Our print publication is back, better than ever before. Despite the neverending news media feeding us a plethora of equal parts optimism and pessimism, none of us really have the faintest idea what the short-to-medium-term future holds. But having hope for a brighter outcome gives us the motivation to keep going, in spite of it all.
Three weeks ago, a small team of our most passionate contributors gathered our collective resilience to pull together this issue. Our survival was paramount, our failure not an option. With the support of our strong community of both dedicated readers and generous advertising partners who have continued to empower us with their trust, we are here.
Our winter issue celebrates the best of what we have right on our doorstep, from proclaiming our love of Auckland, and supporting local, to exploring the best of the South Island’s iconic Queenstown. We shine a light on the restaurant dishes we longed for so greatly during lock-down. Contributing photographer Jake Terrey, and his model partner Matilda Dods, also share a glimpse into their life in isolation with a personal photo essay shot in their home garden.
But above all this, we also honour those Denizens who, in the face of all the odds, have chosen the path of resilience. Despite the inherent obstacles that have either been thrust upon them in the wake of COVID, or because systemic racism has made them have to work harder to be heard or seen.
Whatever the challenges, right here and now presents one of the greatest opportunities in our history to collectively accept that the world needs to change in positive ways.
We hope you enjoy the issue.
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While many of us are perfectly proficient at spending any amount of time (and money) on the latest treatments, products and gadgets for the skin on our faces, when was the last time you spared a thought for that oft-neglected area just south of the chin?
Phenomena like ‘tech neck’, for example, have prompted many to hone in on ways to prevent wrinkles supposedly formed by excess smartphone use (a sadly appropriate dilemma for our times), and damage from increased exposure to blue light from screens.
Phone addiction aside, the skin on our necks and around the jawline is prone to showing ageing earlier due to the thinner, more delicate skin in that area and, well, gravity.
Treatments to encourage a ‘snatched’ (taut) jawline in particular are on the rise, and an innovative new product from French skincare brand Sothys promises to focus on this very goal.
The Perfect Shape Neck Stretch Mask is like a sheet mask for your neck and jaw. Presented as a stretchy fabric in an individual sachet, it’s soaked in active ingredients like hibiscus stem cell extract, algae extract and almond seed extract, which aim to brighten, moisturise, lift and rejuvenate.
The shape was custom developed to fit the lower half of the face, so one applies it to the very bottom of the chin and jaw, pulling up either side and hooking the mask around the ears to enhance the stretch and pulling-up effect.
Having never tried anything like this before, I was certainly intrigued and excited to give it a go. I have to confess I’m not the biggest fan of sheet masks, finding them claustrophobic around my nose and mouth, however I had no such trouble with this one as it hooks comfortably onto the ears and around the jaw, leaving the rest of the face free.
Leaving it on for 15 minutes, I also used the gua sha tool I have at home to work the mask and its extracts even more into my jaw and neck — a technique I’d highly recommend, seeing as it doubles as a tension-reducing massage and helps absorb the products into the skin.
After removing the mask and any product residue further into my skin (this is a no-rinse product), I have to say the skin around my jaw and upper neck felt incredibly soft, and remained that way for the day.
While at the tender age of 28 I’m not yet in need of anti-aging products around my jowls, I whole-heartedly believe prevention is the best cure and so would definitely enjoy adding the Perfect Shape Neck Stretch Mask into my pampering routine.
When you have a specific craving, and want to see it realised, only the best version of that particular food will do. For an unshakeable — or even fleeting — hot dog craving, we recommend visiting the good people at Good Dog Bad Dog.
Situated within Commercial Bay’s Harbour Eats food hall and helmed by the team behind Gochu, Good Dog Bad Dog initially began life as a pop-up in Newmarket before it put down roots inside the bustling precinct, and we’re all much better for it.
The menu includes different variations of the universally-loved delicacy, including the Chilli Cheese Dog, Good Dog, a Pepperoni Pizza Dog and a Mac n’ Cheese Dog in addition to the more familiar Classic Dog.
