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Byron at Byron hosts Art Dinner

Byron at Byron hosts Art Dinner

On March 7, The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa and Belle Magazine will host an exciting weekend of art, compelling conversation and food.

Sponsored by Belle Property, the weekend will feature acclaimed artist and photographer Joseph McGlennon, an international art veteran breaking new ground.

Having worked in London, South East Asia, Amsterdam and Australia (and now living in Singapore) Joseph has over the last 25 years been a central player in the highly visually charged world of design and marketing.

He was formerly Design Director with Landor Design Singapore, and prior to that was Creative Director with Bates Asia where he headed up the creative team on Audi and Nokia. As Regional Creative Director for Young & Rubicam he worked on the Nike account and has also worked on creative for Sony, Sing Tel, Asia Pacific Breweries, Ericsson, and The Taj Hotels India.

Since resuming his personal art practice two years ago and returning to his passion for personal expression, his only two exhibitions have sold out. His haunting, thought provoking images have captured the attention of art and nature lovers across the globe. They toy with ideas of Australian identity, created by the layering of up to 30 of his own photographs.

“Kangaroo Study’s are a continuation of my fascination of Cook’s arrival back in England in 1771, carrying a vast number of Australian specimens of plants and animals previously unknown to Europeans, the strangest of which was a kangaroo, shot at Endeavour River for voyage naturalist Joseph Banks” said McGlennon. “My work seeks to locate the proud but (to European eyes) exotic animal within an unfamiliar (to Australian eyes) and equally exotic European landscape. Thus immersing itself in the dialogue that continues to this day to establish visual definitions of what was and truly is Australian.”

McGlennon’s stunning and much celebrated representation of the thylacine or Tasmanian tiger represents the iconic extinct mammal in all its former glory. His photographic works feature in numerous public and private collections and exhibitions.

Michael Reid of Sydney’s Michael Reid Gallery will join Belle Magazine Editor in Chief and judge on ‘The Block’ Neale Whitaker to interview the artist and discuss his artworks, influences and daily artistic processes at a special dinner to be held on Friday March 7. Set against the pristine rainforest backdrop of the Byron at Byron, canapés and a three course menu will be served.

– Four course Belle Art Dinner March 7 with matching premium Wolf Blass wines $135 per person.

– One night package for two people in a one bedroom suite including Belle Dinner and buffet breakfast and yoga $680

– Two night package for two people in a one bedroom suite including Belle Dinner,  buffet breakfast and yoga $1070

Bookings 02 6639 2105 or reservations@thebyronatbyron.com.au

The WellSwung Daddies_Thumb

Celebrate 1920s style and swing into 2014

Celebrate 1920s style and swing into 2014

Celebrate New Years’ Eve in style at The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa. Party like Jay Gatsby and be transported to the outrageous and spectacular 1920s.

The Byron at Byron is getting into the swing by theming the resort. “Expect decadence and extravagance 1920’s style” said Marcus Corcoran, the resort’s Food and Beverage Manager.  Guests are requested to dress to impress (think bowler hats, sparkles and pearls).

“This will be the premier gig for the year” said Steve Sax, saxophonist with the WellSwung Daddies, who will be providing the tunes for grooving on the evening. “The Byron at Byron is such an institution, it’s where anybody who’s anybody wants to stay. We’re going to raise the roof”.

The ten piece outfit will play a mixture of arrangements from the modern swing masters like The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Royal Crown Revue and Brian Setzer to past masters like Louis Jordan, Buddy Rich, Count Basie and Ray Charles. “Our music is  transcribed and arranged from original recordings and represents a modern interpretation of swing, jive, rock n roll and lindy hop” outlined Steve Sax.

With a male vocalist, two trumpets, two saxes, trombone, guitar, bass, drums and piano, the Daddies are in demand up and down the east coast and have a large following of swing and rock n roll dancers.

31st December 2013, 8:00pm  $199 per person which includes a drink on arrival, a four course celebratory dinner and live entertainment from The WellSwung Daddies.

Bookings 66392105 or reservations@thebyronatbyron.com.au

New Years’ Eve menu

Crusty ciabatta with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Prawn Asian salad with bean sprouts, radish, mint, cucumber red chilli ginger and lime dressing

Smoked duck breast with baby beetroots, ruby chard and caramelised vinaigrette

New England grass fed beef fillet with potato galette, red wine, onions and black cabbage

Buttermilk panna cotta with poached peaches, raspberries, white peach granita and tuile biscuit

Downloadable high resolution images:

Photo 1 – The WellSwung Daddies

Photo 2 – The WellSwung Daddies

 

 

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Follow Byron’s dancing man

Follow Byron’s dancing man

The Byron shire is warming up for the summer tourist season, with solid bookings from beachfront to national park.

The rainbow shire’s peak tourism body VIA Byron reports that more and more travellers are staying in places like Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, Bangalow and the hinterland villages and visiting Byron’s famous beaches and cafes during their stay.

“Byron itself is still a major drawcard” said VIA Byron President Cameron Arnold. “But further afield there are just so many unique properties to choose from, from old dairies to tee pees, apartments and historic homes. You can really get away from it all and soak up the colour, that’s what it’s all about”.

No-one embodies the freedom of the Byron shire more than Byron’s Dancing Man Tommy Franklin. Tommy starred in Splendour in the Grass’s 2012 festival line-up video, which featured him dancing around Byron’s iconic landmarks. Since then he has found national fame as a Grand Finalist on Australia’s Got Talent.

