The Devonport Deli Cafe

Haeata and I stumbled into the Devonport Deli a few days ago, exhausted and in need of refreshments. To be honest, we were aiming for Manuka across the road but the idea of negotiating the pedestrian crossing was all too much. I'd never really noticed this place before but it looked nice enough so we decided to give it a go.

To our delight they turned out to be quite fabulous.

Haeata's fluffy (just $1) was insane and spilling over like some latte volcano. As you can see she was pretty happy with it. My tea came in a cute silver pot and hurray, was loose leaf. And a quite reasonable $3.80.

And since you're asking, yes that cheesecake was divine.

Everything was going well enough but then Haeata discovered a box of plastic animals and I discovered a stack of magazines...including the latest Fashion Quarterly. Getting pretty close to bliss right here. The music was inoffensive kiwi summer music (I was just grateful it wasn't bloody More FM or something equally hideous -- the downfall of many potentially great cafes), the service was friendly and there was a nice breeze coming through the completely open front wall.

There was a kids hot cake meal on the menu for just $8.50 (with bacon, banana, maple syrup AND ice cream!) and the Eggs Ben with salmon was a crazy $15.50 so we will most definitely be back for breakfast some time soon. On a sunny day so we can sit outside. 

A very happy fluffy

Black and white cheesecake. Haeata had to fight me for the last crumb.

Lemon and Ginger Black Tea

The Devonport Deli Cafe
16 Victoria Rd
Monday - Sunday 6:30am - 5pm

Buskers Festival

The Auckland Busker's Festival starts at midday this Friday and goes till the end of Monday. The Blingling Bros are performing as well as international acts such as a juggler/clown/acrobat from Japan, a football juggler from Sweden, a contortionist from Iceland, a Cirque du Soleil from acrobat from Australia, a hula hoop artist from The Netherlands and many more.

They'll be performing in the downtown area from Vulcan Lane to the Viaduct but you can check out the full programme here.

Alaska - Lydian

Just a quick shameless plug for my brother's band here. They've just put out this new video and I'm really excited for them! Isn't it a beautiful video? And a beautiful song of course.


Plus, all Haeata's favourite people are in the video. Her uncle John is on the left, singing back up and playing a mandolin. And she has a major crush on Nikolai the drummer.
I'll let you all know next time they're playing a day gig somewhere!

Stuff To Do This Weekend

If you're reading this in Wellington make sure you go along to Alphabet St's first Sunday Session this Sunday - The Yoots at Fran Kitts Park! And it's all FREE. Lucky people. 

However there are still a whole lot of things to do in Auckland this weekend. First of all you need to stop by Kapiti Ice Cream's new Shortland St store today, they're giving away free kids ice cream scoops with every adult ice cream! Perfect thing to compliment this beautiful weather.


Tonight they're showing Man On Wire, the film about French high wire artist Philippe Petit at Silo Park in the Wynyard Quarter. How cool will that look projected up on one of those Silos? The film starts at 9pm but there will be a night market, food stalls and a bar open from 5pm so get down there early and make a night of it. 

Chinese New Year starts soon so kick of celebrations there is a free festival and market day at the ASB grounds on Saturday from 9:30 - 4pm.

Also on tomorrow, the South Seas Film and Television School is putting on a free animation workshop for anyone over the age of 15. Perfect if you've got a bored teenager or two kicking around at home.

The council is offering free guided walks on Waiheke Island with professional guides, starting this Saturday. They'll be meeting at Matiatia wharf at 10:15 tomorrow morning and taking it from there.

Milford School is hosting the 2012 Japanese Kids Festival on Saturday. Japanese food, drumming, games and face painting. 

And of course the new family friend festival, Bloom, is on this weekend. Ladi6, Sola Rosa and a whole heap of amazing activities for the kids. 

2012 Japanese Kids Festival

Two of Haeata's best friends are Japanese and are helping organise this cool event happening in Milford this Saturday. 


From 10am - 2pm this Saturday go down to Milford School to see sushi making demonstrations, Japanese base drums, make your own "mangekyo" kaleidoscope, play traditional Japanese games and get your face painted, nails blinged up or a temporary tattoo. There will also be Japanese food for sale (Haeata's absolute favourite) and a flea market. 


See you there! 


34 Shakespeare Rd, Milford, North Shore

The Yoots for FREE this Sunday!

