Cityscape Issue 08 April 2018 by SOMO Creative

APR 2018

CHRISTCHURCH CURATED | YOUR MONTHLY FIX In this bumper issue we talk origins and inspirations with Stealth Hospitality kingpin Tony Astle, catch up with the planet-savers at Offcut and Green Dinner Table (plus Wildlife ACT volunteer Holly Hastie), go behind the scenes at The Crossing’s latest fashion shoot, and round up the month’s hottest food, events (including The Killers), and entertainment.

CITYSCAPE MONTHLY April 2018 Issue 08

CONTENTS

April 2018 In this issue

CEO/Director Andrea Rickerby Editor Isaac Wilson Sub Editor Ben Allan Editorial Assistant Jessica Wells Creative Tristan Brehaut Account Manager Derek Thorp Accounts Administrator Claire Ross NEED TO GET IN TOUCH? Editorial and Advertising Enquiries: 03 366 3340 info@somocreative.co.nz www.cityscape.co.nz

PUBLISHED BY

SOMO Creative Ltd PO Box 13 717 Christchurch Cityscape is a division of SOMO Creative Ltd. Cityscape is subject to copyright in its entirety. Opinions expressed in Cityscape are not necessarily those of Cityscape. Editorial contributions welcome. No responsibility taken for unsolicited submissions. Prizewinners will be notified by phone and email. If Cityscape is unable to contact the winner within 14 days, Cityscape reserves the right to draw another winner. Cityscape reserves the right to use image/ name of competition entrants for publicity purposes. International Standard Serial Number ISSN 2537-933X print, ISSN 2537-9348 online

09 18 20 40 46 Download the Cityscape App and join our digital community for lovers of style, food, music, lifestyle, travel, beauty and culture! ON THE COVER

THE KILLERS The rockers from Nevada that have dropped some of the past two decades’ biggest hits strut into the city’s Horncastle Arena on April 24 for a big night of – well – killer tunes. cityscape.christchurch

cityscapemagazine_chch

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04 NEWSFEED Tip-offs, trends and more. 11 PROFILE Terrace Tavern. 17 STYLE FILES What’s hot this month. 18 STEALTH MODE Stealth Hospitality’s Tony Astle. 20 CROSSING OVER Behind the scenes at The Crossing’s winter launch shoot. 24 THE WILD LIFE Animal lover and volunteer Holly Hastie. 27 TURNING GREEN Green Dinner Table’s Tom Riley and Cole Stacey. 30 BONE IDOL A Q&A with Rag’n’Bone Man. 32 HEADS UP Offcut’s Adrien Taylor. 34 DOG DAY AFTERNOONS Our guide to dog-lovers’ Chch. 36 ENTERTAIN ME Film, music, books, games & TV. 39 FOOD & DRINK Eating and drinking in the city. 46 THE LAST WORD Aussie funnyman Carl Barron.

TIP-OFFS, TRENDS & MORE

Changing Physics

Venerable city art institution The Physics Room has made a big move, shifting into a new Worcester Boulevard space that’s right next to the Christchurch Art Gallery. It’s just the start of a big year for the space that will see them changing the way they operate, collaborating with galleries across the South Island to bring a number of exciting artists and exhibitions to the city. You can visit the (Un)conditional 1.5 exhibition – which combines borrowed collection items from The Aigantighe Art Gallery (Timaru) chosen by the artists with new pieces – from April 5–29 to scope out the new possie and get a feel for their exciting new approach! physicsroom.org.nz EARLY WARNING

The Camden

New Riccarton eatery The Camden Restaurant and Bar offers traditional European favourites with a modern Kiwi twist. Housed in Stellar’s former spot upstairs on Riccarton Road, the spacious new venue welcomes you in with dark wood and exposed brick, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving great coffee all day as well as a slick range of craft beers, wines, and cocktails for when it’s time to ramp things up later on. Tuck into the likes of their Brioche French Toast with streaky bacon, banana and mascarpone to start the day the right way, or head in to make an evening of it with the mighty Spanish Paella of smoked salmon, mussels, prawn, squid, chorizo, smoked chicken, and peas, or their outstanding Canterbury Lamb Rack with potato gratin, braised lamb shoulder, semi-dried tomato and mint and pea pesto. Find them on Facebook

BEHN PRACTISING Take four talented women from England, the Netherlands, NZ, and Wales, throw in two violins, one viola and a cello, some inspo from 17th Century playwright, political activist, philanthropist of the arts, and all-round kick-ass lady Aphra Behn, and you get the Behn Quartet. Fronted by Chch native Kate Oswin, this fierce four-piece have earned rave reviews since they formed just two years ago, even holding the CAVATINA Chamber Music Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music (it’s a big deal!)They bring their energetic performance style to The Piano on May 1; Aphra would approve. chambermusic.co.nz

Google Us Cityscape’s more than just the sweet print mag you’ve got in your hand; read online at cityscape.co.nz and download the Cityscape App at Google Play or the App Store. 04

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Image: Eve Armstrong, Trading Table, 2003–ongoing

Newsfeed

/ NEWSFEED

Former Vegas lads The Killers, fronted by flamboyant fashionista Brandon Flowers, have been (of course) killing it since they burst onto the scene in 2004, and bring their 80s-synth/rock-heavy sound to the city this month. Arguably Nevada’s biggest ever musical success, the boys have carved themselves a reputation as one of the top rock bands of the millennium with their signature style – an amalgam of alternative, indie rock and post-punk revival – and they’ve brought us some truly monster hits, such as ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’, ‘Somebody Told Me’, ‘Bones’, ‘When You Were Young’, ‘Human’ and first-ever single ‘Mr. Brightside’, which spent 196 weeks (!) in the UK Singles Top 100 chart. With a back catalogue like this to call on and hits from last year’s drop Wonderful Wonderful (a return to form that’s become their first number one album on the US Billboard 200, c/o another couple of big singles, ‘Run For Cover’ and ‘The Man’) sure to feature, concert revellers are guaranteed a killer night in more ways than one. The Killers, Horncastle Arena, Apr 24, thekillersmusic.com

Image: Anton Corbijn

KILLER(S) SHOW

WHAT THE DICKENS? Hometown gal Penny Ashton’s awesome, hilarious one-woman carnival of Dickensian characters Olive Copperbottom wowed us at the Buskers Fest; now she’s bringing it back for one night only at the Isaac Theatre Royal’s Gloucester Room on April 22. hotpink.co.nz

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SHOOTING STAR

Having torn up the Bay Dreams Festival earlier this year at The Mount, US hip-hop artist/rapper Machine Gun Kelly is headed our way again, hitting the road on a main-centres tour that lands in Christchurch at The Foundry on April 29. The Cleveland rapper and sometimes-actor (who will soon be doubling as Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in Netflix’s adaptation of the band’s biography The Dirt) began turning heads in 2010 with his mixtape Lace Up, which ushered in a record deal and debut album of the same name. 2015 sophomore album General Admission and his big 2016 hit with Camila Cabello, ‘Bad Things’ (which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), subsequently laid the foundations for last year’s Bloom, featuring James Arthur, Quavo, Hailee Steinfeld and Ty Dolla $ign. Here’s a chance for local audiences to see what all the fuss was about up in the Bay of Plenty at New Year’s. machinegunkelly.com WIN! We have a double pass to Machine Gun Kelly to giveaway. To enter, email info@somocreative.co.nz with “Machine Gun Kelly” in the subject line and tell us why you need to hit this concert. Entries close April 23. TECH IT OUT!

MOON, GAZING If you missed the limited run of Elon Musk’s Boring Company Flamethrower (yes, he really sold flamethrowers online), you can still step up your home security in a slightly saner way with 1-Ring’s Moon Levitating Smart Camera (US$198). Hovering Death-Star-like in mid-air above its home base, the gravitydefying Moon can detect movements and events in its room and automatically rotates to begin filming, flicking an alert to your smartphone so you can view the action real-time. Temperature, CO2, humidity and light sensors are included, and built-in microphones can detect and identify your dog barking, your baby crying, or even glass breaking – plus voice recognition means the app can tell you who comes home when. Is that a bit creepy? Maybe, but damn, it looks cool. 1-ring.net

The Mood for Food

New Zealand’s biggest foodie convention, The Food Show, will touch down in the 03 this month (Apr 6-8) for its annual three huge days of all things tasty and trending. Packing Horncastle Arena with purveyors of gourmet goodies from big nationals through to local artisan producers, the show also turns on free cooking demonstrations from New Zealand’s top culinary talent – think Annabelle White, Nadia Lim, Giulio Sturla, Jax Hamilton and Chelsea Winter – in the NEFF Cooking Theatre. You’ll also want to head to the Artisan Village for handmade, small-batch, traditional, and super-high-quality goods, and check out the Healthy Hub for primo eats that are good for you and the planet. Of course, no food show worth its (Himalayan sea) salt would be complete without some tasty beverages, so be sure to investigate the Cargo Brewery Garden too – a brand new feature showcasing craft beer. foodshow.co.nz

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DOWN TO THE LETTER

Boutique stationer Pepa at The Arts Centre are rekindling the lost art of letter writing, with a series of initiatives aimed at utilising the ability of a letter to genuinely brighten someone’s day. You’ll find a variety of beautiful stationery from some of the world’s top designers in their serene space, but it’s their specialty letter writing material that comes to the fore with their Pepa Post initiative. Christchurch gets the chance to be captivated by the electrifying and moving In this, anyone is welcome to sit down and write a performance of Juilliard alum twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton at the letter to a nominated stranger each month to opening of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s subscription season with bring some brightness into their life. They also Masterworks concert Mozart & Mahler. Having stunned audiences worldwide with use their Arts Centre space to hold special their technical mastery and awe-inspiring artistry, the sisters will charm locals in-store events; all part of their mission to return when they perform Mozart’s Concerto For Two Pianos and Mahler’s haunting love the letterbox to its former glorious role. letter to his wife Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor under the guidance of Maestro pepastationery.co.nz Edo de Waart. Mozart & Mahler, Horncastle Arena, Apr 11, nzso.co.nz

Twins Peak

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GIVE IT A WHIRL

THE BEST MEDICINE You’ve heard of yoga, and

you’ve heard of Bikram yoga – but have you heard of laughter yoga? Deceptively simple, yet a very powerful form of exercise, this new wave of yoga combines uplifting laughter exercises with yogic breathing – a variation from the traditional yoga postures. Kill two birds with one stone and get your laugh on at the Lotus Community Wellbeing Trust’s Laughter Club Sundays (held at St Alban’s Scottish Society Hall every Sunday at 11am), reaping the exercise benefits of yoga all the while! thegiggles.co.nz

PACK YOUR BAGS

BAR NONE

Regularly topping the world’s best bar lists, AYANA Resort & Spa Bali’s Rock Bar is rightly famous as one of the planet’s best spots to enjoy a lavish sundowner. Perched 14 metres above the endless blue of the Indian Ocean, with access via a thrilling cliff-side inclinator and along a suspended walkway to the natural outcrop which the Rock Bar sits atop, it epitomises the ultimate in FOMO-inducing social media posts. Exquisite eats meet delectable cocktails (think house special the Rockfashioned), backed by the killer beats of top DJs and the gentle lap of the ocean – #takemethere! ayana.com

A Teller of Tales The genre-spanning styles of The Frank

Killing Time

Burkitt Band pay us a visit this month at Blue Smoke (Apr 15) in a tour that celebrates the release of their new album, Raconteur. The Wellingtonbased four-piece was founded by Frank and his partner Kara Filbey. Both originally hailing from Edinburgh, they swapped lives of late night music in Scottish pubs for Aotearoa in 2014, and after casting about for like-minded musos were joined by James Geluk (double bass) and Cameron Burnell (mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals) to form a band that takes on many musical varieties in a diverse aural feast for their audiences. The new album showcases Frank’s ability to tell a story with his music, with songs about hardcase characters and cracking anecdotes packaged up in an album influenced by jazz, blues, folk, swing and all things American Roots. It’s a great chance to discover this band with a difference delivering the toe-tapping tunes and bluesy folk they do so well. frankburkitt.co.nz

Got a bit of spare time up your sleeve and stumped for what to do? Grab some wood there bub, we got you! < 30 MINS: Take a trip down memory lane, limber up your body and indulge in a game of Space Invaders on the giant super street arcade located on the exterior of the Vodafone building at the intersection of Tuam & High Streets. Grab a mate or challenge a bystander!

