Caprice news

As environmental concerns turn more and more people onto the benefits of the humble bicycle (and trend concerns onto the fixed gear version in particular), the need for bike friendly roads and greater safety awareness is growing; a point driven home by Ghostbikes. First spotted in St Louis, Missouri, Ghostbikes are curious and fairly eerie memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street; white-painted bikes that are locked to a street sign near the accident sight and accompanied by a small plaque. The ghostbike organisation and website was first set up by the NYC Street Memorial Project and now has a worldwide following - with the poignant installations having appeared in Europe, South America and Australia. Not only are the memorials visually quite haunting but also they serve to remind us - whether a cyclist or driver - to share the road with greater safely.

Meet Charlie the Unicorn. He is harassed, lured to Candy Mountain, drugged and cut open to have his kidney removed in just over 3 minutes. I recall sitting in my last ever uni tutorial watching this youtube clip with my class mates and very confused tutor. I, myself found the clip hysterical, while others facial expressions told a completely different story. Some sour pusses were murmuring under their breath "this is stupid… it's not even funny" while shaking their head in disgust. This clip will either have you rolling on the floor in laughter or sporting a face similar to one sucking on a lemon. Either way the clip has attracted over 19 million youtube plays in just over  a year. I struggle to understand what the fascination is with such a clip. Maybe it appeals to those with a wicked sense of humour (like myself)? Or maybe most of us would rather watch unicorn's playing in Candy Mountain than facing the boring reality of the office, the bills and the draining thought of what to make for dinner!

Inspired by the sophistication of New York and LA venues, and the tapas of the Mediterranean, Springfield’s Restaurant & Bar has brought ‘no rules dining’ to King Cross. Distinguishing itself from other Sydney establishments because of its mixed space – according to Licensee Erica Goldfinch “everything in Sydney is either a bar, a restaurant or a club" – Springfield’s wanted to create the spot where guests “don’t have to eat in a certain section and drink in another area”. They don’t have to stick to the Mediterranean menu either - there’s also a selection of hearty mains, food is served until the wee hours and wait staff wander around in Mavi Jeans and Converse trainers. Well, if the Sydney scene is in need of a breath of fresh air, who are we to challenge the rule-breaking glamour cities of the US of A…

Recently in the basement of an old Hackney shoe shop which has been converted into a kooky curiosity shop by London art mag Le Gun, Container and Simon Husslein hosted a tea party on the threshhold of a nightmare. After crawling through the winding wooden tunnelled maze of the haunted house, tracing the tale of the twins through intricate illustrations which mark the way, the wide eyed wanderer enters a poky room watched over by the evil twins. Two awkward young girls who dutifully and silently serve tea, sherry and biscuits in the claustrophobic interior of their eternal prison. A spooky, surreal, upside down Alice in Wonderland.

The other night, some friends and I spent the evening at Flying Fajita Sisters; a new Mexican restaurant On Sydney’s Glebe Pt road. Now, Glebe Pt Road can be a bit of a shitter for new restaurants (it’s not uncommon to see a “for lease” sign disappear, only to re-appear a month later) but I feel sure that FFS will prosper. Not only are the staff absolutely lovely, but the food menu is huge and the drinks list almost bigger, incorporating a good selection of Mexican (who new there was more to it than Corona?), Australian and South American beers; as well as wine, cocktails, homemade sangria and a tequila selection that itself takes up half a page. The reason we were here though was because it was Tuesday; and Tuesday night at Flying Fajita Sisters means $3 tacos and tequila shots- this is a mad bargain anywhere let alone in a city as exy as Sydney. Rest assured, we took full advantage and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. I suggest you do too.

I received a postcard for a new shop the other day that was advertising 'vintage clothing 1950's - 1980's.
Now, I don't know about you, but I don't consider 1980's as vintage. Sure it is old, some of its pretty cool in a Wham! kind of a way and some of it is just downright weird, but does that make it vintage?
In the wine industry the word vintage means harvesting wine grapes and the application of the word depends on the climate of growth.
Maybe it is the same with vintage clothing, you might sort through a bin of juicy pieces and pull out a delectable 80's dress, something with big shoulder pads. Then it just depends on the climate of your area whether you call it vintage or not!

Recently I found myself in a nightclub in Berlin on a  Saturday night, in the venue for the ‘Light Heavyweight Worldchampionship Chessboxing’ match. Yes folks, the ‘World Championship Chess Boxing’ match. Where German policeman, ‘Anti-Terror’ Frank Stoldt, after a tough battle, took the title in the 7th round against American David ‘Double D’ Depto, by checkmate.
A grilling match, a packed venue, enthralled spectators.
Chess boxing?
After I recovered from falling off my chair laughing in not-quite-certain confusion, I realised it was possibly, no, definitely, brilliant, and could be the most entertaining of any kind of sport viewing, this..err…2007.
Brains, braun, the whole friggin package.
And for those of you enticed enough to enlist, they’re always looking for new recruits.
Chess boxers wanted.