Outer Base at Leigh Sawmill

I post this once a month event every month because it really is just such a great idea. Bring all your friends, bring the kids, and kick back and chill, maybe have a bit of a kanikani while Base FM DJs spin out some nice beats. 


Very kid-friendly venue and very kid-friendly people. 


This Sunday from 3pm, absolutely free.

Literary Sandpit at The Wynyard Quarter

Go down to Wynyard Quarter from today until December 11 to have a dig in the "Literary Sandpit". Treasures - illustrations from Margaret Mahy's poem "Down The Back of the Chair" are buried in the large sandpit for kids to dig up.


If you're there on Saturday in particular they'll be giving away spot prizes from 1 - 3pm.

Style - Hunter

Hunter's David Bowie T-shirt is pretty much the coolest thing out. Also loving the casually rolled up cuff on just one leg. So Ponsonby gangsta right now. Hunter's mum said he loves Pasta Putanesca with lots of chilli. And Haeata is now a big fan of Blood Orange San Pelligrino after seeing Hunter order some "red bubbly juice". 

Love Your Mountain Day

Maungawhau-Mt Eden will be closed to all vehicles on Sunday from 10am - 4pm and open to all public to safely walk, picnic and explore where ever they want. There will be discovery trail for kids, a "Wish Tree"  (check that link out, they have photos of previous wishes. Very Post Secret) and a book reading circle. Just ask volunteers on the day for a map. 

Stuff To Do This Weekend

The Wynyard Quarter Art Series opens this Friday. There are some cool sound installations going up this week and more things to come in the next few weeks. Will keep you posted!


There's a big old Ukelele Festival going down in Waitakere on Saturday. It's free (unless you want to go to the evening concert) and there will be performances, workshops and stalls. 


The new MOTAT exhibition Playing With Light is now open and it looks like a whole lot of fun. Laser Dodge! 

This Friday High St shops are open late for their monthly Black Fridays event. I'm not sure of the exact details but there will be entertainment, music and a movie in Freyburg Square! Also, there is a pretty sweet prize pack up for grabs and all you have to do is buy something in participating stores to go into the draw.


Auckland's best alternative craft market, Kraftbomb, is on at the Grey Lynn Community Centre from 11 - 2pm today.


Go down to the beach at Point Chev on Sunday and help them clean the beach up from 1:30 - 3:30. BBQ for all volunteers after the clean up and go in the draw to win a free introductory kite-surfing lesson!


Also on Sunday is the the Mt Eden Community Garden celebration from 2pm - 4pm. For the adults there's a compost building workshop (I know a lot of you who don't have kids should be getting in to that!), while the kids can make art from recycled objects. Also pony rides, face painting, scarecrow building, seed planting and a raffle! Boom. 


Keeping it in the garden theme, the beautiful Wilson Home is having a garden gala on Sunday to raise money for it's trust. More pony rides, more face painting, a craft market, plants for sale, a spit roast and devonshire tea. (There are also garden tours for a price but just a disclaimer, they will be lead by Maggie Barry. So you know, if you don't feel like a side of National with your morning then maybe don't.) 


The Gypsy Fair is also on in Orewa on Sunday. Pony rides again (where are they getting all these ponies from?!), get your cards read, wake up with some Lucky Star coffee and buy some hippie Christmas presents for your fam.


And of course, the iconic Farmers Santa Parade is on this Sunday. If you've never been before make sure you read my survival guide! 




And now for a little something from my favourite ukulele band in the whole world, U900. Have a great weekend everyone!

Popping my Santa Parade cherry

So, last year Haeata and I went along to our first ever Farmers Santa Parade. The parade is at 2pm so I thought I'd beat the crowds and get there at 1:30. I think I might have even thrown a few snacks and a bottle of water in my bag.


I didn't know, people, I didn't know. 

Nobody told me that people turn up there hours before hand and set up camp like they intend on staying right there on Queen St for the rest of the week. Nobody told me that it's totally acceptable to bring a large picnic mat, umbrellas, a small tent even. Nobody told me that since you're going to be hanging there for a few hours before the thing even starts you might as well just leave those pathetic little snacks at home and bring a fully packed chilly bin. And I'm pretty sure nobody told me that since you're going to waiting around all that time you should probably bring a deck chair. And sunscreen. 


Well, now I know and so do all of you! The weather is supposed to be pretty fantastic on Sunday and the central roads are closed from 12pm so you might as well head in early and make a day of it. Check out that above link for the parade route and other handy tips. 

Playing With Light at MOTAT

This traveling exhibition made up of 22 different exhibits all based on light looks like a lot of fun. 

