Lauren LaRouge is on a mission. To save the world from boring nails, one client at a time. As an artist with a passion for fashion, she brings her unique individual flair to making her clients’ nail art dreams come to life. 

She opened her salon in Parramatta 5 years ago and, located in the heritage Civic Arcade on George Street, it brings back all the glamour of the Roaring 20s. A luxe salon with burlesque, vintage retro interior décor feels, you’ll find it adorned with flower walls, plush velvet cushions, colourful feathers and animal prints. 

With a background in Cabaret, Lauren sure knows how to create show-stopping nails – no matter how long or short your nails are, she’ll work with you on your custom requests and create wearable, bespoke art for any occasion. 

Life is too short for boring nails so book an appointment with local nail artist Lauren LaRouge at her boutique nail art salon in Parramatta!

By appointment only. Contact Lauren via tel. 0400758525 or email info@nailedbylarouge.com

Check out her gallery on Instagram @nailedbylarouge or connect on Facebook 

Visit her website for more info: http://www.nailedbylarouge.com/ 

Civic Arcade, Shop 3/48-50 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150

Director and Head Coach at Capax CrossFit, Ben Lambert is passionate about helping his members achieve their health and fitness goals. He believes in a practical approach to fitness, full of support and goal-setting to help his members feel challenged and inspired.

That being said, when it comes down to being successful in the gym, Ben believes there’s only one thing you really need to do: show up. If you show up for a workout you’ve already won. Everyone has good days and bad days in the gym but the secret to success is to keep coming back. It’s this philosophy that boosts the fun and welcoming atmosphere at Capax CrossFit.

A community in training…

The Capax CrossFit community is made up of members from all levels of fitness, working side-by-side to achieve their personal fitness goals. Whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been training for some time, Ben and his coaches will work with you to build your fitness, improve your technique and help you get results. With strength-based sessions, aerobic sessions and mixed sessions to choose from, you’ll never be bored when you step into the gym.

Personalised support and coaching…

Capax Crossfit offers body transformation challenges, corporate wellness programs, group and one-on-one sessions. Classes run from Monday to Friday in the mornings and evenings making it easier than ever to fit in your gym session around work hours. With group classes capped at 10 participants, you’ll receive personalised support by a coach who will adapt the workout to your current fitness ability and coach you on your technique.

More than a gym…

For many of Ben’s members, Capax CrossFit is not just a gym, it’s a social outlet. Rather than sweating it out alone in the gym, Capax CrossFit’s group training sessions are geared towards creating a shared environment where members can interact and have a laugh while improving their health and fitness.

In the current climate where many people are spending more time at home, the gym is a fantastic way to get out of the house, get moving and socialise with like-minded people.

If you’re interested in feeling fitter, leaner, stronger and joining a friendly community, head on down to Capax CrossFit at 1/109-113 George St Parramatta 2150 or call Ben on 0423 031 865.

Special Offer – 5 sessions for $55

Interested in joining in on the fun at Capax CrossFit? Click here to book 5 sessions for $55. Redeem online until 11/10/2020. Sessions valid for 21 days from purchase.

When House of Albert first opened its doors back in May 1988, Albert already had 20 years’ experience in the rag trade under his belt.

After taking up occupancy at four different locations around Western Sydney over the years, Albert eventually settled in his current home in Horwood Place. With little foot traffic outside the store, Albert has built a superb reputation amongst his customers as being a master tailor and true gentleman, which keeps them coming back year after year.

Parramatta’s tailor and alterations expert...

When you meet Albert from House of Albert, you’re instantly met with a warm smile, usually accompanied by a tape measure propped over one shoulder. Albert’s lifetime of experience is evident in his keen eye for fabrics, measuring and tailoring. Known by many of his customers for being able to pick the perfect suit in the perfect size simply by looking at them, Albert’s expertise is what sets him apart from his competitors.

In-house team of professional tailors...

