Stories

An illuminating night of classical music is on the cards when the wildly talented musicians of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra take to the Ron Ball Studio in their winter performance All That Glitters (July 4). The night is part of the CSO’s Studio Series of one-hour programmes carefully curated by the orchestra’s musicians, providing a fascinating insight into their inspirations. Other performances in the series are Virtuosity (August 8) and Journeying Inward (September 12). cso.co.nz

A night of high-octane rock awaits when the lads from City of Souls storm into Club Tavern on July 6 for one explosive performance. With a stellar lineup of musicians who earned their stripes in local and international hard rock and metal bands such as Blindspott, Blacklistt, 8 Foot Sativa, New Way Home, Cold By Winter, In Dread Response and Solstate, you know these guys are no strangers to the music scene and are going to bring the noise. With previous gigs as supporting act to rockers Villainy, Devilskin and US rockers Halestorm, and locking in a deal with Aussie label Wild Things, City of Souls have cemented themselves at the forefront of rock in New Zealand and are a live act not to be missed. teamcityofsouls.com

Prepare to be blown away by the powerful vocals and show-stopping performance of The Kingdom Choir – most notable for their epic rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Founded in 1994, the choir have developed a unique sound that demonstrates the community they share through their high-impact and enthusiastic performances. As well as having a phenomenal stage presence, their repertoire spans many genres from classic hits through to contemporary vocal-driven songs such as Beyonce’s ‘Halo’ and John Legend’s ‘All Of Me’. Catch them when they take over the Christchurch Town Hall stage on August 11. vbase.co.nz

An entire weekend of TEDx celebrations is on the cards when TEDxChristchurch and TEDxYouth@Christchurch link up and bring TEDxChristchurch: Tūrangawaewae – A Place of Belonging to the Christchurch Town Hall on August 24 and 25. Now in its 10th year, the event will inspire and challenge those who attend, thanks to the sensational lineup of speakers set to take to the stage. So clear your diaries of any social activities and snap up tickets to either of these two empowering days of talks. tedxchristchurch.com

The inimitable Royal New Zealand Ballet will take to the Isaac Theatre Royal stage and showcase Mário Radačovský’s compelling choreographic work Black Swan, White Swan. A daring and seductive retelling of Swan Lake, Radačovský’s work is a deeply personal take on the classic love story and follows Siegfried, who is caught between two women – the black swan and the white swan – and his overpowering struggles with temptation, love, pure evil and himself. Captivating, beguiling and draped in style, be sure to snap up tickets to this performance (June 27 – June 29). "..brilliant production, the inventive re-exploration of humanity’s familiar struggle.." - Mona Williams, DANZ Magazine "..what we'd just seen expressed all that was humanly possible by means of lean muscle, fingertip and bone." - Leah McFall, SUNDAY Magazine "..spectacular lifts are repeated in the stunning, visceral duo work.." - Tania Kopytko, Theatreview "..mesmeric and achingly lyrical, Sara Garbowski"...

Urzila Carlson opens up about being private, and fan-girls over Oprah. Any advice for those budding stand-ups out there? Just start doing it, and write every day as much as you can. Only make jokes in the beginning that you won’t mind your mum hearing. It’s super easy to fall into filth straight away. Keep it tidy. Like many comedians you had a bit of a rough upbringing – do you think that is a prerequisite for being funny? No, not at all, I know many comics with a great childhood. You just need to be able to observe people and be able to see the dysfunction so you can joke about it. Have you been back to South Africa since you left in 2006, and if so, how did it go? Hells yeah! I go back nearly every year. I’m the Tourism Ambassador for SA and I love it. My kids...

There’s no better time to sup a delicious glass of mulled liquor than in winter, and our friends from The Spirits Workshop have put their expert spin on the winter warmer by throwing their sublime Curiosity Gin Pinot Barrel Sloe into the mix. Ingredients 1 litre apple juice100ml lemon juice1 sliced orange1 satchet Curiosity Gin botanicalsCuriosity Gin Pinot Barrel Slow Method 1. Heat the juice, orange and gin botanicals together in a large pot until simmering.2. Turn down the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.3. Put about 150ml of the hot mulled juice in a heatproof glass or mug.4. Add 30ml of Curiosity Sloe Gin and garnish with a slice of the orange out of the pot. Makes about 7 cups of winter warmth for the soul! thespiritsworkshop.co.nz

Nikki and Toby Eaton, brains behind renowned catering company Eaton Drink Co and the hella funky Southside Social, have added super slick restaurant Barberra to their résumé. Described as a “fresh, modern approach to dining”, and with emphasis put on the concept of dining the way you want to, at Barberra you can peruse their exquisite culinary lineup from share plates, to entrees, mains and desserts or you can even up the ante and select a dish from each section of their menu and create your own degustation experience – now that’s rad. Find Barberra at 151 Cambridge Terrace. barberra.co.nz  

If you haven’t peeped the brand-spanking-new Nespresso Boutique which has opened up shop on Cashel Street – just a stone’s throw away from its original premises in Ballantynes – then brace yourself for an experience like no other. Featuring experiential coffee tastings and workshops, the concept store allows guests to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of high-quality coffee. Boasting state-of-the-art tech – there’s no queueing at a traditional counter, instead you place your order through one of their tablets – the boutique also houses a capsule recycling collection point, Forest Stewardship Certified wood, and technological systems in place to reduce energy and water consumption. Designed by award-winning architecture and interior design practice Universal Design Studio, the boutique is an expertly crafted store capturing the essence of the Nespresso brand from the table-tops finished with used coffee grounds to the lush greenery embedded with coffee plants. An absolute must-visit for lovers...

