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Welcome to the tales from the Underground!
Get all the news, views and happening stuff about the life and times of eXpertLocal and our community.
Meet Jervis- our founder and bicycle rider!
1. What’s your name (can include nicknames)
Jervis. I’m the founder of eXpertLocal.
2. What sorts of tours and experiences do you run?
I run a relaxed fun cycling tour that starts at Manly Beach and heads out to the picturesque Manly Dam and back. The view is divine and the ride makes it all the more worth it.I also enjoy local cafes and exploring the coffee scene in Sydney.
3. What lead you to run these experiences?
I love being outdoors, exploring. I also really enjoy relieving the stress and hustle of a busy week by riding my bicycle.So I see this as a great way for people to explore a very scenic part of Sydney, getting to meet new people and getting some exercise in the process. With the growth of Sydney bicycle culture, it seemed like a cool thing to try.
4. What’s your idea of a fun night out?
Discovering new foods and/or drinks at the same time meeting some fun easy going relaxed people.Going to multiple destinations with a group and with someone who knows the local restaurant and/or pub scene well enough to ensure we try the right things is definitely what I like doing.
5. What’s the coolest travel experience you’ve ever had?
My first scuba diving experience. It was in Jamaica. I received a 5-minute intro/lesson at the resort swimming pool. A few minutes later I was in the ocean scuba diving with local (friendly?) sharks!Talk about diving in the deep end!
6. Why do you want to meet people through experiences and activities?
Meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds is like travelling – without actually travelling. While showing other people your local area and lifestyle, you get to learn more about them, where they’re from, what experiences they’ve had. It’s a wonderful way to see the things you enjoy doing or even the places you live through a fresh pair of eyes.I believe meeting people who have a similar interest as you is a great way to expand your friend circle. Its easier this way because you already have something in common to discuss and build from.
7. Describe your ideal tour participant
The fact that someone has booked my tour means that I already have something in common with them, which is basically what I would ideally want.I also love meeting people from different background and cultures.
Spending time with people from other countries is the cheapest way to travel
9. What do you love about Sydney?Variety. Sydney has the everything you want in a city. Food from all over the world, the most picturesque harbour, great weather, awesome beaches, and lots to discover. There is also great history from The Rocks to Parramatta to the Northern Beaches.
Sydney really is a wonderful, vibrant and inspiring city. I think we forget sometimes just how magical this city is. So if I can help people discover a new part or experience in Sydney they love, I’m winning.
10. If you could hang out with 3 people for a day, who would they be and why?
(The late) Freddie Mercury – because he was a great performer and a musical genius.
Client Eastwood – because he is simply a legend.
Michael Jordan – because no one person has every had such a positive impact on a sport.
11. If you could go anywhere in the world and do anything, what would it be and why?
Discover Peru and Chile, very slowly, with people who are a great source of knowledge about the local lifestyle.
Not only visit the main cities but drive through the country side exploring local villages, customs and food!
A South American adventure off the beaten track would be awesome.
You can catch up with Jervis via eXpertLocal!
Want a wine matching with a twist? Meet Jake!
What’s your name (can include nicknames)
Jake.
What sorts of tours and experiences do you run?
Wine tours, with a twist. Check out Junk Food and Wine matching or iWine (matching music with wine).
What lead you to run these experiences?
I have been to so many boring, earnest wine tastings over the years that take themselves too seriously and in the process exclude everyone from the enjoyment of wine.
I wanted to create wine tastings that were about the enjoyment of wine and make them accessible to all wine drinkers.
What’s your idea of a fun night out?
Braiding my friends hair in my pyjamas, talking about cute boys and watching the notebook…
No wait, having a few beers watching the footy (AFL Dockers & The Giants) then heading out to a great restaurant drinking some great wines.
What’s the coolest travel experience you’ve ever had?
Travelling through Burgundy, The Rhone Valley and Chianti was a great experience.
Why do you want to meet people through experiences and activities?
I love meeting new people and get inspired by other peoples experiences and knowledge. Meeting people through activities and experiences helps break down any hesitancies and get to know people on a different level.
Describe your ideal tour participant
Those that really get into what we are trying to do and embrace the experience whole heartedly. You can make our events as enjoyable as you want them to be.
When someone sings in front of the group in our Music & Wine tasting I know have a group of ideal participants.
What do you love about Sydney?
Its a cliche to say the beaches, but living two minutes from the beach in Tamarama is pretty special.
If you could hang out with 3 people for a day, who would they be and why?
Derren Brown – I want to learn all his tricks and techniques.
Christopher Hitchens – Even though he’s passed away now, I could listen to him talk for hours (when he was alive that is).
