Do: Roar and Snore at Monarto Zoo

Back in April, I booked up two spots for the Spring Roar and Snore event at Monarto Zoo.

Monarto Zoo is the biggest open-range zoo in Australia, home to more than fifty species of exotic and native mammals, reptiles and birds. The animals roam freely in a natural safari-style setting. As well as being open every day for general admission, various events are held throughout the year that offer special experiences and behind the scenes viewing of the animals and grounds. Keep an eye on the events page for what’s coming up.

The Roar and Snore event was advertised as a chance to camp out under the stars while enjoying drinks, dinner and breakfast with a Keeper and learning more about the zoo. The whole event is expertly run by a group of passionate and knowledgeable volunteers.

Alan and I arrived on Saturday afternoon and received instructions to meet back at the visitors’ centre at 2:45pm. We had a little bit of time to explore so we visited the chimpanzees and familiarised ourselves with a map of the zoo. Back at the centre we met with volunteer guides Edna and Graham. It wasn’t long before we made our way to the Indaba camp site. We set up camp and enjoyed some afternoon tea before getting the full run down of events.

Our twilight experience was a behind the scenes look at the cheetahs. Bus driver Lynton collected us from the camp site and drove us towards the enclosure. We met up with Keeper Michelle who then guided us around the enclosure. It was a truly fantastic experience seeing the animals being fed and learning about the history of cheetahs at Monarto and the fantastic work that is happening around the world to hopefully ensure these beautiful animals remain in the wild.

As the sun set it was time to head back to camp for refreshments and the evening meal. The volunteers in the kitchen ensured nobody was going to bed hungry!

Between dinner and dessert courses we heard a presentation from Paris, a MATZ (Mentors at the Zoo) partner, who shared her experience of travelling to the village of Mfuwe in Zambia as part of the Tisamale Global Exchange program.

It was then time for dessert and a move to the campfire for final drinks before heading to bed.

In the morning we awoke to the sounds of local (and not so local) wildlife. After a cuppa, we were back on the bus for the ‘Roar’ part of the event.

We watched as the male lions were called back into their dens from the larger enclosure and then helped to give them their breakfast! Information about the animals and their enclosure was provided by Keeper Jamie, while Keeper Tim set up the food and enrichment stations for the female lions. It was incredible to be up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. We then made our way back to camp, via a quick hello to the rhinos, for a full breakfast spread.

After filling our bellies, we said our goodbyes and headed back into the main car park to further explore the main exhibits.

The whole event was an amazing opportunity to learn, observe and feel part of the zoo family. I would highly recommend this experience to everyone. A huge thank you to the volunteers and the zoo staff who all took their time to make it a truly memorable weekend.

Do: Stay Heaps Good Adelaide

Well, Adelaide, it's been real. But now I'm moving. It's not you, it's definitely me. A new adventure awaits so it's time for a quick goodbye, a firm handshake and one final drink. Preferably a local drop.

I'm off to the motherland. London calling. And Edinburgh. And Paris. And Brussels. And Berlin. You get the idea.

So this is my farewell post. Farewell for now, at least. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but you can safely assume my first stop will be here.

Since starting up That's Adelaide, I've been blown away by the positive feedback, tweets, comments, reposts, emails, invites and general blogosphere niceness. Watching my stats page crawl, climb, rise and fall has been way more fun than it sounds. Thanks guys!

See you on the other side.

Do: Watch your Shorts

Last night I rounded up the closest people I could find and took them with me to Shorts, the national week long short film festival held annually right here in Adelaide. I would suggest you do the same but I can't take any responsibility for who you might be close to right now. And unfortunately the rest of this year's sessions are now completely sold out. Luckily there's always next year. Here's what you can expect.

Cheap tickets. $15 full/$12 concession. That's less than $1.50 per movie.

A town hall. Town halls are always a bit of an unknown. Where do all those stairs take you? What's behind those doors? When will the town ghost make an appearance?

