In The City Canberra

Faces of Hollywood glamour

2011-02-24T17:55:00.000+11:00

To be continued... Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

Where there's a Will

2011-02-24T17:51:00.000+11:00

Naomi Fallon interviews Will Steffen for In the City autumn 2011.

To find out more, make sure you get your hands on a copy.

The 40 minute challenge at Kingsleys

2011-02-11T10:08:00.001+11:00

By Rahima Saikal

I don’t know about you, but lunchtime on a working day is always a conundrum for me. I only have an hour, so do I eat something bleak from the industrial suburb I work in, or do I venture out to the city, take 15 minutes getting there, 10 minutes to find a car park, 10 minutes to reach the eating destination and then another 40 minutes eating a meal?
This year my new year’s resolution was to make sure I took a proper break and ventured into the city more, but not four weeks back into the swing of things and I more often than not find myself opting for the quicker, easier option of staying close by.
That’s why I was excited to test out Kingsley’s 40-minute express menu...

From the time you sit down, your two-course-plus-drink meal should arrive within 40 minutes. Running since the beginning of January, it’s ideal for those who have to get in, eat and get out within the hour. At $18.90, it’s generous, too.

For those of you who know it, Kingsley’s is a classy establishment. We were met by friendly wait staff who promptly seated us and explained what was on offer.

The meal kicks off with a tasty Rodriques chorizo, a quaint, freshly baked loaf of sourdough bread and aioli. Then you get to choose from one of three main dishes; crumbed whiting fillets, 200g Riverine minute steak or a Riverine steak sandwich, all served with chips or salad. You can also complement your meal with a glass of house wine or beer.

This delicious deal is available Monday to Thursday from 12pm.

Marcus Irwin, head chef, has been at Kingsleys for three years while second head chef, Michael Taras has been there for three months. Originally from Germany, Michael has worked with French, German, Asian, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. The joined expertise and skills of these two chefs certainly shows in the food at this buzzing city establishment.

Got our cover shot today!

2011-02-09T12:54:00.001+11:00

We ~~hope~~ know you'll be as delighted as we are with it.
A special shout out to Italian and Sons restaurant on Lonsdale Street, Braddon for this rich, romantic location. A big thank you to Cataldos hair salon for the fabulous job on Nicole's locks and Berni Cording for the make-up.
Oh, and of course our stars - Nicole and Darren Dimoff, thanks for being fabulous!

The Post with the most

2011-02-08T15:17:00.000+11:00

The witty and pretty Danielle Post en route to the shoot location for her appearance in the autumn 2011 edition of In the City magazine.
Out Monday, February 28 - to find out more, make sure you get your hands on a copy.

The mood wall

2011-01-24T17:18:00.002+11:00

Meet the mood wall.
Incase you've ever wondered about the creative process that goes behind the 'feel' of each issue of In the City magazine, the wall is an excellent sample.
This wall belongs to the workspace of Mils, our head designer, and represents a tangible manifestation of the process. Pieces of inspiration come together and soon, a pattern emerges, and this is how the magazine creates itself - almost organically.

Oops - sorry Omar!

2011-01-14T17:20:00.003+11:00

Hi, I'm Dione. That's me on the right, adjusting the flash to point adequately at the subject, Omar Musa. Unfortunately for him, just as he obligingly peered straight into the flash to help instruct me, it went off.
And that's how we almost blinded one of the nation's finest spoken poetry artists.
Not one of our finer moments, but luckily Omar is a sport, and gave us a brilliant performance to inspire my story. His performance made my heart race and the hairs on my arms stand up. As writers, words are our passion and our livelihood. We pride ourselves on our ability to craft words and "sum up" moments, if you will.
Sometimes, however, we fail - and that's when it's time to bow out gracefully and just implore the audience to experience the thing for themselves.
I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing the eloquent Omar, and indeed, writing the article Slamming the Sceptics for In the City autumn 2011. But I am telling you - nothing compares to the real thing. Go and see him, and his contemporaries, at the Canberra Theatre Centre this season.

