perspective
ENVIE
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Welcome to the first issue of Envie Magazine. What is Envie? In French, the verb ‘avoir envie de’ translates as ‘to long for’, ‘to lust after’, or ‘to feel like’. Separate the word ‘envie’ and you get ‘en vie’: ‘in life’. The double meaning perfectly encapsulates the mood of this publication. Envie Magazine is all about craving conversation, lifestyle and discovery. We will cover fashion, beauty, travel, art and food; as well as discussing issues that matter or are failed to be discussed in media circles, or that many would be afraid to raise.
COVER IMAGE: @constancejablonski (https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu9As4blZOw/ )
So, here we have the Perspective Issue. Themes can often be a reductive method of creation, but our aim is to convey ideas of a broad range concisely and intelligently. Perspective can mean many things: the ability to have empathy or be realistic about a situation; the name for visual depth of field; being able to consider other points of view without acting out. This has inspired many ideas in this issue which I hope you enjoy. Recently in Australia, we have suffered some of the worst bushfires in history. In our discussion piece, we try to identify whether there is an exploitation of natural disasters in favour of financial greed-- or are most just truely generous? Unpopular opinions may cause some initial discomfort but we all need some transparency and honesty while so much is hidden from us. How about writing some positive opinion pieces every now and then? See our article at the back end of this issue for ways we think negativity can be articulated better. This leads us to our incredibly exciting and promising new opportunity for our readers. Introducing You Do The Talking! Each issue, we give you the chance to pitch and write a discussion piece for Envie Magazine. Got something to say? Check out page 48, or the Discussion tab online at www.enviemagazine.com for more info. I sincerely hope that reading these pieces can provide some perspective for you, whether it is fresh or restored. It has been a labour of time and love putting this magazine together-- for a first issue, I’m pretty proud. It can only get better, right? Write to me or the magazine if you’d like to talk. We can be found on social media @enviemagazine or via email at editor@enviemagazine.com. Enjoy the issue,
SOPHIE EVANS Editor-In-Chief
CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK p10. artists to follow on instagram We’ve rounded up the best independent artists that deserve your digital support, from expressive one line illustrators to modern screen printers. Image: @jonathonlawes
p18. suburb spotlight: elsternwick The eclectic and buzzing bayside suburb has a coterie of ethnic groups that enjoy the inner-city feel village on the fringe of metropolitan and suburban Melbourne.
p24. ocean grove: new face, new music 2019 saw a changing of the guard for Ocean Grove, with their highly-anticipated sophomore album surprising ears and hitting bandrooms in the new year. Image: @oceangrovemelb
p46. beauty: the australian way Parisians may be revered for their classic beauty looks, but down under, our look reflects a simplistic and functional lifestyle. Read the brands to know and the techniques to learn. Image: @meccacosmetica
contemporary voice: stormzy you do the talking: got something to say? basquiat x haring: friends’ struggles in nyc subscribe and save: up to you. see page 16.
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artists to follow The visual medium of instagram has spawned a new era of artists; sharing their moodboards, sources of inspiration, processes and final products online, instead of the traditional showroom. Lust-worthy screenprints by a London based printmaker, one line drawings in trompe l’oeil sensualities and borderline comics by a French illustrator. Open up your explore tab in app and offer some digital support to these artists. Share your favourites with us by tagging @enviemagazine #IHaveEnvie.
images sourced from @jonathanlawes
JONATHAN LAWES: @jonathanlawes
Screenprinting requires a patient temperament and by the large collection of lucid block prints by London-based Jonathan Lawes, I’m convinced he is. Scroll back down the feed to see his series of cicrular prints in hypnotic grids, or keep updated with new colour schemes in the current Mondrian-style block format. The perfect art investment sans maxxing out of your credit card-- and dreaming of a painted feature wall at home a la Lawes.
on instagram
QUENTIN MONGE: @mongequentin
When you live in St Tropez with a Mediterranean view and nibbling on blue cheese, you have the perfect environment for creativity, right? Quentin Monge’s digital illustrations and paintings are as striking as both those motivators. Classic unfilled nudes are as simple as Monge gets, with shapely, angular shapes creating the figures and buildings he illustrates by hand or digitally.
images sourced from @monicalletto
images sourced from @mongequentin and @alexandria_coe
MONICA ALLETTO: @monicalletto
Born and schooled in the Sicilian city of Palermo, Monica Alletto’s images are like the modern graphic version of old-style Italian painters. Shapely with neon hues favoured, you can imagine still life images of native plants from former years in her works of simple potted ferns.
ALEXANDRIA COE: @alexandria_coe
“Big time sensuality” reads line drawer, Alexandria Coe’s Instagram bio. Bodies on top of one another or solo, exploring. Lovers dancing, bodies stretching and sitting idly. Line drawing in recent years has been figurative Picassoesque faces, however Coe has dared to show reality-- what we all need a bit more of.
JESSALYN BROOKS: @jessalynbrooks
An easy way to bookmark L.A. based painter Jessalyn Brooks would be Picasso meets a oneline illustrator. But that’s too easy. Look closer and her most recent work sits atop old sheets of scientific equations and pages of novels, mysteriously illusive to what the colours and shapes mean over it. Primary colours feature heavily, with pastels forming shadows and black featuring for definition.
JEAN JULIEN: @jean_jullien
Whilst his 1m+ follower base on Instagram might not fit the up-and-coming artist mould, French illustrator Jean Jullien’s work is a joy to discover. His works replicate mundane scenarios, only to be reinforced upon seeing his comic-like work; silouhettes on idyllic beach settings, and subtly satirical doodles that bring a smile to what is often a dull platform. If you can choose a favourite, you haven’t spent enough time looking.
images sourced from @jessalynbrooks and @jean_jullien
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culture
flip phone fantasy: what’s the new sound for ocean grove? summer at the ngv: a decade amongst new york streets suburb spotlight: where should you discover next?
suburb spotlight:
elsternwick - 3185
Melbourne has a common city dynamic whereby the north and south sides of the city are divided. Split by the Yarra River, the baysiders and the hipsters constantly vy for top rank. Elsternwick, 10km from the Melbourne CBD, is the best of both worlds. From most locations in the busy, leafy, multicultural suburb, the gold sands of Brighton, Elwood or St. Kilda beaches are a stone’s throw away. The plethora of close-knit communities in the area-- Jewish, South African, Russian-- offer an eclectic culture boost. Indulge in Swiss treats, peruse a hundred-long vodka list in a prohibition feel vodka bar and get involved with the many international film festivals at the Classic Cinema-- which now has rooftop screenings as of the 2020 summer. Walking down the main thoroughfare, Glenhuntly Road, you can pick any cuisine and enjoy it right there. Head down to this buzzing city-village hybrid to discover the best of food, history and .....
if you eat anywhere, head to... CARTER LOVETT
This is Melbourne gastronomy on another level. Head in from 7am for coffee in a chic grey-rendered building on Glenhuntly Rd. Request hearing specials if they are not volunteered to you, and enjoy experiments ready to be devoured on the regular menu. The dinner experience is special. Modern Australian fare spun in new ways to avoid repetitive dining: bone marrow croquettes (unmissable), barley risotto with goat’s cheese and nettle, a butterflied trout, and rotating accompaniments to slow-roasted lamb and sirloin steak. The drinks menu is refined and appropriate, with affordable bottles of wine and twisted cocktails like their Next Level Negroni. The staff are attentive and chatty, which is the cherry on top of a return visit.
