World's smallest hotel? Too small to swing a cat

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says the world's smallest hotel has just one room – and that's a mere 8ft by 10ft (2.43m X 3.04m.)

But small as it is, this miniscule room has a double bed, ensuite with shower and toilet, a stocked mini-bar, flat-screen TV and a stereo unit with iPhone connectivity.

Located in the trendy Vesterbro district of Denmark's capital Copenhagen, the Hotel Central and Café began life in 1905 as a shoe repair shop, the shoemaker adding a 2nd floor and moving into that in 1920. The shoemaker's later became a goldsmith's and then a café, and in June 2013 the second floor flat became the world's smallest hotel.

Guests arrive to find fresh flowers, fruit and a welcoming bottle of wine in their room, and downstairs a tiny café that takes them back in time with vintage signs and various other bits of historic paraphernalia.

It costs 1,800 Danish krone a night (currently approximately AU$384) which includes breakfast for two at the Granola Café that is a half block away and owned by the same people who own the Hotel Central and Cafe.

If you're interested in booking a night, email  mail@centralhotelogcafe.dk


PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] THE downstairs café at Copenhagen's Hotel Central and Café takes visitors back in time with vintage signs, knickknacks and historic paraphernalia…

[]  SMALL as it is the hotel room has an ensuite, stocked mini-bar, flat-screen TV and stereo with iPhone connectivity.

(Photos: Hotel Central & Café)

Mosquito and Spitfire flypast - Merlins galore!

I dare you to watch this and not have chills! (turn sound up loud)

Posted by Bernard Jackson on Monday, 20 April 2015

Restored Porsche 917K returns to US race track after 40 years

This Porsche 917K, the legendary victorious car of the 1,000-kilometre race at Spa in 1971 experienced its roll-out at Porsche Motorsport North America and can now be admired at the “Rennsport Reunion”, the world’s largest event featuring historic Porsche race cars held from September 25-27 at Laguna Seca in California.

 The race car was also successfully campaigned in the USA, for instance at Watkins Glen, before it was finally put into storage at the museum in Zuffenhausen.

In 2009, the vehicle was painted in the famed Gulf colours and exhibited in the museum. In 2012, Porsche Motorsport North America was commissioned to restore the race car to its 1971 condition and get it back on the track.

World-First Coldwater Creek Restaurant & Bar Debut New Food Concept

Diners will get a chance to experience a new food concept when SilverNeedle Hospitality opens its world-first Coldwater Creek Restaurant & Bar at Sage Hotel Wollongong today.

Drawing inspiration from laid-back modern gastro pub dining, the team at Coldwater Creek has taken old favourites and transformed them into new and exciting offerings. The popular Beer Battered Chips have become No Ordinary Fries, it is a signature item on the menu with the addition of juicy, slow cooked pulled pork, melted smoked mozzarella and jalapeno peppers.

“We have put a twist on traditional favourites and come up with something familiar yet different. Another signature item is our apple pie shake where we have combined two all-time favourites into something completely extraordinary, creating fond food memories,” said Mr Sean Flynn, EVP, Hotels Division, SilverNeedle Hospitality

“It is increasingly important to have a place that reflects warm and genuine hospitality, has a sense of awareness of its produce and understands affordability. Coldwater Creek is such a place and we hope it will resonate well with the local community,” added Mr Flynn.

Whilst the club sandwich was a must-have on hotel menus, it has in recent years been usurped by the gourmet burger. At Coldwater Creek, diners can expect premium Wagyu beef, melted mozzarella, double smoked bacon with sunny side up egg in a Brioche bun.

“We are very excited to have this new outlet debut at our hotel,” said Paul Wilsher, General Manager of Sage Hotel Wollongong. “This is the ideal place for families to enjoy meals together, friends to gather for drinks, sports fans to cheer their sporting heroes and business leaders to network.”

