Summer Friday's in the East End is a very cute experience. As well as Union Street being somewhat…read moreblocked off with street vendors, including the amazing Burger Theory crew, the Adelaide City Council has set up a free outdoor movie theatre. In front of the Everfresh artwork on Union Street there's both scaffolded spectator seating and AstroTurf for you to picnic upon. With so many great eateries in the area, many people had purchased something in Rundle Street and squirreled it on over to the AstroTurf. My friend and I had ourselves gone and got gelati from nearby Gelatissimo to look up at the projected mug of Tom Hanks in "Big" with. It wasn't a choc top but it was just as good. Across the road on the corner of Vaughan Place was a street performer on the piano, entertaining the outdoor patrons of The Exeter. Things seemed to wrap up just after Tom Hanks turned back into a 13 year old at about 10pm. I'll definitely head down to check out what the council has in store another Friday until this wraps up in February.

As of last Friday, the East End Coordination Group will be organising Summer Fridays In the East…read moreEnd. The title sounds like a statement of current fact - what do you mean? Friday is already happening in Summer on Rundle St. No wait. It isn't. We're all getting pissed at the Exeter, but no-one is hanging out in the street, playing table tennis and eating Burger Theory. That'd be nice on a Friday afternoon in the sun, right? So anyway, Summer Fridays in the East End is a weekly event during December and January, involving shutting down the street, watching outdoor cinema, picking between the best mobile food stalls, being entertained by buskers and indulging in a little woozy sun-stroke influenced table-tennis. I went along last Friday night to check out the action, but it was relatively quiet. I also arrived a little late - Burger Theory had already sold out and perhaps everyone was moving on. There was plenty of people at the Exeter though...Being allowed to drink on the street would be a real boon, but I imagine this would be pretty damn hard to wrangle. There was an outdoor cinema setup too, which was pretty cool, except that the volume was way too low, so no one was watching. These kind of things take a little while to gain momentum - and I hope Summer Fridays in the East End lives through it's pimply stage.

Once a year on the foreshore of Glenelg, Openair Cinema graces Adelaide with it's presence bringing…read moreyou the latest movies and cult classics all under the stars. There is nothing quite like being outdoors sitting in a beanbag, with blanket and a glass of wine. It is just so relaxing and a great opportunity for a family outing! Openair Cinemas are not all about movies though, they also have DJ's and musicians playing during the day. I love that they are using the space in this way! It is almost like it's own little festival. This year we were fortunate enough to be in the Star Class area to see the cult classic Grease! This was a super cool sing-a-long screening with all the words subtitled in cartoon graphics. I think I was laughing more than what I was singing. What a fun idea. So, what is Star Class you say? Well, you get treated like a VIP in the Star Class area! There is a reserved area right at the front and you are offered glass of wine, bean bag, and fluffy blanket to keep you warm. Oh wait for it... if you want a few more drinks for the night there is wait service! All you have to do is put your hand up and a waiter will help you with your request. That is my idea of VIP service. If only there was a massage option as well? The other great thing about Openair Cinema is that you can bring in your own picnic! I love that they invite you to bring in some food. I know lots of people work on budgets, so this is a great option if you want to feed the kids and friends. I was so excited about this; I packed a basket full of cheese, dips, chips, veggies and fruit. I actually made a platter. It was great! The one thing to remember is to dress warm for this event. As the set up is right near the shore, there are some winds at night that are a little chilly. I suggest keeping an eye on the weather and dress comfortably. Otherwise, it is a great night and I look forward to go there again!

I came here with the sister, brother in law and kids after the sister received free tix to see…read moreDespicable Me 2. Thought the location by the beach was amazing especially seeing as the cinema is held outside. The set up was very "beachy" / "summery" with plenty of deck chairs to sit on. Plenty of drink choices to choose from and the Famous Ben & Jerry's ice cream. We arrived whilst their was a dj still playing and the atmosphere was alive with the thought that summer is on her way. The screen was a blow up screen. Almost like a jumping castle but with a screen so that the film could be projected onto it. It was very cool and exciting for the kids to watch it rise especially as it was accompanied by some music. All in all a great fun night out with the family on a warm summers night :)

Paper String Plastic is a little gallery + shop on Hindley St. Up a set of teal stairs, you'll find…read morea medium-sized gallery opening onto lovely large windows and a small store stocking art and design products. The exhibitions can be a little hit and miss, but it is worth coming along to see the good ones, and I'm glad PSP are supporting some of the younger artists in Adelaide. The openings are fun and busy here - often the artists here are having their first public shows and a big crowd of family and friends come along to check it out. In the little store at the back, you can buy local designs - jewellery, cards, that kind of thing. There is also a range of one-off paintings and prints, if you would like to purchase some original art for very reasonable prices. The invites are mostly digital - keep an eye on their Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paper-String-Plastic/139410616112175

This quaint local theatre was thankfully saved by Chelsea (its previous name) supporters and still…read morecontinues to engage the community by bringing in movies for all ages in blockbuster and quiet achiever genres. It still has a "crying" room for babies with carers, a gallery upstairs and a downstairs easily accessed for those who have trouble with stairs, or heights. The staff are friendly and there are the usual choc tops and lollies available, as well as brewed coffee. They also hire out the venue for fundraisers, and the Royal Flying Doctors et al fit beatifully into the atmosphere with their crusts-cut-off curried egg sandwiches and sparkling wine. The best place to sit? Front and centre upstairs. You get a little shelf to put your sustinance and no one to block your view. But don't take my seat!

I love this theatre. While the price for food can be a little steep, the tickets for films are…read morereasonably priced and the service is great. Always clean when I've been there (yay for not sitting down on melted ice cream and popcorn). The crowds are fairly small here, giving the viewings a cosy and homely feeling. Also bonus points for all the fundraising events they hold here for local groups!

