Words apparently don’t mean anything anymore, so here’s our best of the week covering… a little bit more than a week. Because life. So here’s what’s good and Wellington-related this week!

Best adult learning option that you didn’t know about

Some people know Make Room for their wonderful children’s STEM education classes, but you may not be aware they run fantastic programmes for adults too.  From laser cutting, to welding, to making your own neon sign.  I just completed the Introduction to Ardiuno Programming where we learnt to build and program circuits for sensors, led strips and a  weather station.  I can’t emphasise how much joy learning as an adult is, to be provided with everything you need, shown exactly how to do everything, and to focus on t the task of learning.  For most adults under a lot of stress in our day to day lives, it is a wonderful distraction for two hours a week.  and I have nothing but praise for our teacher Nigel and his patience, as I am terrible at listening.

They have multiple locations throughout the city including Miramar, Karori, Newlands.  They are currently taking booking for next term, with some classes starting next week (possibly already started cos this post has sat in draft so long – Editor).

Check them out here! – Nadia

Best in the pink experience

A friend WhatsApp’d us the other day:

“A very special screening of the Pink Panther is on at the Embassy with live music sound track by Laurence Arabia. 11am Saturday. Who wants to come?”.
What, the 1963 movie? Or one of the sequels? Weird.
Turns out she was mistaken and it was a Square Eyes Festival screening of six of the ’60s cartoons that were spun-off from the films’ credit sequences, with a live soundtrack to be provided by Lawrence Arabia. Sold!
We turned up this morning to find things basically going off. People dressed in pink. Many many children. Many many nostalgists like me who grew up watching the Pink Panther Show on TV. A Photobooth. Free pink doughnuts and raspberry cordial. And not only Lawrence Arabia but also Riki Gooch and Connan Mockasin, who together improvised a continuous soundtrack to the six cartoons – originally made for theatrical screenings – for a full 45 minutes, including extra jams in the pink-screened pauses between cartoons. Not a note of Henry Mancini’s, just a glorious new cartoon vibe, complete with well-timed musical fx for the many moments of classic cartoon violence, which judging by their delighted guffaws the younger members of the audience lapped up.
The show – and the festival – was expertly wrangled by Nic Marshall who has relaunched Square Eyes since she and it left the NZIFF this year, and is now flying free. Good on her and all her staff, including the young Ambassadors responsible for handing out tickets, ushering and clearing up the popcorn.
It’s all over for this year, but watch out for the 2025 season. – Tom A

Best bakery discovery by me, a person who hadn’t been to Fix Federation before

Crunchy tiger bread with lemons

Hey, do you know what’s delicious? Fix Federation! I happened to be in Pito-one visiting my sister and stealing her lemons, and asked her for a bakery recommendation. I knew Fix Federation was famous for their donuts, but I wasn’t expecting their bread to be so good too! This crunch chewy tiger bread brought back memories of German and Japanese bakeries, glorious places that took bread seriously, unlike the cotton wool tiger bread of supermarkets here. Very recommended. And yes, the Nutella donut was glorious too. – Joanna

Ooooooozing nutella donut

Best new (to us) liminal space

There’s just something about liminal spaces. Consider how uneasy you feel every time AceMcWicked posts this one on Twitter. Well, we’ve got another for you to add to your list of places to do a post apocalyptical fashion photoshoot – in the corridor to the toilets behind the café building on Tory Street that houses Gemini, Damascus, Le Ceil and others.  Too scary to take photos of. – Joanna