The unconditional love our pets give us makes leaving home in the morning almost impossible, but coming home a total joy. And as such, there isn’t much that we wouldn’t do for them. In that vein, we have gathered together some of the best pet accessories around right now — from the practical to the delicious — in order to give your furry little friends the treats they deserve.
Furf Pets bowl Any pet owner will know the tedious struggle of having to deal with spillage from their furry friend’s water bowl. Looking to solve the unsightly and annoying problem, Furf Pets has reimagined the bowl’s design by extending its edges and lining the bottom with silicone, making it almost impossible to flip.
Number 8 indoor dog kennel from 8 Paws Unlike any dog kennel we’ve seen before, this sleek, sculptural iteration was designed by Tim Webber for 8 Paws. Featuring a comfortable inner made from 100% blazer wool and a series of bent steel rods connected by solid oak joinery that comprise the roof, this dog kennel is the ultimate home for your precious pup.
Walk Kit from Wild One Considering our nation’s efforts to reduce plastic, it’s crucial that we cut it from all facets of our lives, including using single-use bags to clean up after our canine companions. These bags by Wild One are made from a blend of plant-based material and are compostable, (when disposed of in a compost bin) which means they won’t contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Extra-thick to dispel any risk of breakage, the eco-friendly bags can be bought with a matching carrier which comes in a range of shades and an elastic attachment to make them easy to add to any leash.
Handmade pup biscuits from Amy’s Secret Kitchen Having cultivated a reputation for creating some of the most beautiful and delicious cakes we’ve ever come across, Amy’s Secret Kitchen has branched into treats of the canine variety. Made using only the best ingredients — wholemeal flour, chicken stock, brewers yeast, olive oil and salt — they’re sure to keep your four-legged friend happy and healthy
Doggy-Do Bag by Cloud 7 from 8 Paws Despite the cringe-worthy nature of picking up dog poo, there’s no reason why the accessories around it need be cringe-worthy too. 8 Paws’ Doggy-Do bag is made from 100% wool felt and looks simple and sophisticated. Easily velcroed onto a lead, this will take walkies to a whole new level.
An artist who is renowned for her exploration of feminist themes, it’s no surprise that New York City-based New Zealander Natasha Wright‘s latest exhibition has female empowerment at its core. It’s for this reason that we’ve long been fans of Wright, her ability to provoke thought on weighty subjects like the male gaze and female vulnerability via a slick of paint on canvas is impressive and, really, quite unparalleled.
The artist’s latest body of works, revealed at an exhibition kicking off this weekend at Parlour Projects gallery in Hawke’s Bay, boasts a similar motif and yet still remains to be unlike anything we’ve seen from Wright previously. Here, we sit down with the luminary to learn more about what we can expect from Angels and Icons.
Tell us about Angels and Icons, what can we expect? I’ll be showing large-scale oil paintings that combine a mish-mash of influences… as the title suggests, these new paintings draw on the history of art — paying homage to medieval painting and religious iconography. The paintings use (secular and religious) historical images of women as a foundation on which to develop an expanding series of feminine archetypes.
Where did your inspiration come from? My inspiration comes from a wide range of sources. Greek mythology and prehistoric sculpture have been hugely influential. I’ll combine these influences with contemporary references — fashion or advertising, for example. I love Alexander McQueen and the dichotomies of beauty and sadness he explored within his work.
What kind of research, if any, went into the exhibition before you started creating? Drawing every day — it helps to keep my imagination flowing. A few years ago I spent some time in Naples drawing from the frescos in the Villa of Mysteries and the secret chamber at the Archaeological Museum. This experience really filtered into my work.
If there’s one thing that people can learn, or feel, from viewing Angels and Icons, what would you want it to be? My work isn’t always comfortable — it’s meant to be thought-provoking. I’d like viewers to come away with a sense of empowerment.
Left: Power Woman X Right: Willendorf
For you, as an artist, what is the most challenging part of creating? Finding enough time.
You used an interesting medley of materials when creating the paintings for Angels and Icons — sand, black magnum, oil paints and glitter. Why did you choose this media? I like to change up the materials to keep things interesting. I love the reflective qualities of the glitter and glass beads — it provides an ethereal, spiritual presence. Black magnum has a tar-like quality and I like the roughness of the texture.
