We Heart Sydney’s Month of Love

So you think Valentine’s Day is just once a year for hearts a’beating? Well think again because NSW is proving that this major organ beats on until March 7^th. Sydney’s Month of Love, which started February 7^th has bubble wrapped up Valentines with Mardi Gras and row boats in abundance for 28 days of spark and it’s still going strong.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor heading to Sydney, you can eat your heart out with couple dining deals, loved up cocktails and obviously, the sweetest of desserts. The city’s spreading the romance with photo booths, love lanterns and adrenaline charged competitions. If you’re looking for something more intimate, you can order personalized fireworks! The Month of Love takes place at Darling Harbour (naturally) so take advantage of row boats galore for you and your partner. 

If you’re looking for something specific, check their schedule of the daily rundown which includes events that flow right through the 28 days, or just a one night only soiree. A few of our favourites include:

Heartbeats on the Bridge (Pyrmont Bridge), a free event so you can wow over the huge pulsating heart at this landmark location.

Go selfie wild with Love is in the Air, while you check out the double love heard suspended under the expressway. Post your couple selfies socially and share your story.

For competitive lovers, the Pash N’ Dash is right up your alley where you can win a prize for your PDA. It takes place at the Hoarding Stage so remember to post your photo socially and you can win a date night prize.

Needing to light up your love life? Then the Tickle Me Pink at Darling Quarter takes place every evening except Mondays, and will have your name written all over it. Grab a heart shaped picnic rug, guzzle champers and adore the light installation.

If you’re not entertained enough, the Tickle Me Pink outdoor cinema may be your cup of tea at the Village Green between Thursdays and Sundays from 6.00pm. It’s another freebie event where you can watch incredible classic movies, watching the silver screen stars….under the stars.

Last but not least, the Firework display will be taking place with a finale show for 15 minutes from 9pm on the 6^th and 7^th March. Maybe this is the time to suggest rings on fingers. You never know!

After a few romantic strolls around Sydney, grab a 5 minute ferry ride back to Cremorne Point Manor, a 4 star Sydney boutique hotel. Reminisce over the loved up days and nights while you watch the skyline and Sydney Harbour. If you need additional inspiration, check our website video that’s bound to cause a flutter and get that heart beat racing!

Plan Ahead for June’s Hair Raising Event

Are you thinking of coming to Sydney this winter and possibly considering June’ish as the destination dates? Then you’re in luck if fashion and style is your vice. The Sydney Hair Expo is returning to the Exhibition Center between the 6^th and 8^th of June, so you can experience the largest displays of brands and products including exclusives, not available in the stores. 

 

More than an expo for the industry, it’s a chance for you to see hairdressers showcase their talents and educational stages hosted by the world’s leading artists. Now if you’re a budding hairdresser and want to start at the root of all things on the top of your head, this is your calling. There will also be three incredible gala events each night so you can network with industry bods and enjoy Sydney’s finest nightlife, with not one split end in sight.

It’s also a fantastically fun event for non industry attendees who are visiting the city and looking for something unique to do. Early bird 3 day passes start $81, down to one day passes at $41, or maybe treat yourself to a 3 day apprentice pass that includes seminars at $74. But you need to grab these tickets fast as they increase by around 15% for same day purchase. Additional package prices are available so check the ticket rate details here.

For families heading to the city, this event is going to make your teenage kids busy so consider it as an original tourist excursion. For all female readers, also note that there’s a master contouring make up class by the unstoppable Rae Morris on the 6^th from 10.30am – 12.00pm. Another event we recommend is the colour creativity event on the same day from 3.00pm for a couple of hours.  Finally, on the 7^th at 12.45pm, the Famous Five are united. These include five of Australia’s greatest industry talents on the stage for the first time. It’s going to be a seriously uplifting experience showing you tricks of the trade that will make your follicles demand an extreme makeover. 

