Australian Open for all

There is nothing more exciting, as a journalist than sitting in the front row, of any major sporting event (for me there are three; The Australian Open, The Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Avalon Airshow). Of course, these events are strictly limited to Australia, because honestly, if I start to prattle on about international sporting events I could be here for a long time.

I’ll level with you, the AFL season is not of a particular interest of mine, however, I am exposed to it constantly as my Mother, a crazed Essendon ‘Bombers’ supporter seems to think that every new season, is a new season to try and convert me. So far she has not convinced me, nor has my sister in trying to bring my fandom to English Football (or soccer as we call it here in Australia). Rugby League, Golf, most Olympic sports, I’ll still stay honest; it just doesn’t sell me.

David Ferrer

So, as you can see, with only three events that enthuse so, my delight when ‘tennis time’ comes around is riotous and somewhat, uncontrollable.  By the time October prior to the event, flips the calendar, my tickets are bought (for January’s Australian Open) and the two weeks are planned out strategically.

This year did not disappoint, and with the semi finals seeing a battle between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, as a tennis fan, I couldn’t ask for more.  This year, Melbourne Park shone a little different. The gargantuan Heineken beer Garden seemed to trump years before, a smart and well thought out money-spinner. The grounds are being renovated, however they still managed to make the courts and the outside-seated areas, in front of large televisions, look good.

Na Li 

Here is where I will name my friend ‘The Serbian’. He won’t mind you see, especially so because Novak Djokovic, although losing the battle throughout the quarter final, still displayed a wonderful performance of passion, and that of a humble, and that of an understanding gentlemen; when he did not advance to the next round. I’m going to recount just one of my days at the tennis, because if I consider recounting more than one, we could be here until Wimbledon starts.

‘The Serbian’ and I arrived at the tennis around 12pm; it was a sweltering 44 degrees. We had good seats in Hisense Arena; the line up saw two separate matches, one including Tsonga, Rogowska, Monfils and the other Federer.

Walking through the grounds, we were greeted with the epitome of ‘tennis’ spirit. How the promoters could keep it together in this heat, I don’t know! ‘The Serbian’ and I had a bite to eat (I was pleasantly surprised when I found vegetarian rice paper roles to eat, and my friend opted for a healthy option also, usually sporting events see only food that puts your heart at risk of bypass).

Tennis Australia Spidercam 

We then, with a Powerade each in hand, made our way into the stadium. The women were playing, (Radwanska def. Govortsova) and although our seats were front row we opted for something higher up, something that would keep us in the shade. We found solace near a particular obese family, however trying to walk past them ‘The Serbian’ not having much room, was bumped into a concrete pole, leaving his knee rendered sore, painful and useless for the rest of the day.  All I can say about this is fat people in crowds, rolls eyes.

The more people that poured in, the hotter it got. We left the stadium, peeling away from the fat family and luckily we did. The heat had got to me. I awoke in the St Jones ambulance air-conditioned portable room, lying on a bed that resembled that of WW2. After an hour of monitoring, tennis Australia had decided to close the roof on both Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena; only after however 28 people had also passed out.

Novak Djokovic

The experience didn’t taint me, and thus my dear friend, ‘The Serbian’ looked after me with an abundance of the Jacob’s Creek Moscato rosé, which proved to be the perfect pick me up. We then sat, in comfort for the rest of the afternoon, particularly cooler, enjoying our countless wines and then finally, enjoying the finesse of Roger Federer. That man is like watching liquid gold, he is particularly limber, flexible like a ballerina and without awkwardness or robotic movement.

You see, Roger Federer is a marketers dream and it is evident why. The way he controls himself as a sportsman, his well-spoken, but slightly accented speech and finally, his all over class. ‘The Serbian’ and I were a little disappointed that their was only a fraction of player merchandise (only one Roger Federer cap and one Rafael Nadal cap) compared with ‘Aus Open’ merchandise, this for us was a little disappointing.

Evidently, I could continue, but it would only be to bore you. ‘The Australian Open’ is an event you must discover, even if you only buy a ground pass and sit with your friends on the lawn with a picnic, while watching the event on the big screens. It is safe to say that my dear ‘Serbian’ friend and I will be watching Friday Nights’ (January 24^th) match with bated breath (Nadal vs Federer). Can I choose between the two who I want to win? I simply can’t. It’s like asking the question “which of your children do you love the most”.

Roger Federer

If I have however, convinced you to join the tennis fanatics of Australia for the event, you should always, take your own personal ‘Serbian’. Why? They know a lot about tennis, their passion is unregistered and they always look after the ladies (never an empty wine glass and always an arm to help you down the stairs).

 It is also worth booking seats to Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, as that is where most of the top players exhibit. Purchasing early in October means that you will get very good, possibly even front row seats. 

