Category: LIFESTYLE

Cheap oysters in August at The Morrison Sydney

Oysters

The Morrison in Sydney loves a themed food fest, and August is no different = they’re back at it with their oyster-tastic celebration that you need to get around. Think a bit of bubbles, a few freshly shucked gems of the ocean and a tonne of fun from 7 August. It’s a month-long celebration that promises a shucking good time with fresh oysters and bottomless bubbles on tap every weekend day and night. Chef Sean Connolly is at the helm of this whale of a good time, having put on an array of bespoke oyster dishes dreamed up by Sean throughout the month. Think chicken fried oyster sliders, grilled Pacifics ‘in shell’ with soy broth, and mains such as southern fried oysters with slow cooked pork belly (pearls and pig for short!) and oyster and leek chowder served over duck fat fries. Or if you’re feeling purely shellfish, opt for freshly shucked oysters ‘dressed to impress’ with a choice of dressings including kimchi vinaigrette and bloody mary-style horseradish ketchup. Oh, and they’ll be doing a stunning $1.50 Oyster Hour available from 6-7pm every evening throughout the festival. The time to get your booking in now. Head to the Morrison’s website.

Gauguin’s portraits are coming to the National Gallery London

Gaugin

Paul Gauguin’s first-ever exhibition devoted to his portraits (1848–1903) will open at the National Gallery this October. On until 26 January 2019, the exhibition will show how the French artist, famous for his paintings of French Polynesia, revolutionised the art of the portrait. Gauguin was rarely interested in exploring his portrait sitters’ social standing, personality, or family background, which had been among the main reasons for painting portraits in the past.  The exhibition’s made up of sculptures in ceramics, wood paintings, drawings and more, even showing how Gauguin created a range of personifications including his self-image as Jesus Christ. Together with his use of intense colour and his interest in non-Western subject matter, his approach had a far-reaching influence on artists throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries including Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Gauguin Portraits will show how the artist – inspired by his time spent in Brittany, France and French Polynesia from the mid-1880s to the end of his life in 1903 – became fascinated by societies that to him seemed close to nature. With their folk-tale heritage and spirituality, these communities appeared to him to be far removed from the industrialisation of Paris. See the exhibition at the National Gallery in London from October to 26 January 2019. See more at the Gallery’s website.

Cut Copy and London’s Somerset House Summer Series takes over the West End

Somerset House Cut Copy

Across eleven nights of open-air gigs, Somerset House Summer Series with American Express will be pumping out music, food and drinks and good vibes, while the sun’s in the sky and everyone’s mood is high. The Series is all about bringing a vibrant festival atmosphere to the very heart of London with a programme of pioneering musicians across a range of genres For example, on Friday 19 July, Melbourne band Cut Copy will take to the stage right in the middle of Somerset House, serving up some of the band’s latest work, an entirely new flavour all their own. “Shaking off some of the Balearic and acid house leanings heard on older releases, their new tracks favour Afrobeat textures, dubby rhythm sections and sweeping disco synths with an upbeat, effervescent tone that reflects their Melbourne origins,” says Somerset House. Summer Series gives music fans a live experience unlike any other, with the rare chance to see critically acclaimed artists plus some of the best up and coming performers in a spectacular yet intimate setting. Before Cut Copy, London was looking at the likes of Nao, Sons of Kemet, Jacob Banks and Rosalia + Badgirl$. See the full line-up here. The series ends on 21 July, so get in quickly, or sign up to Somerset House’s newsletter for when they do it again.

