The Summer Food & Drink Guide
Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.
Summer hasn't truly arrived until you've licked the salt off hot-chip fingers at the beach, dripped peach juice into the crook of your arm, breathed in smoky barbecues and clinked glasses over a sinking sun at one of the city's finest rooftop establishments. You've not a care in the world besides finding that new cabana bar and staying there.
On the top of our list in summer? Combining some of our favourite things into one amazing adventure: the outdoors and delicious food and drink. Because let's face it, Auckland has to be one of the best places in the world for dining while the air is warm. Here's Concrete Playground's pick of the best summer food & drink adventures in Auckland.
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News
The Future of Bike Parking is Here, and This is What It Looks Like
It is kind of like a vending machine but for your bike.
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Event
TEDxAuckland
Sat, 2 May, 2015
Victory Convention Centre, Freemans Bay
Enough YouTubing. TEDxAuckland is your real-life TED talk.
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Event
A Delicate Balance
Thu, 5 Mar - Sun, 19 Apr 2015
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, Auckland
A multimedia exhibition for tree huggers, although not literally; please don't touch the (kauri) trees.
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Event
Lunar Eclipse at Stardome
Sat, 4 Apr, 2015
Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, Auckland
Get ready for a show that’s literally out of this world, with gravity as its inimitable director.
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News
Moustache Owner Living Off $5 a Day to Save the Cookies
She's now saving face (and Moustache) by fundraising to get a cookie bus.
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Event
James Acaster
Mon, 16 Mar and Mon, 23 Mar 2015
The Classic, Auckland
“Shit, he’s good” was local funny man Guy Williams’ take on comedian James Acaster, whose new show Work in Progress promises to leave audiences with a similar reaction.
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News
The Ten Best Locations to Drop Bombs in Auckland
Downtown Manu Club take us through ten of their favourite spots.
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News
Behold, You Can Now Have Your Pizza Delivered By Boat in the US Virgin Islands
Brb, booking flights.
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Event
David Shrigley at Two Rooms
Fri, 6 Mar - Sat, 18 Apr 2015
Two Rooms, Arch Hill
Wry comedy on canvas.
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Event
White Night
Sat, 14 Mar, 2015
Various Locations in Auckland, Auckland
For six hours only Auckland is turning into a giant, magical and free art gallery.
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Event
The Kitchen
Multiple single dates
SkyCity Theatre, Auckland
Like a TV cooking show but in a theatre and with moody lighting, a dramatic narrative and 12 booming drums.
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Event
Imperial ft. Yahtzel
Sat, 7 Mar, 2015
Everybody's, Auckland
One half of Aussie electronic group Carmada is launching the 2015 Imperial sessions.
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News
Your Guide to the Auckland Arts Festival 2015
Pyrotechnics, Macbeth set in Congo, contemporary ballet from New York, an Indian cooking performance and art by David Shrigley.
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Event
Volvo Ocean Race
Thu, 12 Mar - Sun, 15 Mar 2015
Various Locations in Auckland, Auckland
Nine countries, ten ports of call, one round the world race.
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Event
The O'Neill Aotearoa Surf Film Festival
Fri, 6 Mar, 2015
Central Studios, Ponsonby
Surf (cinema's) up, dudes.
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Event
Cedar Lake
Thu, 12 Mar - Sun, 15 Mar 2015
The Civic, Auckland
A fiery combustion of contemporary ballet.
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Event
Gorillaz Sound System
Fri, 17 Apr, 2015
Studio, K Road, Newton
Live remixes and audiovisual wizardry from the DJs, not the band.
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Event
Stoneleigh Pop-Up Bar
Fri, 27 Feb - Sun, 15 Mar 2015
Te Wero Island, Auckland CBD
The perfect place to soak up the Volvo Ocean Race atmosphere.
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Event
Skin of Fire
Thu, 5 Mar - Sat, 7 Mar 2015
Auckland Domain, Auckland
A holy alchemy of light, fire and pyrotechnics.
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Event
The Mooncake and the Kumara
Thu, 5 Mar - Tue, 10 Mar 2015
Q Theatre - Loft, Auckland
A story about history, duty, secrets and the delicate balance needed to grow families.
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News
Brilliant Things To Do in Auckland This March
The world's biggest waterslide, a surf film festival and sunrise yoga are just a few things to look forward to.
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News
Concrete Playground's Summer Reading List
Ten books from this year that no bibliophile should miss.
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News
Could This New Sky Garden Be The Workplace of the Future?
Forget the tedium of the office cubicle. The future is harvesting your own lunch, wearable tech and abseiling during coffee breaks.
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News
Stoneleigh Latitude - The Award-Winning Wines from Marlborough's Golden Mile
The Stoneleigh Latitude collection represents the unique terroir of what many consider to be the best vineyard region in the country.
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News
Here's Wally: Your Search for the Elusive Waldo Has Been Optimised Using Math
Waldo doesn't stand a chance.
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Event
Silo Sessions Presents World Together
Sat, 28 Feb, 2015
Silo Park, Auckland
A free showcase of exotic sights and sounds courtesy of a suitcase full of tapes sourced from across Africa.
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Event
Auckland Cup Day
Wed, 4 Mar, 2015
Ellerslie Racecourse, Greenlane
Take a half day off work to watch some racing and have a drink in the sun.
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Event
Auckland Lantern Festival
Thu, 26 Feb - Sun, 1 Mar 2015
Albert Park, CBD
Grab a pot of noodles and do some lantern-gazing.
