FOOD & DRINK

Discover the home of Australian whisky at Starward’s new distillery and bar precinct

16/04/2024

After winning 24 Double Gold medals in 2 years, Starward goes even bigger with its recent unveiling of a brand-new distillery tour and bar experience.

Adelaide Hills wineries worth a visit

12/04/2024

By James Banham

Renowned for its cool climate, this picturesque locale offers an ideal terroir for producing some of the most exquisite wines known to connoisseurs and casual enthusiasts alike.

A unique fusion of whiskey and art in Sydney

12/04/2024

By James Banham

The ‘Glenfiddich x Jordan Gogos Pop-Up Bar’, is an initiative set to enchant Sydneysiders from 17th April to 8th May, 2024.

Ruben’s Deli does good food in Melbourne’s Armadale

12/04/2024

By James Banham

What really sets this Melbourne gem apart isn’t just its delectable sandwiches; it’s the incredible catering service spearheaded by owner Amanda Ruben, that’s capturing the hearts of food lovers across the city.

Sweet Greek Delights in Melbourne

12/04/2024

By James Banham

Sweet Greek is offering the same beloved seasonal dishes with a fresh new look that promises to elevate your dining experience to new heights.

Tag: fitness

Kickstart your workout with the new Swisse active range

by Emi Berry

Posted: 14/08/2022

Fitness peeps, listen up because you’ll want a piece of this! Swisse has recently launched Swisse Active, an all-new science-led sports nutrition range that includes products such as convenient powder formulas created to be mixed with water for on-the-go consumption. The range is designed for everyday athletes looking to elevate their health and fitness by boosting performance at every stage of every workout. On top of that, it’s low in sugar and suitable for vegans! The formulas come in three variations: Prepare – with green tea and B vitamins; Perform – with electrolytes and beetroot, and Recover – with magnesium and BCAAs. Prepare to kick-start your physical activity with an energy boost: Formulated with ingredients such as green tea, guarana, and B vitamins to deliver an energy boost prior to physical activity and support sustained energy levels. Also contains gingko and ginseng. RRP $25, 15 sachets per box. Perform during your workout with optimal hydration support: Provides a performance boost during physical ac- tivity electrolytes, including magnesium to support muscular function and reduce fatigue. Contains beetroot and maca root. RRP $25, 15 sachets per box. Recover with a post-workout replenishment after physical activity: Supports the recovery and replenishment stage following exercise with magnesium for muscle function and health. Also contains essential BCAAs, and turmeric. RRP $25, 15 sachets per box. Each product is conveniently colour-coded for easy identification and selection, so it can be effortlessly incorporated into a busy lifestyle. And remember, the powder sachets are to be consumed in conjunction with a nutritious diet… Read More

Category: HEALTH & FITNESS

Tags: fitness, fitness powder sachets, swisse, swisse active

Virgin Active’s latest gym makes working out feel luxe

by Lottie Dalziel

Posted: 02/06/2019

Spanning across not one but five levels, Virgin Active’s latest gem is a venue not to be missed. The gym is so schmick, it will convert non-gym goers into working out. Gone are the days of a sweaty, dark, gym. Bligh Street offers so many first-of-its-kind experiences you can’t count them all on one hand. With top-of-the-line equipment, ozone cleaned boxing gloves and cycling shoes (finally!), cold scented towels post-work-out, luxurious amenities like ghd straighteners and Dyson Supersonic hair dryers (no, this isn’t a dream), a members lounge with work facilities, and in-house café offering healthy food and drink options, you truly have to see this gym to believe it. Not only that but Bligh Street Virgin Active members will have access to five revolutionary classes – Boxing, Reformer Pilates, Yoga, Cycle and Grid HIIT. Plus, they’re all held in state of the art studios that are purpose-built to deliver an immersive and irresistible exercise experience. If Bligh Street isn’t the right spot for you, don’t sweat it, Virgin Active Australia has three more gyms opening in 2019, including 60 Margaret Street CBD, St Leonards and Bondi Junction.

