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– Pub Club Pub Journal –
Tales from Around the Globe
Living in Sydney,
Australia
PubClub correspondents Al (center), Stacy Spletzer, (on his right),
Katie Gerba (directly in front) Allison Riepenhoff (red sweater) and
friends on the job in Sydney
Meet the PubClub Sydney correspondents! Read their personal journals
about living in Sydney, the Olympics and their favorite pubs.
–– Alastair
Cameron, a.k.a Al ––
NATIONALITY: Aussie
DRINKS: Most Aussie beers except Fosters, special spot reserved
for Crown Lager a.k.a. "King Brown." Also been known to throw down a
few thousand "Bundy's" on a quiet night.
FAVORITE AUSSIE CUSTOM: Drinking, eating and checking out the
bottom of my schooner!!!
TIME SPENT IN AUSTRALIA: Native!! Forty years on and off, but have
done time in the US (six years) (The "Cherry Cricket" in Denver rocks!!)
and have closed a few bars in Europe over the years as well. G'day fellow
travelers and drinkers.
 Sydney
correspondent Alastair Cameron here. I am very excited to be putting
finger to keyboard to let you all know what's happening on the pub scene
in Sydney. Firstly, there are a lot of them. Pubs that is!!
We have been attempting to do some serious research in recent weeks
for PubClub.com and it just gets very messy after about the third or
fourth in any one night. Take last Saturday, we only managed two pubs
in eight hours but we did sing some fine tunes at the piano at Minsky's
(Military Road, Cremorne) until about four in the morning.
Friday night I was determined to see and do more but only made it to
three places. I started at the Quay Bar in Customs House at Circular
Quay (a central and easily found spot) straight after work. Escaped
there at nine to go check out the ABX Bar at the new Radisson
Hotel.(Pitt & Bridge Sts).
This place works like a Stock Exchange complete with a ticker board.
It has fluctuating drinks prices, according to demand. You do not want
to be on the most popular cocktail list that night!!! But one can pick
up some good bargains if you don't mind changing your drink often. (Note:
Fosters is always low on the price board, rarely any trade taking place.)
Ended up back at Circular Quay at the Paragon Hotel, right
across the road from the Quay Bar. Things got a bit hazy there but have
been there before and seem to remember that it is not too bad for a
late night tasting session.
Sydney is getting all fired up for the Olympic Games which start on
September 15. We are expecting a lot of you to come "Down Under" for
the Games and to sample some of our finest delights. Whether it is beer,
food or fun that you are looking for, we have it here. And there's heaps
of it to go around for everyone. Plus, with the Aussie dollar looking
a bit like a Mexican Peso, the old Green Back goes a long way here.
Around A$1.60 = US$1 and that will get you plenty of beer!!!
Sydney is pretty easy to get around with good public transport (Train,
Bus, Light Rail, Ferry, Cabs and even Water Taxis). If you are out doing
a little sampling of the old amber fluid it is highly recommended to
take public transport. The police here have no sense of humor with drunk
drivers. No walk the line here, just blow in the bag and get into the
back of a "Blue Light Taxi."
If you are visiting Sydney for the first time you can easily spend
a couple of nights in the "Rocks" area, the historic district on the
harbour near Circular Quay and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There are
many great pubs in this area and they are very old.
You can't miss going to the Lord Nelson, Sydney's oldest pub.
It brews its own beer on the premises and it's good stuff. A couple
of pints here and it could be all over for a few of you lightweight
Americans!!
Then there is the Hero of Waterloo if you like to mix history
with your Irish Roots. We've had some big nights there. Some of the
bands here have to be seen. There was great one there this afternoon
but I swear they were survivors of the Great Potato Famine!!! Old but
still going strong!!
I will stop here but look for my next epistle from "Down Under" as
we continue our relentless quest for the perfect beer in the perfect
pub in the most wonderful city in the world, of course with some of
the most beautiful women standing right alongside!!!
–
Stacy Spletzer (aka, Stac) –
Nationality:
American
Drinks: Anything. I'm always up for some fun which includes
a good Aussie chardonnay from Hunter Valley or a Tooheys Old (this is
the darker beer) when at the pub scene. I avoid Australian'ělite' beer
figuring what's the point? It's lite in alcohol, not calories.
