Icons: A Special Place

Let me tell you about a special place.

For every summer of my childhood that I can remember my family would pack the car to the hilt and head down to The Shack. When I say The Beach it only ever means one place. Aldinga.

I can't count the hours I have spent doing nothing but staring out at the magnificent horizon. Usually surrounded by fantastic family and friends.

Here is where the sun sets on perfect days. Where there is stillness. Where the year ends and we awake to new years and new beginnings. Here is where you know everything will be ok.

To me, Aldinga Beach represents so much more than sun, sand and surf.

Not everyone has a home, but I hope you are all lucky enough to have a special place that brings happy memories straight to the surface.

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.

Eat: Wake up and Grind It

Awake from a slumber! Sleeping is great. Sometimes waking up isn't so great. But breakfast should be. Especially if you can wangle a seat at Grind It on a beautiful sunny autumn weekend.

Grind It at Glenelg is a very popular spot and rightly so. The food is fantastic. The chai lattes are perfect. The find and secure a seat game is strategic. This is not a place for people in a rush or groups of more than four but, if you've got time up your sleeve and friends who don't mind bumping elbows, you will be rewarded. Eventually.

Here's what you might like to order. From top left clockwise – Fruit salad & yoghurt, French toast with fresh pear, Club BLT with avocado & poached egg and Polenta Johnny cakes.

Our share plate spin on the Johnny cakes.

I've been steadily making my way through the menu on each of my visits and I'm yet to be disappointed. Two thumbs up.