1 HOUR – 2 HOURS: Fancy a round? City Putt & Cruise at 240 Armagh Street (opposite Margaret Mahy Park) offer up your classic 18-hole mini golf course, with each hole celebrating a little slice of Christchurch.

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ April 18

HALF-DAY/FULL-DAY: Board the ferry in Lyttelton and head over to Diamond Harbour’s Dark Star Ale House and lax out on their sun-soaked deck with a drink and some eats, where you’ll find yourself asking “How’s the serenity?”

MARKET WATCH

/ NEWSFEED

Stripped Jerky

(WO)MAN UP

Former carpenter and now full time jerky-jockey Mike Gray has turned a former hobby into a career with Stripped Jerky. Moving to Christchurch to be part of the rebuild in 2011, the tradie/foodie had long loved jerky after first trying it in a winter in Colorado as a youngster, but found little being offered on the Kiwi market. So he taught himself to make it – and last year hung up the toolbelt to turn his hobby into a beefy business. Eschewing chemicals to make his variety of handcrafted jerky flavours like Sriracha, Teriyaki, Pepper, and the fiery, chilli-enhanced Back Burner, Mike keeps things as natural as possible and works with a local meat supplier to keep waste to a minimum (much to the disapproval of his dog, Bear). Mike’s always keen to shoot the breeze with customers and introduce the high-protein, low-fat and low-sugar snack to jerky virgins that might be, in his own words, “keen to give it a hoon”, so catch him down at the Christchurch Farmers’ Market and The Riccarton Market. strippedjerky.co.nz

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ April 18

Shifting societal thinking surrounding gender and cultural diversity, KMS’ latest collection – aptly named Genderless Grooming – embraces individuality and disregards traditional styling norms, with their Hairplay Hybrid Claywax, Molding Paste, and Hard Wax (RRP $36 each) perfect for any style of hair – on any head.

UNCOVERED

Assembly Required

THE FIRING LINE Cityscape catches up with local legend Alan Stroud (a.k.a Stroudy) of Shirley Irish pub fave O’Shea’s Public House.

WE CALL BULLSHIT ON... ...filming a concert. For the love of Prince, Do. Not. Do. It. Not only are you defeating the purpose of a live show (and really, are you ever gonna watch that shonky footage again?), but chances are you’re riling up your fellow concert goers – there’s nothing more irritating than having forked out a tonne of money to see a gig only to have your vision interrupted by a floating LCD screen. We get it – it’s not every day you’re graced by your fave artist’s presence, and a cheeky snap here or there is (at a push) OK, but if you’re hitting the 45-min mark on recorded footage then yeah, that Samsung should have been back in your pocket long, long ago.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE O’SHEA’S? I taught Phys Ed at one of the local high schools, and went on to work at Lion Breweries for 16 years before coming to O’Shea’s. WHAT’S THE SECRET TO POURING A KILLER GUINNESS? The art of the pour gives it the drama, but having clean lines and clean glassware and pride in the presentation is essential. WHAT BEER HAVE YOU GOT IN THE FRIDGE AT HOME? Steinlager, Stella, and Corona – we live by the beach and a cold lager is very important when you are on the BBQ! WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? The best thing is the people. We are really lucky to have such a great bunch of customers who say please and thank you, and love having a yarn and a laugh over a pint or two. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST CUSTOMER PET PEEVE? The customers always being right even when they know they are wrong! WHAT’S ONE THING YOUR CUSTOMERS MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU? I am an old footballer – I played for Otago, Nelson and Canterbury, and was in and out of the All Whites for 10 years – you get to know a lot of people through sport. osheas.co.nz

#SHOEPORN We’re calling it: Zoe Kratzmann’s Theory in Toffee is this month’s must-have heel. Check it out in all its gorgeous leather glory at Issimo.

Put together local axe men Sam Hill and Simon Tester and you have Assembly Required, a high-energy, highly entertaining duo who love nothing more than delivering toe-tapping performances that ratchet up any night to new levels. Their blend of hard-hitting guitar and powerful vocals covers a wide range from folk/blues to rock/pop, combined with a dash of comedy and plenty of on stage antics, and they also hit Sunday arvo sessions around town as a more chilled-out version of themselves. Check out their cover vids with spunk on their Youtube channel. FB/Assemblyrequirednz

Group Therapy

Fancy messing about with boats – or engines, traction engines, or cool ride-on trains? The mechanicallyminded crew at the Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Inc (CSMEE) is for you. Founded way back in 1933 for everyone that loves to design, build and tinker with models and machines, the society is now based in Halswell Domain, having moved in 2004 from the smaller Andrews Crescent site that many of us will remember riding around as kids. Their roomier and constantly in-development new site now includes over 1 km of 7 ¼” and 5” ground level track; over 300m of 5”, 3 ½” and 2 ½” raised track, a boating pond, club rooms, stations, engine shed and steaming bay. Pop out for a look on Running Days every Sunday (subject to weather) from 1pm to 4pm, where you (and the kids, if you need an excuse) can jump aboard for train rides at two bucks a pop; you may be inspired to take up a membership of your own! csmee.org.nz

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ April 18

PROFILE

TERRACE TAVERN Channelling Euro-chic sophistication, Terrace Tavern perches a lush, modern watering hole and restaurant on the banks of the Avon River at scorching hot spot The Terrace. The Richard and Lisa Sinke co-creation and latest addition to the Dux stable offers sun-drenched al fresco drinking and dining out the front, while inside soaring black ceilings featuring pendulous white globe lighting meet dark woods, dark teal walls and booth seating in the dining area, which offer killer views of the open kitchen (complete with wood-fired grill). At the dark-grained wood-fronted bar, copper lights highlight the marbled bar itself, where the Dux range of beers stand at attention on tap, and a wild range of glittering top shelf spirits includes the George Clooney-created Casamigos Tequila. Intimate, elegant and seriously slick, this multi-tasking space is perfect for everything from suds outside in the sun through to glammed up late-night cocktails and a bite to eat. FB/terracetavernnz

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ April 18

THE MONTH IN CULTURE THE WOMAN IN BLACK Theatre heads back to the Gloucester Room after their Turn of the Screw with another ghostly tale; one of the scariest theatre productions of the last three decades. Isaac Theatre Royal, until Sun 1 Apr, noproductionstheatre.com

BLACKCAPS VS ENGLAND – 2ND TEST SPORT The Black Caps play

some proper cricket, taking on England over five days at the magnificent Hagley Oval. Hagley Oval, until Tue 3 Apr, blackcaps.co.nz

MARLEY: NZ ALL STARS LIVE MUSIC A supergroup of MACHINE GUN KELLY

AKAROA HARVEST FESTIVAL

NERD DEGREE: REVENGE OF THE CHATTER RINGS

FESTIVAL Sample fine Banks

COMEDY The locally created and

Peninsula fare at this relaxed foodie day that showcases local artisan producers in beautiful surroundings. Potter’s Croft Garden, Akaroa, Sun 1 Apr, eventfinda.co.nz

staffed comedy panel show, now in its 4th year, tackles trends, crazes and fads. Orange Studios, Wed 4 Apr, nerddegree.com

WICKED

EASY MONEY

RAG‘N’BONE MAN

THEATRE Popular Kiwi

LIVE MUSIC Recent British

playwright Roger Hall’s reworking of Ben Jonson’s 17th century comedy The Alchemist offers double-crosses, dirty tricks and all the dodgy dealings you can throw at a JAFA, demonstrating a fool and their money are soon parted. The Court Theatre, until Sat 21 Apr, courttheatre.org.nz

breakthrough artist Rag‘n’Bone Man (a.k.a. the bloke who wants you not to put the blame on him) drops in for a big night of his soulful tunes at Horncastle Arena. Horncastle Arena, Tue 3 Apr, eventfinda.co.nz

THEATRE Showbiz

Christchurch’s 2018 season kicks off with the Broadway smash based on the novel that reframes the tale of The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch. Isaac Theatre Royal, Fri 6 – Sat 21 Apr, showbiz.org.nz

THE FOOD SHOW 2018 ga-ga over this three-day culinary extravaganza that features cooking and cookware demonstrations and gourmet foods galore to sample. Horncastle Arena, Fri 6 – Sun 8 Apr, foodshow.co.nz

FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS PERFORMANCE The new Friday

Image: Dean Chalkley

CSO: SHLOMO MINTZ LIVE MUSIC Legendary violinist

Shlomo Mintz features as soloist in Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin in E minor before directing the orchestra in Brahms’ Third Symphony. Charles Luney Auditorium, Sat 7 Apr, cso.co.nz

FERRYMEAD NIGHT MARKET MARKET This new evening

EXPO The city’s foodies go

New Zealand musical talent – try Tiki Taane, Che Fu, Annie Crummer, P Diggs, Laughton Kora, Fran Kora, Logan Bell, Ria Hall, Anna Coddington and Joel Shadbolt – team up for a night of the reggae legend’s hits. The Bedford Marquee, Fri 6 Apr, jacman.co.nz

night horror tour continues its scarefest season at Ferrymead Heritage Park. Ferrymead Heritage Park, Fri 6/13 Apr, facebook.com/ FridayNightFrightsNZ

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ April 18

market on the first Saturday of each month offers craft stalls, bouncy castles, face painting, music, and plenty of food. Gold coin donation entry. Ferrymead Heritage Park, Sat 7 Apr, ferrymead.org.nz

GREAT NEW ZEALAND BRIDAL SHOW 2018 EXPO All the inspiration,

products, services and ideas you need for planning the big day under one handy roof. Addington Events Centre, Sun 8 Apr, thebridalshow.co.nz

MUDDY GOOD RUN FITNESS The annual fun-run

(fun-slog?) obstacle course

Image: Bridger Scott

THEATRE NO Productions

returns to test participants with mud, mud, and more mud. Canterbury Agriculture Park, Sun 8 Apr, muddygoodrun.co.nz

NZSO: MOZART AND MAHLER LIVE MUSIC International piano

duo Christina and Michelle Naughton tackle Mozart’s Concerto For Two Pianos under the baton of Maestro Edo de Waart, with Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor also on the programme. Horncastle Arena, Wed 11 Apr, nzso.co.nz

STEINLAGER PURE SESSIONS PRESENTS BARNABY WEIR & FRIENDS LIVE MUSIC The bloke behind

The Black Seeds and Fly My Pretties drops in with a few mates to perform songs from his vast back catalogue. Carlton Bar & Eatery, Thu 12 Apr, steinlager.com/puresessions

A PAINTBOX OF CLOWNS THEATRE School holiday fun for

the young ones, with another

restaging of Dan Bain’s acclaimed silent kids’ show at the Court. The Court Theatre, Mon 16 – Sat 28 Apr, courttheatre.org.nz

DR LIBBY

/ CULTURE

CRUSADERS VS SUNWOLVES SPORT Home season Super

Rugby action continues with the Crusaders taking on the Japanese side. AMI Stadium, Sat 21 Apr, crusaders.co.nz

OLIVE COPPERBOTTOM THEATRE/COMEDY Penny

Ashton’s one woman tour-deforce through a Charles Dickens-style tale is back after wowing at the Buskers Festival. Isaac Theatre Royal, Sun 22 Apr, isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