The Chilli Cheese Dog combines a traditional frankfurter sausage with a house-made chilli mix, and cheese topping with chives, while the Good Dog comprises a vegan hot dog featuring shiitake mushroom, fried tofu, jalapeno and truffle mustard, and a vegan sausage, all encased in a bun that, according to the menu, will ‘suit it all’.
The Mac n’ Cheese Dog is pretty self-explanatory (yes, it’s a hot dog with the pasta dish dolloped on top), while the Pepperoni Pizza Dog involves a frankfurter topped with slices of pepperoni pizza and pineapple salsa.
We’re also very keen on the look of a recent addition — the Buldoggy — which tops a frank with bulgogi beef, Gochu mayonnaise, coleslaw and nori. It’s the mash-up we never knew we needed, but very much want to taste.
Great style permeates every area of Constance von Dadelszen’s (née Cummings) life. As the founder of vintage specialty store Love and Object, she has developed a deep love for objects that are both beautiful and individual, curating such pieces for her customers and clients. From vintage jewellery to homewares and floral arrangements, Love and Object is the place to go for things that will improve your space or jewellery collection. Exercising the same discerning taste in her role as creative director of womenswear for fashion brand Dadelszen, alongside her husband Eddie von Dadelszen, she certainly keeps herself busy. Here, the tastemaker gives some insight into a few of her other interests.
My personal style can be defined as: Timeless with a contemporary twist.
The last thing I bought and loved was: A 10ft palm tree for our entranceway.
An unforgettable place I visited was: We stayed at our wedding venue, Villa Le Fontanelle, in Florence during January. It was wonderful to be back at a place that had so many wonderful memories for us.
Next place I’d like to go to: I won’t be going anytime soon with a baby on the way but I’d love to stay at one of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust eco-lodges in Kenya. We sponsor a few of their elephant and rhino orphans via Love and Object and I’d probably cry with joy seeing them in real life.
An object I would never part with is: My engagement ring. Its design and history holds such a unique and special meaning for us. I’ll likely be obsessed with it for the rest of my life.
On my wish list is: Matching original mid-century light shades for the house. The ones that came with the house represent everything bad about 90s interior design.
The last thing I added to my wardrobe was: The Gainsbourg coat in cream from our [Dadelszen’s] new womenswear collection — available online soon. Its the most divine mix of masculine-inspired tailoring with such a feminine colour and fabric. However, I’m petrified of spilling something on it.
My style icon is: All-time muse- Lauren Hutton, contemporary style muse- Ilenia Toma.
The design (building, person, item) that inspires me is: The house we currently live in has been the most inspiring home for me yet. It’s an old dame that needs work but its craftsmanship has stood up to the test of time and its a little bit quirky. Since we’ve been here we’ve added some of my favourite items to our collection, its spaces have pushed us to think outside the box interior-wise.
My favourite app is:Pinterest, for instantly downloading all my thoughts on creative projects and it saves me so much time! I used to have stacks of scrapbooks that would take me hours to put together.
An indulgence I would never forgo is: Cafe purchased lattes, I can’t make a proper coffee to save myself.
If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city it would be: So tough! I love hunting for items when we go travelling and locally too. If I had to pick it would be Florence, for its mix of new and vintage fashion stores, amazing food, flowers and its antique stores.
I can’t miss an episode of: I was obsessed with The Last Dance on Netflix recently. One of the best docos I’ve seen, even if you’re not a basketball fan.
In my fridge you’ll always find: Buffalo feta or blue goats cheese.
My favourite room in my house is: Our bedroom; it’s still a WIP but it has one of my favourite pieces of art by Grace Wright and an art deco bedroom suite that looks like it’s from old world Hollywood.
I recently discovered: Journalling, I used to think the idea of writing down your thoughts about your day was a bit naff, but it helped motivate me and keep me calm during the crap days of pregnancy and lockdown.