Out of the Blue - In the City Summer 2010/11 Photoshoot

2010-12-13T10:02:00.000+11:00

A case of the Casey fever

2010-12-03T12:32:00.002+11:00

Casey Donovan - what a doll. Perhaps it's my sense of pride, but I always get my back up a little when I'm sent to cover the celebrity yarn.
Aloof air in place, I was ready to show this 20-something diva that not all us mere mortals get stars in our eyes in the presence of fame.
Half an hour later I walked out of the Canberra Theatre Centre feeling like I'd met a kindred spirit.
Eloquent, media-savvy and just plain lovely is Casey Donovan. I kept having to remind myself all through the interview just how young she was, and again that night when she treated a VIP crowd to a rendition of Heard It through the Grapevine. I'm not sure how someone with such a set of pipes can be so down to earth, but I hope the lesson sticks after this particular brush with fame.
See the full article in In the City summer 2010/11.

Cream of a very tasty crop

2010-12-03T12:14:00.002+11:00

The delights highlighted in the 20 Summer Treats spread in In the City summer 2010/11 made our mouths water; perhaps none so profusely as Dieci e Mezzo's macaroons.

French pastry chef Eric Menard whips up the mouth-watering treats at the premises on a daily basis.

Slightly crunchy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, the gentle tang of the creamy fruit filling will drive your senses wild.

There are four summery flavours to choose from in these brightly coloured and perfectly rounded French delights: Mandarin, strawberry, passionfruit and pistacchio.

At $4 each, they're the perfect treat to enjoy in the shiny new setting of Dieci e Mezzo at the bottom of ActewAGL House on the corner of Bunda and Mort Streets.

Make sure you partake of the article in In the City summer 2010/11.

Out of the Blue: in front of the lens

2010-12-03T11:56:00.005+11:00

Lesley Johnston, Make-up Artist

Predominantly involved in fashion and dipping into freelance television and celebrity event make-up, Lesley has been working with make-up since 2006.
For Lesley, it’s not just the creativity of make-up art, but the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people that keeps it interesting; “Every woman is different in what she needs to feel beautiful and I enjoy finding out what that is and showing how to achieve that look.”
Keeping “obsessively” up-to-date with current looks for each season, Out of the Blue was her latest project; “For this shoot my inspiration was drawn from the colours and looks of summer,” she says.
“Golds, teals, greens and a strong brow. Also I deliberately broke away from the old ‘eyes or lips’ rule to do both colourful eyes with bold lips – this is just one of the new looks coming for the next season, expect to see it more and more in the coming months.”
Email: lesleyaajohnston@gmail.com or visit www.lesleyjohnston.carbonmade.com

Eleanor Daly, 22 Out of the Blue photoshoot Model

Born and raised in Canberra, Eleanor is about to begin her final semester of a law and commerce degree at ANU.
In between, she works at a wine bar in the city on weekends and at a café in the city during the week.
Beauty and brains are mixed with a laidback outlook; “I am not sure what I will do with my degree but I am crossing my fingers that an amazing job awaits.”
The last of the models to join Out of the Blue, she loves her lifestyle in Canberra City.
“Living close to town makes life easy,” she says.
“I am really excited about the coming summer and looking forward to the longer days. This summer I am going backpacking through Southeast Asia. I hope it will be a mix of adventure and relaxation.”

Carla Brown, 23 Out of the Blue Photoshoot Model

Taking advantage of Canberra’s changing seasons to split time between the beach and the slopes has been a big change from the Northern Territory climate Carla grew up in.
“I love how Canberra City has become a great place to go out for dinner and cocktails with friends and also a bit of dancing,” she says.
An aspiring medical imaging student, Carla likes to live life spontaneously and try new things – the very attitude that landed her in Out of the Blue; “The In the City shoot was a lot of fun, although we experienced a variety of weather changes throughout the day, which kept everyone on their toes,” she said.
“The best part of the day however, was finally being able to cool off in the pool for the last shot after a long day shooting in the sun and heat.”