 Favourite
Aussie Custom: Get this. At 5 pm every Friday the email goes out
to all office staff saying 'drinks are ready in the boardroom' which
always includes beer, champagne, white/red wine, peanuts and chips.
If you are super busy you grab a drink and go back to your desk, otherwise
you go to the boardroom and hang with your fellow employees and maybe
some visitors over a few drinks. I have had many fun, memorable and
long Friday evenings in my office's boardroom!
Friday night drinks is a common custom within Australian businesses,
one that continues to put a smile on my face every week as I say to
myself "I love this country!"
Time Spent in Australia: Nearly two years ago I resigned from
my job in Colorado, sold everything I owned and moved to Sydney without
a job! Some would call this crazy, but I continue to think of it as
an adventure of a lifetime that has turned into an amazing, educational
experience thatís been heaps and heaps of fun (they love the word "'heaps"
here).
Australia is a great country and I will tell you a few reasons why:
Weather, weather, weather. Need I say more? It's pretty good –
really. The people don't take work too seriously. Four weeks vacation
a year (minimum) is law and most take it all and travel!
When you take vacation (aka 'holiday') you get paid 17.8 percent more
which is called leave loading. Why you ask? Because you spend more money
when on vacation!
Aussies are obsessed with any and all sport. They are known to take
"sickies" to enjoy the weather and beautiful beaches.
Aussies love their pubs and they love their beer!!!!
The Olympics: The city is going Olympic mad and on 15 September
more than 200 countries will be represented in Sydney and nearly 10,300
athletes will march in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic Games.
This is the first time the Olympics have been held in this hemisphere
since 1956 when they were held in Melbourne, Australia.
Keep in mind, Australia has only 19 million people and it is managing
to put on the largest peacetime event in the world and send an Olympic
team that aims to come in fifth in the medal count. The people really
are sport mad!
Pubculture: It is good fun, trust me . . . and it just doesn't
stop. I will let 'Ali' provide his expertise for the local 'pub' perspective
(above), but I will leave you with one word of wisdom and experience:
The alcohol content is much higher here! Consider yourself warned and
enjoy your time down under . . .
–– Julia,
Upscale Bar Queen ––
NATIONALITY: Aussie
DRINKS: Cocktails (loves the ones at Horizons)
FAVORITE AUSSIE CUSTOM: Clubbing
TIME SPENT IN AUSTRALIA: Native. But soon to move to the States
(watch out Mile High City!) Has her own radio show in Sydney.
 I'm
here to tell you about Sydney's upscale side. Yes, we do have a bit
of refined culture for those not on a backpacker's budget or with a
pubber's mentality.
So here's what's happening in this Sydney scene:
Horizons (ANA Hotel) – Well if you want 'the best' view
of Sydney and don't mind buying one expensive drink to enjoy it, then
this is for you. They have an average wine list with huge prices, standard
beers, the best bowl of complimentary crackers/nuts (Hey good looking!!)
you'll find (and they keep refilling them too!) and cozy little chairs
that make you feel like you're living the life of Breakfast at Tiffany's.
I can sum up this place in one word: "cocktails". They do the best
cocktails I've had anywhere in Sydney, surprisingly they're not that
expensive. People tend not to stay for long but savor the view, have
one or two before venturing downstairs to the Rocks or Circular Quay.
Oddly its always a strange mix of tourists, locals and the occasional
"Friday Afternoon Suit" trying to relax. Thursday and Friday
nights you have to queue to get a little table but the view from the
standing position is not to be sneezed at. It's a great place to kick
start your night or have a celebration drink. Enjoy the 200 degree view
of Sydney and THE BEST legal view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge
in Sydney whilst having a drink!
The Wine Banc, (Elizabeth Street) – Well, if you like to
impress or just want to feel important, this is the place for you. Someone
must have hired models for a photo shoot and sent them to the wrong
place. The wait staff are to die for, as are the prices for cigars and
wine. This is more of a cigar bar and if, like me, you don't like smoking
cigars but love inhaling the aromatic wafts of luxury, then Wine Banc
is heaven.
They have the best cellar in Sydney and prices range from $7.00 a glass
right up to $1,000's for whatever Grange Hermitage has just come arrived.
It's a great atmosphere, it's dark, elegant and you feel like you're
in a cave. They do the best martinis and have an amazing array of very
different hors d'oeuvres This is cigar, suit and model territory, enter
at your own risk and soak it up.