Above are a series of photographs, shot by Sunny Lim for © CLiQ photography at this years Australian Open. I’m sure his representation of this event is far more engaging than my own. 

https://www.facebook.com/CliQPhotography.com.au

Grand Designs Live

Shaynna Blaze & Claudia Sorace 

Are you a young couple searching for your first home? Maybe you’re a retired engineer looking to downsize with your wife, now the children have fled the nest? Possibly you’re an investor or a property developer hunting for your next property to add to your portfolio. Or perhaps you are one of the crazy; perfectionist or obsessive elitists that want to create their own original, Grand Design.  

The Foxtel ‘Lifestyle’ group of shows, appeals to a wide demographic. It’s definite to say, that because of this, when they hold a live event, it’s a pretty big deal.  The scale is gargantuan and there is a niche of crazed, home/architectural-obsessed based fans that will fight you, albeit to the death, for a photo with Kevin McCloud.

My mother had attended the year previously, to the ‘Grand Designs Live - Australia’ and the experience was so inspiring she wanted to return this year with me (I would have attended last year, but I was slumming at London Fashion Week 2012). So what is the event all about? Well, everything you could want for your home; new technologies, eco friendly living, the latest in home and interior design is all clustered under the one roof in a single exhibit.

Kevin McCloud & Claudia Sorace

Yet, I still haven’t begun to discuss the ‘Grand Design’s Live’ celebrities. Firstly, and of course, there is Kevin McCloud from the Grand Designs series UK. Upon meeting Mr. McCloud in the VIP room, it is apparent why he is considered such a legend in his field. Kevin McCloud has an exceptional narrative voice, and he is genuinely humble and somewhat selfless.  His sheer intellect and wit, as I, a sapiosexual, made me weak at the knees.

The crazed ‘Lifestyle’ fans brought him props to wear, spent considerable time asking him questions (that I’m positive he’s been asked a million times before). Kevin McCloud however, doesn’t waver in his interest in everyone he meets, he could stand there bored as hell, but instead he tried on the props his fans brought him and answered every question thrown at him.

Andrew Winter & Claudia Sorace 

Luckily, I was then able to literally stumble into Shaynna Blaze. This woman is incredible. Not only is she an interior design extraordinaire, but also she is a wonderful television presenter. Of course when I met her, I couldn’t help (like a crazed ‘lifestyle’ fan) compliment her achievements. Shaynna Blaze however, wanted to know about me. The day prior to the event I was discharged from hospital due to a medical condition. When Shaynna Blaze after prompting me, discovered this information she said “You stand tall and without doubt. You hold your shoulders back and be proud of who you are!”. She is inspirational and upbeat, it makes total sense why she has become so successful. 

Whilst discussing her show “Selling Houses Australia” I did mention that Andrew Winter was my favorite television celebrity. What was to come literally blew me away.

Shaynna Blaze arranged a private meeting for Andrew Winter and myself. It was incredible. Not only is Andrew Winter a lecturer in his field, but also he, unlike his television persona, is a man of sharp wit and hilarity, not as grumpy as one would have thought.

Bryce Holdaway & Claudia Sorace

Not only that, but soon after I had the honor to meet with Bryce Holdaway (Location, Location, Location Australia). Bryce, along with Kevin McCloud, Andrew Winter, Shaynna Blaze, Chalie Albone, Peter Maddison (Grand Designs Australia) all gave lectures in their field. Not only did I, as a person who hasn’t bought into real estate yet, learn an immense amount about the value of what to look for when buying, but also the eco living and interior design methods can only be learnt truly by these legends.

If you are a fan of Grand Designs and these neighboring programs, I urge you to, in 2014 attend this event. The event runs in Sydney and Melbourne, daily all of the stars listed above and more from the Lifetsyle Channel attend, giving a schedule of timed lectures. You may have the opportunity to meet them, and if you splurge a little, the VIP package gives you access to a hideaway with the stars, free flowing wine or champagne, canapés and the chance to mingle with people who are all there to appreciate one thing; design, architecture and style.  

MoTivation for flavour

Food Critic without a face Alex Beazley,

almost makes dining at MoVida a religious experiance. 

 Hi, my name is Alex Beazley, and I’m a Movidaholic.

MoVida (the original, at 1 Hosier Lane, Melbourne).

Rain, hail or shine (in this case rain), whenever I touch down in Melbourne, I make tracks for MoVida. I maintain I hold the quickest Airport to Movida time bar none. I am also well and truly happy to fight it out with the plethora of lonely planet guide holding Scandinavian tourists, the various and ethnically diverse wedding processions rolling down Hosier Lane, the hooded graffiti artists, and finally the horde of regular Movidaphiles usually lining out the door. I don’t even get a table. But by hell or high water I will be squeezed onto a bar stool, next to a drunken Irish man, and between a pair of too cool for school Melbourne-ites. Yes, I really do rate this place quite highly.

