Pyrmont Festival 2013

Munch through May at a series of fabulous new events in the Pyrmont Festival of Wine, Food and Art.

Held from 17-26 May, 2013, the Pyrmont Festival collaborates with the producers, winemakers and artists from the Mudgee Region to encourage people to eat and drink regionally.

For the first time, iconic Ultimo-Pyrmont cultural institutions will join in the celebrations with events at the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Powerhouse Museum and Sydney Heritage Fleet. Music in the Sails, a wine and classical music concert which concludes the festival, will be held at Sydney Heritage Fleet. Other new events include a long lunch at Flying Fish and Mudgee region artists showcasing large works in a sculpture garden.

Just over the water over looking the festival the Metro Apartments Darling Harbour

The festival's headliner is Wine, Food and Art, a free outdoor event in Pirrama Park which has expanded to two days for the first time. Meet the winemakers and taste over 120 Mudgee wines, see the seventh annual Pyrmont Art Prize, and indulge in heaps of food and entertainment. Held over Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May from 11am-5pm, this event is free.

Food and Wine Highlights
* Breakfast at Pyrmont Bay: the Festival begins with an Italian-themed breakfast at long tables on the wharf at Doltone House with Huntington Estate (17 May, 7-9am, $45pp)
* Lunch at Flying Fish: enjoy an innovative menu at the end of Pyrmont's historic Jones Bay Wharf with Logan Wines (17 May, 12.30pm, $120pp)
* Yots Café Live Music at the Australian National Maritime Museum marina features music, wine and cheese-matching with High Valley Wines (19 May, 3-6pm)
* Signorelli Gastronomia Mudgee Wine Dinner is a three-course Mudgee wine pairing dinner with Optimiste Wines and Moothi Estate (21 May, $80pp)
* The Apprentice at Tafe NSW Wine Dinner is a unique experience to enjoy food served at five-star level by the rising stars of Sydney's hospitality industry, matched with Short Sheep and Elliott Roche wines (22 May, $60pp)
* Music in the Sails: enjoy a live classical music concert and Huntington Estate Wines in the foyer at Sydney Heritage Fleet (27 May, 2-4pm)

Pyrmont chefs will also team up with Mudgee region winemakers, with events at Café Morso with Bunnamagoo wines, Bar Zini with Cooks Lot wines, Pyrama with Vinifera Wines and Quilty Wines, and Blue Eye Dragon with Botobolar and Gooree Park. There will even be Mudgee wine tastings at Fisherman's Fine Wines at the Sydney Fish Markets, Porters Liquor and Red Bottle.

Image courtesy Pyrmont Festival

Art Events Highlights
* The 7th Pyrmont Art Prize features over 300 artworks with thousands of dollars in prizes (at Wine, Food and Art, Pirrama Park, 19 May) and artists from the Mudgee region will collaborate on a sculpture garden featuring large works
* Mudgee artists exhibition at Culture at Work
* Schools project: six local schools will paint over 200 artworks for the Festival under the topic 'The most precious things on earth'. These artworks will be exhibited on Sunday 19 May in Pirrama Park
* Doorstop Portraits at the Powerhouse Museum will be a solo photography exhibition featuring artworks by photographer North Sullivan

Image courtesy Pyrmont Festival

This year's program is bigger and better than ever and has built on last year's success, which saw 6,000 people attend a series of dinners, lunches, tastings and outdoor events.

The Pyrmont Festival is a unique opportunity for Pyrmont to demonstrate its diversity as a dining and lifestyle precinct, and is a collaboration between the Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce, the City of Sydney and the Mudgee Region Tourism and Wine industry.

The Mudgee region is 3.5 hours' drive from Sydney in Central NSW and is one of the state's first established wine regions. It is renowned for its food and wine with around 40 family-run boutique wineries in the area, as well as excellent art, music, nature and history experiences.

FREE Wifi Darling Harbour Sydney

Since this is the digital age and we live in a time where staying connected is almost as important to many as eating and breathing, I decided to compile a list of Wi-Fi hotspots in Sydney's CBD that are completely free of charge. Free wireless connectivity is still on the rise in many Australian cities and after a recent trip to the USA I found myself disappointed somewhat with the number of places offering free public Wi-Fi access by comparison. However the good news is if you know where to go in the first place staying connected becomes a whole lot easier.
Metro apartments Darling Harbour has FREE WiFi in all public areas and in ALL apartments. This has just been upgraded and all Apartments now get Free Fast Wifi at Full Strength.

