Stories

Victoria Street has had a proper revamp with shops and restaurants bringing buzz back to this once bustling thoroughfare. Cityscape drops by to check out the new kid on the block, Man About Town. Store owner Sharon Biddle says nostalgia brought her to establish Man About Town in this sweet location. “As a very young child in Canterbury, I remember that Victoria Street was such a cool street. Everyone used to stroll down and look at all the different shops. I mostly remember the hat shop, and imagined myself in them. "I feel that the street is coming back to that. I would l love to see Victoria Street be what it once was. The place that was close enough to walk to and be just away from the crowds.” Sharon has manifested menswear into a ready-to-shop stop in the city. Opened May last year, Man About Town is filling a...

This Friday is the first time we will celebrate the rise of Matariki as a nation with a public holiday. If you ask us, it's a perfect time to acquaint yourself with the stars that announce the new year in te ao Māori. You can see the Matariki star cluster in the sky now. Well, perhaps not right now, depending on what time of day you're reading this, but this is the right time of year. To get a good view of this constellation, you'll need to get up before dawn. The good news is that the sun comes up late right now so you don't have to get up at an ungodly hour – between 5:30 and 6:30am is perfect. The even better news is that we have some incredible spots to see these stars in the clear winter sky right here in Christchurch. We recommend getting up early, donning...

The Black Seeds are at it again with a brand new album and a national tour to celebrate. We caught up with founding member Barnaby Weir. Congratulations on the release of Love & Fire! What’s the feeling the band brought to this album? Thank you. It feels great to finally be able to share our little musical treasure, we've been working on it for a while. I think the general feeling the band brought to the album is one of hope. It's been tough times for a lot of people around the world and more so than the pre covid years. We've all had some kind of struggle during this time but having a sense of hope through our music and this album project helped to get us through it and brought us together creatively even though we were separated physically. Love & Fire is dedicated to your manager Matt McLeod...

It’s our first run at a brand new public holiday, celebrating a long tradition in te o Māori. Here area few of the ways Ōtautahi is celebrating. Winter Solstice pre-Matariki Night Light Bike Ride A family-friendly evening ride around North Hagley Park. Bling out your bike, helmet and yourselves with as many lights as you can and join the ride. Mickle Gates entrance, Hagley Park Tuesday 21 Juneccc.govt.nz Matariki Wā Kōrero – Storytimes Just one of the great offerings our libraries are putting on. Each Christchurch City Library will have at least one of these events for pre-schoolers, featuring a variety of Matariki-themed stories, songs and rhymes. Your local libraryUntil Thursday 30 Junechristchurchcitylibraries.com Seeking/Ararapu Matariki in the Zone Head to Avebury House and the Richmond Community Garden to trace the path of the Matariki star cluster in the Red Zone. As night falls, ‘star stations’ will light up creating a 700m...

It's been a fabulous Pride Month so far, with rainbow flags adorning windows, balconies and poles all around the city, and a raft of fantastic events in celebration of our LGBTQIA+ community and culture. Here's Cityscape's round-up of a few of the best events on for Christchurch Pride Week. Friday 17 June Pride Walk of SupportWhat: Start at the Fletcher Building Rainbow Truck at 1:30pm for the starting point, then along Cashel Street to an official Christchurch Pride ribbon cutting event.Where: Cashel Street Mallchchpride.co.nz Fri-YayWhat: Family friendly opening event for rangatahi (youth) featuring drag queens and a lot of funWhere: RiverPride (formerly Riverside Market)chchpride.co.nz Now That's What I Call: Queer ComedyWhat: An evening of quality stand up comedy performed by your favourite Queer icons at Ōtautahi's dedicated comedy club.Where: Good Times Comedy Clubgoodtimescomedyclub.co.nz Saturday 18 June Qtopia Pride BallWhat: All ages and all-inclusive, this ball is for everyone! 'Pay what you...

So many films, so little time! If you're struggling to choose from all the marvellous, funny, romantic and gripping films in this year's French Film festival Aotearoa, we've got a top ten list to help you out. The festival runs from 23 June until 10 July at Academy Gold Cinema, Lumière Cinemas and Deluxe Cinemas in Christchurch. It showcases the boldness, daring originality and poignant excellence of French cinema. Side-splitting comedies to gripping drama, swoon-worthy romance to Hitchcockian thrillers, there's something for all cinematic tastes here, so straighten your beret and peruse our handy list to make booking a breeze. OSS 117: From Africa with Love France's answer to an '80s James Bond is the clueless and arrogant OSS agent 117,Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath. This film, the third instalment in the OSS 117 parody spy series, reached number one at the French box office. The hilarious and staunchly patriotic French secret...