329 Glenhuntly Rd
W
if you crack open a bottle anywhere, do so at... UPSTAIRS CELLAR
Image sourced from @upstairscellar
303 Glenhuntly Rd
Recently positioned amongst the most vibing restaurants and shops in the suburb, Upstairs Cellar is the perfect addition to the relaxed nightlife options in the area. A townhouse-like site, seats are limited but cosy on the streetfront, at the window inside, or snake throuugh the wine bottle-filled walls to the back room and beyond to the courtyard. The staff are as relaxed as the classic wine bar style they have going on here: pick a bottle off the shelf, which all have prices written on. Add $10 to have in, and enjoy with a charcuterie and cheese platter-choose a variety of three for $30. No fuss. If there’s no time to stay and enjoy the ambience, take away for the pronounced price. Good quality wine shops prioritising affordability and a great atmosphere usually abound in inner-city locales so you’d be silly to not take advantage of a village version.
if retail therapy is required, you should visit...
URBAN SOUL, MERCANTILE HOME & AVENUE BOOKSTOR
URBAN SOUL is a local boutique
stocking their eponymous label and some of the best loved and upcoming Australian brands. Their visual merchanidising team needs a mention: every couple of days, the vitrines are updated with enviable looks that stop even the busiest pedestrian. Head in for unique pieces or full looks, if you’re jealous of the mannequin.
395 Glenhuntly Rd
MERCANTILE HOME is a
sparkling homewares shop, stocking anything for your dream kitchen and living spaces. Think anything from abstract vases, beautiful crockery and matte salt and pepper shakers. All of the elegant brands are shelved here, including Marimekko, Royal Doulton & Frank Green. Just try to not lust after everything. We dare 307 Glenhuntly Rd you.
AVENUE BOOKSTORE Do we
have to pitch a book shop to you? Wall to ceiling shelves full of all genres, a gorgeous range of gifts and cards; but above all, a quiet escape to find your perfect tome to read. Locals can have titles transferred from the Elwood & Richmond stores as to not miss out, otherwise click and collect is available online. 434 Glenhuntly Rd
RE Images sourced from @urbansoulboutique, @mercantilehomemelbourne, @avenuebookstore
if you want to make a day out of your visit, go to...
RIPPONLEA ESTATE
While not strictly in Elsternwick, this historical landmark is a heritage-listed icon of Melbourne’s early-20th century social scene. (And sneaks into the Elsternwick suburb boundary just nicely for this write-up.) Admission costs go directly to maintaining the estate, which feels Provencal and Tuscan all around. Book in for a tour at the reception to traipse around the main house, imagining its history as a wealthy socialite’s house and party space for the city’s elite in 1920s Melbourne. Otherwise, visitors are permitted to bring in picnics, or simply wander the grounds leisurely with a camera or friend. In summer, the estate welcomes an open-air cinema at dusk, featuring box office openings as well as old classics to keep you in the mood of the environment.
192 Hotham St
best of the rest feel like a coffee? LOCO
434 Glenhuntly Rd
Don’t forget your reusable cup: the lovely baristas here offer a sweet eco-discount to go with your coffee. Check out the blackboard coffee menu for something new to try.
earned a treat?
WILL’S BATCH
300 Glenhuntly Rd
Prepare for queues at this local favourite, which is the goto for mid-summer and post-dinner ice-cream, gelato and sundaes. Be surprised by the experimental Flavour of the Month. Past iterations include Nutella Donut, Christmas Pudding, Wine Gums & Chai Latte.
got time to catch a movie? CLASSIC CINEMA A bayside sister to Hawthorn’s Lido Cinema, the Classic is a great local cinema, now with a rooftop for summer nights. A little bit fancy, the menu is a hell of a lot more refined from olive oil-cooked popcorn to gourmet sweets.
9 Gordon St
need something greasy to eat? IT’S ALL GRK
421 Glenhuntly Rd
It could be a bit presumptuous to claim to have the best gyros outside of Greece, but their herb-salted pita bread filled with slow-cooked meats, tzatziki, onion, tomato, and of course chips, are out-of-this-world delectable.
staying around for dinner? TATAKI
213 Glenhuntly Rd
Sushi has become a mainstay in many of our diets that often, good Japanese is considered mainstream. Tataki’s offerings are fresh and authentic-- just don’t forget the specials board. Elsternwick can be reached mostly easily via Nepean Highway and Dandenong Road (Princes Hwy) routes. DISCLAIMER: None of the mentioned businesses have incentivised the above opinions.
asking for it
‘How is this music?’, I used to ignorantly bark when hard punk-style music came on the radio or through a randomised shuffle of music. The immediacy of my disregard, in hindsight, was not taking into account for this genre of music being one of the toughest to crack into, and stay in. We’ve seen bands come and go, as well as those who are killing it on global stages one day retiring for months at a time with damaged vocal cords or member refigurations.
While Ocean Grove has been around for around ten years, making their mark back while at high school in bayside Melbourne, the foursome has already had major creative change since releasing their first album, The Rhapsody Tapes, back in 2017. The new year brings with it the band’s sophomore release after going from five piece to four, losing vocalist, Luke Holmes as well as guitarist Jimmy Hall. The newest member of Ocean Grove is Brent ‘Twiggy’ Hunter of The Beverly Chills, who provides vocal help to Tanner and taking over the reigns of guitar from the departed Hall. I started listening to Ocean Grove, who are considered neo-metal or post-hardcore in style, due to my partner being friends with some of the band members. The more I heard tracks such as These Boys Light Fires or When You’re This High You Can Say What You Want, the more I enjoyed the contrast and eventual relief of the music’s hardness thanks to lead singer, Dale Tanner’s dulcet and almost crooning voice. The Rhapsody Tapes was cleverly broken up with song-to-song transitions cooling down the screamo-vibe and hard drum solos with more anthemic tunes to soothe and swoon over. After an exclusive friends-only unofficial listening party in the new year, the boys have done it again with an upcoming, highly-anticipated follow-up album titled Flip Phone Fantasy. How will a band create a sound that is the same but different? Do you risk the trade-off between losing fans and being granted loyalty? We were given three Christmas presents before the end of 2019, with the releases of mega tunes Ask For The Anthem, JUNKIE$ and Sunny. The cheekiness and boldness remain as per 2017 but there is a slightly different sound due to the reshuffle. Ask For The Anthem is as loud and fun as it demands. Unfortunately missing a presumedly well-earned spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100 (though this is not the aim but an added bonus for the band), the new track has been a regular on the station. IWt is definitely anthemic, super sexy and the bass line runs through your veins so you have to stand up for Tanner’s crooning, the chorus’ crescendo ... and ask for it again. JUNKIE$ came in next, anticipating visions of banging heads in packed bandrooms, or pounding the treadmill at the gym. (The Rhapsody Tapes was my ultimate gym album for a long time.) It’s another anthem, more 2000s punk in its intro which turns heavy. “Dip in your finger, taste the new flavour” and “rewind the tapes and see what you can savour” presumedly refer back subtly to The Rhapsody Tapes and the band’s reshuffle.
