Something to mull over

Having observed a steaming hot urn of it at the Southern Cross on Saturday night, surrounded by blankets and hot water bottles, we want to know: where can one get the best mulled wine in Wellington, how much will we have to pay for it, and approximately what alcoholic percentage will it be? 

Do our work for us in the comments section. Thanks!

A diamond in the rough

What are you doing on Saturday? How about you go on a treasure hunt to find me* yourself a diamond ring? iChild on twitter explains it:

So, what’s this all about then?? Story goes, guy bought ring for girl, girl didn’t want ring. Guy couldn’t give it to another, and doesn’t want to sell it. Guy also happens to be the guy behind Donoogle.com …Guy decides that rather than just having this ring sitting around, he would create a treasure hunt around Wellington to give away said ring and use it at the same time to promote this choice website which everyone should use!

So if you want to participate, you should start following donoogle_com. It does seem a little bit astroturfy to my eyes, but hey, treasure hunts are always fun. Especially if you do it dressed up as a pirate. Or a panda.

*(Although I must state for the record that I would rather have a single diamond on my ring, and I’d like it to be aproximately the size of my fist, thanks.) 

Restoring our faith in humanity one step at a time

This morning-ish, I was juggling headphones, iPod, scarf, hat, satchel and extra bag on the bus, as well as trying to text, and unbeknownst to me, I managed to drop my phone on the bus.

When I got into work, I had a message on my answerphone from my mum, saying that she’d got a call from someone who had my cellphone, and that I should call my number to arrange a pick-up. Right now I’d like to take a moment to say that everyone really should have an ICE (in case of emergency) number saved into their phone, it really makes everything much more awesome.

So I called my phone, and a lovely girl answered, and after a brief freakout ("You’ve got my phone and you’re in Taranaki???? Ooooooh, Taranaki STREET!") I arranged to grab it off her at the railway station this afternoon. I bought some chocolate, and met her, she gave me my phone, I gave her the chocolate, and she told me that this morning getting off the train she’d dropped her phone, and someone had called out to her about it. Yay happy karma!

Anyway, my point is, this story is full of happy goodness. I mean, you can only imagine how many top secret Wellingtonista secrets and dirty photos that my phone contains. I’m so glad I got it back so easily, and I hope that you will all consider doing a good deed tomorrow as well. Wahoo.

Storm in our coffee cups

Now, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but the weather lately has been somewhat less than pleasant. Unless you happen to be a wavewatcher or rather crazy surfer, that is, in which case there have been some rather spectacular things to see. If you’re the kind who’d rather stay inside nice and warm, here’s a fantastic video that Dave Frampton has made to show you what you’re missing

Storm in slow motion from David Frampton on Vimeo.

Women are appealing

Wellington Women’s Refuge and Te Whare Rokiroki Maori Women’s Refuge are looking for volunteers to collect money for the Women’s Refuge Annual Appeal 2009.
 
Join a team of people who have fun collecting much needed money on the streets of Wellington. In just one hour you can play a huge part in protecting hundreds of women and children at risk of domestic violence in their own homes.
 
The collection dates are the 24th and 25th of July 2009
 
To volunteer your time over the annual appeal please contact us.
 
Toni
04 939 0455
021 02994311
Level 3, 60 Ghuznee Street
PO Box 11985 Manners Mall


More tea, Martha?

High Tea at Martha's PantrySo winter kinda sucks, and the economy sucks, and the government sucks, and everything pretty much sucks. Except oh wait, do you know what doesn’t suck? Tea and cakes and good company! So as the first of a series of posts of Cheering Upness, we’d like to recommend that you book yourself and an adored friend in for High Tea at Martha’s Pantry, a lovely little place at the top of Cuba Street that has oldschool tea cups and all kinds of girlie pretty stuff on display. You’ll need to give them 24 hours notice, but for $20 each, this is an aproximation of what you’ll get: 

  • Club sandwiches (I think the standards are pastrami and egg, but when I asked for no egg they were happy to substitute, so I’m sure vegos can be catered for with ease)
  • Cheese savouries
  • Spinach muffins
  • Baby scones with two types of jam and cream
  • Almond slice
  • Chocolate caramel slice
  • Baby cupcakes

You also get to choose your tea from a range of like 20 varieties. I can recommend the Earl Grey, the South African Honey Chai, and Vanilla Roobios, but the mint and lemon kawa kawa weren’t as awesome as I had hoped they would be. While you eat and drink, we suggest that you discuss ways to save the world, and also just relax and enjoy yourselves. Lovely.