SNAP’S SATURDAY SHOWCASE COMEDY This regular comedy

THE KILLERS LIVE MUSIC After a quiet few

years, the Vegas-based rockers that have released some of the biggest hits of the last couple of decades are headed our way. Horncastle Arena, Tue 24 Apr, frontiertouring.com

FOSTER & ALLEN – GOLDEN YEARS LIVE MUSIC Legendary Irish folk

HORORATA NIGHT GLOW

music duo Foster & Allen continue their 40-year career with yet another tour; excellent news for their loyal fan base. Isaac Theatre Royal, Thu 26 Apr, showinfo.co.nz

FESTIVAL Balloonists from all

CHRISTCHURCH PET & ANIMAL EXPO 2018 EXPO Following a successful

inaugural show in 2017, this celebration of all things pets is home to all that’s cute, fluffy and fabulous. You’ll find all creatures great and small, plus hundreds of pet-focussed products and services. Pioneer Leisure Centre, Sat 28/Sun 29 Apr, petanimalexpo.co.nz

SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES

Stuck on Lionel

PERFORMANCE Jinkies! A

Having rescheduled from October, musical superstar Lionel Richie is finally heading our way this month. It may be hard to dance on the (pretty high) ceiling of Horncastle Arena, but please, don’t let us stop you trying; the groovy genius and former Commodore behind chart-topping hits such as ‘Hello’, ‘Say You, Say Me’, ‘All Night Long’ and more tends to have that sort of effect on people. Get ready to shake those moneymakers, ol’ skool! Lionel Richie, Horncastle Arena, Apr 15, lionelrichie.com

slot brings you local and out of town talent each month, with drinks specials before and after the show to boot! Dragon’s Den Social Lounge, Sat 28 Apr, fb.com/grandpafigs

trouble-making ghost is haunting a local theatre, and Scoob and the gang are rolling up in the Mystery Machine to sort it out. A hilarious live, musical rendition of the classic animated series. Isaac Theatre Royal, Sat 28/ Sun 29 Apr, ticketek.co.nz

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ April 18

over New Zealand converge on North Canterbury for this spectacular after-dark meeting that lights up the night sky, with music, children’s entertainment and street food also on site. Hororata Domain, Selwyn, Sat 28 Apr, hororatanightglow.org.nz

MACHINE GUN KELLY: THE 27 TOUR LIVE MUSIC Cleveland rapper

and actor Kelly brings his own headline tour to the city after a stand-out performance at Tauraunga’s Bay Dreams Festival at the start of the year. The Foundry, Sun 29 Apr, theticketfairy.com

DR LIBBY: IN SEARCH OF ENERGY TALK Dr Libby’s brand new

two-hour event is designed to help you to understand your energy levels and teaches you 10 steps you can take to amp up the amount of energy you experience each day. Charles Luney Auditorium, Tue 1 May, drlibby.com

WITCH ONE

/ CULTURE

A stunning array of hot air balloons will light up the night sky at this month’s Hororata Night Glow (Apr 28). This autumn festival sees balloonists from all over the country converging on the Hororata Domain; balloons will fire up and glow spectacularly in the dark in unison with music. Surrounding the light show itself will be live tunes, street food and a showcase from the Selwyn Food & Wine Trail, making for a great late afternoon/evening out. hororata.org.nz/hororata-night-glow

Wicked Game Something wicked this way comes, with

Showbiz Christchurch kickstarting their 2018 season with Broadway mega-blockbuster Wicked this month. Based on Gregory Maguire’s best-selling ’95 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked is set in L. Frank Baum’s Land of Oz, and chronicles and reframes the life of the green-skinned Elphaba before she became the notorious villain of a “…and your little dog, too!” variety, examining her relationship with sometimes-friend, sometimes-foe Galinda (who goes on to be the lovable Glinda the Good Witch). Which witch to root for, though? You’ll have to go and decide on the night. Wicked, Isaac Theatre Royal, Apr 6 –21, showbiz.org.nz JAMMIN’

ONE LOVE Marley NZ All Stars lets some of NZ’s top musical talent loose on the music of Bob Marley at The Bedford Marquee on April 6. Attendees will be celebrating the reggae legend with a Kiwi super-group that includes Tiki Taane, Che Fu, Annie Crummer, P Diggs, Laughton Kora, Fran Kora, Logan Bell, Ria Hall, Anna Coddington and Joel Shadbolt. With an impressive set-list to match the line-up, fans will want to be quick off the bat – this’ll sell fast! jacman.co.nz

HAVE SOME MINTZ Regarded as one of the foremost violinists of our time and esteemed for his impeccable musicianship, the legendary Shlomo Mintz features as soloist in the first of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s Artist Series Concerts for the year at Charles Luney Auditorium on April 7. Having toured extensively throughout Europe with renowned conductors such as Carlo-Maria Giulini, Antal Dorati and Eugene Ormandi, Mintz added the role of conductor to his own CV at the age of just 18. He’ll join the CSO for Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin in E minor before putting down the bow and picking up the baton, directing the orchestra in Brahms’ Third Symphony. cso.co.nz Image: Chab Lathion

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ April 18

GET LUCKY With all those Maneki-nekos (fortune cats) on their wall, it’s little wonder Sister Kong’s new Friday night specials slot is called Lucky Hour – hit it every Friday from 4 – 6pm to score $9 House Wines, $8 Asahi and $12 Lucky Cat Cocktails, and maybe even free snacks!

LIGHT IT UP

/ CULTURE

LOCAL TALENT

EARLY WARNING

Image: Kane Feaver

Forking Funny

BURNING UP

Rocking a vintage aesthetic worthy of the 80s, electro-pop Canterbury singer-songwriter Siobhan Sainte’s star is on the rise, fuelled by her indie-driven tunes coated with indulgent, sentimental vocals and a shiny synth veneer. Her debut single ‘Burn It Down’ (produced by LA’s Andy Rosen) piqued the interest of music fans and bloggers the world over with its moody, sultry undertones, amassing a whopping 100,000 streams in its first few weeks of release. The hyper-talented local hasn’t stopped there, though; her single ‘Midnight’, slightly darker but no less enchanting, has also racked up a fair number of streams, and still maintains an edge that sets Sainte apart from her peers. Her creative flair shines through in the form of her visually stunning music videos, which perfectly encapsulate the essence of her songs. Inspired by a love for film noir and haute couture, her work has garnered massive industry respect, ensuring Siobhan Sainte is a musical force of nature to watch out for. siobhansainte.com GIGS TO CATCH

DAVE FLYNN - MASTER GUITARIST The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts, Mon 2 Apr, 2:30pm MARLEY: NZ ALL-STARS The Foundry, Fri 6 Apr, 6pm JOHN WRIGHT & THE SOU’WESTERS Blue Smoke, Fri 6 Apr, 8pm GROOVEFEST 6 New City Hotel, Fri 6 & Sat 7 Apr, 8pm DUB CYMATICS NZ TOUR Space Academy, Fri 6 Apr, 7pm ODYSSEY RETURNS Wunderbar, Sat 14 Apr, 9pm THE FRANK BURKITT BAND RACONTEUR TOUR Blue Smoke, Sun 15 Apr, 3:30pm LIONEL RICHIE: ALL THE HITS Horncastle Arena, Sun 15 Apr, 7pm THE KILLERS Horncastle Arena, Tue 24 Apr, 7pm MACHINE GUN KELLY The Foundry, Sun 29 Apr, 8pm

PURE GOLD Steinlager is doing us a solid with their Steinlager Pure Sessions, which lines up Fly My Pretties and The Black Seeds genius Barnaby Weir and a talented band for free at the Carlton on April 12 as part of a series of similar gigs around the country this month. He’ll be drawing on his extensive back catalogue of iconic Kiwi hits for two big evening sets at 9pm and 10pm in an intimate setting. The venue is operating as normal with (limited) entry on a first come, first served basis, so make sure you get in early to secure your spot! steinlager.com/puresessions

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Forget crunches and deep breathing exercises to trigger those abdominals; those bad boys will be aching from laughing hard after witnessing one of Australia’s top comedic geniuses, Carl Barron (see our Q&A on page 46), perform live when he brings his Drinking with a Fork show to the Isaac Theatre Royal on May 4. Mixing wit with wry, observational humour, Barron has made crowds erupt in laughter for well over two decades with his unique storytelling, mining his own childhood for comic gems. He’s already a firm fave at the New Zealand Comedy Festival, and Drinking with a Fork brings one of the most accomplished and engaging performers of his generation to the city. carlbarron.com

John Stezaker Pair XXVII 2015. Courtesy of The Approach, London

Cut & Paste Running at the Christchurch Art Gallery to July 22, awardwinning British artist John Stezaker’s Lost World exhibition brings together about 40 collages from an artist who’s been described (by The Guardian) as a “master of slicing and splicing”. The surrealist is

also exhibiting five poignant found-object sculptures and the film work Crowd, a collection of hundreds of single-frame film stills of crowd scenes that proceed in a dizzying blur. It’s the first New Zealand exhibition from the old-school remixer, who remains steadfastly

analogue in a digital world. “Stezaker prefers to make collages the old-fashioned way, working with scalpel and glue – and a steady hand – to slice images and splice them together in new configurations. He works from a vast personal archive of out-of-date images, mostly old film stills, vintage actor headshots and antique postcards” says senior gallery curator Lara Strongman. The resulting collages place postcards on headshots to reveal surreal fusions of landscape and features, or meld faces together to mash-up genders and genres. The exhibition takes its name from what Stezaker says is stuff that has lost its relationship with our modern environment and “involves a yearning for a lost world”. “There is something very odd, even unnerving about cutting through a photograph,” he says. “It sometimes feels like I am cutting though flesh.” christchurchartgallery.co.nz

EXHIBITIONS TO CATCH Sunlight – Ihi Kōmaru Canterbury Museum, until 22 Jul L'Estrange Annual Group Exhibition Significant NZ Artists L'Estrange Art Gallery, Tue 10 Apr Graham Ambrose: The Colours of Space Form Gallery, 4 – 24 Apr Miranda Parkes Jonathan Smart Gallery, throughout Apr (Un)conditional 1.5 The Physics Room, 5 – 29 Apr Hannah Kidd: Absolutely! The Central, until 8 Apr

Best in Show Catch the stunning rural lifestyle, landscapes and people captured by local photographer Elise Rutherford (eliserutherford.com) at a special exhibition at The Colombo from April 6 to August 31. thecolombo.co.nz

WELL CURATED

Cityscape caught up with SCAPE Public Art’s Executive Director Deborah McCormick on why you need to check out their 20th anniversary editions at Studio 125 Gallery.

