"I'd rather regret something I've done, than something I was too afraid to do. Life's too short to be a pussy!" - Zach Braff on a recent Scrubs episodeIn doing this one may find a hidden talent, achieve something thought previously impossible or just make someone’s day a little happier. When I think about the formerly insurmountable challenges that I have tackled (sometimes left right up until the court date), I think geez, that wasn’t so bad. If only I could realise this prior to quell the worry.Slightly philosophical for a Wednesday I know, but I’ve just read a book called “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari,” by Paulo Coelho (a timely gift from my long-time best friend Anne-Marie), it’s a 196 page inspiring tale that leaves lingering powerful messages about how to enrich your life. We weekly review is a goodie this week. Check it out here. Plus loads of pix from Sundown, the penultimate Stonyridge dance party (click here). And read on below for the winners... the prizes... and all the best events coming up this week. |
Winners From The Last GuideAlex Kneebone will be seeing whales and dolphins with a friend thanks to ExploreNZSarah Richards and Tracey Ahern won doubles passes to Groove In The Park Clinton Stanger got the bottle of Alchemia ginger infused vodka Aitor Fernandez won the Marquis sexy prize pack. Now he just needs to find a lucky lady, he says Michelle Trubuhovich, Melissa Misson, Bobbie Gray, Sarah Khouri and Koren Drain will be all sent a $50 NZGirl online shop voucher. |
Cool Things To Win This Week2 x double passes to The Kumeu Food & Wine Festival on this Saturday at The Kumeu Showgrounds. Put “Kumeu Food & Wine” in the subject box and email me if you’d like to win.2 x double tickets to the season’s last Lindauer Twilight Summer Series at Ellerslie Racecourse held next Wednesday, Feb 13th. Put “Valentines Races” in the subject box and send me an email to be in the draw. 1 x VIP double pass to heat 1 of Diesel Bourbon Cola Bikini Competition on this Saturday afternoon at Pat’s Garage, Northcote. You get a stage-side table and free drinks and food. It’s all laid on. Write “Diesel Bourbon” as the header for your entry when you reply. 2 x containers of RU-21. The best drinking companion ever. Take a pill before your 1st drink and another after your last, then sleep easy knowing you’ll have a clear head in the morning. Visit www.ru21.co.nz for the low-down. Write “RU21” in the subject box and mail me, to possibly win. 1 x double pass to Freeformantion Dance Party this Saturday at Space Bar. See 4 bad boys of UK hard dance rock the party till the break of dawn. With support from 12 local lads on the decks, lasers, lager, top notch decorations and 200 mad ravers (me included) this will be large. Put “Freeformation” as the header and email me if you like it hard. 1 x Bic Prize Pack, with pens, pencils, markers, shavers and for all those pyromaniacs out there, a pimpin’ lighter. Write “Bic” as the title of your email when you enter. 1 x double pass to The Breakers' last home game of the season at the North Shore Events Centre this Thursday. I can't go so I am putting my seats B49 & B50 up for grabs. These guys are on a roll and into the play-offs, just put the name of the team they are playing in the subject box to be in the draw. Please include your phone number also. |
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Wednesday February 6thGroove In The ParkWestern Springs Stadium, Stadium Rd, Western Springs Tickets $20-$25 from www.ticketmaster.co.nz, or on the door. 11am – 8pm It’s been known as Groove Day to me for over a month, and we get the day off also. The venue isn’t as picturesque as the former one, but the musical lineup leaves the old in the dust. Supergroove, Axwell and TV Rock are the ones I’m gunning to see. Arrive early, stake your claim to some land and settle in for an entire day of entertainment. And/Or Waitangi Day Link Bus Pub Crawl The Mean Fiddler, 17 Victoria St West, Auckland Central No Charge (Just $11 for an all day bus pass). 11am – 5pm For anyone who’s spent a chunk of time in London you will know of the infamous Waitangi Day Circle Line Pub Crawl. Now Suzanne, and friends, gather to bring a similar concept to NZ. Fancy dress is mandatory (anything really), as is a beverage of some sort at every stop around the circuit. It will be a well orchestrated riot. Don’t be surprised if you see them in the paper on Thursday. |
