Read All About It

If you’re a proud book worm, then this weekend you need to be in Sydney. On the 30-31 August, the Book Expo Australia will ensure your nose is knee deep in volumes of hard and paper backs. The nation’s largest dedicated event for authors and publishers attracts around 10,000 visitors so if reading is your vice, your timing is perfect. Attendees are a mix of bookshop owners, book reviewers & bloggers, booktubers, families, individuals, teachers, librarians and journalists so enjoy being in educational company.

With over 100 exhibitors, you can check out the Guinness Book of Records attempt for the Longest Chain of Paper Dolls. Yes, you read correctly. Paper Dolls! There are also 6 breakout activity rooms, performance areas including reading and interactive illustrator skills, and a treasure hunt.

Everyone receives a show bag upon arrival and there’s a multitude of food, drinks and entertainment to keep all book lovers involved. Just to keep your energy levels up as the venue is vast and skimming booths may cause you to miss out on hidden gems and limited editions.

Taking place at Exhibition Hall 5 at Sydney Olympic Park, tickets are incredibly reasonable. From $5 AUD for teachers, kids (12-18 years old) librarians, to $20 for family tickets, $8.50 for adults and free passes for children under 12.

At this prime event where die hard readers come to meet well known and favourite authors, you can also hunt for up and coming novelists. The genres are extensive from crime, fantasy, childrens, thriller, action and contemporary to appease all minds. So if you’re really into the rom-com style whodunit with pop up visuals tapping into a modern day thespian theme (is there such a thing?), there may be an exhibiting author who makes your wish come true.

This could also be the time that you explore new innovative learning methods to help yourself or someone with challenged reading. Possibly you have dyslexia; there’s bound to be a book created for you in mind. Or you know a child who just doesn’t get the importance of reading, so is delayed in learning abilities? Snoop around and maybe you’ll find books for the reluctant rugrat.

This is also a great place to buy preview books and with a slight elbow twist, maybe the author will sign the book for you. A great, surprise gift for someone who is a huge fan of the author.

And only 30 minutes drive from the Park, you can then unwind, open your new books and start reading, overlooking the Harbour and downtown skyline. Staying at one of Sydney’s affordable, boutique hotels is the best way to put up your feet with a good novel. At Cremorne Point Manor, you can read between the lines why Tripadvisor gave the Manor a 4^th annual, consecutive Certificate of Excellence Award.

Wheat All About It!

On the 29^th and 30^th August, Sydney Olympic Park (Exhibition Hall 4) will be hosting the Gluten Free Expo. For everyone who can’t even look at wheat, rye and barley without symptoms kicking into high speed gear; this is the event for you!

Now in its 10^th successful year, from 9am to 4pm both days, you can snack through the booth display food samples galore. There will also be some stage presenters showcasing tips, cooking ideas and facts about foods to avoid and new foods on the market to indulge in.

This is also the time to grab a copy of Australian Gluten Free Life at the expo, the country’s first fully dedicated gluten free magazine that launched on newsstands early June.

 

Since around 330,000 Aussies have no idea they need a gluten free diet, this is the expo that will answer questions and give you a day of sampling delicious bites by exhibitors. The booths include chocolate croissants as a showcase piece by Simply Wize and don’t forget to ‘test’ their Potato Pastries.  The latter is not only gluten free but has zero trace of fructose or dairy, which is a mild miracle in itself. This is the same culinary team behind the national treasure ‘Crusty Bread Mix,’ the first national mix that takes bread to new heights and maybe the best invention since…sliced bread.

If you’re a no meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, eggs or peanut type of person, a must visit is to Amy’s Kitchen booth. Here you will find (amongst a flurry of items) gluten free cheddar and gluten free rice mac & cheese. Yep, gluten’less cheese.

Needing kosher, vegan, organic and GMO free foods? Nature’s Path Organic will be a really popular booth for anyone that has a wide range of dietary requirements.  With your taste buds running at a rate of knots, don’t forget to sample from Genius Gluten Free, the UK’s leading bakery who will be wowing you with double chocolate muffins, fruit loaf and in true British style…crumpets.

Think it can’t get any better? It just did. The Expo is FREE so just swing on by and consider purchasing some items for yourself, friends and family as healthy gifts. Or maybe for business clients who will appreciate foods they can actually eat without side effects.