Round tables. You're all equals here. Film critic, film maker, film watcher.

A big screen. Quite important for a film festival. You don't even have to BYO iPad or similar, here you can watch on a good old fashioned material screen.

Drinks and food. From the talented Let Them Eat team, platters are available in all your top hit varieties. Drinks flow from near and far. No popcorn, but we did find some darn cute choc tops. Can choc tops be cute? You decide.

Short films. Oh yeah, there are some films to watch. Usually when the lights go dark you know it's time to get down to business. All genres are represented without discrimination, with story lines neatly wrapped up in ten minutes flat. Or thereabouts.

Opinions. The great things is that everyone has one. The not so great thing is that everyone has one.

Bathroom line ups. Well it can't be a movie night without a bladder close to bursting. Some things always stay the same.

Like, camera, action! If you're so inclined. Support the arts, the people behind them and the people bringing these festivals to a town you're in.

Must Do: The Vinteloper Urban Winery Project

It’s not just another day in Adelaide when you stumble across a Pop Up Winery.

Part art installation, part working micro winery, part tasting bar. The Vinteloper Urban Winery Project is a free public space for use however attendees see fit. From a unique and casual meeting spot to hands on production, you choose how dirty you want to get.

Since Vinteloper’s first release in 2009, winemaker David Bowley has been bringing his passion, enthusiasm and talent to the general public in exciting and interesting formats. Just like his ADELO varietal blend, the more obscure an idea may sound, the better it seems to turn out. From the infamous Great Pinot Pick to Intimate New Release Tasting Sessions and now, with his best idea yet, the Vinteloper Urban Winery Project.

What’s the image you have in your head right now? If it’s rustic, if it’s a little bit alternative, and a whole lotta cool, well then heck, you’re pretty much spot on.

Running until April 1, this is a rare, conceptual event that you really don’t want to miss.

The Vinteloper Urban Winery Project
Noon to midnight daily
188 Grenfell St, Adelaide
Follow the happenings on twitter #VUWP

Taste: Cellar Door Wine Festival

I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. Gosh darn, it is HOT in Adelaide! I'd love to know how you escaped the heat this weekend? I trust air-conditioning was involved..

Yesterday I took my heavy head and slightly tired body (see Fringe opening night) to the Convention Centre on North Tce. This year it forms part of the Fringe's newest precinct, The Big Slapple.

The Cellar Door Wine Festival is in its second year and here's hoping it stays around for a long while. Providing a fantastic chance to taste wine, beer and cider from far and wide regions of the state, it's like the ultimate wine tour where everyone's invited.

By prepurchasing our entry tickets, we bypassed the short line up for admission and waltzed straight through. We then collected our glasses and event passports. We were in. I love a well organised event, especially one filled with passionate people who live and breath the love of their industry. The talent is tangible.

Four hours passed quickly in a whirl of tastings, talking, temptations and toilet breaks. I tried a lot. Learnt a lot. And that doesn't even include fortified hour.

Don't worry if you haven't been yet. There's still time! Although you might find some stands unattended later in the day, apparently there are some grapes ready to be picked…



Last day today, 11am-6pm
Tickets available at the door

Fringe: Why don't you?

The buzz has been building. Some people have already seen a show or two. But Fringe official opening night is TONIGHT. People and parties pulling in every direction! Complete madness awaits. And someone turned on the weather all right!

If you’re heading to the east end of town tonight, why don’t you…

• Enjoy a glass of refreshing lemonade from the little van that could. Or pick up something a little stronger from East End Cellars.

• Take a picnic in the beautiful Botanic Gardens before the sun sets.

• Make a quick buck. Sneak into The Stag early and they’ll pay you!

• Capture a different view at the Garden of Unearthly Delights. Atop the Ferris Wheel? Or take a PEEP? 

• Grab a bargain. There’s still time to purchase $5 opening night tickets!

• Or maybe you’ll chance it on some late night Gluttony?

