5 Ways to get that Manhattan Feel (in Sydney)

Do you ever dream of stepping out of your apartment, hailing a taxi and escaping to a dim, plush bar in downtown Manhattan? While it's geographically impossible to do exactly that, I want to share with you my top 5 places to find Manhattan charm in Sydney. Now let's paint the town...

Give me a fresh blow dry, a sleek black dress and a stick of Chanel Coco Rouge lipstick and where do I want to go? 

Riley St Garage - 55 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo

DINE

The first time I walked into RSG with Mr R I had a real Sex and the City moment. Imagine a sleek refurbished garage space framed by a spectacular bar. Expect to be greeted by an attractive maître D who will show you to your table (pre booked) or for the real Manhattan experience take a seat at the bar where you can choose from oysters four different ways and watch them be shucked before your very eyes. For the busy New Yorker (aka budding Sydneysider) there is a 'Pit Stop' menu that will have you in and out in 30 minutes, however with the extensive cocktail list, you'll want to linger a little longer over your Cherry Boulevard (Cherry liqueur, Campari, Antico Rosso and Bourbon) and watch a rather handsome crowd do what they do best...socialise in style.

http://rileystgarage.com.au

Bowery Lane - 1 O'Connell St, Sydney CBD
MEET

For when you're lunching with friends during business meetings. Yes, In our New York lives we're that refined! 

Bowery Lane is a refined rustic dining experience recalling the end of the 18th century, when it became New York’s most well-heeled and stylish street attracting grand residences, opulent theatres and the burgeoning banking industry.

Today at Bowery Lane on O'Connell St it's much the same. You can still snap yourself up a banker and keep yourself wildly entertained on NYC Burger Mondays and Kransky Dog & Beer Thursdays. Classy. 

http://www.bowerylane.com.au

Tokonoma - 490 Crown Street, Surry Hills

DRINK

A taste of Soho in our own back yard. Tokonoma is the perfect third date bar with plenty of darkened corners to encourage slight hand up the leg action. I think it's Japanese cuisine but when you've got a fig martini in your hand and a handsome chap breathing down your neck it's hard to know whats what. Fabulous!

Tokonoma Bar

Monocle - The Stables at 352 Bourke St, Surry Hills

SHOP

The coolest thing since Sinatra. With a bureaux (a word fancy people know) in New York and Tokyo, Monocle launched it's first Sydney store last weekend on none other than...Bourke Street! Guaranteed to make you look a thousand per cent cooler, this high end designer fashion boutique will have you sold in a New York Minute, unless you're broke like me. In that case there's always their online magazine where you will find a sophisticated dose of business, culture and design for free!

http://monocle.com/25-25/sydney/

Establishment- 252 George Street, Sydney CBD

EAT, DRINK & SLEEP 

If you want to work smarter not harder like a real New Yorker, Establishment is for you. I'm not talking about the ground level meat market. Eat, drink and sleep at different venues in the same building, it's fun, convenient and won't ruin your red soles.

EAT: Est level 1, Establishment
DRINK: Hemmesphere level 4, Establishment
SLEEP: Establishment Luxury Loft - A Manhattan style, double story penthouse in the heart of Sydney with Bvigari amenmenties of course. 

http://merivale.com.au/establishment-hotel-loft

Now that you've planned the perfect night out in the big city here is a playlist to get you in the New York state of mind:

1. Is this how you feel? - Classixx Remix The Preatures
2. Amazing – George Michael
3. King - Years & Years

Enjoy,

Miss P x

Buzzing with Excitement! Career Defining Moments...

A career girl will do many hours of work in her life, this includes internships, work experience, bar work, office clerk, temp jobs, the list goes on. Many of those hours will be mind numbing some will even be heart breaking but once in a blue moon you’ll experience something that puts everything in perspective for you…a career defining moment.  

My employment history has been colourful to say the least. I’ve been a hip hop teacher, a go-go dancer, stuffed goodie bags in catty PR firms and even did a two year stint as a chocolatier in the most incredible chocolate factory. 

For the last 2 years I’ve been working for a lingerie company. I started off selling pretty knicker and luxe toys on the shop floor and then began my career working behind the scenes in Maple HQ. A Jill of all trades, EA, social media and most excitingly copy writer. 

Although I’ve been told I have a natural talent for visual merchandising truffles and g-strings I like to think my long term career lies in writing.

And the career millstone for every writer is…

GETTING PUBLISHED!

At the beginning of the year I was asked to write a toy manual for Maple’s first collection of high end ‘personal massagers’. 

A manual which would come with every toy and sold all over the nation, in our 40 + stores.

The first person I called was my dad…

“Dad I’m going to be an author!” I squealed.

“Of what!?” he said.

“A vibrator manual!!” I continued to tell him as many details as I could until I ran out of breath.

He gave me the classic dad response:

“Well I better make room for it in the glass cabinet…next to the poem of the trees you wrote in year three.” 