After a long day (or two days) of snacking your way through this event, you can prop your feet at a boutique Sydney hotel, no more than 30 minutes away from the Park. Take a look at Cremorne Point Manor’s aerial video on the home page and see why TripAdvisor gave it a 4^th consecutive Certificate of Excellence Award. Sometimes the best things in life come (gluten) free with a bonus freebie view of the famous Harbour and downtown skyline.

Get Your Flippers On In September

If you’re looking to splash out, specifically on 12^th and 13^th September, then you need to head to the ODEX event. The Australian International Scuba and Underwater Sports Expo is the place to be, so go wild over this 3D interactive consumer show.

Featuring live underwater action including sports games and competitions, a free educational seminar and all things diving, its two days of jam packed fun.

Taking place at Sydney Olympic Park, get flapping over the aqua shots symposium, world underwater games and the national freediving pool challenge, organized by the ODEX team.

If you’re in Sydney on business or a local who wants to entertain clients, it’s a really unique event that will take your mind off work and show your guests the Park, at its finest. Maybe treat yourselves to view the Try Dive program where you can see hands-on demonstrations of the latest gear and gadgets for both beginner and novice divers.

Calling hockey lovers, you must (yes, must) attend ODEX’s Underwater Hockey Championships and Underwater Rugby events. The focus of these expos are to also encourage attendees to learn more about diving and underwater sports, so expect to see a flurry of exhibition booths at each show. ODEX has a bundle of exhibitions per year and you can keep an eye on these by checking their website or signing up for their newsletter.

While you’re planning your social schedule mid September, also take a look at Sydney Olympic Park’s additional events. Maybe take a peek at the the Australian Dance Festival, or if you still have water on your mind, the Cruise Expo will be sailing along in the Showground arena. Tired of water? Then move back to dry land for Life in the Park, educating attendees about urban ecology or for an icing on the cake: Better Homes & Gardens showcase, with lifestyle advice guaranteed to bring out your inner Martha Stewart & Rachael Ray.

Only 35 minutes drive west from the Park, you’ll be back at one of Sydney’s affordable boutique hotels where you can unwind and view the stunning Harbour. Need to see more? Then check Cremorne Point Manor’s home page video with a fantastic aerial tour. No wonder why TripAdvisor gave the Manor a Certificate of Excellence Award, for the fourth consecutive year!

Spice It Up - Korean Film Time in Sydney!

Looking for something hot and spicy to do between 13 -21 August in Sydney? Then your timing is perfect as the 5^th Annual Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) hits the city, taking place at Event Cinemas, George Street.

Showcasing the elite of the elite in Hallyuwood (emerging South Korean cinema), the Film Festival will educate, inspire and show you a thing or two in bringing cultural magic to the big screen.

Since inception, the Festival now attracts nearly 10,000 attendees and is rising rapidly per year.  This is particularly due to the multitude of industry forums, gala receptions and cultural activities…so not only are you enjoying the movies, but you’re getting a real taste of Korea.

The ticket prices are reasonable at around $15 AUD per movie and the schedule is seriously packed with back-to-back movies, 20 in total, all playing in the evenings.  

The range of movies is truly impressive, from rom-coms to fast action thrillers and this year’s theme, offers a more in-depth insight into the history of Korean movies.  Also account that this Festival is pretty much an Australian road show, featuring over 80 screenings total between Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide between 13^th August and 26^th September. So if you’re a diehard fan, you can then hop around the country, and enjoy around 6 weeks of cultural cinematography.

 

 

Ever heard of Park Joon-hoon? He’s worked with many directors including Academy Award winner, Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia and The Manchurian Candidate) and will be the starring guest for the Q&A on 15^th August at 6.15pm so keep that in mind. It’ll be good!

The quirky part about this festival is their Facebook page. Usually movie Festivals tend to have static, corporate posts and updates, all very yawn worthy. But the KOFFIA’s page is amusing and showing sheer personality in their status photos. It’s also worth liking the page for the previews of featured movies.

Only 15 minutes drive from one of the most affordable boutique hotels in Sydney, and a 30 minute trip using public transportation, get your popcorn at the ready because after the Festival, you’re going to view a spectacular, never ending, free movie. Yes, from this hotel, you’ll have the best seat in the house to watch the stunning Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge. Don’t believe us? Then take a look at the video on Cremorne Point Manor’s home web page and see for yourself.  Lights, camera, action and final cut!