It’s fair to say that July isn’t a favourite month for Sydneysiders. First there’s the plummeting temperatures, then there’s the short days and early darkness, and finally that niggling pressure to forgo booze altogether and succumb to Dry July.

Well, we’ve got news for you, it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, there are plenty of new and exciting things happening in the city that are guaranteed to keep you warm, entertained and slightly less grumpy over the chilly month ahead.

Here are our top picks for how you should be spending you time in Sydney this July.

Food & Drink

Cheese & Wine Night At Salts Meats Cheese

Embrace that extra layer of winter blubber this month at Salts Meats Cheese when the Alexandria hotspot hosts its very own cheese and wine appreciation night in collaboration with Omnom Cheese and McWilliam’s Wines on Tuesday 5th July.

Start the night off with a little sparkling and your first matching cheese then slowly descend into a cheese coma carefully curated by Salts Meats Cheese experts. Fun, educational, relaxed and mouth watering, it’s the perfect winter date idea or laid back night out for a flourishing bromance.

Art & Culture

Splendour In The Grass

It’s that time of year again, when the flower crowns and beards come out to play at Byron’s Splendour in the Grass festival. Held this year from the 22nd to the 24th of July, Splendour’s line-up features headliners like The Strokes, The Cure, Flume, The Avalanches and James Blake.

If you missed out on tickets there are also plenty of cool sideshows happening throughout the month of July, like Jack Garratt at the Metro on the 21st and James Blake at the Hordern on the 26th. If you’re really keen to get off the beaten festival track then check out Band of Horses’ one-off secret sideshow at Marrickville’s Grifter Brewery on the 27th.

Nightlife

Munich Brauhaus Pop-Up

Embrace (or escape) the freezing temperatures with a cold one or two at the Munich Brauhaus pop-up bar at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Sydney Winter Festival from June 30th – July 17th.

Conveniently located next to the Festival’s ice skating rink for those who don’t mind ending up arse over tit, the pop-up is also hosting Jägermeister chalet parties every Friday in July where the bar becomes an alpine chalet and the d-floor heats up with haus DJs.

Sport

Climb ‘n’ Dine 

With arguably one of the best views of Sydney, the Shangri-La Hotel are hosting the inaugural Climb ‘n’ Dine this July, on the 31st.

The only tower race of its kind in the city, Climb ‘n’ Dine challenges Sydneysiders to struggle race up the Shangri-La’s 37 flights and 630 steps for charity.

The post In The Diary: A Magnificent Bastard's Guide to Sydney In July appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Politicians are known for their hilarious blunders but when Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko made a slip of the tongue in asking citizens to ‘undress’ at work, he would have never expected it to be taken seriously.

In a speech at a forum on innovation and new information Lukashenko said “We must, in short, undress and work..” instead of “develop at work”. Apparently, the words ‘undress’ and ‘develop’ sound alike in Belarusian.

Poking fun at the politician, Belarusian office workers have posted countless photos on social media of themselves naked at work. Nude at the desk, behind an industrial oven in a restaurant kitchen, and even on a construction site.

In power since 1994, Lukashenko has widely restricted freedom of expression and thrown dozens of his opponents in prison making the #getnakedatwork movement more significant than ever. Check out the social media hashtag for yourself if you can bear the birthday suits.

The post Why Belarusians Are Getting Naked At Work appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

For most men, an adventurous haircut is one that takes slightly more off the sides than usual. For Liverpool native Miguel Gutierrez, an adventurous haircut means launching a Kickstarter, hopping on a series of planes, and documenting the ensuing grooming odyssey on Instagram and YouTube.

The journey began on 12 June 2013, a decade to the day after Gutierrez started his career. He flew to Athens to learn more about the the Greek barbers who brought their craft to the rest of Europe. From there he went to Turkey and an idea was born. Gutierrez embarked on a 12-month pilgrimage to learn more about the history of barbering and male grooming worldwide.

As the Nomad Barber, Gutierrez uses the social aspect of the barbershop to talk to people from all walks of life. He sets up his stool at any given opportunity, offering haircuts to fellow travellers in parks, on beaches, in deserts, on cliffs, and any number of other remote and picturesque locations. So far he has visited 30 countries, amassing millions of views for his web-series and thousands of followers on social media.

