Is it just us, or did Andrew Zimmern kind of take this week off? Sure there was a new episode of Bizarre Foods, but it was decidedly un-bizarre; we'd eat all of it no problem.

Andrew was in Eastern Australia this week in what seemed like a less-intense mode after a rough time in the Outback. What we mean is, he went to the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach and ate Vegemite; is this "Bizarre Foods" or "Bridget's Sexiest Beaches"?

We will concede that he did find some bugs to eat, but even those were in a stir fry—not exactly the slimy and hardcore chewing we expect of Andrew. In all fairness, he does a great job as a not-so-crazy travel host, since he actually got us pretty excited about hitting up Oz for some tiger pie and Wagyu steak.

We're hoping to get our usual dose of gross eating next week when Zimmern heads to Singapore. Just promise us one thing, Z: no more steaks!

Related Stories:
· Eastern Australia Travel Guide [Bizarre Foods]
· The Real Outback Stekhouse [Jaunted]
· Bridget's 'Sexiest Beaches' Is Not Exactly Blowing Our Minds [Jaunted]

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· Washington DC: We sincerely hope you aren't forgetting that this Sunday is Mother's Day, and luckily those wishing for a short city escape can head to the Spring Garden Party at George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Provided that the weather is nice, there will be activities on both May 9 and 10, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If your mother appreciates old-fashioned hospitality and history, she'll be delighted with "18th-century-style musical groups," garden tours, colonial games and dancing, and early American gardening demonstrations. For more information, check out the About.com information page. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-05-08T16:11:51-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/24/14484/1073

· Buenos Aires: Beginning this weekend in the La Rural exhibition complex, the Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires brings over 1 million people together for the Spanish-speaking world's largest literature festival and book fair. Whether you're in the market to beef up your home library, tracking down signatures of your favorite authors or taking in a free lecture, the Feria is fun for all. Fluency in Spanish is of course highly recommended, but then we're sure they'll have language instruction for sale as well. Check out the full schedule for the fair, which runs until May 11, at its website. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-04-24T16:26:43-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/5/31/8120/69022

The crown of Sydney, the 305-meter Sydney Tower, is doing everything it can to attract visitors. When it opened in 1981 it was the fourth tallest building in the world; these days that status is long lost and it's finding other strengths.

Take the Sydney Skywalk that opened in 2005--you can strap on a harness, head out onto a moving, glass-floored viewing platform and see Sydney literally beneath you. The walk "over" Sydney takes an hour and a half.

And if you get your timing right, you can take up Sydney Tower's Travellers' Tuesdays deal. You can get views from the observation deck, dinner and a drink, and a ride in OzTrek, the virtual tour of Australia. You'll need that if the weather's too foggy to see anything.

Related Stories:
· Sydney Travel [Jaunted]
· Hotels in Sydney [HotelChatter]
· Sydney Tower [Official Site]

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Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, an Oscar-winning Aussie movie from the '90s, made a bright pink bus famous as it traveled across the Australian outback, touring its drag queen stars through pubs and deserts and making everybody laugh. It also made plenty of people trek out to Kings Canyon near Uluru to see where parts of the movie were filmed.

Now Priscilla is a must-see musical in Sydney, after opening last month to good crowds. Priscilla the Musical is every bit as pink and camp as the movie was, and depicts just one part of the multi-layered society that makes up Australia. It's not even about being gay, publicists say: It's about fitting in when you're different. Sounds more like a sociological lesson than a good night out, but maybe it's both; we recommend grabbing a ticket if you're heading to Sydney in the next year or two, but leave the sociology textbook at home.

Related Stories:
· Priscilla - Queen of Desert, Film and Now The Stage [Times Online]
· Phil Scott's Insider View of Priscilla [SX]
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First Mischa Barton lived it up in London, and now she's moved on to the colonies, namely Australia.  Doing press for various fashion lines, Mischa mades time for hitting up the hottest of the hot spots.  Icebergs Club is one of those, an establishment that started as an old-man style swimming club and now hosts Sydney's sexy young things for seafood dinners.

The restaurant is crazy expensive, but people can make a day trip out of it - stroll the length of the beach to the south side and have a drink while looking out on the famous beach. Apparently said drink will be accompanied by deep-fried olives, which seems weird, but we suppose it's worth a shot.

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