Stories

English pop sensation and singer/songwriter James Blunt is returning to New Zealand in spring 2020 to celebrate the release of his choice new album, Once Upon a Mind. This is Blunt’s sixth studio album and it has been a work-in-progress for over 10 months at studios in London, LA and Nashville. The result is a personal album with some chill sounds that will translate fabulously when performed live. The singer has sold more than 23 million albums worldwide and has over 26 million catalogue streams in New Zealand, so you can expect a massive night. Blunt is set to play crowd favourites including ‘You’re Beautiful’ and ‘Goodbye My Lover’ along with some of the killer tracks off his latest album, which debuted at No. 15 in the New Zealand charts. Blunt will play at Christchurch’s Town Hall on November 25, 2020. Tickets go on sale Tuesday December 3. frontiertouring.com

The Royal New Zealand Ballet has once again wowed us all, this time with their rendition of the classic and unsettling story of Hansel & Gretel. Dancing to the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, each move was executed with perfection and the whimsical set design transported you to another world. The bold and stunning choreography can be credited to Loughlan Prior, who has done a fantastic job at pushing traditional boundaries with cabaret-style dances throughout. While the first half was fabulous, the performance really bursts to the next level in the second act as the children enter the Gingerbread House and a world of colour is revealed. Hansel & Gretel is a German fairytale from the pen of the Brothers Grimm and was published in 1812. While the ballet follows the storyline, there are some distinct differences from the well-known tale – it’s more Americanised and the children are not abandoned in the...

Two delightful drops to add to your Christmas wish-list. Fiddler’s Green Vineyard & Bistro Chardonnay 2018 After so long living in the shadow of the all-conquering sauvignon blanc, chardonnay is again finding favour with New Zealand wine drinkers. It’s examples like this from Fiddler’s Green Vineyard & Bistro in the Waipara Valley that are stoking the switch as well. This full but smooth and elegant chardonnay has flavours of ripe melon, peach and apricot, complemented by toast and buttery complexities. If it has been a while since you sampled a chardonnay, here’s a good place to start. fiddlersgreenbistro.co.nz Pegasus Bay Estate Pinot Noir 2016 The excellent free-draining soils of the Waipara Valley are gaining a reputation for the quality of the pinot noirs they produce, and this example from Pegasus Bay is clear evidence of why. The bouquet is packed with red and dark fruit, with hints of pepper and spice....

Eight Christchurch or Canterbury restaurants will feature in Cuisine magazine’s annual Cuisine Good Food Guide this year, having made the list of the top 108 places to eat and drink across the country. Of the top 108, restaurants that have achieved the coveted ‘hats’ and the category winners will be announced during the Cuisine Good Food Awards on November 25 at cuisine.co.nz. The awards and their resultant Cuisine Good Food Guide acknowledge the very best restaurants and chefs nationwide. This year Cuisine is refreshing its traditional awards, with the list of the top 108 to be split into hatted restaurants and an additional list of ‘ones to watch’ – restaurants that demonstrate a high standard and are definitely worth a visit. Cuisine will also this year recognise the highest-achieving restaurants in 13 categories, including the highly coveted Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year awards, through a new digital...

New Zealand Opera will bring a new production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro to Christchurch in July as part of its 2020 programme. Director Lindy Hume and her creative team will explore the potent class and gender politics of this landmark opera and what it means in a modern context. You won’t need to wait that long though for your fix, Christchurch opera lovers – the company combines in February with Atlas Voices for a beautiful afternoon of opera on the Botanic Gardens’ Archery Lawn. Under the musical direction of Ravil Atlas, the concert features local soprano Amanda Atlas, Freemasons New Zealand Opera Artist Andrew Grenon (tenor) and members of the Freemasons New Zealand Opera Chorus and Atlas Voices accompanied by New Zealand Opera’s Head of Music Lindy Tennent-Brown. The programme includes favourites by Mozart, Donizetti and Verdi. Bring along a picnic and enjoy the music in the stunning surrounds...