MOTAT exhibitions are always about interaction and this one doesn't disappoint. You can play laser dodge (just like in spy movies!), paint with infrared light and virtual paintbrushes, freeze your shadow and make light bounce of water.

Entry to the Playing with Light Exhibition is included FREE with your normal admission and don't forget, North Shore residents get a free pass till the end of November!

Wynyard Quarter Art Series

This Friday The Arts Foundation Wynyard Quarter Art Series opens. There will be sound installations, they're building a Margaret Mahy themed sandpit (I'll keep you updated!), poems and words displayed in strange places and free open air movies!


The first films to be screened are Taika Waititi's short film Two Cars One Night and his first feature Eagle vs. Shark. It will be projected on to the wall of one of the giant silos at 9pm. Stalls and street food on from 5pm. The event is totally free and there will be a different movie on every Friday night during the series. Fun! So summery. *


*This just in, this Friday night's screening on Eagle Vs. Shark has been cancelled! 


Stink.


 But there are still movies scheduled for next Friday so I'll let you know about those next week.

Summer styles

Unfortunately I recorded this gorgeous girl's information in my phone which was stolen a few weeks ago so, Little Lady's mum - please feel free to leave her name in the comments section. If I remember rightly her dress was from Rarotonga and her friend's name is Kitty. Or Catty. LOVE the flower in the hair. 

New Zealand Ukelele Festival - This Saturday

The New Zealand Ukelele Festival is on this Saturday at the Waitakere Trust Stadium. The event is free from 12 - 4pm (tickets available for the later part of the festival) and will feature performance, workshops, stalls and competitions. Rain or shine! 

Smith Bar - Britomart

Alright, a disclaimer first. If your kids are kinda ruckus then Smith Bar is possibly not the place for you. No judgement, Haeata definitely has her ruckus days and thus the Eating Out category on this site is full of more ahh, sturdy cafes. 


However, if you've got slightly older kids or a preschooler who will sit still long enough for a fancy tea-party then you should check this place out.


It's all pretty magical and just a bit surreal. Haeata loves the fairy lights, the stag heads on the walls, all the shiny gilded frames and the pretty tea cups. They do really great tea and cocktails. And before you start thinking that maybe it's all a bit too fancy, they have toasties on the menu!

Photo credit : britomart.org

Stuff To Do This Weekend

You know what we're doing this weekend? Grey Lynn Park Festival. That's pretty much it.  It's going to take up all of Saturday and I don't really see us having much energy for anything else by the time Sunday rolls around. The festival is seriously one of my highlights for this time of year. Great music, great people, market stalls, lots of stuff for kids....good times. Don't miss it!

However, if you still have energy left for other things then there are definitely some other things worth leaving the house for: 


On Saturday afternoon Howl's Moving Castle is showing for free at Auckland University Library.


Also on Saturday, the North Shore Pasefika Fesitval at Hato Petera College. Stalls, lots of entertainment and a touch tournament. 


And there's lots of school galas on again this weekend. Check out Whenuapai School, Manukau School and Papatoetoe Central School on Saturday. And if you're looking for an excuse to leave the mainland, Waiheke Primary School are having their fair on Sunday. 


Also on Sunday is the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra Open Day at the Telstraclear Pacific Centre. Expose the kids to some classical music and get them up close to a real, live orchestra!


Don't forget, North Shore residents get a free pass to MOTAT this month. They're doing steam train rides on Sunday from 11 - 4! 


And just a heads up, the Central City Library has got it's sale on next week! More about that on Monday.


Have a great weekend everyone. The weather is supposed to be sun, sun and more sun!

Mattel Sale Tomorrow!

This sale is always crazy good. The above flyer has had me in giggles all morning.  I think the fact that they have to remind people not to "act inappropriately" and make a note about not being responsible for injuries sustained gives you an idea of just how damn good this sale is. 


Get in there people and get those Christmas presents sorted for cheap! Tomorrow only from 9am - 2pm. 

Wolf

Little man is rocking those glasses! He's wearing a Motorhead hoodie too. Taking geek chic to whole other level. 
(Note: Too busy eating delicious Il Buco pizza to pose for a photo. I feel you Wolf!)

Japanese Film Week

All this week the Auckland University is showing Japanese films at their library for free. There's a full schedule here but on Saturday evening they're showing beautiful animated movie Howl's Moving Castle at 3:30. Of course, I'll probably still be at Grey Lynn Park Festival but you know, if you've had enough sun (as if!) by that time you could roll on up to the university.

