Whether you’ve got one partner or twenty, relationships aren’t easy. But what can make it harder is when your parents or friends don’t approve of them.

Speaking of judgement, a recent ethical dilemma submitted by a reader to The New York Times’ social questions section has just showed why much of the US is not ready for polyamory. The reason? They can’t help but think of it as inherently immoral (and it gives them flashbacks to times in their life when someone has been unfaithful to them).

Submitted by the concerned mother of what Americans call an “adult child” (a 30 year old), the reader asks whether she is morally obligated to invite her daughter’s polyamorous partner on a family vacation, even though she doesn’t really want to. 

The post reads: “My 30-year-old daughter is in a polyamorous relationship with a married man. She brought him home for the holidays, and while he was charming, I felt uncomfortable. (This may have been triggered by my husband’s infidelity that led to our divorce.) Now, my daughter tells me she would like to bring this man on our family trip to Greece this year.”

The post continues: “It may be petty, but I don’t want to foot the bill for another woman’s husband. And I don’t see any way this relationship can lead to my daughter’s happiness. Should I lay out my boundaries and risk my daughter not joining me on vacation?”

The moral dilemma expert over at The New York Times responsed: “I may be off-base, but I don’t think the real issue here is the cost of a trip to Greece or your ex-husband’s infidelity. This is about respecting your adult daughter’s choices. You have substituted your idea of happiness for hers. This is a common (and often well-intentioned) trap for many parents. It’s not productive, though.”

The response to the dilemma on Facebook suggests many readers of The New York Times either don’t like, don’t trust or don’t understand polyamory. One user wrote: “Adultery is literally still on the books as a crime in certain places.”

“Until laws catch up with newfound relationships, you are indeed contributing to the decline of his marital household. There are serious financial ramifications for this behavior.”

“There are consequences to adultery that don’t just involve your daughters pleasure.”

Another wrote: “Since when did ‘polyamorous’ replace ‘adulterous’? Not everything is OK. He is cheating on his wife, and you don’t need to enable it. And the fact that your daughter knows that he is married doesn’t say much for her character, either.”

“Set your boundaries and stand firm. He is someone else’s husband and she has no ethical, moral or legal right to him. Your daughter has to come to terms with that.”

It didn’t end there. Many more Facebook users wrote such remarks as: “Please don’t enable her behavior?” and “Encourage her to have some dignity and find her own husband,” as well as “Since the boyfriend is in a polyamorous marriage, he should bring his wife and they foot the bill for themselves.”

“No way should you be paying for it. Period. I wonder what his wife would say to joining his girlfriend‘s family at his and hers‘ own expenses? I’m with you Mom”

Another Facebook user wrote: “He’s not family so not sure why he’d be included on a family trip.. you can respect that your daughter has a relationship with him without bringing the man on vacation with you..if you’re paying for the trip you don’t have to invite anyone you don’t want. if your daughter is paying and generally free to bring a guest then this is no different. I guess what a family trip is would matter to me.. I assume that varies by family.”

Others encouraged tolerance: “Yes always lay out your boundaries though be considerate and respectful. Tolerance has limits and every family has to find that balance. We live in a complex world and it is not smart nor balanced to feel the need to accept everything just because times are changing or there is societal pressure. Be open but when it comes to family, your personal space, your home etc YES BOUNDARIES are both smart and compassionate .”

And yet others got more into the detail. One wrote: “It doesn’t say the daughter asked Mom to pay for her man. It says just that the daughter wants the man to come on their trip with them. The bigger question is why the mom is paying for her daughter when the daughter is 30.”

This idea that adult children should pay their way regardless was also quite popular, cropping up a number of times: “He can’t even pay his share?? This is beyond amazing. But then again, it might be a strong indication that he doesn’t want the charge to show on his credit card statement… I bet his wife doesn’t know anything.”

“If you’re footing the bill, you get to choose who comes along.”

Oh and one Facebook user thought it could all be a big set-up. 

