Latest news with #Here
Scoop
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Here. Together. Now.
The New Zealand Improv Festival is proud to present their 2025 programme Here. Together. Now. celebrating the stories of Aotearoa, the connections between us, and the joys and innovations of improvisation, this September 26 through October 4 at BATS Theatre in Wellington. Featuring an expansive programme of thirty-four workshops and twenty-two shows across the Festival, there's something for the newest improv watcher to the more well-hewn, with performers and directors coming together from across the motu and around the world to explore performance on BATS' stages for nine nights only. Bull Rush, currently featured at Basement Theatre in Auckland every Friday night joins us for their side-splitting, sexy, scintillating improv. Local comedy favourites Ginge & Minge present Redemption, where game players give their comedy ideas a second chance. Māori and Pasifika improv group Kōrero Paki return to the stage for their third outing of mean kōrero and wild comedy; and these three shows are just a selection of the bounty that's on offer. 'Coming into our third and final year as co-directors of the Festival, we really wanted to dig into what makes improv special as an art form.' Festival Co-Directors Jim Fishwick and Matt Powell say, 'In a time where political and corporate forces seek to pull us apart, we want to demonstrate the power of improv to bring people together in the moment, performer and audience alike, to create new things that no individual could have made by themselves.' With some of the key improv principles of listening, acceptance, and support feeling more important now than ever, our 2025 Improv Fest programme will warm the heart and tickle the funny bone, and we can't wait to see how things unfold. The New Zealand Improv Festival runs from 26 September through 4 October 2025. Tickets for the New Zealand Improv Festival are available now. Check out our show programme at BATS's website, and sign up for our workshop programme too.
Hype Malaysia
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
MATSURI Festival 'Konnichiwa, Japan! Together, Here' Coming To KL This August
The most anticipated event of the year is finally arriving! The MATSURI Festival – 'Konnichiwa, Japan! Together, Here' – will light up Pavilion Bukit Jalil this August. Blending traditional arts with contemporary Japanese culture, the festival creates an exciting and welcoming atmosphere for visitors of all ages. Rooted in the spirited Bon Odori tradition, the festival features captivating performances, authentic street food, and hands-on activities. Guests can discover artisanal crafts, explore one-of-a-kind pop-ups, and enjoy special shopping experiences. For anyone eager to experience Japan's rich culture, this celebration is not to be missed. From traditional performances to anime-themed pop-ups, this festival offers vibrant cultural experiences. With activities such as lively shows by JAGAM members, bonsai displays, and exploring handmade crafts from local and Japanese artisans, this festival is sure to give you a taste of traditional Japan. Additionally, fun stalls like Tamagotchi by Cotton Blue and Doko Koko by Nijigen add a modern twist to the event. Food lovers can savour authentic Japanese street food, while culture fans discover traditional art showcases. With colourful decorations and engaging activities, the festival transforms the mall into a lively slice of Japan. So, whether you're a foodie, cosplayer, culture lover or simply curious, here is all the information for the festival. MATSURI Festival – 'Konnichiwa, Japan! Together, Here' in Malaysia Date: From 30th July 2025 (Wednesday) to 3rd August 2025 (Sunday) From 30th July 2025 (Wednesday) to 3rd August 2025 (Sunday) Time: From 10am to 10pm From 10am to 10pm Venue: Centre Court, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur Why wait for the main event? Festivities kick off early with the Japan Fair by The Food Merchant starting on the 17th July, followed by lively Japanese vendor booths from the 29th July. These exciting previews offer a taste of what's to come and build anticipation for the grand celebration later in the month. For more information and updates, head to their official website or follow them on their social media. Don't miss your chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant sights, sounds, and flavours of Japan right here in Kuala Lumpur. Are you ready to experience the magic of Japan? Zaima Humaria contributed to this article
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Jim McGuinness' life beyond GAA with wife & children including soccer stints in USA & China
JIM McGUINNESS has once again got Donegal winning matches to the point that they've qualified for another All-Ireland final. They Advertisement 4 He initially managed his county from 2011-2014 4 With them winning only the second All-Ireland title in the county's history in 2012 4 He and wife Yvonne have six children 4 With son Jimmy and daughter Toni Marie after they defeated Mayo in the 2012 showpiece Here, SunSport delves into his life beyond Gaelic football: WIFE AND KIDS He's been in a relationship with fellow Donegal native Yvonne since meeting all the way back in 2002. The setting for their first encounter was the Jim once recalled to Advertisement Read More On GAA "And her mother was going 'And what about Jim McGuinness?' And what about Jim McGuinness?' Yvonne was sick of it, replying 'Will you just shut your mouth about Jim McGuinness! Why are you talking about him? I've never even met him!'" "Anyway, we're in the players' lounge in Croke Park after losing to Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final and this woman - her mother - calls me over. "And (Yvonne) turned around, and I turned around, and that was it. So I owe her mother a lot too." Her brother Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Jim and Yvonne have six children, three boys and three girls with two of the girls