Millions of us drive across Anzac Bridge every day, but we rarely get to see it from this amazing angle. More than just the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s poor cousin, Anzac Bridge is a truly striking marvel of modern architecture. The lights against the dappled night sky just add to the appeal of this gorgeous photo.

Image source: Mugley @ Flickr

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Here’s another discount accommodation website to add to your favourites list. If someone has cancelled their accommodation at the last minute, chances are you’ll find it on cancellations.com.au. Of course, the owners are desperate to fill the rooms, you reap the rewards!

If you’d rather book your accommodation in advance, that’s alright too. Cancellations.com.au also offers discounts of more than 60% from the rack rate for rooms booked up to a year in advance.

Cancellations.com.au offers accommodation for all tastes and budgets, including bed and breakfasts, houseboats, chartered yachts, caravan parks, and five-star hotels.

The site is updated daily, so make sure you check back regularly to find a bargain!

Image source: Penny Matthews @ Stock.xchng

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The harsh Australian climate means Australian men punish their skins more than their counterparts around the world. Yet too many still aren’t getting the message that good skincare is the secret to maintaining youthful good looks. And it feels fantastic! Mankind takes away the embarrassment by specialising in treatments for men. Your mates never have to know, although you might want to bring them along!

Mankind perform facials, pedicures, manicures, and a range of cleansing body treatments. Cap off your session with a massage. With a choice of sports, remedial, and relaxing massages, there’s something to suit all tastes and bodies. And yes lads, they do waxing. If you’re feeling brave front up for this hair removal treatment and just wait for the ladies to notice!
Mankind has also just added a range of female services so the woman in your life can be pampered while you’re getting the royal treatment.

Mankind offers a fantastic loyalty program which should have you returning time and time again.

Trading hours: Open daily (women can only make appointments Monday to Thursday). 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Mondays to Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 am to 8 pm on Thursdays, 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturdays, and 10:30 am to 5:30 pm on Sundays
Location: Mankind
Address: 425 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Public transport: Catch the #393 bus from Central Station, or the #301 or #303 from Circular Quay to Crown Street
Parking: Limited street parking available
Cost: Services from $15
Website: http://www.mankind.com.au/

Image source: Ronald Schuster@ Stock.xchng

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You can keep your sand and your surf. For me nothing says summer like outdoor movies. For the third year, The Newport Arms will be showing some fantastic flicks on their outdoor cinema screen.

“Over the past few years open-air movies has become a growing a phenomenon and favourite pastime for Sydneysiders during the summer months,” said Mark Bayfield, Newport Arms Hotel. “In the 2008 season we have doubled the amount of movies and will be showing movies twice a week. The featured movies have broad appeal and there is something for everyone.”

The best part about it all is that it’s completely free. Head out for family-friendly fare on Friday nights or take that someone special to the later screening on Tuesdays.

Make sure you bring your picnic rug and arrive early so you can enjoy a meal from The Arms’ famous Garden Bistro.

Here are the films announced so far!

21 November 2008 - National Treasure: Book of Secrets
25 November 2008 - Forgetting Sarah Marshall
28 November 2008 - The Simpsons Movie
2 December 2008 - The Bourne Ultimatum
5 December 2008 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
9 December 2008 - Definitely, Maybe
12 December 2008 - Goal II
16 December 2008 - Candy
18 December 2008 - Santa Clause

Dates: Tuesdays and Fridays from November 2008 to January 2009
Times: Tuesdays at 8 pm and Fridays at 6 pm
Location: The Newport Arms Hotel
Address: 2 Kalinya Street, Newport
Public transport: Take the #L87-#L90 buses from the city to the door
Parking: Plenty of onsite parking
Cost: Free
Website: http://www.newportarms.com.au

Image source: Rodolfo Clix @ Stock.xchng

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Etch by Becasse is the latest culinary venture of Sydney masterchef Justin North.

Here he uses the same organic fresh produce that made his Becasse restaurant on Clarence Street such a success, but there’s far less fuss. The surroundings are classic and refined, with massive arched windows and glossy wallpaper.

The appetisers include ciabatta, olives, and fried goat’s cheese. If you’re feeling like something a little more substantial before the main event, the retro-inspired entrees are sure to please. Goodies like the classic prawn cocktail and sweet corn soup with blue swimmer crab will have you feeling nostalgic.

The mains offer new twists on farmhouse favourites, like slow-roasted leg of saltbush lamb provencal and dry-aged organic Gundooee Wagyu beef.

With a banana and mango sherry trifle and a “lolly plate” filled with peanut brittle, marshmallows, fudge, and sherbet on the menu, you’ll want to save room for the sweet stuff.

With all of us feeling the pressure of the financial crisis, a restaurant like Etch by Becasse offering fantastic food at affordable prices is just what the doctor ordered.

Trading hours: Lunch from noon Tuesdays to Fridays and dinner from 6 pm Tuesdays to Saturdays
Location: Intercontinental Hotel
Address: 62 Bridge Street, Sydney
Public transport: The restaurant is an easy walk from Circular Quay train station and ferry wharf
Parking: On site parking is available
Cost: Average mains cost $30
Website: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/overview/sydney

Image source: Rodolfo Clix @ Stock.xchng

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Sydney will be in the global spotlight tonight as the stars come out for the highly-anticipated premiere of Australia. Director Baz Luhrmann and his creative visionary wife Catherine Martin will be there, alongside stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and their partners Keith Urban and Deborra-Lee Furness.

