydney Quilt Show also collaborates in this attraction. You may think quilting and crafting is only appreciated by anyone born before 1950 but think again. Some of the world’s most influential fashion designers and magazines have been inspired by this industry and created incredible trending masterpieces as a result, including Vogue’s March feature on patchwork frocks.
 
Are you intrigued by the fair and possibly want to learn a thing or two about stitching? Then the Sydney Exhibition Center is the place to be where you can be educated about embroidery, textile art, crochet and vintage fashion…alongside quilting.

There are a flurry of guest artists that will teach you tips & tricks about card making, showcasing wearable art and style ‘in the know’ accessories. With over 100 workshops, demonstrations and classes daily, if you were clueless how to hold knitting needles, this your time to grab those aluminum sticks.


(Image: Vogue.com -
Valentino,  Fall 2015)

Beading, yarn, gadgets, fabrics and paper will also be core attributes at the event so if you have these at your home, then by the time you return, you’ll be a dab hand at accessorizing your décor utilizing these trinkets.

Two specific events we’re looking forward to are the Vintage Style Guru and the Wearable Art demonstrations. The latter is headed by Svenja, a Brisbane textile artist that is renowned for award winning wearable art, displayed around the country and internationally. If vintage is grabbing your attention, Chrissy Keepence (what a great name!) will be showing women how to accentuate femininity with styling tips. Her ‘Make Do and Mend’ interests will show you how to dust off old looks and marry these with modern fabrics, to create one-off pieces. 

Feeling like you’re on a crafting winning streak? Then be prepared to possibly win more than $3175 in prizes by visiting the fair. These Lucky Door prizes include a Brother sewing machine, horn sewing furniture and Daylightman floor lamp. Every creative home needs these to stitch, scrutinize and store. Just complete the competition form when you buy your ticket and place it in the box at the fair. The winners will be drawn at the end of the last day.

Since The Expo is a short ferry ride to one of Sydney’s boutique hotel’s, you’ll not be carrying any purchases for more than 10 minutes to Cremorne Point Manor.  Being budget conscious has its benefits because the Expo tickets are $17 ($18 at the door). In addition, Cremorne Point Manor’s been hailed with a fifth consecutive Certificate of Excellence Award by Tripadvisor, confirming our four star hotel, at affordable rates will guarantee you’re managing your travel cash flow wisely.  Check the Manor’s home web page and take a look at the views from our hotel.  Just a little something we stitched together for you!