Eating at Movida should be easy, but many people get it wrong. The less time you spend faffing about the better, it’s a busy place and the staff, despite being excellent, have a lot on their plate. This is how I do it. Sit down, yes you heard me, bums on seats please, the toilet, phone call, domestic disturbance outside can and will wait. Ask for a glass of dry sherry/beer/white wine, whatever is good/would usually take your fancy. Next, ask for one of every tapa on the menu. It’s that easy. Suddenly, despite being the most recent person to sit down, you will have a drink, bread (for $1, which is donated to charity) and tapa with banging flavours arriving all around you. This will be much to the envy of those ‘indie’ hipsters beside you who decided to google translate every Spanish word on the menu. Sure thing buddy.  

Technically, the food and the flavours are not overworked or overcomplicated. It’s not ground breaking stuff, but rather consistent, flavoursome and genuine food. Since my last visit earlier this year the menu had changed and yet all of my favourites had remained. Perfect. My favourite Movida dish by far is the Caballa Ahumada ($6) or cold smoked mackerel with pine nut gazpacho sorbet. The smoky, nutty, sweet thing going on here is something I can still taste to this day. The Sopa ($4) or garlic soup with calamari was not nearly as garlicy as it sounds, and the Anchoa ($4.50) or anchovy crouton with smoked tomato sorbet was another main stay menu item for all the right reasons. Braised salt cod tripe ($4) is not for the faint hearted and for a small dish packs in the flavour. All in all there were 11 tapa on the menu as of late September, and none of them disappointed. My sampling of the larger dishes included the Bistec Tartare or wagyu tartare ($18.50) and Pulpo or chargrilled octopus ($25.00). These were equally successful in the taste department and certainly reasonably portioned. I did, and much to the amazement of staff, splash out on a further 3 desserts, of which the salted chocolate and olive oil ice cream was the one I remember most fondly. 

It would be easy for a popular place like MoVida to start slacking on the little things, but as far as I could see, the toilets were clean, the cutlery and crockery polished, the food was simple but well-presented and the staff remained cool, friendly and informative from start to finish. If you haven’t eaten at MoVida yet, I’d hop to it. And for those in Sydney, I hear the MoVida there is just as good!

Final words:

Bookings for a table is essential, but ‘walk-ins’ (let’s say no more than 3 people) can often find bar space.

MoVida Bar de Tapas - 1 Hosier Lane, Melbourne Open lunch and dinner 7 days a week: 12pm to late For bookings: +61 3 9663 3038 - See more at: http://movida.com.au

Come to Carnaby...

Carnival in Carnaby Street

London has lots of places to love. The historic hotels, the grand anesthetics of a city so old, but has had the gusto to encompass the new. London is that kind of place. They say if you are sick of London you are sick of life, whoever ‘they’ are, they’re probably right. Upon my recentvisit to London, I was lucky enough to do things that I haven’t done before.

However, the most understated afternoon was shopping in Carnaby Street. I found myself in a little square, in a restaurant that did the largest and most incredible nacho’s and further more, had a run in with a very handsome medical student. Carnaby Street harbors the most eclectic and popular shops. Carnaby Street is where the cool kids hang out. This is further confirmed because; a pretty cool chick took me there.

It was a 34-degree day, it was hot, but we had tried to alter our threads to be heat tolerable; and yet still fashionable. Being a manic tea fanatic, I was offered the privilege to have the ‘Great Taste Gold 2012’ winners ‘Camellia’s Tea House’ experience. You can’t top the amount of tea’s that are supplied here.

My friend, The Jew (as he doesn’t mine being referred to, if you have read previous blog posts) is a pretty hotshot lawyer, and evidently lives with an immense amount of stress due to his profession and ever-working entrepreneurial mind. I was able to bring him back some ‘stress less’ tea concoction, and from what I hear, apparently it’s working. If you are visiting Carnaby Street any time soon, have a typical English afternoon tea here, and peruse the tea selection while you’re at it.

There is also the famous and ever well known ‘Liberty’ department store, which if the Tudor frontage doesn’t give you an architectural-gasm, I don’t know what would. As I had my little Starbucks Orange-Mocha-Frappuccino (It was actually a strawberries and cream Frappuccino, fittingly) in hand, and the hot English Summer beating down, I realized this was the city of happiness.

If you like hilarious, cute and Japanese inspire pajamas and tees, head to David and Goliath clothing. One of my dear friends ended up buying sushi inspired pajamas, which can only compare to Australia’s Peter Alexander’s. Shopping bags in tow, the City of London was handing out bottled water, and the day ended up on such a high that we ended up in hospital. That’s right heat stroke, who would have thought it in this city!

Before that though, Carnaby Street was a stroke of awesome. If you are heading to London anytime soon, divert off Regent Street, head down Beak Street and there you’ll have a Carnival in Carnaby.

Camellia's Tea House http://www.camelliasteahouse.com/

David & Goliath Clothing http://www.davidandgoliathco.com/stores.html

Carnaby Directory http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/46455-carnaby