This one is just for my Wellington readers, or any of you who are lucky enough to be visiting the capital this weekend. 


The wonderful Babysteps blog is putting on a great event this Sunday afternoon at Fran Kitt's Park featuring The Yoots, a traveling photo booth, a free dance workshop and a craft workshop. It's the first of four Alphabet St Sunday sessions and this week's one is all free! 


Seriously wish I was going to be there!

Bloom Family Festival

For those parents out there (myself included) who miss the days spending summer going from festival to festival, the Bloom Family Festival is on this weekend!


The festival has been created with music loving families in mind, with Ladi6, Sola Rosa, Greg Johnson and many more performing. At the same time they have activity upon activity planned for the kids. It's in Matakana so you can either camp out for all three days or just drive up for a day.

Stuff Happening This Weekend

Before I get started on this weekend's entertainment guide, make sure you tune into KFM this morning! I'm going into the studio to talk to Beats For Breakfast host, AD-One about Tiny Thrills.


I love love love this time of year. So much stuff happening and a whole lot of it for free! 


First off you have free rock climbing today from 3:30pm - 5:30pm.


And then tonight Fantastic Mr Fox is screening for free at Silo Park in the Wynyard Quarter at 9pm. The weather isn't supposed to be too fantastic though so keep an eye on their Facebook page for cancellations.


If you have little foodies the take them to the Auckland Fish Market on Saturday for Tasting Saturday. Sample a whole lot of delicious food then get some of the best fish and chips in the city(or something a bit fancier) and relax in the courtyard while the kids play in the sandpit.


From Saturday and until Sunday, January 29th there is an exhibition of live caterpillars and Monarch Butterflies at the Cornwall Park Information Centre. They'll teach how to encourage the butterflies into your garden and send you home with a free swan plant!


Back at Silo Park on Saturday there's a whole lot of really great live music happening from noon till 5pm.


On Sunday, Latin group The Mambo Kings are playing at Cornwall Park as part of the Summer Music Concert Series. 


And lastly there's an interesting exhibition showing for free at the Aotea Centre called Emerging Pixels. Walk past a Digital Art Live Screen and see your image projected onto the screen in edited fragments. Cool! 

Silo Sessions This Saturday

There are some great bands playing down at Silo Park in the Wynyard Quarter this Saturday. From noon to 5pm you can catch The Vietnam War, She's So Rad and Tied On Teeth. 


There will be a market, a licensed bar filled with delicious Stoke beer and lots of even more delicious food stalls. We had the wood fired pizza when we went to the last Silo Session and not only was it tasty it was only $12!


Haeata loves this video from Tied On Teeth...it has fireworks, what's not to love! 
Also, if you check out She's So Rad's Facebook page they've recently posted a Yo Gabba Gabba clip. Rad indeed. 

Free Rock Climbing

This Friday from 3:30 - 5:30 there will be a rock climbing wall set up at Mountfort Park, on the corner of Weymouth and Sykes roads in Manurewa. It's totally free and suitable for all ages and abilities.

I'll say it again, fingers crossed it doesn't rain as promised! 

Really need to get some wet weather options up here this week....

Cartoon Theme Hip Hop Remix by The Metatrons

Just because it's the first day back I thought I'd throw in a little something extra. Mark Yela from Frybread Radio tipped me off to this great track, it was added to Haeata's birthday party playlist and we've pretty much just been playing it all the time.


See if you can get all the cartoon themes featured in the remix...




The Metatrons - Cartoon Theme Hiphop Mix by TheMetatrons


And if you're having trouble placing them all, here's a video someone helpfully put together.

Fantastic Mr Fox

Hello Everyone! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, a fun New Years, and somewhere amongst all that a bit of a holiday. We had Christmas here at home with a whole lot of family and then went up to a friend's place in Whangarei Heads for a few days over New Years. Haeata's birthday was on Saturday so I had to go into full on party prep mode as soon as we got back from the beach. Think I'm ready for another holiday now thanks very much!


For now I'd just be happy with some sun. If we do get some sun this week then Silo Park in the Wynyard Quarter will be the place to be on Friday night. As part of The Silo Cinema, Fantastic Mr Fox will be showing for free, projected onto one of the giant silos. Night markets open from 5pm and the movie will screen at 9pm. Make sure you check out the Silo facebook page for rain cancellations.