The Stew - Issue Five [Grapeshot Magazine]

GET FIT

Pub2Pub

August 28^th

How do you think you would go tackling a 13km run? No sweat? Or no chance? The Pub2Pub Charity Fun Run & Walk might not be as big and bold as the City2Surf but it is definitely not something to scoff at. You will start with the sand between your toes at Dee Why Beach and then sweat it out all the way to Newport Arms Hotel, with some seriously stunning scenery along the way. Sure, it’s a long way and there are a few hills but it couldn’t get much better than that – start on the beach and end up at the pub. Whether you want to raise money for your favourite charity or just do it for fun, you’ve got plenty of time to get in tip-top shape. Or, if all else fails, you can always walk it. Either way, I’ll see at the finish line. Hell, I might even shout you a beer.

www.pub2pub.com.au

RELISH

Sydney Fashion Festival

August 23^rd – August 27^th

Regardless of whether you’re a lover of fashion, a fan of pretty boys and girls strutting their stuff or appreciate your attire simply for its practicality, every Sydney-sider should see at least one fashion show in their lifetime. Set to the backdrop of Sydney Town Hall and featuring the crème de la crème of Australian designers, Sydney Fashion Festival is definitely an experience. With the lights, the music and the glitz ‘n’ glamour, you can’t help but feel perfectly pretentious and a little bit – dare I say – fabulous!

www.mbffsydney.com.au

HELP

Cupcake Day for the RSPCA

August 15^th

When it comes to cupcakes, I’m certainly not someone who needs an excuse to devour one, two or even three. But if you’re not as partial to that sugary icing and fluffy sponge as I am, then perhaps Cupcake Day will provide the perfect incentive for you. On this day, the streets will be swamped by bakers, shakers and cupcake makers, all armed with batches of homemade delights and ready to exchange them for donations to the RSPCA. This year’s target is $3 million – that’s a lot of cupcakes and is sure to make for a lot of smiling furry friends. You’ve got to love a day where you’re encouraged to have your cupcake and eat it too.

www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au

EAT

Mojo’s Café and Tapas Bar

32 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach

Perched at the southern end of Campbell Pde on Bondi Beach, Mojo’s Café and Tapas Bar overlooks the water and is always buzzing. If you’re game, you can sit on the benches out the front and people watch. If you’re sensible though, grab a seat inside, enjoy the warmth and soak up the Spanish scrumptiousness. The menu is extensive and ticks all the right boxes. Chorizo. Haloumi. Meatballs. Lamb. Olives. Potatoes more ways than anyone could ever need. And the sangria is bang-on. I promise, you really can’t go wrong.

ENJOY

Australia’s Winter Wonderland

I hate the cold and I’m hugely unco-ordinated. Honestly, I have enough trouble walking in a straight line without adding extraordinarily uncomfortable, oversized boots and awkwardly shaped skis to the mix. Yes, it’s cold. No, it’s not easy. But skiing is a whole lot of fun. And, lucky for you, there is plenty of time to get down to the slopes to freeze your tootsies off and have a blast. Of course, if you’re not into skiing, there is always snowboarding, tobogganing or even Tube Town. But be warned, whatever you choose, it is likely you will come home with a bruised bottom.

WATCH

An Idiot Abroad, Channel One

Whether you’ve travelled or not, this show is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, both from The Office (and bundles of other things), send their buddy, Karl Pilkington, off to explore the seven wonders of the world after hearing him call them “all a bit shit”, despite never having seen one of them. Ricky hopes that Karl will hate every minute of it, and he pretty much does. And therein lies the hilarity. Please give it a go. You won’t be disappointed.

Editorial - Issue Five: Divorced from Reality [Grapeshot Magazine]

Imagine this: you’re perfectly placed on a raised platform in the middle of a large room with a glaring spotlight upon you. You’re told to not only look natural, but look at the same spot for two hours, while ten sets of pesky eyes watch you discerningly, slowly recreating your chubby face-shape, your tired eyes and your double chin with the tip of their pencil or the point of their paintbrush. If ever there was a time that I wanted to escape my reality, this was probably it.