Having experienced countless shaves and haircuts on several continents, Gutierrez says India has the most interesting barber culture. As to the best groomed clients, he says men in the Middle East – particularly Dubai – take the coiffure crown.

Follow the Nomad Barber’s stylish exploits on YouTube and Instagram. Adventure awaits.

• Best Sydney Barber Shops

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If it’s electric heaven on wheels you’re after then look no further. Tesla have officially opened the doors to their flagship retail store in the heart of Sydney’s Martin Place.

The two story space will house everything from actual Model S vehicles and their respective chassis on display to a private design studio on the second level for customers to design their vehicle. The exterior will feature an all-glass facade which is in line with the company’s technological roots.

The Martin Place store is the first retail concept of its kind in Australia and will follow existing Tesla dealerships and service centres in the North Shore and Melbourne’s Richmond.

According to Tesla, their latest store is only just the beginning of a further push to grow and add more retail stores around the country. To supplement this supply, Elon Musk and co. have announced another 75 Australian locations for their destination chargers which is independent of their Supercharger network which will join all major cities on the east coast.

The post Tesla Flagship Store Officially Opens In Sydney's Martin Place appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The purveyors of aeronautical watchmaking are taking 2016 in their stride with a limited edition release of a special new timepiece. Bremont‘s DH-88’ Chronometer draws inspiration from the vintage plane known as de Havilland DH-88 Comet, an aircraft which took the world by storm when it embarked on a record-breaking flight in 1934.

The story followed two men who attended an air race from England to Australia before fighting exhaustion and mechanical challenges for three days. That plane eventually made it to dry land and today Bremont are commemorating it with an elegant timepiece which has been painstakingly handcrafted in the company’s workshops in England to replicate a watch of the 1930s era.

Co-founder of Bremont, Nick English, says that the golden age of aviation continues to be a period that watchmakers love.

“We were inspired by the great races of that time and the Comet, a true feat of engineering, is one of the most famous historic racing aircraft out there. The fact it’s still flying is amazing.”

The DH-88 chronometer will come in two variants – a 282 stainless steel and 82 rose gold 43mm case carrying the same BE-54AE chronometer with GMT functionality such as small counters with seconds, 30 minutes, 12-hour and 24 hour hands. Power reserve is rated at 42-hours whilst the metal dial is beautifully finished with a fine opalin matt black base colour decorated with period correct Arabic numerals and opalin white sub-dials.

Water resistance is rated at 100-metres and the watch is complemented with a black alligator strap.

The post Bremont Unveils The Limited Edition DH-88 Timepiece appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you’re one of those people who has a red notification sitting above their Gmail app icon that contains a number greater than 1,000 then you’ve come to the right place.

The stress of modern life and growing workloads means many of us are inundated with emails 24 hours a day with little knowledge (or time) to read or productively deal with the constant influx.

Here are some handy hacks to make sending, and receiving emails, a cinch.

#1 Take Back Accidents With ‘Undo Send’

Whether you’ve sent the wrong email to the wrong person or forgotten a crucial attachment, the ‘Undo Send’ function is your saving grace. The feature allows you to set your email so you can recall it for up to 30 seconds, but you have to enable it. In settings scroll down to Undo Send and then set the cancellation period you want.

#2 Use Filters To Cull

If you have over 1,000 unopened junk emails sitting in your inbox, use filters to move unnecessary incoming messages into the appropriate folder, or label. By going to settings, then filters, then ‘create new filter’ and marking ‘skip the inbox’, certain messages will avoid your line of sight altogether. “If your grandmother just discovered gifs and wants you to join in on the fun, set any emails from Grandma to automatically hit your ‘Grandma Gifs’ folder without doing any work…” says Gmail product manager John Rae-Grant.

#3 Colour-Code Your Messages

While Gmail automatically separates promotional and social media notification emails, using the colour functionality of stars means you can separate your messages even further. It’s a manual process but by also using Importance Markers, Gmail will slowly ‘learn’ what’s important to you and prioritise those messages based on how you’ve ranked others.