The Mint (corner of Martin Place & Elizabeth streets) –
This is the cooler and prettier sister to Wine Banc. It's home to the
wannabe beautiful people, a.k.a. lawyers and city workers who want to
feel funky.
Actually I think your street cred goes up a notch just walking in here.
It's been in countless magazines and Rhythm FM broadcasts from the lesser-known
underground basement.
It has square pouf chairs, chainmail curtains, DJ's who think they're
God and the most amazing music. Yes it's very cool, is very easy to
relax in and makes for perfect people-watching!
The Mint is a great place to start off a date and an even better place
to unwind after work because you don't feel like you in "another
one of those city bars" and again someone left some models to parade
as wait staff.
It might be a bit pretentious for some, but I think its more London-meets-NYC-meets-Sydney.
Without a tie and suit you could relax, play up and check out the people
who sashay through the door. Don't get me wrong, you could be dressed
down, and if you have attitude then walk right in.
The Blue Room (Oxford Street, Paddinghurst, between Paddington/Darlinghurst)
– Aaahhhh, home to my birthday dinner the past two years.
Ok, so I love the place; what's not to love about it? You feel beautiful
just walking in here. You enter through a winding plain cold hard concrete
staircase that leads to a very simple and elegant restaurant and bar
that screams "beautiful people". The food is to die for, a nouveau-Sydney
cuisine, a great array of dishes accompanied b an excellent wine list
and a good selection of beer.
Blue Room is great because it's an open-plan restaurant, bar and nightclub
in one. Definitely book ahead, for Friday and Saturday nights can be
locked up for a month in advance. For larger groups the Blue Room has
a private dining room and guests can request a set menu.
It has fantastic risottos and the chefs do stuff with vegetables and
cheeses I've never seen before. Can't decide on desert? They'll put
a bit of everything on a platter for you to share!!
Picture enormous mirrors, girls in slinky tops, booths to fit six,
a long bar, funky music and dim seductive lighting. Oh yeah, if you're
eating, you might want to save up or not just eat for a few days afterwards
(or be on an expense account).
It's a bit of heaven in the middle of hell, step outside and you're
back on Oxford Street and right opposite is the famous Albury!!! I'm
biased but this place gives me goose bumps.
Long Grain (Commonwealth & Brisbane streets) – Who wants
to be in Film or Television? Are you creative, work in advertising or
just written a book? Come hither.
Long Grain is close enough to Fox Studios and a sneeze from "creative
central" Surry Hills. This place is not pretentious; it's down to earth,
creative, constructive and loud You sit on a very low bench chairs and
crowd around whatever space you can find.
As you enter, there is a solid watery chunk of glass. Turn right into
the most amazing noodle and Asian food bar or left into the bar.
It's very easy to stay here all night or for a while before venturing
to some other watering hole in Surry Hills. It has a fantastic choice
of beers, a good selection of wines and very "intelligent"
cocktails. Long Grain is ideal for an easy Friday night where you can
eat and drink and feel like you've experienced Sydney. Unfortunately
its resident bouncer has got way too much attitude and acts more like
a 'door bitch' sometimes, but just tell him you're there to eat but
you're meeting friends and are meeting them in the bar.
Strictly speaking, you don't have to eat here to drink in the bar,
but if it gets crowded you might want to say you are having dinner.
Long Grain is off the beaten path but well worth the quick diversion
from Oxford St.
The Albury (Oxford Street, Darlinghurst) – This is
gay central, Friday and Saturday nights have the most unbelievable lineup
of drag queens anywhere. It's just the most free-spirited, fun and drunken
place to be at least some time during your stay in Sydney.
If visiting the lounge where their regular Saturday night "princess"
is on show, only stay if you don't mind being "given some shit."
This is the place where the tables turn, the straight people are the
strange ones and the patrons and employees happily and heartily make
fun of the straight people.
Having been there quite a few times, I revel in it and feel part of
a very important part of Sydney culture. The opening and closing scenes
from Priscilla Queen of the Desert were filmed on location here.
Its a great place, very Australian, very 70's, a lot of fun, full of
weird and wonderful people, be brave and go in....... they don't bite,
although you might get pinched on the bum!
Go hard Mate!!!
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