Stories

Baby it’s cold outside, and for the carvers and shredders out there that can mean only one thing: ski season! The crisp mornings kicked off in May, leaving fresh powder up the mountains and setting the snowy scene for a wicked winter of mountain sports. The ski fields are stoked at the prospect of international borders opening up, and it’ll be great for the après and mountain party scene to have the global ski bunnies back in town. Mt Hutt is leading the charge – technically open since June 10, but a little delayed by a massive snowstorm. If you missed the chance last season to check out the new high-speed eight-seater chair lift, get in for even more access and snow time in 2022. Mt Hutt is also running a special full moon skiing event on June 11, where you can enjoy two hours of epic moonlight mountain runs. Down...

After a long week of making my greatest attempt at work-life-mum balance, a weekend away from it all is the perfect, luxurious southern hospitality I need. The main lobby’s style is quintessentially ‘ski lodge luxe’. The welcoming team remember us by name from previous visits, and we share a bottle of Champagne with manager Roman Lee-Lo, who has been at The Rees for over 12 years (see below for a short Q&A with Roman). Overlooking Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables peeking out among the clouds, The Rees is ideally placed just outside of central Queenstown. Sound like paradise? That’s because it is. This private getaway has even been the choice destination for many an international celebrity (more on that below). The Rees is also home to the four-star True South Dining Room with award-winning Chef Corey Hume at the helm, preparing meals that are absolutely out of this world. We’ve timed...

Lala Lifestyle recently transformed into an open art gallery space for opening night of Be More Bold, the combined art exhibition featuring Philip Trusttum and his protégé Barbara Scales-Boekelman.

The night welcomed more than a hundred people into the Victoria Street space to preview the art before it opened to the public the following day. Philip kicked things off with a few choice words: “Barbara is an excellent artist. She is going to do great things for the New Zealand art world tonight and in the future.”

A combined total of seven large-scale pieces were on display on opposite walls, making for leisurely viewing in comfortable, styled seating. Pieces include new graphic works from Philip and deeply moving, colourful paintings from Barbara including one entitled Fucking Flowers. Sorry art lovers – that one sold before the opening.

It’s great to see Lala Lifestyle making great use of its new space in Victoria Street – we’re looking forward to the next big thing.

lalalinen-nz.com

Stand aside, New York deli sandos, this sandwich was invented by Sicilian immigrants in New Orleans and it’s packing typical Southern style and Italian flavour. Heard of a muffuletta? The idea is you take a big muffuletta bun, and load it up with cold cuts, antipasti and cheese, Sicilian farmer style. You can rock it fresh or toaseted, and we definitely recommend the latter for a hot, cheesy, satisfying winter lunch. Grain Coffee does a mean toasted muffuletta with ham, salami, double Swiss cheese, olives, pickles, sundried tomatoes and capers. They fly out the door, so get in early! Grain is one of central Christchurch's best coffee and food joints, famous for its cheese scones (people come from all over town to snap them up before they sell out each day) as well as excellent espresso and bangin' bagels. Head to Southwark Street and check it out. graincoffee.co.nz

Hey, you! Yes, you! Winter is no excuse to retreat to your home, not when you live in the wonderland that is Ōtautahi Christchurch. Here are Cityscape's top five things to do this season. 1: Get on a Night zipline tour Wrap up and prepare for an adrenaline hit. Thrill-seekers can now do Christchurch Adventure Park’s zipline tour at night. The two-and-a-half-hour guided tour involves a chairlift to the top with the twinkling lights of Christchurch as a backdrop, then four ziplines back down, including New Zealand’s highest zipline, and a one-kilometre dark zip over and through the forest. 2: Enjoy a winter brew Beer isn't just for the hot days! Try a soul-warming West Coast Red IPA at the Three Boys Brewery in Ferry Road. If you swing by on a Friday afternoon you can join some foodie fun – a different food truck or local eatery sets up shop...

Maison de Crêpe recently hosted its first ever cabaret brunch. Cityscape went along to see what all the fuss was about. This one is for all of you ladies who like to lunch with a side of extra. These two sold-out brunches-with-a-show star the tantalizing trio Jack Swallows, Erika Flash and CoCo Flash, who entertain audiences of two sold-out shows with their songs, dances, tricks and treats while guests mix and mingled before being treated to French fusion fare. The show’s multiple drag costume changes include big boas, sexy sequins and sparkles plus more stunning stage makeup than all of Ballys’ beauty counters combined. We meet and greet with the divas before being seated in the sun-filled atrium for a meal – three courses of Maison’s iconic crepes.Each lunch ticket comes with a very fitting drink jewel, which we appreciate instead of a boring old drinks voucher. We opt to purchase...