Now that you’ve attended a truly glam event, it’s time to blow the wind through your hair on the short ferry ride to Cremorne Point. Once you’ve arrived at Cremorne Point Manor and settled in your room, enjoy the Sydney skyline and Harbour views. This heritage hotel and the scenery are so inspiring, you’ll now appreciate why Tripadvisor gave it a Certificate of Excellence, for a fourth consecutive year. For all Sydney locals planning a unique hen or stag party, how about making it a full day at the Hair Expo and then pampering yourself at the Manor overnight? You’ve plenty of time to plan this and surprise the bride or groom to be!

Lets parle vous Sydney’s French Film Festival

On a full road show through Australia from early next month to the third week of April, the Alliance Francaise (French Film Festival) will kick off this outstanding event on the 3^rd of March. No worries if you’re not visiting Sydney at the starting point as it’ll be running through to the 22^nd. If you’re a huge French movie fan and want to follow the tour, it’ll be hitting Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Byron Bay and ending in Hobart.

This is an incredibly popular event for Aussies and the national numbers have rapidly from over 133,000 attendees, over the past 2 years including 40,000+ in Sydney.  It’s not only the biggest foreign film festival in Australia; it’s actually the largest celebration of their national movies outside of France.

2015 will be the 25^th anniversary so expect to see some additional big screen wows from over 40 new features and documentaries. The tickets are available online and also at the host cinemas, namely Palace Verona, Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema and the Hayden Orpheum Cremorne. 

Opening with the Gala (naturally) with cocktails at 6pm and the screening at Palace Verona at 8pm of Gemma Bovery, tickets range from $60 (members) to $80 (non members).  The price includes canapés, drinks, a cocktail and post movie live entertainment. On the 22^nd, Paris Je T’aime will be the closing film featuring the incredible Juliette Binoche, alongside Gerard Depardieu, Natalie Portman, Bob Hoskins and Steve Buscemi. Surprisingly, this wow of a movie including a glass of bubbly and post film live entertainment only costs $27 (members) and $33 (non members).

Some of the other highlighted movies during the festival include a red carpet experience, casino prize events, cheese tasting and featured talks. If you’re on a super tight budget, we suggest you opt to see Le Rendez-Vous running from the 4^th to 21^st March, simply because tickets are free!

For anyone who is craving to learn French first hand, click this link to enter for the French Film Festival prize – a trip to France.  It’s all inclusive with a Club Med holiday in the stunning French Alps and you can try your nouvelle cuisine at a cooking workshop.

Since the Hayden Orpheum is just a 7 minute car drive or 30 minute walk from an affordable boutique Sydney hotel, after watching the Festival movies, just mosey on back to Cremorne Point Manor overlooking the Harbour and downtown skyline. It’s not a film up for an award but if you check our website home page, our tour video is enough to give you creative inspiration. Where’s that popcorn?

Are You Ready for Mardi Gras?

From the 20^th February to 8^th March, Sydney is going Mardi Gras crazy…crazy we tell you! The full festival runs over a long duration so we’re pulling out the best parts for you to mark in your calendars, giving you time to dust off that rainbow head dress and buy a crate of body glitter.

With over 80,000 locals and tourists hitting Victoria Park from 10am – 8pm on the 22^nd February for Fair Day, proof is in the pudding that the LGBTQ community will bring insane colour and entertainment with swagger and a hippy, hippy shake.

If you’re into dodgems, drag or Pad Thai, this is the place to be and remember to bring along your kids. There are gallons of rides, market stalls and live music on the stage. All dog owners, also bring your four legged pooch and maybe enter them in the Doggy/Wood show. But don’t just stick a tiara on their head and expect to win. The competition is really tough and some pet owners will go all out on with feathers, full costume, false eyelashes and platform shoes on their Labradoodle. It's worth seeing to believing!