Made-to-measure service has never been easier with the in-house team of professional tailors at House of Albert. Catering to men’s and women’s tailoring, this specialised team have decades of experience between them. From altering a wedding dress by taking it apart and putting it back together a week before the wedding, to making suits from scratch in store, no job is too big or too small.

High-quality materials to suit you...

With high-quality fabrics such as Holland & Sherry, Dormeuil and Davisha available in store, and a broad range of readymade suits to fit different body shapes, House of Albert is proof that you don’t need to leave Parramatta to find a quality suit.

If you’re looking for a high-quality garment and old-fashioned service with a smile, look no further than House of Albert.
House of Albert is located at Shop 6, 1 Horwood Place in Parramatta.

Raymund Estil is the face (and feet) behind Urban Salsa, Parramatta’s premier Latin dance studio. Raymund is one of Australia’s leading Latin dance instructors and has been inspiring students for nearly 20 years.

Across his career, Raymund has travelled acround Australia and internationally to teach and perform. Now he brings his experience and knowledge of Latin American dancing to the local community from his studio in the heart of Parramatta.

Raymund’s style and teaching methods aim to have his students move effortlessly from the classroom to the dancefloor.

A dance class at Urban Salsa will also give you a fun lesson on the history, culture and food of Latin America too. It’s a social experience, one that is not limited to the studio. Raymund brings people together and fosters connection in his community by running social events both at the Urban Salsa studio and in venues across Parramatta.

The mission at Urban Salsa is simple – to grow the salsa dancing scene in Parramatta and Western Sydney and uphold an ‘everyone’s welcome’ philosophy.

What separates Urban Salsa from a traditional dance class is the inviting atmosphere and family feel you get when you walk into the studio. It’s all about socialising and connecting with different people through music and dance – while still mastering the fundamentals. It’s that perfect mix of professionalism and fun that his students love about Urban Salsa.

Whether you’re by yourself, with a friend or in a group, head on down to Urban Salsa to get a great workout and join the familia.

You can find the Urban Salsa dance studio at Shop 28, 55-67 George Street, Parramatta 2150, (entrance via Horwood Place), or visit the website at https://urbansalsa.net/.

Evening classes run on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

When Mary Dias and her husband arrived in Australia during the 2000 Olympics, she couldn’t find the ingredients and products to cook her Mexican dishes.

“We used to alternate with my parents one year they’ll come to Australia for holidays and the following year we’ll go for holidays to Mexico. Every time they and us brought the suitcases full of products. However, I found the products didn’t last so my husband and I decided to bring our first container of Mexican products to Australia and buy a tortilla machine and the rest is history. We have been bringing more products in every container and now we are also importing South American products.”

Mary Dias is the founder of Fireworks Foods, an importer and manufacturer of tortillas, corn chips and a wide range of Mexica, Latin American and USA products. Located in North Rocks, Fireworks Foods has been in business for 16 years and Mary’s passion for authentic Mexican and Latin American ingredients is still as strong today as when the business first opened.

When asked why she chose to set up in North Rocks, Mary explained how she fell in love with the suburb.

“I arrived in Australia in 2000 when the Australia Olympics were just starting and we were living in Liberty Grove close to Concord West Train Station, the apartment was beautiful but it was very noisy. One day in our way to visit my sister in law we drove by North Rocks Road, they had an open house and we just felt in love with the suburb. It’s very quiet, there are possums, kookaburras, cockatoos, blue lizards, rosellas, frogs and many parks around us.

For us North Rocks is the place” to grow a family, our neighbours are great and a bonus there is a small industrial area in North Rocks just a walking distance from our home.”