But just as I couldn’t just leave the old codgers without a subject for their Monday portrait class, we can’t escape the fact that much to our dismay, we’re back to reality kids. As one semester bites the dust, another one seems to rear its ugly head far too quickly. Lucky for you though, I think I’ve got just the trick to overcome the bloody, sweaty, teary reality of yet another treacherous educative installment – escaping it.

As I was sitting on my pedestal, my mind started drifting. I started to imagine how much harder my situation would have been had I been naked. Or worse, naked and hairy. Then, in my mind, I began painting my own pictures of the wrinkly, weathered people before me, inventing lives to match the weary faces. Very quickly, two hours slipped by and my job was done. So my fingers are crossed in the hope that, with a little bit of escapism, the upcoming semester will pass surprisingly quickly.

And where else would you look for an escape but in the pages of Grapeshot Magazine? I promise, this issue will not disappoint, offering the perfect feast for your eyes, mind and curiosity. Have you ever wondered what the world looks like to someone who suffers from severe schizophrenia? Or what it feels like to take hallucinogens? Or how someone could possibly get so angry at a YouTube video? We’ve got all this, plus puzzles, recipes, pretty pictures and soothing words. All you have to do is keep turning those pages.

Of course, Grapeshot Magazine should be your very first port of call when attempting to survive what’s ahead. But I’d also recommend always having a good book on hand, updating your iTunes library regularly and maybe even getting a Wii.

The Stew - Issue Four [Grapeshot Magazine]

WATCH

The Sydney Film Festival

June 8 – 19

Pull out the popcorn and let your mind be captivated by the Sydney Film Festival. Now in its 58^th year, this annual cinematic experience has earned a reputation for featuring filmmakers who are bold, adventurous, innovative and strive for the unexpected – a far cry from the monotonous box office hits most of us are so used to. This year, the festival will screen over 100 feature-length films from around 45 different countries, so you’re guaranteed to enjoy diversity and a surprise around every corner. And, if you’re a real lover of film or call yourself something of a film buff, there are loads of scheduled talks, forums and panel discussions to choose from, so you can pick the brains of the creative geniuses that work behind the silver screen.

www.sff.org.au

RELISH

Manly Food and Wine Festival

June 4 - 5

Yum, yum and so much more yum. Manly Food and Wine Festival is an absolute must if you like to eat and drink, which I know you all do. Stroll along the beachfront with a gorgeous glass of vino and let your mouth water over all the tasty delights at your fingertips. There are exclusive wines from all over the countryside and cuisine from Asia to Europe and back again. There is also a pretty impressive array of entertainment, including camel rides on the beach. But really, that’s just to disguise the fact you’re only there for the quality booze and tastebud party. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no shame in that. I should warn you though, you drink your wine out of plastic cups and eat your treats from plastic plates. No shame in that either, right?

LISTEN

Adele, 21

This curvaceous, red-headed minx is taking the world by storm and I’m totally on the bandwagon. Each and every song on this album is bittersweet, honest and sometimes even slightly heart-wrenching. The girl’s got soul with a voice to match and provides a refreshing alternative to the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna and that blithering mess Britney. My favourite (and I think everyone else’s) would have to be ‘Someone Like You’. If that song doesn’t make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, maybe you should get them looked at.

www.adele.tv

CONQUEST

NRL State of Origin

I’m not really into football but there’s something about the State of Origin that brings out my competitive side. I’d say it’s got something to do with the fact that I’m a Queenslander – don’t hold it against me – and the Queensland team seems to squash the Blues like cherry tomatoes. Suckers. This year though, New South Wales has definitely got something to prove so I might walk away with my tail between my legs. I doubt it.

