ASTOR + TYNE AW17 Launch

ASTOR + TYNE AW17 Launch

Last Thursday debuted the inaugural collection from Adelaide based fashion label, Astor + Tyne. A night of champagne, Just Bliss Chocolates, and strawberries accompanied Adelaide A-listers and hand-picked Instagram influencers for the brands 2017 Autumn/Winter runway.

The designers, Melanie and Nicola, created Astor + Tyne with luxe and love in mind. The new collection features cape jackets, cable knits, statement pants and sophisticated tops; all in blushes, blues, and their signature monochrome print.

Melanie and Nicola
Astor + Tyne Designers

The brand name itself is reflective of what's close to their hearts, 'Astor' comes from the legendary Lady Astor, the first female parliamentarian and former textiles trader; and 'Tyne', a nickname lovingly given to Melanie as a child by her grandfather. 

I was lucky enough to be personally invited by the designers to model the gorgeous new collection on the night. Being a part of the 'Behind The Scenes' of a fashion show was a completely new and exhilarating experience. There I met Nikita Chu, the international stylist with a precise eye who helped style and coordinate the outfits ready for the runway. Among the outfits selected for me, I wore a favourite of mine, the Astound Cape Sleeve Jacket in Cobalt Blue ($249.95), and closed the show with a sneak peek print dress for the upcoming SS17 collection.

Behind The Scenes
Runway Rehearsals and Model Management

The Astor + Tyne AW17 launch was received to an amazing response from the attendees, mentioning the innovative style, couture quality, and modern edge influences throughout the range.

The AW17 is now available from their local stockists, in their online store, and coming soon to Victoria and New South Wales. 

Clouds Oceans and Diagonal Lines - Art in Sydney this Week.

Clouds Oceans and Diagonal Lines - Art in Sydney this Week.

I mean really what are the chances of seeing two shows, two consecutive nights; both painting and both dealing with the elements of nature, both within a square boundary and both with visually compelling diagonal lines as integral to the compositions?

Adrian McDonald, AHAB:Reading Moby Dick.

I would have said zero chance at all so it looks like I will need to update my art actuarial table for a start. The first show was Adrian McDonald's show AHAB:Reading Moby Dick, and while I was ready for the lines in Adrian's work I was not really expecting the series of grey scale abstractions that are the ground.. or ocean (or whale skin) that the two crossing lines rest upon. Though complex pattern is a kind of leitmotif in much of McDonald's works and one of the great joys when viewing them, I wasn't really expecting a combination quite like this. The following night I found myself at China Heights gallery for Pushing Past by Brooklyn Whelan, his first Sydney solo since Heavy Weather in late 2015. This show quite shocked me though in a positive way. This time it was the addition of a very bold and straight diagonal line punching right through the familiar Whelan cloudscape.

While I am aware that the similarities between the shows are somewhat superficial, it is curious to come across two artists working from very different art backgrounds finding similar resolution, and my finding them one night after the next. So "do yourself a favour;" go check them out; meditative and beautiful to look at. Water, cloud, lines and very tight palettes.
Pushing Past is on this weekend only at China Heights Gallery 12 - 5.
AHAB:Reading Moby Dick 30 March 25 April 2017 at Crawford Gallery.

AHAB:Reading Moby Dick - (apologies for the poor image quality).

“Between black and white, there is an ocean of grey”  Adrian McDonald AHAB:Reading Moby Dick.
http://www.brooklynwhelan.com/
http://www.crawfordgallery.com.au/

Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Dessert at Miyako (Southgate)

Dessert at Miyako (Southgate)

Saturday 1st April

Dessert at Miyako, Southgate. They do $20 bentos which are on my list, but that's a lunch special. Tonight we're here for dessert after a show or two in the arts precinct. A hard to find location it's up two levels past the new greek place, and turn left. It's on the same level that IBM and Gasp is.

Black Sesame Ice Cream served with Profiteroles $9

& Banana Tempura with Vanilla Ice Cream $10

Tempura banana for him and black sesame for me. Oddly served in a profiterole, I prefer them with cream. It was ordinary. The banana was served with a scoop of ice cream that seemed to be Peters. Missing those work family days with Dixie cups! The cream had a splash of khalu (coffee liquor) and was phenomenon!

Dessert, fine dinning style. 

Riverside on the balcony (non smoking thank god) screens down though as the weather plunged into winter rather than gracefully declined on a slow but steady slope.
Service was very friendly with no pressure to order more than dessert. Though we asked for the dessert menu while seating. Can't wait to return for those $20 bentos!

