Newcastle, for all its glorious beaches, fecund palm trees, broad streets and pop-up shop awesomeness, is not a destination known for its shopping. Trust me, this is for good reason. Severely sparse pickings on the fashion retail therapy front.

Baking in the Hunter Valley sun after schlepping from the beachfront, through the Hunter St Mall and up the celebrated Darby street seeking shopping relief. I panted my way along Glebe St to discover The Junction – according to Vogue Forums – had a redeeming boutique called Lillies at the Junction. And yes, Lillies is swell, if you love love love Trelise Cooper and were looking to blow a cool couple of grand on your afternoon shopping spree. So, no offense to Lillie’s or Trelise, I moved on rather disheartened and was starting to consider the whole mission a failure, dragging my feet along Union St when the Red Cross shop caught my eye.

 

In I walked and was immediately soothed by the conducive shopping tunes of ABBA’s greatest hits (play Dancing Queen next time you’re trying on a skintight pair of jeans and you’ll agree, there’s something in that disco mix that makes everything OK). The lovely Adele was busily working her visual merchandising magic and I was so taken aback by the loveliness of the shop displays, I had to poke my head back out the door to check the sign. Yep – Red Cross Op Shop – most peculiar.

Then my busy hand fingered the racks turning up label after label of beautifully pressed, barely worn clothes. Jigsaw, Witchery, Country Road, Escada, Max Mara, Cue… all in my size! The final assault were the price tags. Almost new, trans-seasonal wool-blend trousers for $12.99, dresses for $15 and jackets for $20, I needed to know what was going on.

Patient Adele explained it all to me – luckily – because now I can share this news with you (unless, of course, you already have known for ages in which case WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?).  Red Threads is the Red Cross ’  fashion initiative where they only keep premium quality donations and attract partnerships with fashion labels who donate their seconds stock. Store Manager, Megan, has decorated the boutique with bunting and cute signs which, along with Adele’s zjooshing make this one happy little oasis of bargain bliss.

It’s fabulous. You can nab a new outfit for less than $50 and enjoy warm fuzzies all in one fix.

 Like them on  or visit ww w.redcross.org.au

There will be a mass nude photo taken at Nobby’s Beach in Newcastle to coincide with World Naked Bike Ride Day on the 14 ^th March 2009.

This is intended to be a photograph depicting peace and a new beginning. A shoot where acceptance of what we look like and of being proud of whom we are. A shoot which will symbolise a fresh hope for the world and a new tolerance for one another.

Anyone over the age of 18 years can join in the fun. So make your way down to Nobbys Beach at 7:15am & be part of history. Let the good people know at Naked Australians if you’re going to head down.

We had a wonderful response to the Newcastle tickets giveaway & the winners are in. The winners are: –

M. Haertsch – Newcastle, NSW
C. Abouchar – Surry Hills, NSW
M. Hopkins – Berefield, NSW
M. Richa – Sydney, NSW
W. Zheng – Erskineville, NSW
K. Hatch – Melbourne, VIC
E. Bakkalis – Dingley Village, VIC
M. Charters – Glenelg, SA
T. Parker – Hervey Bay, QLD
M. Went – Canberra, ACT

Well done to you all & the tickets will be with you this week. Thank you to everyone that entered the competition.

Dan Castle is the Writer & Director of the new Australian Film – Newcastle , which began in cinemas this weekend. Dan has written & directed a number of critically acclaimed short films, including The Visitor , starring Barry Otto, which received awards at the national & international festivals including an AFI (Australian Film Institute) nomination for the Best Short Fiction Film in 2003. Newcastle is Dan’s eagerly anticipated debut feature film. Catch it in cinemas now!

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

Hi – I grew up in New Castle Delaware on the east coast of the US – about 2 hours south of NYC, forty minutes from Philadelphia and 3 hours from Washington DC – so in a lot of ways my New Castle is a lot like Australia’s – in the shadow of a bigger smoke! And similar to Jesse in the film I wanted to hurry up and get onto a bigger playing field.  Went to NYU in NYC then moved to LA at 25… I live in between LA and OZ/Bondi.