Grey Lynn Park Festival

It's that time of year whanau! The Grey Lynn Park Festival is always one of my highlights for the year. Especially at this time of year when you're just hanging out for summer to hurry up and be here already. It's that little something to just keep you going until all the summer good times get started for real.

Base FM DJs will be providing music all day by the skate ramp staring at 10am. I just heard yesterday that a certain international DJ has possibly been added to the line up but it's not official yet so watch this space for updates!*


There will be more music on the main stage with Che Fu at 4pm followed by Unity Pacific.


And of course there will be the amazing markets, delicious food and lots of other things to keep you, the kids and everyone else entertained.


If you see us there definitely come up and say hi!


*My lovely boss Jazz just posted it on her facebook wall so I'm gonna go ahead and count that as permission ... Onra is going to be playing! 

Onra - Relax in Mui Ne

I scored myself some babysitting on Friday night and went out to see the amazing French-Vietnamese DJ Onra play at Khuja. He put on a really great show and this morning I found this animated video someone put together for a class. They've used an Onra beat for the background music to and old Chinese myth about the stars. Very cool!

Things to do this weekend

Hey-yo everybody, this is going to be a real brief simple links to posts because I'm up at my marae in Waitangi with no internet connection (actually hurriedly writing this on Thursday while I wait for my ride!).


Hope you all have a fantastic weekend, Sunday is supposed to be beautiful!


Lots of school galas on this weekend so go support your local primary school


Art In The Dark is on in Ponsonby's Western Park this Friday and Saturday night! Definite highlight for the weekend. 


Do you live on the North Shore? Get a free pass to MOTAT! 

The annual Harbour Crossing is on Sunday so take the kids down to the lovely Wynyard Quarter and you can all have a good laugh while you watch hundreds of insane people stumbling out of the sea.


If the weather doesn't turn out so nice then one of our favourites is the Auckland Art Gallery. Haeata will sit in front of the Len Lye sculpture for ages and hang out in the trippy mirror room. They also have a great learning centre where kids (and adults) can draw in cool stencils and look through kaleidoscopes. And it's all free!

Friday is the last day of the Pacific Living Arts Festival today, heaps of free things happening so go check it out!




And hey, big old creepy Santa is going up on Saturday!
Be on Queen St at 6am Saturday morning if you want to see the installation in action. It's just not Christmas without this dude. I miss the creepy beckoning finger though.

School Galas

I've previously talked about my love of church galas, well I love school galas just as much. 
Paper cups of coconut ice, white elephant stalls, random stuff for sale like painted rock people ... LOVE IT. And it's a great way to support your local school! 


School Gala Season is officially open and so here are a few happening this weekend, hopefully one of these is in your hood. 


Hauraki Primary School is holding a twilight fair on Friday afternoon from 4 - 8pm
St Francis School in Point Chev is having their gala on Saturday from 11 - 3
The Birkenhead Primary School Fair is on Sunday from 11 - 3 
And if you're out west, the Titirangi School Gala is on this Saturday, 12 - 4pm

Another gala classic - Toffee Apples! 

Mercy Hospice Strawberry Festival - TODAY!

The 2011 Strawberry Festival is on down at Queen Elizabeth II Square today from 8am - 4pm today. 


Fresh strawberries and ice cream will be for sale for $5 but if that's not your thing (you weirdo) then there will be all kinds of other sweet treats for sale.


There will be live music, a market and all proceeds are going to the Mercy Hospice so really you actually just have to go down there and buy some deliciousness. 

How can you say no? It's for a good cause! 

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy

Haeata's favourite music video right now. Just turn it on, put the kids in front of it and watch as they copy all the awesome, awesome dance moves. 

Art In The Dark

Aww, I love this time of year when all your favourites come rolling around again. This weekend, Art  In The Dark! I know it's stretching out bedtime a little but it's totally worth letting the kids stay up for this. The once a year event sees Western Park lit up by art installations, short films and live performances. It's surreal and amazing and just plain wonderful. 

And so you don't even have to worry about dinner, Il Buco in Ponsonby is doing a sweet as deal this weekend. Just order your pizza between 6pm - 8pm, tell them that you're taking your (delicious) pizza down to Western Park for Art In The Dark and you'll get your pizza for just $5 a slice! Come on, crazy light sculptures and a pizza picnic in the park after dark? How can you deny your children that?! 

Free Entry to Motat!

All November, North Shore residents get one free pass to MOTAT! Just bring in your proof of address (I'm assuming they'll accept library cards just like everywhere else). Check out this list of suburbs in case you live somewhere like all the way out in Greenhithe or Dairy Flat and you're not sure if they're counting that as part of the Shore (they are). 


Looks like they've got some really cool stuff on this month too but more about that later. 