You can visit Fireworks Foods shopfront at 217 North Rocks Road where Mary and her team are always welcoming you to sample from the wide range and recommend the most authentic products for your Mexican feast. www.fireworksfoods.com.au
 
COCHINITA PIBIL IN SLOW COOKER
Pork Pibil
Yucatan, Mexico
Serves 6

Ingredients
2-3kgs Pork Shoulder preferably bone in
50grs El Yucateco Achiote Paste
½ cup Orange juice
¼ cup White vinegar
¼ cup Lime juice
½ Teaspoon ground cumin
½ Teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
½ Teaspoon ground pepper
2 cloves
8 Garlic cloves crushed
¼ White sliced onion
2 tablespoons salt
24 Corn Tortillas Carmelita

Pickled Onions
2 Purple Onions thinly sliced
¼ cup Fresh orange Juice
¼ cup Fresh lime juice
1/8 Teaspoon dried Mexican Oregano
1/3 teaspoon sliced Habanero El Yucateco (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup boiling water

To Serve
½ Cup fresh coriander roughly chopped
4-6 Sliced lime
Salsa verde, roja (optional)

To Prepare the Pork Pibil:
Add the achiote paste, orange juice, vinegar, lime juice, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper to the blender to make the achiote marinade.

Rub the pork all over with the achiote marinade (wearing plastic gloves the achiote can stain your hands), cover and let the marinade to work overnight or at least 2-4 hrs.

Place the pork inside the slow cooker with all the achiote’s marinade juices, top the meat with the crushed garlic and the sliced onion. Cook on low for 9-10hrs or on high for 6-8 hrs. Until the meat is soft and tender and it falls apart. Shred the meat with 2 forks, keep the meat warm inside the slow cooker.

To Prepare the Pickled Onions:
Place the sliced onions in a colander on top of a casserole.

Pour the hot water on top of the onions using the colander drain well the onions.

Transfer the onions to a clean serving bowl, add the orange and lime juices, salt, oregano and the sliced habanero.
Combine well and set aside.

You can keep the pickle onions in a jar in the fridge for 3-4 days you can use them in tacos, tostadas, sandwiches, hot dogs, etc.

You can prepare the pickled onions the night before or at least 1hr before, keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.

To Prepare the Tacos:
Have all your ingredients ready on serving dishes on the table for the guests to make their own tacos: Pork Pibil, coriander, lime, pickle onions and salsa (optional). Warm the corn tortillas (following the package’s heating instructions), keep them warm in a tortilla warmer. Top the tortilla with the shredded pork, pickled onions, coriander, lime juice and more salsa.

Serving Suggestions: You can serve the Pork Pibil in a plate with beans and Mexican Rice on the side of the tacos.

Buen Provecho!

“Beautiful flowers, birds, mushrooms galore, even a few waterfalls. There’s so much you can see here — without having to drive very far,” says Tina, who’s lived in Winston Hills, just ten minutes’ drive from Parramatta, for seven years.

Tina spends nearly every weekend on an adventure — be it a hike through local woodlands, a paddle along the tributaries of the Parramatta River, or a stroll among the City’s spectacular heritage-listed buildings.

One of Tina’s regular walks is the Murri-Yanna Track, a 3.7-kilometre journey from North Rocks to Northmead. “There’s a wonderful gully, in between the housing, which has some incredibly tall gum trees, a creek running through, and some fantastic sandstone cliffs and boulders,” she says. “It’s surprising, just how far you can walk in and around Parramatta, without having to leave the forest.”

Every now and again, Tina swaps the land for water, and, armed with her kayak, heads for the Parramatta River, where she puts in at Silverwater Bridge. “From there, you can paddle all the way to the city — even as far as the ocean,” she says. “Just a week ago, I paddled to Hunters Hill, then turned into Lane Cove River, as far as De Burghs Bridge.”

Another favourite spot is Lake Parramatta, where, in a kayak, you can escape weekend crowds and get a new perspective on familiar landmarks, like the impressive dam wall.

And, when friends or family visit, Tina invites them to Lake Parramatta Cafe for lunch — with scenery. “It’s such a lovely setting, the food’s nice, and the service has always been great,” she says. Another option is a trip down Parramatta River on the River Cat.

“The City of Parramatta runs various walks and talks, which I’ve been attending for the past couple of years at least,” says Tina.

