Blog from my Tailored Tasmania website:
Some of us are lucky little interstate travellers who have friends like North Hobart’s Liza Jane. This bubbly local loves entertaining visitors and whisking them away to her favourite gems. Whether you live here or plan to visit, this is a weekend you’re going to want to borrow! Friday night we’d head to Grape for bubbles and tapas then round to Rektango for some live music. Saturday would start with a session at the barre (as the locals know it, otherwise known as Barrecode, cures any hangover!) followed by brekkie at an artisan bakery such as Daci & Daci or Pigeon Hole. Then it’d be off to Salamanca market and Salamanca shopping – Spacebar Gallery, A Common Ground, The Maker and Handmark Gallery are my favourites, then we’d hit the Hobart Bookshop. Next, we’d stroll back up to NoHo (aka North Hobart) pop into Tusk for some more retail therapy before catching a flick at the State Cinema –checking out the bookstore there too. After, we’d treat ourselves to an old fashioned milkshake and lollies at Renown before heading to either Raincheck, Piccolo, Smolt or Ethos for dinner. Alternately, I would hit the road after stocking up on fresh produce and head down the Channel to Bruny Island – stocking up on more gourmet produce along the way – Get Shucked Oysters, Bruny Island Cheese and bread, and treats from the smokehouse. I might even consider overnighting on the island as there are some great new accommodation places. Sunday we’d hit the Farmers Market for a Haloumi burger (and ask for an egg to be added – delicious) and a great coffee. We’d then stock up on some sushi from the Farmer’s market before hitting TMAG (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery) and hiring Art Bikes to ride out to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). We’d eat sushi on the pink bean bags and wash it down with some Muse bubbles. We’d spend the afternoon at MONA – with more bubbles at the bar in the museum to top off a day! *Note, Liza Jane isn’t the only one that likes visiting at A Common Ground! Blog from my Tailored Tasmania website:
Ever wondered what Cam Tapp (appeared on The Voice) likes to do when he returns to his much-loved birthplace of Tasmania? Why not follow the tracks of this famous singer songwriter next time you’re here, as Cam describes what he and a mate might get up to on a weekend in Tassie… Cam’s Ideal Weekend: If a friend and I were in Tassie for the weekend, I’d have to of course start by having drinks at Knoppies (Knopwoods Retreat) on the Friday night and then maybe a fisherman’s basket at Mures for dinner followed by a stroll through Salamanca later that night. On Saturday we’d wander down through Battery Point to Salamanca Market for a coffee at Retro Cafe. If it was a nice day then maybe a drive up to the mountain and after that an arvo drive for a counter meal and a cold beer in a country pub down the Huon. On Saturday night I’d go see a movie at the State Cinema and then grab a late meal in North Hobart. Sunday would be for going walking on one of the beautiful beaches that are within 20 minutes drive. *Take a look at Famous Tasmanians, a brilliant website that sees Cam travel around his homeland and gain inspiration from the people and places that make this island so special. Like us on Facebook to find out about great local deals. Arriving in London Town was an exciting moment. After long delays on the runway followed by about 30 hours of travel we were finally released from our claustrophobic capsule and into Heathrow. I walked a good 800 metres smiling away when suddenly I looked down at my ballet flats and realised I still had grey British Airways flight socks on....pulled up and wedged into my shoes neatly....what an attractive start to the holiday!!
The sun shone down on us during our first English day. So we hired Barclays bikes and rode about Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens until we could pedal no more. As the sun beat down we saw more than one pasty English man sprawled out in the grass collecting the first rays of summer. Little children frolicked in large school groups, wearing hi-viz attire and chattering away in mini-pommy accents much to our delight. We even bumped into Prince Charles rolling out of his royal driveway. Thinking that this was my moment of Papparazzi glory, I fumbled for my SLR. The result was fantastic, a lovely snap of the wrong vehicle, followed by a snap of Prince Charles' fuel cap. I couldn't' even blame speed, they were hurtling along at 5km/hour. We followed this with a trip to Piccadilly Circus where another brush with fame occurred. A red carpet rolled out before us and young English girls were squealing in high pitch chants. Apparently it was Little Kim and some of her mates. For some reason I found M&M world beside us with it's four colourful floors far more exciting. A mark of my maturity. The following morning we styled ourselves up in our best crumpled suitcase wares and headed for High Street, Kensington. Off the main street were beautiful leafy streets lined with mansions. After asking one lady where the nicest houses might dwell she whispered carefully....'turn left at the traffic lights'....then playing with her necklace nervously and giving us a secret smile she added...'Simon Cowell lives up that way.' Taking our treasured information we set off on foot. Although not knocking on the door we have a fairly good idea where our mate Si lives now. Rather fancy indeed!! We followed this by a beautiful coffee and naughty French treat in a beautiful little cafe named La Caferteria or something of the like, which was the size of a matchbox, but a BUNDLE of flavour squeezed in. The evening was filled with music to our ears as we made our underground way to Covent Gardens where we enjoyed the musical Shrek. Putting an ogre in the place of a gracious swan might seem odd in a musical, but the chuckles and love that burst out of Shrek's big being were enough to keep our hearts smiling for two hours straight. Up early the next day we were off to Soho to explore the area. Well what can we say, what an exciting mix of folk and from our seats looking out to the street from our restaurant we could have watched the world go by for hours. We followed this up by heading along to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium to watch a little old band by the name of Coldplay. A good 60,000 of us came to visit Chris Martin and goodness did he deliver. He jumped, skipped and danced his way through the most energetic concert I've ever been to. And with each of us sporting a special wrist band, the place looked like a Christmas tree when they all began to flash...the biggest Christmas tree the world has seen. A colourful visual that will stay with me for my life.
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August 2015
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