An uplifting track in less of a hardcore way is Sunny, a promotion of living life to the fullest while you still can. And if you can’t, who cares? Just do it anyway; most things and people can wait. Drummer Sam Bassal gets a workout here for sure, with consistent beats forcing the feeling of liberty and being on a high of being alive. For those whose nose screws up at this genre of music, Neo may not be your favourite. But if this is the case, come forward and profer a suggestion as to which song could compare. Ocean Grove has found a perfect spot to win audiences with the vocal and instrumental breaks and contrasts. Heavy versus soft is clearly and cleverly reflected throughout, whether intentional or not. Flip Phone Fantasy is one of the most anticipated Australian music releases for 2020, and after resounding success in 2017, followed by Europe and American tours, it’s hard to see why this won’t be better. (I’ve heard it. It’s fucking fantastic.) “My pride and joy. Our greatest achievement,” wrote Tanner on Facebook. Pencil in the date. Flip Phone Fantasy is due for release on 13th March, 2020 through UNFD.
basquiat x haring
Artists. Friends. Collaborators. 1980s New York. Racism. AIDS. Identity. JeanMichel. Keith. Genius.
Basquiat X Haring: Crossing Lines is showing at the NGV International, Melbourne, until 13 April, 2020.
contemporary voices:
stormzy
“Fuck the government and fuck Boris”. “Yo, Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell? What, you thought we just forgot about Grenfell?” Many would listen to Stormzy’s passionate yet cheeky lyrics, thinking he’s another attention-seeking rapper. Yet you can’t deny his award-winning, platinum-certfied songs, and saying what many fear to. Stormzy is far more than what meets the eye.
Images sourced from @stormzy
Despite the older-generation stigma of rap and grime’s supposed overly-debaucherous culture, it’s hard to fault Stormzy’s efforts to bring issues to light that are affecting all British people, especially those of African descent or whom have immigrated to a #Brexited world. He sang at the 2019 Brit Awards wearing a Banksy-illusrated Union Jack stab vest to protest the increasing incidence of knife violence. He performed under pouring “rain” emphatically asking former British PM, Theresa May, what she had done about the Grenfell Tower fire disaster. He is a man of great intelligence, using his platform to demand action, to encourage young British people to vote, and to ensure disadvantaged children and youth have access to further education. In collaboration with Penguin Publishing UK, Stormzy’s #Merky Book imprint is dedicated to releasing new works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry for a new generation of young voices. The #Merky brand also extends to a record company that signs new talent. Stormy is a contemporary voice who has become one for his industry as well as the people. Stormzy’s latest album, Heavy is the Head, was released in 2019 through #Merky and Atlantic Records.
@upcycle.bikes based in brunswick, melbourne giving new life to neglected bikes since 2019 follow us on instagram to stay updated with new styles for sale, and hashtag #upcyclebikes
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travel & lifestyle
milano: modernity, culture and style at every corner surf coast dreaming: secrets of the great ocean road pack it up: how to prioritise for your next trip overseas
milano, lombardia
Milan isn’t for everyone. (What a great way to start a travel piece!) For those who add Milan to their itinerary, which is the second most populated city in Italy, be prepared. It’s not antiquated like the endearingly crumbled streets of Rome, nor does it have the romanticism of Venice. Forgetting the inner-city greenery and award-winning eco architecture, you’d have to hop on a train south out of Lombardia, the region that Milan is situated, and perhaps venture into Florence for your dose of plush fields. Milan is modern. It is a Paris with edge and grit. The cobblestone streets, softly tarred roads and oneway tram tracks wind their way through the various quarters of the city, which are all within walking distance of one another. Watch as stylish women walk by, dressed head to toe in major labels or effortlessly mixing and matching high and low. Men crowd espresso bars in their tailored-to-perfection shirts,
trimmed-at-the-ankle pants and local leather loafers, emphatically discussing morning woes over a one euro shot of coffee. (And it’s true, the coffee is best in Italy. Standing at the bar: compulsory.) Your assumptions that the Milanese are stylish are more than correct-- we all know it, as do they. If you can manage to find accomodation in Milan that is close to Duomo, the metro station that directs passengers to the spectacular gothic cathedral that is the city’s landmark, it would be ideal for you. The station is also on the same line as Milano Centrale, where inter-Italy trains and buses arrive and depart, including to and from airports. We recommend London Hotel in the Cordusio area: no fuss, with breakfast and a lift (which are like gold as a traveller in Italy). Otherwise, there are great AirBNB options in Porta Romana and Montenapoleone if you can snap them up. Metro tickets go for a couple of euros for one trip, so we advise purchasing daily or weekly passes for ease. The quarters of Milan are easily walkable if you feel like doing so. Without realising, you wanderings can take you across places you had planned to go on days following. Like most of Italy, Milan doesn’t wake-up until the afternoon, with many businesses closing for lunch or opening late-morning. This can frustate even the relaxed tourists, so plan ahead to visit happening neighbourhoods when the Italians are enjoying their favourite locales too. Reset your body clock to a late dinner and staying out late routine, then laze about during the morning over coffee and pastries. I mean, that’s the life, right?
just a few hours away...
lago di como
torino
venezia
To delve into the world of Milan, we have separated this guide to the city into the (very) diiferent neighbourhoods so you can tick of the best there is within each. So, BUONA VIAGGIA! Duomo You may have seen the imposing and grand Duomo di Milano but seeing this gothic masterpiece in person is much more spectacular in person. And, despite the Duomo sitting in the central heart of Milan, it is not Milan Central. (You’ll get the train or bus into here.) The cathedral is a great meeting point, with the best there is in terms of shopping and art a stone’s throw away. Head into the tourist entry to the Duomo and see inside. You can take guided tours or just wander and observe its marvel in your own time. The most exciting part is the ability to walk around the spires on the rooftop, seeing all corners of the city from the alps to the low rooftops reaching far and wide. Restoration works have affected the rooftop route so fingers crossed for your visit that it is free to roam. If you’re hungry, for authentic cuisine, there are places both new and old to appease you. Luini is unmissable with their filled bread pockets, with various savoury and sweet options. Most come with oozy mozzarella and are the perfect snack on the go. Have some patience around lunchtime and mid-afternoon-- it’s worth every minute waiting. Motta stretches across its location on the Piazza del Duomo entrance of the Galleria Emmanuele II. Stop by for a risotto alla milanese that is simple as it is rich. (If you like butter...) Sitting amongst all the action is great if travelling solo, especially with a cold glass of wine. Head east along the Piazza, which will turn into Corso Vittorio Emmanule II and a high street shopper’s dream. Avoid the chain stores (with the exception being Zara which is ALWAYS better in Europe) and try out the Italy- or Europe-only stores such as Max Mara Weekend, & Other Stories, Yamamay and Pennyblack.
clockwise from top left: fondazione prada, parco sem
Surrounding streets that starfish out from the Piazza di Du stores to reel you in. If you love art and you’re nearby to Prada Osservatorio which is the sister site to the renowne for a sweet treat and delicious coffee.