Liven Eats - Raan Kan Eang

Liven Eats - Raan Kan Eang

Thursday 30th March

On the very same block a few doors down was their newer sister store. I'm after milk tea and was referred to Raan Kan Eang. $3.80 but I was distracted when I got there by the awesome lunch special! Going till 4pm this is the latest lunch deal you'll find!

$12.50 two course lunch sets with a drink, we're sold! 

Four sets to choose from with a tom yum in the bag we went for option d.

It's lovely by the window with happy yellow walls this place is newer than the original and suitable for a casual meal. The earlier reminded us of rose garden bbq and the likes of fast and cheap student eateries.

Chicken Soup - A light peppery broth with minced chicken, mushroom, grated carrot and spring onions. Exactly as described though fortunately not too salty or peppery, but just right.

Pad Thai - No this is definitely Kar kweoy tao. Dry chicken but very generous serve! The box was twice the size we'd expected! Serves 3-4. not too oily. 

Still good after being bought back to life from the freezer (5 mins microwave with a glass of water). 

For $13 this (the chicken soup and huge box of noodles) is of great value. Get takeaway, pay 50c for the box and end up with at least two meals. 

Sunday 30th July 

Pad Thai Satay Chicken with Rice $12

We returned for a quick dinner a few months later and had a pad thai satay chicken on rice. While it was a satay chicken I didn't really see the pad thai influence. Though the sauce was coconuty an nice. A generous serving too and cheap eat. Sure I'd get it again. It was pretty basic though.

Quick and cheap, very filling with no/little frills add this to your student eats list.

If you're after pad thai join us on Tuesdays at Bangpop, $10 special.

With the Art Crowd - After the Show.

With the Art Crowd - After the Show.

Spotted outside and after the art show on William Street last night. Boob Tube, Denim and Converse All Stars. Classic style; hard to survive rubbing shoulders with the who's who of figurative landscape paining without a few spills! Love it - and yes I asked.

Curiously there used to be a an alternative crowd night club right round here called (I think) Music Cafe, mid to late 80's if anyone can recall..

Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Liven Eats - Thai Culinary

Liven Eats - Thai Culinary

Thursday 30th March

Feeling lost with those colours, cheap and cheery.

Thai Cuisine. What do they sell? Refer to title.

A small place. Strictly mains only. Yes to card. 50c for take away.

I'm still not sure about that floor and the seats together... 

Damn no deep fried banana. 

Service was slightly friendly (depends on who you get) and fast.
No. 28 Tom Yum Noodle Soup $7 (small/chicken) Soup dish with thin rice noodles, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galingale, mushroom, corn, tomato + Rice  $2 = Total Cost $10

A light tomatoy tom yum soup, with the added rice (serving suggestion) it turned the entree into a main! It was good though nothing amazing.

One of my neighbours didn't really like it and only had the soup - lunch thief! Through elimination I have a pretty good idea who it is, no.6. 

Quick and cheap, very filling with no/little frills add this to your student eats list.

If you're after pad thai join us on Tuesdays at Bangpop, $10 special.

WE HAVE MOVED! WEWHOWANDER.CO

WE HAVE MOVED! WEWHOWANDER.CO

Come find us at www.wewhowander.co!
A travel journal made for those with an affinity towards wanderlust, style and mindful living. 

INDAH KALUNG Handmade Jewellery Launch

INDAH KALUNG Handmade Jewellery Launch

Indah Kalung, a new Adelaide Handmade Jewellery Brand, hosted an array of beautiful young women this past Sunday for their official launch. The afternoon displayed the finest of their accessory collection, accompanied with champagne and grazing platters. 

Indah Kalung, which means 'Beautiful Necklaces' in Indonesian, have launched their Instagram based accessory line, becoming well-known as the perfect final addition to any outfit, simple or bold. The collections laid-back aesthetics follows textured beachy vibes, quality shells, coins and ties, and modern designs procured from the creative foundries of Ubud and Seminyak. 

Madison and Jasmine Cocks
Founders and Owners of Indah Kalung

The brand, created by Madison and Jasmine Cocks, features accessories like necklaces, armbands and foot decorations affordably ranging from $19.95 to $59.95. The sisters want to bring unique and stylish designs to the jewellery market in Adelaide, providing a boho alternative to the current trends.

The sisters have their hearts dedicated to the up and coming business, literally, with their logo being the soon to be matching tattoo between the two girls. The logo features a Semi-Colon, representing mental health, a Heart Rate, representing physical health, and a Heart, representing love. Not only is the business a creative project the sisters can delve into, but it's also a way they can spread love and support to young women through their new community.

You can support local SA business and secure your own Indah Kalung original by heading to their Instagram page, and contacting the girls through direct message. 

Bring on the Comedy!

Bring on the Comedy!

