cockatoo island

PARTY ON BOURBON STREET AS NEW ORLEANS COMES TO COCKATOO ISLAND

Let The Island Bar at Cockatoo Island transport you to Bourbon Street in New Orleans for an Aussie take on one of the world’s legendary festivals- the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

It will be all about old-fashioned Southern hospitality (in the heart of Sydney Harbour) as Sydney’s favourite summer-time bar is transformed into New Orleans oldest neighbourhood, the French Quarter. Featuring Bourbon Street favourites Maker’s Mark Bourbon and Cruzan Rum, from Friday February 15 to Sunday February 17 there will be an irreverent festival atmosphere at The Island Bar with top bartenders showcasing the traditions and history of cocktails from New Orleans.

The Island Bar’s Bourbon Street party will transport island-goers into a world of decadence, Creole style. To get into the spirit, visitors will be given beaded necklaces and festival masks on arrival to party in the bar festooned with lighting and jester hats. On offer will be Maker’s Mark Mint Juleps, Cruzan Rum Hurricanes and other classic New Orleans cocktails, to be sipped on a French Quarter balcony with garlands and bunting flags.

Food carts will serve unique Louisiana cuisine including Creole pizzas straight from the wood-fire oven, Louisiana “hot” dogs and spicy Cajun chicken strips. Signature New Orleans jazz, blues and soul music & street performers will keep you movin’ from day to night, and don’t miss the marching band as they parade through the bar in celebration. For dessert, finish with banana crepes and banana fritters with cinnamon, prepared right in front of you.

Bluesy tunes, Southern food and a vibrant atmosphere- if it weren’t for the spectacular Sydney Harbour backdrop, you could almost be in New Orleans this February….

The Rubens play Time Out Sydney’s fifth annual bar awards, plus Baxter Inn takes home the gong

The fifth annual Time Out Sydney Bar Awards – Sydney’s only consumer-based bar awards – were held Sunday the 21^st of October on Cockatoo Island. The cream of Sydney’s bar scene – from industry legends to hot up-and-comers – kicked back, enjoyed drinks on the harbour and clinked more than a few glasses with Time Out readers. Of course, no Time Out event is complete without some good old fashioned rock’n’roll. This year, the Rubens headlined, playing a one-off gig fresh off their latest sold-out tour just for Time Out.

Five hundred people hopped the ferry for the awards, including Sneaky Sound System’s Angus McDonald, who presented the Hall of Fame Award to Icebergs’ Maurice Terzini. Whisky den the Baxter Inn took home Bar of the Year, while tequila slosh house Tio’s went away with Best New Bar. People’s Choice, an award voted by over 2,000 Time Out readers, was given to Mojo Record Bar. Best Bar Food went to Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill.

“Time Out awards the best of the best. It’s independent, and refreshingly agenda-free. The only thing we’re interested in at these awards is celebrating our quality Sydney bar scene,” said Time Out’s Chief Food and Drink Critic, Myffy Rigby.

The Midnight Special, Enmore’s favourite little record bar, left the island with the award for Best Entertainment while Best Design went to Hinky Dinks. For the first time ever, Time Out gave over the reins to ten of Sydney’s most respected bartenders, asking them to each elect their picks for Hot Talent. The award went to Black Bar’s Michael Chiem, while Baxter Inn’s Lewis Jaffrey picked up the award for Best Bartender.

Best Wine Bar was won for the second time in three years by the Wine Library, while newcomers the Hazy Rose took out Best Small Bar. Late-night speakeasy Palmer and Co brought it home with Best Cocktail Bar, while the Local Taphouse did craft beer proud winning Best Pub.

Time Out Sydney Bar Awards 2013 winners

• Best Bartender Lewis Jaffrey
• Best Cocktail Bar Palmer and Co
• Best Small Bar The Hazy Rose
• Best Wine Bar Wine Library
• Best Pub The Local Taphouse
• Best Design Hinky Dinks
• Hot Talent Michael Chiem, Black by Ezard
• Best Entertainment Midnight Special
• Best Bar Food Rockpool Bar & Grill

Well done to all involved! An amazing event and great recognition for Sydney’s growing bar scene!

Want a a fabulous, fun-filled Sydney long-weekend? Read on!

Here at Sydney Social 101 we certainly are gearing up for what is set to be a fabulous, fun-filled long weekend!

Tonight we’re off to Cantina and Corner Bar in Balmain as guests to sample the amazing news menus! Full reviews to follow over the weekend – we’ve been told to look out for the Espresso Martini at Corner Bar and a Twisted Margarita at Cantina Bar as they are the way to go apparently! Sounds like a plan!

Tomorrow is just as action filled! At 12:30pm we’re heading off to Bucket List for a reservation to sample the lunch menu for Spring, with perfect panoramic views of Bondi beach, and uber crowd and beers on tap – we can’t imagine that we’ll be disappointed!

Bucket List – Night time exterior

Following on from Bucket List, we’ve been invited to review The Island Bar on Cockatoo Island – which is renowned for its harbour views and yummy cocktails, my biggest highlight however is the water taxi over to the venue – life’s small pleasures hey, ha! Sydneysiders and visitors can enjoy Harbour Bridge views from iconic Cockatoo Island, just a 12 minute ferry-ride from the city, in the comfort of an exclusive custom-designed bar space with great drinks and food, and cocktails served either by the glass or in jugs perfect for sharing on a warm afternoon. If you’re keen to head this weekend, check out the website: http://www.theislandbar.com.au/

To complete an action packed Saturday, Sydney Social is heading back to our Manchester roots and celebrating all things Northern Soul as we head to Hard Rock Cafe as part of the Soul Weekender celebrations. If this is your bag and you want to catch up with like-minded people, check out this link here

On Sunday Sydney Social, along with half of the Eastern Suburbs is descending into Manly to celebrate a Monday off work! First port of call is Manly Wine as they have a chocolate wheel at the venue all weekend – hello please!

We’ll also be swinging by 4Pines, we LOVE their own brews and will be sampling the following in celebration of Oktoberfest Fest – German Pils 5.2% | 42 IBU’s, Märzen 5.2% | 23 IBU’s, Dunkelweizen 4.8% | 17 IBU’s and Doppelbock 7.2% | 21 IBU’s.

Another Manly FAVE is In Situ, the most amazing cocktails, live acoustic performances and chilled out crowd, if you’re heading manly-side – pop this on your hit list, stat!

However if you’re heading this side of the bridge (bt this side I mean East J), there are some great celebrations at Gazebo at Potts Point. They plan to transform the already quirky and beautiful Gazebo into a celebration reminiscent of Gene Wilder’s chocolate factory, complete with chocolate fountain and three-course bubblegum*.Held over the entire October long weekend, this promises to be an amazing event for young and old. There will be a chocolate fountain (YUM!) Fri – Mon, a chocolate installation will be installed staff dressed in purple themed outfits.

There will be a few chocolate inspired beverages – one where the bar staff will use the chocolate fondue. We will also have the chocolate wheel spinning all weekend!

Over in Surry Hills, The Winery will be celebrating all things Surry Hills! For three whole days! Street art! Fashion! Food! Wine! Stay!

All in all, you simply have no excuse to not go out and get involved!

Happy Long Weekend everyone! Have a good en’ and stay safe x

I WISH!