“One that I remember well was held during Science Week. We took a fascinating walk around Parramatta CBD, guided by archaeologists, who explained some of the incredible things they’ve found during excavation for construction […] by looking at pollens in the soil underneath the site where the new stadium is planned, they can work out what plants were growing 7,500 years ago.”

Take Brookyln street appeal, top-shelf cocktails, mouth-drooling Reuben sandwiches and land them in a graffiti plastered room with barred windows, at the bottom of a multi-storey car park and you’ll find Uncle Kurt’s. Opened in 2016, this award winning bar was Parramatta’s first small bar and a fan favourite in Parramatta’s CBD.

In the video, Unkle Kurt's Bar Manager Sasha Berdyshevsk prepares their signature cocktail the Carpark Martini while in the images, Owner George Makram, talks about where the concept for Uncle Kurt’s comes from.

"I wanted to create a bar in Parramatta that takes absolute pride in what it does – that pursues uncompromising excellence.

"The bench mark was the best bars in Sydney, Melbourne and New York City ... There's a lot of people in Parramatta who travel to Potts Point, Newtown and Darlinghurst to drink in small bars, so I felt there was a need for a local."

"I was thinking about a Brooklyn vibe, so I headed off. I spent time in Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Bushwick and Clifton Hill, where I looked into the gentrification process and the hipster movement. I tried to find the look and feel I was after, as well as the service style, food and drink."

Every handcrafted cocktail served in the 45-seater space features premium spirits and fresh ingredients, made from scratch in-house. The signature Westside, for example, contains kaffir lime leaf-infused gin, yellow chartreuse, citrus, sugar snap pea, honey and ginger. Then there's the Poor Man's Mezcalita, another original, made up of smoked tequila, dry vermouth, sage honey, citrus and hopped grapefruit bitters.

"It's like liquid cooking," explains George. "We make our own syrups, infusions, tinctures, bitters and perfumes. We dehydrate fruits and vegetables ourselves. We carve our own ice daily."

Beyond the ever-changing signature cocktail menu is a solid list of classics, such as the Old Cuban, the Penicillin and the Naked and Famous. Plus, at 4pm daily, $10 Negroni Happy Hour clocks on, signing off at 6pm. For non-cocktail drinkers, the craft beer selection is an international journey, beginning in Australia, crossing the Tasman to New Zealand and then the Pacific to the U.S. Just a few of the drops behind the bar are Young Henry's Newtowner Ale (on tap), Sour Puss Raspberry Ale from Camperdown's Wayward Brewing and Brooklyn Brown Ale.

During the tightest COVID-19 restrictions, Uncle Kurt’s quickly pivoted to deliver their signature dishes and drinks to the local community.

Born just 6 minutes away from where she has lived her whole life, 10-year-old Georgia loves everything that Parramatta has to offer. Along with her younger sister, her weekends and school holidays are busy with bike riding, swimming, playing with friends and visiting many of the local parks with scooters, helmets and snacks.

“My mum loves to take us on adventures to Parramatta. Sometimes it’s just for lunch and an ice-cream, but other times we take a train to Sydney, have fish and chips for lunch at the Rocks before catching the ferry to Parramatta and a bus back home. So much fun how easy it is to get around.”

With Sydney Olympic Park having so many great facilities, Georgia often finds herself there on weekends, whether to play at Blaxland Riverside Park, to see her first concert (Taylor Swift) or to use the many sporting facilities.

“I’m so lucky Sydney Olympic Park is close as I love sports and there is always so much to do there. My sister and I love splashing around at the Aquatic Centre and this year was my third Kids Tryathlon at Sydney Olympic Park.”

Lake Parramatta has always been a great spot to visit with kids, but since the Lake reopened for swimming in 2015, it’s become one of Georgia’s favourite places to go.

“Lake Parramatta is just a few minutes down the road so we go there often. We usually get there quite early, especially if it’s going to be hot. One of my favourite times at Lake Parramatta was in winter when we took our art books and did some great drawings as we did the bushwalk around the lake.”