Museo Novecento sits on the south-east side of the Piazza finished and famished, head up to the top floor of the Mus terrace looking out over the cathedral. Don’t look at the dr
mpione, 10 corso cormo, bar luce at fondazione prada
uomo enter surrounding neighbourhoods and have great local o the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II, discover the Fondazione ed Fondazione Prada in Porta Romana. Stop by Marchesi 1824
a and hosts 19th century art onwards, including Picasso. When seo to Giacomo Arengario for a luxe restaurant and bar with a rink’s prices-- it’ll ruin the view.
Montenapoleone The fashion quarter! If you’re not a fan of crowds, avoid this area during fashion weeks in late February and September. Otherwise, get amongst it! If you are looking for high-end five-star accomodation, check into the Armani Hotel, which is down the road from a few vintage shops of big name designers. This area is of course where to go if you have yet to max out the credit card and are in need of some retail therapy. The beautiful Paris-like streets surrounding Via Monte Napoleone have you covered. Porta Romana A great neighbourhood to stay in or visit for the ultimate local nightlife experience. Porta Romana reinforces the slow-to-getup-and-stay-out-late sentiment. A recent wave of easy eating as come to Italy, perfect for students in areas such as Porta Romana. Aperi-pranzo and aperi-cena combine the Italian love of aperitivo, or before dinner drinks, with lunch or dinner. Most establishments that offer this service provide a buffet of food from small bites to local dishes plus a drink for around seven or eight euros. You can head back for as much food as you like and just pay for drinks from that point onwards. Right around the corner from Porta Romana metro station is Via Ludovido Muratori, with several options for dinner and drinks. Perditempoteca is a bar that offers apericena, with meats and bruschette to cure your hunger. There are great Italian beers on tap too. If you’re into wine, head to Enoteca Il Cavallante for a buzzing ambience and a sneaky dessert. Giulio Pane e Ojo is an award winning restaurant in the same street, or head onto the main drag (south from the metro station) and try the very popular fried chicken and kebabs at Giannasi 1967’s street popup. Pub Bere Buona Birra is also a great local haunt, translated to mean “drink good beer’. That you will. If you’re there in the morning, head to the coffee roastery at the metro end of Via Ludovico Muratori and choose from a range of sweet creamyfilled croissants, with flavour such as pistachio, raspberry and coffee.
One’s trip in Milan is incomplete without visiting Fondazione Prada, which is a lovely walk from Porta Romana, but closest to Lodi T.I.B.B. metro station. The Rem Koolhaas-designed building is commissioned by Miuccia Prada and features up and coming artists throughout the various spaces. Most come for the art as well as Bar Luce, the Wes Anderson-curated bar and cafe that serves the museum. Isola-Garibaldi This neighbourhood sits in the northern part of the city and has become the bohemian hotspot for a new generation. Stroll through weekend markets near Via Sebenico and do make sure to stop by Berbere for a woodfired pizza amongst it all. Bosco Verticale is a short walk away, which is the famous award-winning “green” eco building. Translated it means “vertical forest” as the balconies of the apartments are covered in greenery that can not be removed. For those who come to Milan for fashion, 10 Corso Como is unmissable. The concept store, exhibition space and cafe is run by Carla Sozzani, sister of the late Vogue Italia editor, Franca. Shop the latest collections of designers featured in the concept store, lounge in the cafe with an espresso and a copy of Il Globo, shop books upstairs or sneak up onto the alfresco rooftop that dreams are made of for some fresh air. It’s a relaxing and stylish space, away from the noise of the streets. If you’re feeling active, you can walk towards Parco Sempione, and on to the next quarter... Centro Storico This neighbourhood covers a lot of key spots including Castello-Brera, Cadorna and Cordusio. Places that should definitely be on your list include Castello Sforzesco, Signorvino, and walking through the romantic streets westbound towards Porta Magenta. Artisanal botuiques and studios dot along Via Meravigli and Corso Magenta. Stop by the Taschen store if you have the baggage allowance for a tome on your desired topic. At the fringe of this area sits the Leonardo di Vinci museum which houses the iconic The
clockwise from right: berbere pizzeria e ristorante, the canals and storefonts of navigli, looking down from the duomo di milano, an isola florist’s stall. Last Supper. Book well in advance for this as it can be reserved indefinitely... Castello Sforzesco is the landmark of Cadorna and sits at the northern end of the Centro Storico (historic centre). You can marvel at the 15th century citadel from the surrounding gardens and grounds (which lead to Parco Sempione), otherwise ticket entry is free to peek inside. South-east from here lands you on Via Dante, a pedestrian only thoroughfare with lots going on in the evening. Shops stay open late, and there are plenty of local joints to take your fancy, for dinner or dessert. Definitely swing by Signorvino. Whilst this is a franchise with another at Duomo (not half as good in terms of a relaxed, alfresco vibe), this stunning cellar door and restaurant will appease your mood for good food and wine. The tables spill out onto the street for a communal feel, otherwise sit on stools with barrels as tables, or large tables at the back. On the menu is a tasting board of wine-- one each of sparkling, white and red-- which is perfect for sipping on with some food while reading a book. The tartine on the food menu is mixed bruschette with delicious toppings like sardines, pickled onions and local cheeses. Choose between pasta dishes, salads and charcuterie boards if you prefer. From here, wind back towards Duomo for a centralised meeting spot and easy route home. As assumed here, all of the Milanese neighbourhoods are easily accessible through the metro, trams or simply meandering through the city and seeing where you end up. You may not expect the world of Milan, or you may be surprised by what you find. But this beautiful metropolitain city weaves its way into your heart and sticks itself there, waiting for you to return.
secrets of the great ocean road Us locals chat about The Great Ocean Road with relaxed breadth. It’s just the entire south-west coast of Victoria, right? Right. Kinda. The official sign that features in many a tourists’ holiday snaps announces itself in the middle of Anglesea and Lorne. From there, the coastal highway winds its way through the Otways (Australia’s southern-most rainforest) and onwards to Portland and the border to South Australia. Road trip time? Compulsory stops: read here.
The Great Ocean Road begins in Torquay, the well-known surfer’s paradise. Wander through the pine trees along the foreshore and head to the namesake brewery, Four Pines. One of the most popular pub beers, Four Pines’ location is not so much a brewery but a bar to celebrate it amongst surf culture. Swing by for a pre-road trip lunch and tasting paddle, if you’re a passenger. Stop my Bells Beach for an obligatory visit and photo if you desire, before hitting Anglesea. This town seems sleepy sometimes but is one of the most popular come summertime. Point Roadknight beach is a visage of azure, ochre and fern-green with white sand stretching around to the surf club, west down the beach. Pitch a spot underneath the bluffs and wile away the hours. Last One Inn is a fantastic beachside cafe with a blanched white exterior and deck terrace for enjoying morning sunshine. You won’t believe that brunch can be so affordable after coming in from Melbourne, and the coffee is just as good. If it’s getting late, keep driving along the Great Ocean Road towards Airey’s Inlet to the eponymous pub which also houses Salt Brewery. Have a pint of this on tap and try not to think of salt water. Lorne is the chicest town along the way. Catch a sunset in Fairhaven if it’s clear as the views are sublime from the pullaway spot on the highway on the way through to Lorne. Prepare to wait for the best Mexican outside of Melbourne at Mexican Republic (walk-ins only), or indulge at MoVida’s newest iteration at the Lorne pub. The Mantra resort is a great accomodation option if camping isn’t for you, otherwise try to snap up b&bs in advance. The villages along the next stretch of the coast offer a tranquil rest stop for you to wind down. Choose between Kennett River, Apollo Bay or Cape Otway depending on your interests, and soak into nature.
top to bottom: anglesea main beach and bluff, taken from pt. roadknight; lorne foreshore reserve at sunset.
pack it in (or not) Packing. For some, it’s a chance to plan and look forward to their upcoming trip away. For others, packing a suitcase is either stressful or stress-free. Here, we are going to guide you through the best ways to take advantage of time, space and patience while preparing to head away. Make an ideal list of what you’d like to take with you, wash clothes, and then begin. Think of it as part of your holiday and you may just enjoy it...
