Sydney Festival at Carriageworks
With distinctive nineteenth century industrial interior retained from its former use as a rail yard, Carriageworks in Redfern is the most influential, contemporary multi-arts centre of its kind in Australia. So during Sydney Festival with events being held throughout the city, artist Nick Cave put on an exhibition here alongside a pop up theatre and restaurant Cosecha. It seemed the perfect time to checkout this notorious arts space which is also home to the famous weekly Saturday farmers market and some of Sydney’s biggest club nights.
Meeting my friend after work, we browsed the beautiful exhibition before stopping off for a glass (or two) of wine. I was in awe of the use of space as the beautiful art on display was such a contrast juxtapose to the raw, cumbersome interiors of this ancient building.
The Crystal Cloudscape built from thousands of sparkling chandeliers was exquisite and the eye-catching hanging metallic mobiles twinkled majestically against the exposed brickwork. However these hold a deeper meaning as on closer inspection they contain shapes of a teardrop, bullet or gun to symbolise the polarising gun occupancy prevalent in American culture today.
We then spent the evening winding down over some delicious Spanish tapas and a few glasses of Pinot Gris. We were treated to a pear parmesan rocket salad and polenta chips courtesy of my lovely landlady who is the head chef at Cosecha and finished the night with a little cheese board.
As an arts and culture hub, this space at Carriageworks attracts a variety of eclectic people to create a buzzing, friendly atmosphere welcome to anyone and everyone. I certainly can’t think of a better way to spend my hump day evening!
One of my favourite pieces is the shell anklet which I had been looking for to wear day-to-day during summer. Also pictured here are the selection of rings, a gold choker, twisted detail earrings and scarf headband all from SheIn.com.
So here I find myself in the home of an artist turned chef and all round creative who has refined this beautiful space into a home inspired by her life of travels. Every corner of the flat is tastefully put together and has a story behind it to be told, from the opulent mosaic bone china to the side stool found on a street corner!
A couple of weeks prior to my move, this original framed print of John Lenon was purchased and placed as the centrepiece above my bed. To compliment such a dynamic piece, my Auntie gifted me this incredible tribal necklace which I’ve placed in prime position on my chest of drawers.
Adding my own personal touches to the decor with my ballet shoes hanging off the mirror and boat hat placed side by side with the necklace, I wanted to reflect the eclectic theme which is echoed throughout the flat. I feel so inspired by my surroundings nestled here in the hidden timeless pocket of Lavender Bay, Sydney.
Spending my weekends browsing the markets, trying another new coffee shop and meeting my friends for avro drinks in one of the quintessential pubs, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. However such an exclusive postcode comes at a price and an opportunity arose to live with a family friend in Lavender Bay. Given the idyllic location and beautiful apartment on offer, I decided to take the leap from central Sydney to just over the bridge…
Follow my Spotify 
New Years day and our delicate heads were fixed with a dip in the lagoon and morning of mooching the boutique shops of Byron. Before leaving, we also visited The Farm with its popular cafe and restaurant on site run by the founders of hatted restaurant Three Blue Ducks in Sydney. Here we enjoyed a much needed coffee and spot of brunch overlooking the sunflower fields before another long leg on the road. It was a busy time of year with the holidays in full swing, so I would be keen to visit another time to experience the true free-spirited local vibes of hippie Byron Bay.
Ending up back in Sawtell where we had initially scoped out a good spot to camp by the river, we launched the boat late afternoon and got fishing as the sun went down at golden hour. With a quiet river to ourselves, tunes playing in the background and a glass of vino in hand, it was the most blissful way to welcome in the first day of 2019. Our setup for the night was just perfect too, with a makeshift kitchen laid out on the grass and boat back on dry land set up with the bed ready to fall into after dinner. I made the most of what we had as shops had closed early on the bank holiday, even having to use tin foil for makeshift plates! I put together some bruschetta with cucumber, tomato and lemon for starters before steaming some broccoli and corn to accompany our little white fish from the days catch – modest yet so tasty.
After a quick dip in the ocean to reset our bodies, we visited my boyfriend’s auntie and uncle’s place where we could chill for a few hours in the cool air-conditioning. I also got to catch up on some journal writing which I hadn’t had time for over the Christmas period. It was the most idyllic setup as I sat overlooking the golf course and Mollymook beach.
That evening we were welcomed to stay the night and kindly invited to join a BBQ with yet more yummy offerings of seafood, steak and salads. I was in charge of serving the G&Ts which gave me a good head-start for our night out in the local town of Ulladulla.
Joining our mate who is founder and producer of Mammals, we were off to see a Babe Rainbow gig at The Marlin. Another night on the VBs and some good tunes was a recipe for a fun filled evening of dancing around and having a good laugh. I thought Molly was just a quiet family seaside town, little did I know there is a buzzing young community scene in and around quaint Magical Mollymook!
We met with some family friends who also own a handsome ‘Malibu’ boat and got going on the water by 8:30am. It was a beautiful summer day with a light breeze to cool the air. With the tunes pumping and sun glistening on the water, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my morning.
It was a great opportunity to test run my boyfriend’s new stunning little boat which he got for a bargain on Gumtree recently. We made a stop at a little beach where we could pull the boat up and jump off a cliff before having a swim in the gorgeous clear water. I even got to try my hand at waterskiing for the first time which is a lot harder than it looks! My boyfriend then showed me how its done as he showed off his stylish moves on the wakeboard.
Following our morning on the water, we hit the beach and cracked open the only Aussie drink necessary for Boxing Day, Victoria Bitter beers! It was a dreamy afternoon laying on the beach with friends sipping our VBs, feeling like we had truly seized the day with our morning of fun on the river and the entire afternoon and evening still ahead of us to enjoy…’Carpe Diem!’
Dani Aneka 