Two months of editing later the toy manual was renamed the Pleasure Guide and turned into a 19 page glossy pamphlet about our luxury range of playmates. 

“When the fever hits you can now experience mind blowing thrills at your fingertips.” - Miss P. 

Okay so it’s not exactly a novel. But it is a sashay in the right direction.

To celebrate the new toy range we held a launch at all of our flagship boutiques!

The Maple girls dressed to the nines to present our collection of pleasure to the masses. 

After only a few moments of basking in the glory I was pulled behind the counter to play bartender to our VIPs. It didn't take long before the champagne ran dry, lucky the Maple HQ boys had my back.

And the slender backs of our glamourous lingerie clad performers...

After the launch I went to the post office and divided one luxury vibrator into two smaller packages. I sent the Pleasure Guide pamphlet to my dad for his glass cabinet and the 'personal massager' to my mother to use as a 'back massager'. A little gift to say thank you for all their motivational support and career advice thus far.

 Millstones no matter how small are life's little incentives that motivate you to keep going, keep working even when you feel like you're a breaking point. Sometimes you have to take baby steps in order to achieve bigger goals. Regardless of whether you publish a book or a pamphlet the most rewarding thing is a positive mindset, the belief in yourself.

Did you get all that career girls? If I can do it then so can you!

OTHER EXCITING NEWS:

Speaking of launches the new HOB website will be unveiled on the 1st of July. To celebrate I will be giving away a copy of the Pleasure Guide PLUS your very own luxury vibe to see you through the cooler months. Details on how to win will be posted soon.

The future is exciting!

Love,

P x

Dinner at HIS - 10 Tips in Dining Etiquette

There are 3 offers a girl should never refuse.

1. A free coffee
2. An upgrade on a long haul flight
3. And when a man offers to cook you dinner at his place.

Now I can’t tell you how to get a free coffee or an upgrade (legally) but I can give you some tips for when a man invites you to dine with him. Listen closely...

Tip #1 of having dinner at a man’s house: Always ask if you can bring something.

Yes, looking forward to it! Need me to bring anything? - Me

Great – me too. No just your lovely self… - Mr R

Over the past 3 years my relationship with Mr R has matured like a fine wine, which is rare considering they usually go off like a milkshake left in the sun.

It could be his calm, rational character that has preserved our affair for so long or maybe it’s just because he feeds me…well. 

Whatever he's putting in his cookn'...it's addictive! Anywayyyyyy...

It was early last Sunday evening when I stepped into his stylish Bondi apartment to the smell of ribs slow cooking. I shed my coat and placed my bag on the table, meanwhile noticing that he'd expanded his balcony and gotten rid of the TV.

“I prefer to listen to music” he said causally.

Dream man status ladies! 

Tip #2 of having dinner at a man’s house:  A lady must always offer to help prepare the meal, then gracefully disappear onto the balcony before he has time to respond.

Tip #3 It helps if he has a balcony and doesn’t live in his parent’s garage. 

Tip #4 Don’t get distracted. Remember what you’re here for ladies! The food. Always be excited and ask what’s on the menu. 

“Slow cooked pork ribs with the best salad you’ll ever have…I picked up the recipe in Costa Rica” said Mr R preparing the red onion.

Tip #5 You love Costa Rican salads, in fact red onions are your favourite food!

Tip #6 Only drink alcohol if he’s drinking alcohol, but then again I never was a very good girl...

I had a glass of pinot noir and he had a green tea. We talked about travel and property and before we knew it the ribs were ready!

Tip #6 If you want to preserve your make-up do not eat the ribs.

Tip #7 If you want to look deliciously sexy then eat the ribs and suck on the bones. 

Tip #8 Always complement him on his efforts and have seconds.

Tip #9 After dinner always offer to help clear the table and wash the dishes. Once you're done, retrieve your coat and ask him kindly to drive your drunk ass home. Oh you didn’t think you were expected to…Ladies remember that dinner and a show is something else entirely!

Tip #10 Never take anything I say after a couple of wines too seriously. 

So he’s cooked a delicious meal for you, now it’s time for you to return the favour. If you do decide to stay the night then breakfast is your time to shine. See how I measured up here. 

Good luck ;)

Dear Ella

Dear Ella,

Firstly let me just say this: Shitttttttt! Shit I can't believe that I have neglected this email account for so long and it is only now that I am seeing this email.

But thank you because you have restored my faith in more ways than one.

Anyway, on with the good stuff. You, you are the good stuff...this is the most beautiful email that I have ever received. THANK YOU!

1. In high school I had many friends that aspired to be doctors and teachers too and I could never relate. I still can't. You need to pursue whatever it is you're passionate about. For me it's the city, the love affairs and the story, chasing it, living it and writing about it in the most honest way possible. 

2. We're soul mates. Sex and the City is my bible, Carrie my curly haired Jesus. The fact that you have compared me to her makes you Mother Teresa...mwah!