SCAPE Public Art’s 20th anniversary year is ahead, and to begin the celebrations SCAPE are once again opening the contemporary art pop-up Studio 125 Gallery, featuring a new collection of limited editions and an impressive collection of exhibiting artists that have contributed to 20 years of world-class SCAPE Public Art in Christchurch. The selection of pieces includes SCAPE artists both new and with long associations with SCAPE. An approach to Neil Dawson was warmly received and the response was an exclusive new edition SCAPEXX 2018 (pictured), both an artwork and a calligram. Seung Yul Oh, the artist responsible for SCAPE’s newest permanent work in the Arts Centre, has also contributed. Nina Oberg Humphries, a Pasifika artist who created a collaborative artwork ‘ARE PASIFIKA for SCAPE last year, has created a 20th anniversary brooch. Sarah Greig has reimagined a Special Edition of Memory 2014 for the occasion, and Phil Price completes the five artists in this special 20th range. SCAPE produced Phil’s Nucleus 2006, which stands on the corner of Manchester and High Streets. Studio 125 Gallery, to Apr 28, scapepublicart.org.nz

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Style Files

fashion focus

CONTEMPORARY LOUNGE

Located on the first floor of Ballantynes, Contemporary Lounge focuses on high fashion for those among us who demand the latest, hottest looks, with concept stores from top New Zealand designers as well as international brands. 1st Floor Ballantynes, 663 Colombo Street 03 378 1907 ballantynes.co.nz

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Shop the Look from The Crossing fashion shoot. 1 — Once Was Jagger Cape Sleeve Top (RRP $249) from Dfusion 2 — Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses (RRP $460) from The Sunglass Hut 3 — Coat (RRP $159) from H&M 4 — Olivia Bag (RRP $99.90) from Seed Heritage 5 — Giselle Boot (RRP $279.90) from Witchery 6 — Patent Skirt (RRP $29.99) from H&M

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PLUME In 1978 Margi and Chris opened PLUME in Dunedin, a multibrand boutique and home for NOM*d, offering a uniquely curated blend of local and international fashion labels. A second PLUME store was opened in Christchurch in 1992. Both locations are essential stores for the discerning shopper. 1/181 High Street 03 355 4543 nomdstore.com

Stealth Mode

MEET THE LOCALS

Cityscape sits down with Stealth Hospitality kingpin and leading city hospo creator Tony Astle on conceptualising gamechanging venues, how he stays ahead of the pack, and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the cards for new venue Chiwahwah Mexican Cantina Bar.

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I was putting the roast on after school when I was 12-13 for my parents to come home to from work.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY? I had a fine interest in cooking from about 10 years old. I was putting the roast on after school when I was 12-13 for my parents to come home to from work. As a teenager I was interested in clothing design, hairdressing and cooking. I left school to wash dishes and peel onions till 3am at New Zealand’s best restaurant at the time, Arthurs at the Camelot Court on Papanui Road. If I knew then what I know now, I would have pursued the sports I loved as a profession! WHAT’S KEPT YOU IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY? The opportunity to create new challenges for myself. I love giving something new to the people in Christchurch and challenging them. Some of my best creations to date have unfortunately not been as well received as I had hoped. I’m a hard critic of my own businesses and I can proudly say Christchurch has lost some very good venues by not supporting them. I’m very fulfilled and proud when I see my customers having fun in any one of Stealth’s establishments. YOU’RE KNOWN FOR CREATING THE CITY’S HOTTEST HAUNTS – WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM? This is the fun part of what I do: online research mostly, magazines, books and travelling. What I create is rehashing existing concepts and delivering them through my eyes. Many hours of research! Bringing something entirely new to this world is limited to a select few. YOU’VE WORKED ALL AROUND THE WORLD; WHAT IS IT ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH THAT’S KEPT YOU HERE? My three beautiful children and wife. I was tempted to take Chinwag Eathai to the US as I thought it would go very well in LA or NYC, and I was approached to launch a Mexican restaurant in Mumbai. IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOME ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Don’t buy into the push for a PC world. WHAT ARE THE KEY CRITERIA THAT ALL STEALTH VENUES NEED TO TICK OFF? Create a fun environment followed by consistency. We also rely on our key team members, most of whom have been with me for years. I really couldn’t do it without them. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT SETTING UP A NEW BAR OR RESTAURANT? Why? HOW DO YOU THINK CHRISTCHURCH HOSPO COMPARES ON THE WORLD STAGE? For its size, it has some quality. This size however also hinders our ability to

bring more establishments and progress to our city. Sadly right now the fun police are holding our hospitality industry back from really exploding onto the world stage. There appears to be some real super stars emerging. HOW DO YOU SEE THE SCENE HERE DEVELOPING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS? Tough to call with everything that’s going on post-quake. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW VENUE AT THE TERRACE, CHIWAHWAH? It’s all about fun. After selling Mexicano’s last year I have been focused on making Chiwahwah the best Mexican in the country. Fresh food, delicious drinks, and funnnn! ARE YOU POSSIBLY ADDICTED TO OPENING BARS/RESTAURANTS? Yes, the design and set up. I would be more than happy to do this as an occupation. Hand it over to the owner on opening night and leave the operations to someone else! WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING VENUE YOU EVER WALKED INTO? I’ve been very fortunate to see many beautiful and wild hospitality venues. The one that still stands out is Hakkasan, the original in London. This is the restaurant that inspired me to create Indochine on a smidgen of Hakkasan’s budget. All of Alan Yau’s (the founder) restaurants are mind-blowing.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT. In hospitality there are many. Winning my heats and being a finalist in Young British Chef of the Year and the Roux Diners Scholarship was a proud moment. King of Snake winning Restaurant of the Year. But the proudest would have to be seeing customers come to my venues and having fun! WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING/TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGEWATCHING? No time for reading at the moment; with Chiwahwah under construction, there’s a lot of research going on. However, I do have three books beside my bed: The Strength Switch, Tools of Titans and, no surprises, a U2 biography. I have just finished Season 5 of Ray Donovan. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE HAUNT IN CHRISTCHURCH. Foo San – sadly it’s closed at the moment, although I’m driving past regularly to see if there is any progress with their repairs. Rangoon Ruby is very good too. YOU’RE COOKING DINNER FOR THE FAM – WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO DISH? Chicken salad or spag bol when I have time. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE GUILTY PLEASURE? Ice cream in the evening topped with a Ferrero Rocher. My wife Bianca is great at whipping me up a mid-evening sweet treat.

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CROSSING OVER

Cityscape enters the exciting (but exhausting!) world of fashion to go behind the scenes at The Crossingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winter launch shoot. Photographer STEPHEN TILLEY Stylist ANA MACDONALD Makeup KASIA STANICICH Models AGATA DANILOVA and LUKE STOCKMAN

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The Crossing ‘look’. There’s pressure on to deliver, with the investment in top out-of-town-based talent meaning there’s not a moment to waste. The day itself gets underway at an eye-watering 4am, with the remainder of the team up and on the early flight from Auckland, arriving at The Crossing at 8:45am, where it’s straight into makeup and a quick breakfast of coffee/banana bread from Lil Ruby. The team bases itself in The Crossing’s new parent room, setting up camp for the day as Stephen and national marketing manager Simone Bishop and marketing manager Penny Claridge visit potential street art locations and explore the nooks and crannies of The Crossing thoroughly, looking for angles and lighting that will make for electric imagery. The shoot proper kicks off with rooftop images in the morning sun, with more being picked up in The Crossing itself as the morning wears on. New buildyour-own poke bowl outfit at The Crossing Piki Poke provides a quick and nutritious lunch. The afternoon continues peripatetically as the shoot team works its way around various street art sites, showcasing these uniquely Christchurch backdrops behind the stunning fashion pieces. It’s back to The Crossing in the late afternoon for another session in afternoon sun. Finally, the shoot team makes a mad dash to Welles Street and Manchester Street’s elephant mural for ‘magic hour’ to capture a few more precious killer images in the fading evening light. A tired talent team then hikes out to the airport, where delayed flights mean they’re not back in Auckland until midnight. It’s a massive day, but the stunning results are well worth it. thecrossing.co.nz

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Images on this page: Kasia Stanicich & Penny Claridge

t’s a 28-degree day, the heat is on in the city and the models are wearing (literally) the hottest looks for winter. Welcome to the world of fashion, where this kind of temperature mismatch – like Annie Leibovitz’ iconic 2010 Vogue cover shot of Karlie Kloss rocking the upcoming season’s must-have swimsuit in the icy winter wonderland of Central Park – is de rigueur. Celebrating the fashion powerhouse that is The Crossing, the winter launch shoot is another celebration of the regeneration of Christchurch, while also cementing the trendy shopping destination as an integral player on the city fashion scene and a key part of the heart of the city. Combining the talents of some of the country’s finest, the shoot enlists renowned Auckland fashion photographer Stephen Tilley (with two London Fashion Weeks under his belt) and stylist extraordinaire and former Fashion Quarterly, Cleo and She fashion editor Ana MacDonald. Local makeup artist Kasia Stanicich is behind the scenes and leading models Agata Danilova and Luke Stockman from Clyne Model Management are the talent in front of the camera. With its urban-cool laneways and stunning backdrop, The Crossing makes for the perfect stage for the fierce range of fashions on display, while the city’s street art lends a gritty edge and is a brilliant juxtaposition to the sleek architecture. Preparation for the shoot started the week before the big day, with a location scout to lock in the top locales, along with the best time of day to shoot at each. Ana arrived the morning before the shoot to finalise the selections from contributing boutiques Andrea Biani, Barkers, Country Road, Dfusion, H&M, IVYBLU, The Sunglass Hut, Rodd & Gunn, Ruby, Seed Heritage, Trenery, Witchery, and Workshop; a huge range aimed at producing a very special and eclectic international

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PAY IT FORWARD

THE WILD LIFE

Cityscape catches up with animal lover and volunteer Holly Hastie, who spends her volunteering time tracking and recording South African animals with Wildlife ACT and as a walkabout guide at Orana Wildlife Park, on the joys of giving back.

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/ THE WILD LIFE

Wildlife ACT only intervene when humans have created risk or harm to animals – the default is just to monitor, observe, collect data, and let nature play out HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH WILDLIFE ACT? Being drawn to Africa, I was researching to find an organisation that was legitimately about conservation, who were actually making a difference and had great ethics. Wildlife ACT stood out from the start, and that was reinforced with their professionalism when I got in contact with them. WHERE HAS YOUR VOLUNTEERING TAKEN YOU? To the diverse topography on four different reserves in the KwaZulu-Natal region in South Africa. TELL US ABOUT YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE. Wildlife ACT only intervene when humans have created risk or harm to animals – the default is just to monitor, observe, collect data, and let nature play out. There is a lot of humanwildlife conflict with the reserves being surrounded by impoverished communities, and unfortunately animals are very at risk of getting caught in snares set by illegal poachers. While monitoring we came across an African wild dog with a snare around its neck, in distress, struggling to breathe. They are the most critically endangered carnivore in Southern Africa, and are a key priority species at each reserve Wildlife ACT monitor. A series of events kicked into place, and we were able to assist in heading out

with a vet and park management to locate the pack and dart the dog to treat it (much easier said than done!) The dog was saved and happily reintegrated as part of the pack. Being critically endangered, every animal saved makes a big difference towards the survival of the species; it was pretty special to be a part of. WHAT KIND OF WORK ARE YOU DOING OUT IN THE FIELD? Our time in the field is dedicated to locating priority animals, to check their condition, observe and collect data on their location, interactions, feeding etc. As volunteers scan using telemetry equipment, we direct the Wildlife ACT monitor where to go to follow the signal. This makes for very busy work when the reserves are massive, and we’re trying to locate wild dogs, then lion, then cheetah... and the signal can be picked up from a distance, and animals can be on the move! Some days we would find them really quickly, other days we wouldn’t be able to locate them at all if they were in dense bush

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or in areas of weak signal. We would also set up and change cameras around the reserve, then when back at camp, review and catalogue the photos (which provide some pretty funny viewing at times!), then enter the data from the field which is used to understand the species and predator and prey dynamics, which help park management ensure there are balanced levels. Depending on what the priorities are when they’re there, volunteers get to be a part of fitting tracking devices on wild dogs, elephants, lion, cheetah and rhino, or translocating animals (to bring in new genetics). Every day is different!