Have fun, stay safe and let the night lead you astray. Maybe I’ll see you there?

Do: Relive the Magic

Confession time. I'm going against my own written word. For the majority* of this month I'm not rediscovering Adelaide one drink at a time. No siree, I'm trying out no drink at a time instead. Really it's only one letter different.

In lieu of drinks, what's a girl and her gaggle of cohorts to do on a Friday night? Mini Golf of course. Putt putt it out.

So there we were. On our way to The Beachouse. And 1999. Previously in existence as Magic Mountain, the mountain is long gone but the magic remains. Marketed as an Entertainment and Amusement Centre, this is wholesome fun for the whole family. Arcade games, waterslides, train, bumper boats, dodgem cars, you get the idea. For around $9.50 you can wander around the golf course for two hours and relive what once was. For the uninitiated, why not make some new memories?

A slight skirt around the five person max rule and we were off and running. Well, walking slowly around a tightly laid out lush, synthetic green 18 hole course. Unfortunately, whoever curated this particular course must have forgotten to take their imagination pills. We encountered a repetitive theme of misplaced boxes, not that there's anything wrong with that. Luckily the view is lovely, and if you time it well enough, the sunset's a complimentary bonus.

When you're done, reward your hard work with dessert. Bracegirdles for the hole in one. Winner's shout.

The Beachouse
Colley Terrace, Glenelg
Ph. 08 8295 1511
info@thebeachouse.com.au
Click here for opening hours

*That is, until Feb 24. When all bets are, most certainly, off.

Do: Behind Closed Doors

For those wondering why the streets are so quiet, I suggest you listen harder. There's something happening behind closed doors in the burbs of Adelaide that you should be aware of, but if anyone asks, you didn't hear it from me.

The game's changed. Poker nights aren't just for the boys anymore. They're for everyone. Hosting a night of friendly Texas Hold'em is easy and the laughs are usually free, even if the entry fee isn't. It's pretty simple really, just start with making these four simple choices.

The right mix: Choose your poker buddies wisely. Short attention spans and card games don't mix well. People who bring awesome dessert platters do.

The right place: Nominate your friend with the most comfortable dining set. Offer to load the dishwasher.

The right tunes: There is just no excuse anymore. Online radio is your new best friend. My sneaky suggestion? When guests ask what they can bring, tell them to bring their ultimate poker playlist.

The right cocktail: Gin's the new vodka. Also try to make sure there's enough for everyone, 1kg of peaches doesn't actually make that much juice.

I find that my friends like a bit of direction. Outline the house rules, schedule in drinks (and bathroom) breaks and set an end time. Make sure everyone knows you're playing for keeps. And bragging rights.

Poker night, not everyone's a winner, but everyone's a playa.

Do: The Beginner's Guide to Preparing for Fringe

Let's talk Fringe. You know it's coming and perhaps, like me, you've been self appointed social coordinator for all 24 days and nights of the Festival? Don't stress! Planning can be fun. Here are my top 5 tips for Fringe 2012...

1. Choosing a show is half the fun.
With over 800 shows, events and exhibitions to choose from you might be at a loss as to where to start. I suggest turning this part of the process into a fun game. Here are two ideas:

Grab an empty esky. Get your program, cut out the shows you're interested in and then pick one out of said esky. Fill esky with plenty of ice and cold cider. Drink responsibly with friends.

Pour yourself a glass of Vinteloper Pinot Gris. Write down your favourite number between 15 and 111. Turn to the corresponding page in the hard copy (or online) of the guide and let your fingers do the walking. On a sliding scale, depending on how many glasses you consume, shows may or may not appear more appealing.

2. Place at least one sure bet.
Ok, you've had your fun (above), now it's time to get serious. Sometimes you're out to impress or sometimes you just want a guaranteed laugh. When spontaneity and taking a chance aren't options, turn to YouTube. Take a look at the bigger ads in the program guide and then check out some online clips of past performances. You'll soon work out who warrants the biggest slice of your hard earned.

