Video Watch - 20 January 2008

The Spice Girls – Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)

The Spice Girls eh? What a phenomenon, manufactured in a way that only the Poms can. And, back in 1996, it was all about Girl Power. What a beautifully elegant invention: bring together five feisty young ladies — vocal talents optional — board them in a share house, and unleash them on a teeny/tweeny market

Backchat - 5 January 2008

Inn Thing

I don’t think I’m being unfair when I say that hotels have been violently keel-hauled into the IT-centric 21st century. This issue we profile the Smart Hotel trend, and it’s been a long time in coming (the movement not the article). Commerce has been ‘double-duplexing their asynchronous PBX feeds’ for years but hotels have been

Backchat - 20 December 2007

Deltra Goodrem – In This Life

I don’t know how it came to be there, but right next to In This Life in my iTunes playlist is a little ‘dialog’ box that states ‘CLEAN’. This is Delta Goodrem’s latest, world-beating, power ballad that we’re talking about. Cracking song. Meanwhile, last issue’s Video Watch also comes with an iTunes warning, only it’s

Restaurant - 15 December 2007

Souk in the City

Souk in the City: 431 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW (02) 9357 7577 or www.soukinthecity.com Souk in the City is the latest venture by Omar Majdi, with interiors by Baxter Creative. It blends the allure of Morocco with the clean design that is demanded of Sydney’s design savvy diners. A unique opportunity for design director

Local - 15 December 2007

Ripples at Chowder Bay & AquaMine

Ripples at Chowder Bay: Deck C, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman NSW (02) 9960 3000 or www.ripplescafe.com.au Developers have been eyeing-off the old Chowder Bay top-secret defence base for years. Finally, this prime piece of Sydney real estate — with expensive views of Clifton Gardens and Sydney Harbour — can be enjoyed by anyone… well, it

Lounge - 15 December 2007

Minq Secret

MINQ Bar & Lounge: Burswood Entertainment Complex (08) 9362 7965 or www.minq.com.au Burswood Entertainment Complex has officially unveiled its latest venue: MINQ Bar & Lounge. NH Webb Architects, the design team behind the project worked within the existing infrastructure — the space was formerly used as private gaming rooms — keeping original wood panelling, intricate

Backchat - 5 December 2007

Apoplectic Chair

venue’s graphic designer, Dom, calls it the ‘screaming arse’. Which might be a tad brutal but it’s very evocative. I mean, there’s no doubting the power of the image in question — extreme, profound and unremitting discomfort. And we’ve all experienced it. After, say, 10 minutes you start to get a little restless… restive even…

Backchat - 17 November 2007

Maroon 5 – Wake Up Call (Director’s Cut)

Here’s a first: a ‘Director’s Cut’ version of a video clip. Right, well, we’d best suspend voting on the Golden Globes then… ‘Director’s Cut’ indeed… how very grandiose. Personally, when I think Director’s Cut I think of the cut that started it all: Blade Runner. Since then ‘Director’s Cut’ has been synonymous with ‘Boring Cut’

Backchat - 20 September 2007

The Chemical Brothers – Do It Again

It’s truly amazing what heights of creativity, what depths of emotion, what breadth of possibilities can be explored in a music video when a pop group isn’t fronted by some perky Pop Idol poppet. Check any music video chart you care to mention you’ll see the usual suspects’ names crop topping up with more monotony

Café - 15 September 2007

Cafe Carpet

Brisbane’s only 24-hour restaurant, Cafe 21, has been transformed into a modern, stylish eatery that caters for a wide range of tastes. The $1m refurbishment is a perfect example of how a heritage-listed building can be adapted to suit modern requirements without spoiling the original ambience. The dramatic red and black décor, white Laminex tables