Metro Apartments Darling Harbour

If you're a visitor to Sydney and need to stay in touch, or if you're just like me and love to be glued to your device 24/7 no matter the location, below is a list of places offering free connectivity in and around Sydney's central business district.

Wi-Fi in City Libraries

The city of Sydney offers free wireless internet in more than 12 of its libraries around the city. All of these libraries offer public computers so you don't even need to bring along your own device to connect, although bringing your own laptop or in my case, iPad gives you the flexibility to perch in the most comfortable location (read: beanbags and squishy sofas)

Three libraries in the centre of town offering free Wi-Fi include:

1) Customs House Library. 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay Right near Circular Quay this is a good first place to connect when arriving downtown by train or ferry. Free wireless found on ground floor and Level 2

2) Town Hall Library Level 1, Town Hall House 456 Kent Street
Not as impressive or large as Customs House library but an option to put your feet up and log on in the heart of Sydney's CBD.

3) Haymarket Library, 744 George Street

Located in the heart of Chinatown, this Library offers free wireless and public access computers plus the largest collection of Chinese language materials in any Australian library.

Wi-Fi in Cafe's and Restaurants

Some of the places that are best for browsing can often be comfortable coffee shops and cosy cafe's. Here are just a few of the places downtown where you can eat, drink and surf simultaneously. While many cafe's require log in access codes, others do not and appropriate Wi-Fi etiquette suggests that you should at least purchase something, and maybe something else later depending how long you want to log on.

Urban Spoon is a great resource to search cafe and restaurant listings offering free wireless internet to their customers in the greater Sydney area. Here are a locations downtown offering food, drink and internet to their customers.

1) Starbucks Coffee Numerous city locations including Circular Quay, York Street, (near Wynyard Station) & Darling Harbour (Cockle Bay prrecinct)
From personal experience free internet access at Starbucks can generally be counted upon for reliability and speed with comfy chairs and tables to match. Others may have to same idea though with wi-fi at Starbucks quite popular so finding a less busy store or visiting at a off peak time (evening, or early morning) is advisable to snare yourself the best seat in the house.

2) Felix Bistro & Bar 2 Ash Street A charming hassle free bistro located underneath famed nightclub Ivy, this little spot is a urban oasis in the concrete jungle and a good spot to stop for a bite and log on.

3) Doppio Espresso 248 Pitt Street
Boasting a mention in the Sydney Morning Herald's good cafe guide, Doppio is right near the Pitt Street Mall shopping hub and a good place to call in and log on.

4) McDonalds Restaurants All city locations offer free wireless

Word of warning: McDonalds free wireless can be slightly dodgy and at times drop out with tediously slow connection experienced. Because of this I'd suggest this is not the place to compose important emails or any serious online business. However if you're just after a bit of quick facebooking or online banking McDonalds is hard to beat with convenient locations almost everywhere in Sydney CBD.

Staying Connected While Traveling in Sydney

Wi-Fi is available for travellers at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport

In my opinion being online is the best way to kill time while waiting for transport or even while on transport.

1) Free Wi-Fi on Sydney Ferries
Sydney has adopted free wireless initiatives on the Ferry network much to the pleasure of commuters. 96 percent of the fleet now has Wi-Fi access 45 mins/30MB free for commuters twice a day. For more information click here

Whether or not free Wi-Fi is introduced on the rail network like in Brisbane remains to be seen - but lets hope so.

2) Free Wi-Fi at Sydney Airport

For tourists and business travelers leaving or arriving in Sydney free wireless is offered at both domestic and international services. allowing passengers to log on before they jet off.

As previously mentioned free Wi-Fi while modest in Sydney is on the rise, you just need to know where to connect. If there are any other locations in and around the Sydney CBD please let us know with a comment. Happy surfing!

Five Free May Events in Sydney

Vivid Sydney: 24 May to 10 June
Vivid Sydney is set to once again illuminate Sydney but it's not all about the lights. Vivid is a festival of music and ideas too. The light installations and projections are all free and include The Electric Canvas at Cadman's Finger, Lighting the Sails at the Opera House and Move Your Building at Customs House.. There are a number of free events as part of Reportage Festival 2013, where documentary photographs are displayed in surprising ways, and The Digital Playground, a "celebration of photography".

Sydney will once again become a canvas of light, music and ideas when Vivid Sydney takes over the city after dark from 24 May to 10 June 2013. And this year, Darling Harbour will be the backdrop for a spectacular new show never before seen in Australia.

