With the proliferation of ‘effects’ cameras everyone’s a budding photographer and I can’t really blame them. Part of me loves th fact that these techniques and effects – once the domain of ‘professional’ photographers – are now accessible to everyone the other part of me desperately wants people to understand the chemistry of cross processing or the odd colour of a Polaroid that’s been ‘overcooked’ on a shoot (usually held under a warm armpit for too long). Either way here’s a really clever explanation of the effects that you get on the Instagram application: Old School Instagram Filters

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I’m so over this weather, we’re off to a mall for a bottomless cup of charred tar from the Mugg & Burn. Hopefully they’ll have florescent lighting. And some of that canned cream for a reeeeeeal cappuccino.

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While watching Brewsmasters on TV I just had a flashback to our recent beer holiday, oh no, scrap that, I meant cultural mission to the americas. Consumption of the rich tapestry of museums, art and people watching had to be met with equal amounts of beer drinking – it’s one of Newton’s laws. Below you will see a highlight. The image on the left represents a beer cocktail from the Breslin – yes, I agree it sounds disgusting but bear with me. It was a shot of bourbon (Woodford reserve if memory serves me), maple syrup, lemon juice, bitters and ale. Heavenly and only $12. Then to the image on the right. Our ‘guide’ for the evening’s ‘hop’ tour decided to end at a quaint bar replete with sticky floors, bra-clad ceilings and all the charm of a public urinal. The drink of choice was a litre of Mother’s milk for a mere $8 served in an enormous polystyrene cup. Not exactly a craft brew but strangely moreish.

It’s fantastic to see the local market offering more and more craft brews and I hope that just like the shift towards farmer’s markets people will see the value in hand crafted beer and support more and more of these smaller enterprises.

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Like the odd rabble of close friends at a surprise birthday party the Design Within Reach store houses a select collection of furniture and lighting from legendary designers – both with, and without pulses. While most of it may not be with reach of our budget and certainly not our baggage allowance a trip to the store remains a free, yet decidedly rewarding experience.

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