(Last Minute) Ode to Love
Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day again. There may be some of you out there in need of last minute inspiration to “score brownie points”. Don’t you hate those bill boards trying to get men to buy flowers around town? They are almost as limited in their conception of masculinity as this little beauty
[contributed by Robyn of the Aucklandista.]
Those of us holed up in the Molesworth precinct earnestly “leveraging” this, getting “traction on” that and generally “actioning” the hell out stuff all day long, hardly need Valentine’s Day as an excuse to have a wee -tipple. Fortunately Cellar-vate on Molesworth are having free wine tasting from 4:30 till 6:30 this afternoon, and they are promising bubbly no less! So grab your office-bound honey and head on down.
I am going to avoid any cliched suggestions involving flowers or chocolate but spare a thought for all the Japanese office ladies who suffer through the Japanese version of Valentine’s Day where the onus falls on the woman to buy men chocolate and flowers. One month later, on White Day the men reciprocate three-fold, read into that what you will.
The top tip for Valentines Day, in this office lady’s opinion, is the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. They are having an adults-only night at the Sanctuary (oh la la) tonight with free boat rides on the lake, birdsong at dusk and most importantly, no children. They are open until 8.00pm so get a babysitter and get back to nature.
(Ed note: we take no responsibility for anyone caught getting really “back to nature”)
Hurray, it’s Webstock Week!
So, we didn’t post in advance to tell you about Webstock, because it’s sold out.
We do think you should know though that if you’re seeing a large number of people around the Town Hall this week carrying these sexy-ass satchels, they’re Webstockites, and they’re all about the peace, love and internet. You may also be able to recognise them by the shiny gadgets they carry that feature pictures of apples prominently, the coffees they’ll be knocking back at an alarming rate, and the excited, enthusiastic and emphatic conversations they’ll be carrying out with people who were complete strangers an hour earlier.
So, if you’re not a Browncoat brownbag carrier, we suggest that you lock up your sons and daughters, unleash your networks and put some more beer in the fridge for us. Cheers!
Flight of the Conchords live at Arovideo – Wednesday 13th February
BREAKING NEWS!
This just in from those fine folk at Arovideo:
It is our pleasure (and absolute thrill) to announce that Arovideo will be playing host to the hottest act in New Zealand (and possibly the world) right now, “Flight of the Conchords”.
In support of the local release of their widely-acclaimed HBO TV show on DVD, Bret and Jemaine will be performing a short set live in store from 10am, Wednesday the 13th of February, at 97 Aro Street in Wellington.
Then from 10.30am until 12pm, they will be signing copies of the DVD, which will be available to buy on site at $39.95 for the 2-disc set.
Space limitations on the ground floor of our store mean this will be a very intimate, exclusive event indeed, and entry will be on a “first come, first served” basis. While we cannot guarantee you will gain entry for the performance itself, their should be ample opportunity to meet the guys, especially if you are armed with a copy of their fantastic DVD! There will be eftpos facilities available, though cash is recommended.
…
What more do you need to know people!
James Bond is bound to be skulking around Wellington
With the mega (not ‘super’, MEGA) boat Twizzle currently moored up to Queens Wharf the following must happen:
- Dark suited henchmen with Russian/Asian accents will be walking the wharf
- A bald headed chap is currently deep inside stroking a white cat make plans for world domination
- Cars with tinted windows will start to drop off “the associates”
- Bond will either:
- Be currently seducing the “female companion” to ensure an invite to “the meeting”
- Donning his wet suit (tux underneath) in preparation for the placement of underwater timer limpet bomb things
Really, it’s true … go check it out before it gets raided, destroyed or just ups-and-leaves under mysterious circumstances.
Have your say – busker & husband charged for dog hair in room
Talkback time – or type-back time to be more accurate.
This is the nice lady who sometimes busks near Woodward Street on the Quay, with her faithful guide dog at her side. Been a while since we saw her there.
Olivia and Jonathan Godfrey spent their honeymoon in a professed guide-dog friendly hotel in Palmerston North Wellington. When leaving, they were presented with a bill for an extra $85 for cleaning up unwanted dog hair.
I’m inclined to the side of the couple here, it seems the hotel refused the opinion of a guide-dog minder who was sent in to view any damage on the couple’s behalf.