Every night during Vivid, Aquatique Water Theatre will transform Cockle Bay into a 20-metre wall of water, light, colour, projections and music inspired by the fountains of Versailles. With four mesmerising shows a night from 6pm, Aquatique Water Theatre will be an absolute must-see event.

But that’s not all! Before or after you experience Aquatique Water Theatre there’s so much to do in Darling Harbour. Relax over dinner at Harbourside, drop into Cockle Bay Wharf for a drink, grab a movie and pizza at the IMAX Theatre complex, view the rooftop projections at the Australian National Maritime Museum and catch Luminous at Darling Quarter. You can also strike a pose next to a movie star at Madame Tussauds and visit the Australian animals and sea life at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium—all of which will be open late during Vivid.

Vivid Darling Harbour is a collaboration between Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Darling Harbour Alliance, Destination NSW and Aquatique Show International.

Vivid Darling HarbourShows every hour from 6pm, 24 May – 10 JuneCockle Bay, Darling HarbourFree

Best Darling Harbour Apartment

Details

When: Vivid Sydney from Friday 24 May to Monday 10 June. The Digital Playground from Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June. Reportage Festival from Saturday 25 May to Thursday 13 June.
Where: Various venues. See websites for details
More Information: Visit the Vivid Sydney website to see what's on for Light, Music and Ideas.

 

 

 

Wine, Food and Art in Pirrama Park: 18 and 19 May
As part of the Pyrmont Festival of Wine, Food and Art, this weekend outdoor free event combines wine tasting with art appreciation and photography. You can taste more than 100 wines from Mudgee winemakers, view the entries in the 7th annual Pyrmont Art Prize and have your photo taken at the pop up photographic studio.

Details

When: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May from 11am to 5pm.
Where: Pirrama Park, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
More Information: Visit the website here. Entry is free, wine tasting packages are available to purchase.

 

 

Buddha's Birthday: 11 and 12 May
Darling Harbour is the venue for the nineteenth Buddha's Birthday Festival in Sydney. There will be official ceremonies, lion dancing, lectures, multicultural performances and a costume competition, as well as copious amounts of vegetarian food and traditional arts and crafts.

Details

When: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May 2013 from 10am to 4pm..
Where: Darling Harbour - Tumbalong Park and Chinese Garden Forecourt.
More Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Home Food and Wine Weekend: 17 to 19 May
This weekend of innovation and inquiry is brought to you by some of Australia's favourite home and lifestyle magazines. You can join the experts in decorating, design, food and wine for a host of cooking displays, design classes and tips about renovation, garden design, flooring, paint, even dinner parties and beauty makeovers. Presentations on the Kitchen Stage and Lifestyle Stage will be running over the course of the show. All sessions are free but you must register to attend

Details

When: Friday 17 May from 2pm to 6pm, Saturday 18 May from 9am to 7pm, and Sunday 19 May from 9am to 4pm.
Where: Byron Kennedy Hall, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, Sydney
More Information: Visit the website here. Click on the session/s you'd like to attend and follow the instructions to register.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's almost winter. The days are getting shorter, the nights are cooler and you're running the shower just a little hotter. Enjoy Autumn's last hurrah in Sydney by getting out and about and enjoying all the freebie fun the city has to offer. You can be dazzled by design, lured by light and ideas, celebrate Buddha's birthday, have fun with food and wine, or wax lyrical with writers. The choice is yours.

Winter Warmer Package at Metro Apartments on King @ Metro Apartments on King - Metro Hotels

Metro Apartments on King invite you to book this Winter Warmer including:

• Free Sparkling wine
• Chocolates

$179.00 Sunday-Thursday, $279.00 Friday-Saturday (minimum 2 night stay)


Book this Winter Warmer at Metro Apartments on King 

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Terms and Conditions:

Prices are based on two occupants

Offer is strictly subject to availability and may not be available for special event dates.

Rates are not valid with any other offer.

All other terms & conditions will be provided when making your booking

Bookings are non-refundable

Offer Valid until 31st March 2013

- See more at: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/special/297#sthash.6Rt5s1IL.dpuf

• Prices are based on two occupants
• Minimum 2 night stay is required. 
• Offer is strictly subject to availability and may not be available for special event dates.
• Rates are not valid with any other offer.
• All other terms & conditions will be provided when making your booking
• Bookings are non-refundable
• Offer Valid until 31st May 2013