“I see a set-up: The daughter must know what her Mom would think of a ‘Poly amorous’ relationship. She’s either testing her Mom, testing him or testing herself. In any case, I would say sure, invite them all and see what happens.”

Finally, a few social media users suggested the woman do a bit of reading on the topic: “Grow up and get with the times. Your daughter would like to bring her bf and you have the financial ability to do this. Let her be happy. There’s nothing wrong with ethical non-monogamy as longs as it’s practiced ethically.”

“All these Boomers getting their mind BLOWN by the concept of polyamory… “

And there you have it: a spicy ethical debate to kick off your Friday.

Read Next

• ‘Most British Sex Complaint Ever’ Ignites Debate
• Why The French Are Better Lovers Than Australians

The post American Family’s ‘Greek Vacation’ Dilemma Shows Why The US Is Not Ready For Polyamory appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Whisky – or whiskey, depending on where it hails from – is revered by many as being an elixir from the Gods. With various countries producing bottles with flavours and aromas unique to their origin, searching for and sampling the liquid gold is a passion shared by many.Australia shows a particular affinity for whisky and has distilleries dotted around the country producing some of the finest examples in the world. However, even we can admit that some of the best whiskies need to come from overseas and the best way to try them is by visiting a dedicated whisky bar.And where can you find such wondrous whisky bars? In Brisbane of course. All of Australia’s major cities have their own take on what the classic whisky bar should be and we think Brisbane has nailed it with their selection. Naturally, you can expect to find a great selection of whisky at any of Brisbane’s coolest restaurants, bars and even cocktail bars, but for bartender knowledge and variety, only a whisky bar will do.So, get yourself a taxi, head into town and make your way through the coolest whisky bars Brisbane has to offer.

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The post 8 Best Whiskey Bars In Brisbane 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Whether you’ve had a long day at work or it’s a rainy weekend and you just want to stay in, there’s nothing better than curling up on your couch and enjoying a really good television series. But in the age of streaming, there is almost too much content out there these days; so much so, that it can be overwhelming and extremely tempting to put on a comfort show that you’ve seen ten times over.

While we do love a good re-watch, there are a plethora of TV shows that are highly underrated and well worth watching. If you’re in the mood to try out something new; we’ve got you covered. These are the best shows — that you’ve probably never heard of — that you can watch (or binge) on streaming platform, Stan right now.

Cleverman

6.4 IMDb score, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, released in 2016, 2 seasons

Cleverman, an Australian series, follows two Indigenous half-brothers as they battle ancient mythological creatures that now live among humans. The show is set in Sydney in the near future, and while is undoubtedly science fiction — the lead character is essentially a superhero with cool powers — it’s also thought-provoking with many political and racial overtones. Sure, racial allegories have been used regularly in dystopic fantasy films & television, but what sets Cleverman apart is it’s one of the few stories told from an Australian Indigenous perspective.

Incredibly original, Cleverman is a must-watch if you’re a fan of shows like Heroes and American Gods, or if you simply like a good superhero sci-fi.

Des

7.7 IMDb score, stars David Tenant, Crime & Drama, released in 2020, 1 season

Based on the very true story of serial killer Dennis Nilsen, this mini-series highlights the reasoning behind Nilsen’s murders of at least 12 men and young boys, as well as Detective Cheif Inspector Peter Jay’s discovery of human remains blocking a drain, which led to the arrest of Nilsen in 1983. Nilsen is played a little too well by David Tenant and the whole show is compelling yet creepy with an incredibly sharp script.

With only three episodes, Des is incredibly easy to binge in one sitting. If you love a good crime podcast or are fascinated by the psychology behind a killer’s motivations, Des is the show you’ve been looking for.