/ THE WILD LIFE

Without the volunteers, Wildlife ACT would not be able to provide the monitoring to the reserves that do not have the means to do it themselves

HOW ARE VOLUNTEERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE? Paying volunteers are literally funding the critical work Wildlife ACT do. Without the volunteers, Wildlife ACT would not be able to provide the monitoring to the reserves that do not have the means to do it themselves. It helps fund important conservation efforts – Wildlife ACT partner with WWF on the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, and leopard surveys with Panthera each year. Volunteers also bring a lot of enthusiasm to loooong days out in the field! YOU ALSO VOLUNTEER AT ORANA WILDLIFE PARK – WHAT DO YOU DO THERE? I volunteer with an awesome bunch of humans as a walkabout guide. We start the day heading down to the giraffes and cutting up browse for the visitors to feed, then we follow the public feeds around making sure everyone is safe, and deliver brief conservation and safety talks at the giraffe and lion feeds. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL AT THE PARK. The keas are a definite favourite of mine. I love their unapologetic antics, they’re so clever and

naughty! One literally took the hat off of my head a few weeks ago and went and dunked it in the pond right in front of me – over and over. You just have to laugh!

WHAT’S THE HARDEST THING ABOUT VOLUNTEERING? Not being able to do it more! Managing the work/volunteer/ life balance!

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING WITH ANIMALS? Being privy to seeing some of Mother Nature’s most beautiful work playing out in front of you.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT SAVING ANIMALS? By day I’m an insurance nerd. I currently work as a Senior Portfolio Analyst for IAG. And when I’m not working I dabble (very amateurishly) in photography, and love getting out and about with friends to try all the new cafés and spots on offer in Christchurch these days! I’m very fortunate to call Sumner home, and love nothing more than a beach walk just before dusk when there aren’t too many others around!

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF VOLUNTEERING? I get to give back while pursuing a passion that isn’t my day job, and I feel like I’m contributing and making a difference. I’ve also made some great lifelong friends volunteering. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED? Volunteer in an area you’re passionate about. Do your research: make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, and know what is realistic for you to commit.

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To find out more about volunteering with Wildlife ACT, visit their website: wildlifeact.com

Cityscape catches up with Green Dinner Table’s chef Tom Riley and health enthusiast and former ambulance officer Cole Stacey – the duo behind the city’s booming plant-based meal plan delivery service with the MO of empowering people to make positive changes to their health and environment – to find out the secret to their runaway success and what they’ve got planned for the future.

WHY DID YOU TAKE THE PLANT-BASED/ VEGAN ROUTE? CS: Really because of all of the eating patterns (diets) out there, a plant-based/vegan diet was the only one that seemed to truly tick all of the boxes for us. It is strongly supported by research to be an extremely healthful way of eating, it is great for the environment, and a feasible way for us to continue to feed the growing human population. YOU’RE BASED OUT OF THE BRITISH HOTEL IN LYTTELTON; WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE SPACE? CS: When we first started planning the business Tom’s aunt suggested that we could work out of the British, a building she’d recently bought but was sitting unused. We loved that the building, and how it was, let us put our own stamp on the space we’d be working in. There’s a lot of creative things going on in Lyttelton, so it seemed like the ideal place to be working out of, plus the view out our window is pretty awesome too!

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND PLANTBASED FOOD? CS: Probably the biggest one we hear is that you can’t get enough protein on a plant-based diet. We find that if you’re eating a wide variety of foods, it’s really not an issue at all for most people. You just need to look at how many professional athletes are turning to a vegan diet to see that it’s not an issue. ANY PLANS TO INTRODUCE INSECTS INTO YOUR RECIPES? CS: While there is a lot of evidence that supports the idea that eating insect protein is vastly more environmentally friendly and healthy than eating animal protein, Green Dinner Table

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doesn’t have any plans to incorporate any into our dishes. We’re convinced by the large (and growing) amounts of research that shows that we can thrive on an entirely plant-based diet. WHAT’S NEXT FOR GREEN DINNER TABLE? CS: We are constantly getting requests to deliver further and further afield, so expanding our delivery zone – eventually to other cities – is something we’re currently looking into. We also have people rave about our sauces and spice mixes which are all made in-house, so we are also looking at the possibility of getting some of these on store shelves.

/ TURNING GREEN

HOW SKILLED DO YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE KITCHEN TO PULL OFF ONE OF YOUR RECIPES? TR: All the recipes are pretty straightforward. We take all the hassle out of cooking by providing everything you need (in the right quantity!) The idea is you can walk into the kitchen, have no idea what you’re cooking and half an hour later have a delicious, restaurantquality meal. WHAT BOXES DOES EACH RECIPE HAVE TO TICK? TR: It’s gotta be tasty! Flavour is always at the forefront when I’m creating. When all you’re eating are vegetables, making them nutritious is pretty easy. We try to balance the week’s worth of recipes so you’re eating the rainbow each week. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MORE INTERESTING/EXOTIC INGREDIENTS CUSTOMERS COULD FIND THEMSELVES COOKING WITH? TR: This week we’ve got tomatillos; they are in the nightshade family and taste like a very savoury gooseberry. They grow really well in Canterbury, so we’ve been trying to squeeze them into a few dishes. We also have the not-soglamorous but awesome spaghetti squash. It’s really versatile; this week we have it roasted and stuffed to create our Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowl, which comes with our house-made cashew sour cream and hot sauce.

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR RECIPES? TR: The seasons are definitely the biggest inspiration. I’ll have an idea that I’ve been thinking about all year – maybe I picked it up from a cookbook or eating at a restaurant – and I’m just waiting for that key product to be available locally. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING SEASONAL, LOCALLY-SOURCED PRODUCE? TR: Supporting other local small businesses just makes sense! It’s cool when you get a bunch of coriander and you're looking into the eyes of the woman that picked it that morning, haha. We have been using Nana’s tempeh for about a year now; it’s an awesome product made by a lovely couple. We met them at the Opawa Farmers’ Market and now they have a shop in Waltham. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT PLANNED FOR THE FOOD SHOW? TR: We will be slinging some food and chatting about eating plants. Haven’t locked in the food yet, but our Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit at Nostalgia was a huge hit … Check out Tom’s recipe on page 42. greendinnertable.co.nz

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST POPULAR RECIPE SO FAR? TR: Our Extreme Falafel Bowl has to be up there. The falafel we make in-house is super green, packed with heaps of herbs, coriander, dill, parsley. Pair this with our garlicky hummus and some coconut yoghurt tzatziki and it’s a beauty.

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Cityscape catches up with bad ass bass-baritone and hip-hop bluesman Rory ‘Rag‘n’Bone Man’ Graham – whose instant international banger ‘Human’ launched him into the stratosphere – about censorship, his favourite tattoo, crap day jobs and his plans for Christchurch ahead of his gig this month.

Bone Idol CONGRATS ON YOUR BRIT AWARD FOR BEST SINGLE FOR ‘HUMAN’ – WHAT WERE YOU SAYING WHEN THEY CUT YOUR MIC? I said: “Bitches ain’t shit but hoes and tricks.”

2017 WAS A MASSIVE YEAR FOR YOU. WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT? Glastonbury was good – I spent the night on a wooden boat taking hallucinogens and avoiding selfies. It was actually great. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST BAND. All the kids from the estate mimed to Michael Jackson songs on our front garden. We didn’t have a name, but we got ice cream.

WHAT’S THE WORST THING YOU’VE BEEN BLAMED FOR? Why, what have you heard? I never dun nufink!

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE MONIKER RAG‘N’BONE MAN? I didn’t wanna use my real name. Rory Graham sounds like a Scottish folk singer.

A GENIE GRANTS YOU THREE WISHES – WHAT ARE THEY? Good teeth forever. Morgan Freeman’s speaking voice. Bernie Mac’s junk.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE TATTOO. Baby Button Eyes from The Simpsons. On my arm with Regina Spektor lyrics: “I loved you first”. It’s a reference to the producer 184 who I was in a group with.

WHAT WAS YOUR WORST ‘DAY JOB’? I worked at Martell’s Removals in East Grinstead. I got paid f*ck-all and the town was full of Scientologists; very strange people.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO PEOPLE SAYING WE’VE REACHED PEAK BEARD? It’s a bit weird, it’s just hair that grows on your face. You’d never say you’ve reached peak toenails.

‘HUMAN’ IS SUCH A KILLER TRACK – WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT? It’s about the singer Brian Harvey from East 17, he once ran himself over. I remember it like it was yesterday.

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IF YOU COULD DUET WITH ANYONE, LIVING OR DEAD, WHO WOULD IT BE? Black Sabbath in the 70s – maybe not even duet, but just to be at the after show parties! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING WHEN YOU’RE IN CHRISTCHURCH? Hopefully playing a kick ass show and drinking with the locals.

Image: Dean Chalkley

/ BONE IDOL

Rag‘n’Bone Man, Horncastle Arena, Apr 3, ragnbonemanmusic.com

Heads Up

Cityscape caught up with Adrien Taylor (far left), one half of Offcut – the trailblazing local company transforming fabric scraps into some of the country’s most coveted caps – on saving the planet one cap at a time and their Trump Forest initiative. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND OFFCUT? I came up with the idea for Offcut a couple of years ago as I was visiting my dad’s business, which is a curtain fabric wholesaler. As I walked past a room of sample and offcut fabrics, I asked him what he did with them. He told me the fabrics were generally thrown out to landfill. I thought that was crazy, so took some and got them made into hats… the rest is history! HOW HAVE YOUR BACKGROUNDS HELPED WITH THE BUSINESS? My background is in journalism and I think that’s helped tell the story about how much of a problem fabric waste is; millions and millions of tonnes of fabric go to landfill every year. In the garment industry, around 10 – 20% of all fabric is thrown out as offcuts. It’s a colossal issue. Dan Price, who works on Offcut with me, is a climate scientist by trade, and we’re both passionate about climate change and the environment. That drive and genuine care for the planet has helped us grow Offcut despite all the usual difficulties of running a start-up. WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR MATERIAL FROM? We work with all sorts of materials and suppliers… curtain manufacturers, garment manufacturers, and

Image: Malia Rose

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WHY CAPS? We also make other hats, including bucket hats, but the reason why we make hats is that offcuts come in all sorts of small and oddly-shaped sizes, so we needed to make something which requires relatively small pieces of fabric. Hats fit the bill and we’ve always loved a great hat! HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE DESIGN? We started off with the classic five panel shape and gave it a few twists to fit our style. Now, we also make six panels (a.k.a. Dad caps) and bucket hats. The styles are timeless classics… we’re not out to reinvent hats; we’re out to reinvent the way we think of ‘waste’ and show people that there is actually no such thing as waste. THEY’RE HANDMADE IN NEW ZEALAND – HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS? It’s been important to us as we’ve established the brand, but we’re not set on keeping it this way forever. Our main goal is to have the biggest possible impact in reducing fabric waste around the world and do it with the lowest possible carbon footprint. The biggest garment manufacturing hub in the world is Asia, and that’s where the vast majority of waste is. It makes no sense for us to ship offcuts from Asia to New Zealand to make hats that we then ship back to the rest of the world, so we’re looking at manufacturing in Asia as a possibility to be as close to the inefficient supply chain as possible. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DRIVING THEIR POPULARITY? People are beginning to understand that we cannot continue living the way we have been for decades if we want to have a healthy planet – that is one that is hospitable to us and future generations. Fast fashion is getting the bad name it deserves and people are switching to brands which make high-quality products in a way which cares for the planet, and the

people who make the products. All our hats are guaranteed for life because we build them to last and truly believe in them. You can’t buy that kind of quality from H&M. HOW IMPORTANT IS SUSTAINABLE FASHION? It’s hugely important. In fact, ‘sustainable’ anything is hugely important. If we don’t make serious changes to the way society consumes, we will make living on earth very unpleasant for future generations. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MATERIAL IS DUMPED IN LANDFILL? When fabric breaks down, it releases carbon dioxide which is warming our planet. Often, in poorly-built landfills, it can also leach glues and dyes into the earth. Fabric is also incredibly resourceintensive to produce, so any fabric thrown out is a complete waste of resources. ANY PLANS FOR TAKING THINGS BEYOND HEADGEAR? Yes! We can’t tell you too much now, but do watch this space. TELL US ABOUT TRUMP FOREST. Dan and I, as well as Jeff (a friend of ours who’s not involved with Offcut), have spent the past decade working in the science and public awareness of climate change. So, when (Donald) Trump was elected, we were angry and frustrated that the world’s most powerful man was wilfully ignorant of the scientific consensus that the planet is warming due to humans. We knew we had to do something and quickly came up with the idea of growing a crowdsourced forest. WHO WOULD YOU LOVE TO SEE ROCKING AN OFFCUT CAP? We’re lucky to have people such as Jacinda Ardern, Maria Tutaia and Izzy Dagg as part of our Offcut-wearing crew, but we’re not big on celebrity endorsements. For us, the most important thing is that everyday champions wear Offcut: people who love great style, amazing quality, and looking after the planet. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT SAVING THE PLANET ONE CAP AT A TIME? Dan and I run Trump Forest, make documentaries such as Thirty Million (thirtymillionfilm.org), and get out and about in this beautiful country of ours. offcut.co

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People are beginning to understand that we cannot

clothing labels such as Swanndri. We can work with almost any type of fabric, so the only criteria we have is that the fabric is an offcut, or otherwise considered ‘waste’, and that it looks awesome!

continue living the way we have been for decades if we want to have a healthy planet

/ HEADS UP

Dog day afternoons

... the Port Hills, where awe-inspiring views meet some butt-blasting uphill treks guaranteed to give you and your canine companion an epic workout ...

