Fun | Stranger and Fiction

The Grounds of Alexandria

26th February 2014
Adventure / Digital / Food Review / Fun / Summer / Sydney
2 Comments

Just a short drive from the hassle and bustle of the Sydney International Airport is The Grounds of Alexandria – a stylized eclectic mix of gardens, aged structures and gourmet delicacies.

The gardens are quite massive, and create an enticing juxtaposition of man made structures and natural flora.

Inside the Cafe, the urban elements of the warehouse-like structure take control, and you find yourself surrounded by the sights and smells of the fresh pastries and bread.

Your eyes and your taste buds are instantly drawn to the bright pops of coloured tarts, cakes and sweet delicacies.

Now we all know what really counts – and that’s good coffee. My poison takes the form of a short, double shot soy latte, I find that with so many elements involved it can be quite easy to miss the mark. Temperature, taste and texture are my three main testing points, and I was more than satisfied with the offering from The Grounds.

There was definitely city vibes inside The Grounds Cafe, but not at all in a negative way. You felt like you were just a step away from the hustle and bustle – an excellent place to talk excitedly about future plans and adventures in your day.

Amongst the sprawling gardens you will find not only the Cafe and Bakehouse, but also the Research Facility – the on-site coffee roasting, research and testing facility. There are so many elements that make up The Grounds, and it is truly an adventure to wander and sight them all.

x where – The Grounds of Alexandria, Building 7A, NO.2 Huntley St, Alexandria NSW 2015

x who – www.groundsroasters.com

x what – Cafe, Bakery, Coffee Roasters, Outside Dining, Show Gardens, Markets, Events.

x coffee – Almost like seasonal eating, the coffee at The Grounds changes frequently, depending on what is currently being roasted on site.

I hope you enjoyed my first major cafe review, as I am excited to continue sharing them. You might even see me – coffee in one hand, camera in the other – anywhere around Brisbane, Sydney and the NSW Clarence Valley.

Stranger.

up in the air

18th February 2014
Adventure / Digital / Fun / My Job / Summer / Sydney
0 Comments

Hello Sydney x

Yesterday I hopped a flight to the big smoke, for some work, some play, and most of all to see the Yoko Ono – War Is Over exhibition at the MCA.

Brisbane City is so small.

The flight was easy, albeit ridiculously stressful on the journey to reach the plane on time.

The cloud patterns changed with every passing minute as we soared over state boarders and scrolling pathways below.

How brilliant is that blue.

I love the landscape of clouds. They twist and spire in to a world of their own, far up in the world above.

It really is amazing that in just over an hour you can be 732.25km away as the crow flies.

I will be shooting like a fiend while I am down South, and will attempt to post every day so you can follow bits of my journey.

Make sure you follow the Stranger and Fiction Instagram and Facebook for snapshots and locations.

Stranger.

My Kingdom for a dollar

10th February 2014
Adventure / Brisbane / Fun / Music / Summer
1 Comment

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to go to an amazingly chill house gig at the Glasshouse Mountains.

Sam Buckingham and Benjamin James Caldwell are currently touring around Australia in the form of house shows. Each artist has their own career and style respectively, but together on this tour they have really created something else.

They both have a folk, country, chilled style that is just so easy to listen to and enjoy.

The location was brilliant, in a brand new structure designed by my studio neighbour Rebecca Caldwell of May Tree Studios. It was like something straight out of a magazine. Amazing.

I am such a huge fan of the mandolin, so was pretty excited when I saw both a mandolin and a banjo stacked against the wall.

The crowd was made up of family, friends and young folk. Everybody had such a great time.

Such an amazing duo.

You can find Sam Buckingham here and Benjamin James Caldwell here and stalk them accordingly via their Facebook pages. Definitely worth it.

What did you get up to this weekend?

Stranger.