What is your creative process like? My creative process starts with drawing. It’s a pivotal part of my practice, and where 99 percent of my ideas start. When I get to my studio I like to start mixing paint — it helps me to think about colour relationships. I buy a lot of pigments and like to make my own oil paint. Next comes the painting, which is hard to explain. I don’t really have much control over this. The most interesting paintings are discovered in the process!
What, or who, are your biggest influences? Renaissance paintings, and my time in Italy. I also really love Fassbinder films, as he deals with the female psyche in an unusual way. It’s interesting to see the women in his films having the flexibility to take on a variety of different roles and characters.
Rarely do you paint a female figure in the full form. Why do you choose to allude to the body in this way? They are not a realistic depiction of the female form. For me, the work requires a slower read because the subject isn’t always obvious. The paint and colour are beautiful, but the content confronts darkness.
How do you think your style has changed and evolved over time? Do you think you have grown as an artist? Definitely, I’m always looking to grow. My work used to be far more narrative…. naturally over time I’ve become more interested in abstraction.
Who are you influenced and inspired by in the art world right now? I love Rose Wiley, Sterling Ruby, Ida Applebroog, Amy Sillman and Susan Rothenberg.
Your work often focuses on the empowerment, representation, sexuality and exploration of women. Why is this feminist theme so important to you? For me, it’s important to relate to the global, political situation and what’s going on around us. I’ve always painted women… it is a subject matter that came very naturally to me. My life as a woman is a representation of those themes. My paintings are my muses.
I call these paintings “Power Women” because I’m interested in turning what has been historically described as the male gaze back on itself. By this, I mean the notion that historically the female body has been used as a vehicle for the male artist’s creativity. I’m interested in turning the tables on that idea. I’m painting a kind of raw power image — an acceptance of women’s bodies as opposed to an idealized image. For the majority of history, female artists have been dramatically unrepresented. Recently there has been a surge of strong, powerful and unapologetic female painters. I find this really inspiring!
If you didn’t already know Tim Brown’s name from being the co-founder of eco-friendly footwear brand, Allbirds, you might recognise it from one of the covers of our Heroes issue earlier this year.
Tim Brown is an innovator in the truest sense of the word. His company was recently reportedly valued at around US$1billion, and the products he creates continue to redefine the environmental potential of footwear.
So, it was in the same kind of environmentally-aware spirit that we invited Brown, on his last visit back to open New Zealand’s first Allbirds store (the Kiwi now calls San Francisco home) to come for a ride with us in Range Rover’s own innovative answer to carbon emissions — its new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
The car is a beautiful combination of Range Rover’s signature sleek aesthetic and all the expected inner-workings of a hybrid vehicle so that lovers of the marque can keep the style they love while working to reduce their wider environmental impact.
On one overnight charge, this car will deliver around 51 kilometres of entirely electric driving and a smooth, silent ride. And it can take as little as seven-and-a-half hours to recharge the vehicle (depending on your power supply) with a home charging cable. On longer journeys, the two motors in this Range Rover will work together to produce just 72g/km of CO2 emissions — making it the acclaimed marque’s most fuel-efficient yet.
See more of the Range Rover’s impressive interior features and hear what Tim Brown had to say about his journey in business, when our Editor-in-Chief, Claire Sullivan-Kraus, invited him for a ride along Auckland’s beautiful waterfront.
Mark your calendar for a one-night-only culinary event you certainly don’t want to miss. One of our favourite Viaduct Harbour restaurants, Soul Bar & Bistro is set to be taken over by the humorous, talented and highly-acclaimed television and celebrity chef, Colin Fassnidge on Wednesday, 16th October.
Aside from the successful restaurants he has established in Australia, Four in Hand and 4Fourteen, Fassinidge has also been recognised as GQ Magazine’s Chef of the Year (2013) and has built a cult fanbase for being a longstanding judge on the infamous cooking show, My Kitchen Rules. Now, he is bringing his signature judging style to New Zealand with the recent release of the new show, My Restaurant Rules, over which he presides alongside Judith Tabron as a judge. With his impressive track record and infamous reputation, anticipation for Fassnidge’s Auckland stint is high, and the folks at Soul Bar & Bistro are promising an experience that will exceed expectations.