There’s no denying it: Christchurch loves its dogs, and there’s many places you can go with Fido in tow. With numerous dedicated dog parks around the city, there’s no excuse to not have a socialised and wellexercised (read: too tired to get into mischief) hound.

he mac daddy of dog parks, The Groynes comes complete with multiple fenced-off sections (two containing spring-fed streams perfect for splashing around in with canine besties), trees and long grasses, open spaces and bush walks, while agility courses make for plenty of stimulation. The park being super popular means there’s always plenty of pup pals for ol’ waggy-tail to hang with, too. You can find more agility courses at Rawhiti Domain in New Brighton, Burwood’s Horse Shoe Lake, and Radley Park in Woolston. For killer views of the city, Victoria Park has a great fenced-off park with long grasses and inclines perfect for tuckering out energetic fur kids, while huge open spaces make Halswell Quarry another popular choice, and Styx Mill Reserve Dog Park boasts a river and pond that’s perfect for cooling off with other like-minded water dogs. Dog parks of a different variety include the 1,000-hectares of forest that makes up Burwood’s

working pine plantation Bottle Lake Forest Park, where you can walk through forest trails with your four-legged friend, exploring the regenerating bush and old remnant forest of Kennedy’s Bush Reserve (strictly on leash), and off-leash areas in Hagley Park (just steer clear of the Botanic Gardens, which is off limits). Head to the Port Hills, where awe-inspiring views meet some butt-blasting uphill treks guaranteed to give you and your canine companion an epic workout (and a good night’s sleep!) Take note of the signage, however, as some areas are off limits to dogs as private farm land, and others require your pawed pal to be on the leash, such as Taylors Mistake/Godley Head and Rapaki Track. If Rover likes the water, you can take your pick from any number of beaches, where sun, sand and surf combine for fun times from frisbee, stick-throwing and swimming to playing hide-and-seek in the dunes. Beaches to hit include Sumner, South Brighton (complete with dune walkways) and Waimairi (which

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/ DOG DAY AFTERNOONS

Diamond Dogs On a roll

Treat your dog to next-level eats with Cashmere Cuisine’s house made dog rolls, packed with the butchery’s off-cuts and trim, for a meaty and nutritious nosh that’s sure to satisfy the fussiest of hounds.

easily connects, through sand dune walkways, to Bottle Lake Forest Park). Coffee, brunch or a beer with the dawg is also on the cards at dog-friendly joints including The Tannery and The Brewery’s courtyard. At Emperor’s New Clothes there’s a good chance your furry pride and joy will end up on their Facebook feed during your visit, while the team at Bunsen Café have a dedicated Instagram page profiling their canine customers. For pup pampering, the crew at Beach Café in Waimairi are super pro-dog, and if you can nab the tables out front of Hello Sunday they’ll bring your dog some water – likewise at O.G.B and Qubed Coffee Lounge in Halswell, where you’ll find free dog treats at the counter. The team at Freeman’s have been known to let the odd dog out back on the Deck Bar, while Sister Kong’s courtyard is a top spot to sack out in the sun after the obligatory Sunday trot. Need to spend some time away from your beloved pooch, but can’t find a better place than your own home for them to frolic around in? Never fear – we’ve got you covered with the best doggy day care and groomers to house (temporarily) and pamper your pupper. The folks at KURI have three locations dotted around the city, and provide top-notch care boasting a specially formulated itinerary which includes a line-up of activities, designated nap times, and a spot of training on the side as an added bonus.

Sharna’s Dog Care, Day Care and Grooming offers up excellent indoor and outdoor areas, as well as special Little Dog Only Days for the smaller pals in your life. Not content with providing excellent facilities, they also specialise in pampering and making sure your dog is looking prim and proper. Need something a little more low-key? Get Pawshake on your radar. Dubbed “Pupsitting”, Pawshake is the dog version of Airbnb. Simply search up your desired location and Pawshaker will do the rest for you, locating available Pupsitters. If you’re feeling sceptical, rest assured – the Pupsitters have undergone rigorous checks and you can check out the A to Zs of them on their profiles. If you’re running low on dog supplies and old Spot has been rolling in something fragrant, then kill two birds with one stone and head on into Animates, where your dog will come out looking spick and span thanks to their Dog Wash and Grooming services. Or if you can’t get the pesky nose prints off the windows or the paw prints off the upholstery inside your car, then Splash N Dash should be your port of call – with both a car and a dog wash, these guys have conveniently got both you and your best pal covered.

Canine couture from style queen Karen Walker’s new pet line of Bow Charm and Bow Tie Dog Collars and Leashes will have your best friend leading the fashion pack.

/ ENTERTAIN ME

Watching

Our picks of the best flicks, music, books, games, and TV to get into this month.

RAMPAGE

Image: Universal Pictures

Time for another big screen video game adaptation, with classic 80s arcade monster mash Rampage (Apr 12) dragged into the 21st Century with help from Dwayne Johnson. He plays primatologist Davis Okoye, a bloke whose special bond with George, a silverback gorilla, gets a definite shake-up when a genetic experiment mutates the ape to city-levelling size. Those who played the game, though, will know that a giant ape is just one of his three huge problems… Grab the popcorn and sit back as alpha male The Rock takes on some alpha predators in a free-for-all tear ‘em up spectacular.

HOT PICK

I FEEL PRETTY

TRUTH OR DARE The new golden age of horror flicks continues with Truth Or Dare (May 3). Producer Jason Blum of Blumhouse fame has already racked up a monster hit with Get Out, and now he and director Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) assemble a photogenic gaggle of teens (of course) helmed by Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars) and trap them in a supernaturally contagious game of the titular party game that has increasingly deadly results, with a mysterious entity possessing participants and punishing them gruesomely (also of course) for breaking the rules. Expect a mash up of scary-as-all-get-out It Follows with the Final Destination franchise as the hapless teens have no choice but to nightmarishly keep playing. Good luck, kids!

Unashamedly un-PC US comedian Amy Schumer (Trainwreck) is back in hilarious form following 2017’s disappointing Snatched as a woman who uncovers her true beauty in I Feel Pretty (Apr 19). Falling off her (stationary!) bike during a spin class, insecure regular gal Renee (Schumer) wakes from a head injury with delusions of gorgeousness of the super model variety, seeing the world’s most beautiful and capable woman in the world staring back from the mirror. Imbued with a new found and unshakable confidence, Renee sets out to conquer the world, snapping up a new boyfriend (Rory Scovel) and job. But what will happen when she realises her new mega-gorgeous appearance is not actual reality? All aboard for what Schumer herself describes as “A funny and sweet movie that I think will make us all feel better.” WIN! We have 5 double passes to I Feel Pretty to giveaway. To score one, email info@somocreative.co.nz with “Pretty” in the subject line and tell us what makes you feel pretty. Entries close April 13.

DVD: NO ORDINARY SHEILA Trailblazing Stewart Island-born Sheila Natusch, who died just days after this doco based on her life premiered, scaled mountains, cycled from Picton to Bluff, wrote and illustrated dozens of groundbreaking natural history books, befriended Janet Frame and paved the way for female Otago Uni students by living an uncoventional life, which is celebrated in this provocative and inspiring film. WIN! We have 3 copies of No Ordinary Sheila to giveaway. To enter, email us at info@somocreative.co.nz with “Sheila” in the subject line and tell us who inspires you. Entries close April 30.

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/ ENTERTAIN ME

PLAYLIST

The killer tracks on high-rotation in the Cityscape office.

L.A.B. Starry Eyes L.A.B.

Listening SEX & FOOD, UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA

American/Kiwi crossovers Unknown Mortal Orchestra have been racking up some air points; their new album Sex & Food (Apr 6), has been recorded in Seoul, Hanoi, Reykjavik, Mexico City, and Auckland, as well as guitarist/ songwriter Ruban Nielson’s home base studio in Portland. The new LP sees Neilson and band mate bassist Jake Portrait getting thoughtful, tackling themes like conspicuous consumption through a shapeshifting musical lens that includes drum-machine funk, thrashing rock, and psychedelic disco. First single ‘American Guilt’ is a fuzzy rager with a striking vid that takes aim at US excess, with Neilson out to capture the zombified sound of the rock genre he kept reading was ‘dead’.

GOAT GIRL, GOAT GIRL

Reading

Straight from the ‘ones to watch’ file comes Goat Girl, a politicised, all-female South London “scuzz-pop” four-piece who nabbed a record

deal in 2016 before they’d even released a note. Mixing punk with aspects of country and goth, they’ve turned heads with their four singles to date and freewheeling attitude, which is evident in their wry video for ‘The Man’, which genderflips 60s Beatlemania. The industry is eagerly awaiting the first LP (Apr 6) from a band that’s been the talk of London’s indie scene.

NO MERCY IN THIS LAND, BEN HARPER AND CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE Legendary bluesman Charlie Musselwhite has teamed up with Ben Harper again for No Mercy In This Land, in a follow up to their acclaimed 2013 collab Get Up!, which won a Grammy for Best Blues Album. The duo share vocal duties on the album (out now), which pairs Harper’s steely guitar with Musselwhite’s epic harmonica, which his partner says “should be beamed into outer space to search for other life forms”. The title track is a sparse, lonesome blues tune that adds to the genre’s rich sonic history of American struggle and survival.

THE CAGE, LLOYD JONES The Kiwi master who brought us Mister Pip and The Book of Fame is in fine form with this unsettling new novel that begins with two mysterious strangers arriving at a hotel in a small country town. Hospitality shifts to suspicion and fear in this allegorical, fable-like tale about humanity and dignity and the ease with which we can justify brutality.

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FOO FIGHTERS Arrows Concrete & Gold

FOSTER THE PEOPLE Sit Next To Me Sacred Hearts Club

WE’RE GOING HOME Vance Joy Nation of Two

ALL THE STARS Kendrick Lamar/SZA Black Panther Soundtrack

THE IMMORTALISTS, CHLOE BENJAMIN This sweeping saga covers five decades in the lives of the Gold siblings, two brothers and two sisters who as children have the exact dates of their deaths predicted by a psychic in New York in 1969. The novel follows the Golds as they accept, ignore, cheat or defy the prophecy in an ambitious story of what we do with the time we have.