Bianca Bailey AKA Wiri Donna’s new record is out, and she heading to Christchurch on her nationwide tour. The six-track EP Being Alone is written by Wellington muso Bianca Bailey and co-projected by James Goldsmith, featuring singles ‘Dream of Me’ and ‘No Follow Through’ . “The EP is a sort of coming-of-age record, less of things you learn as you’re growing up, more things that you discover when you’re alone,” Bianca says. “The title track ‘Being Alone’ is a point of realisation, that you’re allowed to grieve things that are intangible, like losing your sense of self, that people can simultaneously love you and hurt you and how incredibly difficult it is to hold people accountable for their actions if they don’t see them as wrong.” It’s been two years since Wiri Donna’s first release – a double single featuring ‘Manuka Money’ and ‘Wandering Willies’. Wiri Donna began as a sensitive...

Baby it’s cold outside, and for the carvers and shredders out there that can mean only one thing: ski season! The crisp mornings kicked off in May, leaving fresh powder up the mountains and setting the snowy scene for a wicked winter of mountain sports. The ski fields are stoked at the prospect of international borders opening up, and it’ll be great for the après and mountain party scene to have the global ski bunnies back in town. Mt Hutt is leading the charge – technically open since June 10, but a little delayed by a massive snowstorm. If you missed the chance last season to check out the new high-speed eight-seater chair lift, get in for even more access and snow time in 2022. Mt Hutt is also running a special full moon skiing event on June 11, where you can enjoy two hours of epic moonlight mountain runs. Down...

After a long week of making my greatest attempt at work-life-mum balance, a weekend away from it all is the perfect, luxurious southern hospitality I need. The main lobby’s style is quintessentially ‘ski lodge luxe’. The welcoming team remember us by name from previous visits, and we share a bottle of Champagne with manager Roman Lee-Lo, who has been at The Rees for over 12 years (see below for a short Q&A with Roman). Overlooking Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables peeking out among the clouds, The Rees is ideally placed just outside of central Queenstown. Sound like paradise? That’s because it is. This private getaway has even been the choice destination for many an international celebrity (more on that below). The Rees is also home to the four-star True South Dining Room with award-winning Chef Corey Hume at the helm, preparing meals that are absolutely out of this world. We’ve timed...

Lala Lifestyle recently transformed into an open art gallery space for opening night of Be More Bold, the combined art exhibition featuring Philip Trusttum and his protégé Barbara Scales-Boekelman.

The night welcomed more than a hundred people into the Victoria Street space to preview the art before it opened to the public the following day. Philip kicked things off with a few choice words: “Barbara is an excellent artist. She is going to do great things for the New Zealand art world tonight and in the future.”

A combined total of seven large-scale pieces were on display on opposite walls, making for leisurely viewing in comfortable, styled seating. Pieces include new graphic works from Philip and deeply moving, colourful paintings from Barbara including one entitled Fucking Flowers. Sorry art lovers – that one sold before the opening.

It’s great to see Lala Lifestyle making great use of its new space in Victoria Street – we’re looking forward to the next big thing.

lalalinen-nz.com

Stand aside, New York deli sandos, this sandwich was invented by Sicilian immigrants in New Orleans and it’s packing typical Southern style and Italian flavour. Heard of a muffuletta? The idea is you take a big muffuletta bun, and load it up with cold cuts, antipasti and cheese, Sicilian farmer style. You can rock it fresh or toaseted, and we definitely recommend the latter for a hot, cheesy, satisfying winter lunch. Grain Coffee does a mean toasted muffuletta with ham, salami, double Swiss cheese, olives, pickles, sundried tomatoes and capers. They fly out the door, so get in early! Grain is one of central Christchurch's best coffee and food joints, famous for its cheese scones (people come from all over town to snap them up before they sell out each day) as well as excellent espresso and bangin' bagels. Head to Southwark Street and check it out. graincoffee.co.nz

Hey, you! Yes, you! Winter is no excuse to retreat to your home, not when you live in the wonderland that is Ōtautahi Christchurch. Here are Cityscape's top five things to do this season. 1: Get on a Night zipline tour Wrap up and prepare for an adrenaline hit. Thrill-seekers can now do Christchurch Adventure Park’s zipline tour at night. The two-and-a-half-hour guided tour involves a chairlift to the top with the twinkling lights of Christchurch as a backdrop, then four ziplines back down, including New Zealand’s highest zipline, and a one-kilometre dark zip over and through the forest. 2: Enjoy a winter brew Beer isn't just for the hot days! Try a soul-warming West Coast Red IPA at the Three Boys Brewery in Ferry Road. If you swing by on a Friday afternoon you can join some foodie fun – a different food truck or local eatery sets up shop...