Thursday February 7thThe Ellerslie HopFrancoli and Lube, 124 Main Highway, Ellerslie No Charge. 6pm – 12am Meet friends at Francoli after work for dinner (their smoked chicken pizza is to die for) and drinks. The atmosphere is calming, toe-tapping tunes are audible and there’s social crowd to mingle amongst. Once tipsy (say about 9ish) carefully cross the road and pull up a chair at Lube. A long thin bar with lots of nooks, retro beats and jovial staff. And/Or Distance Dance Party Fu Bar, 4 Wolfe St, Auckland Central Tickets $20 from Real Groovy and Beat Merchants. 11pm – 6am UK dancefloor dubstep destruction at it’s ultimate finest. Distance is an electronic artist of immense diversity, he incorporates metallic shards, rave signals, guitar riffs and beats so heavy people have been known to call in sick the following day with “bass sickness”. Check it. |
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Friday February 8thSplore Music Festival (begins)Tapapakanga Regional Park, Deerys Rd, Manukau Tickets $160 from www.iticket.co.nz, $175 on the door. 5pm Friday– 5.30pm Sunday Music festivals don’t get much finer. 3 days, 40 odd of NZ’s best musical acts and 5,000 happy hippies bonding in a magical coastal spot less than 1 hour’s drive from Auckland. And/Or Ministry Of Sound. Clubber’s Guide to 2008 Tour Met & Code, 13 Shortland St, Auckland Central Entry $20 on the door. 11pm – 7am One of the world’s biggest dance labels comes to NZ, this time with internationally renowned Aussies Sam La More and Hook N Sling in tow. Expect fresh uplifting house music, plenty of dolled up girls and a good vibe. |
Saturday February 9thKumeu Food & Wine FestivalKumeu Showgrounds, Access Rd, Kumeu, Rodney District Entry $20 on the door. Under 18’s no charge. 11am – 6pm A fun family day now in its sixth year. The event showcases the Auckland region’s high achievers in the fields of cuisine, wine and boutique beer. At the same time it supports the Auckland Branch of Epilepsy NZ and the Epilepsy Assist Dog Trust. Only 20min from downtown Auckland. And/Or Juicy: NZ Bikini Model Search NATIONAL FINAL The Britomart Pavillion, Downtown Auckland Entry $10. 5pm – 3am Now all the hotties have been plucked from the 15 regions they fuse to form one enormous National Final, and uncover NZ’s #1 bikini model. It’s more than just a competition, there’s a sweet garden bar, lavish decorations and afterwards you can rock with the ladies thanks to help from DJ's Rob Steele, Gareth D (Aus), Dan Forman with vocals from Anna Wilson, Cam Robertson, and Tim Phin. And/Or Freeformation 2, Hard Dance Party Space Bar, 6 Osborne St, Newmarket Tickets $35 from Killa Tees (K’ Rd) & Cosmic Corner (High St). 10pm – 7am They’ve flown into Auckland as part of their Australasian tour. UK hard crew consisting of Arkitech, Ben Stevens, Squad-E and Hypasonic with vocals from Lou Lou will pound Space. It’ll be fluoro-city decked out, and have ample sound and lighting. If 180+bpm gets the heart pumping overtime then meet me here for a Jager-bomb at the bar. |
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Sunday February 10thUPFM Solar Series Phase 3The Quarry, Motions Rd, Western Springs No Charge. 12 – 6pm A party with a bit of an illegal underground feel to it (even though it’s totally legit). A cozy quarry with lush grass and lots of pathways to explore. Experience all forms of techno here, breakbeat to hardstyle. Put some beers on ice and get on down. And/Or Big Gay Out Coyle Park, Point Chevalier Rd, Point Chevalier No Charge. 12 – 7pm A colourful afternoon of wicked wonder. DJ’s spin house and electro tunes, stalls, displays and lots to look at. Come for a nosey, the promoters expect upwards of 5,000. And/Or BFM Summer Series #1 Albert Park, Auckland Central No Charge. 12 – 7pm A party of the breaks, dub, reggae and soul variety. Central location with lots of tree cover (if necessary). A nice natural grassed amphitheatre for your viewing pleasure (and a playground in the middle for the kiddies). |
Monday February 11thJuno and Cure KidsBridgeway Theatre, 122 Queen St, Northcote Tickets $20. 6.30 – 9pm A friend of mine is part of a work team competing in the Cure Kids Adventure Race. They are aiming to raise $10K (the race entry fee) and this movie screening is part of their effort. It's a very worthy cause, a brilliant movie (on last week’s recommendations for Thursday) and only $20 (which includes popcorn and a drink). Just turn up, or email me for more info. |