A city institution since ’99, Cook ‘N’ With Gas has been a go-to city haunt where tasty cuisine combines with an eclectic environment. A short hiatus saw the award-winning restaurant shut its doors but now the booming Worcester Boulevard hotspot is back and better than ever! Sharing the space with sibling venue Astro Lounge, hit ‘The Gas’ for a bite to eat and carry on through to Astro Lounge where they have live music sessions on the reg and where you’re guaranteed rad times. cooknwithgas.co.nz

There’s nothing like a good cup of tea to soothe the soul and set you up for your morning adventures or offer some form of relaxation as you coast into the evening. If you’re on the hunt for quality tea, the extensive range of t leaf Ts available at Total Food Equipment – the only stockist of the Kiwi brand – needs to be on your radar. From classic flavours such as traditional English Breakfast through to an Earl Grey Blue Flower (TFE’s best-selling flavour) and a plethora of fruit and herbal teas, you are guaranteed to find something that tickles your fancy. While you’re at it, why not enjoy the full tea experience by splurging on this Finum Tea Control brewer and warmer stand and pour up your loose-leaf and whole-leaf teas in style. tfe.co.nz

Just because the weather is cooling down faster than you can say “Season 8 of Game of Thrones should be re-done” doesn’t mean that you have to ditch that #fitspo life. In fact, we say embrace it and get amongst the wicked new additions the team at The Gallery Fitness have added to their swanky gym. Road-test their new ‘Rise and Grind’ HIIT-style class which will get your blood pumping, kick your sweat glands into gear and give you the boost you need to power through the day in 30 minutes; taste some of the new supplements they’ve added to their supplement store, which is also open to non-members; or take advantage of their online training option (available for members at an additional cost) where you’ll get a tailor-made workout updated fortnightly, a custom meal plan updated weekly and easy access to The Gallery Fitness app with its multitude of exercises,...

Kick your skincare regime up a few notches with the beautiful Ginger & Me range from Nicola Quinn Beauty & Day Spa. Focusing on skin recovery and neuroaging, the range follows the A.C.D skin approach. The four A’s focus on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-pollutant, while the C hones in on the prevention of collagen and D puts emphasis on detoxification and cell survival. With a diverse range of products from brightening cream to detoxifying micellar water and luxe cleansing oils available, treat your skin to next-level skincare this winter. gingerandme.co.nz

We caught up with the talent behind one of the city’s hottest nail salons, Nails by Tomo – about 2019 trends, her vast experience and which celebrity’s nails she’d love to glam. What’s trending in the nail industry for 2019? Coffee colours are really popular at the moment, as is black which has been given a glamorous new lease of life. Pastels are also popular for those wanting something nice. Tell us a bit about the products you use. All of the products I use are either from Japan, USA or South Africa – some of which are vegan. My gel and acrylic products are gentler on your nails, which helps to maintain good nail condition. You’ve had over two decades in this industry; tell us about the different countries you’ve worked in. I have been lucky enough to work in a few different countries doing nails. I first started in...

Combining an abundance of textures and a rich, earthy colour palette, Cutler & Co’s latest Textural Nostalgia collection will create a look that will have you dapper and sophisticated throughout the cooler winter months. Take your pick from their expertly crafted threads either online or in their Colombo Street store. cutlerandco.co.nz

Want to give your winter wardrobe a twist that’s unique, affordable and right on trend? There is no denying that vintage fashion and op-shopping have seen a resurgence - just take it from the like of Kim Kardashian West and the Duchess of Sussex who recently donned vintage threads from both Versace and Dior. Shoppers are becoming more environmentally conscious, so could vintage boutiques, consigment-based stores and op shops be the way forward? Check out our top tips and go get reducing, resusing and recycling! Shop vintage like an expert 1 – Check the fabric: cheaper, synthetic fabrics will not wear or age as well. 2 – Inspect the garment for stains, rips or imperfections. Smaller tears or stains can easily be fixed, however bigger issues are not worth the investment. 3 – If you’re afraid of a one-time-wear investment, try renting! Sites such as Designer Wardrobe, Designer Affair and Lend...

Heritage and high-end fittings bookend the luxury of townhouse project Hagley Mews. And that’s the way developer Grigori Koulanov wants it. It’s the details that mark out the Hagley Mews development as the epitome of luxury. Things like the 50mm concrete panels that lie behind the exterior plaster finish, giving a real sense of solidity. Or the Otis elevators in the three-storey flagship homes overlooking Hagley Park, future-proofing against ageing joints creaking on the stairs. Or the communal area with a gym, swim pool, spa and sauna. Did we mention the German tapware, Italian tiles, tilt turn windows, and solid-core European doors with Italian hardware and invisible hinges? Developer Grigori Koulanov, of Profico Group, is building the 26 townhouses on the site of the demolished Heatherlea apartments, on the corner of Deans Avenue and Ayr Street. Nearly half have sold, including some of those with million-dollar price tags. Nestled in the...

Cityscape surveys what’s on offer in some of Fletcher Living’s inner-city residential developments. One Central Fletcher Living’s plans for its One Central site, which runs from Lichfield Street to Kilmore between Manchester and Madras Street, are for it to be “the new beating heart of inner-city Christchurch”, with its residents living alongside city eateries, retail outlets and open green spaces. Up to 900 homes catering to a variety of lifestyles and stages will accommodate over 2000 people on the site. The range of architectural styles and home designs is intended to create a vibrant, connected, urban community that will attract a diverse mix of people and cultures. Open shared spaces will help build a community that “balances the ability to live, work and play”. All homes have a Homestar 6 rating, which provides a warmer, drier, more efficient home that has been independently verified to perform better than the Building Code. Fletcher...