Game 1: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – May 25

Game 2: ANZ Stadium, Sydney – June 15

Game 3: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – July 6

www.stateoforigin.com.au

HELP

Red Nose Day

June 24

Red Nose Day is the perfect excuse to look like a clown! By donning that iconic red nose this June, you can help raise funds for SIDS and Kids, an organisation that is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children and supporting bereaved families. This year it’s not just all about looking like Rudolph, you can also download the Red Nose Day iPhone application or tag yourself on Facebook wearing a red nose! Talk about keeping up with the times!

www.rednoseday.com.au

Editorial - Issue Four: Underground [Grapeshot Magazine]

I don’t know about you, but I’m not into believing without seeing. I don’t believe in blind dates. I’m not religious. And I certainly don’t advocate buying any kind of attire without having first tried it on. In fact, I’m not even sure if I believe that Osama bin Laden is dead. The proof is meant to be in the pudding, but I haven’t seen any pudding.

Most of the time too, the things that you can’t see, you don’t want to know about anyway. Smelly bottom emissions. Bad breath. Germs. No surprises then that this issue of Grapeshot Magazine definitely pushed my beliefs and ruffled my feathers. Just like the rest of those things you can’t see, most of what you find ‘Underground’ and under our feet is grubby, gross and better left undisturbed. Dead bodies. Worms. Sewerage. No thank you.

But, as always, the creative juices of our faithful contributors pleasantly surprised me. No, I don’t think that does them justice. I wasn’t just pleasantly surprised, I was rapturous! And so, our pages are bursting with stories of drag queens, cemeteries, illegal substances, vampires, catacombs, leeches and other morsels underground and underground.

Adrian Chen encourages us to face the real facts about the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ – a war that, if he is to be believed, the Australian government is losing miserably. His solution? The legalisation of illicit substances.

And have you ever wondered where the sequin-laden, make-up loving, high heel-adorning drag queens of the 1980s have disappeared to? Alex Pittaway introduces us to Mitzi Macintosh, a retired Sydney drag queen who reminisces about days gone by, costumes since hung up and the disease that may have kept that uniquely Australian underground culture afloat all along.

Shayaan Malik lifts us up and out of the underground and catapults us 30,000 metres aboveground. She gives a nostalgic account of all those things we love about airplane travel. Queues. Lost luggage. Turbulence. Chatty neighbours. But we’re also reminded that, without the bad, a whole lot of good is forfeited.

I wish I could give you a little taste of all the treats that are in store for you as you turn the pages, but some things really do need to be dug up and discovered for yourself.

The Stew - Issue Three [Grapeshot Magazine]

DISCOVER

Fringe Bar Markets

Who doesn’t love a bargain? Better yet, who doesn’t love a bargain when it comes with live music, a good bite to eat and even a couple of beverages? Fringe Bar Markets are held every Saturday at, coincidentally enough, Fringe Bar on Oxford Street in Paddington, and offer a vast array of fashion treats, all of which come with a tasty price tag. Wander through the eclectically adorned passageways and marvel at endless displays of designer one-offs and vintage collectors items. Even if you want for nothing, you will find something. And once you have, all you have to do is decide, where to from here? The bar or more bargains?

www.thefringe.com.au

WATCH

The Lost Thing

In just 15 minutes, this animated short film captivates your mind and whets your imagination. It also proves that sometimes it’s worth paying attention to more than just the best actor award at the Oscars. Based on the beautifully illustrated picture book by Australia’s very own Shaun Tan, The Lost Thing tells an enchanting tale of a boy who finds a quirky looking creature on the beach and sets out to find where it belongs, if anywhere. Even if animated films are not your thing, I promise this one is refreshingly light-hearted and well worth a squiz. And, if my word is not enough, let me assure you that it has won more awards than you can count on three hands, including an Academy Award, and only takes a quarter of an hour. What have you got to lose?