The Dublin-born chef has crafted a three-course, sharing style menu, that, alongside matching wines and canapés, is set at $165 per person. Fassnidge specialises in universally-loved, no-frills delicacies, often derived from pub-grub favourites and it’s this signature style cuisine that is set to be showcased.
Unique dishes like confit chicken wingettes served with chicken liver parfait, sweet apple chutney and crispy fried tortilla will sit alongside the likes of a 12-hour braised lamb shoulder served with dijon butter and Irish mashed potatoes (otherwise known as colcannon). Although the rest of the menu is still to be revealed, we’ve heard enough to know that it will be an exceptional culinary experience, and it seems like other people think the same.
Tickets to this one-night-only event are already selling out fast, so we suggest getting in quick — this is one you don’t want to miss.
At Denizen, we’re always on the lookout for anything new or enticing in Auckland’s dining scene. Recently, I was searching for a restaurant that served authentic, Lebanese cuisine and as I was digging around on social media, I came across a photo of an epic spread of dips and flatbread, along with a caption stating that it was some of the best Lebanese food in Auckland. The location tag read ‘Shefco.’ Right away, I made a beeline to my foodie confidant, Clara and we decided to head to Shefco for lunch.
There are two Shefcos in Auckland and after contacting both, we concluded that Shefco Baklawa Cafe on Stoddard Rd in Mt. Roskill was where we wanted to go. Despite being open for six years now, you wouldn’t likely guess, looking from the outside, that behind Shefco’s understated, basic facade was a restaurant. Housed in an industrial building, the interiors are quite basic. But being able to seat up to 50 patrons inside and 15 outside, once we were in the restaurant, it felt spacious and comfortable.
The menu included everything we wanted and more, from hummus, to falafel to mana’ish (a flatbread typically topped with thyme, cheese or ground meat). And because this made it too hard to choose, over-ordering felt like the only logical option.
Baba ghannouge
What we ordered – Hummus B Tahini – Baba Ghannouge – Falafel – Mana’ish za’tar – Mana’ish lamb and cheese – Mixed baklava
Everything landed on the table at once and it was all laid out in front of us, ready to be devoured. What came to my attention first was the mana’ish za’tar as I found the deep green colour quite intriguing. The flatbread was smothered with olive oil, sumac, spices and sesame seeds, which proved an incredibly aromatic combination of flavours and went perfectly with the dips we ordered. We couldn’t help but notice how smooth the hummus was, it was as if every chickpea had been individually peeled before being blended. The baba ghannouge was Clara’s favourite, which explained why she scraped the whole bowl clean with the additional basket of flatbread that came as a complimentary side.
Hummus
We decided to enjoy the lamb and cheese mana’ish on its own as hummus and baba ghannouge loaded on top of the meat and melted cheese seemed a bit too much to handle. This was also an off-menu special that the kitchen team made to solve my indecisiveness around whether I should get the lamb or the cheese — and the combination was perfect. The meat was flavourful with a rich tomato-based sauce while the melted cheese added a mild, creamy note to the tangy lamb.
Both, Clara and I are avid lovers of falafel. And while we get the falafel salad from Fatima’s at least once a week, Shefco’s iteration was truly something else. Crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside it was served with a tahini sauce which elevated all the notes of ginger and spice in each morsel. All the dips and falafel were served with side plates of pickled vegetables and olives which acted as palate cleansers between the varied dishes of different flavours. We also found that they served to reset our hunger cues, which ensured that we could carry on eating and get the most out of our Shefco dining experience.
Falafel
As we finished up our meal, the owner brought over some baklava and Lebanese coffee for dessert and it was, hands down, the best baklava we had ever tasted. Even Clara, who apparently doesn’t like baklava, was raving about how delicious it was. I asked the owner, Abdul Majid El-Saddik if these were made in-house and he invited us for a tour of the back section of the restaurant. Layers of golden pastry and syrup-drenched nuts were laid out over the countertops, as he explained that all the baklava and pastries were freshly made in-house and had been hugely popular amongst the Middle Eastern families in Auckland.
Mixed baklava (on the left) and falafel (on the right)
With full stomachs, satiated souls and boxes packed with baklava on hand, it was safe to say that our visit to Shefco was a huge success. I, for one, am already planning my next visit.