1. 2.
schedule a specific block of time
Get organised! There are people who like to book gradually weeks in advance, and the crammers who do it the night before or day of. Find a time that you have free in the lead up to your holiday that you can fully dedicate to sorting out your suitcase. If you have to wait for clothes to dry or buy extra things, then there are fewer things to throw in just before you head off.
GIVE YOURSELF SPACE
3.
As well as setting aside time for yourself, allow some space to pack-- physically and mentally. Clear the bed or lounge room floor and spread out. This way, you can organise better and be clear about what needs to fit in to your bags.
use protection
4. 5.
roll with it
Generally, if you have delicate items or expensive pieces, you wouldn’t like them to be tainted in the case of a spillage! Using bags that you can save from when you purchase shoes or handbags can come in really handy for packing. Additionally, the separate zip pocket in most suitcases can be an extra layer of protection for the belongings you’d like kept neat and clean. You may well know that rolling clothes is much more efficient for space and post-arrival ironing. Why waste time pressing clothes when you could be lying by the pool or exploring the old town? Folding in half or quarters and rolling pieces of clothing reduces creasing and condenses the amount of space that you have in your case.
BE WELL READ
You may not be the cliched tourist type with book in hand but doing your research is always beneficial. The 500 Hidden Secrets range of books focus on cities throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas with top five selections of various activities and experiences. Travelling to Milan, Tokyo, San Francisco or Havana? Pick up a book for an essential guide to life there.
Travel like a local, not a tourist. Pretend if you have to.
LAST CHECKS
Check that you have your passport. Then, check again. Ensure you have visas and immunisations as required. The hassle is worth the hassle. Keep an eye on currency rates in advance and lock them in.
An active traveller can do over 20,000 steps a day! It can be tough to maintain a fitness regimen while overseas, as well as managing succumbing to delicious local bites. You’re on holiday, so treat yourself! This should be the mentality to stick by overall. If you’re concerned about weight gain while travelling, just have a think about how much you have done in a day. Plan it out like you may do with a budget and you might find that you can hold yourself back from unnecessary overloading on indulgence. Image sourced from Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash.
Setting out a routine like you might back at home can add some organisation and structure to your holiday. Of course, rest and relax. But if you find yourself feeling a bit out of whack, head out on some morning walks or runs for a change of scenery and discover new parts of town. Compact equipment like a skipping rope, resistance band or power tube can give you the healthy endorphins that you may be missing out on. Find a local park for some yoga or pilates and start the busy day ahead with a calm mind.
how to:
stay healthy on holiday Why not suss out a local class? You might be able to use Google, or even sign up for ClassPass, to find an exercise class to suit your mood. What about trying a national sport or pastime? Tai chi, meditation or a traditional dance could be a great experience whilst feeling the health benefits. Ask reception if you stay in a hotel, who will know best. Perhaps a good idea for those on extended trips that need a sense of routine back in their life. General navigating around cities and villages will suffice for most people. Bon voyage! DISCLAIMER: None of the mentioned businesses have incentivised the above opinions.
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fashion & beauty
diary from milan fashion week: s/s ‘20 australian beauty: doing it all yet nothing at all supermodel styling: how to enhance your best features
diary from milan fashion week: spring/summer 2020 september 17-23, 2020
WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2019 September in Milan is temperamental. The first half of the month is muggy, humid and hot. You may go for a dip at Bagni Misteriosi or indulge in some Aperol Spritzes under a shade umbrella at the Piazza del Duomo. Then, the second half of the month hits and the alpine breezes waft down into the city. Summery dresses and sandals no more- the weather calls for length and volume. Today was a hybrid weather day, where too little is not enough and too much is sweltering. Especially when you’re in the throngs of a K-Pop obsessed crowd waiting for their heartthrob singer and his entourage to join the famous faces at the Prada show at its namesake museum, Fondazione Prada. Fashion week indulges many, and admittedly, four years and eight seasons ago in 2015, I was enthralled in the excitement of heading to the schedule of shows noted from the Camera Della Moda Italiana calendar. Via Valtellina for Gucci, check. Metro straight to Porta Vittoria for Prada in thirty minutes. In reality, it’s exhausting. Of course, the regular spectator of street style and the goings on of glamourous shows can expect something grander. And it can be grand watching all of the special guests, editors and models strolling nonchalantly along the streets in specifically styled outfits. What a life! What a world! But when you don’t have a long black car to drive you home, being on the other side of the city in your best outfit (that doesn’t even match up to the calibre you’re seeing) can be a tiring and deflating experience. It actually seems vapid, which is a bold admission from someone who loves fashion, especially this side of it.
FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2019 A long day exploring the beautiful city, with the idea to go to the Bottega Veneta show on Via Senato. Can’t miss the show outside the second runway for Daniel Lee, the new kid on the block. The weather was warm for late September. I chose an outfit that was chic but unassuming. I resisted the urge to not bother after the exhaustion on Wednesday. I’m in Milan-- just do it while you can. I get into a good spot actually, basically in the photogapher’s pit! A flurry of limousines pull up and away again, dropping off the guests who pretend to hate having their photo taken (when you look that good, why would you?). I didn’t stay long after the show ended. Everyone wanted to head back to where they were staying, or had another show or exclusive party to attend. I was preoccupied by the setting sun and the prospect of drinking a crisp glass of pinot bianco overlooking the Piazza del Duomo; followed by a basil pesto lasagne at Obica looking over the cathedral. At the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, there was a gelateria at Motta, or I could swing by the drinks carts on the footpath and pick up a granita. I could sit in the Piazza and watch friends and family take photos of one another with the gothic masterpiece of a background and not think one more thought of the fashion show I went to but did not see.
left: giorgia & guilia ambrosio of the attico, attending the prada spring/summer ready to wear runway show at fondazione prada in milan.