Lets hop over to the 7^th March for the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade at Oxford Street and Flinders Street. Now in its 37^th year, this freebie evening (7.30 - 10.30pm) event brings together hundreds of thousands of cheerer on’ners from around the globe. With around 10,000 fabulous glam queens, kings and the in-betweeners on the parade, expect to wear your sunglasses as it’s going to be dazzling. If you prefer to not be part of the crowd but looking for a good sitting spot, you can take a perch at the Parade Slideshow or Diamond Club. With over 2,000 volunteers at the Parade, they’re more than ready to help you with questions during the evening. 

Along with a trundle of fabulous dahling parties throughout the duration, it’s worth checking out the Sydney Mardi Gras festival line up This includes Photographic Exhibition at Surry Hills Library to Gaybies at Eternity Playhouse to Inside/Out installation at Pine Street Creative Arts Center and the Rainbow Run in Sydney Park.  There are dozens of events that not only show you the fun side of the LGBTQ community but also the upheavals they’ve undertaken from society pressure to HIV, global acceptance and freedom of expression.

While you’re in town visiting the festival and taking in the scene, remember to also check out Cremorne Point Manor’s incredible and inspiring views of downtown Sydney. Only a short ferry ride to the Opera House, you can swing those feather boas in the summer breeze to and from the Manor to the main festival hub. Then after a long day and night of bantering about rainbows, head back to the hotel for a wind down. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear the lions roar LGBTQ loud & proud at nearby Taronga Zoo during the evening.

Sheep flocking for Chinese New Year

As one of the most creative animals in the Chinese zodiac, this is the year of the sheep and Sydney is celebrating galore from 13^th February to 1^st March.  As the eight sign of the Chinese calendar and a truly lucky number, the Sydney Chinese New Year festival will boom during the Twilight Parade. Before we start on the event details, just account that some famous Aussies born in a sheep year include Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman and Heath Ledger.

Kicking off at 730pm at Dawes Point, Hickson Roar Reserve will be bedazzled with lanterns, inspired by the ancient Chinese terracotta warriors. With the Sydney Harbour and Opera House backdrop, this stunning and inspiring exhibition will be launched by the city’s Lord Mayor. Within these 90 minutes, grab snacks from street food trucks, check out the traditional drumming, lion dances and the start of the Parade.  It’s going to be really dazzling so bring your sunglasses!

The next evening, put the Lunar Streets in your diary as the area will be slammed sideways with Thai, Chinese and Korean food like you’ve never had before.  Following this, on the 22 February, the big parade kicks off at 8pm from the Town Hall and ends at Darling Harbour. It is free to watch but if you’re in the mood to splash out for a VIP ticket and guaranteed seating, it will cost you $66. With the sheep as an adored, calm and gentle animal, the Parade will tell a tale of all things woolly.  It’ll include floats, huge projection lighting and magical lanterns, knitting grannies and Bo Peeps (kid you not!).  As sheep are a core of Australia’s early farming success, expect to see a goldrush Chinese immigrant shepherd theme woven into the Parade. The finale includes a blast of fireworks at the Harbour, just before midnight.

Ever seen dragons race in the water? Between the 28^th February and 1^st March daytime, you’ve got to see it to believe it at Darling Harbour. For over 2,000 years, Dragon Boat racing has been a fixture of Chinese culture and you’ll see 12 metre long boats racing through the bay, with carved dragon heads, tails and scales.

For all visitors and locals, check out the Chinese New Year full line up – it’s hefty so start marking off notable events you want to cross off your wish list. If you’re coming into the city, needing a place to stay and would like to see the festival from a different podium, check out Cremorne Point Manor, overlooking the Harbour. The views of the skyline are incredible and if you need visual reinforcement, check out the video on this boutique hotel’s home page.  It’s why regular visitors flock to the Manor (pun intended).

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

We all know that Australia experiences summer in December, where as the Northern Hemisphere crew receives in snow, rain and sleet in abundance. With a pretty adorable twist on season’s greetings, Haymarket’s Market City is hosting the country’s largest snow globe this Christmas!

