The Grounds of Alexandria
As I mention in my homily this week, I was abducted by the adult leaders of our parish Youth Group and taken into Sydney for a "working lunch" at a "hipster" hot spot called "The Grounds of Alexandria." I surprised at how much I really felt inspired. It made me want to look around for another abandoned sight to reclaim and make glorious.
Here are my abductors (1, l to r): Jessie (who's wedding I will officiate in October at the Sydney Cathedral), myself, Rachel, and Anastasia (my Lebanese-Aussie friend. They are all college age and a lot of energy and fun. They keep me young.
Jessie discovered the place and claimed it was trendy and so we needed to go check it out. Walking on the site, you feel like you enter another world with old signs showing you all there is to see (2); antique neon signage (3) (I wondered what this place looks like at night); old time soda bar (4); and cool places throughout to sit and enjoy our nice weather (5). Repurposing is in at The Grounds; here is an old English phone booth transformed into an ATM machine (6)!
We went on a Monday for lunch and had to wait a half-hour to be seated. But there's so much to see and take in that we didn't really mind, such as these vintage signs (7). The Grounds promote ecology, too, with free coffee for bikers (8). All the food is from sustainable local gardens. They had lots of old stuff, too, like these motorbikes (9). It felt almost like a museum or a theme park, like a mini-Disney World. I like that there offered a place to keep the dogs, too (10).
The cafe is surrounded by other buildings on the "grounds." Walkways were also imagined. This one (12) had a trellis with roses that were not yet in bloom. I can only imagine what it must be like in summer! Animals are big here, too, and are treated well. This maccaw named "Lady" had a handler ever near to make sure no one pulled her tail feathers (14). Signs around the animals explain where they come from and why you shouldn't feed them (since "people food might make the animal sick"). This is an outdoor patio for drinks in the evening. I love how they used a shovel as signage (15).
The flower market and "potting shed" were gorgeous (16-23). Can you imagine using cotton in an arrangement…perhaps I can now! (22). The small petting farm had a couple of little goats (24-25). Don't they look happy? They eat a lot of the scraps along with the exotic chickens (26-27) and the regal rooster (28). And then there's the king of the barnyard, "Kevin Bacon," an enormous pig (29-31). He slept the whole time we were there, in hog heaven, I'm sure! Look at these homemade candied apples and the fresh leomonade stand that also sold beautiful strawberries (32).
And then we were called to the table. Here's the entrance to the cafe (33-34). Jessie ordered a "deconstructed mocha coffee" (35). Look at how they served the hot milk and chocolate (I could drink just this and be happy) (36). I had a sparkling apple cider (37) and a salmon with kale salad on a brioche (38). It was perfect, just what I wanted!
On the way out, we stopped for some freshly made donuts (39). There offered three kinds: nutella or raspberrry jam filled and plain with cinnamon sugar (40). Across from the donuts was a pastry stand with other temptations made on site (41-43). They were works of art.
Finally here are some parting shots of the reception hall of live, hanging plants, which may be booked for weddings (44-45) and an old time truck (46). All in all, we had a lovely day of good, healthy food and reclaimed, old stuff!