dress like a
SUPERMODEL
The best fashion in the world is on the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York, but the best style in the world splays out onto the streets. Outside fashion shows, crowds of photographers spill out to capture models as they leave for the next show, or guests dressing up for the occasion. You may see supermodels wearing merely t-shirts and denim shorts but it is the way that these looks highlight their figure -- which is evidently their currency-- which you may not notice further elongates their figures and physical assets. While we live in a time that promotes body positivity, knowing what works for your body should still be considered when dressing. Simple facts like horizontal lines widen your shape, belts cinch in waistlines, and short hems give you the look of long (or longer) legs will give you style cred, as well as self-cred. THE INCH SPLIT TRICK It’s all in the layers. Wearing cropped or shorter hem tops and jumpers gives the illusion that your waist is higher, this elongating your legs. Adding in a mini skirt and having inch-peek-a-boos of shirts before the hemline seal the look. See Karolina working this to perfection, right. HIGH AND LONG As per Victoria Beckham, a stiff cowl neck with long pants, hemmed-to-perfection at the ankle, also lengthen your figure. She’s 5’4”, if you thought she was any taller. KNOW YOUR PROPORTIONS As a general rule, go big on top and small on bottom, or vice versa. This rule must be considered to avoid the dreaded frump and balance out a look. Bigger busts or long legs? Keep this in mind also. DARKNESS, YOUR FRIEND While it’s so not 2020 to say that black is slimming, it’s completely and utterly true. Wear dark colours as a trompe l’oeil lesson in shape. BE BIASED Assymetric and bias cuts are one of the most flattering. Diagonal hemlines can make you look taller when worn correctly. Too tight or too baggy and you can risk looking over-sized or constricted. IT’S A CINCH The easiest styling trick to get on board with: belts. Fasten at the slimmest part of your waistline and you’re good to go. DOUBLE UP Wearing a turtleneck underneath a shirt in cooler months, or low denier tights under bottoms highlights your slender features so your shirt or skirt can stay loose.
clockwise from right: karolina kurkova, gigi hadid, victoria beckham, geidre dukauskaite and karlie kloss.
beauty:
the australian way
Parisiennes have their classic look. It’s that effortless no make-up look with a classic rouge lip. And while Australian beauty has often garnered a cliched blonde surfer girl, and honestly, it’s not too far from the truth. We need practicality and functionality. Product can’t slide off our face when we need it to stick. We need protection from the sun, so nothing below SPF 30+ cuts it.
The skincare industry in Australia is a tough one to crack into due to strict TGA laws, but once you earn our dollars, we’re hard pressed to change from a favourite when it does what we want it to.
mecca & adore beauty These industry powerhouses had been ticking away quietly for years before beauty went boom in Australia. Now, they compete for our obsession with all things skin. Mecca’s own ranges, Mecca Max (cosmetics) and Mecca Cosmetica (skincare) are well-loved by all, in particular their To Save Face SPF 50 Moisturiser and Sunscreen. Mecca Max is perfect for those who are new to makeup, don’t want to spend a fortune and/or love an easy, natural application. Adore Beauty’s playfulness is well-endeared thanks to the creation of their new podcast. The online retailer sells predominantly luxury skincare with a great social media presence and the one thing we all want: Tim Tams in our order deliveries.
kora organics While Miranda Kerr’s own organic skincare line has been revered for some time, Kerr has been busy behind the scenes getting new products-- usually with her key ingredient, noni-- out into the beauty-sphere as well as stocking them in new places such as Adore Beauty. Shop hero products such as the Rose Quartz Heart Facial Gua Sha to scuplt away toxins, facial mists, Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum and Turmeric Brightening Mask to glow!
go-to skincare Former beauty editor, Zoe Foster-Blake has founded a cult coral-hued skincare brand aimed at becoming your skin saviour. Stripped back and simple, with transparent descriptions, Go-To is perfect for everyday use and the everyday girl who just wants a cleanser to be a cleanser. Face Hero, a protective facial oil is the go-to of Go-To, with the newest addition to the family being Fancy Face, an oil-based cleanser. Go get! Images sourced from @meccamaxima, @koraorganics, @gotoskincare and @ereperezcosmetics
ere perez cosmetics
Mexican-born Ere Perez has quickly ascended the natural skincare chain from her HQ in Bondi. After being stocked online and in specialty organic stores, Myer decided that they couldn’t resist her native ingredient-derived cosmetics and skincare. Be intrigued by Quandong Booster Serum, Papaya SOS Marmalade (a luxe paw paw ointment), Oat Milk foundation, Avocado Mascara and Carrot Colour Pots, which act as lip and cheek stains. Tempted?
an envie magazine first
you do the talking got something to say? Each month, Envie Magazine is giving you, the readers, a chance to contribute your thoughts on important issues each month. We’re giving you creative licence to write about what’s significant to you, to the world, or simply talking about a topic that most don’t dare to address. Submit your writing to discussion@envie.com. Full terms and conditions via the Discussion tab on our website
discussion
natural disasters: navigating money and motivation online unpopular opinions: can we write positive opinion pieces? food delivery services: the demise of restaurant dining
dealing with crises on social media: generosity vs. greed We’re all feeling devastated for the communities throughout Australia suffering through a horrible summer of bushfires. A lot of us are from regional areas in Victoria close to those affected and have done all we can to help out with donations or packs to send to those in need. In a crisis such as this, social media has become an invaluable method of communication about current affairs and fundraising for emergency causes. In the last week of the Australian bushfires, awareness about the disastrous events have led to international support and assistance. Individual personalities have also joined in on requesting donations for various services, most notably Australian comedian Celeste Barber, who has created a crowdfunding page via her Facebook page and raised $40 million (and counting) in merely four days. However, through national and global action from small brands and large corporations, we have seen the rearing ugly head of crisis capitalism. Simply, brands using a national emergency to capitalise on sales rather than giving a cheque straight to organisations that are so desperate. Granted, some companies are small and cannot afford to part with large sums of money like bigger corporations can. But the idea that brands are earning money as well as donating a percentage is riling up a lot of fans and followers online. While a percentage donation is better than nothing, profiting from something deemed material or luxury in a time when so many people’s lives have been burned down is extremely vapid and disrespectful. In another grim turn, Instagram users wanting a boost engagement are using bushfire related hashtags to up their like count. And people have taken notice. One that I found was a vegan lifestyle profile that promoted a daily diet, using the post to detail a meal plan before a brief write-up about the devastation in Australia. Despite offering a weekend’s worth of profits from the purchase of meal plans, the copy could have been focused more on this than the sweet potato and tofu quiche they advised eating for lunch. The hashtags used included #bushfiresaustralia and #australiaisburning. The line between support and insensitivity is very thin. An influencer on Instagram even had the audacity to use the bushfire relief effort to get herself more work. She has posted on the platform to offer a 50% discount on her brand collaboration fee, with the other half being donated. Is something better than nothing in this case? While hundreds of firefighters, medics and drivers are working voluntarily around the clock, this influencer is trying to market herself for some free products and vapid promotion. A pretty horrible irony. Instagram has also been monitoring posts based on false information, which has already been rolled out on Facebook. The warning label is similar to those for graphic and sensitive content, but rather says ‘False Information: See Why.’ You can then view the post if you would like to. A lot of images have been shared around, in particular one of late that is an image of Australia from a NASA satellite showing the burning fires across the country. A warning label came up for this post on my Instagram feed saying that this was a misleading image—it is actually an artist’s visualisation of the bushfires that have occurred across this horrible bushfire season. Yes, Australia is burning. But we must avoid the spread of fake news (yes, that tired term), and fake imagery for the sake of dealing with this emergency properly. It would also be important for people to know to donate to a non-for-profit organisation or service’s own donation website rather than donating through Facebook— more so as supportive etiquette. The company recently removed a 5% transaction fee on donations made to non-profits . In Australia, fundraising for charitable organisations on Facebook raises no fees. It does however charge taxes and processing fees for personal fundraisers (1.77% + 0.30c). On a positive note though, the social platform is also matching donations to some causes such as for natural disasters. Let’s hope that $40 million from Celeste Barber doubles then. From now on (ideally with some forward action on climate change from the government to reduce the incidence of natural disasters like the bushfires), we must be smarter as individuals and businesses as to how we react to crises and raising money to help. -Offer bulk donations rather than capitalising on a disaster to help revenue with percentages of sales. -Think about giving whatever you can direct to the organisations, not through a secondary party like Facebook. - Keep content relevant when using hashtags about current affairs. It’s about giving money or goods, but also giving a shit, as someone on Facebook wrote.
