Elizabeth Lum, Fashionable Eye Lifestyle editor
August 2010 - A word from the editor
Hey - get excited! Welcome to Fashionable Eye Lifestyle! This is our very first edition of the Lifestyle branch of Fashionable Eye fashion. After 2 years of writing fashion articles, we decided to diversify and cover even more areas that appeal to a wider audience. At this point I'd like to introduce my co-editor of Fashionable Eye Lifestyle, Elizabeth Lum, with this joint venture, Liz and I will tag team in 2009 to cover music, dining and recreation. We do hope that we can offer you with even more ideas to get out and experience something different.
How Fashionable Eye Lifestyle differs from other review and recommendation sites is that our writers are everyday people, just like you and me. With similar tastes and diverse interests. We hope you'll find something that interests you, so what are you waiting for? Go check out the mischief for yourself! Who knows you might find something that didn't interest you before. Of course we won't forget about fashion! A little style and trend is woven in every review- so if you want to know how to dress with style and have the appropriate gear for a day out- no problem.A five star rating system is used to let you easily compare one activity against another if you're having trouble deciding.
But seriously, just try them all haha. So over the next 12 months of 2010, every month you'll be introduced to another new music album, directed to another restaurant and pointed to a fun activity worth trying. So get in on the action this newest venture will offer, because I'm really doing it for you guys! Sighted or blind, this is the lifestyle of the 21st century.
Dawson Ko & Elizabeth Lum.
Fashionable Eye Lifestyle, Co-editors.
So Fresh: Winter 2010
So Fresh: Winter 2010
So Fresh is a compilation album that is only available in Australia. It is released every three months and contains mainly the top 40 hits of the season. Almost every So Fresh album is rated No. 1 on the ARIA chart 'Compilation List' since 2000, selling well over 140,000 copies every season. This 2010 Winter collection contains a CD of 20 of the freshest hits, and a DVD with 12 of the hottest clips out.
The CD contains the freshest hits of this season, opening with "OMG" by Usher, and ending with "Closure" by Scarlet Belle; the tracks show individual character and each stirs something utterly different.
The CD contains a variety of songs; some very fantastic in terms of its artistic presentation, and some less so. The songs that amazed me from beginning to end are Rihanna's "Te Amo" and Venessa Amorosi's "Mr Mysterious"; both with moving melody and fantastic treatment to sound and its effect - a real satisfaction to the acoustic! There are songs with exceptional chorus - "Just Say So" by Brian McFadden; "Break your Heart" by Tai Cruz; "If We Ever Meet Again" by Timabaland. There were two tracks that pursued originality and sensitivity; although the result wasn't exceptionally moving - "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train, and "Dog Day Are Over" by Florence + The Machine; with a heavenly touch in both.
The blend also contains some songs that lacked the passion of creating something from the soul, which is what artistic expression is all about.
"Baby" by Justin Bieber - a good try; some nice melody, steady beat, but the Bieber voice and his treatment of sound was just too monotonic and plain. "OMG"" by Usher was quite original, but I think that a true artist should not take advantage of modern technology, and by fitting different elements of technology together like a jigsaw puzzle does not make a good musical song.
Overall this compilation of So Fresh: Winter Collection 2010 was impressive; some outstanding songs from the top rank artists of the day. This collection reflects the spirit of song making in the modern world, and the passion in expressing an individual's thoughts, feelings, emotions and ideas through the making of songs. I hope that you will also enjoy this exceptional CD because I loved it!
Sophie recommends So Fresh: Winter 2010and gives it 4/5 stars.
(CD reviewed by year 11 'Work Experience' writer Sophie Xiao Qi Chen.)
Sepia
Sepia
201 Sussex Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Cuisine: Contemporary Australian
Food: 9
Ambience: 9
Service: 10
Value: 7
If your idea of the perfect night out is contemporary Australian cuisine that leaves your tastebuds fluttering, and where service is so attentive it borders on extravagant, look no further than Sepia.
Sepia is tucked into the underbelly of the PricewaterhouseCoopers building on Sussex Street. We walked into a quiet atmosphere where dim romantic lighting and pools of yellow light mingled with mahogany tones.
You will find that service at Sepia is impeccable. Guiding hands welcome you to your seat and napkins unfold themselves out onto your lap. Point to any item on the menu and your personal table waiter will enthusiastically describe the nuances of how each dish is prepared and served.
Even before the food arrives, you will notice that the menu items are curiously compelling in their complexity. We decide on two entrees - firstly the Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare with Dashi Custard, Avocado Cream, Crackling and Nori Salt; followed by the Queensland Spanner Crab and Buckwheat Risotto with Mustard butter and Shellfish Essence.
Mains include such options as Slow Roasted Japanese Pumpkin with Braised Mushrooms, Raised Witlof and Quinoa; and others like Roasted Aylesbury Duck Breast with Braised Almonds, Almond Milk, Mandarin, Date Jus and Licorice Powder.
Each plate was beautifully presented. Flavours were crisp and composed to delight the senses, beginning with the complimentary Amuse Bouche (the pre-entree, or 'amusement for the mouth') of cuttlefish consumme - which is a heady mouthful of soup-like distillate, fragrant with a molluscine aroma. For these two diners, Sepia rounds out an all-star performance with a lip-smacking finale, which is a dessert inspired by the classic Mango Weiss bar: a bar of mango, vanilla and macadamia icecream topped with marinated pineapple pieces hidden by white foam and topped with nasturtium flowers, with a line of lemon sherbet on the side.
Entrees will set you back $24-$27, mains $38-$45 and $18-$28 for desserts. Don't expect large servings, but do expect to feel more than satisfied with your dining experience. Sepia is definitely more about quality than quantity.
Appropriate dress attire for eating there includes business, chic, fancy cocktail and dinner party wear.
Grace recommends Sepia and gives it 4.5/5 stars.
(Guest review by Grace Teoh of foodchaser.)
Riding In Cars With Boys
Riding In Cars With Boys
Ain't no Drew Barrymore here, but there most definitely is a car and some mad road trips.
The good old Aussie road trip driven in the Aussie icon Holden Commodore cruising leisurely along the Great Western Highway sounds superb, however we're Gen Y, and we're young and restless!
So here is the 21st Century's version of the Great Aussie Road Trip. First of all, the car, this is the tricky part.... if you have a group of 4 people intending to participate in this roady, just one person must have a "mad car", and a willingness to share, meaning.... letting others drive your baby as well. Hmmmmm........ a little worried? *smile*. A mad car could be defined as any car which Goes, is a head turner, and has some creature comforts within the cabin.
Second is a group of people who appreciates motoring, third is a good collection of music. And last, is a route... not a destination.... but a route.
So throughout the month of July we've been road testing this concept, we tried all different combinations of passengers and drivers. Different selection of Cds, and a variety of urban routes.
And the conclusion was...... its a heck of fun, when you have the ideal car! The ideal collection of people who all enjoy a great ride! Always have your finger hovering over the skip button on the steering wheel, just in case you're stopped at the lights and Brittney Spears is still booming from the sound system. And we found that, when you're in any "mad" car, any urban street will do.
So next time you have a day to spare, a group of mates, an ipod, and the right car, go for it! Try the 21st Century's version of the Great Aussie Road Trip!
Dawson recommends riding in cars with boys and and gives it 5/5 stars.