Why Adelaide is heaps great

Samantha James, Matt Preston and me, hamming it up at Central Market

G’day again. This week I’ve been loving the City of Adelaide. The City of Churches, Park Lands, the River Algae (ahem Torrens), a big bicycle race, a big motorhead race and the best food market in the country – Adelaide Central Market.

I’ve not always been such a fan of this city I now call home, in fact, when I first moved here from Melbourne two and a haf years ago I was ready to hightail it back to the City of laneways, rooftop bars, the MCG and my beloved Smith St, Collingwood.

But Adelaide has grown on me… and I’m a definite convert to this square mile city that sleeps perhaps a little too often, unless it is March :).

My first job in this City was working for the former Lord Mayor – Michael (Harbo) Harbison as his media advisor. I’m not sure he took my advice all that often 🙂 … but that role for the City Council certainly gave me quite an insight into the City… the Council chambers, the Civic receptions, the rates, roads and rubbish! – and the fact that anything that happened in the square mile could potentially become my media issue to deal with!

Working at Council introduced me to some awesome Adelaideans, too – people I now call my friends and who continue to show me all of the hidden and not so hidden gems of this City.

Some of the civic receptions were more entertaining than others...

But it’s been since leaving Council to start Ducks in a Row and to focus on my own growing PR business that my eyes have truly opened to just how cool this place is – places like Leigh St Luggage, Est Pizzeria on East Terrace, Georges on Waymouth, Arcade Lane, cocktails at dragonfly, East End Cellars, Collect Magazine, the “mushroom man,” chicken dimsims from Prestige Meats on Gilbert St, the revamped Wine Underground and the Asian food court at the back of Adelaide Central Market.

And then you have the proximity to places like Fino at Willunga, the McLaren Vale wine region, The Willunga Farmers Markets, Star of Greece, Kangaroo Island, Port Willunga, The Lane Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills and the town of Angaston with its co-op CWA style shop full of handmade bits and bobs, preserves, fresh eggs etc. Its seriously good here!

Port Willunga

So, thankyou Adelaide, you were a hard nut to crack – you can be a little clique-ey and sometimes your shops and restaurants don’t open long enough, but I like you alot.

You’re great. And you’ve supported our wines in a jolly good fashion.

So drink up the Ducks Adelaide, we’re just around the corner in a restaurant, bar or independent retailer near you!