If you’re in town on business, vacation or a local until New Year’s day, you must get down to the Market because this is absolutely something not to be missed. Imagine stepping into a massive globe (specifically 8.5 meters in diameter, or nearly 28 feet) and kids to experience snow for the first time? It literally runs chills down your spine in excitement with the thought of having a few moments in a gigantic snow globe.

 

The globe will, naturally, feature a Christmas scene, built by professional set makers who have transformed the area into a winter wonderland with the help of some handy snow machines and snow blowers. Grab your mittens-on-a-string, ugly holiday sweaters and knitted hat for a unique experience.

If you want to go the extra mile and enter to win $1000 in shopping vouchers, then take a selfie in the globe and follow @marketcity on Instagram, while you tag your snow-selfie with #mcsnowglobe.

As a double bonus for students, check the Market City web page for discounts and deals. For all parents visiting Sydney to see their son or daughter at university, drag them down to the market and while you’re there, have a browse around at the stores. From food to gifts (last minute Christmas presents?), novelties to electronic, the market has all bases covered. Directly located above Paddy’s Markets in the center of Chinatown, this is the only shopping destination in the area with 30 factory outlets.

After a chilling thrill, take a balmy one hour stroll up George Street to Circular Quay, followed by a short ferry ride to Cremorne Point. The skyline views of the city are stupendous and Cremorne Point Manor boasts one of the best spots to view downtown Sydney at its best. If you need additional coaxing, check the hotel’s home page video and you’ll see why Tripadvisor gave the Manor a Certificate of Excellence, 4 years in a row. You may have just experienced an oversized bubble yet now you can enjoy one of the most famous landmarks in the globe!

We Are Sailing…We Are Sailing

For all water sport fans, if you’re in Sydney from 12 – 14 December, get ready to ride the wave…or watch it. For the first time, the Extreme Sailing Series hits Sydney Harbour in this grand finale for the 2014 season where the pro’s will compete for the coveted trophy. Some of the best sailing teams from around the globe (including the Australian flagged squad of GAC Pindar) will go head to head on identical extreme 40 catamarans. Their route will include maneuvering around tactical courses that are so close to the shore line, you’ll get the best seat in the house.

In its eighth year, over the past 11 months, tour locations have included the UK, France, Singapore and Russia, with the finale now reaching Sydney.  The end location choice is ideal based on the city’s miles of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches, oh, and incredible weather since it’s now summer in Australia. 

The Series will be held by the Harbour between Garden Island and the Opera House. The organizers highly suggest you hop over to the Race Village at Mrs Macquire’s Point but for all Cremorne Point Manor guests, you have one of the best views in the house from the Point at Sydney’s North Shore. You’re guaranteed exceptional views!

If you do head to the official Race Village in the Royal Botanic Gardens, you can bring your own food & drinks or support local businesses from buying at their stands. There will be activities and entertainment, courtesy of sponsor Land Rover along with live commentary and replays & live coverage on the big screen. Not only a family friendly event, the Series is ideal for business travellers who are looking for unique events to entertain clients so keep that in mind.

On Friday the 12^th, the Race Village opens 10.30am and for all three days, stadium racing is from 2.00 – 5.00pm. On Sunday the 14^th at 5.30pm, the prize giving for Act 8 and Extreme Sailing Series is at 5.30pm so mark that in your calendars.

If you’re a major water buff fan, you can also volunteer and be officially classified as an ambassador of the Series. Working alongside a top tier team, this is the time to develop new sailing skills and meet some of the best sailors in the world. As an added bonus, you’ll also receive a certificate of participation which is fantastic for students who require such credentials for university submissions. Since the event’s nearly upon us, you’ll need to email volunteers@extremesailing.com.au quickly for potential volunteer spaces or fill the online form.

For anyone staying at Cremorne Point Manor during this fantastic weekend, let us know if you need advice or help in finding the best spots to watch the Series!