Stories

Harry Wayne Casey gave his name and boundless musical talent to the legendary KC & the Sunshine Band. He tells Cityscape it’s still all about burning up the stage. Your songs have become synonymous with the golden age of disco, the soundtrack of a generation – did you have any idea just how enduring KC & the Sunshine Band’s legacy would be? No, I don’t think you ever can have an idea what the future of your music will be. People always play oldies but the interest in our music seems to be more than I ever noticed before in the history of music. And you’re still making new music – ‘Give Me Some More’ with Nile Rodgers and Tony Moran. How much fun was that collab? It was interesting because we were never in the same room at the same time. Tony sent me the track and I did my...

In a world of complex menus, degustations and cross-cultural cuisine, Pedro’s House of Lamb has kept it simple. Pedro’s serves just one dish – a beautiful slow-cooked lamb shoulder so tender the meat falls off the bone, served with a side of scalloped potatoes and salad. That’s it. Pedro’s cooks its lamb in the Mediterranean style – with rosemary and garlic, and slowly roasted for six hours with Spanish olive oil. That’s how it gets to be so tender. That and the delicious flavours are what keep loyal customers coming back for more. From its small beginnings in a container in Merivale to four outlets across the country, Pedro’s House of Lamb has established itself as one of this country’s best lamb culinary experiences. You can enjoy the very best New Zealand lamb from either of Pedro’s two Christchurch locations – the original Merivale container store or its newest store, which...

Asko Design’s Moorhouse Ave showroom is a one-stop destination for exquisite furniture and homewares. Their huge range includes kitchenware, mirrors, cushions, outdoor furniture, pots and so much more. They also stock Tivoli Audio, creators of the iconic Model One table radio. Get along to Asko for some inspo and fresh ideas, and also for excellent advice from the experienced team. Deco chair as pictured, $295, Metal Side Table, $175, and Metal Coffee Table, $250. askodesign.co.nz

Tucked away in The Crossing you’ll discover oh-so-cool The Gift Shop. It’s full of unique and out-of-the-box gifts, homewares and accessories – the vibrant range means you’re guaranteed to find something for anyone. They stock Kiwi (and Christchurch) made products, as well as some fantastic goods from around the globe! FB/TheGiftShopatTheCrossing

Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or simply an avid consumer, if it’s expert advice you’re after then you can’t go past the crew at Vino Fino. Since opening in 1993, Vino Fino has become the largest single retailer of fine wines in Christchurch, specialising in wines from New Zealand, Australia and around the world as well as an ever-growing selection of craft beers and spirits. A big reason for that success is their loyal customers, who value the ability of the Vino Fino team to come up with the goods whatever the budget or requirements. Rex Ormandy is in charge – he has more than 35 years’ experience in the industry, including being involved with wine education and judging. Retail manager Paul Cabout is the in-house spirits expert. Dean Lovett’s wine passions lean towards European wines. Michael Ormandy represents the new generation of wine lover, managing Vino Fino’s social...

Sisters Margo and Rosa Flanagan have a mission to change the perceptions of plant-based food. At The Welder, they whip up tasty morsels and serve them over the counter as well as running cooking workshops. They hope their new cookbook, Two Raw Sisters: Changing perceptions on plant-based food, will inspire people to discover that fruits and vegetables can be fun, exciting and delicious, and how to cook raw, unprocessed ingredients in an easy, time-efficient way. tworawsisters.com

A walk-in wine fridge – yep, you read that right, Cityscapers – this is for all those who love wine and love to keep it at its best. Craig Shaw from Harvey Norman Commercial filled us in on all you need to know about the Espace 1000 Bottle Walk in Cellar and we’re definitely lusting after it. Start collecting those delicious drops because this killer fridge can easily fit 1000 bottles inside. Wine fridges have come a long way from a mini fridge in the corner of the room – the Espace has a chic, textured glossy black aluminium finish that complements the beautiful wooden shelves inside. It also boasts an anti-UV glass door, racking and a cooling unit to keep your bottles at the perfect temperature, no matter the weather outside – the fridge even creates a vibration-proof environment to protect the storage life and quality of your wine. You...

Take your skincare regime up a notch with the divine natural collection from the pros at Velettà Skincare. Mix equal parts nature and luxury and you get the results-driven range – packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. All that goodness will have your skin feeling soft, nourished and hydrated, and help to improve its texture while fighting those nasty free radicals. Treat yourself and indulge in healthy and glowing skin – who doesn’t want that! velettaskincare.com

First-home buyers are out in force. Here’s some tips to help you get ahead of the crowd. Low interest rates and the traditional spring surge in listings have brought a flood of first-home buyers to the Christchurch real estate market, meaning while there is plenty of choice, competition for suitable properties is running hot. Kicking things along is Kiwisaver. Those who have been a member of a fund for three or more years can withdraw some of their savings to put towards buying their first home. They may also be eligible for a HomeStart grant of between $3,000 and $10,000. If you are looking to get your first step on the property ladder, you need to be ready to act when you see a property that ticks the boxes for you. Here’s some strategies to get yourself sorted. Confirm your finance First things first, how much money do you have to...

When the party season starts to take its toll, Kiki Health has just what your body needs. We all love party season, but sometimes our body finds the weeks of festive drinks, late nights and rich foods all a bit much. Kiki Health has the solution to help give your body a much-needed boost with a range of 100 percent raw, natural, organic and GMO-free superfoods, vitamins and minerals, so you don’t have to skip an event and suffer from FOMO. To kick-start your mornings with energy, digestive support, vitamins and minerals, try a teaspoon of delicious citrus Kiki Health Alkaline Infusion powder mixed with water or a smoothie, particularly if you’re eating a lot of acidic food. If your body needs some help with recovery and stress, a few sprays of Kiki Health Magnesium Oil will help replenish this precious mineral and reduce tiredness, anxiety, muscle aches and headaches –...