Category: CITIES, HEALTH & FITNESS, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: fitness, fitness sydney, gym, sydney CBD gym, sydney gym, sydney reformer pilates, THE F fitness, THE F health, the f sydney, THE F Virgin, virgin, virgin active

Suggestions for living a healthier lifestyle

by James Banham

Posted: 08/02/2019

Managing your health is one of those things that we all know that we should give our full undivided attention, but the general fuss of our daily lives can get in the way. This can be the case regardless of where you currently fall on the spectrum of fitness, and one of the difficult things to remember is that a serious illness that requires treatment like Icon chemotherapy treatment could be waiting just around the corner. So, with that in mind, we are going to take a look at some of the ways you can improve your general health so that you are in better shape no matter what is around the corner. Exercise Any conversation about health should have a section dedicated to maintaining a regular exercise schedule. However, it is important to start off by noting that when we say exercise that is not to suggest that you should be hitting the gym every few hours to bulk up like Hulk Hogan or an MMA fighter. No, what we mean by exercise is to meet the at least the minimum requirements as directed by medical science. So what exactly is that? Well the Mayo clinic advises that we reach a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week with three days of strength training as well. That is far more attainable than you might first think, it effectively requires you to do just over one hour of activity on three days of the week. Photo by stevepb from Pixabay One of… Read More

Category: HEALTH & FITNESS, LIFESTYLE

Tags: fitness, health, Suggestions for living a healthier lifestyle

Anna Flanagan explores Esquared; the new fitness app for anywhere you are

by Anna Flanagan

Posted: 12/09/2018

I was a little hesitant attending my first ‘App launch’ on Wednesday night. And safe to say I really didn’t know what to expect. The launch was for ‘eSquared’, a fitness app that shows you where all the classes are in your area. For example you press on ‘Pilates’ and on a map it pops up with the sessions around you, and how much each one costs. So rather than searching the internet for what is near you- it’s like the Airbnb for fitness classes and it is brand new to Australia. You may have heard of the General Manager, Drew Mitchell, he is a rugby legend in his own right and is forging a successful commentating career since his retirement from professional sport last year. I spoke to the former Wallaby about the App and he said ‘after being in the team gym and having been told what to do my whole life, I prefer classes because I don’t have to think about what to do.’ I wholeheartedly agree with Drew! I have trained myself my whole life but when walking into a gym without a program I lift a bit of this, squat a few of those, and generally just waste a lot of time. Classes for a lot of us are the way to go- also having people around and motivation from instructors for me makes the whole experience that much better. The launch itself was held at a trendy warehouse in Roseberry, where on the walk in you could hear dance… Read More

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: anna flanagan, esquared sydney gyms, fitness, sydney fitness

ARTS & CULTURE

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Shooshfest: Australia’s first ever silent short film competition

17/04/2024

By James Banham

The Resurrected Art of Silence: Shooshfest—Australia’s First Silent Film Festival In a bold leap for Australian cinema, the inaugural Shooshfest promises not only to showcase art in film but also to redefine what it means to tell a story without words. The brainchild of a trio of avid cinephiles, Rebecca Zemunik, Daniel New, and Maddison Costello, Shooshfest stakes its claim as Australia’s first-ever silent short film competition. Unlike traditional film festivals, this groundbreaking event invites creators from all walks of life—beyond just filmmakers— to weave cinematic magic without uttering a single word. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shoosh Fest (@shooshfest) The Silent Era Redefined Far from the silent film era of the past, where the medium was defined by technological limitations, Shooshfest asks participants to engage with silence as a narrative choice and a powerful tool for emotion. Through the absence of spoken words, this silent film festival beckons creators to rediscover the raw and visceral storytelling methods of the 1920s mavericks who defied the standards of their time. The festival’s vision is clear: to inspire and challenge modern filmmakers and non-filmmakers alike to innovate and connect on a deep, emotive level with audiences using the silent canvas. Innovation in the realm of storytelling is at the core of Shooshfest, with a clear goal to bridge past traditions with contemporary creativity. A Silent Revolution in Australia’s Film Scene Set in the heart of Sydney, Shooshfest aims to celebrate the very essence of cinematic storytelling. On the hallowed stage of the historic… Read More

4 reasons to get excited for ‘Frontiers: Choreographers of Canada’s at Sadler’s Wells

11/04/2024

By James Banham

This exceptional triple bill showcases the extraordinary talents of three distinguished Canadian choreographers: Crystal Pite, Emma Portner, and James Kudelka, promising an unforgettable journey through the world of contemporary ballet.