The Riverside Theatre Spot On Children’s Festival has been running for many years and has continued to grow and expand. As well as a great line up of shows and events every year, the courtyard offers a range of free activities including craft, roving performers, face painting and performances.

“I love going to the Spot On festival at Riverside Theatre during school holidays. Sometimes we just go to the courtyard where there is always something going on, other times, we see a show. My favourite show was Mr Snot Bottom’s Stinky Silly Show. When my nan comes to Riverside Theatre to see a show that she likes, she comes and picks me up from school which I like.”

Parramatta is well-known for its family-friendly festivals and events which include Parramatta Lanes, New Year's Eve, Australia Day and Lunar New Year.

“I love going to different events in Parramatta. One of my favourites is the Winterlight festival. One year, I was so obsessed with Elsa from Frozen that I even wore my Elsa dress ice-skating.”

Georgia’s top ten favourite things to do in Parramatta:

1. Swimming at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
2. Bushwalking and swimming at Lake Parramatta
3. Throwing snowballs at Winterlight
4. Running through the splash park at Dundas, even when its winter
5. Going to Spot On Children's festival at Riverside Theatre
6. Riding around Parramatta Park and end up at the trampolines
7. Eating gelato at Gelato Messina
8. Trying some new food at Lunar New Year Festival
9. Catching the Ferry to Sydney
10. Tenpin bowling at Parra Leagues

“Some of the most exciting things in art and music are coming out of Western Sydney at the moment,” says multi-disciplinary artist Gillian Kayrooz. “So many people are working hard and turning their passions into a reality.”

Kayrooz, who grew up in Guildford, has wanted to be an artist for as long as she can remember. Straight after school, she headed to Sydney College of the Arts and, four years later, graduated with First Class Honours in Visual Arts.

Since then, she’s completed residencies in Australia, China and Japan, won several awards and exhibited solo shows. In December 2019, she started a year-long residency at Parramatta Artists’ Studios, which provides her with a low-rent studio space — plus loads of opportunities, like hosting exhibitions and holding workshops for the local community.

“The amount of support we get from the Council is huge,” says Kayrooz. “They really treat us like working artists and that makes me treat myself like one. I approach my practice like a job — and try to be there five days a week, from 10am till 7pm. When an exhibition is coming up, I can be there seven days!”

Much of Kayrooz’s work delves into stories of Western Sydney. Her February 2020 show FRE$H PAIR, a collaboration with artist Kimberley Peel at Liverpool’s Casula Powerhouse, is inspired by youth culture through sneakers.

“For some people, ‘sneaker culture’ is about collecting — about buying a $1,000 pair and keeping it in a box. But, when we were growing up, you had one pair of sneakers you loved and you wore them to death. You wore them at home, you wore them when you saw friends and you worked hard in them. They express the origins of community and identity.”

Her 2019 series of portraits printed on organza silk celebrates local identities. One, titled “You Going Parra Late Night?”, refers to the popular local teenage Thursday night ritual of meeting friends at Westfield, Parramatta, to “hang out”. Another, “Guildford Is On The News Again”, explores gang violence.

“My friends and I pride ourselves on being from Western Sydney. There’s nowhere else like it. It makes me the person I am and allows me to be the artist I am. There’s a humbleness and community feel that I’m not sure I’d experience anywhere else.”

In between making art, Kayrooz supports the local community by working as a Visual Arts Assistant at Catherine McAuley High School, Westmead, and as Arts and Culture Editor at FBi Radio. She also spends time soaking up the arts scene.

“Over the past few years, more and more galleries have opened up and projects have taken off,” she says. One of her favourites is OPN.SRC, a media platform that spotlights artists, musicians, fashion designers and entrepreneurs through interviews and events. Then there’s the Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE), founded in 2017. Among its initiatives are the Granville Boys Barbershop, where disengaged school students train in barbering, and New Age Noise, a free electronic music production program for female-identifying, transgender and non-binary youth.

“These kinds of projects are so important for school kids because they show them they don’t need to look elsewhere for art, music and opportunities. It’s all here and it’s thriving … As Parramatta grows as a city, with all the development going on at the moment, it’ll lend more and more of a hand to upcoming creatives.”