Tess McGinness, 21 Out of the Blue Photoshoot Model

Currently signed with the biggest PA agency in Sydney Grayboy The Agency and working as a singer, dancer and actress, Tess aspires to travel next year and take classes in America and Europe and intends to move there permanently to pursue the many job opportunities in Los Angeles or in London.
A firm believer that “everything happens for a reason”, however, she adheres to her mother’s adage; “you can't arrive before the journey”.
Originally a Canberran, she came all the way home to appear in Out of the Blue.
“It was such a highlight for me,” she says.
“I worked with an amazing crew, gorgeous models and had the privilege of wearing some amazing summer pieces. It was great to come home and work with some outstanding homebred talent. Canberra holds some incredible artists.”

Delightful dwellings

2010-12-03T11:43:00.002+11:00

In the natural course of writing for a magazine like In the City, one creative leads to another. One success story leads to another. One fashionista, one business heavyweight, one philanthropist and so on.

As such, we have no fear of running short of ideas for articles. High-flying lawyer Emma Hlubucek made an appearance in our spring 2010 photoshoot Urban Clique, during which we stumbled onto the concept for this article. A glimpse of her plush apartment in the heart of the city was all we needed to be inspired.

Emma's ambition spills over into all areas of life, and her immaculate apartment is testimony to that. We were inspired by her pop stylings and forraged about the city to find out how readers could channel a bit of Emma.

Make sure you check it out in In the City summer 2010/11.

Do you live in the city? Are you proud of your pad? Think it might be a candidate for My Home in the city? Write to us and send some pictures of the quirky features, interior pizzazz, decor, design, art or architecture. We'd love to share your interior design finesse with our readers.

He won!

2010-11-23T17:37:00.004+11:00

Meet the ACT Local Hero 2011. Alan was nominated by our very own Joni Scanlon who, while interviewing him for In the City Spring 2010, was moved by this man's remarkable dedication to the Salvation Army. We followed his progress closely: from making the short list, to the finals and finally, to his victory. Cheers went up in the office, but none so loud as Joni's, who was lucky enough to attend the night.

"To see him accept the award in front of a packed hall full of admiring people was such a wonderful experience," she said.

"He was gracious, thankful and just a little bit cheeky in his acceptance of the award."

Rapt that Alan was recognised on such a prominent platform, Joni said the acknowledgment couldn't have gone to anyone more deserving or humble; “Alan is an approachable man, with plenty of time for everyone," she said.
"He loves a chat and is deceptively observant of the comings and goings around him when he collects.
"He is passionate about the work the Salvation Army does and truly cares."

So if you happen to visit the Canberra Centre any time soon, make sure you swing by Alan's way, say "hi" and a hearty congratulations.

Coco didn't make the cover

2010-11-14T22:29:00.002+11:00

Coco the dog was not actually part of the plan.
I know, hard to believe - she just seems made for this shot. We spotted this designer canine tottering through Glebe Park enjoying the warmth of the day and simply couldn't resist her. A big thank you to the very obliging owner who let us borrow her for a shot or two - the camera loves her! So much so that this was originally our cover shot.

We first envisaged the lovely Miss Luton and her boyfriend Daniel Saunders enjoying an urban bike ride through the city. The shot just wasn't working for us, and when some early showers began to rain on our parade we moved the show to this beloved green space.

By then the rains had stopped and there was this angelic, post-sunshower light filtering through the canopied pathways. It resulted in the shot that bumped poor Coco off the cover (but we still love you, girl).

It was a unanimous vote, there were no two words about it. When we saw this shot, we knew it was our Summer 2010/11 cover. A far cry from what we first envisioned, but in this business you learn to roll with the punches.

We think this shot really captures on film Canberra City through our eyes - spacious and beautiful. We hope you like it, too.

For the behind-the-scenes shots of the cover shoot, visit the Gallery.