This article was originally posted on www.hotglue.com.au/news Image: Maxim Tajer via Unsplash.
is veganism guilt in disguise? Let me paint a picture of some of the vegans that I have met. Often, they are passionate, opinionated, realistic and inquisitive. They may not bully me into giving up my $40 rib eye steaks at restaurants, nor send me live videos of animals being slaughtered. However, many vegans have confounded me with their completely ridiculous contradictions. The many times that I have discussed veganism with a vegan, or overheard the topic between others, hands that are gestured emphatically are later holding a rolled-up five dollar note to their nostril, or smoking a joint. Can vegans have fun? Of course they can, but promoting and sometimes persuading the positivity surrounding a plant-based, clean diet seems counterintuitive to late night parties and drugs. In this instance, I really don’t think you can have it both ways. Have a drink and enjoy yourself? Sure. Snort white powders and load up on hallucinogens at festivals? Is your body a true temple then? Veganism seems to largely stem from a debaucherous past, with a new life of clean eating and yoga supposedly making up for years of excessive alcohol consumption, drug taking and other high-risk behaviours. An individual in this situation has an “epiphany”, or more so that one last time they get so fucked up, their health or life is endangered. The revelation turns into starting over and recuperating the body due to what seems to be guilt-ridden redemption. I’m sorry body! Love me again! Here’s some kale and kimchi!
Also, to put a spanner in the works: how does anyone know if there are definitely NO animal products in drugs? What about some types of alcohol? While it is unlikely for the most part, no one who doesn’t have direct discussions with the Walter White in their life would know whether any animal derivatives were used. What about this for an idea: try some kerosene, a key ingredient in cocaine, and tell me if it’s vegan? You wouldn’t, would you? Lactose is believed to be in cocaine—an element of most animal-based dairy products. What about the effects that illicit drug production has on animals? What about the fumes emitted from hidden labs which leak into the atmosphere? I’ve personally never heard of an organic drug lab. Animals are therefore the collateral damage of drug and alcohol production, having their land—predominantly rainforests—farmed to plant marijuana or coca plants, or bulldozed for a brewery. Where are these green-living vegans now? This is not to say that the entire vegan population wreaks havoc on my rationale. I can see that eating a plant-based diet has marvellous health effects, and the macro- and micro-nutrient intake far surpasses many of that of us meat-eaters. Organic food is far better for you, and there has been evidence of a high red meat intake inflicting carcinogenic harm. Have I thought about changing my diet to a plant-based one? I will honestly say that I have. I love mostly all fruit and vegetables, and a lot of the vegan products on the market. Living a more sustainable lifestyle has been at the fore of many discussions of late due to the decline of our planet, and the conversation has often left me wondering why I shouldn’t. Let’s grow more ourselves, especially in urban environments, and live off the Earth—bring it back to life! I have very good friends of whom are vegan and whilst there have been intelligent discussions about it in the past, and my lovely friend is very impassioned, they let people get on with their own choices. They’re raising a newborn however they please, converting family members not by stealth but by facts and proof. You can see the benefits. She is an ethical and environmental vegan, which means she believes that it is morally wrong to kill animals for food. Fair enough. I have often seen covert videos of animals being slaughtered or images of the conditions they’re kept in. It’s awful, and admittedly I have a brief moment of, Damn, I shouldn’t be eating the poor things. But I think, as someone who loves the food industry, we need to get better at managing and controlling the methods of animal slaughter for food. Who are we buying from? I have begun to change my preference, especially for meat, to free-range and organic. I’ve bought free-range eggs for years. These certifications are labelled on packaging which helps greatly when shopping. However, when have you ever gone to a secluded warehouse abattoir to buy your meat? You just wouldn’t. Buy fresh from butchers and your “should be” vegan conscience will be happy that you’re buying good quality, humanely-farmed ingredients. At the end of the day, this is an opinion piece, just like your opinions. If you’re vegan, I’m sure you’re a lovely person. This article isn’t to defame or segregate but to present a view about what should be a clean and healthy lifestyle. It’s a trend that has been evident in my experience, and through research about the topic on the internet. Contradictions riddle our world, and whilst this one may not start world wars, it’s not exactly helping the causes that many vegans and Greens are fighting for. Climate change in all its facets is impacted by mass-production and destruction whether someone is building an abattoir or growing marijuana plants. It’s not good enough to say one is bad and the other isn’t to suit your lifestyle. How much are we really willing to give? Disclaimer: Efforts were taken to gain professional and personal insights from several people who all failed to respond by the print deadline. This article was originally printed in Swine Magazine, Issue 4, 2019. Image: NeONBRAND via Unsplash.
can we write positive opinion pieces?
Opinion pieces and editorials, or op-eds, are more often than not trying to convince you that something is bad. Change your ways! Don’t do that! Boycott that group! It got me thinking-- have you ever read a positive opinion piece? We all have so much to complain about, with social media and the internet as a whole giving us the perfect platform to do so. We’ve become a society that focuses on all of the bad in the world-- hell, there’s a lot of it-- rather than finding the brighter, optimistic perspective. While there are issues that deserve their time in the spotlight and deserve to be critiqued, there is definitely time and space to highlight the good in situations. Or write about something good happening in the world! This can be hard when, thanks to commercial news often being manipulated and/or biased, we need to report on what’s happening in the world that no one knows about. Have negative opinion pieces become a way to vent our frustrations? Quite possibly. In our social media-driven leisure time, some of us have lost the ability to engage in deep, meaningful conversations about topics that matter. Ironically, this is exactly what is happening on online forums and Facebook posts. Our need to purge our opinions and problems to other people is becoming extinct because often we cannot rely on our nearest and dearest to sit down without technology for half an hour and LISTEN. So how can we write a positive opinion piece? Perhaps, let’s not get caught up in news that doesn’t need any further attention. If the answer to the issue is straight-forward and logical, then most people will simply be logical about something. There doesn’t need to be a tsunami of identical articles flooding our newsfeeds, all ranting on the same side. If we begin having more intellectual conversations with one another, and expressing our concerns with more openness and vulnerability, then we may come out of these discussions feeling refreshed and empowered to do something good. And in turn, write something positive. I think our main problem regarding our moods and thoughts towards problems is potentially having no faith in the world and the people in charge of managing the big issues. Now, this may seem very gloomy and not at all optimistic, but is there only so much we can do? No. We need to do and say, and we need to do it bigger and louder. We’re in a changing world where content and conversations are more authentic, and the young generations (Gen X - Millennials) are rising up the ranks to enforce this change. It would be more beneficial to avoid sounding bratty about issues by writing our opinions positively rather than demanding action all of the time. (Sometimes, you gotta protest!) The thing with opinion pieces is that they’re meant to persuade and convince the reader. So, why not leave them feeling positive? Why not enforce some action rather than simply concluding the article with a sense of doom or frustration? Surely we can’t be so unhappy that we have to continually put everyone’s decisions and everything happening in the world. This is the Perspective Issue after all. Let’s start seeing the good in the world’s issues. Otherwise, make it good ourselves.
is food delivery ruining the dining experience?