/ ENTERTAIN ME

Playing EXTINCTION GOD OF WAR Perpetually angry Greek-god-fighter Kratos is getting a bit of a makeover in upcoming series reboot God of War, dropping on PS4 on April 20. Kratos has spent the first seven games of his hit series hacking through most of Greek mythology’s bestiary and deities in an enraged state, but the new entry sees a switch to Norse legends, a third-person gameplay perspective, and a more mellowed-out Kratos who’s coming to grips with his role as a father. Kratos and son Atreus will wander Nordic wilds and mythological realms, confronted by legendary Scandinavian beasties and watched by a wary pantheon of Norse gods who probably saw what he did to Zeus at the end of God Of War III (ouch!). Is the Spartan set to join fellow icon Lara Croft in reboot acclaim? godofwar.playstation.com

Image: Netflix

Picking on someone your own size is easy – why not pick on someone much, much bigger than you? This is what you’ll be up to in Extinction (hitting Apr 10), the new David-vs-Goliath premise that is set to see players taking the role of Avil, a merely-human warrior forced to take on building-sized ogres known as Ravenii before they can properly ruin everyone’s day by completely levelling otherwise defenceless villages. Avil will have to deal with waves of monstrous minions at his own scale before he can even think about trying to tackle the towering Ravenii, who have toes bigger than the warrior’s entire body. Expect a lot of panicked navigation around fully destructible environments as Avil scrambles to rescue as many hapless villagers as possible from the grumpy titans. It’s a weight-division mismatch that seems set to be a more fast and furious version of all-time classic Shadow of the Colossus. extinction.com

BINGEWATCHING

What we’re hoovering up on the small screen.

02 Image: Julia Terjung, Netflix

01 — ALTERED CARBON Richard Morgan’s acclaimed dystopian cyberpunk novel gets a lavish treatment from Netflix in a visually splendid sci-fi treat. In a future in which technology allows us to download ourselves into new bodies, Joel Kinnaman (and others) plays Takeshi Kovacs, a former revolutionary brought out of storage in the year 2384 by wealthy industrialist Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy) to solve a murder – Bancroft’s own. Hardboiled future-noir and heady sci-fi concepts galore. 02 — DARK The first German-language original Netflix series recalls its fellow supernatural streaming star Stranger Things. Spanning different time periods, the series kicks off with the mysterious disappearances of several local children in the German town of Winden. This entry point draws viewers deep into a tangled web, expanding on the history of the show’s core families; it's an aptly-named series if ever there was one.

Image: Netflix

03 — CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND Don’t let the title fool you – Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna’s romantic musical dramedy (so many genres!) cocreation – starring Bloom herself as a New York lawyer who ditches her big city life to pursue happiness – celebrates female relationships big time and skewers stigmas around mental health and feminism.

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Food & Drink WELL PLATED Piled high with a gourmand’s dream selection of cured meats, crazy-good housemade giardiniera, house-marinated Moroccan olives and marinated artichoke hearts all paired with creamy, nutty Meyer Maasdam Cheese and toasted ciabatta, Vesuvio’s Antipasti Platter is the stuff of legend. vesuvio.co.nz

Get Fresh

Epic sushi chain Hikari Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine has opened the first of four new eateries planned for the CBD in Durham Street’s Awly Building. A sleek and modern fit-out awaits those who go to sample their stellar line-up of delectable, soul-satisfying Japanese cuisine, all of which is prepped, whipped up and served fresh daily. Newcomers on the culinary scene in Christchurch, Hikari have already made waves elsewhere in the country with their fine reputation, seamless and friendly service, and of course authentic Japanese cuisine, with efforts like their killer Salmon Sashimi Don with a feisty wasabi hit becoming a sushi fanatic fave and establishing itself firmly on any list of must-tries. Mix it up and dabble in their variety of (seriously!) aesthetically-pleasing pieces of sushi in their funky abode, or bag those bad boys up and enjoy a little bit of Japan elsewhere. FB/hikarinz

PRE-TRENDING

San Fran’s Mr. Holmes Bakehouse’s Frankenpastry creation the Californian Croissant, dubbed the “Crossushi”, is a croissant/sushi hybrid of smoked salmon, seaweed, ginger and wasabi, all wrapped in a classic, savoury French croissant and topped with salt, sesame seeds and crumbled seaweed. Is it madness or genius? Hmm... maybe a little of both?

GLASS ACT

Nelson-brewed Sprig & Fern beers hit the (glass) bottle for the first time this month, with the award-winning brews available in 330ml six pack and 500ml singles. The bodacious new bottles of Tasman Reserve, Red I.P.A, West Coast I.P.A, and limited release fave Belgian Pale Ale are available at Merivale Sprig & Fern Tavern.

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DEFIANCE COLD BREW

NEW FROM UNDERGROUND COFFEE

Available soon from the Roastery and online shop. Cold brewed for flavour, this bottle contains juicy, fruity and bittersweet Brazilian coffee, hot air roasted to perfection. Best served over ice. undergroundcoffee.co.nz

Sweet as!

Sweet tooth cravings getting you down? We understand; lack of regular dessert deliciousness leaves us moody and irritable as well. Fear not though; in Christchurch you’re never too far away from a dessert to die for. You’ll find everything from cookies that outgrow mere biscuit status to become monsters to avant-garde spectaculars; here are a few of our favourites for a good times pick-me-up.

TROPICAL COCONUT FREEZE Where: Strawberry Fare Why: Strawberry Fare haven’t established their decades-old rep as one of the city’s best dessert spots by sitting on their laurels – they continue to innovate in deliciousness, which is good news for us! Relatively recently emerged from a long and no doubt tasty development process is their newly perfected Tropical Coconut Freeze, which sees a toasted coconut and chocolate-covered coconut and lime sorbet served up with fresh tropical (natch) fruits. The whole thing looks like this too – how cool is that?! Time to go troppo.

02 DESSERT OF THE MOMENT Where: TMR Restaurant & Bar Why: For those feeling adventurous, TMR’s Dessert of the Moment is guaranteed to both entice and delight. Rotating on the regular, it’s always something a little different as well as delicious; you could get the likes of the triple chocolate and raspberry brownie served with Nutella sauce and vanilla soft serve one day, and the skillet cookie with chocolate Valrhona balls and salted caramel ice cream (pictured) the next. That’s our kind of surprise!

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03 SALTED CARAMEL DELICE Where: Fiddlesticks Why: Salted caramel is practically the world’s favourite flavour of late, and there are fewer finer exponents of this trendy combo than the Salted Caramel Delice at Fiddlesticks. The delicate mousselike treat is accompanied by passionfruit, pistachio crisp for a bit of crunch, and popcorn for a decadent, visually stunning plate. Miriam-Webster defines a delice as “something giving pleasure”, if you were wondering; good name, then.

/ FOOD & DRINK

04 OOPS, I DROPPED THE PAVLOVA Where: Dux Dine Why: Dux Dine’s take on the Kiwi classic is a winner with a bit of a twist; inspired by world famous Italian chef Massimo Bottura’s deconstructed lemon tart, it takes an Eton Mess-like approach to our national dish, plating up as a glorious shambles with a tasty berry hit that’s as fun to eat as it looks.

WARM CHOCOLATE AND WALNUT BROWNIE Where: Diner 66 Why: This scandalously decadent, rich and mouth-watering brownie served extra-a-la-mode is just one small part of the wide range of superlative sticky treats available at Diner 66, which include classic sundaes, banana splits, and ‘pizookies’ (pizza-cookies!) May as well order one of their 38 different flavours of gourmet milkshakes while you’re there, too.

BANANA SPLIT FOR TWO Where: Boo Radley’s Why: The banana split is a lonely person’s dessert no longer with Boo Radley’s high-piled winner, which heaps up banana with caramelised rum pineapple, salted caramel (we told you it was everywhere), candied pecans, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, fudge sauce, and a cookie cream whip. None of your boats here; this thing is so colossal they have to put it on a plate so you and your friend can eat it! Yes, your friend… they will definitely be there. Of course you wouldn’t eat one by yourself. Ahem.

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#INSTA-EATS ‘Grammable dining experiences for your foodie bucket list.

Recipe

Mediterranean kumara, roast chickpeas, parsley, tomato & tahini. Green Dinner Table chef and co-owner Tom Riley shares a stunner of a recipe from the GDT cook book. This recipe is super simple, super tasty and super healthy. My almost 2-year-old loves it. The kumara and chickpeas can take a lot of cooking, and the crisper the better – once you add the salsa and tahini they’ll soften up. Serve with a simple green salad or slaw and dinner is sorted.

MAKING IT HAPPEN Preheat the oven to 200°C. Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Cut the kumara into large wedges and cook in boiling salted water for 6-8 minutes. While the kumara is cooking, whisk together all the ingredients for the kumara and chickpea marinade. Strain the kumara well, pat dry and place in a bowl with strained chickpeas. Gently toss the kumara and chickpeas with the marinade. Lay on a baking tray and roast for 20-25 minutes, or until golden. While the kumara and chickpeas are baking, prepare the tomato salsa and the garlic tahini sauce. Starting with the tahini sauce: mince the garlic then combine with all other ingredients and half the water in a small bowl. Whisk well and while whisking add any more water until you have a thick sauce; taste and add more salt if needed. For the salsa: dice the tomatoes into 1cm cubes and place in a bowl. Remove the parsley and mint leaves from the stalk, then chop the parsley and mint leaves along with the coriander (stalk and all). Finely dice red onion, and mix everything together with olive oil, salt and pepper. Plating up: Once the kumara and chickpeas are golden, heading on to a dark brown, remove from the oven. Assemble on a serving platter, scatter over salsa and then drizzle over garlic tahini sauce.

SHOPPING LIST 800g red kumara 2 tins chickpeas

STIR FRIED CHILLI PRAWNS #kingofsnake

MARINADE

1 Tb maple syrup 1 Tb soy sauce 2 Tb light olive oil 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp cumin seeds ½ tsp dried oregano ½ tsp dried thyme ¼ tsp turmeric A good pinch of salt

SALSA

3 tomatoes 1 small red onion 30g curly parsley 20g coriander 20g mint Pinch of salt A few good cracks of black pepper Splash of olive oil

CHICKEN PARFAIT #tmrrestaurantandbar

GARLIC TAHINI SAUCE

80g tahini ½ – ¾ cup of water 3 cloves garlic Juice of 1 lemon Salt and pepper

TACOS #mexico

BREW NEWS The pursuit of hoppiness with Andy Teo and the Dux Central tribe. First off we just want to make it clear that we are not paid or affiliated with the following brewery – we at Central just love their beers! Just speaking my piece to keep the peace. This episode showcases a beer for all the Pale Ale lovers out there: the Boneface Hoptron APA. Like a kaleidoscope on your tongue – it’s hypnotising, with its caramel complexion delivering notes of pine, stone fruit, and unidentifiable citrus. Its refreshing hoppiness always leaves you wanting more. So if you want to try something out of this world, go grab yourself a Hoptron. Because it’s definitely sicker than your average. P.S Happy first birthday Boneface! 42

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THAI BEEF SALAD #undertheredverandah

