We popped out for a ladies night on Saturday at Dear Sainte Éloise and it was buzzing! Dark & sexy with warm reds, dark stained wood and a touch of velvet the space has been transformed from it's previous incarnation as Waterman's Lobster Bar. The name Dear Sainte Éloise was taken from George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London, in which the writer prays for "just enough to buy some bread and a bottle of wine". (see the photo below for a partial view of the bar's black board with the chapter scrawled across it).
Re-discovering Ponsonby Rd on this trip back to our hometown of Auckland.. One2One Cafe is where the original Atomic cafe used to be and next door to our favourite Magazino store. Co-owner Chris Priestly has put the focus back on the beans and the food - with his former chef from Kerouac days the gifted Mark Nicholson in the kitchen.
Finally checked out Henry Lee's Redfern on the weekend, thanks to a girlfriends suggestion. We had seen the street art on Insta' but didn't click that this was where it lived! Always a fan of Lynes & Co - this one designed by the talented Gemma O'Brien (also known as Mseaves101). If you like your cafes well-hidden and designed this is the place for you. However you may want to take a cushion for the metal rung chairs if your on the bony side and have a bit of time up your sleeve.
Last night at Paddington Town Hall Sydney Mardi Gra launched the 2016 Festival Season! With Courtney Act - MG Global Ambassador - strutting out to perform her opening number in a fringed neon cape. Then keeping us amused throughout the speeches with various anecdotes. The festival is two weeks packed with everything from bear picnics to Underwear parties and queer film galore. The Sydney Connection is staging two dining walk events in Surry Hills & Darlinghurst in our third year as part of the festival programme.
