Category: CITIES

Glamourous Basement Steakhouse The Cut Serves Up Elevated, Yet Accessible Fare

Cut Steakhouse London 1

Not immediately visible to the untrained eye, beneath the surface of The Rocks in Sydney lies a sophisticated underground steakhouse that doubles as a speakeasy come nighttime. Located on Argyle street, The Cut serves Australian meat and seafood in a refurbished space; designed by Luchetti Krelle, the bar and restaurant draws upon the building’s colonial history, setting an atmosphere reminiscent of a film noir through moody lighting and elegant furniture – think leather booths, marble tables and a copper-topped bar – ensconced within bare stone walls and exposed timber beams. The old school decor is aptly complemented by old school service, with The Cut offering tableside cocktails in the form of a smoked negroni, gin martini, and vodka martini. The trio are bottled in-house, before being poured and garnished tableside. Alternatively, for a special imbibing experience, diners can opt for one of the establishment’s ‘high roller’ cocktails – such as the Vieux Carré or the Tipperary – which are made with rare and vintage spirits and offer a taste of the 1930s prohibition era. Classics like an Old Fashioned, Revolver, and Boulevardier are also on the menu, but with a barrel-aged twist. Owned by Neil Perry’s Rockpool Dining Group, The Cut’s dining offerings naturally impress. The restaurant’s must-order dish is the prime rib; dijon-crusted rib temptingly slides off the bone after being slow-roasted for four hours. The dish is presented tableside from an antique silver and rosewood trolley, served with veal jus and horseradish cream. The Cut has diversified their menu through the addition of… Read More

Hustle Boxing Sydney – the fitness studio for the everyday hustler

Hustle boxing

Hustle Boxing is new to Sydney, encouraging quality routines for the slightly nervous, right in the middle of Sydney’s LA-style exercise hub in Potts Point. The product of Simon Maree and Tim McGann, it’s all about technical boxing meets full-body conditioning where you’ll “build a boxer’s body with a champion’s mindset”, as they say. With six different class styles inspired by the likes of Jagger, Beyonce, Michael Jordan and Adriana Lima, it’s the kind of place you to go see, be seen, break a sweat and try your hand at something with some gloves in an environment purposed to inspire confidence and encourage getting involved! The near-dark room feels like you’ve travelled to an underground club in New York and is split in two for your 50-60 minute sweat session. First up, floor work using Y-bells, resistance bands and bodyweight exercises to tone and strengthen then boxing using state-of-the-art aqua bags for cardio and endurance.  When the music starts it’s just you and the bag with lots of personal space you push yourself to new limits with the support of your trainers. Hustle aims to ‘help you challenge your muscles and mind – and win’. The schmick facilities include an open plan Scandi feel reception, Dyson hairdryers in the bathroom and they supply everything even a glove dryer so there’s no need for sweaty gloves and old ratty wraps.  Hustle Boxing is located at 176 Victoria Street Potts Point, pricing starts from $35 for a casual class and $70 per week. 

Book of Man Festival London: What it is and what you need to see

Cock art

Without men, we’d be nowhere. Primarily without penises we’d be nowhere. So, the Book of Man Festival exists in a way, to showcase man and engage them in a changing world. It’s about opening eyes, learning skills, understanding things and communicating about vulnerabilities and fears with friends, family and each other. Topic of one of the festival’s most outstanding events? Dicks, of course. Scroll down for more. For the festival; a series of events in London this March will be providing a chance to develop and enjoy new perspectives. 10TH MARCH – THE PENIS GALLERY X VAGINA MUSEUM Location: The Book Club, 7-9pm The Penis Gallery is returning after a highly successful night last year which showed penises in their (strictly flaccid) glory and featured a panel discussion about taboos and anxieties around the fellas. This will be with panelist Dr Chris Morriss-Roberts, who has studied and written about the role of penises in the locker room, and male body perceptions in general.  We also have a further coup in welcoming artist Jamie McCartney, the man behind The Great Wall of Vagina, as well as his Penis Flags, is a man very much au fait with all genitalia matters. Buy tickets 16TH MARCH – HOW TO HAVE MORE AND BETTER SEX! Location: Rotate, 7-9pm In this interactive session we will tackle the new world of sex and dating. With the format of audience Q&A a top panel will discuss people’s bedroom issues, dating worries and generally give advice for better sex and happier relationships. For couples, singles,… Read More

