What’s the real reason the Miss Universe pageant has moved to Wellington?
Last year the Miss Universe New Zealand pageant was held in Levin. Which makes sense, because Levin is actually pretty much the centre of the universe, based on the laws of gravity and denseness and all that kind of sciencey stuff. And this kind of shocking behaviour happened at the event:
The beauty queens sashayed their way through Levin and Paraparaumu shopping malls last year, leaving elderly shoppers agog.
But this year, the pageant is moving to Wellington:
Event organiser Val Lott has instead opted to hold the final in Wellington after a "gorgeous" day out at the Wellington Cup. "The [Levin] event centre was not set up well enough. The catering was not up to standard. It cost a dreadful amount of money," Mrs Lott said.
But one commentator on the article suggests that there is a much deeper conspiracy going on:
I think this is all complete rubbish, and the organiser just wants to glam the thing up and get rid of the ruggeds that might otherwise have attended.
So what exactly is going on here? Are we through the looking glass? Do we even need to mention Terry Serepisos here, given that it’s Donald Trump who owns the Miss Universe franchise?
Answer the poll – The Miss Universe Pageant is moving to Wellington because:
And you thought we were joking about the Octopus threat?
Earlier this month we read about an octopus off the South Coast that mugged an innocent diver and took his valuable new camera. The news flashed around the world and everyone had a bit of a chuckle at the diver’s expense.
Not so fast, laughing boys (and girls).
It turns out that this is but the latest episode in a long history of criminal behaviour by the city’s cephalopod citizenry.
We need only look at another, earlier encounter between a Wellingtonian and a rogue octopus to prove the point. An encounter that, just like our earlier story made world headlines… but back in 1888.
Read on, after the jump.
I’m a Slave for you
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toWIjjTadB8]Anyone remember this guy? The self-same enterprising young man has been seen with an assortment of HI-VIZ clad worker types, some waiters and a guitar stumming up interest in an event rather shockingly entitled: "the Wellington Charity SLAVE AUCTION". Don’t worry folks, it is all above board and for a damn good cause. Tomorrow at Queens Wharf Square businesses will be donating services (and products) that will be auctioned off to benefit the Skylight Trust.
A sample of the services on offer:
- $1000 Pyrotechnics / fireworks display
- 6 hours of top-rate nanny services
- 2 x male waiters for 2 hours
- 16 hours building / landscape work
- $700 Beauty spa treatment
A sample of the products on offer (start from $5):
- $300 basket of GHD products
- $100 wine from Te Kairanga
- 3 month Dominion Post subscription
Entertainment will be provided by Sasha Vee so if you feel like opening your wallet for a good cause get on down from 11.00am until 1.30pm.
Check out the full list of what is on offer here.
Predictive Bussing
We’ve long dreamed of being able to time our morning cornflakes to the actual arrival time of our bus, rather than having to wait 20 minutes outside a jammed bus shelter during a howling southerly storm.
The dream goes a little like this. You’re having your coffee and your phone softly blips. You look down. A message says your bus is 3 minutes behind schedule and will be at your stop in exactly 8 minutes. You have time to finish your coffee before you grab your coat and go. And you arrive at the bus stop at exactly the right time.
Luckily for us this is, in time, becoming a reality.
Read on to to find out why…
Good bastards like you to drink vodka
42Below’s founder Geoff Ross has written a book with his wife Justine about the story behind the vodka called Every Bastard Says No. They’re having a book launch this Friday at the’Ho that’s supposedly invite-only but we bet you could sneak in if you were smart enough. In order to promote the book, I got to interview Geoff and Justine via email (my choice, things are crazy hectic this week at the Wellingtonista towers), but of course since it’s not released until April 30, I wasn’t sure what to ask. Various Wellingtonistas helpfully suggested I should enquire about the War Memorial Scandal – but that’s not related to the book – or the allegedly homophobic ad campaign in the USA, but I know nothing about that. And I don’t want to risk having my opportunities for free booze taken away from me. I’m a blogger, not a journalist, after all. So, after the jump, I lob some soft balls at them, and Justine in particular impresses me with her love for Wellington.
Questions and answers with Geoff
1. Why did you start with vodka? What is it about the spirit that drew you to it?
I drunk it. And actually more specially I saw more and more Vodka Cocktails emerging. Vodka is the Switzerland of Spirits – it goes with anything. And with the re birth of cocktails I could see it being the universal ingredient. Also New Zealand seemed it might have some cred with Vodka. We couldn’t do Tequila or Scotch because of Provence – but Vodka kind of fitted. (someone once told me New Zealand was the Sweden of the South pacific)
When are you people going to realise that the octopus threat is real?
We’ve all heard the stories about how there was a tank at Wellington Airport with an octopus in it and another tank with fishes in it, and the fish started disappearing and no one knew why until one night security cameras filmed the octopus climbing out of its tank and into the fish tank and eating the fish. Now we have yet more evidence shot off the South Coast that OCTOPUSES ARE EVIL AND THEY ARE GOING TO KILL US ALL IN OUR BEDS WHILE WE SLEEP. Consider yourself warned.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5DyBkYKqnM]Help is Coming
Pecha Kucha 7
It’s time for another Pecha Kucha evening.
For the uninitiated, a Pecha Kucha evening consists of a number of speakers who present 20 slides, talking about each slide for 20 seconds each.
The details:
Monday, 19 April 2010
Downstage Theatre, Cambridge Terrace
Doors open: 6.30pm, start: 7.30pm
$9 cash doorsales only
This one is going to be awesome for two reasons:
1. It will incorporate the set for Downstage’s current production, "Biography of my Skin", which features a giant video screen – perfect for PK presentations.
2. The Wellingtonista’s own Tom will be one of the speakers! Yes, our Tom will be giving a talk "about a sentence by Baudelaire". What is that sentence? Well, you’ll have to come along to find out, etc.
After the jump, the full line-up.
Week Ends & Odds April 12
Some link loving for you to start your week right.
- There’s a new hair salon on Cuba Street called Wildilocks. The pretty girls like it.
- Metlink Wellington have started a twitter account to keep bus riders informed of delays. They could probably use some feedback about it.
- The Aucklandista point out that Wellington’s social page pictures in the Sunday Star Times are of Ladies’ Night at the Establishment. How embarrassment.
- You like food reviews? Here’s one of the Cellar-Vate dinner for Coney Wines.
- Richter City Roller Derby is throwing a Quiz Night Fundraiser on April 28 at the Watusi. You should go along, but be warned – the Wellingtonista team will probably beat you.
What else should we know about?
Stone in the bosom
Shinobi Sushi Lounge is having two special kaiseki nights Monday and Tuesday this week. Tuesday is fully booked and Monday has less than ten places left so if a bloody amazing 3 course feast featuring 18 dishes using only fresh local ingredients appeals BOOK NOW.
We sampled a few of the bluff oysters that will be on the menu and saw the master handmaking ramen for the occassion. It is going to be an event in my mouth I am sure of it.
Oishii so desu.
What: Kaiseki (multi-course dinner)
Where: Shinobi Sushi Lounge
When: Monday 12 April (tomorrow)
Cost: $80
For more pictures from last year’s kaiseki head over to James Ogle Photography.