Everything’s Gonna Be Okay

7.4 IMDb score, stars Josh Thomas, Comedy, released in 2020, 2 seasons

The second series created by Australian comedian, Josh Thomas, Everything’s Gonna Be Okay is an extremely well-written witty comedy with incredibly touching moments sprinkled in. Thomas plays twenty-something Nicholas, an Australian who visits his father and two half-sisters in America but upon his arrival learns that his father is terminally ill. Not only this, but Nicholas’ dying father expects him to become the guardian for his half-sisters.

Honest, raw, hilarious, and inclusive — the protagonist is LGBTQ+ and a supporting character is autistic — if you liked Thomas’ first series, Please Like Me, or you love a good off-beat, quirky comedy, you have to check out Everything’s Gonna Be Okay.

I Am The Night

7.0 IMDb score, stars Chris Pine, Crime & Mystery, released in 2019, 1 season

Set in the early 60s, I Am The Night follows a teenage girl searching for her father, who along the way meets a disgraced journalist. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving the Black Dahlia murder; Los Angeles’ most infamous cold case. Inspired by true events, I Am The Night stars Chris Pine of Star Trek & Wonder Woman fame, in one of his best performances as Jay Singletary, the haunted journalist.

I Am The Night is a mini-series but you’ll be gripping the edge of your seat for all six episodes. This show is perfect for true crime lovers or fans of the mystery genre.

MacGruber

7.1 IMDb score, stars Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe, Comedy & Action, released in 2021, 1 season

MacGruber, a parody of the hit ’80s show MacGyver, serves as a sequel to the 2010 film of the same name. The show has a stellar cast — Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Sam Elliott, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Zane — and is filled with massive action scenes and ridiculous jokes.

If you like Saturday Night Live and Frat Pack films such as Anchorman, Blades Of Glory or Tropic Thunder, you’ll love MacGruber.

Made For Love

6.9 IMDb score, stars Cristin Milioti and Ray Romano, Comedy & Drama, released in 2021, 1 season

A dark comedy, based on the novel of the same name, Made For Love is about a young woman who, while on the run from her husband of ten years, discovers he’s implanted a ‘tracking device’ into her brain that allows him to see her exact location, watch her live, and, even, download what emotions she’s feeling. Taking sardonic jabs at technology, the series has some sci-fi and dramatic elements as well as perfect comedic timing.

If you enjoyed Black Mirror, consider Made For Love as a lighter, funnier version.

Party Down

8.2 IMDb score, stars Adam Scott, co-created by Paul Rudd, Comedy, released in 2009, 2 seasons

A sitcom about a group of actors who move to Hollywood to pursue their dreams… but end up working for a catering company, Party Down is a hugely underrated show from 2009. Starring Adam Scott, of Step Brothers and The Good Place fame, as well as Jane Lynch, the show is undeniably funny. With witty dialogue and impeccable comedic timing, it’s hard to believe this show didn’t gain the same cult-classic status as The Office or Community.

If you’re a fan of well-written comedies with exceptional acting and genuinely funny moments from characters that seem almost real, you have to give Party Down a try.

Torchwood

7.7 IMDb score, Doctor Who spin-off, Action & Sci-Fi, released in 2006, 4 seasons

There’s usually a lot left to be desired from spin-offs of popular shows but that simply isn’t the case with Torchwood; a spin-off aimed at maturer audiences of the iconic but family-friendly Doctor Who series. The show is about Captain Jack Harkness as he leads a secret covert agency — Torchwood — to investigate and protect the Earth from extraterrestrial threats. Intelligent and thrilling with a splash of goofiness, it’s a shame Torchwood didn’t become as popular as Doctor Who.

If you’re a fan of shows like The X Files, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, or, obviously, Doctor Who, you must give Torchwood a go.

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The post 10 Most Underrated Shows On Stan Right Now appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Austalian surfers have been spoiled for waves this last few weeks (on the East coast, anyway). Kirra has been the best its ever been (again), Byron was so good you could just about walk on water (there were that many surfers in there), and even Sydney’s had some fun waves too. But we’re also pretty spoilt, just generally speaking, when it comes to the harshness of environment we must endure in order to get our toes in wax.