Guess how many people don’t read – the truth with sadden you

Celeste Barber

So, it turns out a lot of us don’t read. Like, at all. Which explains the need for social media and auto-correct. But, thankfully, there are organisations out there that are encouraging – while not typically ‘reading’ as we know it – people to get back to the ways of old-ish, by consuming the OG content: stories! Audible found that 62% of Australians “are too busy to find the time to read”, so don’t. To combat this, they roped-in Celeste Barber, renowned piss-taker and social media personality in their #ChallengeAccepted campaign to shine a light on books and the fact you can now read them with your ears. Audible is all about audiobooks, making them more accessible, easier to consume and a lot cheaper than the traditional version. They’ve even cottoned on to the fact that two thirds (or 65 per cent) of Aussies would be more likely to listen to an audiobook narrated by a celebrity. Our favourites are Morgan Freeman (41 per cent), David Attenborough (34 per cent), Barack Obama (24 per cent) and Stephen Fry (22 per cent). Not to mention other cultural tid-bits like, the fact that Aussies most often wish they had read the Game of Thrones series (23 per cent), The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (22 per cent), and The Barefoot Investor (22 per cent). For more, go to Audible.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with whisky in London

The Sun Tavern is the small corner bar in Bethnal Green you need to know. If relaxed aesthetics and comfy interiors aren’t reason enough to call this East London hang out your local, then perhaps what they can do in the form of a cocktail, is? This Saint Pat’s Day they’re turning it on to the tune of a special cocktail menu this 17 March. From 6pm-9pm Three Sheets’ Noel and Max Venning will be taking over the bar, alongside The Sun Tavern bartenders, to offer guests an exclusive St Paddy?s day cocktail menu featuring a White Russian with Coffee, Milk Washed Slane Irish Whiskey and Miso, The Shamrock Gimlet with Slane Irish Whiskey, Wood Sorrel and White Wine and a twist on The Sun Tavern’s own Irish Coffee with Slane Irish Whiskey, Salted Coffee and Baileys Cream. Sort yourself out: Doors will be open from 12pm – 1am offering a whole day of shenanigans and ample time to enjoy the frivolities. St Patrick’s Day at The Sun TavernDate: Tuesday 17th March 2020Time: 12pm – 1am The Sun Tavern441 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 0ANWebsite: www.thesuntavern.co.uk

W Hotel Sydney and Alyssa Edwards teach Sydney to Love Out Loud this Mardi Gras

Alyssa Edwards drag Mardi Gras 1

The queen of tongue pops, Alyssa Edwards is in Sydney for this year’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, pretty much posing as the face of the forthcoming W Hotel Sydney. She’ll be a special guest on the W Hotels LOVE OUT LOUD float at this Saturday’s Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. After the news of W opening in Melbourne in August 2020 and W Sydney slated to open 2021, the hotel will inspire Sydney folks and visitors to celebrate equality and general gayness. They’ll jam their float this year with over 80 guests, including Vera Blue and local personality people on W Hotels’ supercharged fluoro boom box. It’ll be camp. Keep you eye out for it this weekend! See more about drag queens here.

8 super gay things to do at the Beresford this Sydney Mardi Gras

Beresford cocktail

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is on again and the Beresford by Merivale, right in the middle of Surry Hills is serving up all the things. Minnie Cooper Cabaret Show Tuesday 25 February, 7pm-late Minnie Cooper is ready to bring it, with an all new cabaret and drag show, ‘It’s Not Just for Gays Anymore’. This 2 ½ hour spectacular is set to be all things fabulous upstairs at The Beresford. Book to avoid disappointment: 02 9114 7328. Bingay Wednesday 26 February, 7pm-late Bingo? Hell no. Say hello to Bingay – a night of fabulous tunes and crazy-ass rules, with hilariously camp prizes to boot. Bookings are essential: 02 9114 7328. Passport Party Thursday 27 February, 9.30pm-late The annual Mardi Gras Passport Party will welcome international guests with open arms and show them how we party down under, with a great line-up of DJs and a special performance by drag queen hostess, Decoda Secret. Free entry. Super Camp Friday 28 February, 8pm-late Beresford Sundays, Absolut and DJ Dan Murphy are bringing a super-sized CAMP Party to The Beresford for one night only. Get in and get down to all your favourite camp anthems, from the 90s onwards. Think Kylie, Tina Arena, The Spice Girls, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain and more. Big production, big energy, drag shows and camp AF DJs guaranteed. Tickets on sale now: $10 presale from this link. Mardi Gras Parade Saturday 29 February, 7pm-late Revellers can don their wildest attire and join the party at The Beresford for Gay Christmas, where… Read More