One place that Kayrooz hopes won’t change is Temasek, a Malaysian-Singaporean eatery hidden in a laneway in the Parramatta CBD. “My family’s been going there for more than 30 years. Growing up, we’d eat there once a week. I think I developed my high tolerance spice palate when I was about 8! Hands down, it serves the best laksa and best sambal chicken you’ll find anywhere.”

Photo by Jacquie Manning, 2020. Image Courtesy Parramatta Artists’ Studios.

“Parramatta is such a nice, relaxing place to ride,” says Nicola Rutzou, founder of Women Who Cycle, a blog dedicated to getting more women into cycling. “Recently I rode to Prospect Reservoir and, along the way, I went into Parramatta Park to do a lap.”

Living in Concord and riding in and around Parramatta for 11 years, Nicola finds city easy to reach on two wheels, thanks to a network of bike paths that extend north, south, east and west.

“From my home, I follow local streets to the northern bank of Parramatta River and, from there, a bike path leads me all the way into Parramatta CBD. It’s flat, safe and scenic.”

One of Nicola’s favourite places to cycle is Parramatta Park, 160 years old and made up of 85 hectares of glorious greenery — dotted with 19th century buildings, stunning gardens, shady trees, swathes of bushland and pretty picnic spots.

For cyclists, the drawcard is the 3.2 kilometre loop. Nicola thinks the best time to go is the morning, when the weather’s cool and there’s a real fitness vibe.

“It’s the most amazing place to ride, with lovely sweeping bends and little hills,” says Nicola. “I also love the living history. Parramatta and the river are such a huge part of Sydney’s past.”

What’s more, the loop suits two wheelers of any kind. Nicola says, “Cyclists of all levels go there, from triathletes doing fast loops for training, to kids who are learning … It’s great for beginners. If you’re nervous and don’t want to ride from home, put your bike in the back of your car, drive to the park and cycle at your own pace.”

In addition to being a cycling destination, Parramatta Park is an excellent starting point for longer rides. The loop links to the Parramatta River bike path, which travels east along the water to Sydney Olympic Park and beyond, as well as to another path that runs north, adjacent to Old Windsor Road.

These days, cycling is one of Rutzou’s passions. She rides between 100 and 130 kilometres per week, writes feature articles for Bicycling Australia magazine and runs her blog.

“I’m so in love with cycling, I love sharing it with other people, especially women.” says Nicola. “Women don’t take up cycling for many reasons, including the perception that it belongs to middle aged men in Lyrca. I want to encourage them to get out there — the more we do that, the more normal it becomes, and the lower the levels of angst. The fantastic facilities in Parramatta make it all the more possible.”

My husband (Alan Rodger, pictured) and I once lived in Melbourne, now we live in Glasgow Scotland, our country of birth. We are not young but whenever we escape Scottish weather to visit Sydney we are sure to visit Parramatta. Sydney and Parramatta are within sight of each other with only 24km between them. It’s an interesting journey by river ferry or, during our most recent trip, by “double decker” train from Central Station Sydney to the smartly modernised but heritage, Parramatta Station.

There are so many early domestic and Colonial Government buildings to see in town, but not so far apart that we could not walk to many on our day tour. Sydney has lost many early buildings but in Parramatta they are still in their garden settings. From the excavations and display cases at the “Philip Ruddock Heritage” site to experimental farms with convict handmade bricks and period interiors to tour, and on to Old Government House (which housed a few Scottish Governors and guests in its day) and its Unesco World Heritage park setting we appreciated the early NSW history.

The modern Parramatta city centre is looking good and getting ever taller. We ended our busy day on the 26th floor of the “V by Crown” building at stylish “Nick and Nora’s” a huge bar with good food and its 270-degree view stretching to Harbour Bridge. We picked up the great little guide booklet “Discover Parramatta” or you can see it online. Next time we need to stay in Parramatta and see more.