Enjoy matching food & drinks

Wiling away an afternoon or evening at a degustation dinner has to be one of the finer things in life. Degustation is the French word for tasting, and literally it is a menu offering lots of different dishes to try, accompanied by complementary wines, beers or even cocktails. Four to nine courses is usual, although […]

Colouring our world

Colour, pattern and design are all hallmarks of Christchurch business woman Vicki Ogden-O’Fee. Metropol editor Lynda Papesch talks with her about the how and why. Surviving for more than three decades in the cut and thrust of the hair, beauty and fashion industry is no mean feat. Expanding and diversifying a multi-layered business in the […]

Mixing patterns and prints

Achieving the right balance when working with patterns and prints is vital for an eye-catching end result. Many people who love patterns struggle to find that balance, yet there are some simple rules that can help. Try these: There are no rules. Patterns can all be different yet work well together to form a lovely […]

From the editor: 17 February 2022

The power of positive thinking Optimism is one of my favourite words, and most of the time I’m a glass half full person. Actually I’m probably more of a glass three quarters full person, always looking on the bright side. Sometimes it is hard to find a bright side, but recently I read something that […]

Moving on and up

Christchurch’s innovative business environment is helping many to survive and even reach new heights, Metropol Editor Lynda Papesch discovered when catching up with local entrepreneur James Stewart. A businessman with numerous strings to his bow, James Stewart is not one to let Covid-19 slow his pace. The founder of Gemelli Consulting, he is a keen […]

A kind of magic

Award-winning comedian magician Jarred Fell is a regular performer in Christchurch, including at the upcoming Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival 2022. He talks to Metropol editor Lynda Papesch about shocking and delighting audiences in equal measure. Life – indeed the whole world – is definitely a stage for Jarred Fell. Deemed New Zealand’s […]

Seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling

Christchurch sensory perceptionist Dr Jo Burzynska talks to Metropol editor Lynda Papesch about experiencing and enjoying the world around us. The smell and that first sip of coffee in the morning, birdsong filtering through the traffic, the velvety petals of a rose; all invoke the use of our five main senses for brief moments here […]

Back to school

Another year of classes has started and it brings different challenges for students, parents and caregivers alike. Here are some ideas from Metropol to keep everyone happy before, during and after school. Students Keep up with school work Create a daily routine and stick to it Make a To-Do list Keep track of more than […]

Burnout busters

Burnout is a word being used increasingly in relation to work, sport and even coping with home life. One way to prevent or deal with burnout is to set boundaries. Sometimes that may seem difficult, but persevere; it’s worth the effort. Here are some suggestions from the team at Metropol. Start small Try saying no […]

Perfecting periwinkle

Pantone’s colour for 2022 is ‘VeryPeri, a combination of blue and reddish violet, named after the periwinkle flower. Purple is a word that springs to mind, but it’s more of a blue-violet hue which can look amazing when used to brighten an interior. As a colour it works superbly with white, and also with most […]