Category: FEATURES

What do you see when you look at an ink blot? And how gay are you?

Gay rainbow paint eye

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

For anyone keen on the history of psychology, sexuality and pretty ink pictures, Queer Ink is the book for you. It’s a journey through academia, exploring the history of the Rorschach inkblot test and its deep roots in the history of homosexuality. Queer Ink: A blotted history towards liberation contextualises the Rorschach ink blot test and embeds it within feminist action and queer liberation. Who’d’ve thought, right? The book uses the ink blot test as a tool through which we can explore and reveal a queer feminist history of Psychology. For example, by unpicking the work of psychologists past, it’s pretty clear that their work was influenced by their own takes on feminism and often queer lives. The author, Katherine Hubbard’s a PhD sociologist who wrote her work titled, ‘A history of the Rorschach ink blot test in Britain: an interdisciplinary, queer feminist approach to one bleeding test’ and now, her work’s made it to book form. Find it at Routledge.

Category: BOOKS, FEATURES, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Shopping up a storm? Let The Urge do the work for you

Online shopping laptop credit card

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

Know what’s nice? It’s that centuries ago, shopping for nice things you want used to be reserved for the privileged and aristocrats. Then they died out, capitalism set in, retail became faster and our desires became stronger, giving us more and more of a reason than ever to basically never stop shopping. And no one’s mad about it. Online retail isn’t a new thing, but it’s how it’s done that’s forever changing and keeping the whole world of spending money without having to move that much more enticing. Just today, for example, I spent $400 on a new pair of sunnies. Didn’t need to, but did. And when there are businesses out there like The Urge that make it that much more possible to do from basically – and literally – ALL over the internet, there’s no reason not to. They’re an Australian retail platform that takes a term like, ‘Rayban’, or ‘Miansai’ and throws it open to the worldwide web, serving you results from every retailer who’s got anything that might tick the boxes of what you’re after. Why? Simple, really. Shoppers on the hunt for a specific fashion item often spend hours bouncing from site to site, scrolling miles with their thumb, trying to find where they can buy it. They’ll have hundreds of tabs open, go back and forth between sites to compare prices, come across sold out stock, and often end up on a store that doesn’t even ship to their country.  The Urge makes it easy. And quick. And simple…. Read More

Category: FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, RETAIL, STYLE

Tags: , , , ,

Good Food Month Sydney: Shannon Martinez does very good vegan

Shannon Martinez

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

With Sydney Good Food Month taking over the city this October again, it’s time to purge your bodies and get excited for food. Chef Shannon Martinez is joining the movement and getting foodie with Mary’s Underground for an unforgettable night featuring a classic Southern multi-course menu that is refined, delicious and completely vegan, alongside a band specially selected by Mary’s music director Joe Muller. We spoke to him about it. How long have you been vegan and why?  I am actually not a Vegan. I think a huge part of my job is being able to experience and try all types of different typed of food and dishes – my job is really experimental. I love cooking vegan food because when I started no one was doing it, no one was really putting in the effort with it here that much. I just love cooking vegan food, I tend to get bored really easily and vegan and vegetarian dishes are a constant challenge to keep creating and generating innovative ideas. It is very scientific – which it makes me feel like each new dish is taking me back to the ‘lab’ to create a cool new challenge What thoughts do you have on how visible and mainstream veganism is now?  It’s great! The fact that it’s all over Instagram, in every paper, all the influencers and celebrities are talking about it – its massive! Beyonce did it for a while and I think she is still partly vegan focused in her lifestyle… that is huge,… Read More

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Good Food Month Sydney: A chat with cake master Katherine Sabbath

Katherine Sabbath

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

Good Food Month is back on in Sydney this October, putting on the best the city has to offer in the way of food and drink. You can see the whole program here to sort yourself out with tickets, but to whet your appetite and get the sweet tooth a’tinglin’, we spoke to Katherine Sabbath, cake boss, about her participation this year and what it’s all about. Why are cakes so popular right now?  Cakes have been popular for centuries! I think the trend nowadays towards more people making exciting cakes or buying exciting cakes is because there’s a much better range and accessibility out there for cake decorating ingredients and tools. Also, technology at out fingertips, such as youtube and Instagram, has opened the door to self-learning (hello to all self-taught bakers!) and inspiration from across the world! What spurred the resurgence of baking and everyone’s love for desserts?  People will always love and celebrate food – it’s at the core of our survival and civilisation. Popular television cooking shows have reiterated to people that cooking brings so much joy to those around you (especially a bespoke birthday cake!), and technology has made learning how to cook more difficult desserts, so much easier! Why does baking do it for you?  I adore baking because you have the ability to create something delicious, beautiful and thoughtful as a special treat to share with others. Oh and it’s a fantastic way to make friends! Give us some tips to tackle trendy bakes? Only bake and decorate cakes with ingredients you enjoy eating (my… Read More

