Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra – Tickets Giveaway
The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra have flicked us a couple of tickets to give away for their upcoming show at the Michael Fowler Centre (Sat 27 June).
To be in to win, watch their new ‘It’s a Heartache’ video, then email info@wellingtonista.com with the subject line: WIUO Competition, and in the body of the email, answer this question: what is the flavour of the tart that features in the video?
Competition closes Noon, Wed 24 June.
Winner has been notified! Thanks for all the entries.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqynAAYdLW8]
Bus STOP
Hey, Mr Bus Driver, that person running down the footpath, waving at you, just ten metres or so from the bus stop? They probably want to get on the bus.
And the guy who’s just got on and tells you to "wait, there’s someone just coming" – he’s probably wanting you to wait, ‘cos there’s someone coming.
I understand you’re the ‘Express’ – but, really, no-one is going to be put out if you wait an extra 5 seconds to let a straggler catch up (especially if you spend a minute haranguing a passenger for daring to try and pay their fare with a $20 note.)
Censor this!
I’m sure most Wellingtonistas would agree that Aro Video is the best video hire place in town, so when our subscriber newsletter included the heading "We interrupt our regular program for this important announcement…" we couldn’t ignore it, and in fact we felt it was our duty to pass on this important message:
CAMPAIGN FOR CENSORSHIP REFORM
We are spearheading a campaign for censorship reform and are calling upon the support of our valued customers and the wider film-loving public.
We believe that the current legislation is seriously outdated and unfairly disadvantages the medium of DVD. As such, it has severely impacted on what titles can be made available for rent, sale or trade within New Zealand.
The main reason for this are the ‘prohibitive’ costs of classification fees, and particularly the criteria for which titles are subjected to the costly examination process. For example, it would cost over $2200 to classify the highly acclaimed original BBC mini-series of "State of Play" (the Hollywood remake of which is currently playing in cinemas).
This campaign is not "anti-censorship" but we insist that the current levels of regulation are no longer appropriate for today’s media and cultural environment. We simply would like to be able to provide you with a greater range of quality entertainment, and help eliminate the ridiculous double-standards that currently prevail.
For more information, please visit our online forum at www.lumiere.net.nz/censorship-reform, where you can also register your support, comments and suggestions.
Also, if you know of others that would be interested in this cause, please pass on this e-mail or the forum address, or spread the word by Facebook/Twitter, etc.
A serious "show of hands" will make a difference, so don’t be shy! Thank you for your support.
Kind regards,
Andrew Armitage
proprietor
AroVideo Online
“Experimental filmic punk experience”
Yowza – what on earth could that be I hear you wondering….. I’m a little unsure myself but this week/end from 11-13 June the Film Archive cinema (corner of Taranaki and Ghuznee Sts) is going to be exploding with the best of experimental film from Australia.
Three of the leading lights of the genre – Sally Golding, Joel Stern and Dirk de Bruyn – have been brought over with help from the Australian High Commission to present three nights of mind-blowing entertainment.
Each night promises to be something a little different, kicking off with the historical then the godfather of Australian experimental film, followed up a riotous conclusion of handmade and hand processed film, feedback systems, incongruous foley noise, sprockets and flicker, trumpets and strings, specially prepared screens and alienated narration.
You’d be crazy to miss this calibre of performance in a live setting. As NZFA Project Developer Mark Williams says…
A quiet night in the suburbs
Spotted at the Railway Station is this hilarious anti-graffiti ad:
Find out what this nice young suburban couple are up to after the jump.
Big Freeze Video
Video of last week’s ‘Big Freeze’ (previously blogged about by Sue here).
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WezMQg_LCpQ]Courtesy: The Sidestrip
A week of it
What a week to look forward to!
Tuesday 9th: Pecha Kucha at the OPT from 6:30pm. We love these nights, and this time they’ve got writers, artists, cartoonists and landscape architects (among others) in the line-up. Those with a practical interest in street art might have to rush there from the At Large planning meeting at Manky Chops, which starts at 5:30.
