The big freeze

This Friday June 5 is World Environment Day, and in our fairy capital city, and in other spots around the coutry hundreds of people will “freeze” together to show united action for climate change.

The Freeze is set to kick off at 1pm for just five minutes.

Right now the location is all secret squirrel, but stay tuned

Nick Potter, Personal Assistant to Mr Freeze and lead co-ordinator of a team of volunteers, says

“If there was ever a time for you to get involved – it’s now. 2009 is a crucial year of action and in December, a new global climate treaty will be negotiated in Copenhagen. We need to come together and send the message that global agreement is essential and that bold and urgent action is needed.”

And look you can even check out last year’s freeze, on the you tube.

I’m thinking standing in the middle of the road is not the most ideal place to freeze, so as the girl guides used to say, be prepared.

People can join the Freeze and find out more at www.freezenz.wordpress.com

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.

Xpressway To Yr Skull

X Way Vision is a video of live performances by artists from the Dunedin-based Xpressway record label. Performing artists include The Dead C, Alastair Galbraith, Plagal Grind, Chris Heazlewood & Greg Cairns, Shayne Carter, and Chug.

Screening at the Film Archive, Wednesday 27 May at 7pm. Tickets $8/6 concession.

[Read more after the jump]

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.

 

Intersection of Impending Death

So, the John St/Riddiford St/Adelaide Rd intersection has undergone a bit of a lights phasing tweak. It took this particular Wellingtonista by surprise when, last week, I confidently started to cross John St as the lights turned to red, only to discover that instead of my little green man, I was now the target for traffic coming down from Adelaide Rd.

There’s been some good that’s come from the change – the most obvious one being that pedestrians crossing John St (with the green man, that is), are no longer in danger of being skittled by right-turning traffic from Adelaide Rd heading up John St (it was a common trick for the first one or two cars in that queue to dive across the intersection as soon as the lights turned green).

On the other hand, pedestrians crossing at the same place now have to contend with traffic run the orange (or, even the red!) from Riddiford St and heading up John St. Every single morning I’ve had to cross at that point, cars have sailed through the intersection a good few seconds after the green man has gone off. It’s particularly bad if you’re crossing south-to-north, as the traffic is coming from behind you, out of your line of sight. It won’t be long before someone gets knocked over: mark my words!

How’s it working out for you? Drivers – any thoughts?

Free day at Te Papa – today!

Alert reader Andy writes to inform us that it is free day Te Papa! (Today being Thu 7 March May).

…so if you want to go see the Monet exhibition you can do so without paying $15 entry. Te Papa is open until 9pm tonight.

Be warned though that there will probably be crowds.

Thanks Andy!

Update: As Andy points out in the comments, the offer is only valid for Wellington residents, so bring along some proof that you live locally. Because we all know what happens if you’re not local…

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOGAAlHzF4o]

It’s funny season in the City

It’s Comedy festival time in the Capital.

Personally I think the timing is always quite impeccable as winter has just hit and with it comes the winter blues. There are loads of amazing local acts and also some brilliant internationals.

Now normally the international acts like to include a little local content to make the crowd love them more. Often it’s limited to jokes about wind, jaffas and Australians. Sammy J is clearly the exception to the rule, and to prove it he’s even been making some extremly cute videos.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQG1pRpTF-c]

You can catch him at Downstage from tonight.

My hot local tip is the The Comediettes.  Emma, Jim and Sarah were amazing at the fringe festival with their stand up show. Sarah’s been winning a few comedy competitions lately, so you now she’s going to bring the giggles.