Tony Clifton – Although a created character and his creator has also passed away, but he would be excruciating hilariously to hang out with.
What’s currently on your playlist?
Billy Bragg and Wilco Mermaid Avenue III
If you could go anywhere in the world and do anything, what would it be and why?
Travel to all the wine regions of the world I am yet to visit: Agrentina, Germany and any others I can fit in.
Why? ‘Cos I love wine!!
Anything else we should know about you?
I have spent the last 15 years as a professional actor alongside my wine career. Most notably probably playing Matt Jennings in Packed to the Rafters.
You can find out more about Jake and join his wine tours on his eXpertLocal profile.
Discover the magic of Asia with Wee Lyn’s food tours
1. What’s your name (can include nicknames)
Call me “Lynn” or “Wee Lynn”. But please, not “Wee”.
2. What sorts of tours and experiences do you run?
My tours are food tours in authentic food hotspots of Sydney, with a dash of cultural immersion. You’ll learn or taste something new, and you won’t leave hungry…I promise!
You’ll also learn handy tips for easily making delicious food at home. You can have a holiday for your tastebuds without getting on a plane!
3. What lead you to run these experiences?
I love my food! I relish making new food discoveries and sharing them with people.
Sydney is such a diverse place. Many people want to be adventurous and go outside their usual haunts, but it’s daunting. After you’ve decided which eatery to enter, how do you decide which of the 63 menu items the kitchen excels at?
That’s where it’s useful to be taken around by someone who personally frequents these places!
Never feel compelled to order sweet and sour pork for the umpteenth time at the usual takeaway joint again. Come eat with me instead.
4. What’s your idea of a fun night out?
A barbecue with lots of good friends and happy kids, on an autumn evening when the final remnants of warmth still linger. There’ll be an array of meats, like chilli chicken wings, bulgogi sausages, Sichuan lamb skewers in chilli, cumin and beer sauce, Malaysian satay with the proper peanut sauce. Plus an array of salads made with dewy fresh produce from the Sydney Markets at Flemington. Topped off by a gelato scoop cake from my local gelataria, Feed. YUM!
5. What’s the coolest travel experience you’ve ever had?
It’d have to be backpacking in Japan on a skin flint budget. Every single day for 10 days, I encountered something so new that it blew my mind, be it tall Japanese girls dressed like Barbie dolls, or freshly caught tuna so large the fishmonger wielded a samurai-looking sword to cut it.
6. Why do you want to meet people through experiences and activities?
I get a kick out of satisfying the curiosity of adventurous people. It is gratifying to show off the delightful food that Sydney has to offer, and its great exchanging tips on making life in the kitchen tastier and easier.7. Describe your ideal tour participant
Someone even vaguely interested in food is bound to have fun. It’s great taking around a group of people who know each other – they bond and have enjoy themselves. My tours cater to all types of people.
People with dietary or mobility requirements are also very welcome – just let me know in advance so I can make arrangements.
I’ve had guests from both ends of the spectrum when it comes to levels of culinary and cultural knowledge, but luckily the professional chef said he’d learnt something new and had fun too.
8. What do you love about Sydney?
How you can visit a suburb and be transported into a different country, complete with sights, smells and authentic food. And it’s all at our doorstep, waiting to be discovered.
9. If you could go anywhere in the world and do anything, what would it be and why?
Turkey, getting lost in a souk. I’ll be surrounded by ingredients to discover, foods to taste, and rugs and many other things of beauty. Heaven!Like the sound of Wee Lyn and her love of food? You can enjoy it, too! Simply send her a message and book her Asian thrills food tour.
The adventures of iWine: matching wine with your music
An intrepid group of wine loving, music hounds grouped at the Old Growler in Woolloomooloo for the eXpertLocal tour iWine: wine matching with music.
From Aerosmith to Prince and everything in between, our host Jake made the most fun with a group of thirsty, adventurous Sydney siders. You may also know Jake from his wine matching with junk food. Jake is a passionate wine maker with loads of experience and a true showman’s flair. He is one of the brains behind a Bronte favourite, Garrick’s Wine.
In this tour, Jake and his offsider Tom ran a great evening for The Media Madams Scarlett Vespa & Debbie Carr from Eagle Waves Radio, Katie from Wanderlust at Bondi Beach Radio, smooth musician Arrnott Olssen and the gang from Sydney Chic. And of course our own Jervis and Sharon!
Check out the evidence of fun and frivolity.
A great night was had by all.
Check out what Arrnott Olssen had to say:
And we totally agree with Katie’s advice:
Want to join the fun? Book your iWine experience today!