Civic Pool never looked so good

2010-11-13T21:07:00.006+11:00

Conveying that feeling of immense freedom that signals the end of another Canberra winter, this season's fashion shoot was entitled Out of the Blue.
On the day of the shoot Civic Pool was flaunting its summer appeal - sun-soaked skies and water glistening with a hundred-thousands sparkles played backdrop to this season's latest looks.
Add three gorgeous girls, the colourful ensembles of head stylist Miled Achi and his precocious assistant Lisa Tea and the photography of our Rohan Thomson - and you're onto a winner.
Get the full picture at the Gallery.

Yes, they are from the same family

2010-10-21T19:00:00.001+11:00

Marijana Ana Diana

Oh, I know. And here's the clincher: they not just beautiful, they're vivacious and successful, too.
Irritating, isn't it?

By Dione Van-Heer

There's not a self-respecting culturazi in town who doesn't know the Derek sisters Marijana, Ana and Diana - the co-owners of itrip iskip fashion boutique in Braddon. Being self-proclaimed fashionista myself, I very eagerly put my hand up to cover this story.
I conducted my interview with the girls inside the boutique before opening hours. Outside, Braddon was slowly waking up and taking a stretch. Businessmen were scurrying into Debacle next door, hoping rather than believing they could get their coffees in the two-and-a-half minutes left before punch-in time.
Perched on a bourgeois chair, surrounded by pretty things and feeling pretty smug about my access privileges, I looked around the store with a slightly open mouth. A red piano looked back at me.
Diana told me how one day, an elderly lady had shed tears of joy over that piano. It kind of set the tone of the interview - there was something quite out of the ordinary about this store and its quirky, brown-eyed owners. The girls all had different priorities in life, led different lives outside of work and played different roles in their success, yet the common thread of family and childhood tied them closely together.
Without revealing too much, I can say it wasn't those pretty faces that won these girls their place at the top of the Canberra retail landscape: they're gutsy, hardworking, determined and passionate about what they do. Their professional lives spill into their day-to-day almost organically.

Make sure you catch the full story in In the City Summer 2010/11.

What makes the cut?

2010-10-02T11:45:00.002+10:00

Still swimming in the progressively muted glory of the previous issue, it always comes as a bit of a surprise when the powers that be announce it’s time to start the next.

An small clutch of people from each department – advertising, editorial and design – is invited to the Boardroom. We use this room because the table is big, and made of wood and makes us feel pretty awesome.

The quarterly brainstorm commences – we go around the table, each presenting our ideas for content. The advantages of working with such a diverse body of people always reveals itself at these meetings.

We each have our sources and a different agenda, and I always find it interesting how these things influence the ideas presented.

Louise (Lou) Irwin, for example, is a writer who has always wanted to make a difference any way she could. Among her main ideas (which will all be revealed in the fullness of time) she was adamant to cover a story on ACT Animal Liberation. I am ashamed to say that this story didn’t actually make the first-round cut but, as you will see, eventually squeezed itself between the pages and we’re really happy it did.

Mils on the other hand, approaches things from a design angle, inevitably resulting in a sprinkling of visually-stunning lifestyle, food and fun trails (see: 20 Summer Treats and Kiddy City).

Our well-connected head of advertising, Fiona, always pitches fresh angles on locals businesses and new additions to the city’s restaurant and retail offering.

We’re just a collection of people, however, and suffer under no illusions that we’ve got it covered. So if you, the reader, have any ideas for a story – whether it be one of the hundreds of people contributing to the richness of our city, an event that’s flying under the radar or a new business with a quirky angle – comment here or write to us at inthecity@canberratimes.com.au

We just had the In the City summer 2010 launch

2010-10-01T16:20:00.000+10:00

Wow. It seems like just yesterday we were putting the spring issue to bed. All I can say is:

Photography in motion

2010-08-31T10:17:00.000+10:00

The Intellects

The Rebels

The Artists

Meet our "Clique"

2010-08-27T11:30:00.004+10:00

On the search for Canberra's elusive soul

It was kind of like vintage shopping - we had to know where to look, and do our fair share of foraging, but the gems that formed our 'urban clique' were definitely there. That's the thing about the people of Canberra - there is so much more to it than meets the eye. Individuals form the fabric of a city's cultural landscape, and in the process of creating this photo shoot, we discovered that Canberra has a very rich and eclectic tapestry of people.