Local favourite Kogarah Clubhouse receives a facelift but maintains traditional club charm

Southern Fried Chicken Burger

Kogarah Clubhouse has been a local favourite for years. Established in 1947, it was originally known as Kogarah RSL Club, but it recently received a renovation, introducing a fresh, modern take on the much loved club. However the one thing locals will tell you hasn’t changed, is the friendly and genuine hospitality you’ll encounter at the Clubhouse. No BS here.  Kogarah Clubhouse now offers three contemporary venues – The Pearl Asian Eating House, Blake Street Kitchen and a revived Clubhouse Bar.  Featuring high, exposed ceilings and curved architecture, the Clubhouse Bar is the perfect venue to kick off your lunch or dinner date with a cocktail or a refreshing cider on tap. On the cocktail front, the ‘Sassy Pear Cosmo’ (grey goose, triple sec with fresh pear) jumps out at you from the ‘Something Special’ cocktail menu while the ‘Fairy Godmother’ (beefeater pink gin, cointreau blood orange and campari) is also extremely tempting.  From here, you can move to The Pearl Asian Eating House, featuring a menu that showcases authentic Asian flavours with a contemporary, modern twist. The Pearl is also a great venue for that old lunch time favourite, yum cha. The Pearl Asian Eating House is open for early dining from 11am from Monday to Friday and 10:30am on Saturday and Sunday. But if it’s a mouth-watering schnitty, a southern fried chicken burger or seafood platter you crave, then all-day modern eatery Blake Street Kitchen is your venue.  There’s something for everyone, from delicious starters such as satay chicken skewers and bruschetta to… Read More

Matt Preston, Tanqueray and Marley Spoon join forces to create the ultimate dinner party for six – in a box!

Tanqueray x Marley Spoon

Tanqueray and Marley Spoon have launched the ultimate dinner party box so now’s the time to call up the crew and host an entertaining night in, with a Korean-inspired menu curated by Matt Preston.  Designed to feed a party of six, these limited edition dining boxes include everything you need to create an incredibly delicious, three-course meal accompanied with Tanqueray gin cocktails.  Let’s be honest, planning and shopping for a dinner party can be hard work, even for the most organised amongst us, but with the Tanqueray x Marley Spoon ultimate dinner party box, all the hard work is done for you.  The ingredients are pre-portioned, so all you need to do is stick to the easy-to-follow recipe and voila, everyone will think you’re the bomb.  The party box costs $269, which includes a 700ml bottle of Tanqueray’s London Dry and cans of Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic. If Tanqueray’s Nº TEN is more your jam (a small batch gin crafted using fresh citrus fruits), you can pay an additional $30 for the Nº TEN dinner set ($299).  Available through to 29 March 2020 – with deliveries from 9 March to 5 April – the first of the limited edition dining boxes includes the following mouth-watering menu:  Entree: Brussel Sprout Bao Buns with Lap Cheong and Fish Sauce Caramel Main: Gochujang Beef Fillet Lettuce Cups with Shiso, Kimchi and Ssamjang Mayo Sides: Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Miso-Almond Butter, Charred Broccolini and Spring Onion with Sesame Dessert: Chocolate-Walnut Torte with Pears, Butterscotch and Gold Dust Cocktails to… Read More

Words do hurt: Why we need to stop the hate with #LoveSpeech

LoveSpeech

Watch the video above (below on mobile). Triggering, right? There are, on average, 43 hateful anti-LGBT words posted a minute around the world. The time for that to end has long since passed. With the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras taking over the city of Sydney in March, it’s a timely reminder and firm shove in the right direction of acceptance, diversity, inclusion and people. And it’s good. There was some new research recently, which had some shocking findings, though. And all of this, despite how cosmopolitan Australia’s city centres wholly are. Here are some stand-out bits. Check it out: 74% of the Australian LGBTIQ+ community believe hurtful language directed at members of their community is a major issue in Australia today 26% of Australian LGBTIQ+ adults say the first time they were the victim of hurtful language specifically about their gender or sexual identity, it was from a friend or family member Online abuse has affected 40% of LGBTIQ+ millennials and 43% of LGBTIQ+ Australians under the age of 24 What the fuck?! The sad reality is that, though marriage is legal, equality is on the rise and acceptance is growing, the sad reality is that acceptance is still a major are for growth. Just look at the stats. That’s why, this Mardi Gras – and just throughout life in general – the #LoveSpeech campaign has such a powerful message. “Hurtful language can have a negative impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ people, and that’s why ANZ has launched this powerful and… Read More