A Very Naughty Xmas
Image: YO! MAFIA

By Rita Bratovich

Get Hyp!

For unique, feel-good gift buying it’s hard to find anywhere better than Hypmotive Hub – and their Christmas market promises to be extra special. Artists, designers and makers from the Inner West will bring their very best wares to Marrickville on December 14, and they’ll be on hand to help you decide what to buy for whom. With items ranging across jewellery, fashion, ceramics, artworks, curios, stationery, and more. Live music by local performers, activities for kids, Christmas wrapping and some surprise events – all FREE! Plus, if you RSVP via Eventbrite you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 store voucher. Info: www.hypmotive.com

Sing, choirs of angels!

If you want to hear voices of angels this Christmas you’d better get your tickets now. City Recital Hall and Gondwana Choirs are presenting Voices of Angels: Twelve Days Of Christmas featuring the Sydney Children’s Choir on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 December only. The program includes a delightful rendition of that evergreen carol listing of twelve “you shouldn’t have” gifts, as well as a selection of Christmas favourites, traditional tunes by Benjamin Britten, William Mathias, and new music by Sally Whitwell and Joseph Twist. Located within the CBD in the aptly named Angel Place, City Recital Hall is a modern, intimate venue with lovely ambience and excellent acoustics.

Christmas crawl

SantaCon is a world-wide phenomena almost as big as Christmas itself. Put simply, it is a Santa convention: a chance for people to get dressed up as Santa, Mrs Claus, elves, angels – anything Christmas themed – and have a merry time together. The Sydney SantaCon, organised by The Socialites, is happening on December 14 and will be a pub crawl through Darlinghurst with regular stops at popular drinking holes to imbibe some liquid cheer. Enjoy Christmas-themed cocktails and food. It’s free to come along but you’ll need to register via Facebook. Donations will be collected on the day to help sponsor gifts for underprivileged Australian kids. For details and to register, visit www.facebook.com

Merry marathon

Seafood is as much a part of Christmas Down Under as beach sand and cricket; that’s why the Sydney Fish Market’s 36 hour Marathon is such a huge annual event. From 5am Dec 23 until 5pm Dec 24, shoppers can come in and purchase fresh fish, prawns, crustaceans, oysters, octopus – over 500 different species of seafood, plus turkeys, meat, bread, fruit and veggies, desserts, wine, beer – absolutely everything they need for a Christmas feast. Santa will be there on Dec 23 between 11:00am–1:00pm, and Dec 24 between 10:00am-12:00pm. It’s a festive vibe and there’s plenty of places to dine or chill out with a drink. Get there by bus, light rail or try the new On-Demand ferry. Parking available on-site and nearby.

Treasures in a cave

The next Finders Keepers market for Sydney will be held Dec 6-8 in the Cutaway at Barangaroo – just in time for Christmas. These fabulous makers markets are held only three times a year in Sydney and feature some of the best bespoke designers in fashion, homewares, beauty and skin products, ceramics, artwork, and so much more. Stallholders are selected based on their quality, unique style, and adherence to sustainability. You’ll find things here you won’t find anywhere else.  In the cool caverns of the Cutaway come and enjoy fantastic food trucks, coffee, beverages, beer, all to the soundtrack of live music. www.thefinderskeepers.com

Christmas succs!

Ask these guys about gift-giving and they’ll say “succ-u!” Succulent, to be specific. As they say on their website, flowers die and chocolates melt. If you want to give a gift that’s outside the bon-bon box, send a succulent. Little Succers have a range of cute cacti in pots that would suit any occasion and anyone. And they’ve got a wicked sense of humour (think about all the fun you can have with succ and pricks.) Check ‘em out at www.littlesuccers.com.au

Happy Bridgemas!

The Bridgeview Hotel in Willoughby will be doing Christmas their way with the third annual Bridgemas on Dec 8. The festivities begin at midday with Santa-red strawberry daiquiris and a Chrissie themed takeaway menu. There’ll be a jumping castle, petting zoo and face painting for the kids, plus, it is strongly rumoured that Santa might stop in for a drink. Holly Summer will perform live and money will be raised for a good cause. www.bridgeviewhotel.com.au

It’s Xmas Darling!

Gather your friends and share the festive joy, enjoy dining and drinks, Christmas Markets, movies, workshops, fireworks or simply gaze upon the gigantic decorative art decorations. Throughout the Darling Harbour Precinct, a range of activities and events have already begun popping up as we run into the festive season. One highlight, in particular, is the dazzling 6-metre high one-of-a-kind Christmas bauble in the ICC Forecourt, the perfect place for that Xmas themed Insta pic!

One-stop Christmas shop! 

Located in the CBD, with a light-rail stop right outside, buses, trains, and underground parking mere elf steps away, this is the oasis of Christmas shopping. Whether it’s something for the office Kris Kringle, last-minute stocking fillers, that special something for a special someone, or even a little treat for yourself, you’re bound to find it all among the hundreds of stalls. You can pick up nibblies, fruit and decorations for office parties and get-togethers, and buy everything you need for the family feast. Fresh produce, fresh seafood, meats, poultry, vegetables, sweets and lots more. There’s plenty of ready-to-eat food and beverages with some of Sydney’s best food trucks on-site to help keep your energy levels up. Check out the holiday trading hours and free Christmas entertainment program at www.paddysmarkets.com.au

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.