Speaking of which, a recent photo by Dutch photograher Jop Hermans puts into perspective just how damn good Australians surfers have it. How? He shows how cold it is to surf in The Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jop Hermans Photo (@jophermans.photography)

While many surfers in Australia might turn their nose up at a knee-high wedge, surfers in The Netherlands are hoping to see more of these kinds of waves in winter 2022 – and are prepared to surf in some pretty chilly condidions to do just that (with thick wetsuits, boots, hoods and gloves). 

As Jop wrote, alongside a bunch of photos of fun waves, “Remember these days of ‘whiteout’ and fun surf from last winter? Would be so good to have this again in 2022.”

According to surfforecast.com, Netherland sea temperatures peak in the range 16 to 20°C (61 to 68°F) in Europe’s summer, and are at their minimum on about the 18th of February, in the range 3 to 9°C (37 to 48°F), in Europe’s winter. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jop Hermans Photo (@jophermans.photography)

By contrast, average annual water temperature on the coast in Sydney in winter is 18°C, while in in spring the average is 19°C and in summer and autumn the average temperature rises to 22°C.

Jop wrote in the comments that all the images were taken in Scheveningen and explained that “I like a cold surf, but this was next level.”

He also showed off some images of some fun looking beach breaks, presumably pretty confident the rarity of the waves, and the temperature, would probably deter the hordes from ever descending.

Video: Surfing Some Of The Netherlands’ Best Waves

This isn’t the first time Jop has shared some epic looking images of the waves in The Netherlands with his followers, with other posts showing everything from messy overhead days, to perfect little peelers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jop Hermans Photo (@jophermans.photography)

If your interest is piqued, have a read of surfer/videographer Yannick de Jager’s description of surfing in Holland, which he wrote in 2016 for The Inertia.

“Surfing decent waves in Holland requires a lot of effort. But that’s also part of what makes it special; it keeps you hungry. You don’t take it for granted, you really appreciate it.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jop Hermans Photo (@jophermans.photography)

“It’s like being in the opposite dimension of a country with consistent quality waves. There is so much anticipation for those sweet little sessions, whether it’s just really fun, rippable onshore slob on a good sandbank, or those very few clean days. The tide in the North Sea is massive and influences the waves a lot, which means timing is everything over here.”

Cold or not, we have to admit, some of those waves look damn tasty.

Read Next

• Surfer’s Casual Response After Catching Historic Wave May Be The Most Australian Thing Ever
• Best Wetsuits 2021: The Wetsuits You Need To Surf Up A Storm No Matter The Temperature

The post Dutch Photographer’s ‘Chilling’ Instagram Account Shows Just How Good Australian Surfers Have It appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

These days it seems that you can’t go anywhere without Emily In Paris being brought up; everyone, from your mum to your colleagues, has something to say about the infamous Netflix Original series. In case you haven’t heard about it (how?), the show follows a young woman named Emily, as she navigates life and love while working in Paris for a year.

Emily In Paris has earned mixed reviews; on the one hand, it has garnered a reputation for being a stereotypical and unrealistic portrayal of Parisian culture and has been described by many as ‘trash’. However, many others take delight in the light-hearted show, which was even nominated for Best Television Series at the 2021 Golden Globes. Some even reckon it is intentionally a little absurd (which would be quite fitting, really).

However, whether you think Emily In Paris is a good or a bad show — or whether you’ve even watched it at all — there are a few things men can learn from the series when it comes to dating. The major plot point for Emily In Paris’ recently released Season 2 was whether Emily would end up with Gabriel or Alfie. So, let’s delve into the relationships Emily has with both men to see what knowledge can be had.

Emily’s main romantic interest, Gabriel, was introduced in Season 1. Gabriel, an incredibly good-looking French chef, is Emily’s neighbour, and after they meet, the two spend the first four episodes shamelessly flirting with each other. We learn in episode four, that at some point they have exchanged phone numbers (smooth; although it could’ve happened simply because they’re neighbours) as when faced with a work crisis, Emily calls and practically forces Gabriel to keep his restaurant open after hours and cook for her business associates.

