Chronicling The Grounds of Alexandria

We are constantly saying to one another that we need to go to to the Grounds of Alexandria, and we are happy to say that it has definitely lived up to the hype and reputation it has garnered in the two years since its opening. It was a truly unique dining experience and one that goes far beyond just food. Even arriving mid- morning on a weekday, the establishment was bursting with life and filled with everyone from mums who had dropped their kids off at school to the cool, hipster- types taking advantage of the very instagramable surroundings. One of these being the market stalls that host a range of baked goods such as breads, cakes and tarts (which looked almost too good to eat), and also fresh lemonade, fruit and flowers, such as the mesmerising rainbow coloured roses pictured above.

As we waited for a table, we took the time to explore The Ground's rustic and industrial charm, including the outdoor eating area, which has a separate BBQ shack, the gardens where fresh produce is picked daily and used in the restaurant's dishes, the tractor truck, and one of our personal favourites: the animals, including the pig named Kevin Bacon.

We then had coffee and lunch in the cafe, which proved to be flavoursome, fresh and very filling. We would definitely recommend taking a visit to the Grounds and allowing time to explore all the iconic destination has to offer.

The Grounds of Alexandria

Building 7A, No.2 Huntley St 

Alexandria NSW 2015

http://groundsroasters.com

♪♫ Geronimo- Sheppard ♪♫

Chronicling the Tuckshop

On the rare day that we do not need to trek into the city for uni, we both craved a healthy breakfast at our usual favourite spots in Sydney's inner-city suburbs. Luckily for us, we did not need to take the long journey into town to get that, since the Tuckshop opened in our local suburb of Glenhaven. You could be forgiven for forgetting you were 35km out of an eclectic inner-city suburb thanks to their quirky menu and enthusiastic staff, living up to the quote on their menu stating, "where is it not the city and you couldn't care less". If you want perfect coffee, food and friendly service then we strongly recommend this slice of "Glenheaven".

♪♫  Things we Lost in the Fire - Bastille  ♫ ♪

Chronicling the Mr Black Launch Party

On a humid Friday night, we headed to aMBUSH Art Gallery’s trendy exhibition space in Sydney’s inner-southern suburb of Waterloo for the official launch party of Mr Black's Cold Drip Coffee Liqueur.  Admittedly, we both knew very little about Mr Black but were eager to try this award winning beverage, with our caffeine addictions being at an all time high during this stressful time in the semester.

As soon as we arrived, we headed to the industrial-styled bar and were given our first Mr Black beverage, the Black Americano. The taste exceeded any of our pre-determined expectations and for a good portion of the night, we were lining up for more. Mr Black’s refined taste, allows all of us coffee-lovers to now fulfill our caffeinated cravings socially with friends after dark.

The night’s eclectic atmosphere was enhanced by the Eat Art Truck and DJ Mr Belvedere, providing sweet food and tunes for the night. The crowded gallery was filled with stunned attendees, watching artists Dale Bigeni, Sprinkles and Ronstoppable, painting live on the gallery's bare walls (seen above). The art was not only evident at the event, but transferred onto Mr Black's packaging, with the unexpected image depicted on the bottle, only visible once consumed. This is a forewarning for those purchasing the reasonably priced liqueur in the future; the image is so awesome that it may strongly encourage you to drink excessively to see the whole thing.

All in all, this launch party paralleled the trendy, artistic and fresh taste of Mr Black perfectly.  When this gem starts distributing to an array of Sydney bars, we know that it will determine where we socialise in the future. 

So our verdict is, that if you are a self-confessed coffee-lover that doesn’t want to comprise your cravings with your social life, then you need to try this liquid gold, yesterday. You can purchase Mr Black at the link below and follow their Facebook and Instagram to keep updated.

Who said your love for coffee has to stop after 10am?

http://shop.mrblack.co/mr-black-cold-drip-coffee-liqueur/

Chronicling our Inspiration Wall

During these busy times at university where assignments and exams start piling up and overshadowing our social lives, we look to our favourite photography and music for some creative release. This post features works from some great photographers and lyrics from the song “Youth” by Daughter, who we currently have on constant replay. 

Chronicling Sydney Harbour Bridge + Kirribilli

On this gloomy Friday morning in Sydney's CBD,  we decided a caffeine fix was vital. Although, what probably wasn't "vital" was our choice to do the 3km walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge to get it. Thankfully, it was the best coffee either of us had consumed in a long time, in an intimate, rustic cafe lining Kirrbilli's Upper Pitt Street. 

Chronicling Pitt Street

Unlike many other Sydney-siders, we love the hustle and bustle of our city and travel a fair way from our quiet hillside homes to be amongst it. Pitt Street is the epicenter of all the action in Sydney, with an array of shops, cafes and people changing everyday, making it one of our favourite places.  

We usually head to Pitt Street to grab a coffee and explore what the day has to offer us and this day proved to offer the miscellaneous occurrences we love. As we wandered from busker to busker, the infamous Blue Man Group took in our local talent and gave us all a good laugh. Their inability to speak makes them cross cultural and generational, catering for the varying humours of the wide audience of Pitt Street Mall. They not only provided the crowd with a smile but even buskers, Joe Moore and Jack Man Friday, with an unforgettable busking experience. 

After all that entertainment, we decided to head to Sydney’s historical Victorian Style shopping arcade, the Strand Arcade. The Strand Arcade houses some of Australia’s most iconic fashion labels and it’s beautiful lacework verandahs make even walking around the building, a beautiful and worthwhile experience.  

To finish off a random day, we headed to Ichi Ban Boshi for lunch, a favourite Japanese restaurant hidden above the busy streets of Sydney in the CBD. Sometimes the wait can be upwards of half an hour, but every minute is worth it with their well-priced meals and huge portions being a favourite amongst locals. 

The beauty of Pitt Street Mall's architecture and people, influence creativity amongst any and everyone that walk amongst it. This is where the roots of Birdseye Chronicles lie and you can find us writing our posts with coffees in hand, in the middle of this crazy shopping strip in our spare time.