My personal sure thing? Tommy Little's A Fistful of Apologies.

3. Know your region.
The CBD of Adelaide is usually pretty easy to navigate. But during Fringe, and the rest of Mad March, it's a good idea to have a rough plan in place for travel between point A and point B. Maybe you'll take a chance by hopping aboard the Tour of the Unexpected Free Bus?

Perhaps you're heading to the Garden of Unearthly Delights? If you don't have a ticket for an inside show you're probably going to have to line up, so pack a snack. Thinking about checking out The Big Slapple? Combine a visit to Cellar Door Fest with a late night show.

Want to get out of Adelaide? Desert Fringe is being held in Port Augusta March 2-3 or head to Fringe in Goolwa, March 11, held as part of the year long Just Add Water program.

4. Prepare for Opening Night
Friday 24th February is when things really heat up. A little bit of preparation goes a long way here.

Book your tickets early, meaning now, if you haven't already.

Decide on a meeting spot and stick to it. Don't rely on mobile phones or "I'll call you when I get there" as phone reception is likely to cut out at any moment.

Distribute tickets early. There's nothing worse than having to wait on Tim that notorious late comer. Every man for himself is a good veiled threat to throw around in this instance.

Pack a jacket. Apparently your Mum was right, it can get cold once the sun goes down. No one likes having to leave a party just when things are getting interesting, especially if the only good excuse you have is "I was just too cold".

And the best tip for opening night? $5 TICKETS, yeah that.

5. Join the conversation.
One saying is A problem shared is a problem halved. Another (albeit slightly newer) saying is A Fringe ticket hot tip shared is a hot tip karma gold mine. What's the stat about people who tell their friends about a bad experience compared to a good one? WE CAN CHANGE THAT!

Talk about what you've seen, who you're keen to see, where's got cheap tickets, who didn't cut the mustard last time, etc, until you're sick of your own voice.

Throw out the question to your Facebook mates. I bet you'll be surprised by some of your friends' tastes. You might even learn something new about that random acquaintance who added you last week.

Read blogs, reviews and twitter updates. Leave a comment, give a reviewer your own piece of mind and retweet til your heart's content. Not on twitter? You should be. PS. The official hashtags to use and abuse are #ADLFringe and #TalkFringe.

So there you have it! I hope you'll find something useful to help you enjoy the Fringe experience just that little bit more. Buckle up.

Do: Pub Trivia

I like Pubs. I like Trivia. Do you?

Torrens Arms Hotel, aka The TA, runs free weekly Tasty Trivia Tuesdays. Kick off is 7pm sharp. Allow yourself a bit of pregame time to settle in, grab a drink and read through the rules and regulations. Hang on, what? Written rules? Oh yeah, this is serious. There are CASH PRIZES people! Have you ever heard of such a thing? I hadn’t.

Pub Trivia takes the fun elements of Trivial Pursuit, combines them with real prizes plus real drinks and throws away the dice. The result being just you, your mates and a true test of who has the greatest amount of irrelevant knowledge stored in the back blocks of their mind. A little bit of friendly, harmless competition is good for you on a weeknight. And a good test of friendship. Are you sure that is Adam Gilchrist in position 3? Are you SURE?

Quizmaster Lindsay runs a smooth operation and keeps everyone to a tight schedule. Which is important if you want to get home in time for Survivor. Or is that just me?

Topics range from Who Am I to Sports Cars. Something for everyone really. And your efforts will be rewarded. We came a respectable third (ok so there were only four teams) and walked away with a bounty of prizes...

Up for the challenge? Game on.