/ FOOD & DRINK

REVIEW

Tomi Japanese Restaurant 76 Edgeware Road, 03 377 8028, tomi.co.nz

“Extinguish the flame after 8 minutes and enjoy,” says our attentive host Chiaki Kojima, motioning to the snuffer as she lights the fuel under the cast iron covered hot plate, sets a timer at the table, and beams us a smile. We watch the numbers counting down as blue flames lick the underside of the hot plate, and resist the temptation to lift the lid by the handy leather cord early. It adds a fun element to the evening’s proceedings, and is a great way to build anticipation for the Toban Lamb Rack. We’re working our way through exceptional starters of Karaage Chicken (über crisp golden-coated chunks of succulent chicken served in a bamboo boat with a creamy Japanese mayo on the side) and beautifully marbled slices of Prime Beef Fillet Tataki, elaborately fanned to reveal a seared exterior and rare, finely grained beef. A slight acid profile to the light dressing allows the meaty hero to shine, and is an excellent introduction to the intimate knowledge of flavour balance put into practice in the kitchen. We’re sipping on the light malty bitterness of our frosty glasses of Suntory The Premium Malt’s when the

alarm gently advises us the lamb’s ready. Lightly caramelised on the outside, the prime Kiwi lamb cutlets’ aroma in combination with the ginger and garlic of the BBQ sauce is the perfect introduction to the buttery blushing flesh of the meat and its symphony of delicate flavours. A stalwart on the Japanese dining scene, Tomi Japanese Restaurant, with its Edgeware Village location, is destination dining at its finest. Greeted with a warm “Irrashaimase” when we enter the slick blonde wood interior, we’re immediately put at ease by the relaxed ambience and Sade-friendly soundtrack. Having been invited to trust the chef (a no-brainer with the prowess of Joe Chan in the kitchen), there’s little more to do than sit back and enjoy the moment. With one of the finest sake selections in the city on offer, we peruse the list and immediately pounce on the Lexus of sakes – the Kamoshibito Kuheiji Eau du Desir 2013 Junmai Daiginjo. Served lightly chilled in the speciallydesigned Riedel O Sake Daiginjo stemless vessel, it’s seduction in a glass; as the sake reaches room temperature, it reveals a

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bouquet of melon and pear with a silken, fresh finish. The delicate acids work in glorious harmony with the exquisite Chef’s Sashimi Platter of the Day, which stars ocean-fresh slices of perfectly-presented grouper, prawn, scallops, tuna, terakihi, and salmon finished with a salty soy wasabi hit. Similarly impressive is the Jumbo Flame-Grilled Toro (belly) Salmon, with the smoky notes of the flamed exterior giving way to the delightfully moist, moreish and raw fish beneath, and the epicurean dream that is the Tender Pork Kakuni, painstakingly slow-cooked pork belly with ribbons of perfectly rendered melt-in-themouth fat layered between the sweet pork meat, all bathed in caramelised sauce. Both become fast favourites. Dessert sees us tapping the magic of Tomi’s famous homemade ice cream: Mixed Berry, Green Tea, Pic’s Peanut Butter (a salty sweet sensation), Black Sesame, and Vanilla, which coat the mouth with their decadent creaminess. We have fun trying each scoop as the guy at the next table lifts the lid on his lamb for a quick peek. Too soon, sir!

SHARED DINING

DRINK IT IN

Spirited Away

The concept of ‘non-alcoholic spirits’ might sound a bit like ‘cacao-free chocolate’, but nevertheless, artisanal UK distillers Seedlip are making a splash with just such a product, with their herbal Garden 108 and aromatic Spice 94 (RRP $68 each from Ballantynes) drops rapidly making their way into some of the world’s best bars, restaurants, and hotels. Both are distilled in accordance with methods that go back to the 17th Century; Garden 108 is a floral blend of hand-picked peas and homegrown hay that tastes like the English countryside in a drink, while Spice 94’s complex blend of aromatic Jamaican all spice berry and cardamom with oak and cascarilla also offers a bright citrus peel finish. Perfect for the sober driver! seedlipdrinks.com

BLOODY GOOD!

Even regular dining takes place in fine style at the swished-up Bloody Mary’s, but to take things seriously next level, you’ll want to book in the chef’s table. The highest (no, literally) table in the house provides an exclusive experience for a group of up to 10, with a great view through the pass for a glimpse of the theatrics happening in the kitchen. Get your crew organised for Wednesdays or Saturdays to partake in the main event that is the prime rib, a carnivore’s cornucopia of 7-day dry aged, 24-hour cooked, truffle and green peppercorn-rubbed prime rib, served medium from the cart with garlic gratin, asparagus, and a fine selection of premium sauces. bloodymarys.co.nz

food & drink hotspots

NO.4 BAR & RESTAURANT

THE LAST WORD

No.4 Bar & Restaurant has a lively atmosphere every day of the week. When you’re comfortable, check out your dining options. Brimming with fresh, seasonal and locally sourced delights, the menu has earned No.4 an exceedingly good reputation. Drop in for exceptionally good beer, food and stories. 4 Mansfield Avenue 03 355 3720 no4bar.co.nz

The Last Word is an intimate and beautiful whisky, cocktail lounge and bar situated between the Isaac Theatre Royal and The Piano on historic New Regent Street. Enjoy a fine selection of craft beers, New Zealand wines and over 200 hand-picked whiskies served by a team who love what they do. 31 New Regent Street 022 094 7445 lastword.co.nz

CORIANDER’S ETHNIC INDIAN RESTAURANT Discover the authentic, exotic and enticing flavours of India during a visit to Coriander’s with a welcome as warming as a Goa sunset. The culinary art of selecting premium piquant condiments and aromatic herbs ensures an exceptional dining experience awaits. 222 St Asaph Street 03 365 5557 corianders.co.nz

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SLIDEYS Slideys offer a refreshing take on the beloved burger. Their flavoursome, bite-sized sliders are freshly made using local produce and cherished family recipes. Enjoy the signature 12-hour pulled pork slider ‘Son of a Piglet’, or ‘The Vege’ and add tasty sides like hand-cut chips, polenta chips, or slaw. The Colombo, 363 Colombo Street 03 377 1368 slideys.co.nz

/ FOOD & DRINK

REVIEW

Diner 66

88 Victoria Street, 03 741 4622, diner66.co.nz It’s like stepping into a time machine, or the set of Happy Days, Pulp Fiction, Riverdale or Back To The Future (the 50s part). Road signs, Americana and automobilia – all imported from the US – line the walls at lavish new hot spot Diner 66, while a long counter bar beckons with rotating seats that seem to make sitting down and swinging around to order a root beer float virtually compulsory. We’re greeted by the hubbub of a buzzing lunchtime crowd and a soundtrack of 50s and 60s hits (inviting us to go do the hop). Packed as it has been since opening, the retro-glam diner is filled with nostalgia-loving folk who are not only enjoying their meals, but, like us, basking in the spectacle. The authentically-styled fit-out, clearly a long labour of love, spans classic black and white lino tiles below to blue and red neon above, with nifty retro

formica patterns on the glinting chromeedge tables, slick red-and-white booth seating, and funky baby blue and chrome Diner 66 speakers. We’re shown over to our booth by the sassy ‘Norma Jean’ (we also spot ‘Peggy Sue’ and no doubt there’s a ‘Peggy Lee’ here too), and slide in for a look at the drinks menu. This takes a bit longer than usual – among American classic and craft beers, Californian reds and classic American sodas like Dr Pepper and Cherry Coke, Diner 66 is offering 38 varieties of milkshake, with no fewer than 8 different varieties of chocolate alone! We go for a Chocolate Orange and a Chocolate Turtle from the specialty section, the latter teaming chocolate, caramel and pecan chunks – fortunately a high-calibre straw is standard – in a creamy, nutty combo. The menu, developed over months after much research in classic diners along Route 66 itself, offers plenty for any time of day, with waffles and omelettes joining salads, burgers, sandwiches, and more. We can’t resist the fried pickles as a warm-up. Enshrouding lengthy gherkin slices in a crispy batter, they’re served

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with housemade ranch dressing, and are the perfect vessel for trying out some of the authentic US condiments present at each table. Tangy and moreish, they disappear quickly indeed. They’re just a prelude to the main event though; we’ve opted for the Reuben sandwich, the American deli fave of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing served with curly fries and house slaw, and the aptly named New Mexico burger, which taps a smashed beef pattie, jalapenos, corn chips, melted cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream. The beefy hit of the succulent pattie is given an added kick by the jalapeno, with the fresh, piquant salsa cutting through the smooth, tomatostudded guac and combining with the added crunch of the corn chips to deliver Tex-Mex in a bun. The Reuben meanwhile nails the classic, with hearty helpings of rich corned beef slathered in melted cheese, with the tangy Russian dressing and unmistakable acidic sauerkraut sharpness peeking through to take the overall effect to lunch at the next level. We’re full, but can’t resist splitting a Salted Caramel Pizookie – that’s a pizza-cookie, obviously. Mightily muffin-topping it over the edge of its own mini skillet, the chewy, moist cookie is a decadent delight, vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce oozing sinfully into every spoonful. There’s no denying it: we’re thoroughly replete. But with this much variety on the menu, we’ll soon be back to take another icon-filled gastronomic journey Stateside.

THE LAST WORD

What the Fork? Cityscape catches up with Aussie stand-up royalty and semi-professional Paul Kelly look-a-like Carl Barron, who’s bringing his hilarious, laugh till it hurts, Drinking With a Fork show to the city at the start of May.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN COMEDY? I was telling people at a dinner party about my dead cat Ralph. Everyone found it funny rather than sad. It’s hard to feel offended when you know you’re on to something. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST GIG. I don’t think people were laughing at my jokes, I think they were laughing at me. The lesson I learnt is that no matter how together you think you are, other people find you ridiculous in ways you will never know. Don’t worry about it.

together inside my head. Sometimes I think the outside world is just a brightly lit representation of my head (which looks more and more like a scone!)

YOU USED TO BE A ROOFER – DO YOU MISS ANYTHING ABOUT THAT JOB? I miss being able to stop in the middle of a work day, sit down and have lunch. I don’t think I could get away with sitting on two bricks these days, eating a ham sandwich on stage – unless I called my show performance art.

TELL US ABOUT TAKING OUT THE 17TH ANNUAL PAUL KELLY LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST. The baffling thing to me is when I tell people I’m not him, they don’t believe me! Sometimes, after a few drinks, even I look in the mirror and ask myself: “Are you him? Is he Carl?” I really don’t know anymore… I need help.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVE GREEN ROOM EXPERIENCE. There was this guy who didn’t like cigarette smoke – this was the nineties when you could still smoke inside. So as not to inhale the fumes, Trevor would constantly exhale to keep the smoke away from his nose. You could always hear Trevor coming; it sounded like a little train in the distance.

IF YOU COULD TRADE LIVES FOR A DAY WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE? I’d love to be John McEnroe so I could freely get the shits with everybody and not care. I’ve definitely got the first part sussed.

WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH? I don’t really laugh properly. I have a noiseless laugh. I still find things funny, I just don’t let on – it’s personal. No one in my family makes a noise when they laugh. Don’t get me wrong, we’re happy and all that – you just can’t tell.

WHAT DOES DRINKING WITH A FORK MEAN? It means: don’t hold yourself back. The danger is real. Get what you can through the gaps. WHERE’S THE BEST PLACE TO SOURCE NEW MATERIAL? My fat little head. Where else does everything come from? Even if I see someone do something weird on the outside of my head it still has to be put

HOW DO KIWI AUDIENCES COMPARE WITH AUSTRALIAN ONES? I’ve asked myself that many times before. I’m afraid of the answer. I think Kiwis are like grass. And Aussies are more like dry dirt. They both come from the ground though. DO YOU HAVE ANY BACKSTAGE RITUALS YOU HAVE TO PERFORM BEFORE GOING ON STAGE? It’s a bit corny, but I set up a VHS player and do a Jane Fonda workout. Not the whole workout, just the Fonda for Busy People 20-minute version. I forgot to take the headband off once. That was a weird night – it was summer and I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t sweating. WHAT IS THE CHRISTCHURCH AUDIENCE IN FOR? Gut pains. Bits of wee coming out. Smelly person next to you. Weird laugher behind you. Your partner giving you bad looks when you laugh at the ‘wrong’ stuff. Breaking up afterwards. Most of all laughter. ONE DAY I’LL… Fly away and poo from a great height.

Carl Barron: Drinking With a Fork, Isaac Theatre Royal, May 4, carlbarron.com 46

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