Tuesday 28th March

Gyoza Douraku is a series of $6.80 tapas - $$$ for dinner! Lunch Specials are awesome though, though this week we're working 12hr shifts, no time for lunch adventures.

Tapas are $6.80 eat in, $7.50 takeaway?! That's a bit much of a difference! No split bill, 2% charge for card. Aimed at locals while it's Japanese, the music is 'raining men' and Madonna, only white people eat here (Liven took me here).

There's a membership thing $10 to join, you get a $30 gift voucher with  $25 min spend (I assume thats after the $30) so you need to spend $55, which will cost you $10 + $25 = $35. $35 for $55 credit in summary.

How's the food? Pretty good, though pricey! The lunch deals are the best!

We've been here a couple times before, though not always blogged about it.

Wednesday

Work was slow so they let us go, for the rest of the week. This is what working once off/annual events is like. It's more like a side gig for struggling artists. 

3.20pm Dinners are a bit crazy so we ordered take away for later, taking advantage of all the lunch deals. In hindsight it was a bad idea, but then again you can't predict when your housemates will eat your food.

I love seeing trailers for comedy shows! Bridezilla Anna Morris was quite entertaining with two great lines. Drawing upon audience participation to create the wedding party in the small chapel of the Tuxedo Cat. To create the perfect day, with the ultimate realization that she is a bridezilla, with friends like hansen and Trump, marrying an anti gay politician, and this isn't what she wants to be. Instead she wants to be herself, free to drink cheap beer and eat a cold coles brand pie.

What she didn't touch upon was how weddings are seen as a competition between girls, to outdo each other. Spending money you don't have to impress people you don't really care about.

My favorite lines?

• Men are like parking spots, all the good ones are taken, the ones that are left are too small or disabled. (Gays go under the later category, as we attended a disability conference the other year where being not straight is seen as a disability).
• All women should have the right to three things: a  house keeper, botox and the perfect wedding. Hence Brideaid, the charity was formed! To help those with no taste whatsoever.

While the show was entertaining and worth the ticket price (we paid less than $10 for two tickets), it didn't really stand out from two scrapbooks worth of shows. I have no idea how this is touring... maybe it's the appeal of the accent?

After the show we went for ice cream! $9 is a bit much for an ice cream sandwich! I feel like it should be more like  $6. She had the strawberry, and I the choc mint which went well with the chocolate cookie.

Friday

We went to see Issac's Comedy Hypnosis. The trick? Paid actors. He was such a charlatan and through matching jewelry you could easily identify that one of the actors was his girl. He'd have to have a large and varied group of actor friends. I wonder how'd it go as a corporate gig. 

Let me count all the ways you annoy me

1. 1. You ate most of my chips when I offered you a couple, claiming that cause I didn't pay for them (true, I won them) it's ok. No it is not. "They're not yours. It's not like you paid for them."
2. 2. You smoked standing right next to me! After I told you to go stand far away with the other smokers, you came back. Then lied and said you weren't smoking. 
3. 3. You spit and could outdo a lama!!

All in my presence. I'm not saying you're beneath me, but you are of another class, to the side. Meeting new people sucks most of the time from experience. Uggh. Making friends is hard!

Through Liven we discovered Ka Chin tonight on Bridge Rd open till 11pm on a Friday! It's not a party bar, but a cozy restaurant (I say cozy because it's nice and  warm inside).

Here for a snack we had spring rolls and deep fried dumplings, so good!

Veg Spring Rolls with sweet and sour sauce on a bed of lettuce. Faired better than average though a bit oily. They were larger than normal and more like cigars though. Oh how I wish spring rolls were as easy to find as chips!

Dessert was the highlight of my night! Who can say they've had deep fried red bean dumplings before?


Saturday - 1st April

Saturday started with lag, but we made it to church, just missing the first song. Music is beautiful and fills your soul like nothing else! Even food. And I love food. Courtly baroque, Italian vs french. I haven't heard enough to determine which I prefer. But we did see a french courtly circus show that was breathtaking.

A quick dinner/snack at Oppa Oppa before a couple shows. We've been here before for dinner during fashion week. This time as it was 6pm and not right before the kitchen closed, the lights were brighter and it was full. We snagged the last table downstairs though there was more room upstairs.

I ordered the  sweet and spicy chicken served with korean noodle snacks and a potato wedge. It was the perfect balance with the freshness of shredded cabbage and radish cutting through the sauce. Of which there was plenty of, add rice and you've got a main minus the side salad.

Down to the malthouse to see two shows. Hilarious and disturbing but throughly entertaining. Gay and scifi activities... the later was very weird. Erotica. XD

The night concluded with dessert at Miyako at Southgate.