“Tommy puts a smile on the face of everyone he meets, it’s a gift” said Splendour in the Grass’s Jo Hickey, who produced the video featuring Tommy. “He makes you want to just bust out of your stressed out city life.  He’s full of magic and life and that’s what Byron’s about, people visit here for a dose of life”.

In true Byron style Tommy is humble about his new celebrity status, recently telling a journalist “I don’t shit golden nuggets” and attributing his childlike joy and wonder to a “Steve Irwin gene”.

The music keeps coming between now and New Years’ Eve in the Byron Shire, with the Byron Latin Fiesta November 1 – 3, Mullumbimby Music Festival November 21 – 24 and the Byron Falls Festival from December 31.

There are still bargains to be had in the rainbow region. Head to www.byronbay.com/deals for specials like

►Five nights for the price of four in a two bedroom bungalow at the deluxe Bayshore Bungalows on Belongil Beach in Byron Bay

► Three nights for $330 or seven nights for $540 from February in a two bedroom apartment in the heart of Brunswick Heads with Brunswick Seaside Holidays

► Three nights for the price of two between May 13 and July 31 at Beach Suites on Byron’s Main Beach

► Two nights for $250 (normally $360) Monday to Thursday at the award winning Apartments Inn in the heart of Byron Bay

► Save 40% when you stay for three or more nights at BreakFree Eco Beach in Byron Bay

With 52 flights a week into the Ballina Byron airport.

Watch Tommy Franklin’s promo video for Splendour in the Grass 2012   http://vimeo.com/41331398

Background for journalists:

With some of the world’s best beaches, stunning national parks and award winning restaurants and cafes, the Byron shire offers respite and inspiration. Home to Australia’s highest concentration of creative professionals and artists per capita, it’s little wonder Byron is a place of annual pilgrimage for many. Whether for a festival, time in or time out the Byron shire, with its politically active communities, Green Council and plethora of healers, is open to all.

www.byronbay.com/deals

Downloadable high resolution images:

Photo 1 – Tommy Franklin – image by Kirra Pendergast for commongroundaustralia.com

Photo 2 – Tommy Franklin – image by Kirra Pendergast for commongroundaustralia.com

Photo 3 – First Sunday of the month, Brunswick Heads – image by Michelle Begg

Photo 4 – Apartments Inn Byron Bay

Photo 5 – Apartments Inn Byron Bay

Ben Devlin and Ryan Squires from esquire

Ryan Squires for Byron at Byron Vogue Living Champagne Dinner

Ryan Squires for Byron at Byron Vogue Living Champagne Dinner

The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa is thrilled to announce Ryan Squires, Head Chef and owner of Brisbane’s esquire as Chef for their annual Vogue Living Champagne Dinner, to be held Friday October 11.

Ryan Squires gained experience in some of the world’s best restaurants across Spain, New York and the Napa Valley before settling back in Queensland in 2008. His spirited approach to food results in a playful love affair between diner, Chef and plate.

In Australia he made his name at Urbane, achieved ‘Chef of the Year’ and ‘Restaurant of the Year’ for The Buffalo Club and was named ‘Australia’s Best New Talent’ by Australian Gourmet Traveller in 2010. Oh, and he was a Guest Chef on MasterChef. In 2011 he opened esquire, which has achieved three Chefs Hats for the past two years. Further accolades include Queensland’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’ for the past two years from the Brisbane Times Good Food Guide and ‘Queensland’s Top Restaurant 2012’ from Gourmet Traveller.

“I try to get down to The Byron at Byron at least twice a year” said Ryan. “It’s always one of those places where I feel liberated, where I leave feeling more wholesome. There’s a real connection with Byron for me. To cook for Lyn and John and the team for their Champagne Dinner will be a joy”.

Ryan has crafted an innovative menu to match five of the world’s finest Champagnes. The dinner is supported by the Champagne Bureau as a way of sharing with Australians the versatility of Champagne.

“This will be our sixth Champagne Dinner and it is always a special night” said The Byron at Byron’s General Manager Lyn Parché. “Domain’s Chief Stylist Sue Kropp reinvents our Restaurant for the evening… it is a celebration among friends”. Previous Chefs for the salubrious dinner include Mark Best, Justin North, Warren Turnbull and Philip Johnson.

Vogue Living Champagne Dinner two night package for two:

2 night’s Accommodation in a Deluxe Spa Suite

Full buffet breakfast daily for two adults

Two tickets to the Vogue Living Champagne Dinner

Complimentary daily yoga class

– $1295.00

For bookings and enquiries 02 66392105 or reservations@thebyronatbyron.com.au

Vogue Living Champagne Dinner menu:

Canapés

Puffed beef tendon, lime and peanut

Beef & kimchi

Mushroom kettles

Agrapart and Fils Terroirs Blanc De Blancs Brut Grand Cru NV

1st

Ike jime trevally and  green mustard

Champagne Ayala Brut Nature NV

2nd

Raw smoked scallop, cucumber and dill buttermilk

Bollinger Special Cuvée NV

3rd

Calotte, bonito ketchup, horseradish and onion

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Brut Tradition NV

4th

Campari, curds and whey

Bollinger Rosé

 www.thebyronatbyron.com.au

For interviews and images please contact Caroline Desmond 02 6687 5674 / 0415 499 429 / caroline@carolinedesmond.com.au