Stuff To Do This Weekend

Well, after last night's Music Awards I could really go some Ladi6 in the sun this weekend! But that might have to wait until the Bloom Family Festival in January. Pretty excited for festival season to get started you guys. 


Meanwhile, there are some nice things on for you this weekend. 


My personal pick for the weekend is Outerbase at Leigh Sawmill. It's free, it's kid-friendly and adult-friendly and it's a great excuse to get out of the city for the afternoon. 


But another cool event happening is the open day at the Nathan Homestead in Manurewa. There will be live music and free art workshops ... And if your kids are all "Pfft, art. Whatevs." there will also be a magician, face painting and a bouncy castle!


And if you just feel like hanging in the city this weekend, the Parnell Festival of Roses is on this weekend. Lots of live music and delicious food stalls. 


Or if you're keeping it Shoreside, go check out the open day at the Lake House. Live dixieland jazz and lots of art activities. 


And of course, Guy Fawkes! Here's your list of fireworks displays and places you can buy fireworks.

Congratulations on raking in the awards Ladi!
 (no, she sadly has nothing to do with this weekend but her picture deserves this spot today)

Fireworks on this weekend

Well, it's that time of year again where we celebrate foiling the gun powder plot of 1605   blow stuff up! I have looked and looked and looked people but there does not seem to be one single free fireworks display going on in Auckland city! Must have blown the fireworks budget at the rugby final aye?


But if you don't mind spending some money there are some cool events going on (most of them happening near tall hills, if you get what I'm saying whanua)


Waitakere has a display happening at the Trust Stadium (tickets are from $5 to $20 depending on how old you are). Apparently this is actually  a massive event and there's more than just fireworks happening.


The fireworks display in Pukekohe costs between $5 and $12 and they've also got a whole lot of other things happening to entertain you. Looks like it was originally happening at the Pukekohe Raceway but is now on at the Bayer Growers Stadium instead.


The one free display is actually happening on Great Barrier Island! So you know, just casually pop over there if you're feeling it. (For reals though, Entertain Me are doing a really sweet deal on flights to the island right now)


But, if like me, you think you might be kicking it at home with your own DIY display (lighting them all at once anyone? I mean, no!) then here's a list of places to buy fireworks.


Whatever you do keep safe but most of all have lots of fun!

Sparklers - Best ever.

Lake House Heritage Open Day

The Lake House in Takapuna is having an open day this Sunday. There will be art activities for kids, live music (a brass band and a dixieland band), art stalls and a chance to look around the house.

Nathan Homestead Arts Open Day

Now, this looks like it could be a lot of fun. The theme for their open day this year is art from around the world so there will be art workshops going on, demonstrations from tutors and lots of live music including Chileno Latino and Duo Flamenco. 

And of course they'll have all your classics....bouncy castle, a magician, face painting and street theatre. 

Check out this link for more information. 

Parnell Festival of Roses

Who doesn't love a good rose? They look amazing and the smell, oh my god the smell. Just another one of those things that reminds me that summer is on the way. 


The Parnell Festival of Roses is on Saturday and Sunday this weekend from 12 - 6 each day, there will be lots of good food, craft stalls and live music. The Nairobi Trio is playing on Saturday but for a full line up of bands and performances check out this link. 

Outer Base at Leigh Sawmill

This is definitely my one of my top 5 (top 3 even!) for the weekend, Base FM's family friendly afternoon is back this Sunday at the lovely, lovely Leigh Sawmill. DJs Dan Paine and Dylan C will be playing plus some other nice Base FM DJs. It's a free event and there will be music playing from 3pm. Great playground there and aww man, the pizzas!

Halloween

This was the first year I really celebrated Halloween with Haeata. I know everyone goes on about it being an irrelevant American import and all that but, we had fun! Come on people. Crazy costumes, spooky decorations, running around the neighbourbood at dusk collecting lollies and chocolate... what's not to love?!  

We dropped by The Department Store in Takapuna on Sunday with Haeata's Uncle Bevin. They were doing some pretty sweet face painting and all the stores had massive jars of lollies for Trick-or-Treaters.


I took Haeata trick or treating down our street last night and it was all kinds of fun! She raced up people's stairs, bellowed "twickawtreat!" when they opened the door and then thanked them very sweetly for the truckloads of sugary treats they emptied into her basket. Next year I'm making sure I decorate our letterbox because I only got two 12 year old boys (not even in costume damn it) come by to score some of my awesome gingerbread skeletons.


And just in case you're wondering, Haeata's Dia de los Muertos face paint took me half an hour and no I don't do birthday parties.