www.thelostthing.com




DISCOVER
Read A Book, Give A Book


If you have access to the Internet and can read, then you could be minutes away from putting a book into the hands of an underprivileged child living in a disadvantaged community somewhere in the world. All you have to do is go to the website below, select a campaign and then read a children's book online. For every book that you read, another book will be donated to your selected campaign. By selecting the campaign 'Hope for Haiti' for example, you can read a book and another book will be a given to a family in Haiti who are still recovering from the earthquake. It really is as simple as that and the campaigns reach almost every corner of the globe. Without having to open your wallet or leave your desk, you can touch the lives of families and children who may be miles away but are very much in need. So please, read generously.


www.wegivebooks.org

HELP

Hope Month

May is Hope Month so why not create hope at your dinner table and help Sydney’s homeless population? All you have to do is invite a bunch of your friends over for something delicious sometime in May, ask them politely to pay for a seat at your fabulous dinner party and then donate their generous contribution to HopeStreet. HopeStreet is a grass-roots community development organisation that works to help Sydneysiders who confront poverty, destitution and homelessness each and every day to become empowered and take control of their own lives. Homelessness is at crisis point in Australia and this is the perfect opportunity for those lucky enough to live in Sydney to do something about it. So eat, be merry and give generously.

www.hopemonth.com

REMEMBER

Mother’s Day, May 8

Sure, they drive us crazy but, if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t even be here. We also wouldn’t be well fed, have a decent collection of socks and undies or, in my case, a killer recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese. This Mother’s Day, let’s show our mums that we love and appreciate them. And boys, please buy Mum a card and wrap her present. I know it seems like a waste, but she loves that kind of stuff.

Editorial - Issue Three: The Rule of Three [Grapeshot Magazine]

The number three has a certain touch of magic that makes it irresistibly enticing. Its shapely, sexy curves belie its potent coincidences. This pesky little number might even be the secret key to life.

Did you know that we can’t survive more than three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food or three months without hope? Not to mention that fact that life itself has three stages: birth, life and death. We start out fresh-faced and rosy cheeked, then, before too long, life catches up and we’re bearing its burden. Then, all too soon, we’re oldies, yelping at fresh-faced, rosy-cheeked kiddiewinks to, “get off my lawn!”

Even the very bane of our existence – time – has three stages: past, present and future. Stories, fairy tales and memories all come with a beginning, middle and end. Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The Three Little Pigs. Even in Harry Potter, Harry, Hermione and Ron make up the ultimate threesome. Things seem to roll off the tongue and lodge in our brains more easily in threes. Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Every Tom, Dick and Harry. Slip, slop, slap. Even Superman fights for ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’. In baseball, it’s three strikes and you’re out. The pinnacle of sporting prowess: the hat trick. And who doesn’t love a cheeky game of Scissors, Paper, Rock?

The Christian God is triune. Roman leaders were a triumvirate. The Wiccan Law of Return holds that whatever energy or action you offer the world, whether good or bad, will return to you threefold. Now, that’s one helluva karma if you ask me! They say that good luck comes in threes. But then, if Grey’s Anatomy is to be believed, they say death does too. Back in 1959, the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens died in a place crash, spookily on February 3^rd. In the early 1970s, we lost Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison in a matter of months, all of whom were aged 27 – otherwise known as 3³. In 2009, it was Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Patrick Swayze. Creepy, huh?

I don’t think so. I think we humans find solace in patterns and expectations, and the number three is a perfectly convenient number, low enough for pure coincidence to be read too far into. But what is life without a little conspiracy? Not much fun at all.

So, in the spirit of all things three, we are ranting in triplicate. You can also be thankful that we’re tackling the pressing questions of contemporary society by asking, is three really a crowd? And, just to keep things interesting, we give you the perfect recipe for a grapeshot cocktail with just three ingredients – all of which are alcoholic.

But, I promise, there is oh so much more in our pages to get your mind running away from you. It’s well worth a read, from the beginning, through the middle and to the very end.

Tangent Magazine - High Heels in Demand [Issue Six]: Global Art Feast

Feature by Rosie King

Find the rest of Issue Six - High Heels in Demand of Tangent Magazine at tangentmag.com.