Hi My Name is Michael
Mlodzianowski; I am Student at Macquarie University, where I am studying to
become a primary school teacher. I have
lived in Sydney my entire life, but I have moved around its suburbs constantly in
that time. I am currently residing in Darlinghurst, just east of the central business
district. I spend my childhood in the Macarthur region in the outer South west
suburbs, before moving east as a 17 year old. In the 19 years since that first
move I have lived other Sydney areas such as the Sutherland shire, St. George
area, Blue Mountains, North shore, and the Northern beaches. Before university I
use to work as a hairdresser. I started to recommend places to go to clients
when I was working in The Rocks in central Sydney. As many of the salons clients
were international guest of this beautiful city. I would always try to
recommend places that were off the tourist track, so to speak. In my last
hairdressing job before I started studying full time Macquarie University I was
at the University of NSW where I worked for 2 years. This is where many
international students would ask me where
to go out that was fun and exciting, but also affordable on a student budget. With
that in mind I have many recommendations to share with you that I have enjoyed
over the years. Many of my favourites from my later teens are still around, new
places pop up and some become too trendy and then after the fad dyes off
returns back to the original quiet or unpretentious local it had been for years
before.
Sydney is such a great city, some of the suburbs are rich
with community culture and vibrancy and these venues that I choice reflect
this. The first of my blogs post is on
Newtown.
NEWTOWN
Newtown is 3 KM west of the city centre. Newtown started as
a working class suburb from the 1850’S. In the 1970 is became the choice suburb
for any one that had an alternative lifestyle, this is still reflects in its culture
today. With the bohemian still present in its attitude even though the price of
real estate has drastically increased it has become a quite a trendy suburb of
Sydney.
In Newtown there are many hotels but my favourite is The
Courthouse hotel. This is located at 202 Australia St, on the corner of Lennox St. This is just a short walk
from King Street. The Courty at it is affecting known locally. The pub reflects
Newtown’s bohemian culture, in its decor and style and colourful locals that are
its regulars. The front room is looks like an old style pub with retro 1970’s
AFL posters of players which dot the walls. There is a room dedicated to pinball
machines with AC/DC and KISS themed machines and also an old duke box, where
alternative and indie bands are favourites amongst its selection. The crown of
the Courty has to be the large beer garden, located in the back of the hotel. The garden is covered with large communal
tables and umbrellas. This is where I like to meet up with friends and often
run into old acquaintances. The atmosphere is inviting but very chilled out. The
Court house has many locally brewed beers and ciders on tap and my favourite is
the Bees knees or the Coopers Green Ale, which are $6.50 a schooner, or Bulmer’s
cider for $7.00. You can perchance these
in Jugs for $16.00 where you can serve 3 schooner size drinks from each Jug. The
court house also has a bistro where the usual pub offering is severed: including
fish and chips; steak, chips and salad; and chicken risotto all $18.00. I tried
the seafood spaghetti which was delicious at $20.00. The servings are really
big so no need for sides or desert. If you only feel like a small meal wedges for
$9 or Nachos for $12, theses can also be a starter and are great to share with
your friends. The courthouse is a fantastic spot on a sunny afternoon or balmy evening
when catching up with friends for a few drinks and a nice meal.
Other hotels in Newtown worth checking out…
The Coopers Arms, as you enter the down stairs area this has the traditional feel but the upstairs the roof has been removed
leaving an open chic contemporary courtyard area, for the young hip and happening
crowd.
The
Town Hall hotel or townie as local know it by has the latest hours of all
the hotels. It open 24 hours a day! There are live bands on Friday and Saturday
nights. Most late night revellers end up here…
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