The artists

ADAM JOSIAH VEIKKANEN, 23

Artist

"I have always thought myself too young to giving other people advice, but at the moment I think 'being creative helps' with a lot of things, I also think 'everyone is an artist' we just choose to be selective about what is and what isn't art."

Adam’s work has revolved around subjects such as obsessive compulsiveness, creativity, normality, general philosophy and natural phenomenons.

ALEXANDER BOYNES, 28

Canberra Contemporary Art Space Gallery Administrator/Visual Artist

"There are so many hidden gems in Canberra, I’m always amazed at how many internationally renowned artists we have living in such a modest city. I work with so many interesting and talented people on a day-to-day basis, I really enjoy being around passionate people, and I get paid to look at art!"

Having studied Gold and Silversmithing at the Australian National University School of Art, Alex now makes works that cross between painting and printmaking, using light, which he calls ‘electric drawings’. Check out his website www.alexanderboynes.com

LAURA BOYNES, 25

Professional Contemporary Dancer

"I love the arts institutions in Canberra! For example Gorman House where visual arts, dance and theatre are provided with a creative platform. As a traveling dancer having a place to return to in order to make work in a supported environment is really important.''

Laura was born in Canberra, beginning her dance training with the Canberra Dance Development Centre and Quantum Leap. She currently shares her time between Perth and Canberra as a dancer, choreographer and film-maker and is a member of "Buzz Dance Theatre" (Perth) and newly formed "Autumnal" (Canberra/Sydney).

ALEXANDRA (LEXI) SEKULESS, 22

Actor by night, PA by day

"Be prepared to scrap your plans, flexibility will bring surprisingly better options."

Lexi grew up in Canberra, worked for REP, Free Rain at the Canberra Theatre and at The Q. She has travelled to London numerous times to study and is set to make a permanent move to begin at the Central School of Speech and Drama in September.

LISA ANNE TWOMEY, 21
Artist

" 'To cover my nervousness I started eating an apple. Because I think if they hear you chewing on the other end of the phone, it makes you sound casual!’ (George in Seinfeld). Not really a mantra... but I do like apples.”

Lisa grew up in Canberra but has travelled extensively throughout Europe and Asia and South America. She has had "infinity" cafe and retail jobs, but she's really excited to be living off painting and making crazy clothes.

The fashionistas

CLARE CAMPBELL MOONIE, 31

Salon Manager, Cataldo’s

"One should always dress in fashion that suits them rather that following trends, that way you will always be in great style."

Having always had a keen eye for fashion and a passion for engaging with people, Clare has found her dream job combining customer service with a team at Cataldo’s that create beautiful hair.

SABRINA DAMIANO, 23

Marketing Assistant for a beauty company

"Be super sweet to everyone you meet because everyone you know is fighting their own battle. Oh and orange is a fruit not a skin colour."

Born and bred in Canberra, Sabrina spent four years at uni doing public relations/marketing, and six months living in Europe. She in the midst of her thesis about the Barbie doll and her cultural impact on society. She owns 17 different mascaras.

WILL MEYNINK, 27
Store Manager, SABA

"I love Canberra’s suburban shopping centres, many have great restaurants, bars and boutiques that visitors to Canberra often miss out on. Start a night out at a suburban restaurant like Pulp Kitchen at Ainslie shops and kick on later in the city at Tongue & Groove."

Will grew up in inner-north Canberra. He studied at the Australian National University and has a Bachelor of Psychology, and has travelled throughout South East Asia and USA.