being twins. SOCCER COACHING CAREER At the peak of his powers in Gaelic football, McGuinness was tempted away to pursue a coaching career in soccer when Joanne Cantwell cracks Katie Taylor joke as RTE panel argue over David Clifford not getting Player of the Match award He was initially brought onboard at Parkhead as a performance consultant in 2012 before being installed as one of the Scottish giants' youth coaches. The 52-year-old was clearly well thought of as he rose up the rankings to ultimately become assistant manager of their Under-20s. Advertisement His soccer path surprisingly diverted to China in 2017 when he took on the assistant manager role Due to the culture shock of living in Asia though, his family never fully settled there and His next move was almost as much of a left-field choice, however, as he He only lasted six months there though before Advertisement DAY JOB His day job isn't entirely clear as he isn't on LinkedIn. But he dabbles in professional speaking arrangements as he can be booked via In addition to his exploits in Gaelic Games and soccer, his profile also emphasizes that
The Spinoff
09-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Spinoff
The media is still in crisis… but one year on, the magazine I bought is doing great
A year after purchasing the ailing lifestyle magazine he edited, Michael Andrew reflects on the changes that have turned the title's fortunes around – and one that almost proved a disastrous mistake. Not long ago, when I told a new friend that I owned and ran a magazine for a living, she reacted as though I had just told her I had a serious illness. Her face screwed up, her eyes narrowed in sympathy, and then, in a soft, awkward voice, she asked: 'How's it going?' It is not an unusual response. At least half the people I tell about my job as a magazine publisher react with mild concern, certain that I'm teetering on the edge of financial ruin and disgrace, and that my children must be going hungry. The other half respond with curiosity or excitement – usually the ones who have a nostalgia for magazines. No matter their reactions, I always tell them the truth: It's doing great! Better than I hoped, in any case. In early 2024, when I was weighing the decision to purchase what was then called NZ Lifestyle Block – a monthly magazine dedicated to covering gardening and farming in rural NZ – financial performance was my main concern. Magazines have been on the decline for decades, with many struggling to break even against a steady drain of revenue and a steady rise in production costs. NZ Lifestyle Block was not bucking the trend. But I had been the editor of the magazine for two years, and I loved it. I loved what stood for, I loved the wholesome, Country Calendar-like content, I loved the fastidious process of making it, and I saw potential in a so-called print renaissance. I also believed, and still do, in Aotearoa's burgeoning food-and-farming revolution – this dynamic and ardent movement of people who are changing their lives to establish deeper connections with the land and the food they grow and eat. If the magazine was driven by such a worthy purpose as to champion this movement, I reckoned that the dollars would naturally fall into place. Finally, I spoke with a number of learned advisors such as The Spinoff's founder Duncan Greive and Here magazine editor Simon Farrell-Green, among others, all of whom said the same thing: buying NZ Lifestyle Block wasn't a bad idea. When you're the owner/operator of a media business, they said, there are so many ways to make it viable: work 70 hours a week, work from home to save on unnecessary overheads, use contractors instead of employees, get family involved, do the ad sales yourself, do the social media yourself, hustle, hustle, hustle! So I ended up buying the magazine in mid-2024 without any working capital, and immediately started doing everything my advisors had said, even bringing my retired mum on board to manage subscriptions. A year later, it turns out they were right – it's perfectly achievable to make an indie magazine viable, even highly profitable, in a media crisis. Reflecting on the performance of the magazine over the past 12 months, it all boils down to three valuable lessons. 1. Quality is key People can tell when fresh energy is being poured into a product, just as they can tell when a brand is stagnant. One of the first things I did – with the help of a talented group of freelancers – was undertake a complete rebrand of the magazine, changing the frequency to bimonthly, increasing the page count, overhauling the design and investing in the quality of the storytelling and photography, particularly on the covers. As soon as I did this, people began to notice and subscriptions started to grow; not just from the lifestyle block market, but from further afield. Advertising sales started to grow too, as more businesses recognised the seriousness with which we were making content and targeting readers. 2. Never rush a big change As part of a stable of magazines under the previous owners, NZ Lifestyle Block had languished without much digital presence in the years prior. It didn't even have its own social media pages or websites. I immediately created a website, a newsletter and some social media accounts, and declared, loud and proud, what the magazine was and what it stood for. A simple thing really, but again subscriptions started to grow and the money came in. That's where I got the communication right. Where I stuffed up was the speed with which I changed the name of the magazine itself. I never liked the 'Lifestyle Block' masthead. It seemed frivolous, and failed to capture the huge range of farms, backyards, orchards and homesteads that were appearing in our pages. And so, after considering a wide range of opinions, I decided that the new name would be 'On the Land'. In an industry that depends on brand recognition, especially at the supermarket magazine stand, a poorly executed name change can be a death sentence. I did not execute the name change well. Instead of doing months of planning and intensive marketing campaigns to spread the word, I rushed it, relying on my growing but still meagre social media following, the robustness of the new name, and a timely Seven Sharp appearance to achieve cut-through. It turns out that many regular customers who didn't follow me on social media were oblivious to the name change and couldn't find the magazine at the stand. Retail sales for the first On the Land issue were disappointingly low. The numbers eventually recovered as the depth and breadth of the new brand began to resonate, but it was a valuable lesson not to rush any big changes in this business. 