The opening of Coldwater Creek Restaurant & Bar completes the renovations that had been undertaken as part of the re-branding of the hotel to Sage Wollongong.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Sage Wollongong Hotel and at Coldwater Creek Restaurant & Bar.

For more information on Coldwater Creek Restaurant & Bar, visit www.cwcrestaurants.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/CWCWollongong

Instagram #CWCWOL

Warrior Elite: A compelling account of Australia's intelligence organisations and special forces

This September Hachette Australia is pleased to be publishing Warrior Elite, the latest work from established Canberra author Robert Macklin.

In the past, Robert has written very extensively on Australia's military history, focusing particularly on the stories of former elite soldiers from the late 1990s to today. He has had countless exclusive interviews with sources within the Special Forces and key intelligence agencies. This has made him one of Australia's foremost experts on Australia's elite forces.

In this new work, Robert brings together a complete history of Australia's special forces, from the notorious Z force, to today's cyber warfare. Featuring a foreword written by Peter Jennings, the former Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Warrior Elite's real strength is Robert's ability to link the importance of these histories to the future of new warfare and the challenges that Australia's defence forces currently face. He also looks at key organisations such as the Australian Security Intelligence Service, the Australian Signals Directorate and ASIO.

Robert has cemented his place as one of Australia's leading Special Forces experts, and will be giving interviews around the publication of Warrior Elite. If you'd like to arrange to talk to him, please do get in touch.

WARRIOR ELITE

Robert Macklin

Published by Hachette Australia in September 2015, Trade Paperback, RRP $35.00, Ebook RRP $17.99

WARRIOR ELITE is a unique and compelling account of Australia's special forces and intelligence operations - ranging from the early special forces of World War II to the establishment and development of the SAS and Commando Regiments as the elite fighters of today, and from the Australian Security Intelligence Service to the Australian Signals Directorate and ASIO. It is an authoritative, gripping and thoroughly up-to-date account of both the history and current state of our special forces and intelligence bodies - and gives a unique glimpse into the warfare of the future. Our future.

ROBERT MACKLIN has conducted dozens of exclusive interviews and uncovered incredible, daring and sometimes heartbreaking stories of the elite troops that guard our nation and engage in secret operations around the world. He has had significant cooperation from numerous sources within the special forces and the various intelligence agencies.

Both thoroughly researched and colourfully written, WARRIOR ELITE will attract the reader of action memoirs as well as those interested in broader military history and espionage.

ROBERT MACKLIN was born in Queensland and educated at Brisbane Grammar School, Queensland University and the ANU. He began his journalistic career on The Courier-Mail and subsequently wrote for The Age, The Bulletin and was Associate Editor of The Canberra Times until 2003.

He is the author of 26 books, including four novels and major works of history and biography, including three memoirs of recently retired SAS Operators. He is a graduate of the Australian Film and TV School and has written and directed documentary films in 33 countries of Asia and the South Pacific.

He now lives in Canberra and Tuross Head and divides his time between his screenplays and books.

www.hachette.com.au

Automobili Lamborghini's new Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster

Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster makes global debut in California, USA

Sant'Agata Bolognese/Carmel, Calif. 17th August 2015 – Automobili Lamborghini unveils the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster in occasion of the Monterey Car week in California. The Roadster, presented at the famous event 'The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering', is available in a limited series of 500 units worldwide and is the first series produced, open-top Lamborghini to bear the name Superveloce.

''The Superveloce is the purest, most sports-oriented and fastest series production Lamborghini ever. The Roadster version represents our commitment to satisfying our passionate clients with immensely emotional driving dynamics combined with an extraordinary open air experience,'' Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini said during the press conference at The Quail.

As a member of Lamborghini's storied Superveloce family, the car offers greater performance with a power increase of 50 hp to 750 hp and a dry weight of 1,575 kg (3,472 lb), that is 50 kg (110 lbs) lighter compared to the Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster. This leads to an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of just 2,1 kg/hp (4,6 lb/hp).