At the end of this dinner, Emily shoots her shot and kisses Gabriel. He instantly embraces her and enthusiastically kisses her right back. Emily says ‘goodnight’ after the passionate kiss and leaves; Gabriel briefly smiling as she does. However, it’s then that we learn that Gabriel has a girlfriend.

In the next episode, Emily calls Gabriel out for both kissing her back and for not telling her he had a girlfriend; which he easily (and still a little flirtily) brushes off. He even confesses that he feels something for Emily, which she ignores as she’s now friends with his girlfriend, Camille. What’s interesting is that Camille tells Emily that Gabriel “can be unfriendly before you get to know him” which is the polar opposite of what we’ve seen; Gabriel gave Emily an extremely warm welcome from the moment they met.

As the season continues, Gabriel and Camille eventually break up due to Gabriel’s decision to move away from Paris. Of course, Emily immediately sleeps with Gabriel, despite the fact that she’s become good friends with Camille. However, the cliffhanger for the season is that Gabriel can miraculously stay in Paris and Emily must now deal with the fact that she betrayed her friend, Camille, who (obviously) upon learning that Gabriel can stay in town, wants to get back together.

I won’t bore you with all the details from Season 2, but Emily refuses to date Gabriel even though he confesses grand feelings of love for her, they share another passionate kiss, and he doesn’t get back together with Camille. Emily’s refusal to start a relationship is mainly due to her guilt but also because of her belief that she shouldn’t start something with Gabriel when she only plans to stay in Paris for a short time. Oh, and also because Emily meets Alfie.

Alfie, another good-looking guy who’s from London, meets Emily in French class. Unlike Gabriel, who was friendly to Emily from their first encounter, Alfie is initially rude to her. Overtime, he eventually becomes friendlier; although he does gently mock her regularly. Alfie even announces to their French class that Emily “wears silly clothes” and “doesn’t like to have fun”. It seems this playful ribbing works for him though, as Emily becomes determined to prove to him that she can have fun and in due course, the two end up sleeping together and dating.

Alfie is then, in some ways, the perfect boyfriend; caring, attentive, and open about his feelings. He calmly asks Emily for details when he learns of her previous relationship with Gabriel, and when he learns that he has to go back to London, he asks Emily to do long distance as he believes they really “could be something”. She happily agrees and the two share a kiss.

However, shortly after this romantic moment with Alfie, Emily finds out that she can stay in Paris indefinitely (and by this point has been found out and forgiven by Camille), so she rushes to Gabriel to profess her love for him; drama ensues when after this declaration Emily finds out Gabriel’s finally back together with Camille but that’s not relevant here… So, what is?

Well, it seems that men can take away two major dating lessons from Emily In Paris. The first is kind of obvious but it needs to be said: television and reality are vastly different from one another. In what world would a woman want to date a guy who failed to mention that he had a girlfriend and then happily cheated on said girlfriend?

I know I can’t speak for every woman on the planet, but personally, if a man flirted with me for days on end and kissed me but then I found out he was in a relationship, I would never want to see the bastard again. Even if he was ridiculously handsome and had a cute French accent.

If you are in a relationship but then meet someone else who you find absolutely appealing, to the point of cheating; do! not! cheat! Be a good person and break up with your girlfriend first. It’ll guarantee that you hurt your current partner a lot less and that your relationship with the new partner will start off on the right foot. That being said, there are still hundreds of people on Twitter who are rooting for Emily and Gabriel — or would happily date Gabriel themselves — so what do I know?

https://twitter.com/kofoworola__a/status/1481197755385135104

https://twitter.com/haleyd_/status/1478808337168826369

The second lesson is that playful banter can be very attractive. Again, not all women will agree with me, but Alfie’s gentle teasing of Emily is irresistibly charming. Maybe don’t go embarrassing girls in public settings, like Alfie did to Emily in French class, but on a first date don’t be afraid to poke a little fun… After all, it has been strongly documented that women love a funny man, and I (or Twitter) couldn’t agree more.

https://twitter.com/prakritee/status/1476191061290614786

Alfie (in Emily in Paris) is such a fine, annoying, goofy, well-dressed man. Just how I like my men.

