Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Sydney - making a list

This weekend my husband and I will be heading up to Sydney - we're meeting three other couples up there for a long weekend of child-free fun & frivolity. None of us actually live in Sydney, we just happen to be congregating there. Every ANZAC day weekend we get together in either Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. We've been doing this for years - the four boys joined the army together when they were 16 and served in the UN peacekeeping force in Namibia and have remained good friends for over 25 years even though none of them are still in the army and they now live in different states. So, we're really looking forward to catching up with our good friends.

I'm also looking forward to checking out the Archibald Prize portraiture exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW...


Image from Art Gallery of NSW

This is a portrait of musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu painted by Guy Maestri. It is the winning portrait for the 2009 Archibald Prize. Can't wait to see it (and the other finalists) first hand.


I'm also making a list of some of my favourite Sydney shops that I want to check out while I'm there...

Ici Et La for fabric and French vintage...


Image from Urban Walkabout


Edit for interesting one-off pieces...

Image from Edit


Image from Edit

Cooking marvel Donna Hay's new homewares store...
Images from Donna Hay
Check out the great interview and fabulous pics of Donna's new store over at Far Out Brussels Sprout. It's got me itching to check out the shop!

The Society Inc for its general loveliness - you never know what you'll find when you step inside (oh how I wish they'd get their website up & running - it's been under construction for so long)...
Image from The Society Inc.
You can also read a recent post about this lovely shop at the fabulous blog The Design Files right here.

Parterre - I simply swoon and lust after everything whenever I visit this amazing store (make sure you check out their website - there are some amazing pieces)...

Image from Parterre

No Chintz - I need some fabric for my new bedroom window seat and I just know that I'll find exactly what I want right here...

Image from No Chintz

If you're a Sydneysider, do you know of any furniture and homewares shops that are really worth visiting?

12 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 5:03 AM

    OMG, omg....I'm speechless!! What a beautiful magnificent painting!!!
    Oh..and have fun this weekend, do feel absolutely free to take some pictures(lol)...greeetzzz, Carmie.

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  2. Brabourne FarmApril 22, 2009 at 6:41 AM

    Just a few suggestions:-

    Camargue - Mosman
    Tolle'n Crowe - Northbridge
    Country Trader - Waterloo
    Doug Up On Burke Street - Waterloo
    David Met Nicole - Surry Hills

    Sounds like a wonderful weekend - enjoy.

    Leigh

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  3. MillieApril 22, 2009 at 9:53 AM

    I bet you're counting the sleeps now Lee! How fantastic you are able to get to see the current Archibald Exhibition - lucky you. I always go to Sydney for work, so I never go shopping, so I'm the last person to ask for recommendations! Note to self - THAT MUST CHANGE!
    Millie ^_^

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  4. LeeApril 22, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    C.T. - I love the Archibald exhibition - it's a very prestigious art competition here in Australia. I will do my best to take some pics while I'm away.

    Leigh - thanks so much for these wonderful recommendations. I've jotted them down in my notebook & will let you know which ones I manage to pop into. Not sure how much exploring I'll actually get to do!

    Millie - I so know what you're talking about. Last time I was in Sydney I only saw the inside of a taxi, my hotel room & the business premises at which I was working. I'm absolutely rapt that I'm just going up there to 'play' this time.

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  5. Julie April 22, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    Hello Lee
    Hope you have a wonderful time in Sydney. please bring a lot of pictures from your listed places, if there allowed you to take pictures(smile).

    Take care
    Julie

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  6. NERIDA McMURRAYApril 22, 2009 at 8:06 PM

    Hi Lee,

    If you are going to the donna hay general store should check out RG Madden, The Art of Wine and Food on Queen Street and Piggott's Store on Ocean Street while you are in Woollahra.

    Like Leigh, I would recommend Doug Up On Bourke in Waterloo and then head to Fratelli Fresh / Cafe Sopra (upstairs) for lunch (get in early) and then on to The Country Trader and David Met Nicole. Ici et La is down a bit on Bourke St around the corner. Bourke St Bakery or Cafe Zoe on Bourke St are good for lunch too.

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  7. JackyApril 22, 2009 at 8:40 PM

    Lee you are going to have such a fun time in Sydney...wish I was there checking out those fabric shops too!

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  8. SiobhanApril 22, 2009 at 10:03 PM

    Nerida - you beat me to it! All good recommendations.

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  9. AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 10:35 PM

    I love Sydney so much! Have fun! And if you can handle any more recommendations, I suggest Orson and Blake (just around the corner from Parterre) and Papaya, not far away at Westfield Bondi Junction. In fact, last time I was there I walked from Parterre to Bondi Junction. Make sure you tell us all about it!

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  10. AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 11:52 PM

    I had a coffee with a friend of mine who came back from her Australia trip. I am soooo much in Love with Sidney! I'm sure I could live there; city, beach, lot's of people....I will have a serious talk with my husband tonight to see if he can get a job overthere.....as if...he's too much in love with Italy. Worth trying though;-) So you better make some nice pictures;-))) (lol)

    Have fun this weekend, I'll think of you walking around in metropolitan Sidney, sigh

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  11. KristaApril 23, 2009 at 12:25 AM

    Wow Parterre is such a great link! I absolutely love that piece you put up on your blog! Thank you so much for sharing the link!

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  12. NERIDA McMURRAYApril 23, 2009 at 12:56 PM

    Thx for your lovely comment!

    Have an awesome time this weekend.

    Nerida.

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