The Roadster maintains the coupe's breathtaking acceleration, sheer power and handling prowess. In an enhancement to the Superveloce coupé experience, the Superveloce Roadster's features a power rear window that allows the free-flowing engine sound to fill the cabin with invigorating tones and harmonics during spirited driving.

The naturally aspirated, 6.5-liter V12 produces 552 kW (750 hp) at 8,400 rpm and 690 Nm (509 lb-ft) of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) happens in 2.9 seconds with a top speed of more than 350 km/h (> 217 mph).

Lamborghini's highly innovative 7-speed ISR transmission delivers an incomparably emotional gear shift and transfers the engine's power to all four wheels through a Haldex Generation IV 4WD system. Of course, as in the SV coupé the car takes advantage of adaptive Magneto Rheological Suspension, a pushrod damping system and Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS) for improved driving dynamics

And as with the Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster, the SV Roadster comes with a two-piece hardtop made from carbon fiber featuring technologies such as RTM and Forged Composite®, which deliver a perfect surface finish, allow complex design shapes and the highest possible component stiffness combined with extremely low weight. Thus, the two roof parts each weigh less than six kilograms (13.2 lb) and can be stowed easily in the luggage compartment. They provide the perfect complement to the monocoque, which is entirely made from carbon fiber.

Deliveries of the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Rodster begin in early 2016 with base pricing of 357,000.00 Euros (excl. VAT) or USD 530,075.00 MSRP.

 

Big Boys Toys Expo Canberra

Imported American vehicles & gyrocopters

In a first for the East Coast of Australia, Canberra is set to host the first ever Big Boys Toys Expo on 22-23 August, with tickets available for purchase now.

“Big Boys Toys Expo is a two day highly interactive event which will be the ultimate playground for big boys (and girls of course) to see, touch, experience and buy all the toys, tools, gizmos, gadgets, sports and hobbies they’ve always dreamed of,” said Expo Director, Steve Rohan-Jones.

“We currently have over 50 amazing exhibitors locked in with more coming on board almost daily. It will be a huge event onsite at Canberra’s Exhibition Park, and we’ve got some awesome names locked in to exhibit including Defence Force Recruiting, Recreational Aviation Australia, Pure Scuba, Aussie Boats Sales and Shannons Insurance.

“We’re filling over 10,000 square metres at Exhibition Park and will have a great sports lounge and bar for visitors to take a break from checking out all the gear on offer,” Steve continued.

Visitors to the expo can wander through interesting and highly interactive exhibits and really immerse themselves in whatever takes their interest. The expo will feature product demonstrations and sales, and the crowds can really get involved – take a ride in a flight simulator, hop in the dive tank, check out fly fishing demos, an American cars display, vintage cars, off-road vehicles, electric skateboards, gym equipment, golf displays, trailers and a huge remote control presence with cars, helicopters, semi-trailers, trucks, drones and planes.

Canberra Café Racers (CCR)

“Big Boys Toys will be an awesome cross-generational family day out – perfect for sons, dads and grandads, or for the girls to check out with their guys or fathers just two weeks ahead of Father’s Day, and see some amazing interactive exhibits. And whether it’s a love of cars, big trucks, brewing, golf, fishing, tech gadgets, recreational vehicles, pinball…there really will be something for everyone.

“The expo has been confirmed to run in Canberra for the next three years and there is way more to come. So stay tuned for more detail on the Big Boys Toys Expo,” Steve concluded.

Big Boys Toys Expo is on 22-23 August 2015 at Exhibition Park in Canberra. Tickets to the expo are on sale right now at pre-show prices online at only $10 for adults, or at the ‘Mates Rates’ deal of four tickets for the price of three, at $30. For more information, or to buy tickets online and save, visit www.bigboystoyscanberra.com.au Find Big Boys Toys Expo on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bigboystoyscanberra

DIARY DATE

What: Canberra Big Boys Toys Expo
When: 22 – 23 August 2015
Where: Exhibition Park in CanberraMore info & Tickets: www.bigboystoyscanberra.com.au