— small pepper. (@thefifi__) January 10, 2022

Both seasons of Emily In Paris are available to stream on Netflix.

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• Why The Dexter Reboot Failed Miserably
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The post Emily In Paris ‘Dating Lessons’ Every Man Can Learn From appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Here’s everything you need to know about Jurassic World: Dominion.

Where To Watch

Jurassic World: Dominion is currently available to rent or purchase on Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Telstra TV, Apple TV and The Microsoft Store.

Trailer

The Cast & Crew

Hollywood heavyweight Chris Pratt, who first appeared in the first Jurassic World film in 2015, is reprising the role of Owen Grady and Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help, A Dog’s Way Home) is returning to the role of Claire Dearing. Pratt and Howard will also be joined by Mamoudou Athie, Scott Haze, Diechen Lachman, Campbell Scott, Omar Sy and Justice Smith.

The veteran actors who appeared in the first 1993 Jurassic Park movie, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neil and Laura Dern, will also be reprising their roles for this instalment of the film.

Though Steven Spielberg directed the original Jurassic Park trilogy, director Colin Trevorrow has breathed new life into the franchise and will return to direct the third Jurassic World film. Outside of the Jurassic World trilogy, director Colin Trevorrow has an impressive body of work that includes Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Safety Not Guaranteed and The Book of Henry.

What The Critics & Reviews Say

Currently, Jurrasic World: Dominion has a 5.7 IMDb score and a critic rating of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Release Date Australia

The highly anticipated third instalment to the Jurassic World films was released theatrically by Universal Pictures on June 10 2022. 

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The post Jurassic World 3 Where To Watch Australia, Cast, Trailer & Reviews appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s not easy being a millionaire. You’ve got taxes to pay, boats to keep, and your wealth can overshadow your personality. Worse: sometimes things go quite wrong at the shipyard, and your precious superyachts can come a cropper.

Enter: the following video. Recently posted to Instagram by account @superyachttimes, it shows a millionaire’s worst nightmare.

Video: Fire Destroys Superyacht In Italy

“Breaking News,” @superyachttimes captioned the video. “Yacht fire at Ferretti Shipyard in Cattolica.”

The local fire brigade says the fire started at around 9.30am on January the 10th in one of the sheds at Ferretti Yachts. Ferretti said there were no injuries to personnel, however, as you can see in the video below, a Ferretti motor yacht that was under construction has been sizzled.

According to Boat International, “Five fire brigades teams attended the scene with 11 firefighters working to extinguish the flames.” The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Ferretti Group released a statement in relation to the fire, explaining: “The fire that broke out in the early hours of the morning yesterday, Tuesday January 11, involving a boat under construction at the Cattolica shipyard, caused no injuries thanks to the immediate implementation of safety procedures, with the intervention of the shipyard’s fire-fighting teams and the local fire brigade.”

“The fire has been contained and extinguished, the site is safe. The causes of the incident are currently under investigation.”

The Instagram brigade, for their part, were horrified by the scenes (but not horrified enough to stop them joking about it).

One joked: “Client: ‘Is the boat ready?’ Shipyard: ‘Yeah it’s pushed back, covid supply chain issues, am I right?'”

Another said: “Well…that’s gonna leave a mark.”

The Super Yacht Times says it’s actually quite a lot worse than that, reporting that the superyacht has been destroyed.

“The flagship model of the yard is the Ferretti Yachts 1000, and the first hull from the series was launched on March 12, 2021. It is highly likely that it was a model from this line that was destroyed during this morning’s fire.”

