COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our lifestyles – we’re staying in (and we implore you to, as well). Life has changed. Drastically. While it’s not permanent, it’s a big shift, and we’re all feeling it. While you’re doing the right thing (spatial and social distancing + self isolating), we’re updating you with what you need to know about all the things you love. How you can still eat, drink, consume, watch and buy the things that bring you joy. How you can continue to support Australian businesses, artists, creators, makers and more. How you can stay amused, active, educated and entertained at home. How we can all stay connected to the things that make us us.
Here’s Sandi Sieger’s guide to what’s hot and happy(ning) this week. Eat, drink, buy, try, visit, read, be merry – iso style.
EAT: Cheese Talks
Vic Market’s cheesemonger Hakim Halim from RIPE Cheese started a series of online Cheese Talks masterclasses designed to connect Aussie cheesemakers with cheese lovers all over Oz.
RIPE sells solely Australian cheeses and challenges the notion that imported cheese is best. RIPE wants Aussies to recognise that we have some of the most talented cheese producers in our own backyard and Cheese Talks is a great opportunity to learn more about them.
Cheese Talks is a series of online cheese masterclasses designed to connect Australian cheesemakers with cheese lovers. Participants will taste amazing cheese (delivered to their home prior to the day of the event paired with either matching beer or wine) while learning (via Zoom) how their cheeses are made and where they come from directly from the people who made them.
The next sessions is Friday August 7 on the Barossa Valley Cheese Company.
For more info and bookings, click here.
DRINK: BYRDI’s Bottled Cocktails
The ‘fly’ cocktail delivery service and online shop at Byrdi is rolling! Inspired by native and seasonal ingredients, fans can order some of their favourite BYRDI signature bottled cocktails and staples delivered direct to their door.
The Bottle Cocktail Menu includes:
Bee Pollen Re-Fashioned – Sous vide Australian sugarcane spirit with wild bee pollen & BYRDI bitters $20 – $85
Wattleseed Negroni – Cold vacuum infused gin, bitters and vermouth with Australian Wattleseed $20 – $85
Fennel Pollen Sazerac – Sous vide infused brandy with wild Australian fennel pollen, lemon peel, sugar and BYRDI bitters $20 – $85
Lamington – Australian sugarcane spirit, cocoa butter, coconut oil and raspberry vermouth $20 – $85
Strawberry & Fig Leaf Gin – Cold Vacuum infused gin with Victorian strawberries and foraged fig leaves $20 – $85
Byrds of a feather flock together – THE WHOLE FLOCK! Available in 100ml or 500ml sizes $80 -$380
Shop the range here.
TRY: Snapchat’s In-App Meditation Experience With Headspace
The newest feature launched on Snapchat will provide Snapchatters with expert resources related to emotional and physical well being, while offering daily meditations and tools to help Snapchatters check-in with their friends and stay healthy.
During times of stress, connecting with friends and having moments of relaxation and mindfulness, have never been more important — and by putting resources front and centre where friends already meet and share, Snap’s Headspace feature hopes to provide a safe space for friends to practice meditation and mindfulness exercises, and use these new tools to send encouraging messages to positively boost friends in need.
Launched in 2010, Headspace is the best-in-class platform providing guided meditations, animations, articles and videos aimed to improve the health, happiness and mindfulness of the world.
Headspace has been a leader in our commitment to advancing the field of mindfulness and meditation through research. In 25+ published studies in some of the leading mindfulness peer-reviewed journals, Headspace has been shown to have favourable outcomes of interventions including reduced stress, improved focus, increased compassion, and decreased aggression.
Headspace employs an in-house science team which focuses on developing evidence-based interventions and clinically validating the benefits of Headspace through over 70 clinical research studies conducted by Headspace’s academic partners. The company also has one of the largest research pipelines of any digital health and wellness company.
BUY: Erstwilder x Carebears Range
Since its birth in 1982, Care Bears™ has grown to be one of the world’s most popular and endearing character sets. The Care Bears™ message of caring, sharing and compassion towards others has never been more important than it is today. As Erstwilder exists to ‘obsessively spread joy’ in the world through their products and platform, this new collaboration fits perfectly, as the Care Bears™ are brought to life once again, in an entirely new form.
The new Erstwilder x Care Bears™ range features all the characters in Erstwilder’s famous collectible resin accessories, with a 24-piece brooch, necklace and earrings collection, along with a set of 3 head and neck scarves, and an enamel pin set.
More: www.erstwilder.com
VISIT: Nobu…At Home!
Locals can treat themselves to a condensed version of Nobu’s typically restaurant-only menu, experiencing the luxury of Crown in the comfort of your own home.
All the Nobu favourites are available (including the famous Black Cod Saikyo Miso!), as well as a selection of signature cocktails, sake and Australian drops for isolation toasting.
To place orders, simply call (03) 9292 5777 before 2pm on Friday or Saturday and orders will be available for pick up between 5pm and 7pm from the Crown Towers Valet Desk.
READ: My Shadow Is Pink by Scott Stuart
Written by Melburnian Scott Stuart, My Shadow is Pink is the new children’s book making grownups cry. Inspired by Scott’s own son, the rhyming story is all about love and self-acceptance, and touches on the subjects of gender identity, inclusion and diversity.
In a family where everyone has blue shadows, this book is about a young boy born with a pink shadow who, more than anything else, loves to wear dresses and dance. The story is an empowering tale about daring to be different and having the courage to be yourself.
The idea for the story began when Scott’s son Colin wanted to dress up as Elsa to go to the cinema. He said there was no way he was letting Colin do that… alone. The TikTok video of the moment has amassed almost 5 million likes…so far.