With the growing popularity of Dry July and the rise of tasty alcohol alternatives like kombucha, it seems the latest drinking trend is to not be drinking at all. And while we support our alcohol-free friends for jumping on the sobriety train, we can’t help but feel a little guilty when we find ourselves parched for a naughty beverage or two — and we bet you’re feeling the same. So what if we told you that you can revel in a quality tipple while doing your bit for charity — would that help? We think so, and it’s just one of the reasons why we’re all for Cardrona Distillery’s limited edition pink gin.
Just once a year, in support of Breast Cancer Research, Cardrona Distillery relaunches its acclaimed The Source ‘Pink’ barrel-aged gin in special, double cask bottling and donates $5 to both the charity and to The Bra Fence, the Central Otago tourist attraction, for every bottle sold. This year’s iteration is enough to make any Dry July-er fall off the wagon, complex and rich with a fruity taste, the blend comprises foraged rosehip combined with traditional juniper, coriander seed, angelica root and zesty orange and lemon and is aged in the Cardrona Barrel House to truly bring out the exquisite flavours. We’ll be indulging in this rose-tinted libation all summer long, and we think you should be too — no judgement necessary.
For more information on Cardrona Distillery’s limited-edition drop (including how to get your hands on a bottle) click here. For more information about what you can do to help Breast Cancer Research, click here.
Left: Laura Palmer lighting a cigarette while waiting for Jacques; Top right: Chris MacNeill traumatised (Ellen Burstyn - The Exorcist); Bottom right: The Scream (Shelly Duval as Wendy Torrance - The Shining), all by Toby Raine
Toby Raine’s approach to art is incredibly distinctive. Thick lashes of paint have become his calling card, often strewn across the canvas via energetic strokes and built upon one another to bring his muses to life in a textured form. This unique approach has cemented his status as one of Auckland’s most prominent artists, case in point of why the esteemed Gow Langsford Gallery is currently showcasing a solo exhibition dedicated to the painter’s most recent works — a collection entitled Heroines and Heroin.
The exhibition, which kicks off today and is due to run until 26th October, is a paint-spattered homage to popular culture and its icons. Raine addresses themes of addiction and celebrity via painted depictions of actors, musicians and models: where one piece illustrates two intertwining bodies indulging in a kiss — like that of Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and Victoria’s Secret model Lily Aldridge, on their wedding day — another showcases Twin Peaks character, Laura Palmer, lighting up a cigarette.
Raine’s penchant for classic, cult horror films is evident, with Twin Peaks serving as just one of many references that hint to his predominant horror/fantasy motif. Much of the collection pays tribute to some of this genre’s most notable films in history, including The Shining and The Exorcist, with a notable focus on the iconic female characters that starred, like Michelle Pfeiffer in medieval fantasy Ladyhawke, Isabella Rossellini in 1986 masterpiece Blue Velvet and Ellen Burstyn, commemorated for her history-making performance in The Exorcist.
In true Raine style, Heroin and Heroines is a thought-provoking exhibition that not only invites nostalgia — by encouraging us to reminisce on pivotal cultural moments — but also reminds guests of the interesting and talented female visionaries whose presence has made a serious cultural impact over the years. As such, Raine’s latest exhibition is set to be captivating for all, whether horror-movie junkie or otherwise.
Toby Raine’s Heroines and Heroin will be showcasing at the Gow Langsford gallery from 2nd – 26th October, for more information, click here.
Ask any Newmarket local and they are guaranteed to know Camper Coffee. Once a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, owned and operated by Woohyung Lee, (known for remembering everyone’s names and coffee orders), Camper fast became a local favourite. With its renowned bear mascot called Gregory (the logo became so well-known that people would even call Lee Gregory), Camper Coffee was a Newmarket mainstay and had a much more significant presence than its small size would indicate.
But after a good stint, Lee (and Gregory) were taken under the wing of David Lee (former owner of Simon & Lee and Dear Jervois) to collaborate in the opening of The Candy Shop around the corner, which is now recognised as one of Auckland’s top eateries. The closing of Camper Coffee’s original shop in 2018 was a bittersweet moment for all of us. On one hand, people were happy to see Lee’s business grow and evolve, but on the other, people were beginning to miss the experience of walking into the small, Camper Coffee spot and catching up with the smiley barista.
