Category: CITIES

3 best waterside eating and drinking spots in London

Waterway London

While London warms up and we wear less-and-less clothing, the time’s come to really make the most of those waterside bars and eating spots we know and love. But, where’s good? We’ve found three joints that’re worth talking about down by the waterside. Complete with cruisey breezes and well as a quality feed, you won’t be disappointed. The Summerhouse Idyllically situated on the beautiful banks of Little Venice, The Summerhouse offers superlative waterside dining. During the summer, the picturesque restaurant rolls back its windows to leave only leafy partitions standing between diners and the bobbing barges beside them. Decked with light oak floors, blue and white striped furnishings and seaside artefacts – expect a chic waterside ambiance, whatever the weather. 60 Blomfield Road, Maida Vale, W9 2PD The Waterway Boasting one of the largest outdoor spaces in the capital, The Waterway’s fully heated terrace on Regent’s Canal provides the perfect spot for al-fresco drinking and dining, come rain or shine. Kick back with a refreshing craft beer and feast on barbecued delights from the outside kitchen or pull up a pew in the Lower Garden, available for exclusive hire, and soak up the sun in the leafy surroundings. 54 Formosa Street, W9 2JU Bateaux London River Room Explore one of the world’s most exciting cities from a new perspective onboard River Room. Book a unique party this summer to enjoy stunning view of London from the largest terrace on the river Thames. Wine and dine on the open-air roof deck as you sail past some… Read More

No more eco guilt: a new swap-n-go coffee cup scheme just started in Sydney

Green Caffeen

There’s already a pretty large reusable coffee cup culture in Sydney’s Inner West, so when cafes like Ona, Cornersmith, Two Chaps and Cherry Moon mention they’re on board, you know it’s going to take off. Green Caffeen has made its debut in Sydney, offering most of us who contribute to the 50,000-odd coffee cups that wind up in landfill every 30 minutes the chance to curb the decline of the world. The new swap-n-go coffee cup scheme has launched in partnership with the Inner West Council and Responsible Cafes to make it easier for locals to enjoy a take-away coffee, without the eco-guilt. Complete with an app compatibility and the promise of free reusable coffee cup, provided you return any you use, Green Caffeen is taking the initiative needed to encourage eco activism without you even needing to try. “The Inner West already has a strong BYO cup culture. But everyone has those days when you forget your cup yet you still need your life-sustaining coffee to get through the day. This partnership is building on the strong foundations in place and making it easy – both for customers and cafes – to reduce the waste of takeaway coffee cups,” said Damien Clarke, Green Caffeen. Green Caffeen will be available across the Inner West from 30 July. How it works: Download the Green Caffeen app and sign up with your details Scan a reusable cup at a participating café Sip your lovely hot cup of coffee and feel the life force flow through you Return to any participating café within 30 days… Read More

Jonas Kaufmann is back in Sydney to tell the tragic love story of Andrea Chénier

Jonas Kaufmann

It was back in 2017 when the renowned tenor they call the ‘new Pavarotti’, Jonas Kaufmann graced Sydney’s shores and this year, he’s back again. He took on Parsifal at the Sydney Opera House – a challenge worthy of getting excited about – in a series of three performances of the Wagner work that sold the Joan Sutherland Theatre out. One of the world’s most renowned tenor’s with the voice and smile to prove it, Kaufmann will take on the role of Andrea himself alongside fellow cast members, Eva-Maria Westbroek and Ludovic Tézier, both making their Opera Australia debuts. Kaufmann will take to the stage on Thursday 8 and Sunday 11 August at the Sydney Opera House. See more at the Opera Australia website.