The people I rely on for my wellbeing are: My husband and closest friends. I can turn to them no matter what and they get my sense of humour.
My favourite website is: 1st Dibs, I could spend hours looking at furniture and vintage clothing.
A gadget I can’t do without is: My phone. I hate it but it’s my lifeline for work and currently serves as a memory bank to counteract my baby brain.
The one artist whose work I would collect is (if price is not an issue): Rothko. No doubt about it.
The last meal out I had that truly impressed me was: I haven’t been eating out at all recently, instead, we’ve been ordering in house catering from our local Barulho. I love their take on elevated home-style cooking.
The best gift I ever received was: Serge, our dog. He’s the best.
The beauty/ grooming product I can’t live without is: A brow brush and gel. Mine slope downwards if left untamed, which only adds to my resting b*tch face.
If I wasn’t doing what I am, I would be: A museum curator, an archaeologist, an environmental lobbyist; I ‘d love to have many lifetimes so I could experience different careers.
I have a collection of: I come from a family of collectors so I caught the collectors bug from a young age. Fortunately, I’m able to “collect” vintage jewels and homewares for Love and Object and Eddie and I love collecting unique items for our home.
A great piece of advice I’ve received: You can never be everything to everybody. It’s a great piece of advice for anyone starting a brand.
Treat yourself with a delicious spin on a warming hot chocolate. More of a method than a recipe, this drink is so easy to whip up there’s no reason to delay.
Ingredients
Base: – 4 tbsp Fix & Fogg Chocolate Hazelnut butter – 2 cups milk of your choice (dairy or non-dairy)
For topping: – Whipped cream – Shaved chocolate – Crushed hazelnuts – Mini marshmallows
Method: 1. In a saucepan, gently heat milk until hot. Be sure to whisk milk so it doesn’t burn. 2. Add Chocolate Hazelnut Butter to hot milk and whisk until melted through. 3. Pour hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, crushed hazelnuts and extra chocolate.
Don’t let a soggy sock ruin your day. Finding the perfect winter shoe is an essential pursuit, and whether you’re after a versatile and tidy pair of sneakers or an all-weather boot, there’s sure to be a style out there for you.
1. The Casual Lace-Up Common Projects Derby Shine An elevated step up from the sneaker, this style solves the inevitable ‘smart-casual conundrum.
2. The High-top Sneaker Dior B23 High-Top Sneaker If logo-mania appeals but you just want to dip a toe in, so to speak, these Dior high-top sneakers are a good way to give the trend a try.
3. The Boot R.M.Williams Classic Craftsman Boots Perfect for inclement weather and suitable for almost any outfit, a good pair of boots will be with you through thick and thin.
4. The Oxford Dadelszen Alessia Lace Up Shoe Upgrade your look with a pair of modern Oxfords. This season, textural brown is surpassing heavy black in a tonal takeover.
5. The Sneaker Koio Capri Sneaker With post-Covid wardrobes putting comfort as a priority, a reliable sneaker will prove key for the new relaxed look.The Dress Shoe
6. The Loafer Gucci Loafer The ease of the loafer belies its sophisticated look. This is the ideal shoe for a man who loves luxury but loathes the effort that comes with it.
Beloved Eden Terrace cafe Coffee Pen has a cult following. Tucked away down Basque Road, this hidden gem has been a firm favourite since owners Yasuji and Fumi Hisai opened it in 2016 after moving to Auckland from Sydney. The pair spend their days providing customers with delicious house-baked sweet treats, hot lunch specials and topnotch coffee, and Coffee Pen is occasionally the site of community market events, bringing a throng of visitors from around the city. Stepping out from behind the counter for a moment, Yas gives us some insight into the duo’s interests.
The last thing we bought and loved was: Yasuji: A car last year – a Toyota Blizzard 1988.
An unforgettable place we visited was: Kaitaia. If we have the day off we speed up there to go fishing.
Next place we’d like to go to: Germany to see the arts, music and buildings.