This new collection from German jewellery house uncommon matters (um) is inbound to Christchurch jeweller Roccabella this winter. uncommon matters, by creative savant Amélie Riech, embodies simple intricacy, made with fine and novel materials includign precious metals, stone, wood and lacquer. Amélie calls her work 'wearable architectures' - structures that are engineered for elegance. It's an artistic endeavour, combining Amélie's considerable experience in the editorial, fashion and business worlds of Paris and Berlin. You'll find um's confident and minimal jewellery pieces gracing the pages of international magazines from Vogue to Financial Times, and in art galleries as well as carefully selected jewellery stores. And very soon, you'll see them on the shelves at Roccabella, Cashel Street's home of luxury and exclusive jewellery. roccabella.co.nz

Traditionalists would have you curling up by the fire with a room-temperature red wine this winter, but Cityscape laughs in the face of tradition. Warm your soul with these flavour-heavy Canterbury white wines. Pegasus Bay Muscat 2017 Nothing packs taste quite like a Muscat. It’s an old-world grape variety with a distinctive perfumed aroma and exploding with juicy and spicy flavours. This example is dry and made with Pegasus Bay’s typical finesse. Limited bottles available. pegasusbay.com The Boneline Hellblock Riesling 2021 There ain’t no Riesling like a Waipara Riesling. What you’re looking for in a medium Riesling is the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and flavour, and The Boneline has nailed it with this fruity and citrusy number. theboneline.co.nz Greystone Sauvignon Blanc 2020 We all love a good Sauvvy, and this one is an excellent reason to venture outside of the tried-and-tested-again-and-again fields of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. Grown right here in...

If you’re a design buff and haven’t visited ECC’s showroom in Victoria Street yet, what are you doing with your life? This is seriously the home of cool lighting, outstanding furniture, and general good taste. The space is meticulously designed, and walking through feels like entering an architectural fitout – perfect inspiration for your next reno or design project. ECC has been around since 1909, and has showrooms in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. Each displays an exclusive range of some of the world's best lighting, furniture and design brands. In te showroom, you'll find leading international brands like Minotti, iGuzzini, Flos and Artemide, and items designed by a range of famous, exclusive, and top-of-the-game designers. It's a must-visit for anyone planning an architectural project or looking for an original and stylish spin on interior design. ecc.co.nz

Lala Lifestyle has arrived in Victoria Street! The high-end linen and homewares store’s new home is a beautiful, spacious studio with huge windows and a ton of possibilities. The space is fitted out in inspirational design, full of tempting buys for your next interior glow-up. Owner and international interiors pro Monique Bohnenn says customers can expect to see exciting new things. We’re amped to see her promised “huge expansion” of the entire Lala range. Looking for a finishing touch for your interior? Investigate custom cushions from the store’s wide range of fabrics, or book a private consultation with Monique to take your interior decorating game to the next level. She’s got the expert eye to help you design a luxurious and stylish home you never want to leave. lalalinen-nz.com

All the entertainment you'll need for the month of June on the small and big screens, plus books to lose yourself in and new albums to rock out to. Viewing on the big screen Elvis This biopic tells the story of The King’s life and career, from childhood to his unprecedented fame, with director Baz Luhrman’s signature glitz and glamour. Two things are for sure: it will be a visual and aural feast, and if the reactions of Elvis Presley’s family members are anything to go by, it will wring the emotions right out of you. Lightyear Calling Star Command, 90s kids and Pixar fans of all ages – nearly 30 years after Toy Story first took a generation to infinity and beyond, we’re finally getting to see the origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the intrepid space ranger that inspired the action figure. This tale of intergalactic adventure will have a...

Cityscape talks to its own publisher and editor-in-chief about championing Christchurch, and the changing of the era for magazines. Is it strange being interviewed for your own magazine? It’s not my favourite thing, to be honest. I generally like to be behind the pages. But here we are, so let’s talk about some cool stuff. Deal. What’s hot in Ōtautahi this year? The city just keeps coming along. I’ve always thought it was an amazing place to live, play and visit, but it keeps surprising me by getting even better. Think about the Strip. It was just such an iconic part of pre-quake Christchurch, but the Terrace has far surpassed it. That whole riverside area is one of the jewels of the city, and there’s something amazing and new happening there every few months. And then you look at places like High Street, Sydenham, and Merivale. The level of retail and...