Maison de Crêpe recently hosted its first ever cabaret brunch. Cityscape went along to see what all the fuss was about. This one is for all of you ladies who like to lunch with a side of extra. These two sold-out brunches-with-a-show star the tantalizing trio Jack Swallows, Erika Flash and CoCo Flash, who entertain audiences of two sold-out shows with their songs, dances, tricks and treats while guests mix and mingled before being treated to French fusion fare. The show’s multiple drag costume changes include big boas, sexy sequins and sparkles plus more stunning stage makeup than all of Ballys’ beauty counters combined. We meet and greet with the divas before being seated in the sun-filled atrium for a meal – three courses of Maison’s iconic crepes.Each lunch ticket comes with a very fitting drink jewel, which we appreciate instead of a boring old drinks voucher. We opt to purchase...

This new collection from German jewellery house uncommon matters (um) is inbound to Christchurch jeweller Roccabella this winter. uncommon matters, by creative savant Amélie Riech, embodies simple intricacy, made with fine and novel materials includign precious metals, stone, wood and lacquer. Amélie calls her work 'wearable architectures' - structures that are engineered for elegance. It's an artistic endeavour, combining Amélie's considerable experience in the editorial, fashion and business worlds of Paris and Berlin. You'll find um's confident and minimal jewellery pieces gracing the pages of international magazines from Vogue to Financial Times, and in art galleries as well as carefully selected jewellery stores. And very soon, you'll see them on the shelves at Roccabella, Cashel Street's home of luxury and exclusive jewellery. roccabella.co.nz

Traditionalists would have you curling up by the fire with a room-temperature red wine this winter, but Cityscape laughs in the face of tradition. Warm your soul with these flavour-heavy Canterbury white wines. Pegasus Bay Muscat 2017 Nothing packs taste quite like a Muscat. It’s an old-world grape variety with a distinctive perfumed aroma and exploding with juicy and spicy flavours. This example is dry and made with Pegasus Bay’s typical finesse. Limited bottles available. pegasusbay.com The Boneline Hellblock Riesling 2021 There ain’t no Riesling like a Waipara Riesling. What you’re looking for in a medium Riesling is the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and flavour, and The Boneline has nailed it with this fruity and citrusy number. theboneline.co.nz Greystone Sauvignon Blanc 2020 We all love a good Sauvvy, and this one is an excellent reason to venture outside of the tried-and-tested-again-and-again fields of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. Grown right here in...

If you’re a design buff and haven’t visited ECC’s showroom in Victoria Street yet, what are you doing with your life? This is seriously the home of cool lighting, outstanding furniture, and general good taste. The space is meticulously designed, and walking through feels like entering an architectural fitout – perfect inspiration for your next reno or design project. ECC has been around since 1909, and has showrooms in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. Each displays an exclusive range of some of the world's best lighting, furniture and design brands. In te showroom, you'll find leading international brands like Minotti, iGuzzini, Flos and Artemide, and items designed by a range of famous, exclusive, and top-of-the-game designers. It's a must-visit for anyone planning an architectural project or looking for an original and stylish spin on interior design. ecc.co.nz

Lala Lifestyle has arrived in Victoria Street! The high-end linen and homewares store’s new home is a beautiful, spacious studio with huge windows and a ton of possibilities. The space is fitted out in inspirational design, full of tempting buys for your next interior glow-up. Owner and international interiors pro Monique Bohnenn says customers can expect to see exciting new things. We’re amped to see her promised “huge expansion” of the entire Lala range. Looking for a finishing touch for your interior? Investigate custom cushions from the store’s wide range of fabrics, or book a private consultation with Monique to take your interior decorating game to the next level. She’s got the expert eye to help you design a luxurious and stylish home you never want to leave. lalalinen-nz.com

All the entertainment you'll need for the month of June on the small and big screens, plus books to lose yourself in and new albums to rock out to. Viewing on the big screen Elvis This biopic tells the story of The King’s life and career, from childhood to his unprecedented fame, with director Baz Luhrman’s signature glitz and glamour. Two things are for sure: it will be a visual and aural feast, and if the reactions of Elvis Presley’s family members are anything to go by, it will wring the emotions right out of you. Lightyear Calling Star Command, 90s kids and Pixar fans of all ages – nearly 30 years after Toy Story first took a generation to infinity and beyond, we’re finally getting to see the origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the intrepid space ranger that inspired the action figure. This tale of intergalactic adventure will have a...