An object we would never part with is: Yasuji: Technics turntables (SL-1200MK3D) and Vestax mixer (PMD-06 ProA). I got them when I was a teenager in 1996, and that’s when I started collecting records and CDs.
On our wish list is: A Kayak!
An indulgence we would never forgo is: Fishing in Kaitaia.
In our fridge you’ll always find: Beer.
Our favourite room in our house is: Not actually inside, it’s outside on the balcony. It’s not huge but we have a beautiful Auckland view.
The last meal out we had that truly impressed me was: At Apero. We had roasted savoy cabbage, parmesan & walnuts, and roasted cauliflower with goat’s curd, almond and mint.
We recently discovered: Yasuji: I love walking. I hated it before – even walking five minutes, but after lockdown I’m now happy to do 3 hours.
Our favourite website is:nepenthesny.com – a Japanese clothing brand.
The one artist whose work we would collect is (if price is not an issue): Tomoo Gokita, Henrietta Harris, Emma McIntyre.
The best gift we ever received was: Yasuji: A B&W Zeppelin speaker. My old friends gifted it to Coffee Pen when we opened.
The best book we read in the last year is: Subsequence, a semi-annual publication with features on arts, craftsmanship and culture. Kennedy Magazine, a biannual journal based in Athens, Greece. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling.
Favourite music we’ve recently been listening to: Jeff Parker’s album Suite for Max Brown.
If we weren’t doing what we are, we would be: Yasuji: I think it would be the same as now.
We have a collection of: Records and art books.
Top three favourite records in our collection: Its too hard to choose though… 1. Steve Riche Music for 18 musicians live 1978 ECM records (minimal contemporary music) 2. Head Nordic Tuesday 2002 from Insiduous urban records. (Jazz, Hip hop) 3. Tide & Ticked Trio Observing Systems 2003 from Morr Music (German electronica/dub/jazz)
I’m Oliver Green. I’m a glass-half-full type of guy! Except, with me, the glass is half-full with the blood of my enemies. I overheard some fuckin’ life coach say… or maybe I read it on the back of a tea bag or on a kindergarten teacher’s T-shirt, that practicing gratitude makes you happier. So. This is that. Welcome to a new column written by an angry, nihilistic, curmudgeon who is trying to be a better person by finding the good bits of life and focusing on them. So that my wife doesn’t make me go and live in a chicken coop. So… yay! (Etc.)
#1. How fuckin’ good is… dancing?!?!
I’m old enough to have seen Footloose in the movie theatre. The original one with Kevin Bacon. For those of you pretending not to know what I’m talking about, it’s a film about a boy named Ren McCormack who finds himself in a small town in America where dancing is banned. But Ren McCormack loves to dance. It’s very important to him. It’s how he blows off steam and celebrates the way his hair moves. So he takes it upon himself to teach the small town how to dance again and along the way he teaches them how to love, too. It’s a movie that made 12-year-old me want to live inside a learning-to-dance-montage with Chris Penn. Also, thanks to Lori Singer, I think it was the first time I noticed that women have nipples… a fact I haven’t unnoticed since.
Dancing is a sneeze your soul does. It’s an uncontrollable compulsion like some sort of benign haunting. It’s a very specific feeling that requires a physical response based on how honest you want to be with yourself. Limb flailing, shaking, shuffling, pointing, clapping and the making of faces, dancing is this unique moment where your intellect and ego hand your body over to your soul and let it turn you into a marionette. And all you can do is shrug and say, “this makes no sense… but okay.” And your ego becomes a dichotomous wreck, flipping from joy to fear with every song the DJ chooses.
But it’s good to let your soul be the puppet master — it doesn’t get much of a turn on the controls these days. We are all so self-aware and scared that the soul often gets left out, shunned, treated like a piece of gluten with rollerblades on. Our souls need honesty and integrity to thrive but it feels like those concepts have become nothing more than two of the 25 hashtags on our selfies making sourdough at dawn in our yoga pants (or whatever this month’s like-baiting affectation happens to be).