Botany. Plant preservation. Green issues. Environment. If any of these words whet your appetite…read morethen you should visit the Windsor Street Linear Reserve in Unley. This reserve is an initiative of the local council to restore and preserve the rare and endangered plants indigenous to the area. The project originally kicked off in an effort to lessen flooding in the area but grew into a scheme whereby a concrete monstrosity has been completely beautified while simultaneously restoring native plant life and threatened species. Not only has the area been restored in terms of vegetation but the planners have provided a pathway for public access (it makes for a great running track), there's a variety seating at various points along the reserve as well as thoughtfully placed signage and artwork. The reserve stretches for a kilometre from the Fern Park Reserve to the Henry Codd Reserve in Parkside and makes for a fantastic and informative walk through piles of native vegetation. All in all it is a caringly restored space.

This is such a pretty walking trail in the heart of mainstream Unley society. Well actually in…read moreMalvin to be precise, as it runs alongside Windsor Street (as the name suggests). Considering the little space they had, and what it looked like before I think they (whoever they specifically are) have done a great job with the entire trail. Definitely the best looking footpaths of sorts I have ever seen. The trail is big enough to walk, run, ride your bike (well for children) and even has flat wooden bridges and park benches among all the wilderness. Along the way you will find platforms of information stating Unley History. This history is fairly stock standard but looks good nonetheless. Im sure there are a few people that find is semi educational, eg. "View of historical shops"...which are empty mind you. How's that for site seeing. Hmm. Anyway there are rare and aquatic plants to see, black forest trees, preserving habitats and direct acknowledgment to the Kaurna people, who were the original owners of the land aka Adelaide Plains.... Or put simply, Unley. The trail also directly leads to two park, one on each side of the Windsor Street strip. Picture perfect.

This is an entertaining museum. You can take rides on its restored trams. The scenery through the…read moresalt pans are beautiful. Good for trams and transport history enthusiasts.

Thebarton Oval is the former home of the football team West Torrens Eagles. They merged with the…read moreWoodville team and now play at Woodville Oval. The ground is pretty rundown with two grandstands that have some historical value on the main wing and concrete terraces that are modern and quite ugly. There is a little activity these days by way of Saint John Ambulance car crash demonstrations on a regular basis, quite amusing to watch unless of course you are involved in the training then it is deadly serious. The oval facility is beside the Kings Reserve which has everything you would need for a game of soccer or cricket anyway. The City Council of West Torrens own the facility and seem to have let it go to waste on the whole, it is regularly watered and the grass is kept mowed, the SA Amateur Football League Inc are housed in the facility and tend to use the space for their own functions and activities. At least is is not going completely to waste.

It is great to see a design market that brings a range of Australian designers into the Adelaide…read moremarket. These markets are held bi-annually and bring together a range of high quality stationary, clothing, jewellery and some small homewares items. There is also always a lovely selection of organic and fair trade food, coffee and drinks - normally including Let Them Eat and Red Door Bakery. My biggest challenge is that I would have to mortgage my house to be able to afford any of the items at this market. I can tell the quality of everything on offer is incredibly high end and that screen printing leggings or making jewellery takes time, but I guess I am more an online Etsy or op-shop girl where I know that my budget can afford a purchase. This year the range was good but not as broad as I remember from the previous year as I did get a bit of jewellery fatigue after about the 15th stall. It would be also good to see a better range of both middle and high end priced items. Overall I look forward to seeing this market continue to grow and flourish as it is continually getting more and more popular each time they run!

Bowerbird Bazaar. Where have you been all my life. Or, pardon me, I should truly say -- where have…read moreI been... Waiting outside for my friend to arrive did not prepare me for the awesomeness that awaited inside. Mummies and babies strolled past with bags and eatables, hip couples in beanies and mocassins stole my street cred, and trendy older ladies appeared to be seriously focussed on getting in to where the action was. And then it happened. The moment I walked in, I felt UNDER dressed - or could that be dressed in the dark dressed. Not at all one to shy away from a splash of wildness, I was wearing cool high-top shoes and sneaking a splash of fluro yellow under my khaki jacket. By the by - totes not saying that you needed to be having a wild outfit to walk in there, but --- there was a lot of cool dressed ladies, cool haired grannies, cool bearded blokes. I had to shove my hands in my pockets just to prevent myself from the want to un-creepily stroke a pleasant face-warmer* - or hundred. It was bearded man heaven, with a sneaky short-back-and sides gelled crop to boot. Moving right along the tripled isled cosy room, and beyond my initial shock of my personal presentation, was that comforting feeling that you are amongst a bunch of cool folks. Many of the wares and skills on display I had the pleasure of knowing from Instastalking fabulous artists -- like Gretel Girl -- and seeing her gorgeous creations in the uber fabulous and my favourite cafe E for Ethels (Melbourne Street). Getting to tell these creative folks "Hey, I know your stuff, I've seen it ...a) b) c)" hopefully was as much of an encouragement as their faces looked like that would be to hear. Whoever says that Melbourne is the hip and cool capital of the known Australian land needs to take off their shoes and eat their own socks. No offence if anyone does think that - because Melbourne is truly a cool place - but Adelaide is bringing its quirky charm to the surface and we are exhibiting greater quirky cool cafes and more awesomener cool artists and creators. So - if you are pondering the possibility of storming the Bazaar tomorrow, DO IT. You will regret it if you don't and you want to. You wont get to have a change of mind until the next one in November, so I suggest getting in tomorrow. Last day Sunday, if I had a free day schedule - I, too, would be back. *pleasant face-warmer = beard.