Three MINI Coopers racing through Turin’s streets, laneways and culverts, even down stairs, in the 1969 movie The Italian Job is one of cinema’s most iconic car chases. The original high-performance MINI received its name, its raw power and its limpet-like handling courtesy of motorsport pioneer John Cooper. In a salute to the legend himself, MINI released the John Cooper Works 3-Door Hatch and has now expanded the range to include Clubman and Countryman (pictured). These fire-breathers, the brand’s most powerful model ever approved for public roads, can go from 0 to 100 kph in about 5 seconds, all the while sounding fantastic due to the sport exhaust. ALL4 all-wheel drive is standard for both cars and makes for amazing traction, agility and driving stability. The system was comprehensively redeveloped for the new edition of both models. There’s a whole lot more flash technology helping things along, so book in a...

Ara Institute of Canterbury’s three-year Bachelor of Design (Fashion Technology and Design) easily rocks a reputation for excellence – students on the course have scooped the prestigious Avant Garde section of the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards for the past three years. The killer course is well known in the fashion industry for emphasising technical skills, but the consistent wins in the boundary-pushing Avant Garde section of the awards – New Zealand’s longest running competitive platform for upcoming designers – show its students can also deliver on conceptual work. In their first year of entering, Rachel Macnab and Ethan Allchurch-Rush, two second-year Fashion Design students at Ara, turned their personal experiences into haute couture gowns and captivated the award judges. Macnab, having had serious symptoms from a concussion, looked at how she could turn her experience into a dress that would tell her story. She excelled and received the Hokonui Heritage Precinct...

As well as its plush One Central development in the inner city, Fletcher Living is developing 350 Colombo, on the site of the old Sydenham School. These entry-level one- and two-bedroom homes are ideal for the first-home buyer looking to get started on the property ladder, and are also ideal as a long-term investment property. Early development of the site tended to be around the interior courtyard but there’s a lot more to see now that the Colombo Street frontage is taking shape. This modern three-level building with retail space at street level and 15 architecturally designed, two-level, two-bedroom residences above will complete the transformation of this increasingly desirable part of the city fringe. The area has more than its fair share of hospo, entertainment and retail opportunities, with The Colombo, cinema Academy Gold, and a host of eateries including Belgian Beer Café Torenhof, Hello Sunday, The Fermentist and 5th Street...

Offering customers exclusive fashion brands from around the world and providing personalised service is what allows Fashion Society customers to feel unique and individual. Fashion Society is a high-end boutique that gives customers access to exclusive fashion brands from around the world, providing personal service that makes them feel unique and individual. New owner Abbey Dickson believes shopping should be fun and fabulous and this can be seen through the in-store styling that will provide the finishing fashion touches, from head to toe. If you stop by, you’ll discover international designers such as Camilla, Anine Bing, Zadig & Voltaire, CAMI NYC, Smythe and Dylan Kain, just to name a few. So whether you need a new leather jacket, an incredible party ensemble or an entire wardrobe refresh, pop into Merivale, The Tannery, and until January next year the pop-up store in The Colombo and chat with their expert styling team. fashionsociety.co.nz

The trend to declutter our lives has an echo in décor, where shades associated with minimalism – such as creams, beiges and whites – have come to the fore in interior colour palettes. This dining room is an excellent example of what can be done with carefully layered graduating neutral tones. The trick is to make sure your layers all have a similar, warm base tone so they build on each other. Resene Half Spanish White walls allow the earthy tones of the accessories to pop. The sideboard is painted in Resene Eighth Stonewashed, the chairs in Resene Napa, the neo-classical plant stand in Resene Artisan and the plant pot in Resene Half Spanish White. Textured elements such as the rug, dried foliage and wall hanging add further depth. The timber floor is finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash to complement the natural look and feel of the rest of the space....

If you’re on the hunt for some beautiful clothing or accessories for the child in your life, then Little Bambinos have got you. The stunning boutique store showcases a range of local and international brands like Jamie Kay, Rylee + Cru and Huxbaby, and stock sizes from newborn to eight, so your little one will be more stylish than you! Shop online and enjoy free shipping over $100 or check out a selection of their fabulous goodies at The Collective Shop at The Colombo. littlebambinos.co.nz

The good folks at Flooring Frontier know a thing or two about carpets and they can revamp your home by adding some alluring plush flooring. At the helm you’ll find Tyson and Dani Tia – Tyson has been working in carpeting for more than 12 years, so you’re guaranteed a perfect finish to any project. The expert team are always up for a chat and offer different services including removing the drab old carpet, advice on carpet care, supplying floor plans and layouts, and of course bringing that fab new carpet to you and installing it. Flooring Frontier has a focus on community, too, having worked on projects for churches both locally and internationally alongside their stellar commercial and residential installations. So no matter the reason, if you’re looking for carpet, you know you’ll find what you need. flooringfrontier.com

Christchurch is home to a thriving community of jewellers producing stunning pieces for every occasion, from engagement and wedding rings to precious gifts for very precious people. The artisan jewellers at three of the city’s leading practices – Via Sollertia, The Filing Kabinett and Sophie Divett Jewellery – tell Cityscape where they find inspiration, how they got started and how hard it can be sometimes to let a piece go. Via Sollertia Jewellers How would you describe your jewellery style? My personal style is simple and versatile, everyday pieces you can wear to any occasion. I’m on a real gold vibe at the moment; it is so warm and adaptable. My daily go-tos are a diamond necklace with a fine gold chain, diamond stud earrings and a gold bangle. My jewellery design style could be described as modern, contemporary, bespoke creations. Where do you find your inspiration? When we purchase stones...