See: being a millionaire isn’t all smooth sailing, after all…

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The post Fire At Superyacht Shipyard A Millionaire’s Worst Nightmare appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Everyone’s had a rough time over the last two years thanks to The Spicy Cough, but few industries have had it as tough as the creative and hospitality industries.Live music venues, pubs, clubs and other cultural organisations have been disproportinately affected by lockdowns and social distancing measures, especially in Sydney. It’s often felt like there’s two sets of rules: at the same time that sporting fixtures have been allowed to have tens of thousands of spectators, bars haven’t been allowed to let people stand up to order a drink or listen to a band.As Sydney heads into lockdown mode yet again, we find this “glaring double standard”, as The Daily Mail dubs it, rearing its head again. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced that singing and dancing is banned at nightclubs, pubs, bars, and entertainment facilities until January 27… Yet church gatherings – including those perfomed by Pentecostal megachurches like Hillsong, known for their lavish live music productions – are notably exempt.That has inspired one Sydney pub to say “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”. The Lord Gladstone, a popular Inner West spot known for its strong community ethos, has decided to rebrand itself as The Gladsong Hotel: Sydney’s newest place of worship; but one that’s more about cheeseburgers and cold beer than wafers and wine.

The Gladsong Hotel will be hosting a ‘Sunday Service’ on the 23rd of January, promising jugs of Holy Water (their tasty house lager), Bloody Lords (Bloody Maries) and DJs in the courtyard all day. Sounds like our kind of church.RELATED: Australian Man Tries To Sell Post Lockdown Restaurant Reservation For Outrageous Sum“It’s been an absolutely frustrating period of time for all venue owners, right now and over the past couple of years,” The Lord Gladstone’s owner and manager Mitchell Crum explains.“Once again it feels like our leaders are leaving our poor struggling musicians and artists back in the darkness. Live music venues, musicians, pubs and clubs all across the state have been the hardest hit without any support or closure.”

“I can’t say I’m terribly religious though I worship live music. Does that make us exempt?”

It’s not clear whether or not ‘The Gladdy’ will get away with this stunt on the 23rd, but to paraphrase former Prime Minister (and beer aficionado) Bob Hawke, “any cop who arrests anyone for turning up is a bum.”

It’s not the first time the pub’s done a publicity stunt like this. Last August, The Lord Gladstone rebranded itself as ‘The Lord Jabstone’, offering free drinks to vaccinated patrons. We’d say they’re more than justified doing this church rebrand, under the circumstances.RELATED: Surprisingly ‘Evolved’ Sydney Nightlife Trend Other Cities Could Learn FromThese new restrictions have already taken a major toll on the NSW economy. Grapevine Gathering, a Hunter Valley festival set to feature major Australian acts including Peking Duk, The Jungle Giants and The Veronicas, was forced to cancel with just four days lead time, meaning 16,000 tickets will need to be refunded. The organisers have projected a loss of over $5.2 million and 1,400 jobs in the greater Hunter Valley region from this cancellation.Other notable live music events such as Newtown’s King Street Carnival and the Tamworth Country Music Festival have also been forced to postpone, The Guardian reports.Read Next