#4 Send Big Attachments With The Cloud

Do you use ‘the Cloud’ to its full advantage? Instead of trying to send a huge attachment, use Google Drive to insert files. All of your messages will link back to a cloud-based Drive document that everyone you’ve emailed can work from. “Plus, you don’t have to worry about oversized attachment error messages because you can insert Drive files up to 15GB,” says Rae-Grant.

#5 Take Action With Alerts

Gmail won’t let important email responses slip through the cracks with Quick Action buttons that prompt you to take immediate action on some email messages, like checking in to a flight, opening a document or rating a restaurant. If your incoming email has an event you can click on it for it to be automatically added to your calendar. Easy as.

[via Fast Company]

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Forget expensive monthly memberships to narcissistic gyms where you have to sit in other people’s sweat, watch steroid-infused ‘machines’ strut around like peacocks in tiny shorts and tight singlets, and endure whatever dub-crap they decide to play on any given day. Instead, create a home gym and beef up both your man cave and your muscles.

This is not an advertorial for the Thigh Blaster, the PowerFit vibrating platform or any other useless piece of junk you see on morning TV. It is, however, a guide to creating a useful space at home where you can train, bulk up, and improve overall fitness without stepping outside. And you have to admit this is a pretty tempting prospect now winter has arrived.

Create A Gym You WANT To Spend Time In

It might be a spare bedroom, a vacant garage or even the back shed. Whatever constitutes as your gym’s digs, visualise how you want the space to look before making any big purchases or setting up.

Even the most dedicated health buffs lack motivation from time to time. Ensure your home gym is a place you want to spend time by fitting it out to your specifications and desires.

Proper lighting is important – not only so you can admire your physique in the full-length or floor-to-ceiling-mirror you installed, but because it improves overall safety. Likewise, an adequate sound system is essential, unless you prefer monk-style silent exercise.

Consider a bright feature wall – blazing red keeps us raging through long training sessions – and decorate the space with things that motivate you (from posters to sporting memorabilia). If you have any graffiti skills, or a friend who fancies himself a street artist, add some personality to the room with a motivational mural.

Much like your muscles, your gym will evolve with time, so start with the essentials. The following list of equipment is just a guide. The contents of your gym will rely on your fitness needs and the space and budget you have to work with:

#1 Barbell & Weights

A gym without a barbell is like a hamburger without meat. Choose from either standard or Olympic versions depending on your lifting needs. For example, if you plan on lifting more than 100kgs you may find that a standard 1-inch bar will bend under the pressure. Olympic models are 2-inches thick and built to hold heftier weights.

#2 Power Rack

Safety is paramount in a home gym, particularly if you plan on working out alone and lifting weights without a spotter. A power rack acts as a frame under which you can work out without fear of injury. Free weight manoeuvres are made possible with the power rack’s j-hooks and pins, while bonus attachments (like chin-up, dip and pull-up bars) add extra value for money in one functional piece of equipment.

#3 Bench Press

Get off the ground and onto something more comfortable sturdy bench press. Choose an adjustable bench rather than a flat bench to ensure the height is always perfect for you (your feet should lie flat on the ground). An adjustable bench is more versatile as it allows you to perform dumbbell shoulder presses and other manoeuvres not possible on a flat bench.

#4 Dumbbells

We recommend fixed dumbbells (hex dumbbells in rubber or steel are ideal) over adjustable dumbbells. Fixed models are convenient and user-friendly. However, this does mean you could end up with a shit load of dumbbells, particularly as you gain in muscle mass and strength and need heavier dumbbells. Adjustable dumbbells might be more fiddly and labour intensive but they would suit a gym of limited space.

Don’t forget: a platform (sheets of wood covered in rubber, thick foam mats etc.), especially if you live in an apartment or have hardwood floors. The platform will eliminate noise and the potential of property damage.

#5 Skipping Rope

The skipping rope will likely be the cheapest and most useful addition to your home gym. Great for use in high intensity interval training, warm ups, and to get your heat rate elevated, skipping ropes have changed a lot since your Double Dutch days in primary school. Now you can choose from speed ropes or weighted varieties.

Tip: invest in a comfortable mat for floor exercises. Think thick – a yoga mat won’t cut it.