The best street food markets in Melbourne

Hong Kong bubble crepes

Melbourne is known for its lively multicultural vibe and global food scene, and its street food markets reflect the culinary pit stops you just can’t miss out on. Often seen as Australia’s foodie capital, there’s plenty of local and international foods to experience at the city’s many street food markets. Gone are the days of greasy, unappetising street food, now it’s a flourishing art form that can rival the menus of fine dining restaurants. For refuelling on the go, here’s some of the best Melbourne street food markets to visit. The Food Truck Park For tasty food under fairy lights as you sit amongst trendy crates, head to The Food Truck Park in the northern suburbs of the city. Playing host to many of Melbourne’s block parties such as Pizzafest, Gluten Free Fest and Vegan fest, this former card yard brings together your favourite food trucks with a stellar entertainment line-up.   Prahran Market Dubbed ‘the food lover’s market’, Prahran Market sells a range of high-quality fruit and veg, as well as certified organic produce and sustainable seafood. If you get hungry while you shop, you’ll find plenty of eateries in the market. From traditional Korean favourites with a modern twist to mouth-watering Argentinian empanadas and light and fluffy falafels, there’s a wide range of options to keep you well-fed and hydrated during your visit. South Melbourne Market The mother of food markets, this historic market has been a favourite amongst locals and visitors since 1867 and it’s easy to see why. With over 145… Read More

5 meals to try this week that are super easy and quick to make

Chicken food

There are a number of ways you can stay healthy without investing too much time for example, ensuring you are eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise. But sometimes this can feel tricky because you are busy and don’t have the time. Homemade food is a lot healthier for you than takeaways, however if you get home from a long day at work, you don’t always feel like spending hours in the kitchen cooking. If you struggle to look after yourself during the working week, you don’t need to worry, we have you covered, with these 5 meals which are super easy and quick to make. Crispy Baked Fish Spend less than 20 minutes making this great fish dish.The Yummy Crispy Baked Fish recipe offers you a quick dish that you can serve up for the whole family in less time. The baked fish recipe take 15 minutes to prepare and cook and can be partnered great with potatoes and fresh vegetables. Chicken Salad Salads are great because they are filled with nutrients and vitamins that are good for you and they are super quick and easy to make. If you are hot and bothered and don’t want to cook anything, then why not try this Chicken Salad. Vegetarian and vegan options for this recipe could include ditching the chicken and substituting it for protein-rich foods, such as lentils, chickpeas, or nuts. Chicken and Rice Take your dinner time back to basics with some comfort food that is easy to make. This Chicken… Read More

Three essential items for your post-breakup to do list

Woman home hug pillow

Let’s be real: breakups are rough. Regardless of how good your relationship was before the split, a breakup is a jarring event that can feel unnatural. Overnight, the person you shared every thought with suddenly becomes the person you’re not allowed to speak to anymore. It’s no wonder many of us struggle to get through those first few days after a breakup without either taking the other person back, or begging for a second chance when you don’t really want one. If you’re going through a breakup right now, these tips will help you stay strong through those first few painful days. Craft a simple breakup story Everyone wants to know what happened. While your family and friends may have the best intentions, it’s not helpful to you to continually rehash the situation. For your own sanity, come up with a brief and vague account of the split to tell most of the people who ask. Keep the real story for your closest friends who are helping you through the breakup. Get out of the house Often the best way to get through the first few days of a breakup is also the thing you least feel like doing. When we’re sad and dejected, the last thing we want to do is put on a nice clean shirt and head out to a coffee shop or a Meetup at the park. But if you can get over this hump, you will be so glad that you did. If you have limited mobility and struggle to… Read More

Considering awning installation? Here are the basic questions that might cross your mind

Awning

Awnings are a pretty common thing that we see today, and they render a special look to the buildings, and even a pop of colour sometimes! Awning is nothing but a material of cloth or metal which extends out over windows and doors to provide protection from rain or the sun. Most of the times, the awnings make the property look so attractive and appealing, that we often forget that they are installed for a reason. Imagine waiting outside your house for your car under the piercing sun, or not being able to enjoy being outdoors with your family due to sudden burst of rainfall, or imagine waiting outside your house to attend a party only to get drenched in rain. How disappointing would that be! All of these can be prevented just by installing aluminium awnings in Brisbane. Dunmoe Cladding Services is a local and trustworthy company located in Brisbane. They have expertise in commercial and residential cladding services covering Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba areas and Gold Coast. One might think awning installation is a bit overrated! However, this is never the case. Awnings not only make your house look pretty from the outside, but also give opportunity to spend the weekends outdoors while protecting you and your children from direct sunlight. Like aluminium composite panels there are a wide variety of awning materials which you might consider for your property. However, before purchasing one, you need to ask a few basic questions first: o   Where will it be placed? The answer to… Read More