Baz only finished the World War II epic  few days ago, and with a reported six endings to choose from everyone will be wondering how it turns out!

An epic film deserves an epic red carpet, and that’s just what we’ll get. It will be 135 meters long and 8 meters wide!

It all takes place at the Greater Union on George Street. The stars are scheduled to arrive from 5:30 pm, but you’ll want to arrive earlier if you hope to catch a glimpse of them.

Motorists are reminded that George Street will be closed to traffic from 2 pm today until 5 am on Wednesday morning.

Image source: James Fisher/Fox Movies press kit

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The walk follows a two-kilometre course through the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens and ending at The Domain. The two kays will fly by when you’re looking at all those stunning spring blooms. Celebrity walkers getting in on the act include Ita Buttrose, Deborah Hutton, and Jackie Loeb, and they’d love for you to join them!

“We’re encouraging as many people to join us walking through Sydney’s iconic Gardens in celebration of life and as a precious reminder of the devastating impact that HIV has had on so many people in NSW,” said Bev Lange, CEO of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation. “It will be a visual symbol of support for people directly disadvantaged by this chronic illness, many of whom live in poverty.”

If you need more incentive to take part consider this. Despite advances in modern medicine and all the education we have, more people are living with HIV than ever before. Almost 16, 000 of them live in Australia, and 10,000 are in our state alone. But there is hope. People with HIV are also living longer than they ever have. By supporting great causes like this, perhaps we can even find a cure and wipe away these staggering statistics.

Date: Sunday 23 November
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens
Address: Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Sydney
Public transport: The gardens are an easy walk from Martin Place Station or Circular Quay
Parking: Metered parking is available along Mrs Macquaries Road, Hospital Road, and Macquarie Street
Cost: $20. Register online or call the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation on 1800 651 011
Website: http://www.bgf.org.au

Image source: Bobby Goldsmith Foundation

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McKenna Air Bar is coming! After a trial run last week, everyone is talking about the sky-high venue which will open for New Years Eve and some special dates in January.

The exclusive watering hole is actually a 22-seat bar suspended from a crane 40 metres above the ground. From here you can enjoy some expertly mixed drinks and pumping music as you take in the 360 degree Cockatoo Island vista. “Flights” take off every half hour and include a complimentary drink.

The fun stuff continues on the ground floor which has been dubbed McKenna City. This outdoor party area features a park, outdoor cinema, multiple bars, and its own Chinatown.

I hear it’s not good for a blustery day, but it’s going to be the hottest place in town to check out those NYE fireworks. Look out for it! Once it’s had its Sydney run the McKenna Air Bar will visit Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.

Image source: Newscom

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I don’t know how many of you have thought about it, but Christmas is only a few weeks away! After attempting to see a movie yesterday and driving around the car park for half an hour, I’ve made a resolution: I’m finishing mine next week. Once December hits there is no way I’m going to venture out in the madness.

But if you’re looking for that gift that’s really special, where do you go? The big shopping centres all seem to offer the same run-of-the-mill gifts, and the boutique shops get so expensive! How about taking a global approach? Sydney’s a multicultural city, and that extends to our shopping! These fantastic stores offer up some really unique gift ideas with an international flavour.

• The Buddha Shop (425 – 427 Pitt St, Sydney) has everything zen including incense, feng shui accessories, stunning vases, and a fantastic range of Buddha sculptures.
• Visit Eye of Horus (Shop 88f Metro Shopping Centre, Marrickville) for a touch of the Middle East. They specialise in jewellery, lamps, statues, and belly dancing costumes!
• Ici et La (588 Bourke Street, Surry Hills) has a luxurious range of French furniture, fabrics, and accessories
• Before you leave Surry Hills make sure you pop into Mao and More (267-271 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills). They have an electric range of quirky collectibles from all around the globe.
• Forget Ikea. Funkis (23a Curlewis Street, Bondi) has a much more interesting range of Scandinavian furniture and homewares.
• Afghan Interiors (451 King Street, Newtown) offers beautiful rugs, lamps, and jewellery. You can never have enough jewellery, right?

Image source: Jenny Kennedy-Olsen @ Stock.xchng

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The Rum Diaries sounds like a seedy pirate hang-out but don’t be fooled. This hot new Bondi eatery is super friendly restaurant and bar.

Emmy-Award winning designer Mark Bowey has created a colonial interior which is warm and welcoming.

The open atmosphere continues with the menu, which features around 20 “fusion tapas” dishes which are made to share. My mouth’s watering just thinking about the Chilean Pil Pil prawns with citrus crème, Tuscan braised chicken drumsticks with olive salsa, and the naked wedges with Murray River salt and thyme.

But as the name suggests, visitors come for the rum. Your stay is not complete without sampling some of the unique cocktails made using rums from all over the world. Why not pair them with a rum-flavoured dessert, like the Rum Baba, or the white and dark chocolate rum-infused mousses?

The bubbling atmosphere and deliciously different meals are sure to make The Rum Diaries one of Sydney’s newest hotspots.

Trading hours: Monday to Saturday from 6 pm to 11:30 pm and from 6 pm to 10 pm on Sundays
Address: 288 Bondi Road, Bondi Beach
Public transport: Catch the #380 or #382 bus from the city to Bondi Road
Parking: Limited street parking
Cost: Tapas from $4.50 to $24.50
Website: http://www.therumdiaries.com.au

Image source: Cathy Kaplan @ Stock.xchng

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