Believe it or not, we are just 68 days out from Christmas. The countdown is officially on and the entire Man of Many team is getting into the festive spirit, donning our bells and prepping for the holiday period. Needless to say, the vibes are high, and we’re keeping that feel-good train rolling with another Friday instalment. Settle in and enjoy this collection of positive stories, picked ripe and juicy ahead of the weekend.
Uber & Red Cross Help Aussies Donate From Their Doorstep
Want to do some good but don’t want to leave the house? Convenience lords Uber have you covered. The iconic ride-share and food-delivery platform has teamed up with the Australian Red Cross for a new initiative aimed at raising donations and providing support to Aussies in need. And they are bringing Selling Sunset‘s professional selling expert, Chrishell Stause, along for the ride.
To celebrate the sixth annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive, which takes place on Saturday, October 19, Uber is making donating easier than ever through a free pickup service. Simply book a free Uber Package pick-up between 10am and 4pm in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney, and Uber will deliver your donations straight to the Red Cross.
You’ll have real-time tracking of the delivery person’s arrival in the Uber app, so you can easily meet them at your doorstep or curbside to hand over your donation. As ambassador Stause explained, doing so will reduce waste and help the Australian Red Cross continue to support Australians in need.
“When you do a wardrobe clear out, there are two piles that form – the clothes you plan to donate and the ones you plan to sell,” Stause said. “The ‘sell’ pile is usually the higher-quality items and this year, we’re asking Aussies who are able to, to consider donating their ‘sell’ pile to help Red Cross fund the critical programs that they run.”
By donating quality, pre-loved and clean clothing, you are helping contribute valuable funds to Red Cross humanitarian programs. These programs offer support where it’s needed every day of the year.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Mind Lobby Opens at SXSW Sydney
Checking in? For SXSW this year, IHG Hotels & Resorts is inviting you into the Mind Lobby; a first-of-its-kind holiday activation that promises to take you on a remarkable journey. At the International Convention Centre (ICC) forecourt from Monday, 14 October to Sunday, 20 October, attendees are encouraged to test out the 60-second immersive experience, which uses cutting-edge eye-tracking technology to help you plan the holiday of your dreams.
According to the brand, the cinematic experience tracks and monitors your reactions to image and video content of immersive travel destinations around the world. From there, it can identify your ‘true travel desires’, uncovering the specific type of holiday experience you are after, from culinary indulgence to remote escapism.
“IHG Hotels & Resorts has really carved its niche in the hospitality space by offering guests meaningful choice and exploring highly-differentiated ways for guests to show up and be themselves,” Dean Jones, vice president of commercial, East Asia & Pacific for IHG said. “IHG’s Mind Lobby offers the perfect blend of allowing travellers to explore what they really want, while showcasing the very best of SXSW Sydney’s futuristic and innovative energy. We’re thrilled to be able to offer travellers a memorable space to explore their subconscious and then having a distinct and diverse portfolio of stay brands to make their dreams a reality.”
While visiting the space, you can also unwind in the IHG lounge space and enjoy free coffee and wireless charging stations. Located on the forecourt of the International Convention Centre (ICC), the immersive experience will be open from Monday, 14 October, to Sunday, 20 October. Attendees can also enter a daily draw to instantly win 1,000,000 IHG One Rewards points to turn their dream holiday into reality.
Bennelong Launches à la carte at the Counter
As one of the nation’s most incredible culinary institutions, Bennelong needs no introduction. For years, the iconic restaurant, which is located inside the Sydney Opera House, has been home to a near-unfathomable assortment of delectable entrees, stunning meals and indulgent desserts. Somehow, things are getting better. Executive chef Peter Gilmore is flinging open the kitchen doors, offering à la carte options at the counter for the very first time.
Located on the central level of Bennelong, bookings are made at the beautiful brass Counter, on side-by-side bar stools. Here, you can craft your own dining experience from a selection of favourite dishes—from snacks through to dessert— carefully curated by Gilmore himself. To enjoy the signature three-course choice menu, reserve a table in the restaurant and get stuck into a meal you’ll never forget.
French Rosé Pays For Emerging Music Artists’ Studio Time
Iconic French rosé brand Miraval has announced a new partnership with Brightside Studios in Surry Hills. The project will see the Provence-based label take over the state-of-the-art recording studios to offer two weeks’ worth of complimentary recording time to emerging artists in Sydney. Not only will artists be able to book free of charge, but they will also be able to record in a studio decked out with complimentary bottles of STUDIO by Miraval.
The latest announcement comes after data from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) revealed that half of Australian musicians earned less than $6,000 from the music industry in 2023. This research, which surveyed 550 artists in 2023, revealed one in two artists only earned 15 per cent of the national minimum wage from their music. Due to the financial burden for emerging artists, French rosé Miraval has taken it upon itself to support Australian artists by providing this ‘free-to-book’ studio time in Sydney from the 4th of November.
“Music is an integral part of Miraval’s brand history, so it is important for us to be able to support upcoming music artists within the Australian music scene,” Emilie Blanc, country manager of Miraval in Australia said. “We look forward to seeing who books the studio time and what masterpieces are created!”
If you are interested in booking your own studio time, email the code MIRAVALSTUDIO to [email protected] and get involved. For the non-musical amongst us, Studio by Miraval is available to purchase from both Dan Murphy’s and BWS for AUD$26.99.
Beerfarm’s Ultimate Beer Sitting Challenge
Forget babysitting this weekend; a local brewing is looking for Aussies to ‘BEERSIT’ in exchange for a chance to win a year’s supply of beer. Beerfarm, an independent brewery, is searching for Australia’s best “BeerSitters” to join a 48-hour livestream of their newest release, Hazy Pale, as it travels across the Nullarbor from WA to NSW. The task? Simply watch the beer’s journey and sip in solidarity for the chance to win a year’s supply of Beerfarm Hazy Pale.
Inspired by the viral “rawdogging” trend, where participants embrace moments with no distractions, Beerfarm challenges beer lovers to stick with the stream the longest. It’s a no-frills experience, perfect for dedicated beer fans.