 

A book sale worth walking up a hill for

It’s sale time at Vic Books again, both at the Kelburn Campus and the Pipitea store by the train station.

The sale runs from Monday May 11-Thursday May 28, and if you’re clever you’ll figure out a way to get to the sneak preview with wine and nibbles at the Kelburn shop, from 3pm, Thursday May 7th.

‘Tis the season of twisted umbrellas, so it’s time to stock up on books which will keep you enthralled despite the weather. Our famous sale features fiercely discounted fiction, politics, history, art & architecture, sciences and current affairs. University Press & other academic books, quality hardbacks and paperbacks, children’s books and more.
During the sale we will also be holding special discount days:

  • Thursday May 14th: for one day only, 25% off all children’s books not already discounted.
  • Thursday May 21st: for one day only, 25% off all fiction not already discounted.
  • Thursday May 28th: for one day only, 25% off all non-fiction not already discounted.

 

Rumbles is ready to rumble with DB

There’s been quite a bit of news around DB Breweries trying to copyright the already in use name ‘radler’ lately, and one Wellington liquor shop – Rumbles on Waring-Taylor street has had enough.

As seen on the Real Beer page

Join us in a boycott of DB Brewery’s products and support NZ Beer…

In response to what we perceive to be bully-boy tactics and a direct attack on the emerging boutique beer industry, Rumbles Wine Merchant will not be stocking the following products brands untl the threat of legal action has been lifted. We make no apologies for any inconvenience…

And you can read more about it on the Rumbles blog. Go Rumbles! Just reading about this makes me thirsty, I could really go for a Bennett’s right about now…

Review: Little India, Cuba Mall

It’s a Tuesday night. Rather, it’s 5.55pm, approximately. You walk into a restraurant that has its ‘OPEN’ sign up. The man behind the counter talking on the phone that gives you a "I am on the phone" look. You nod politely and look around the restaurant. It is totally empty. When he finally pauses his phonecall, he gestures you towards the six-seater right in front of the door and disappears again, apparently to finish off his terribly important phone call. You retrieve a bottle of wine from your bag, even though a glass of water first would be nice. The wine is a screw cap, but it takes you a couple of minutes to crack. No sign of water or menus, so you pull out your copy on NW and start the sudoku, even though you’d really rather order an entree before the rest of your friends arrive because you’re totally starving. and the intense heat in the restaurant and the HI NRG Bangra is really really offputting.

However, even though you’re not particularly fast at Sudoku, you manage to complete the entire thing before the waiter returns with menus for the whole table. You order some samosas, and turn your attention to the smaller crossword, which you plow through before your little pastry parcels show up. The crust of the samosas is not melty, the cabbage scattered on the plate has definitely seen better days, and the tamarind sauce seems unusually concentrated. For $5.50, it is acceptable, but not with that kind of service.

A million(ish) parties in our big city

Greenland’s having a party! Pretty Pretty Pretty’s having a party! Craft2.0 is having a party! Eateria De Manon is having a party!

Item! Although it’s hard to believe, both because it feels like we’ve been going there forever and because it still seems so shiny and new, our beloved Greenland Cafe is turning 1 next week!

Green Land cafe on Kate Sheppard Place in Thorndon will celebrate their first birthday with some really sensational giveaways next Thursday, April 16. Why not visit for a coffee and a piece of their brilliant and famous ginger crunch (it is crunchy)? You also might actually win something, which would be nice. These super snazzy prizes include:

  • Teza iced teas and t-shirts
  • Havana coffee
  • Trade Aid treats
  • Zany Zeus feta
  • Pandoro bread

Paul and Jane really, really appreciate your custom and wit over these past 12 months. They say: "Thanks ever so much and do come again, and again."

Item! Wellingtonista-affiliated Pretty Pretty Pretty is also turning 1, and to celebrate they’re having a big old girlie party with clothing swaps, makeovers, facials and all kinds of good stuff to give away. You should check it out, if you are prettily inclined.