ANGELA MENZ, 26
Designer/ Milliner/ Retail Assistant

"To quote fashion designer Vivienne Westwood - You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes."

Born and raised in Canberra, Angela loves being surrounded by fashion, be it designing, making or selling fashion and accessories.

The rebels

MAY RUSHMER, 23
Tattoo artist, Freestyle Tattoo

"I just try to take each day as it comes, remembering not to sweat the small stuff."

May grew up in a mix of Chinese and Australian cultures. She managed to achieve an artistic eye from a young age, which has proven to be a defining part of who she is today. As her job lends her creative license, she is both satisfied and humbled by those who come to her and ask for work in her personal and unique style.

ROWAN MARSH-CROFT, 23
DJ / Noise Peddler

“Whether you think you can or think you can't; you're right.”

Rowan has always had fairly eclectic taste in music and has played many different instruments over the years (master of none). He started mixing via a single turntable and discman back in 2003 , finally investing in a decent pair of turntables a couple of years later and he has never looked back. Since then he has emerged from the bedroom, picking up regular spots at a number of venues around town, holding down supports for various international and interstate artists, not to mention a weekly residency on UCFM's 'Rezinate' every Wednesday night. He loves having freedom to play the music that he enjoys without having to dumb it down, and believes that hard working promoters, open minded audiences and progressive venues are all helping the local scene diversify and evolve.

CALLUM MOLDRICH, 18
Salesperson, Clive Anthonys

"Live by the sword die by the sword. - No regrets."

Born in Western Australia, Callum lived, surfed, skated, and rode bikes until he was 15 and he moved to Canberra. For the past four years he's finished his studies, worked in a few jobs and met new people while he wrote his music and dabbled with his photography. He loves Cafe Essen, and visits whenever he feels like writing, or just chillin with friends with a hot cup of chai infused with soy.

SAM LEYSHON, 28
Security Guard

“I work in an important building with supposedly important people. A lot of interesting people work and visit there and I love meeting them, least of all the suits. The most interesting people are always the unassuming. Perception is not always reality.”

Sam has lived long enough in Canberra to call it home. For the better part of ten years he’s been a performer, supporter and promoter of the local music scene and will always continue to do so, so long as he’s here. About Canberra, he advises; “Get social on the way home from work. The Italian take away, the French patisserie, Japanese , Burmese, Middle East and pancakes. Get yourself tattooed. Flick a coin to the buskers in the street, you may just make their night.”

NICOLE SMIGIELSKI, 19
Barista

"Live for the moment."

Canberra-Bred Nicole has mostly worked in retail. In her spare time she's a hip-hop dancer. Her dancing has taken her to the United States (LA, Las Vegas).

The Intellectuals

EMMA HLUBUCEK, 26
Lawyer

“I never do things by halves; I work hard and I live life to the full.”

Growing up in the US, Emma developed a passion for travel. After getting her bachelor degrees in Actuarial Studies and Law, she worked for one of the ‘Big 4’ accounting firms for in the areas of Tax and Economics , Infrastructure and Policy. She has recently begun practising in the city as an in-house lawyer. Her favourite part of my job is being able to effect change through the legal system in significant areas, including equalising opportunities in the law.

CHRISTINA WEIR, 31
Program Officer, Office of Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

"Have a little faith in the path that you are on and above all remember; this, too, shall pass."

Growing up in Griffith, Christina got her BA in Psychology and moved overseas to work in the UK for a while. Thanks to a few amazing mentors she has developed an interest in the social policy and research aspects of population health and child development whilst working at Diabetes Australia and DEEWR.

ZHANGXIN FRANK LIU, 23
PhD student in Finance in ANU, Part-time Tutor

“Respect others and learn from your competitors.”

Frank Liu grew up in Hainan, which is a small island down in the south of China. Though his house was about a 10 minute walk to the beach, ironically he never picked up swimming. So he is more like a reading-on-the-beach kind of person. Apart from his research in finance, he is a huge enthusiast in jazz guitar and singing.