Tasty Tuesday Trivia
Torrens Arms Hotel (TA Bar)
95 Belair Road
Kingswood
Ph. 8272 9255

Do: MVBeer Dinner

Here are two things I believe in:

1. Always having something to look forward to
2. Beer

I’d been looking forward to attending one of the McLaren Vale Beer Company’s Beer Dinners since they announced their very first dinner way back in March (even though I lived in Melbourne at the time). It took a little bit longer than expected for things to fall into place but, when the date for Beer Dinner #5 at the Vale Inn was announced, I knew this was the one. My expectations were high.

Without hesitation I ditched my regular Wednesday night commitment and signed us up. Yeah there’s a booking fee but even including all hidden costs $75 for four courses per person is serious value for money.

Time from entering the Inn to beer in hand: one minute. Cheers to getting off to a flying start.
Starters were bought out as we stood and made small talk. And drank.

Before long we seated ourselves at the two long share tables. There was a little intro from Head Brewer Jeff Wright including a game of heads and tails, followed by first course being served. As each course was presented, Head Chef Jamie Laing spoke about the food and Jeff spoke about the accompanying beer. Jeff and Jamie’s bromance is clear. They’ve got it going on.

You don’t need beer goggles to make this look good. Oysters poached in smokey master stock and pork belly served on lemon thyme potato rounds. Paired with Vale Dark.

Quail stuffed with (heavily) spiced farrow, sweet potato puree, ruby chard and honey mead sauce. Paired with Sunner Kolsch from Germany.

Beer jelly(!) served as a palate cleanser.

Chef’s style beef wellington, duck liver pate, spinach and congo potatoes finished with dark chocolate. Paired with Lobethal Bierhaus Chocolate Oatmeal Stout. Brilliant.

 

It’s exciting to hear that Jeff and the team hope to hold the next beer dinner (tentatively scheduled for early next year) in the brand spanking new brewery. Already shaping up as a not to be missed beer event.

Passionfruit and vanilla bean panna cotta with strawberries and raspberry coulis.
Paired with Vale IPA.

I second that Great Things Happen After Dark, but I also believe that great things can happen anytime. Especially if great beer is on tap. Luckily you don’t need to wait for the next beer dinner to fully experience the charm of what happens within the walls of the Vale Inn. The taphouse and kitchen are open for beer tasting and food Thursday to Monday.

Connect the dots.

Do: Start Walkin'

Let’s face it, the footy season is over. Which means there are plenty of three hour long gaps to fill on Saturday afternoons. So I’m introducing a new season: Walking Season.

As my main mode of transport, I am a huge advocate for walking. Whilst the city of Adelaide is very flat, the surrounding suburbs, and their various inclines, more than make up for it. The next time some nice person tells you to “take a hike” why don’t you? Trail walking is free, fun and fills your lungs with fresh air.

The Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit walk is an Adelaide must do for physically able visitors and locals alike. While getting your fix of fresh air you can also conduct a free self assessment of your fitness. There are no short cuts here. Cause there’s only one way to the top.

I’d been to the summit before, but not by foot. To be honest I didn’t really believe the signs.. I mean, they’re always overly cautious, aren’t they?

I read ‘VERY STEEP’ and thought ‘slight incline’. I read ‘three hours return’ and thought ’yeah right’.

I thought wrong. But don’t let that put you off.

The track itself is about 8km return. The walk is tough, but ultimately rewarding. Once at the top, the views are pretty special. On the day we went it was overcast and foggy, but I imagine it would be truly spectacular on a clear day.

So now that the season has officially commenced, anyone got any tips on where I should walk to next?

Mingle: Gin Diligence

If this isn't gin weather, I don’t know what is. Luckily, just in time, the fine people of Hendrick's have taken up shop in the East End of town. Here specifically to teach the young folk a thing or two about refined courtship whilst casually sipping on a G&T.

Get along to sample the Scottish brew, served in delightful little teacups. Workshops are open to any gents wanting to work on their hatiquette and any ladies of society wishing to brush up on the fine art of faniquette. You’ll be welcomed by some lovely lasses, waited on hand and foot and treated to a little behind-the-modesty-screen show (and tell).

