For most Australians, this is a very good Friday. With the all-important ANZAC Day public holiday falling on a Thursday this year, the calendar offered the perfect opportunity to chuck a sickie, schedule an RDO or take annual leave in order to bridge the weekend into a four-day mega break. For those of us who did trudge into the office, today feels a little like a write-off, but alas, there is good news; we’ve got a certified dose of mood-boosting content to kickstart the weekend. Settle in, here’s Feel-Good Friday for this week.
‘Enjoy the Now’ in Orange
There’s nothing better than spending a weekend out of the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoying some fresh air in the beautiful outer regions of New South Wales. As wine lovers and foodies, our favourite hotspot is Orange, a stunning natural destination that pulls you out of the rigours of daily life and back into the present moment. If you’ve never made the trek out that way (or even if you have), there has never been a better time to visit the natural wonderland.
Across autumn and winter, Orange plays host to a number of intimate dining, entertainment and cultural events, showcasing arguably the best produce in the country. From unforgettable dinners at The Oriana and Antica Carcoar to cozy cellar door experiences at Swinging Bridge Wines and Printhie, Orange has a little something for everyone. Here’s what you need to put on your radar:
- Orange Winter Fire Festival: Enjoy an authentic country winter in Orange, complete with all the creature comforts of a world-class travel destination. Enjoy a delicious meal and rich red wines under the region’s expansive starry night skies or huddle up next to a fireplace and see why we believe Orange is Australia’s true hidden gem.
- Millthorpe Fire Fair: Opening the Fire Festival, this unique event offers a rare opportunity to head out to Millthorpe and sample the best from local food producers, wineries and businesses, all whilst soaking up the atmosphere of the beautiful village. There will be live music, kids’ activities, fire pits lining the street, and fireworks to complete the night.
- Basalt: For a luxury getaway with all the trimmings, Basalt is Orange’s premier destination. Set atop a family-owned cherry orchard. more than 1,100 metres above sea level, this charming property offers breathtaking views of the Central Tablelands.
- Sona: For the art and history lovers, you simply can’t go past Sona. The lovingly restored bank and bank manager’s quarters is a vibrant homage to the region’s rich cultural past, seamlessly blending history with contemporary luxury. Best of all, Sona is meticulously curated with modern Mediterranean accents and Art Deco influences.
Of course, Orange is the kind of place that always has something on the go. While winter is probably our favourite time to head down and enjoy the scenery, the region offers a near-endless amount of activities to indulge in year-round. If you are looking for a quick getaway not too far from Sydney, Orange is a must-visit.
10,000 Free Maxibons are Up For Grabs
Nope, that’s not a typo. After shocking the world (and sending the Man of Many office into chaos) with the relaunch of Maxibon Peanut Jams with Butter, the ice cream and biscuit legends are doubling down. This Saturday and Sunday, Maxibon is giving away 10,000 PBJ Bons, teaming up with Hugo’s Deli in Melbourne to transform the cult sandwich joint into a delicious sea of nutty, jammy flavours.
According to Maxibon, the new activation will take Aussies on a “flavour-packed sandwich journey”, with the venue set to drop a bespoke peanut butter and jam menu for the weekend. In addition to the free PBJ, attendees can also score a limited-edition new Hugo’s sandwich, appropriately called the PBJ Sanga, which features southern fried chicken, buttery peanut butter, and cherry and pepper berry glaze for $18.50.
Maxibon x Hugo’s Deli
- WHAT: 10,000 FREE Maxibon Peanut Jams with Butter
- WHERE: Hugo’s Deli, 119 Swan St, Richmond
- VIC DATE: Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th April 2024
- TIMES: 10am to 5pm, both days (while stocks last)
Mary Fowler Pranks Local Footy Club with $50K
Mary Fowler might well be the future of Australian football, but the Matildas star isn’t letting it go to her head. The World Cup hero has taken a quick break from slamming goals into the back of the net to surprise a small community footy club in a heartwarming moment captured on Zoom.
Fowler and a panel of judges, including Hello Sport and Uber, hand-selected the West Brunswick Football Club (West) to receive a whopping $50K sponsorship as the winners of the Reserve Grade Heroes competition, which set out to find Australia’s most deserving reserve grade sports team. It comes after new research found that one in four regional and remote Australian sporting clubs experienced declining participant registrations due to the rising cost of living.
According to the volunteer-run club, the $50,000 will help support players and allow West to build on its values as an inclusive club and do more work in the LGBTQIA, first nations, parents and carers, and disability spaces.
“This initiative aims to recognise the underdogs and the underfunded on the reserve bench, in their consistent pursuit to keep their club, and community spirit alive,” Fowler said. “I resonate with their fighting community spirit, as it spurred my love for soccer 14 years ago in my hometown in Cairns. Without it, I simply wouldn’t be where I am today, playing professionally and for my national team.”
Tinder Launches New ‘Share My Date’ Safety Feature
In an effort to improve safety, dating app Tinder, has launched Share My Date, a new feature that lets users share their date plans directly with friends and loved ones from the app. The new addition is designed to allow users to share the location, date, time, and even a photo of their match with their close friends—directly from the app. They can decide who they want to share their date with and create an unlimited number of dates within the app up to 30 days in advance.
“At Tinder, we continue to release new features that aim to create a fun, safe, and respectful experience for all,” said Tinder CMO Melissa Hobley. “Discussing plans with friends and family is a time-honoured dating ritual. Share My Date streamlines this basic info-sharing so singles can jump right to the exciting part, from figuring out what to wear to prepping conversation topics.”
Date plans are also editable, so if plans change at the last minute, users can simply update the info in the app to ensure accuracy. Share My Date will roll out across the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, India, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Switzerland, Mexico, Netherlands, Italy, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand in the coming months.
Holiday Inn x LEGO Masters Free Brick-Building Workshops
Can’t think of a good way to keep the kids entertained this school holidays? LEGO Masters has you covered. The classic TV series has teamed up with Holiday Inn to launch a series of free brick-building workshops for families. Entitled ‘Holiday Inn-spiration’, the events will be available at Holiday Inn hotels across Australia, including:
- Holiday Inn Sydney Potts Point
- Holiday Inn Bondi Junction
- Holiday Inn Sydney Airport
- Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
Best of all, adult sessions are even available, with the organisers confirming that fun sip-and-builds will take place at the same venues. All of the hosted weekend workshops will allow kids to create their own build, receive expert tips and tricks from the LEGO Masters themselves and enjoy special guest appearances at select locations.
LEGO Masters x Holiday Inn ‘Holiday Inn-spiration’
- WHAT: Free brick-building workshops for families.
- WHEN: From Tuesday 23 April to May
- WHERE: Holiday Inn Sydney Potts Point, Holiday Inn Bondi Junction, Holiday Inn Sydney Airport, Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
- COST: Workshops are free