Meet eXpertLocal host Bek: Music, food, beer and labradors
1. What’s your name (can include nicknames)
My name is Bek. My nickname is Nipper because I’m short and have the personality of an adele penguin. Adele penguins are the little ones that keep the bigger penguins in line and keep the rookery safe.
2. What sorts of tours and experiences do you run?
I run quite a lot of tours in Bronte and surrounds. I am also passionate about the Sydney live music scene and creativity in general so am always up for something to do with that. Plus I love wine and beer, so I like sharing that with people who may not know where to go to find a good drop.
3. What lead you to run these experiences?
Running tours in Bronte was my way of getting used to a new area after 15 years in the Inner West and Redfern. I also believe in supporting local business and the creative scene, so thought sharing these experience with others might help get create an audience for what they do and provide.
4. What’s your idea of a fun night out?
I’m a sucker for a small bar or pub that isn’t too pretty, has character, and where I can hear my friends talk. I also brain crush on things that are special, so you’ll probably find me out at roof top markets, food truck Fridays, and chasing down a great craft beer with a decent feed.
5. What’s the coolest travel experience you’ve ever had?
The most notable experience was travelling to the Red Centre and finding a town with barely 20 people living in it that had two pubs. I asked the guys in one pub why they needed two and he said “Coz girly, not everyone in town can drink in the same place”. Before he went on to offer me 2liters of beer he referred to as a “stubbie” and bag out half the townspeople.
Relaxation wise, I had a very wonderful experience in Woolgoolga staying in a Glasshouse set in rainforest with its own spa and all the mod cons. It was probably the most relaxing ten days of my life. The town was also beautiful and full of friendly locals, organic food and superb cafes.
6. Why do you want to meet people through experiences and activities?
I think we usually make new friends through like minded activities, so if I can meet some cool people who share my love of music, beer, wine and discovery, that’d be awesome!
I also find myself being the one who comes up with a lot of “this is where we should go” answers when friends come to stay, so it seemed like the logical next step!
And I want to demonstrate to people you don’t need to have bucket loads of cash to enjoy Sydney. You simply need to know where to look.
7. Describe your ideal tour participant
Friendly, fun, cheery and not afraid to have fun.
8. What do you love about Sydney?
I love that I can go and walk down at the Rocks and see such iconic beauty, and then travel to Redfern or Strathfield and see an entirely different style of life and wonder. And I love that people are still willing to meet new people, create wonderful things and that even if you have $5 in your pocket, if you know where to look, you can still find fun.
9. If you could hang out with 3 people for a day, who would they be and why?
You said people, so that cuts out my loopy Labrador, Gibson. I’d probably want to meet up with some local innovators like Jared Ingersoll (chef and foodie entrepreneur), someone from Icon Park and Richard Branson to see how we can use the growth in food & wine, pop up scene and a little crazy entrepreneurial spirit to help the rock and heavy side of the Sydney music scene.
10. What’s currently on your playlist?
Local blues rock band Tom Stone and the Soldiers of Fortune. Plus still very happy with playing NIN and QOTSA on repeat after their recent visit to Sydney- it was awesome!
11. If you could go anywhere in the world and do anything, what would it be and why?
It’d be a tossup between taking photos in the jungle of Indochina or a rum tour in Cuba. I love projects such as Humans of New York and Sydney’s 52 Suburbs and how that captures people in their day to day so that explains Indochina. And the rum and Cuba because I think there’s probably a little Hunter S. Thompson in all of us and that’s where mine would come to the fore.
12. Anything else we should know about you?
I am absolutely besotted with my Labrador, so if anyone wants to put up any dog friendly activities, I will totally be there!
You can meet Bek via her eXpertLocal profile and doing one of her many activities.
Say no to a boring St Valentine’s Day with eXpertLocal
Oh Sydney, it’s that time of year again when Cupid puts on a funny little outfit and does something super special. And by super special, we mean definitely not the same old, same old. So say no to boring bits and say yes to seriously good loving with the eXpertLocal selection of things to do this St Valentine’s Day.
Run around in your undies
What could be more romantic than running with thousands of other Sydneysiders who are wearing nothing but their undies, a charitable heart and a very cheeky smile? Now you can with the Cupid Undie Run! Giving you the opportunity to get some exercise, support a children’s tumour prevention charity and not have to go through the pain of deciding what to wear on St Valentine’s Day is what this event is all about! So show some love for fitness, health and err…letting a few things hang out at the Cupid Undie Run on Feb 9th. Register your participation here.