The soul can only grow and flourish in a state of abandon. Which makes dancing with abandon the sign of an evolved human being. Someone who has a rainbow aura, whose body odour smells like an AESOP shop. Who has ridden themselves of the shackles of the herd and truly no longer cares what other people think. Who can ascend the ladder towards a new frontier of human happiness (a place I imagine is populated by people who have let their Brazilian waxes grow out into pubic-hair sparrows nests, who write 87-word palindromes for fun, who laugh in original Latin and who are able to wear and actually pull-off Rick Owens).
There are no rules for dancing (which is the real reason men don’t do it — no one wins at dancing). That said, if you’re aware that you’re dancing when you’re doing it, then you really aren’t dancing. It’s like the Double Slit — a quantum physics experiment that asked whether consciousness could alter matter, and noted the odd behaviour of particles that were being observed. It concluded that the act of the observing, changes the outcome. When we dance with awareness, we’re like those particles. We change. We’re self-conscious. And we become sentient, a quality that doesn’t belong on any dance floor.
The dancing high-tide is toddlerdom. Toddlers are about as sentient as a spaniel. They are the embodiment of perfect dancing and we should all be working hard to shed our egos and be the music like we did when we were 50cm of who-gives-a-fuck-what-you-think-joy. We should all be jiggling and swaying, running and squatting and then probably shitting our pants and crying every time the music comes on. That’s an authentic response to Fleetwood Mac. If you don’t fall asleep on your face with a shit in your pants after every dance session then get back in your space ship and fuck off back to planet Trying-Too-Hard and have a kale douche, Sandra.
Self aware dancing is like self aware love-making. Have you ever had sex with someone who knows they are having sex and isn’t totally bamboozled by the whole thing? Those sex people. Yuecchh. The worst. But dancing is often the precursor to sex because its makes the soul horny. For beautiful people this might be because the dance floor is a place where you can see how someone’s body moves, and so the sex parallel is an obvious one. But for the rest of us lumpy uglies who dance like a corpse being pushed out the back of a stolen station wagon down a cliff, the way we make each other’s souls horny is by ‘Worsethanning’. You don’t know what that is because I just made it up but Worsethanning is a very sophisticated courting technique where you show your intended mate that you are worse than them at things. I am ‘worsethan’ you at cooking, analysis of movies, fashion, parenting or in this case, dancing. Worsethanning removes all the pressure from the moment and lets everyone just relax and let go of that fart they’ve been holding in since 2006.
That said, every dance floor comes equipped with some twat ‘Betterthanning’ and ruining the fun. Look, I get it. You’re a dancer. I’m cultured, I’m into ballet. But if you are good at dancing then dancing with us is not for you. Your dancing is not laced with the complicated emotions of doubt and fear and shame that it is for the rest of us. If you are good at dancing and it’s a chance to show off and do something downright impolite like ‘express yourself’ then thanks, but no thanks.
A sure way to make dancing not fun is to GO dancing. “Would you like to go dancing!?” No. That’s a terrible idea. I would like to go and drink in a dark room with music playing that, in any other context would sound like a crime being committed in a cutlery drawer and then let some invisible force pull me onto the floor for a dance. Lost in pleasure. Dancing is cathartic like crying, quitting your television or throwing a brick through a window. When done with enough abandon it will get your brain to microdose you with chemicals like serotonin.
In my visions of hell, I’m sitting in a chair. Next to me is a small man. In front of him is a giant book, in which is written everything I have ever said out loud. And then the small man starts reading out those things. To me. Forever.
Maybe the best thing about dancing is that you can’t talk when you’re dancing. Maybe that’s the point. When you’re dancing (and I mean really dancing) you can’t do anything else. You don’t have to wear a lanyard to do it. You don’t have to be good at it. You don’t have to go anywhere to do it. Just let your soul sneeze and make sure no one turns the lights on.
