Cityscape is the essential Christchurch directory of where to eat and drink, what to do and where to shop. From the best events to add to your calendar to tips to ensure you squeeze out the very essence of the city, Cityscape has the city of Christchurch covered inside and out.

Stars Align

Paying respect to the rising of the Pleiades star cluster, which heralds the start of a new year in the Māori calendar, the Arts Centre will take star gazing to new levels as it celebrates Matariki with a wealth of events. From June 25 to July 7, you can expect traditional kai served alongside stalls selling crafts and jewellery with a Kiwiana twist, local singer songwriters taking to the mic (including Bic Runga) and traditional performances. They are also set to host a variety of activities such as workshops as well as a market. Gather the whanau and celebrate new beginnings, reflect on the year that has been and what is to come and have an overall great time to mark this momentous occasion. artscentre.org.nz

  1584 Hits

Theatre with a Twist

For theatre of the different kind, you don’t want to miss the hilarious and talented performances of the Pop-up Globe Theatre Company, who will bring their theatrical shenanigans to the Isaac Theatre Royal on July 12. The multi-award-winning Auckland-based company will take on Shakespearean classic Hamlet and wild comedy Measure for Measure, with audiences being immersed and incorporated into the performance. Speaking on what audiences can expect, founder and artistic director Dr Miles Gregory says “for the first time, we’ve created a touring set and shows that bring all the magic the of pop-up globe performances – the blood, the incredible audience connection, the dances and the song, and above all the remarkable art of Shakespeare done well.” For an entertaining night of theatre be sure to check this out! popupglobe.co.nz

  761 Hits

Old rust, new shine

It’s been four decades since Neil Young released his seminal 1979 album Live Rust and to celebrate one of the greatest repertoires known to rock, a sensational lineup of Kiwi musos will band together and play hits from the iconic album. Those tapped to perform include Liam Finn alongside Samuel Flynn Scott and Chris O’Connor of The Phoenix Foundation, award-winning musicians Reb Fountain and Delaney Davidson, as well as the prodigious SJD and The Bads’ Dianne Swann and Brett Adams. Expect smash hits like ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’, ‘Cortez the Killer’ and ‘After the Gold Rush’, plus an opening set of classics spanning Buffalo Springfield to Crazy Horse. Catch this epic night out when it takes over the James Hay Theatre on August 8. premier.ticketek.co.nz

  785 Hits

Starry Starry Night

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

  434 Hits

City of Souls

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

  1040 Hits

Kingdom Come

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

  439 Hits

Let's Talk

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

  645 Hits

Alter Ego

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

Continue reading
  1380 Hits

Q&A: Urzila Carlson

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

Continue reading
  1099 Hits

Recipe: Take it Sloe

Recipe: Take it Sloe

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

  1914 Hits

Modern Dining

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

  1380 Hits

Yes to Nespresso

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

Continue reading
  603 Hits
Tags:

Cook It Up

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

  811 Hits

That's the Tea

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

  640 Hits

Witness the Fitness

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

Continue reading
  818 Hits

Face Value

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

  1061 Hits

5 minutes with...Tomoko Tsuji

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

Continue reading
  1048 Hits

A Sense of Nostalgia

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

  635 Hits