Stretching the limits of love
What do dressing in bright yet comfy clothes, visual displays, neon lighting and yoga got in common? Why St Valentine’s Day at Sukha Mukha Yoga of course! A home for all kinds of yoga classes and monthly community documentaries, Sukha Mukha yoga is holding “Glow with the Flow” on February 14th, where you and your partner can dress in vibrant colours and be immersed in music, lighting, gentle stretching, deep relaxation and a whole lot of fun. Singles are also welcome (great place to meet someone open minded perhaps?). What a great way to get limber for love! Book your spot now.
Four pawed friendship assured
Who says romance has to be all about the people? Here’s an event where it’s well and truly gone to the dogs! The gang from pet friendly App Doggible are holding a doggy love in party for pooches at 10am to 1pm on Sunday 16th February. Meet at Federation Valley Centennial Park (near Loch Avenue and Grand Drive) and you and your four paws can mingle with dogs and people. Games, tricks, prizes and a chance to meet the tallest dog in the world abound. This is a great event for families, couples who want to include their fur babies in St Valentine’s Day celebrations, or singles who would like to meet like minded people while spending time doing something you love. Find out more on the Doggible Facebook page.
Did someone say singing pub minstrels?
Popping to the pub for a decent 3 course meal is a Sydney favourite, but the gang at the Unicorn Hotel in Paddington have included a delightfully devilish twist. You and your beau will be serenaded by roving minstrels at the Unicorn throughout the evening. With a glass of bubbles in hand and a rendition of your favourite cheesy love song, The Unicorn is bound to be a place for awkward blushing and romance giggles this February 14th! More details available here.
I’d like a light red with a dash of Prince, thanks
Have you ever tasted a wine and thought “Hmmm, tastes a little like Madonna with a touch of P!nk?” – Well, now you can with the iWine matching music with wine experience. Jake is a masterful wine maker who loves a good wine tasting – with the tunes pumping of course! Find out if you prefer your Alicante with Aerosmith or your Barolo with Beethoven at this very interesting event held Monday 17th February. Wow your date with your innovative take on the winsome wine and wonder of St Valentine’s Day! Book now.
Honey, how about a pub crawl?
Newtown has a lot of romance. From the street art to the gentle hum of traffic on King st, Newtown is the place to go if you want to meet people of all kinds. That’s why eXpertLocal are running a special edition of the Newtown “Search for the perfect beer” crawl! This February 14th, you and your date (or singles you can be matched with), will be taken on a romantic discovery of Newtown and the beery haunts. Search for love, or search for the meaning of perfect love, as you undertake a Newtown pub crawl that’s all heart. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Mixing business with pleasure and social responsibility
For the thinking man’s bit of crumpet, we have our very own marketing manager Rebekah speaking at WeCo on February 20th on “why social responsibility needs to be a part of business”. Joining her are Brook McCarthy from Yoga Reach, Joel Hauer from WeCo and a bunch of passionate social responsibility and business minded people. So if you want to romance your mind a little, this is the event for you. It’s free and refreshments are supplied. Talk about romance for your career! RSVP here.
See? Not a single long stemmed rose or Hallmark card in sight! So what are you waiting for? Choose your version of a love in this St Valentine ’s Day, Sydney!
Your guide to getting started on eXpertLocal
Looking for a summary of how to get started on eXpertLocal? Check out our guide.
Think about what you love
Yes, it really is that simple. What kinds of things do you love sharing with your friends? What’s something you know a lot about? What’s a topic that really excites you? What are the things you really love doing? Sharing those moments, ideas and adventures with other people are what eXpertLocal is all about.
Write it down
From your favourite kind of Saturday picnic through to knowing all the cool little places to go in a particular suburb, your experience really needs to have a little form to it so other people can understand. So break down your idea and think about:
- Why do you love doing this particular activity?
- Who are the kinds of people you’d love to share it with?
- What tools do you need to make your experience happen?
- Where would you stage your experience?
- Why would people really enjoy your experience?
- When would you be able to conduct your experience?
Enjoy the freedom
One of the best things about eXpertLocal is there isn’t a boss telling you how to run your experience. What you want to do is what you write down. We can certainly help you write your tour, but everything from the length of the tour to the subject matter, through to how many people can go and what it entails is entirely up to you. AND you can try out your experience, and change it when you want to. This is your opportunity to design your ideal job with support!
Check out the info that matches your situation
We know it can be a little daunting when you first consider running your own tour. That’s why we’ve written inspirational blogs that give you ideas on the types of tours you may want to host on eXpertLocal. And you can take advantage of our profile tips and advice on writing a cool experience.
You can find tips on writing a really cool experience as an individual or get the lowdown on running tours for your business. You can promote your community ideas and free experiences, too.