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: , , , , ,

Organic, Vegan, Natural and Biodynamic – The New Health Wine Trends Explained

Wine cheers

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

A visit to your local wine store can be confusing, with so many brands, blends and varieties to choose from. Add in the growing range of organic, vegan, natural and biodynamic labels, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Perhaps that’s why 80% of people tend to choose a bottle with the most attractive label, regardless of its origin or blend[i].  Victoria Angove, Joint Managing Director of Angove Family Winemakers and 5th generation winemaker, is the go-to expert on the differences between these designations and what the word on your wine label really means. “With so many people concerned about their individual health and the health of our planet, I’m not surprised that more than 65 percent of Australian’s are choosing to purchase certified organic products in a bid to live healthier lives and use products that do less harm the environment[ii],” says Victoria. This growth in organic wines reflects society’s overall move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. People are now choosing wine to reflect their changing lifestyle tastes and goals to complement the more natural and organic foods they eat. Research shows that a daily glass of wine has benefits for our health, [iii] [iv] and with the substantial rise in organic wine sales in the last year (up by 50%), it’s time to get the lowdown on the best certified organic, vegan, natural or biodynamic wines to complement your healthy and sustainable lifestyle.[v] The difference between Organic, Vegan, Natural and Biodynamic  “Increasingly, amongst the millennials, and broader consumers, people are… Read More

Category: FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

How ducks are being used to keep your favourite wines ‘organic’

Ducks wine 2

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

When you think of the important elements needed in order to produce award-winning, organic wine, the last thing you may consider are the role ducks may play. Yet, at Angove Family Winemaker’s vineyard in the McLaren Vale, the resident ducks are considered very special staff members. Ones that are so important, that the owners of the 130-year-old, multi-generational wine company consider the Indian Runner Ducks an integral part of the family, and the winemaking process. “Our ducks are released every day in our Warboys Vineyard at McLaren Vale,” says Richard Angove, Joint Managing Director of Angove Family Winemakers and 5th generation winemaker. “The sight of the waterfowls waddling out of their specifically designed ‘Duck Hotel’ is guaranteed to bring a smile to all visitors’ faces, but they also play a very important role in our vineyard. The ducks keep the snail population under control without the need to use pesticides on the vines.” With the help of their feathered employees, Angove have been able to continue their commitment to sustainability at all levels and maintain their Certified Organic status. “We are unable to use traditional chemicals to control weeds in the vineyard, so instead we need to resort to manual removal for young vines, or mechanical removal and under-vine mulching in the older more established vineyards.” “The snails used to crawl up into the vine canopy and munch away on the young green shoots of the developing leaves and grapes,” continues Angove. The (human) team had removed more than 400kg of snails from the vineyard… Read More

Category: FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE

Street art to stop AIDS: PAINT (RED) SAVE LIVES

RED Art AIDS

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

Washington DC today took step to end AIDS. The city launched the first global street art campaign created to drive urgency and action in the fight to end the incurable virus. What’s involved? Massive names in the street art game like Add Fuel, Bisco Smith, BRUSK, DALeast, Faile, Faith XLVII, Hera, HOW & NOSM, Inside Out Project, Karabo Poppy Moletsane, Ludo, Olek, Ron English, Shepard Fairey, Stephen Powers, Trevor & Cosmo, and WK Interact will create (RED)-inspired street art to engage people and encourage political leaders to fully fund the AIDS fight, ahead of The Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment Conference, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron on October 10th in Lyon. Where’s it happening? Legit everywhere. Some of best sites can be found in London, New York, Washington D.C., Berlin and Paris will be transformed by artists during September and early October 2019, culminating in Lyon as the world’s leaders gather to pledge funding to the Global Fund for the next three years. A successful replenishment will help save 16 million lives and cut the mortality rate from HIV, TB and malaria in half.   Bono, co-founder, said; “Street artists have been raising the alarm in the fight against AIDS since HIV appeared — from the streets of New York in the 1980s, and now in the next weeks in cities around the world with Paint (RED) Save Lives. There has been a lot of progress, more than many experts predicted, but not enough yet to put the sirens to rest. Young women continue to bear the brunt of this disease and maddeningly, every week 6,000… Read More