JOSEPH SYDNEY BROCK, 25

PhD Candidate, Biological Chemistry, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University.

“Peace, love and vegetables.”

Born in Penrith, NSW, Joe relocated to Canberra to begin a Bachelors degree in Medical Science at the ANU, eventually progressing to a PhD. Upon arriving, he was quickly introduced to radical new philosophies about our society and how it interacts with the rest of the world and its environment. Such views have influenced his life ever since. He loves that Canberra City is a blank canvas - relatively so young, that the shaping of its culture is still open to interpretation. Also the fact it is the political heart of this nation also means it is the perfect setting for collective actions of political dissent, of which he is quite fond.

Clemency Oliphant, 27
Humanitarian program officer, AusAID

“Don’t just do something, stand there.”

Following her study at Australian National University, Canberra born and bred Clemency, moved to London to begin a career but returned to Canberra once more to take up her current position at AusAID. Her favourite parts of her job are the people and the cake.

Hot off the press!

2010-08-27T11:26:00.001+10:00

In the City has just arrived back from the printers and is sitting on pallets out the back of our dock ready for insertion into Monday's paper!

Behind the scenes

2010-08-26T17:07:00.001+10:00

Photoshoot Spring 2010

A mammoth team of hairstylists, make-up artists and assistants all came together to orchestrate two crazy days of shooting. Take a sneak peek behind the scenes.

Do you recognise this man?

2010-08-24T15:39:00.005+10:00

I was highly emotional when Joni Scanlon returned to the office after her interview with the protagonist of the article entitled Silent Salvation. Joni is planning on nominating Canberra's own Alan Jessop for Australian Senior of the Year.

By Joni Scanlon

The first time I met the Salvation Army officer he gave me a quick smile as I dropped some money in his collection box. After that I would always see him around the Canberra Centre, and I started to pay attention to him – the old stool he was often propped up against, his hat that seemed just a bit too big and that face seemed to show he was a man with a story to tell.

When I suggested the idea of featuring him in Spring in the City, it was greeted with plenty of enthusiasm and recognition. It seemed that everyone had seen him at one point or another and I began to appreciate that this story could really be a good one.

When I approached him soon after and told him that I would like to feature him in a magazine he didn’t seem fazed at all and quietly gave me his name, Alan Jessop, and number.

Our photographer Rohan Thomson went with me to the centre for the interview and I was surprised to see how much more lively and enthusiastic Alan was. We got to talking and I quickly realised I had quite a character on my hands. We soon got to talking about the Salvation Army and how he had came to be the face of the Salvation Army in the city – when Alan moved to town they needed a collector and so he volunteered; 22 years later he continues to collect and the city has transformed before his very eyes.

He spoke with such passion about his work and about the need for volunteers. Then he casually announced that his wife would like him to cut down on his shifts since he had two heart attacks and was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was floored – I couldn’t believe that this 80-year-old who has battled through such health problems continued to start work before 7am three days a week and spend hours of his time collecting, and only missed a few days throughout this all for important medical appointments. Most others would have felt justified in taking some time off to heal and take care of themselves, yet he is so selfless I truly believe the thought never crossed his mind.

I also discovered why he had been so quite when I first asked for the interview; he confessed, with a wide grin, that fatigue is a side effects of his medication and he sometimes has a quick nap on his stool.

After thanking him for speaking to me and letting Rohan work his magic, I left with a feeling of euphoria and disbelief. I was euphoric because Alan showed the kindness, generosity and strength we are all capable off, yet I couldn’t believe how much he had given of himself to his charity – he truly is a remarkable human being and, luckily for me, has an amazing story to tell.

Read the story on Monday, August 30 when the In the City magazine appears in The Canberra Times.

The gentleman returns

2010-08-24T15:33:00.004+10:00

The latest edition has the usual mix of interesting feature articles, including one that ties in perfectly with the launch of this blog.