Bar M Sydney battles BS laws with brilliant new menu

Cocktails and a shoes

In what appears to be the latest step in wilful law-fuelled lovelessness, new council rules in the area that Sydney’s Bar M operates mean bad news for the local bar. The Italian bar and restaurant, synonymous with refined glamour and rustic home-made Neapolitan style cooking in Sydney, has launched a new bar menu to champion the city’s night life. They’ve called it ‘Power Hours’, and feature in it some classic Italian cocktails with a Mediterranean twist. Plus food. The new rules mean the bar might have to shut shop at 10pm, draining it of its spot in locals’ hearts and also leading to a loss of dollars, jobs and in turn, its place in the long list of Sydney’s go-to Italian joints. The cocktails have been crafted by the bar staff and manager Matteo Belkeziz, inspired by recent events in Sydney that have seen a change in the late-night dining culture. Keep Sydney Open Bourbon whiskey, Porter beer reduction, barrel bitters, fresh lemon juice & a hint of coffee. “When a Whiskey Sour meet an Espresso Martini, the result is a perfect drink from dusk till dawn”, says Belkeziz Silent Disco Ink Gin, violet and lavender shaken hard with a touch of maraschino & citrus. Smooth, flowery and delicate with an amazing and captivating colour. “Like music for the tastebuds”. Footloose Frangelico, lime and Spiced rum, a perfect trio that magically combines together. “That’s what you need to make sure your feet will dance all night with the blend of this rich, nutty & fresh… Read More

British Library: Exhibition on our most impressive skill – writing

Think about it: Where would we be without the ability to write (and read) words? This article wouldn’t exist. You can forget about anything computer-related, in fact. If you’re a holidaymaker, too, good luck navigating anywhere in the world without knowing which road you’re standing on. Oh, and that menu at your favourite restaurant can go out the window; you’ll get what you’re given. Assuming the chef can even cook anything without a recipe to follow. The British Library in London is a huge proponent of writing – duh – and this season until 27 August, has a seriously incredible exhibition in homage to it: Writing: Making Your Mark. For over 2,500 years now, writing and humans’ ability to do so has shaped the world and contributed to every element of it. The earliest examples of semiotics and writing was found in the Mesoamerican region by the Mayans and it’s thought to have recorded dates. From then, it’s been a pretty steep and slow-burning learning curve as symbols, etchings, carvings and engravings made their way across the world on all manner of mediums. Long before paper, there was stone, then clay, then papyrus before the world of paper made its debut in around 206BC and the world started hacking down over 4 billion trees a year for its production. Here’s hoping the next learning curve takes us to more sustainable means. The Writing: Making Your Mark exhibition explores the history of writing in deep details, from early days, right up to the modern, answering questions… Read More

What is human perfection? Melbourne Uni takes a look with its new art commission

First Commission

Melbourne University is doing something interesting with art. They’ve given 30 emerging artists the chance to work across three locations, alongside some of the world’s most famous works of art – all without as much as a brief. A challenge? Yes, but one the artists whose own take on creativity and the historical beauty of so many of the pieces they work alongside, have proven great inspiration for the projects they undertook. Called First Commissions, the Uni’s project is purposed to present these 30 unique responses from the artistic troupe. It asked them to reinterpret world-changing historical commissions for the present moment, all of which were pretty broadly reaching; Think, the Titanic to Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty, to Michaelangelo’s David, a vision of human perfection. In fact, five of the 30 artists worked with David, working back from the finished product to create pieces that told the story of being a person in the modern day. Through each of their five disciplines, Esther Stewart, Aboriginal Australian visual artist Ashley Perry choreographer and dancer Jack Riley, interactive composer Samuel Kreusler and classical composer Danna Yun, churned out works that did just that. The University of Melbourne was able to launch the project at the statue of David in Florence, from where the exhibition will then make its way to Melbourne, taking place over Open House weekend (27-28 July) in the Martyn Myer Arena on the University of Melbourne Southbank campus. The exhibition will include 30 works responding to the 7 commissions and involve over 100 emerging artists… Read More