New gallery in Sydney: A Secondary Eye opens

05/04/2024

By James Banham

Sydney, Australia is set to welcome a profound addition to its art scene as A Secondary Eye announces the launch of a new gallery space nestled in the arts district of Woollahra. Opening its doors on Friday, 3 May 2024, this new venture promises a fresh perspective on Australian Indigenous and contemporary art. Founded in 2020 by Jesse-Jack De Deyne, a seasoned specialist in the secondary market for Australian Indigenous art, and Boris Cornelissen, formerly of Sotheby’s London and Hong Kong, A Secondary Eye has quickly established itself as a key player in the art world. Their focus on developing the secondary market for art and collectibles in Australia has led to the exhibition and sale of works by prominent artists like Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Sidney Nolan, and Fred Williams, among others. The gallery’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, with several pieces entering the collections of Australia’s most prestigious art institutions. Strategically located in Queen Street, a spot historically linked with the crème de la crème of secondary market art dealers, the new gallery is poised to continue its tradition of excellence. The inaugural exhibition will shine a spotlight on Rover Thomas, a luminary and trailblazer in the Australian art landscape. Known for his significant influence on the East Kimberley school of painting, Thomas’s works are lauded for their modernist abstraction and profound connection to ancestral land and Indigenous life. The exhibition, titled “Rover: Master of the Kimberley”, marks the first solo presentation of Thomas’s work in Sydney in nearly two decades. It will showcase… Read More

Momentous moment in art at National Gallery London

05/04/2024

By James Banham

In 2025, the art world will witness a remarkable event at the National Gallery as “Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300?1350” opens its doors in spring, marking the 200th anniversary of the institution. This exhibition promises an unprecedented reunion of paintings by some of the most celebrated Italian artists of the 14th century, artworks that have been scattered across the globe for centuries. Highlighting this unique collection are masterpieces in gold ground, many originally part of larger compositions, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the innovative spirit of Western painting tradition from this era. The spotlight of the exhibition is the coming together of several panels from the revolutionary double-sided altarpiece, the Maestà, painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna for the cathedral in Siena. Recognized as the first double-sided altarpiece in Western art, this narrative shift in art will be showcased along with other significant pieces from the ensemble. Notably, the National Gallery’s panels from the Maestà will be reunited with works like “Christ and the Woman of Samaria” from the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, and “The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew” from the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Another focal point is the reunion of the Orsini Polyptych by Simone Martini, a folding piece created for private devotion, likely for Cardinal Napoleone Orsini. Dispersed between prestigious institutions – the Louvre in Paris, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin – the exhibition will bring together all six panels for a rare presentation. Besides these reunifications, the exhibition… Read More

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Carmen is coming to Sadler’s Wells in London

04/04/2024

By James Banham

In an event that harmoniously blends tradition with contemporary flair, Sadler’s Wells Theatre unfolds its red carpet for Acosta Danza, as they present the UK premiere of Carlos Acosta’s version of Carmen from the 2nd to the 6th of July, 2024. This adaptation by the dance legend Carlos Acosta gives a new lease of life to Georges Bizet’s opera, stirring the soul nearly two centuries after Prosper Mérimée penned the original story. Carlos Acosta himself steps onto the stage, not just as a creator but as a performer, embodying ‘The Bull’ – a symbol of fate and destiny. This role, specially crafted by Acosta, emerges from his deep-seated desire to encapsulate the essence of the narrative while marking his departure from the Royal Ballet. His rendition of Carmen holds onto the timeless and universal appeal of the tale yet introduces a fresh perspective by minimising the setting to its core elements. Joining forces with Acosta Danza are Principal dancers Laura Rodriguez, Enrique Corrales, and Alejandro Silva, alongside guest stars from the Birmingham Royal Ballet – Yaoqian Shang, Javier Rojas, and Lachlan Monaghan, who will portray Carmen, Don José, and Escamillo, respectively. This cast embodies the spirit of the characters they portray, bringing to life the tragic tale of love, passion, and jealousy. Carmen’s story has always captivated the imagination of many, attracting a variety of choreographers such as Marius Petipa and Roland Petit to its fiery core. The opera’s enchanting melodies like the ‘Toreador Song’ and ‘Habanera’ continue to resonate, underscoring the opera’s enduring popularity… Read More