Category: FEATURES, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE

Chef Luke Mangan does a new bottomless brunch at Glass Brasserie Sydney

A plate of chicken on a table with hands holding cutlery going to cut into it

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

Dining at a hatted restaurant needn’t break the bank. And what better way to enjoy a superb, yet affordable five course brunch at a leisurely pace on a lazy Sunday, surrounded by elegant interiors and two hours of bottomless Aperol Spritz or French Rosé. With ‘Easy’ by The Commodores playing in the background, the scene is set for a pretty relaxed, yet memorable weekend graze.  So where is this sweet setting, you ask? It’s Sunday Brunch with Luke at glass, located on level two at Hilton Sydney. Now open on Sundays for lunch, Luke Mangan has curated a stunning five course menu to be enjoyed over two hours at a very reasonable $75 per person. Mangan says his new Sunday offering at glass has been designed to be both fun-filled and relaxed. The innovative Mangan and his talented team have delivered on both fronts.  “To me, in a world where we are all too busy, there’s no better way than putting food in the middle of the table to help us connect with each other and the incredible Australian produce you can experience right here in the heart of Sydney’s CBD,” says Mangan.  First course kicks off with delicious salmon rillettes with pickled cucumber and crumpets. This is followed by a colourful zucchini flower dish bursting with gorgonzola, on top with beetroot hummus with corn and soft herbs.  Third course is the Japanese-inspired crab omelette, okonomiyaki, bonito flakes with nori, Japanese mayonnaise and ginger garnish. The flavours in this dish are phenomenal and if you’re… Read More

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: , , , ,

The annual Night Noodle Markets say goodbye to Hyde Park Sydney

Noodles asian

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

In what’ll be the final year the annual Asian food fest pops-up in the middle of the Sydney at Hyde Park, the festival’s pulling out all stops before moving to a new location in 2020. Why? Something about more space and higher demand. It’s been running for over 15 years, and 11 of those years have been supported by Citi, giving VIP access to all their customers. No wonder it gets so overrun! The usuals like Hoy Pinoy, Let’s Do Yum Cha, Chur Burger, POKLOL, Puffle, Twistto, Flying Noodle, and Wonderbao and heaps more will all do their part in turning Sydney’s central pride-and-joy park into a stomping ground for foodies. If you’re the kind of person who likes to plan food, before consuming, then plan-away. Here’s the menu: Bangkok Street Food – Bringing Bangkok’s world-famous street food scene to Sydney with crowd favourites pad Thai, tom yum noodle, pad see ew, basil chicken noodles and delicious mixed entrees. Cala Bang – Crispy calamari with flavour hits to choose from like seaweed, hot and spicy, and paprika seasonings, alongside their foot-long potato fries. Bao Brothers – Bringing the street-food culture of Gua Baos to a whole new level with the ‘peeking cluck’, ‘shroom shady’, and loaded sweet potato fries. Biang Biang Noodles – Chinese noodles with flavour that packs a punch like the Biang Biang with chilli, beef or tomato and egg. Chinese Dim Sum King – A mouth-watering offering of dumplings, buns, spring rolls and dim sum skewers. Donut Papi – Small-batch Asian-inspireddoughnutsthat are Nigella Lawson approved, including the infamous Leche Flan Donut and… Read More

Category: ASIAN FOOD, CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: , ,

Transform your travel goals with Lonely Planet’s new guide

Couple travel travelling

by

Updated: 16/11/2022

What do you get out of travelling? Are you after personal growth? Wanting to see new things? A change? Whatever the reason, you’re not alone and there’s something to be taken from any and every experience you find yourself in. Lonely Planet cottoned on to this and asked 7,500 members of its dedicated community of travellers from around the world the same sort of question with 92% of respondents saying they see travel as “an opportunity for positive change” 68% saying they now care more about sustainable travel than they used t, leaving 60% who view travel as more of an opportunity for personal growth than they previously did. They’ve even brought out a new book; purposed the help guide travellers on their way to ticking-off some of the more pressing goals they had in mind before jumping on board the plane. Goals are about a life filled with variety and self-discovery. Each goal is enriching in some way, either because it’s about forging stronger connections with the natural world, helping a community clear a coastline of plastic, or spending a week on silent retreat, they say. Every goals contributes to a good trip and vice-versa, so it’s time to start ticking some of them off! To celebrate the release of Travel Goals, Lonely Planet has teamed up with World Nomads to give visitors to lonelyplanet.com/explore-every-day/competition the chance of winning an AUD $5,000 Travel Goals pack – to help inspire them to create positive, life-changing travel experiences.

Category: BOOKS, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, TRAVEL

Tags: , ,

Copyright © 2024 · All Rights Reserved · THE F

About · Terms of Use · Cookies · Privacy · Instagram · Facebook ·