• Sydney Claims Shock Victory Over Melbourne In 2021’s ‘Best Bars In The World’ Ranking
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The post Australian Pub Finds A Genius Loophole Around Hypocritical COVID Rule appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The last two years have been tough for single people. The spectre of The Spicy Cough looms large over dating culture, with many singles forgoing in-personal romance for virtual dates. Naturally, all the dating apps have made a big pivot towards virtual dates, with their marketing saying they’re just as good as physical ones. But that’s a damn lie.Or maybe it isn’t? Maybe it’s better to just get ghosted by someone you’ve never met while you’re chilling at home rather than getting stood up and having your time wasted IRL, as I found out a few weeks ago.After having a great chat with a very cute girl on Hinge and making plans to get drinks at Jangling Jacks, a cool spot in Sydney’s Potts Point, she messaged me half an hour after she was supposed to meet me at the bar that she “totally forgot to message me earlier” and that she “had a migraine and a little cough”. Yeah, I didn’t buy it either.I was pretty disappointed… Mostly because I’d ordered a cheese plate. Let’s be clear: I have never really been a cheese plate or charcuterie sort of guy. It’s just not me. It was totally out of character – I thought that whilst I was waiting for my date to turn up, I’d order it so that we’d have something to snack on straight away. A bit of a gentlemanly move or whatever.But now I was left sitting on my own in a mostly empty bar with a whole plate of Comté, Brie and crackers all to myself. I couldn’t tell if the bartenders were judging me or pitying me. Either way, less than ideal. But it actually all turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It was a blessing for two reasons: firstly, it made me realise how good cheese plates can be. The subtlely fruity Comté, shaved into delicate florets, was a revelation, especially when paired with the apple compote provided. The Brie, too, was heartbreakingly good (pun entirely intended).But it was also good as it forced me to appreciate the joys of dining alone. And actually, I really did enjoy dining alone. I was glad I ordered the cheese plate, as it was not only a welcome distraction (under the circumstances) but a delightful experience in its own right.There’s a huge taboo around dining alone in our society. Particularly when it comes to fine dining. Eating for utility on your own is one thing – no-one bats an eyelid at someone eating a sandwich on the train, for example – but going somewhere even somewhat fancy on your own just to enjoy a meal? That’s weird. It’s considered sad.RELATED: ‘Brave’ A-Rod Photo Shows Underrated Mental Health Hack Every Man Can Learn FromBut really, when you think about it, what’s sad about eating a great meal? It’s not depressing, it’s liberating. It’s one of the purest forms of self-indulgence and self-care one can, well, indulge in. It’s a truly underappreciated art that like all art, more of us should practice every now and again.As VICE’s Nell Frizzell put it best back in 2014, “one of life’s greatest pleasures is a solitary meal. But in the age of the iPhone, we don’t really know how it feels to truly eat alone anymore.”

“People eating on their own do not deserve pity… Why? Because to concentrate on what you’re consuming, to be able to take in your eating environment alone, is one of the cornerstones of self-sufficiency.”

“You are free from bullshit food shame, from other people’s boring diet restrictions, from small talk, from having to meet someone so late you’ve eaten the napkins before the starters arrive and, most importantly, from compromise. You are an island.”And don’t worry that you’re going to be judged by restaurant staff – it’s quite the opposite, actually. “You get more guest interaction with a solo table, which improves their experience and makes us happy,” James Lowe, chef and owner of acclaimed London restaurant Lyle’s, tells The Guardian.

“If [guests are] alone, they’re there for the food. They are saying they don’t need the entertainment of others. They are saying they chose our restaurant, and they’re here to enjoy it for themselves. It’s a real compliment.”

RELATED: Food Critic Shares ‘Costly’ Culinary Mistake Too Many Australians Are Guilty OfI’ve written about the joys of dining alone before for DMARGE, but it was only when I got stood up and ate that cheese plate that I really, truly got it. That’s why, when my date made a half-arsed apology for standing me up, I just responded “ah well, more cheese for me” – and I meant it. Fuck ’em. The cheese was great and I hate small talk anyway.

In the end, two of my mates ended up rescuing me, and we had a lovely night bar-hopping throughout Potts Point. Ironically, we ended up getting some tacos at The Butler, which were pretty good… But that cheese plate definitely hit different.RELATED: I Tried Sydney’s Classiest Oyster Establishment & It Ruined Me For LifeThat’s not to say that dining alone is for everyone, or something you should attempt super-recreationally. While you’ll find plenty of literature extolling its virtues out there, you’ll also find plenty of evidence that it can actually be quite bad instead of good for one’s mental health, as this Quartz article relates. I mean, in the end, I had to be forced to embrace it, as it were.But I’m glad I was, and it’ll be something I’m going to start doing far more often. Maybe it’ll help me come off as brooding and mysterious…Read Next

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