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.

The Stew - Issue Two [Grapeshot Magazine]

LISTEN

Girl Talk

Let me tell you, this nerdy-looking guy from Pennsylvania sure knows how to rock the beats and is very generous when it comes to reaching the masses. Yes, Girl Talk is a guy – a guy who happens to know how to keep your eardrums very happy. His latest album, All Day, can be downloaded for FREE at the website below and each of the 12 tracks, which are actually meant to be listened to as one long track, will not only wow you but will also have you thinking, ‘I swear I know this song!’ Why? Because Girl Talk is the master of mash-ups. All Day samples well over 300 songs from a plethora of artists to bring us something new and oh-so-fresh. I’m talking, Kanye. Nirvana. Kylie. Outkast. The Doors. M.I.A. Miley. Neil Diamond. U2. Britney. Gaga. Beyonce. Daft Punk. And bundles more. So, with such a mixed bag of tunes available at absolutely no cost to you, Girl Talk is sure to please.

www.illegal-art.net/allday/

WATCH

Californication, Channel 11

This show is smokin’ hot, slightly disturbing and momentarily cringe-worthy. Really, what more could you ask for? The protagonist, Hank Moody (David Duchovny), is an egotistical, self-loathing, womanising and damaged novelist whose daily rituals seem to involve little more than smoking, drinking, engaging in mostly forgettable sexual encounters and battling writer’s block. Throw in a long time ex-girlfriend, a teenage daughter, a couple of drug-dependent yet dependable friends and there you have it – the perfect way to break up the monotony of trashy current affairs programs and exhausting reality TV. But this is a show where absolutely nothing is considered too much so I wouldn’t recommend it for the prudish or faint-hearted.

DRINK

Pimms No. 1

It’s Pimms o’clock! This scrumptious liqueur tantalises the tastebuds with citrus and spice and is delectable during rain, hail or shine. Just mix 200mL of Pimms No. 1 with 600mL of lemonade and then add some mint, cucumber, orange and strawberries for a slice of cocktail heaven. Admittedly, it’s a lot more work than cracking open a beer or pouring a glass of wine but the work really does pay off.

www.anyoneforpimms.com

EAT

Saké Restaurant & Bar

Exquisite cocktails – check. Divine Japanese cuisine – check. Impeccable service – check. Located on super trendy Argyle St in The Rocks, Saké Restaurant & Bar offers a vast range of contemporary Japanese goodies in an atmosphere that is warm, exciting and enjoyed by the likes of Dita von Teese. No, I’m not kidding. Much to my other half’s delight, the minx herself was sitting right behind me. I’m almost positive he spent the whole night checking her out but pretending he was looking at me.

With cocktails starting from $15 a pop, it’s probably not the best place to go for a huge night. But with dishes ranging from $8 - $33, it’s most definitely a hot spot to get a good night well underway. My personal recommendations: Salt and Pepper Tofu ($11) – melts in your mouth. Beef Tataki ($18) – party on your tongue. Chocolate Fondant with White-Sesame Ice-Cream ($15) – absolute bliss.

www.sakerestaurant.com.au

RELISH

Sydney’s Garage Sale Trail

Do you have bits and bobs lying around the house that deserve to go to a better home? Or do you just love digging through other people’s pre-loved treasures and finding the ultimate bargain? Either way, the Garage Sale Trail is just the thing for you. On April 10^th there will be thousands of garage sales all over the country opening their garage doors in order to reuse and recycle their unwanted gems rather than turning them into landfill. To jump on the bandwagon, register your garage sale at the website below. Or, if it’s those vintage one-offs you’re after, the website will point you in all the right directions. And regardless of whether you’re a seller or a shopper, make sure you wear your comfy shoes.

www.garagesaletrail.com.au

CATCH

Every Drop Of The Dwindling Sunshine

It’s that time of year when you can feel winter creeping up on you and summer slowly losing it’s grip. No more thongs and swimmers. No more Zooper Doopers. Just long sleeves, hairy legs and thick socks. Ugh. But before you let the icy chill grab hold, make the most of the bright days and balmy nights that we still have left. Jump in the ocean. Fly a kite. Go fishing. There are a lot of assessments to get through before summer is back again. What a bummer.

Editorial - Issue Two: Take it Off! [Grapeshot Magazine]

Take it off. Take it all off. Actually no, do what you like. Who am I to tell you how to enjoy your freshly printed copy of Grapeshot Magazine? It really doesn’t bother me, as long as you do, in fact, enjoy it. Perhaps this should be the case with all things. ‘Sir, please put your clothes back on – you’re offending the little old lady over there,’ says the police officer. ‘Well officer, I’d really prefer not to because I’m enjoying the fresh air,’ replies the offending individual. Ok, perhaps not.

In actual fact, we’re coming to that dreaded time of year when we aren’t taking it off but putting it on. The bronzed skin and thongs will slowly leave us, and the scarves, tea and muffin tops will start to settle in. So, before we all delve into the doom and gloom of the cooler months, let us use this issue of Grapeshot to delight in stripping down and taking it off.

As a child you learn the vital lesson of Band-Aids – take it off as quick as a flash in order to reduce potential whimpering time. How about the removal of a Band-Aid as an analogy for life itself? If it hurts, close your eyes and get rid of it as quickly as possible.

If you were Taylor Lautner, how would you feel about taking it off? I’m pretty sure I’d absolutely love it. You will be amazed to discover in the following pages the story of a boy with Taylor Lautner-esque abs who dreads taking his shirt off for fear of gawking. If only we all had that problem, hey?