3. Having acne is one of the most painful things I've ever experienced. It can affect your entire life, your self esteem and your relationships...but don't let it! Because one day soon it will be nothing but a distant memory. In the meantime flaunt your make up girl! Just make sure it lets your skin breathe and doesn't clog your pores.  

4. What you need to focus your attention on is writing your blog peersella.wordpress.com (which is amazing might I say) You're already on Wordpress which is the first step in the right direction (I'm moving my Blogger platform to Wordpress this month).

4.5 Write for yourself but also for your reader. I have hundreds of drafts in the back end of HOB that I've never posted Why? Because 99.9% of them are rants about men, work and men ;) that no one wants to hear. By all means write for your own therapy (I wouldn't be here if I didn't) but try to turn your musings into something that will benefit your reader as much as you can. e.g Turn '10 reasons I why I hate it when he won't text me back' into 'How to Dragon a Man' 

5. What would I tell my 17 year old self? You're not fat. Your skin will clear up. Love and support your friends but chose your own path. TRUST your gut. If your gut isn't screaming DR. ELLA!!!!@#!# Don't study medicine. The only exception: If your gut is screaming BOYS!! don't do all the boys. But you already knew that Ella because you're smart. You're a great writer and you're already reaching out and trying to learn as much as you can to get to the place you want to be. 

One of the most important things I've learnt from little old Noosa to the big bad city is that you're most like the 5 people you spend your time with. Have your doctor friends and your teacher friends but also have your creative friends, your ambitious friends people that are going to continuously teach you new things and support you on your journey. 

Why it works? Because in your last sentence you called me a businesswoman, hell yeah achievement! Lately I've been spending a lot of time with a couple of people who own their business. They're positive, ambitious and so inspiring, which has motivated me to start thinking differently #girlboss Anyway enough about me.

You. You are fabulous Ella. Thank you for taking the time to write to me and I am so sorry that you have received no response until now.

I hope this email will suffice. Any more questions please don't hesitate to ask...I'll be following your own journey to Carrie Bradshaw supremacy via your wonderful blog.

And the most important thing: Keep writing even if you feel like no one is listening, because if you do one day you'll receive an email like the email you sent to me that will VALIDATE EVERYTHING.

Thank you.

Paige x

A Night with The Butler

Passing Kings Cross station I see a prostitute arguing with a bouncer, the cab diverts down Victoria Street before coming to a sudden halt. "It's around here somewhere." the driver says demanding $12 and thrusting me out into what looks like slightly gloomy residential area. I spot a couple of lanterns glowing in the dark and a sign that says 123 Victoria St. Thank god - I'm here.

While there's nothing fabulous about getting to Potts Point’s newest bar, there's no denying once you've found him you’ll never want to leave. 

By him I mean The Butler... 

Photo: @thebutler

I have wanted to experience The Butler ever since it opened in November last year and garnered rave reviews from all the toughest critics (my boss included). So when my friend Lucy and I finally planned to meet for a wine last Tuesday night my expectations were as high as the Centrepoint Tower, which you can conveniently see from the restaurant's glorious terrace (pictured above).

I met lovely Lucy in the fireplace-lit foyer before we were led down the stairs to the main restaurant. We were seated on the terrace overlooking a breathtaking city skyline and then a waiter handed me a pretty little menu that said Bar... A +

Although I had my eyes on the pinot noir it didn't take much for Lucy to convince me to share a bottle of champagne. A night away from Netflix was enough reason to celebrate. 

Feeling peckish? We were informed that all the mains are designed to be shared which perfectly complements the warm social atmosphere. The Butler served up some delicious oysters for Lucy (because she’s fancy) and the cured meats plate for myself. 

By 7 pm the place was buzzing with an attractive crowd. Cool girls with burgundy lips and polished gents unwinding after a day in the office.

Yet in our little bubble on the balcony it didn’t feel the least bit pretentious. A + +

If you love spectacular views, French inspired menus and dining amongst Sydney’s social elite you will love what The Butler has to offer you.

Or if you’re more like me, dreaming of lustful long lunches on the terrace and sexy place to take your more eligible date, The Butler plays the perfect host for a FABULOUS time on the town. 

Tip The Butler 

• Book in advance even for a Tuesday evening. This place gets booked out very quickly and it can be hours before you get a table if you turn up unannounced.
• Don’t get lost in the darkness of Potts Point! Look for the lanterns on the left side of the street if you’re coming from Kings Cross station. 
• Dress smart (and even smarter if you want to pick up). 
• Take someone who doesn’t mind sharing food and lustful glances at other peoples food. 
• If you loved the Butler try Bondi Hardware, The Botanist or SoCal also owned by Hamish Watts and Ben Carroll. 

And don't forget to touch up your lipstick! The Butler is currently high on the list of places to see and be seen in Sydney which also means you shouldn't get too carried away with that pretty little bar menu I mentioned earlier. BUT If you're a girl like me who rarely behaves, Kings Cross is just a stones throw away... 

Tip me later.

x