#6 Pull-Up Bar

How many do you do? Pull-ups, not Weetbix… Do a whole lot more, and improve upper body strength, with your own pull-up bar. Go all out with a ceiling pull-up bar to enjoy a fuller range of motion and avoid touching the ground.

#7 Resistance Bands

Increase or decrease the intensity of your pull-ups and push-ups with resistance bands. Built for flexibility, they can be attached to power racks and barbells.

The post 7 Home Gym Essentials To Keep You Active All Year Round appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you’ve been a bit lazy with your Winter workout routine lately then you’re not going to feel any better about yourself watching the trailer for ‘Bleed For This’.

Miles Teller has come a long way since his skinny days in fluff films like ’21 & Over’ and ‘That Awkward Moment’. The 29-year-old stars in ‘Bleed For This’ like you’ve never seen him before, emerging as the buff World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he’d ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks.

So how did Teller get ripped for his role as Vinny Pazienza?

According to a report by US Weekly, Teller admitted he had to control his diet for a long period of time and “lock himself away from temptations”, that meant not touching alcohol for 8 months or bread for 7 months. He also got stuck right into boxing training, “I would do like 4 hours boxing, 2 hours weights and 2 hours physical therapy,” he told E! Online.

“When I started training I was like 188 (pounds) and like 18% body fat,” Teller told E! “I got down to 168 and 6%”

• Breakfast: protein powder mixed with ice, water and a dash of almond milk.
• Fresh fruit but at minimal quantities.
• Lunch and dinner: huge helpings of chicken, spinach, avocados and tomatoes.

The post How Miles Teller Got Ripped For Upcoming Boxing Drama 'Bleed For This' appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The following article has been sponsored by Cartier

Cartier’s legacy in fine watchmaking has long been up there with the greats. History has seen the esteemed jewellery maker create watches like the famed Santos model for aviator Albert Santos Dumont, a watch not only made for flying, but one that combined a unique physical shape with superb aesthetics.

It is often argued then that Cartier is a master of geometry, creating horological objects of desire that pleases the eyes of both men and women. For 2016, Cartier has used this expertise to create a resolutely masculine model that retains the flair of days past: the Drive de Cartier.

Behind A Driving Design

The Drive de Cartier is inspired by the elegant sports cars of the past. This is most notable in its intricate guilloche dial which takes inspiration from the radiator grilles classic cars. The crown meanwhile mimics a bolt that holds body panels or storage racks together, bringing an air of 1960’s swagger to the timepiece.

Its iconic cushion shape also echoes the curves of vintage cars with a particular form that is neither circle nor square in order to project a unique and eye-catching presence on the wrist.

Beauty In Movement

Underneath the curvaceous exterior lines of the Drive de Cartier resides the intircate Cartier in-house calibre 1904MC-PS featuring small seconds and a date function at 3 o’clock. Handsomely finished, the movement features two barrels to better distribute the torque of the mainspring for better timekeeping.

Not only does the Drive de Cartier offer this superb time and date model, the collection also features a “small complication” model, packed with big date, retrograde second time zone, day/night indicator and small seconds.

It’s asymmetric layout is quirky, adding another level of functionality to the Drive de Cartier.

For the exacting watch enthusiast, the Drive de Cartier also comes in a tourbillon version. This particular variant features a sensational three dimensional dial and dazzling tourbillon at 6 o’clock – all Hallmark of Geneva certified in a bid to show off its fine craftsmanship.

Final Thoughts

The distinctive case shape of the Drive de Cartier makes it a standout piece on the wrist. Paired with a classic design, Roman numerals and sword shaped hands, the understated timepiece is careful not to draw all of the attention away from a gentleman’s outfit, instead complementing a man’s most sophisticated ensemble.

As a result the watch manages to straddle the fine line between formal and classic, showing off its fluidly from the boardroom to the bar. A supremely versatile watch, the Drive de Cartier is made for the man with an eye for detail and a penchant for individuality.

 D’Marge shot on location at the Primus Hotel Sydney with wardrobe provided by Farage

The post On The Wrist: Road Testing The Drive de Cartier appeared first on DMARGE Australia.