In your own words, what do you do?

I am a writer/director of films

Where did you learn your craft?

Mostly self taught but my education and training was all in music growing up then in my early twenties I started acting, then writing, then painting, photographing and then took a stab at directing in my early 30s and got hooked – finally had a venue to throw all my guts into and past training and pursuits!

Who or what inspires you?

Beauty and different cultures – whether they be sub-cultures like surfing or communities or overseas countries – I have a story I wrote set in St. Tropez France and am working on something that will shoot in S. Africa.  But I also have my Hollywood Film Noir flick I want to make and anther surf film called Surf Mom about a 40 something Laguna Beach mom who chucks in the botox for surf wax!

Childhood Memories:

TV Show –  Six Million Dollar Man!  Charlies Angeles, Baretta!
Hobby – guitar – blues, rock n roll, song writing, painting, yoga, photography
Food – Pizza!
Fear – Speaking in public ☺)
People –grounded – self aware, tuned in and conscious good energy is the crowd I walk with.
Defining moment – seeing KISS in concert – December 22, 1977 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia – hands down – changed my life and my perception of what is possible – I was 11!!

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

Bit of both – was definitely a chore when in school but now looking back can see how much it all grounded me and gave a positive start and value system to work with as I grew up and dealt with the world at large.

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

Well – Newcastle!!  Love its diversity and duelling images – working port, coal barges and those beaches and waves!! Besides that I love driving out to Broken Hill – get great shots in that light and open space!

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

Lots of exercise, yoga, swimming, email, phone calls, writing, take photos, play too much guitar some days and sometimes allow a meeting of some importance to take place ☺

Who are your favourite film personalties? And is there anyone we should keep a look out for in Australia?

Favourite film personalities – Al Pacino!  Gael Garcia Bernal, Johnny Depp Sophia Loren, Fellini as a filmmaker, Reshad Strik – Victor in Newcastle – guy is going to be HUGE!

Where can people see your work?

Some of my films are on the internet or for sale through Amazon – right now Newcastle at the movie theatres starting Nov 6 in OZ ( Oct 30 in NC)  then on DVD in OZ in early 2009 – in US theatrical release of NC in March – I have tons of photos for sale on my website – www.dancastle.com

For love or money?

LOVE  – haven’t been paid a dime yet for anything I’ve done creatively! True! I am so in debt – but do what you love and the money will come!

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

Depending on what gets funded first – some that I wrote or something a bit bigger that some companies are considering me for to direct!  We’ll see – I hope to be behind that camera sooner than later!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Making bigger and better films!

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

Bill Clinton – Love the guy and what he has survived and accomplished as a man and leader

Farrah Fawcett – just to let her know I love her and think she is the most beautiful woman to ever hit the world stage and give her a pep talk as she fights her cancer battle!

If we’re talking alive or Dead – Picasso – all the way! Genius

If only alive – Gael Gracia Bernal – he’s just got it in spades!

Coffee or Tea?

Tea – mostly green – but I like my English Breakfast with milk, no sugar at times and in OZ I’ll take a flat white any day but don’t drink coffee in US – just can’t get a flat white!

Surfer Jesse (Lachlan Buchanan) lives in the shadow of his bitter half brother Victor (Reshad Strik) an ex-surf champion and the local bad boy. With the local surf pro fast approaching, Jesse and his mates plan a trip away with some local girls for a weekend of surfing and partying in the dunes. When Victor and his gang arrive at the isolated beach and decide to claim the surf break, an unofficial surf contest ensues and tragedy unfolds.

Two Flat Whites in conjunction with Newcastle, the Australian surf film is giving away 10 double passes to see the movie. So if you would like to win the tickets, simply email us at info

Good luck! Competition closes Tuesday, 28th October 2008.

Newcastle – only at the movies 6th November 2008.

www.newcastlemovie.com