Wednesday 10th: Artist Matt Hunt (aka Ace Hurt from Cortina) launches his new exhibition at Peter McLeavey gallery at 5:30pm (link for Facebook types). The title "Dreaming of a New Heaven and Earth and the Eternal Nightmare of Hades" makes one wonder just what to expect from the after-party at Mighty Mighty.
Thursday 11th: Did someone say "Burlesque"? Oh, right, we did.
Friday 12th: If you’re planning to go to Fly My Pretties, you’ll no doubt have had this night booked well in advance. Otherwise: it’s Friday! Enivrez-vous!
Saturday 13th: More flying prettiness, with a Matinee as well as the evening gig. But if you prefer your pretties more earthbound, and think that feathers are best used for fan dancing, bring your pencils along to Dr Sketchy’s life drawing class at Mighty Mighty at 4pm.
Sunday 14th: The much-hyped City Market finally opens at Chaffers Dock. The hours (8:30am-12:30pm) might not appeal to night owls, but their Twitter feed suggests that there’ll be plenty to tempt us out of bed.
Karaoke: ur doin it rong
Is it just me, or is there something odd about this poster outside the new "Newkor" Karaoke restaurant in Dixon St?
That singer looks somewhat … uncomfortable. Perhaps it’s something to do with the item on the menu that’s described only as "WARNING! Extreeeemley! Hot and Spicychicken" [very sic].
In other news, the re-opening of Happy on Friday night was a happy occasion indeed. I was puzzled by some of the outfits at first, but if I’d read my co-fly Kowhai’s previous post I would have seen the "Dress up like something that can fly!" instruction. At least I was already in costume.
The relocated stage sets up a different dynamic, and the feeling was low-key, friendly bohemian rather than po-faced avant-garde or desparate hipster. Speaking of Mighty Mighty, they were marred that night by a godawful frat-boy band that made Blink 182 seem deep and intellectual. We still love us some Mighty, of course, but it’ll be interesting to see how the new Happy does in comparison.
I’m H.A.P.P.Y.
So sometimes right, you have the kind of week where all you really need is a good hard laugh. Two weeks ago I had such a week and took myself off to Happy Bar for a good seeing to by the lovely Diane Spencer, who was feted to be ‘full of wit, charm and filth’ according to www.theatreview.org.nz. She did not disappoint, and neither did Happy Bar and its convivial new owners, cosy refurb and new drinks menu.
Tonight Deborah and Sam are having a re-opening party at Happy Bar with $5 drinks and a full line up of live music. Dress as something that can fly and go now!
Deborah and Sam hail from Auckland and I get the impression that they are going to keep what works with Happy; namely the focus on being a performance space open to allcomers, while opening it up to more of the bar crowd that enjoy Watusi and Mighty Mighty. People that have been to the supremely comfortable and living room like Wine Cellar in Auckland may recognise Sam from behind the bar. Here’s hoping they bring some of that unpretentious goodness to Wellington.
Deborah told me a bit about the drinks:
Cold Train
Wellington’s Tranz Metro trains have lately been known for certain carriages with broken heating. It’s horrible enough being (relatively) young and only faced with a 30-minute chilly commute. I wouldn’t want to be a Paraparam gran making the hour-long trip to Wellington in an unheated carriage.
But it seems that while the carriages are slowly being fixed, Trans Metro are also paying attention to, you know, being nice to customers. This morning when I was waiting for my usual train, a fellow came up to me representing Tranz Metro and asked me a few survey questions about the cold carriages.
One question was the toss-up between removing carriages with broken heaters from service and therefore having more crowding in the usual train servcies.
But most interestingly, it seems that Tranz Metro will be offering passengers a 5% discount on monthly train tickets for July, or else a couple of free Fridays in July if you use a daily ticket.
The survey asked if this was adequate compo. Well, for me it might be, but probably not for an arthritic senior.
Let’s hope that Tranz Metro gets their heating problems sorted out before the end of winter.