Tuesday February 12thThird International Conference of Ethnomathematics (begins)Langham Hotel, 83, Symonds St, Central Auckland Tickets $150 - $800 from www.math.auckland.ac.nz/events It’s all about appreciating the connections between mathematics and culture, odd, but devilishly interesting to some I feel sure. The aim of the conference is to bring together researchers in Ethnomathematics from around the world to discuss recent developments and future directions |
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Up And Coming Fun TimesFebruary 13th, Movies In The Parks, Sione’s Wedding, Tahaki ReserveFebruary 13th, Lindauer Twilight Summer Racing, Ellerslie Racecourse February 14th, Singles Dance Party feat. Sample Gee, The Kingslander February 15th, Island Style Dance Party, Ridgeview Estate, Waiheke Island February 15th, Soundsplash ’08 (Starts), Raglan February 15th, Nathan Haines, Montecristo Room, Toto’s Restaurant February 15th, NZ Warriors 1st Preseason Game, North Harbour Stadium February 16th, The Cross St Carnival, Cross St, Newton February 16th, Harder Edge 3 Dance Party, Space, Newmarket February 16th, Bacardi B-Live Gig, Union Fish Building, Viaduct Harbour February 16th, Mission Bay Jazz & Blues Festival, Mission Bay February 16th, Whisky Live, The Civic, Auckland February 16th, Auckland Blues v Waikato Chiefs Super 14, Eden Park February 16th, Sounds Of Summer, Masonic Tavern, Devonport February 16th, Devonport Wine & Food Festival, Devonport February 16th, Sonic Youth, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna February 16th, Tiger Beer Dragon Boat Festival, Viaduct Harbour February 17th, The Phoenix Foundation, Auckland Zoo February 17th, The Winery Tour, Isola Estate, Waiheke Island February 17th, Auckland International Cultural Festival, Auckland City February 17th, Battle Of The Streets, Paeroa February 18th, Rod Stewart, Vector Arena February 20th, Movies In The Parks, Sleeping Dogs, Tahaki Reserve February 22nd, Auckland Lantern Festival begins, Auckland City February 22nd, Fevah Dance Party, The Colosseum, Tauranga February 23rd, A Bush Party feat. Fat Freddies Drop, Matakana February 23rd, Hero Dance Party, The Civic, Auckland February 23rd, The Great NZ Beer Festival, Ellerslie Racecourse February 24th, Holden Astra Summer Sounds, Sturges Park, Otahuhu February 24th, 80th Academy Awards, Hollywood February 25th, Ween, Powerstation, Mt Eden February 27th, Movies In The Parks, Goodbye Pork Pie, Tahaki Reserve February 28th, Chemical Brothers, Vector Arena February 29th, Blues At Blockhouse Bay, Blockhouse Bay Reserve February 29th, Leap Day, Half Price Bungy Bridge Jump, Auckland February 29th, Katchafire, Auckland Zoo March 1st, Greg Johnson & Anna Coddington, Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay March 1st, Mercedes Derby Day, Ellerslie Racecourse March 1st, Corona Music Festival (begins), Isola Estate, Waiheke Island March 2nd, Toto, The Civic March 2nd, BFM Summer Series #2, Albert Park March 2nd, Bic Runga, Greg Johnson, Anika Moa concert, Villa Maria Winery, Manakau March 4th, Santana, Vector Arena March 5th, Cheesefest, SkyCity March 5th, Auckland Cup Day, Ellerslie Racecourse March 5th, Movies In The Parks, The World’s Fastest Indian, Tahaki Reserve March 6th, Concord Dawn, Unitec March 6th, Auckland International Boat Show (begins), ASB Showgrounds March 7th, Pasifika Festival (begins), Western Springs Stadium March 7th, Auckland Trotting Cup, Alexandra Park March 7th, The Tutts, Electric Confectionaries concert, Unitec March 8th, Hokitika Wild Foods Festival, Hokitika March 8th, Diamond Day, Ellerslie Racecourse March 8th, Diesel Bourbon Cola Bikini Comp. Final, Pats Garage, Northcote March 9th, Karaka Summer Harvest, Karaka March 14th, Womad Dance Festival, New Plymouth March 15th, Johnny Devlin & The Tornadoes + Ray Colombus, Tahaiki Reserve March 15th, Plum Selection Dance Party, Forte March 16th, F1GP, Melbourne March 16th, BFM Summer Series #3, Henderson Park, Waitakere March 16th, Wigs On The Waterfront, Viaduct Harbour March 17th, St Patricks Day April 5th, Party Marty’s 32nd Birthday, Everyone’s Invited, Central Auckland |