We’ve all been in the situation. You’re sitting down in a restaurant or café and suddenly, there is a pizza box-shaped bag right next to your table. Tens of food delivery drivers are milling around the payment register or leaning across a bench with their phones in hand. Scooters are blocking entrances or frantically being parked to pick up the order for the waiting customer. In a city like Melbourne, with its amazing culinary culture and plethora of authentic and hybrid cuisines to explore, not to mention the interiors and spaces new restaurants are held in; is the ambience of dining out becoming unbearably interrupted? The positives of food delivery services may be inherently obvious to most people, however the social aspect of going out for dinner has largely become tedious and distracting. I clearly remember sitting in a Chinese dumpling restaurant on Bridge Road in Richmond, and there were almost as many delivery drivers as there were diners. The ambience was no longer there and the volume went up as a result due to competing conversations. My partner and I devoured our BBQ pork buns in near silence—not because we are an old couple who no longer talk, but because we couldn’t hear one another other speak. Of course, we primarily go out to enjoy food, socialise with friends and perhaps even disassociate from our worries a little bit, but we also go out to support businesses. Whether it is a conscious action or not, dining out helps local communities and gives staff the money that they need to live on. How many students do you think rely on people eating out at their place of work? When you use a food delivery app to order your dinner in, you are only giving a slice of the percentage to the business. A local business in Hawthorn, who did not want to be directly named, says even to generate more customers, it is “barely worthwhile for restaurants to be a part of the [food delivery] platforms” due to the commission of more than 30% raked in by the companies running the apps. Instead, this restaurant turns off the tablet alerting them with new orders to-go and focuses on prioritising, and minimising disruption for the patrons who could be bothered to get off their couch. Fonda, a Mexican restaurant on Glenferrie Road, has seen an increase in the amount of orders that they receive thanks to the food delivery epidemic. The business has created a personal system for their sites that doesn’t affect diners inside the restaurant. ‘The drivers that pick up the orders have specific instructions, and this does not affect the dining experience at all for our guests.’ Whilst food delivery services like Uber Eats, Foodora and Deliveroo are fantastic when you need them—hungover on the couch, feeding guests of an impromptu party, or simply pure laziness—the disruption that these services cause to the enjoyment of eating out has become a problem. Do we really have to head in to the city and spend small fortunes at nouvelle cuisine restaurants in order to not be disrupted? Comparatively, we must recognise that food delivery services were predominantly first used by take-away and fast food restaurants to capitalise on the increased revenue from homebodies. Another consideration is that we as consumers are not paying for ambience or fantastic service when we receive our $2 cheeseburgers and fries, unlike when we go and dine in at finer establishments. “We put a lot of effort into the appearance of our venue, the ambience, the service and so on, and diners ordering take-away definitely miss out on the experience [that] we work so hard to share,” the same local business rues. Since when did the idea of going out for dinner become so draining and monotonous, anyway? Thanks to our obsessions with Netflix and the like, we can be more comfortable sitting in our pyjamas alone on a Friday night eating home-delivered pasta alla carbonara than enjoying someone’s company (or no one’s, which is just as nice) amongst the buzz of a restaurant. “The food is never the same quality if it sits in a container to be delivered as it is…fresh out of the oven or the pan. The food is often mishandled by delivery drivers which reflects badly on the restaurant and is out of our control.” Ordering via an app and eating out of a plastic container is showing slight disrespect to the worked-to-the-bone chefs and menu creators who work tirelessly to provide the best tasting menu that they can. We are a species that demands the new and extraordinary as soon as we are done consuming the last fad, and this includes the food industry. In recent years, we have gone from various superfoods and umami flavours, to now exploring fermentation and urban cultivation. Restaurants are influenced by trends with varying degrees but cater to the ultimate foodie-- an increasing slice of Melbourne’s population. We must now stop thinking that our food desires stop where we buy our food and begin realising restaurants’ efforts to adjust to our demands too. Another negative aspect that we may not think about is the overload of waste caused by all those paper carry bags and plastic wrappings that our delivered food comes in. A sessional academic of sociology at Swinburne, Garrity Hill protests that the prevalence of food delivery services in the past few years has already reached the point of no return for our environment. ‘This waste is undoubtably placing an added strain on Australia’s already urgent waste and recycling crisis. Melbourne’s recycling infrastructure has recently reached its capacity for the amount of recycling it can process. Food delivery services are surely contributing to these problems.’ The only real way we can resolve the environmental issues surrounding food delivery (the plastic and waste, as well as carbon emissions from vehicles) is cutting off a few links of that chain and just heading down to the restaurant. Whilst there are still elements of a kitchen affecting the world we live in, we can sit down as use washable cutlery and perhaps even walk the journey if it is local. Burns up some room for dessert, doesn’t it? So maybe next time you have an urge to pick up your phone and select your bento box ingredients, call and make a booking at your favourite restaurant. This article was originally posted in Swine Magaizne Image: Thomas Peham via Unsplash.
the editor’s eye
Image: @toramusic
each issue a new topic and a look into the editor’s mind. this month? music. TO MAKE YOU FEEL Tora’s sophomore LP, Can’t Buy The Mood is on repeat. Saw them at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne and their energy live is palpable for a young band. Their lyrics make me ache. Deviate is my favourite, however you grow fond to all when you hear them live.
Image: Hypebeast
TO MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND Watch The Throne (2011) by Kanye West & Jay-Z made me appreciate rap music for more than its exterior. The issues spoken about in these songs struck a chord with me that has extended my love of this genre. Their passion is chilling. LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT Channel Orange by Frank Ocean was an album that had a big impact. Close you eyes and listen to every word. His voice alone is soothing enough but listening to his pain and emotion through it is searing.
IN MY HEAD ludens - bring me the horizon don’t start nowdua lipa sweat- idris elba & charlie ayo (ft. mai lan) [dub mix] ANTICIPATING... future nostalgia - dua lipa // flip phone fantasy ocean grove // ocean alley live in melbourne //
thoughts on... live shows? put away your phone and watch the damn show that you’ve paid for. Experience it. buying merch? only if the design is original, however I have been known to buy due to underdressing at outdoor venues. Also, the best sleepwear. “that’s not music”? if you couldn’t get up there and do it, don’t judge. Modern equipment has made music so much more creative and original. how to listen to music? in order. If you buy/download an album, the track listing isn’t just thrown together. Listen to how it’s been labouriously created.
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THE ATTENTION ISSUE april 2020 a presto