The workshop is situated at 3/300 Rundle Street and is open to the public until Sunday. Look for the bathtub in the window.

Saturday 3 September – 12pm til 7pm
Sunday 4 September – 12pm til 7pm

Get all the details here.

Day Trip: Wine Touring

Taking weekend visitors under your wing in Adelaide can only mean one thing: winery tour. But if you don’t have any visitors of your own in town this weekend, it’s perfectly acceptable to steal borrow someone else’s for the day. Put together a loose itinerary, get some drinks on ice, and then get going. That last part is important. Though not as important as packing good friends and good vibes.

Just a little bit of planning can go a long way. Here’s my handy five step guide to a great day out.

1. Choose your region. The beauty of Adelaide? You can rotate your way through the various regions as you rotate through visitors.

2. Decide on your venues. Just a rough plotting of points on a map will do. Or trust those in the know and from your first stop simply follow the cellar door manager’s tip of where to go next. And so on from there.

3. Book your lunch spot. Confirm your lunch spot. Allow for getting seriously behind schedule. It happens on every wine tour. Especially if you stop at the local taphouse. And then order onion rings, even though they're not on the menu. And inevitably loose track of time while sampling the new brew on tap. Mmmm VALE/DRK..

So program the restaurant’s phone number in your phone and politely let them know just how late you’ll be.

4. Get in the spirit. Ask questions. Taste something you ‘don’t usually drink’. Sign the guestbook. Take a few photos. Your memories toward the end of the day might start to get a little bit hazy.

5. On the way home? Crank the stereo. Break open some salty treats. Don’t be tempted to drink your nice new purchases, finish off the beers in the esky instead. And when you arrive back at your drop off point.. Don’t forget to tip your driver!

Do: High tea @ Just Tickled Pink

Looking for something to do on a Thursday afternoon? In the mood for teacups and pink? Feeling dainty? Oh là là! Gather your girlfriends and head straight up Unley Road to the delightful Just Tickled Pink tea rooms.

The tradition goes that the custom of drinking tea originated in England when Catherine of Bragança married Charles II in 1661 and brought the practice with her from Portugal. Typically, tea is served, with a light meal shared between 3pm and 5pm, consisting of sandwiches, scones and usually cakes and pastries.

Recognising the niche market early in 2006, owners Kim and Geoff Graetz opened the Hyde Park shopfront with a view of becoming “Adelaide's Sweetest Tea Rooms". Five years on and Just Tickled Pink has become known throughout Adelaide for their traditional and personalised high tea services and events.

Our seating was for afternoon tea at the not so traditional hour of 2pm. The table was quirkily set with fresh flowers, china teacups and saucers, candles and prefilled glasses of water. While Laura and I awaited the arrival of the two pregnant ladies we took in our gorgeous surrounds.

This too cute elderly couple looked like they had been embracing the joys of high tea together for many years..

The girls arrived, and our glasses of sparkling arrived soon after. Champers for Laura and myself and sparkling (of the juice variety) for Jules and Edwina, both made pink by the addition of blackcurrant syrup. Delicious!

An assortment of finely cut sandwiches, savoury pastries, lamingtons, miniature vanilla cupcakes and wrapped chocolates were beautifully presented on a perfectly matching china trois-tiers.

I am not much of a tea drinker, but I was committed to the full experience and quite enjoyed the traditional blend on offer.

The sandwiches of the day were paté and alfalfa, smoked salmon and chives, crowns of cheese and dijon and traditional cucumber and mint. My favourite was the paté variety.

The cupcakes were moist and vanilla-y perfection. We happily munched down the lot while talking all things weddings and babies. Time passed quickly in a blur of sugary sweetness.

And before we knew it, it was time to say our goodbyes, for the girls to get back to babysitters and one year olds and for Laura and me to wrap up a very civilised day out.

The only improvement I can think of would be to deck out all the staff in matching hostess outfits. I am picturing something like this.

Cuteness factor: 10.