Thank goodness then that The Candy Shop has decided to expand its presence in Newmarket by re-opening the new-and-improved Camper Coffee in a space opposite its established eatery. Patrons can, once again, come in for a daily coffee from Lee, but this time, are also able to pick up a few, freshly-baked treats to have on the side.
The space exudes a homeliness and warmth, making it an idyllic spot to relax. Fitted out with an eclectic mix of antique furniture, the interiors carry an authentic quirkiness, while the cabinets are filled with buttery pastries and delicious-looking sandwiches, perfect for a quick lunch.
And while the interiors are cool and the coffee undeniably tasty, it’s the selection of cakes that really catch our eyes. We can confirm (after thorough sampling) that these certainly taste as good as they look, perhaps even better. All the cakes are baked in-house and the cheesecakes — both original and caramel — are some of the best in town. Imagine a cross between the fluffy Japanese cotton cheesecake and a decadent NY baked and that’s exactly what these slices taste like. Pair your treat with a cup of Camper Coffee and it’s a recipe for pure bliss.
The new outpost keeps its doors open until late in the evening from Tuesday to Saturday nights and it’s also fully-licensed, which means you’re welcome to trade in the cup of Joe for a vino or brewskie.
Opening hours: Monday: 7am until 4pm Tuesday — Friday: 7am until 9pm Saturday: 8am until 9pm Sunday: 8am until 4pm
When we talk about the ‘modern’ or ‘contemporary’ home, it can be easy to assume we’re talking about an aesthetic based on industrial, minimalist detailing and pieces that feel more stark than snug. After all, those are the interior touches that are often praised for their contemporary sensibilities.
But modern interior trends seem to be moving away from the above association. Now, instead of curating a contemporary aesthetic via furniture that is exclusively pared-back and sculptural, it seems that a softer approach is prevailing, driven by luxuriously upholstered pieces that inject a sense of warmth and softness into a space.
Take Opera Contemporary’s Sophie collection. Exemplifying the way that softer furniture is carving out a place for itself in the contemporary home, this range is made in a variety of finishes that make you want to sink into its warm, rounded shapes.
Gently curving structures lend the Sophie Armchair and Sofa a presence that is both distinctive and subtle — a definite departure from modern furniture of old, but not quite a return to the overly ‘luxe’ pieces that can risk feeling ‘too much’ in a home.
So if you’re wanting to inject a little warmth back into your home, but are unsure of how to do so without disturbing the sleek, pared-back look you’ve worked to achieve, the Sophie pieces are offering an elegant balance, bridging the gap between modern minimalism and classic opulence.
A few years ago, Auckland’s beauty scene was shaken up by the arrival of The Facialist to City Works Depot. With the über-talented Ashleigh Scott at its helm, The Facialist offered a holistic, natural approach to skincare that was completely in a league of its own. It swiftly became everybody’s go-to, with Ashleigh often touted as one of the city’s most ingenious skin saviours. It came as no surprise then, that when Ashleigh disclosed to loyal fans that she was taking some time off earlier this year — to focus on the business side of things and her skincare line, Tribeca Skin Tonics — it was met with low spirits. Since then Ashleigh’s faultless staff have taken the reigns, but Ashleigh’s impeccable talent is truly impossible to replace — case in point of why her return is stirring up some serious elation among fans (including everyone in the Denizen office).
In addition to her own tried and tested treatments — like the much-acclaimed Bespoke Facial — Ashleigh will also be offering the opportunity for clients to try something new. For now, she’s keeping details of the fresh treatments firmly under wraps, but what we can tell you is that the skincare maestro has been testing out new techniques that combine her traditional active and organic products with powerful lifting massage and reiki energy healing. Undeniably, we’re expecting great things — if Ashleigh’s previous innovations are anything to go by, then these treatments are going to be nothing less than incredible. To celebrate the return of one of Auckland’s finest facialists, we’re giving one lucky Denizen the chance to win a $100 voucher to spend on a treatment of their choice, for more information and entry, click here.
*This competition has now closed. Congratulations Julia Lomas*
Ashleigh Scott has opened her books at The Facialist now, to secure a place with her, click here.
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