Hear Opera Australia’s orchestra director perform at the Sydney Opera Centre

Jun Yi Ma

If there was ever anyone to play a violin in precisely the way a violin is meant to be played, it’s Jun Yi Ma, Opera Australia’s orchestra director. In the production that is Under an Azure Sky in the Joan Sutherland Studio, Jun Yi Ma will recite the piece on 26 August from 7pm. The studio is known for its rich, acoustic walls and intimate setting, which Opera Australia will harness to continue its series of intimate recitals with a Mediterranean influenced performance. Pianist and Chorus Master Siro Battaglin will accompany Jun Yi Ma as they perform Under an Azure Sky as a small, but poignant ensemble that includes Ravel’s ethereal Introduction and Allergro, and Turnia’s Las musas de Andalucí along with further accompaniment from members of the Opera Australia Orchestra. Find the Joan Sutherland Studio at The Opera Centre, 480 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. See more at the Opera Australia website. Tickets from $65 + 8.50 transaction fee.

Buckingham Palace opens for summer: See how Queen Victoria made it what it is

Buckingham Palace State Room

Buckingham Palace wasn’t always what it is today. And a lot of what made it so comes right down to the woman responsible; Queen Victoria. She was the first to use the Palace as a residence, the first to redo the inside, the first to throw three balls within its walls and made it so much more than a symbol of English monarchy. And now this summer from 20 July, the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace are opening to give you an inside look into the royal era that was filled with music, dancing and entertaining that characterised the Queen’s reign. It’s all a part of marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and the exhibition Queen Victoria’s Palace tells the story of how the young monarch brought the Palace to life, transforming an empty royal residence into the most glittering court in Europe. She was only 18 when she became Queen and started turning things around, the tale of which the exhibition tells in great, visually sumptuous detail. You’ll tour the Buckingham Palace State Rooms, formed by Queen Victoria to host foreign dignitaries, throw parties and follow the pomp and ceremony of English Monarchy, developing trends and traditions that are still followed today. Ever wondered why the Royal family steps out on the balcony for public appearances? You’ll find out. Ever wondered whose idea it was to build the big east-facing balcony in the first place? Well, you’ll learn that, too. Ever wondered how many rooms-on-rooms-on-rooms there are in the inner western wing of Buckingham Palace… Read More

Scotland’s Hogmanay headliner’s been announced for 2019

Hogmanay torch parade

Mark Ronson’s your man this Hogmanay 2019 and the world’s having a minor panic. He’s done the Academy Award, Grammy and Golden Globe thing and now, Ronson’s doing the Hog, hosting a whopping party party to ring in 2020 in Scotland’s capital, marking the first time a DJ is doing Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. He did Glastonbury, too, making the UK Ronson’s next big, obvious thing. All this comes after the release in June of Late Night Feelings, a sparkling summer soundtrack filled with leading female vocalists including Camilla Cabello, Miley Cyrus, Angel Olsen, Lykke Li and YEBBA. The whole event’s called Mark Ronson’s “Hogmanay in the Gardens” and will be complete with iconic trumpet fanfares and more bangers than the midnight fireworks, making it the best place to welcome the new decade.  Get tickets from 10am on 22 July at edinburghshogmanay.com.

General Chao attacks Sydney: New restaurant opens in

General Chao Chinese food 1

Nihao, General Chao. He’s invaded Sydney and lovers of Asian-Australian cuisine are excited. Think a relaxed up-beat atmosphere provides a versatile setting for a range of engagements, whatever the occasion from a quick mid-week lunch to a corporate event, after-work drink to a cosy table for two. Plus with a menu which stars deliciousness like coconut and beef rendang arancini with sriracha mayo, crispy popcorn eggplant bites tossed in the General’s special seasoning and the caramelised pork belly bao served with coriander, pickled radish salad and in-house plum saucePlus with a menu which stars deliciousness like as well as a drinks menu to boot, it doesn’t leave you wanting for much more. Check out the menu for yourself and make a booking at the General Chao website.