Trixie & Katya LIVE: The UNHhhh Tour! is coming to Australia

Trixie Katya

For the first time since 2015, drag superstars Trixie and Katya will return to the Australian stage with their YouTube famous series UNHhhh in tour. The two, rich, famous, beloved and – genuinely – hilarious high-achieving women will be on stage all over the country in series of 90-minute, raw, unedited chatter that will either be a dizzying success, or bomb out in flames. First city’s Brisbane on 11 June, so look out. For major fans, there’s the option of a new platinum level of VIP ticket, including a VIP Lanyard and a limited edition signed print along with a meet & greet with Trixie and Katya, and have a professional photographer snap your picture with them. Buckle up and get ready to scream laugh like Trixie all the way through this full length show where they talk about what they want, because it’s their show and not yours. Trixie and Katya tour dates BRISBANE                    Thursday 11 June 2020, QPAC ADELAIDE                    Friday 12 June 2020, Thebarton Theatre MELBOURNE               Saturday 13 June 2020, Plenary, MCEC PERTH                         Tuesday 16 June 2020, Astor Theatre SYDNEY                       Friday 19 June 2020, State Theatre CANBERRA                  Sunday 21 June 2020, Llewellyn Hall WELLINGTON              Thursday 25 June 2020, TSB Arena AUCKLAND                  Saturday 27 June 2020, Logan Campbell Centre CHRISTCHURCH          Sunday 28 June 2020, Isaac Theatre Royal Pre-register and get your tickets from the girls’ website.

3 invaluable ways to prepare for the future

Happy laughing group

The ability to prepare for the future is something that all of us could learn to improve. The more able you are to prepare for the future, the more likely it is that nothing too surprising will come to knock you off your feet, and that can provide you with a certain feeling of stability and strength which you might come to really enjoy. Of course, it is important to know what you can actually do in order to ensure that you prepare for the future, and there are actually many ways that you can begin here. In this post, we are going to take a look at just three of the most invaluable ways you can possibly hope to prepare for the future. Image Life Insurance If you are thinking about the future, you need to think not just about your own, but the future beyond you too. That means preparing for even after you have long passed away, which is something that is going to always be out of your control no matter what. So what can you do to prepare for that future? Well, the main thing is to try and ensure that you are leaving things for your family as you would hope someone to do for you. Mostly, that will mean ensuring that you get hold of some life insurance from the right insurance broker, so that your children and the rest of your family can be looked after once you are gone. It’s never too early to start thinking… Read More

Doing interiors? Here’s why you need to know what Citco is

Citco 2

If you’ve never seen a three piece marble bathtub the size of a room that exudes luxury and an air of ‘f$%k off’ like nothing else, then you need to be introduced to Citco (pron. ch-it-co). This year at Salone del Mobile in Milan, the Italian natural stone people, Citco, will showcase beautiful and elegant pieces for two new collections within its Citco Design and Citco Privé lines. This year, they collaborated with architects and designers to bring their works to life, creating incredible installations for home and living spaces that dreams are made of. Their 2019 is all about five key new pieces for the marble fanatic: The oval table created by world renowned artist Anish Kapoor for 2019 Citco Design collection. Made in granite and in onyx. The magic cave bath by Marco Piva; a stone sculpture that envelops and generates water, taking its inspiration from underground caves. Soma light tables by Fabrizio Bendazzoli. These are pieces comprised of two sections: an arched frame that acts as an LED light source and a matching solid inner panel that allows the light to be directed to suit one’s preferences. Soma light tables by Fabrizio Bendazzoli. Pelago table by Zaha Hadid. It takes inspiration from the costal rock formations carved by the sea and mirrors the logic and coherence of natural forms. And the Vortex table by Arik Levy, which is a functional sculpture with a dominant presence that is inspired by the powerful energy of a vortex. See more about Salon de Mobile at… Read More