And what better issue to get something off your chest? Figuratively, of course. Picture this. You’re at a festival. It’s smack bang in the middle of the day and well above 30 degrees. You’re trying desperately to look like you’re having a good time. But then, you feel it. The sweaty, hairy chest of the chubby guy beside you. Your whole left side is wet. You think you’re going to be sick. And so, we have our rant.

But that’s only the very start of what this issue has to offer. I urge you to keep turning those pages because there is bound to be something that will tease, tantalise or tempt you to take it off and let it rip. And when that happens, make sure you let us know by writing to grapeshotmq@gmail.com.        

The Stew - Issue One [Grapeshot Magazine]

DRINK

Manly Wine by Gazebo

This little bar is picture-perfect and an immaculate spot to start letting any night slip away. Glasses of wine start at $7, which isn’t too bad given the panoramic views of Manly Beach and spunky bodies that swarm the location. If you’re after a little something to delight the tummy, I don’t think you can go past the Rocket, Parmesan, Pine Nut & Grapefruit Salad ($11) and the Double Chocolate Brownie with Fairy Floss & Ice-Cream ($13) to follow. Delish. But I’d get down to this trendy, relaxed slice of heaven before the sunshine slips away.

www.manlywine.com.au


WATCH
Breaking Bad

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not usually into blood, guts, drugs and guns but, for some reason, this show really seems to keep me on the edge of the couch. It’s been nominated for and won a plethora of awards so I’m obviously not the only one who digs it. The story is as heart wrenching as they come, at first anyway: Walt is a chemistry teacher and a father of two who is diagnosed with cancer and given a short time to live. Sad. But in order to provide for his family after he kicks the bucket, he decides to start making methamphetamine with Jesse, the local drop-kick, and quickly becomes a kingpin of the drug trade. Go figure. All at once, Breaking Bad is unbearable to watch but impossible to take your eyes off. And lucky for you, all three seasons are available on iTunes so you can catch up before Season Four hits our screens in March.

RELISH

In the night sky.

Now, before you start gagging and accusing me of being some kind of cheesy romantic, take a step outside tonight and look up. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Did you know that you can actually see Mars from your balcony or backyard on any given night? And, what’s more, gazing at the night sky is free, environmentally friendly and those twinkle twinkles aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Of course, as with most things, the experience will always be made more enjoyable if accompanied by some kind of alcoholic substance, a good nosh and a buddy.

EAT

Zooper Doopers


Boasting the coolest taste in the universe, these icy-cold treats still tickle the tastebuds as perfectly as they did back when they were cool in primary school. In eight cosmic flavours and at a mere 20c each, Zooper Doopers sure are your friends in the freezer. My favourite flavour is Toffee Apple Taser. What’s yours?

www.zooperdooper.com.au

READ

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson


I know, I know – I’m way behind the times here. But I am hugely reluctant to pick up a book just because everyone else is. And, to prove my point, I hereby solemnly swear that I have not read the Da Vinci Code and have no plans to pick that page-turner up any time soon. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, on the other hand, is well worth picking up if you haven’t already. Admittedly, it is a slow start but once it takes off you’re hooked. It’s slightly disturbing, hugely intriguing and leaves absolutely no loose ends. A perfect means of procrastination, if you ask me.

WANDER

Groovin’ The Moo

Feel like getting festive in the middle of nowhere? Then choose your paddock and jump around at Groovin’ The Moo. This festival has been getting bigger and better with each year that passes and 2011 will definitely not disappoint as another massive line-up of local and international talent hits the sticks to rock your world. I’m talking Architecture in Helsinki, Cut Copy, Bliss n Eso, Art vs. Science, Washington, Birds of Tokyo and The Wombats, just to name a few. The first show hits Victoria on April 30 and will traipse the rest of the country over the following four days. For more detailed information, hit the website below.

www.gtm.net.au

Editorial - Issue One: Trash or Treasure? [Grapeshot Magazine]

So the saying goes that one man's trash is another man's treasure. But if the thought of trash doesn't exactly tickle your fancy, I promise that you will find al the treasures you need in Grapeshot in 2011. It is going to be a cracker of a year - I can feel it in my waters.


Grapeshot not only has a brand new team who are bursting at the seams with enthusiasm, we also have a brand new publication: Grapeshot News. This little gem will come out fortnightly and will keep you all up-to-date on all things Macquarie University. Meanwhile, Grapeshot Magazine will hit the stands monthly and be filled to the brim with creative excellence.


But what does this mean to you? It means more pages for all the new kids on the block, and the kids that have been around the block a few times, to pour their creativity into and an opportunity to make your voice heard like never before.


I told you it was going to be a good year.


Speaking of new kids, a big welcome to everyone starting at Macquarie University this year and congratulations on making such a fine choice in tertiary education. There really is nothing to it. But, if you don’t want to take my word for it, read on and find out for yourself.


Hey! Hey! Hey! Where do you think you’re going, Mr and Mrs 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th year? Just because it’s O-Week and there’s fresh meat around town, doesn’t mean Grapeshot has forgotten about your needs. Ye of little faith. Don’t you worry, there is plenty in the following pages for you to feast your eyes on too.


The new library – finally! Orgasms. Real fur or faux fur? The Black Swan. Parental Facebook control. The potential for Space-Beer. And so much more.


So please, feel free to relish in the pages of Grapeshot and, if you feel so inclined, send your thoughts, words and pictures to grapeshotmq@gmail.com. It’s what we’re here for – to show off how clever you all are.


And lastly, my advice for 2011: If you find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck. And, if luck doesn’t happen to come your way, at least you’re a penny richer.