Besides… the hotel spokesman said:
“There were two big dogs in a one-bedroom apartment … You can imagine the smell…”
I can actually, I imagine you could hardly smell them at all & that 5 minutes with the windows & doors open would have clinched it.
And even if the dogs were moulting, how long does it take to vacuum a one bedroom apartment? Nice hourly rate.
Full story here
Go for your life with the outraged comments either way.
Update:
The hotel has apologised to the couple & offered a couple of free night’s accommodation.
Firerockets at Night
Explosions in the Sky!
The latest instalment in a semi-regular Wellingtonista series on the thriving local touring circuit for international bands sees the instrumental rock goodness of Explosions in the Sky hitting Wellington for the first time tomorrow night, bringing their firecracker of a live set to the San Fran Bathhouse.
Praised for the cinematic grandeur of their albums and the intensity of their live shows, the Texans have come a long way since their inception as a post-rock four-piece in 1999. The band has also been appointed as the curators for the 2008 All Tomorrow’s Parties festival line-up.
Fusing bittersweet guitar melodies with crashing bouts of noise, Explosions in the Sky have garnered a strong following among fans and critics alike, with Tiny Mix Tapes labelling them “the only instrumental post-rock band that mattersâ€. Rolling Stone compared their most recent album, All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone, to the music of the Kronos Quartet, but with “big amps and John Bonham in the backâ€, and internet giant Pitchfork Media touted 2003’s The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place as “the perfect testament to art-rock mastery.â€
Show details after the jump…
A lovely trim
It’s upon us, Fringe Festival time.
I always love this time of year becuase you never quite know what might be happening around the corner. But you do know it’s a celebration of creativity that’s truly unique to our lovely Wellington.
Driving home today i saw art installations being installed, and i can’t wait to go visit them tomorrow
My cellphone sent ‘SECRET’ to 2343 along with my name and email so i could find out more about the Footnote Plus fuse secret production.
My ears and eyes are preparing for a 3D film plus octophonic sound at the Paramount courtesy of SpartacusR.
Do let us know what you’re looking forward to over the next few days and weeks!
Sculpture Garden
This is one of my favourite places in Wellington:
… and if anyone ever tries to do it harm, as I’ve heard rumours of happening in the past, well… they just better watch out.
Sorry for the crappy photo. Stupid phone. Looks like I also managed to catch a flying rat in full, uh, flight.
Cinephilia: Opening This Week
It’s a quiet week for quality releases so you can all go to No Country for Old Men. Alternatively, if you’ve already done that or want a palate cleansing in advance of There Will Be Blood, you can check out comedy-thriller-romance Fool’s Gold at Readings, Regent or Sky City Queensgate. Matthew McConaughey reunites with Kate Hudson (How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days) as an estranged couple who reunite to search for sunken treasure (as you do). Donald Sutherland and Ray Winstone are the good actors lending their name to the project.
John C. Reilly goes from sidekick (Talladega Nights, The Aviator) to front and centre in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Reilly plays the eponymous rocker in a biopic that follows his up and down career across five decades and spoofs classics like Ray and Walk the Line. Written by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin), Walk Hard opened yesterday (Waitangi Day special) at Readings, Regent-on-Manners, Empire and Sky City Queensgate.
What to do on Waitangi Day this year
I’ve long thought that we should all (hospitality, police, emergency services & health workers not withstanding) have Wednesdays off to break the week into easily digestable chunks.
But if the thought of sleeping in, sleeping in even longer & enjoying a hearty holiday brunch, followed by more lolling around & maybe even a trip down to a cafe or pub… leaves you feeling slightly guilty, then I suggest you get into the spirit of the day & check out the official Waitangi Day Celebrations down at, where else, Waitangi Park:
Wellington will be celebrating New Zealand’s national day in style, thanks to Meridian Energy Summer City.
Wellington City Council in partnership with the Wellington Tenths Trust has organised a Waitangi Day Celebration — Te Ra o Waitangi at Waitangi Park from 9.45am to 4.00pm. Featuring kapa haka, drumming, dance, multicultural acts, food and stalls, it promises to be a great day out for the whole family.
Much, much more info is here.