3. A magazine needs a mission Of all the lessons learned, this has been the most important. As soon as I bought the magazine, I let readers know that it wasn't merely about sharing gardening tips or photos of fancy houses. It has a clear, fundamental mission to amplify Aotearoa's food-and-farming revolution by sharing stories of inspiration, hope and community resilience. This turned out to be a winning formula. Since I took over, subscriptions have climbed by 50%, and I regularly hear from readers praising the value of the magazine. Many of them, irrespective of the type of property they have, align with On the Land's mission and are eager to support something that offers solutions, in a small way, to Aotearoa's food system woes. Better yet, they want to read those solutions on paper, rather than a screen. Despite the growth, print media remains a high-maintenance business, one that needs to be lean and nimble to continue operating. NZ Post has just executed another eye-watering price rise, and a slow economy means magazines are the first product omitted from the supermarket trolley, directly affecting our bottom line. And yet, based on the journey so far, I know that the performance of the magazine is directly related to the energy I put into it, rather than external factors. I'm confident that I can continue working 70 hours a week doing what I love, and that my children won't go hungry anytime soon.
Time Out
07-07-2025
- Time Out
The 2025 check-in list: here are seven of the hottest new hotel openings in Australia
Australia doesn't claim to be the city that never sleeps. We're proud to have one of the world's best work-life balances, where travellers can pack their days with epic experiences, then crash in style at one of our top-notch hotels. This year, Australia has seen a burst of stylish new hotels opening their doors, with plenty more on track to launch by the end of 2025. From a secluded safari escape to a luxury island getaway and a sustainable city stay, here are seven of the hottest new hotel openings so far. Mondrian Gold Coast Arguably the Gold Coast 's most luxurious hotel to date, this 24-storey coastal-luxe beach house marks the Australian debut of LA's innovative Mondrian group. The five-star hotel sits mere metres from Burleigh Beach, with 208 studios, suites and homes boasting breathtaking views across the Pacific Ocean and out to the Hinterlands. Guests can unwind in the magnesium plunge pool, 24-metre resort-style pool, or wellness space and spa. There's also a chic terrace eatery, an oceanfront restaurant and a pool club. 1 Hotel Melbourne In June, Melbourne gained a new, waterfront hotel that's both swanky and sustainable. Perched right on the banks of the Yarra River, this nature-inspired property marks 1 Hotel's long-anticipated debut in Australia. The sleek 277-room hotel was built using recycled materials, is draped in native greenery and heroes hyper-local produce in its signature restaurant, Here by Mike, helmed by celebrated chef Mike McEnearney. Monarto Safari Resort At the end of autumn, Monarto Safari Park – the world's largest open-range safari park – scored a brand-new luxury resort featuring 78 African-inspired hotel rooms overlooking the expansive plains of Monarto's new Wild Africa precinct. The resort pampers guests with a world-class spa, thermal plunge pool, ice bath, sauna, and two outdoor swimming pools. Plus, keep an eye out for 20 stylish glamping tents arriving later this year. The Lodge Wadjemup Rottnest Island is already one of Australia's most sought-after islands, and even more so now after the $40 million makeover of The Lodge Wadjemup. Just months after welcoming its first guests in late December, this island-inspired hotel was named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Places to Visit in 2025. The coastal-luxe property features 109 rooms with courtyard, lakeside or pool views, plus sunset dining and top-notch conference facilities. InterContinental Brisbane Just last week, the world's first and largest luxury hotel brand, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, made its Brisbane debut, taking over the former Hilton site. The timeless 319-room property began welcoming guests on July 1 under the new brand, complete with a new signature club lounge on level 25 with sweeping views over the River City. In 2026, it's set to undergo a significant two-year luxury transformation ahead of the 2032 Olympics. Courtyard by Marriott Darwin In early July, the world's biggest hotel chain unveiled its first-ever Northern Territory property in Darwin. It's a major milestone for Marriott International, which now flies its flag in every Australian state and territory. The first stage of the 186-room hotel's renovation features slick self-check-in technology, all new furnishings and a state-of-the-art fitness centre, with a hyper-local restaurant and pool upgrade planned within the next two years. Hyatt House Melbourne A sister brand of the grand Park Hyatt Melbourne, this new southside hotel offers a more residential-style experience for longer-term stays. It's fitted with homely amenities and is located near many of the city's coolest attractions, including Albert Park Lake, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Arts Precinct and South Melbourne Market. Bonus: it's pet-friendly, so your dog (or cat) can join the getaway too. 😱 ⭐️