Set among dense vegetation in the Atlantic Forest of the Paulista Coast of São Paulo, the Jungle House is a fine example of architecture that seamlessly blends into the surrounding topography. Designed by lauded Brazilian studio mk27, the project takes advantage of its tropical surrounds and spectacular view of the ocean.
Projecting proudly out from the mountain range, the three-storey structure has a clear, pragmatic division between each floor. The ground level boasts a large wooden deck that acts as a generous shaded area for the children to play in as well as allowing full immersion into the lush surrounds.
Above this, the first floor holds six bedrooms, five of which have their own private veranda equipped with hammocks, while the top floor acts as the social hub of the home, housing the kitchen, living room and pool area.
The calm and welcoming interior contrasts the bright tropical theme encompassed by the exterior. With a brief to create a feeling of cosiness and comfort while also asserting a modern tone, a bold declaration is made in the living room with the inviting Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia. The iconic Saarinen coffee table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll projects a modern accent, while the Nepal chair by Paola Navone for Baxter brings a feeling of warmth and intimacy to the room.
With an ambition to showcase local furniture designers mastery throughout the home, perhaps one of the most standout pieces resides in the bedroom — the Anemone chair by the Campana Brothers for Edra, a contemporary statement that reflects the provenance of the home.
Architect: studio mk27 — Marcio Kogan + Samanta Cafardo
Interior design: studio mk27 — Diana Radomysler
Photography: Fernando Guerra
We might be harking back to the past with rose-tinted glasses (could you blame us, with this year so far?) but one thing’s for sure: they don’t make kids movies like they used to.
Make the most of inclement weather this winter and snuggle up with the family indoors in front of one of these classics from the eighties and nineties. Even if the special effects are a little more, shall we say, rustic than modern day, it’s part of their charm and we’re sure you’ll find they stand the test of time.
Labyrinth (1986) Jim Henson’s iconic film has it all: fantasy, adventure, great music, David Bowie in tights. A young Jennifer Connolly plays 16-year-old Sarah, whose baby brother is snatched by The Goblin King (Bowie) after she wishes him away. A treacherous quest ensues, as Sarah must traverse a confounding maze to rescue her brother.
The NeverEnding Story (1984) The NeverEnding Story centres on outcast kid Bastian Balthazar Bux (what a name). After he stumbles upon the book referenced in the film’s title in a book store, he begins to read and through his imagination is taken on fantastical escape from the real world.
Back to the Future (1985) “Marty McFly lives an ordinary life… and 1985 is not his year.” Rollicking Sci-Fi motion picture Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox as Marty, who accidentally travels back in time from 1985 to 1955, where he meets his future parents and becomes his mother’s romantic interest. In order to return to the present, he must make his high school-aged parents fall in love. How will he do it?!
E.T the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Who could forget a young Drew Barrymore’s ear-splitting scream as she discovers her brother’s new alien friend in their house? Invite E.T to return home to your screen for the next generation to discover, and re-live the magic yourself.
The Goonies (1985) Cult favourite The Goonies follows a pack of boys as they uncover a treasure map that, you guessed it, leads them on an exciting and perilous adventure. Searching for the long-lost treasure of legendary 17th-century pirate One-Eyed Willy, The Goonies encounter more than they bargained for.
Gremlins (1984) More of a PG-13 entry, this Steven Spielberg classic sees ordinary Billy Pelser receive an interesting pet, only to have it turn strangely dark as more about its habits are revealed.
Stand By Me (1986) No nostalgic movie list would be complete without coming-of-age film Stand By Me. An absolute classic, the performances of its young cast are incredible and genuine in the story about four friends who set off to try and find the body of another local teenager who was hit by a train while picking blueberries in their town. Charting that feeling of a seminal moment in our lives, after which we’re never the same, Stand By Me will leave you feeling all kinds of sentimental.
For more exclusive access to what the city has to offer, engaging content, excellent imagery and thought provoking commentary on the life that surrounds you, subscribe to Denizen magazine now.