Throwbacks! Futurism! Neutrals! Purples! Don’t be confused, read Cityscape’s guide to incoming interior design trends and get your home and office up with the latest. Conceptualise and minimalise Minimalism has been in and out of the spotlight for years. It has now become the defining style of our era, to the point where ‘2020s design’ and ‘minimalist design’ are almost interchangeable terms. This philosophy covers everything from how we decorate our homes, to how we shop, to how we design logos. Look to create space, especially in places where there isn’t much room to go around. Think twice about having multiple small tables in one area. Choose few elegant forms rather than many bold ones. Use a splash of colour instead of a block or, better yet, choose natural and soft colours. Several shades of grey Your home can be your sanctuary, your zen space where you go to relax and...

New Regent Street bistro Twenty Seven Steps has a new downstairs companion – named Downstairs – opening this winter. The great minds behind the classic upstairs restaurant are bringing things down to earth with a new bar set to delight the wine-loving palate with small plates and fantastic drinks. The cuisine sits somewhere between an entrée and a main course, an evolving, weekly menu focusing on locally sourced produce with an emphasis on vegetarian and fish. It’s rocking a relaxed atmosphere, vintage amber glass lights, dark walls, and welcoming service. It’s a wine-focused ‘pub’ with a huge range of local and international glass pours; your local, but in town. Downstairs adds to the fine New Regent Street tradition of speciality bars, puitting wine in the mix among The Last Word whisky bar, Casa Publica rum bar, and gin gin. twentysevensteps.co.nz

Christchurch’s newest high-rise dining experience on the seventh floor of The MUSE Art Hotel is all eye-boggling 180-degree views of everything from the Port Hills to New Brighton beach. Seven is a wine bar in the sky, a rare premium dining experience with creative dishes and a curated drinks list that’ll have you hanging out long after the grand vista turns into a lustrous matrix of city lights and stars. Every wine comes recommended, and every sharing plate arrives at the table looking like an artwork come to life. Presentation may be everything at Seven, but flavour is passion, and the chefs design each dish for exquisite flavour and wine pairing. The wait team are armed with expert wine and food matching advice, and with the huge potential for different combinations, no two visits need ever be the same. The contemporary menu focuses on making skilful magic with simple ingredients. Something...

2022 is a year of expansion at Devál Boutique. Cityscape gets acquainted with the iconic Wānaka store and finds out what’s coming next. Visiting Devál Boutique is like walking into a sleek Paris boutique. Racks of chic European apparel for the trying on, bubbles in hand. This is shopping with taste. Founder Debbie Lawson has effortless style and each curated piece in her collection tells that tale. Like a fashion genie, she manifests optimal outfits, dressing you top to bottom with the likes of Philippe Model shoes, Ivy Copenhagen Alice army pants, Anine Bing knits and a Zadig&Voltaire blazer. Devál can reinvent your wardrobe, one carefully selected piece at a time I’m greeted at the door by boss dog Cooper, then Debbie and her style team immediately thrust me into a dressing room armed with Caitlin Crisp and Frame pieces, very much to my liking. All the incredible items on display...

The Ōtautahi outlook is a mini-series catching the thoughts of Christchurch's leaders on the postitive things happening in Christchurch. What’s good in Christchurch this year? We’ve got so many positive things. We’re the newest city in the country, everything we’ve got is new. There’s the convention centre, the town hall, the library, there’s the new Court Theatre coming, we’ve got the Christchurch Adventure Park and the new Linwood Pool. And if you drive past you’ll see they’ve actually started ground work on the new stadium. It’s not just a stadium for Christchurch; it’s a stadium for Canterbury, and the whole South Island, really. What are you most excited about? I’m excited about people coming back into the country. What’s the last thing you bought, and where? The last thing I bought was a 1950 Bedford truck. I learned to drive in one of those things when I was 12… It’s been...

The Ōtautahi outlook is a mini-series catching the thoughts of Christchurch's leaders on the postitive things happening in Christchurch. What’s good in Christchurch this year? The fact that we’ve gone to Orange has been a huge benefit to the hospitality sector. It’s very, very positive. We’ve seen an immediate pick-up in hospitality venues. I thought it would take a month or two, but no. We’re also noticing that office workers are returning to work rather than working from home. I’m pleased to see a bit more happening in town, and every day is a better day. There are two new hotels opening [The Mayfair and The Observatory], that’s really positive, it shows confidence that the hospitality and tourism sectors are going to pick up What are you most excited about? Seeing people getting out and enjoying things. I can’t wait for the economy to get back to what it was two...