Musical giants Simple Minds will bring their slew of hits to Christchurch’s Horncastle Arena on December 15, 2021. Joining them will be acclaimed UK avant-garde band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). Both bands are marking 40 years of writing and performing some of the seminal sounds of the post-punk era. These musical pioneers created their own fusion of art rock and electronic dance music, and gave birth to synth pop. The influence of both bands can be heard in many of the current crop of chart toppers. Simple Minds’ tour celebrates the release of 40: The Best Of - 1979-2019, a new 40-song collection marking their 40th anniversary. The compilation features a cover of Scottish singer-songwriter King Creosote’s ‘For One Night Only’. It was the release of New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) that set Simple Minds alight in New Zealand. A string of awards and more unforgettable hits followed, including ‘Promised...

If you enjoy a fusion of synthpop, space disco and house woven together with a bit of techno and funk then Otautahi outfit BEACON BLOOM need to be on your radar. These guys are an uber-cool new band around town and have gained recognition with their inclusion in the RDU Singles Club for their song ‘Rocket’, which is full of good vibes. BEACON BLOOM’s chillaxified music is the brainchild of James Allen, Ryan Ferris and Thomas Isbister. Ryan says, “The subject matter of the songs generally deals with belief and non-ordinary states of consciousness, states which the music itself can hopefully take people to at our shows.” These guys will perform and curate a stage at the brand-new Something Else Festival in November and have a killer set lined up for Nostalgia in February. beaconbloom.com

You’ll start a conversation, help save the planet and ensure your present is the toast of Christmas Day, says Ralph Bungard. A few seasons back our extended whānau decided to do away with the gifting of gimcrack over the festive season. The rule became that gifts had to be homemade and/or consumable. It’s a popular rule. It reduces waste and suits our changing world, where we are looking to minimise our global footprint. When it came to homemade and consumable, I had it easy – I had beer! I know it’s hard to believe but some people say they don’t like beer and they may not appreciate it as a gift. In most situations, when questioned why they don’t like beer, you may find that they don’t like brown, slightly sweet and malty beer synonymous with the old-fashioned style that dominated New Zealand brewing for decades. I get great pleasure at...

Don Service is the talent behind RightSide Gallery at 14 Tyne Street in Addington, where you’ll discover more than just paint on canvas. The stunning space has been a long-held dream for Don, who has always wanted a workshop and showroom where he can make designs and do various other jobs such as art repairs, frame making, design and build items for shopfitting and stretching clients’ art, building plinths for sculptures and have a base for his art hanging business. This funky studio is home to a collection of pieces made using form, texture and colour. Don loves to work with solid timber, steel and rust, and plywood, which he uses to create shapes that play with the eye, cast shadows and look amazing. RightSide is also a showroom for Don and fellow artists he has met through exhibiting at art shows around the country. All are very talented, motivated and...

Whether you are after a crusty, crumbly sourdough, a buttery Morning Bun or a cake that will match the most special occasion, these five Christchurch bakeries will deliver the goods. Get them on your radar and taste the difference. Grizzly baked goods There are few life-affirming moments that compare to biting into the caramelised layers of a light, flakey and dizzyingly buttery Morning Bun for the very first time. Sam and Sara Ellis of Grizzly Baked Goods have brought this pastry delight to Otautahi, most famously in the form of Lemon Poppy Morning Buns, Bear Claws and Everything Croissants. Grizzly is now part of The Welder’s boutique collective. The petite diner-style space will offer inner-city folk the full Grizzly range, as well as Embassy Coffee espresso. grizzlybakedgoods.com Harpers House Harpers House create bespoke sweet treats for birthdays, baby showers, weddings or any occasion. Owner Andi can work with you to create...

Sam and Sally Hooper, the awesome duo behind Cityscape fave Sister Kong, have joined forces with former All Black Andy Ellis to bring Bar Yoku to life. After eight years living in Japan, Andy knows what good Yakitori (the hero of the menu) tastes like. Located in the hip new hangout The Welder, this Japanese restaurant is bringing some big flavour to town and is a super-cool place to pull up a pew and kick back in the laxed atmosphere. FB/baryokusakeandyakitori

Want Rollickin Gelato at your home, workplace or event? These guys sent a chilly bin of goodness to Scott Base so they know all about gelato to go and can cater for groups large or small. For really big events, there’s Rollickin’s original red horse float cart. Next down is its vintage cart, which is ideal for weddings, birthdays and similar-sized events. If it’s a party or work do for 20 to 30 people there’s the Funk Truck, which has two flavours. Smallest is an Uber Eats party tub, still with two flavours, hand-packed to order. rollickin.co.nz

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