In revisiting the opinions of the respected urban innovator Charles Landry – a man who seems to know intrinsically the positives and pitfalls of cities big and small - I was lucky enough to get an insight into how this man came across his particular skill set. Charles is an honest-to-God gentleman, and when you hear him speak you really feel you’re in the presence of a great mind. So it was wonderful to hear him talk about our city with objectivity – and his opinions were all spot on.

Canberrans are acutely aware that, in a way, it’s competing with neighbouring states. There are some undeniable negative associations with Canberra, but so many of them are outdated, and it’s frustrating. Undeniably, the city is far from perfect – but the underlying message Charles wanted to pass on was that Canberra has by no means achieved its potential, and one big hurdle is the general attitude toward the city. If you’re keen to tackle the stigma, it has to start with the people living in Canberra - born-and-bred, recent additions and work-transfers alike.

Read the story on Monday, August 30 when the In the City magazine appears in The Canberra Times.

Secrets of the Urban Clique

2010-08-24T15:31:00.003+10:00

There is so much happening in our city that we can’t fit it all into In the City magazine - hence this blog.

The other reason we launched this site is that, at some point or another during the process of compiling the magazine, all the people who contribute to its content will have just a little bit more to say about a topic. For example, there was a lot more to the concept of our photo shoot than meets the eye.

I was onsite for the weekend and was personally impressed by the panache and professionalism of the Cataldo Brothers and team. For those of you who read the piece by Naomi Fallon in the Autumn/Winter edition, you may remember that the Cataldos had a reluctant start in the industry – but you wouldn’t have known it to see them work.

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In the City SPRING 2010

2010-08-24T14:40:00.006+10:00

The spring 2010 edition of In the City magazine hits the town on August 30. We're chuffed with our gorgeous cover shot. Taking a photo that says 'spring' at the tail-end of a Canberra winter is no mean feat - but lucky for us, the courtyard garden at the NFSA is pretty and green year-round.

This is only the third edition, but this fledgling magazine is very quickly gaining momentum. The mag has won two awards and has been bumped up from tri-annual to quarterly – so the next one is only three months away.

Aimed at helping everyone get to know the city a little better, the magazine provides a guide on great eats, fashion and fun in the city’s eclectic suburbs. Stay tuned for news, a calendar of events and competitions that will be exclusive to the blog.

Shot on location at the National Film and Sound Archives
Photographer: Rohan Thomson
Styled by: Miled Achi
Models: Alex Tandl and Kate Prowse
Hair: Cataldo's Hair Salon
Make-up: Ben Veenkamp

Kate's cover look

2010-08-18T11:00:00.003+10:00

Thanks to our friends at MAC Cosmetics (Opening September 11, exclusive to Myer Canberra Centre) we transformed our gorgeous cover model Kate Prowse using this season's beautiful berry trends.

1. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NW25, $32.00 2. MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation NC35, $54.00 3. MAC Superslick Liquid Eye Liner Signature Blue Dark navy with soft pearl, $30.00 4. MAC Eye Shadow x 4 – Palace Pedigreed $72.00 5. MAC Mineralize Blush Pet Me Light yellow pink with soft pearl (Frost), $43.00 6. MAC Lipglass Docile Dirty lavender with pearl, $34.00 7. MAC Lipstick Superior Sheer lavender pink with dazzle pink pearl (Dazzle), $35.00 .

Fit for a cover?

2010-08-12T16:00:00.005+10:00

The search is on to find the perfect outfit for Kate to wear on the cover of the spring edition of In the City magazine... The tall, leggy brunette is the perfect fit for the season's hottest trends.

Clothes, bling and shoes!

2010-08-12T11:34:00.002+10:00

Our office has been turned into a makeshift fashion cupboard as we prepare for our massive photoshoot. Clothes, shoes and accessories have all been sourced from our friendly retailers in Canberra City. We have some outstanding pieces from sass&bide, Soho Dezigns, Mimco, Myer and Saba to name a few...