Follow the prompts (and ask for help)
A great way to check out what kinds of experiences may work on eXpertLocal is to check out the other tours. You can also register for our Meetups and come and meet other hosts, ask questions and get to know the team behind eXpertLocal. And if you need an extra hand getting your tour into shape, you can email us directly via rebekah@expertlocal.com to workshop your idea or even have your idea written up!
eXpertLocal is as simple (or as complicated) as you want it to be. So why not take that long held dream of the kind of experience you’d love to share from idea stage to the next level?
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below.
Wow 2013, you’ve been awesome for eXpertLocal!
2013 truly has been an amazing year. From building eXpertLocal through to the end of the year, we’ve done some pretty amazing things. We think a recap and a few thank you hugs are due.
In no particular order, here are the things that have made 2013 really awesome!
- We started our soft launch phase at the beginning of the year and picked up everything from walking tours to wonderful wine experiences.
- After seeing the growing number of fantastic ideas coming from entrepreneurs who were trying to help Sydney creative and small business scene through pop up experiences, plus also the changing nature of small business in our fair city, we began reaching out to these groups for experiences.
- We launched free experiences to help promote the wonderful activities done by all kinds of activists and groups, including the Sydney Feminists.
- We began our commitment to changing the Sydney live music scene, especially for the rock and heavier bands, through the Sydney live music tours, and actively promoting band gigs via our monthly “what’s on” blogs.
- We launched to an amazingly packed house at Hustle and Flow in Redfern with guest speakers, graffiti artist Amuze, and local legend St Peters Brewery. You can see the fun in the photos!
- We launched our eXpertLocal meetup group and regular gatherings to help our hosts find out what they needed, and also meet face to face.
- Our founder Jervis was featured on Sky News, and we saw local press happening for our commitment to the artistic community plus some of our tours featured in the local papers for the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs (with more to come!). And we gained some love from the wellness community by being named an ethical Christmas choice in the Yoga Reach Christmas Gifts blog for 2013.
- Our marketing & content manager Rebekah spoke at Social Media Women, representing eXpertLocal and experienced based collaborative consumption alongside Lisa Fox from Open Shed.
- We met our amazing PR person Sharon, who also introduced us to the wonderful world of Creatives Uncovered.
- We’ve almost hosted 100 activities in the Sydney region, and are looking to do more of the same in 2014.
As we turn the page on 2013, we’ve also learnt a lot of things.
a) Collaborative consumption is a beautiful idea, but it does require a lot of work. Encouraging 2 people to meet with a platform in the middle for the good of the people and the community needs more support than simply being there. We’ve learned from this, and hope that offering tailored help with writing descriptions, being more hands on with the experiences with helping our hosts find venues and participants, plus also providing marketing and social media advice will help with this process.
b) Getting people to come to events requires a wee bit of prodding. Sydney is a funny town. 50% of people won’t turn up for a gig if it rains. We’re all a little too busy to remember everything so RSVPs need 3 or 4 (or maybe 5) reminders. And we can talk ourselves out of them…a lot, only to find once we go that it’s really quite wonderful. The hardest part of getting people to an event is not the event itself; it’s the conversation that goes on in a person’s head. That’s why we’ve established a meetup group to help our hosts meet and gain confidence, plus will be including regular events in 2014. Watch this space for details.
c) People are pretty clever, but they are shy. We already have all kinds of tours on eXpertLocal that show culture, food and fun, and from the conversations we’ve been having with people now, we’ve got another bunch of ideas to come that will blow your socks off. The funny thing is, many of these truly awesome ideas came from people who were worried about whether it was “good enough”, or if “anyone would do this?” Experience has taught us if you’re feeling nervous about your tour, you’re onto a damn good idea. That’s why we offer assistance with shaping your idea, answering deeper questions you may have, and working with you to get rid of the nerves.
These are all great lessons to have learnt as they will make us stronger for the next year.
We’d like to extend sincere thanks to every single one of our hosts, past and present (and the future ones, too!) You are what creates a journey that is worthwhile.
We also wouldn’t be anywhere without our participants, who have come from across Sydney to explore other suburbs, battled rain to see music, jumped on board with the Freelance Jungle, walked many a trail through the fair city of Sydney, and are curious locals looking for discovery of bicycle trails, food and fun.
You guys rock.
McCallam, Unashamedly Creative, Chic Petite Events and Second Storey Productions, we’d also like to thank you for your continued service and assistance in the business of startup and being eXpertLocal.
AND we’d like to thank everyone for the support on social media, via email and around town. We look to have a great 2014!
