The 7 Best Things To Do In Sydney This September
While Sydney’s winters are a mere blimp on the annual weather radar, you’ll find it a much more vibrant and enjoyable city when the mercury rises. With longer days and warmer temperatures, September sees Sydney really come into its own and each week is full of must-see, must-do, must-eat delights to celebrate surviving another winter with an average maximum temperature of 16°C.
#1 Go on a King Street Crawl
Inspired by South by South West’s street crawl that sees Austin’s main street transform into a festival of sorts, the inaugural King Street Crawl debuts on Saturday September 6. The day promises to be a celebration of live music and great food, with free gigs, pop ups and surprise performances to look forward to. Stacks of bars, restaurants and businesses including The Union Hotel, The Newtown Hotel, The Marly, Midnight Special, Repressed Records, Mary’s and Commune are signed up to join the party and each have a bundle of activities and music to keep you entertained. BYO dancing shoes and good attitude.
#2 Check out The Other Art Fair
![image via www.theotherartfair [dot] com [dot] au (1)](http://awol.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/image-via-www.theotherartfair-dot-com-dot-au-1.jpg)
In another inaugural event for Sydney, The Other Art Fair (TOAF) takes over aMBUSH Gallery in Central Park this September. TOAF Is an international platform for emerging artists, aiming to lift the lid on undiscovered artistic talent.
Taking place between September 10 – 13, there will be a host of activities to do beyond perusing some of the best up-and-comers around including live performance art, curated walks, theatre and music sessions. And as art is always best appreciated with a beverage in hand, there will be delicious coffee and a cheeky cocktail or two to keep you hydrated throughout and extensive program of culture.
#3 Take a hike close to home
Ponder how Sydney missed out on the title of ‘World’s Most Liveable City’ at Botany Bay National Park. Just 16 kilometres from the city, it straddles the headland of La Peruse and Kurnell and is the local answer to The Royal National Park. You can access Cape Banks Road (via Henry Head Lane) from the La Peruse side where you’ll find free parking. From there, explore the dramatic cliff line, watch rock-fishermen dodge waves as they try to catch a feed and see brave surfers if the conditions are right. You might also stumble across a shipwreck on the Botany Bay side, and September is prime time for spotting whales. It’s not uncommon to see both Humpbacks and Southern Right Whales close to land at this time of year. Take a picnic and enjoy (selfie stick optional).
#4 A beautiful breakfast
If you’re looking for a breakfast option that isn’t your standard smashed-avo-on-toast, then head to one of our favourite restaurants in Glebe that has just started serving up our favourite meal of the day. Their coffee hits the spot which gives you time to explore their left-of-centre menu. Recommendations: Try their ‘bre-bre-breakfast roll’ with spiced roast beef, a fried egg, rocket, parmesan and red pepper mayo on a bun. If you’re after something sweet, the ‘not-French toast’ will do the job with a decadent plate of toasted brioche and zabaglione. We’re in love with the chickpea pancake served with a poached egg, lettuce and slow roasted tomatoes. The staff are super friendly and have perfect Italian accents, and their street-frontage courtyard is perfect for soaking up morning sun and getting in your weekly dose of people watching.
#5 Munch your way through the Moon Festival
To coincide with the northern hemisphere’s autumn equinox that celebrates the harvest festival, Sydney’s Little Vietnam will play host to one of the most important dates on the Chinese calendar: Moon Festival. To celebrate the event, Cabramatta’s main streets will be transformed into a gourmet food and entertainment district. Try your hand and the prawn peeling competition and moon cake eating contests, or simply delight in the culinary experiences and lantern parade. Take a breather from the main street and explore the fresh produce stores, and if you know your way around a sewing machine, duck into the fabric stores and procrastinate over the extensive range of high-quality prints and fabrics. Go with an empty stomach as there’s going to be enough food-sampling to keep you keep you occupied for a long while. It happens on Saturday September 27 from 9am – 8pm.
#6 The Moth lands in Oz
The widely acclaimed New York-based storytelling organisation and one of our favourite podcasts is hitting our shores this September. With the motto “True Stories Told Live”, The Moth series is launching in Australia with two show formats. First up is StorySLAM at the Oxford Art Factory on September 1. You can either just listen to stories or throw your name in the hat for a chance to tell your own. Stepping it up a notch, The Moth will be curating an evening of stories at The Festival Of Dangerous Ideas at the Sydney Opera House on September 6. Head along to both events to laugh, cry and be inspired.
#7 The Clare’s comeback
For many Sydney-siders, The Clare Hotel reminds them of dark and dingy corners, endless games of pool and a collection of sofas that wouldn’t look out of place in your grandmother’s home. Creating lots of buzz around town is the teasing reveal of The Old Clare Hotel. Nestled in Chippendale, on the former Carlton United Brewery site, the location is being given quite a bit more than a lick of paint thanks to hospitality group Unlisted Collection. Opening any day now, the 62-room boutique hotel will feature a delightfully classy rooftop pool, a refurbished bar and delicate food and drink offerings to transform the Kensington Street location. Foodies will revel in a range of options that delight and surprise, with hospitality top-guns Clayton Wells (Momofuko, Siobo, Quay), Sam Miller (ex-NOMA) and Michelin-starred Jason Atherton leading the charge in three dining locations. Have a staycation in style.
(Lead image: The Other Art Fair/Facebook)