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Event
Perfume Genius
Fri, 20 Feb, 2015
Kings Arms, Newton
Seattle's Mike Hadreas brings his boundary pushing alter-ego to Auckland.
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Event
Silo Cinema: The Great Gatsby
Fri, 27 Feb, 2015
Silo Park, Auckland
See F. Scott Fitzgerald's world, as imagined by Baz Luhrmann, projected onto the back of a silo.
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News
The Five Best Vineyard Getaways in Australia
Pop open a bottle of estate-grown wine at these stylish stays among the Australian vines.
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News
Summer Style Guide for Men
Because swim shorts 24-7 are not socially acceptable unless you live on the beach.
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Restaurant
Monsoon Poon
Cnr Custom St West And Lower Hobson Street, CBD
Through Monsoon Poon's doors are the lantern-lit South East Asian vibes of yesteryear.
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Event
A Movement
Thu, 19 Mar - Sat, 21 Mar 2015
Various Locations in Auckland, Auckland
The A Low Hum maverick is going on a nationwide tour - with 1000 photos of 300 bands.
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Event
On The Moment of Change There is Always a New Threshold of Imagination
Sat, 7 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb 2015
Artspace Auckland
Artist and audience swap roles.
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Event
Night of the Queer
Wed, 18 Feb - Sun, 22 Feb 2015
Tapac, Western Springs
There will be singing, dancing, comedy, music, aerial performances and everything in between.
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Event
Implicated and Immune
Wed, 28 Jan - Sat, 21 Feb 2015
Michael Lett, Grey Lynn
This show documents an important part of New Zealand, and global, history.
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Event
Everything and Everyone Market
Sat, 21 Feb, 2015
St Kevin's Arcade, Auckland
Craft and zine lovers rejoice.
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Event
Eddie Izzard
Thu, 19 Feb, 2015
ASB Theatre, Auckland
A rambling, whimsical monologue delivered by an ex-accounting student now "executive transvestite".
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Event
BMW Polo Open 2015
Sun, 22 Feb, 2015
Auckland Polo Club, Clevedon
The game of princes, made ponies and chukkers.
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News
How to Host the Perfect Barbeque
We can't help you with meeting good people and making them like you, although inviting them over to eat meat and drink beer probably won't hurt.
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News
This Durable Cardboard Bike Costs Just $10 to Make
A bike so cheap that it's not even worth the energy deployed in trying to steal it.
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Guide
The Summer Travel & Leisure Guide
Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.
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Guide
The Summer Design & Style Guide
Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.
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Guide
The Summer Arts & Entertainment Guide
Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.
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News
New Web Comedy 'The Katering Show' Skewers Foodie Culture
"The journey of a food intolerant, and an intolerable foodie."
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Event
Red Bull Sound Select
Fri, 27 Feb, 2015
Neck Of The Woods, Auckland
An epic party with a minuscule price tag.
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News
Your Guide to Splore 2015
Original, unique and fresh no matter your title; hipster, hippie, foodie, square etc you'll find something to celebrate.
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Event
Thriller Live
Thu, 12 Feb - Sun, 22 Feb 2015
The Civic, Auckland
A quite thrilling tribute to the king of pop's 45-year musical career.
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News
This Swing Table Just Made Meetings Way More Fun
Swing your way through boring PowerPoint presentations.
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Event
Free in Feb
Wed, 4 Feb - Wed, 25 Feb 2015
Kings Arms, Newton
Treat yourself (without paying a dime).
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News
Your Guide to the 2015 Auckland Fringe Festival
An intensified period of weird and wonderful arty experiences.
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News
You Can Now Turn Your Tweets Into Poetry
Computer-generated works of art from 140-character musings.
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Event
Risk And Win Arcade: A Theatrical Competition
Wed, 11 Feb - Fri, 27 Feb 2015
Aotea Centre
The interactive piece of theatre is like the Amazing Race, but without the weird American accents and international flights.
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Event
Away From Home
Tue, 17 Feb - Wed, 18 Feb 2015
The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland
Exploring the stigma of homosexuality in sport.
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Event
I Wanna Be Na Nah Na Nah Nah
Thu, 12 Feb - Sun, 22 Feb 2015
Basement Theatre, Auckland
Take a bus ride into Ponsonby's past.
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News
Your Guide to the Auckland Pride Festival 2015
Let our list of top picks guide your way in helping celebrate the wonderful diversity and creativity that makes Auckland awesome.
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News
Van Gogh Paintings Realised as Haute Couture
Van Gogh's little straw hat has never looked so Bjork.
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Event
Auckland Fringe Festival 2015
Mon, 9 Feb - Sun, 1 Mar 2015
Various Venues in Auckland, Auckland
An intensified period of weird and wonderful arty experiences.
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News
Ten Films From Sundance We're Hoping Make It to New Zealand
We've got a whole lot of brand new must-sees for 2015.
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Event
Auckland Pride Festival 2015
Sat, 7 Feb - Sun, 1 Mar 2015
Auckland Various, Auckland
Be proud, Auckland.
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News
A Look Back at Ten Years of Laneway Festival
The last ten years have seen festival after festival launch and go under. How have Laneway managed to nail it?
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News
This New App Can Tell You Which Friend Stresses You Out Most
Want to surround yourself with positive people? There's an app for that.
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Bar
The Crew Club - CLOSED
149 Quay Street, Auckland
A restaurant where the water practically laps at your ankles.
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News
The Ten Best Cafes on the North Shore
The Shore is home to free parking, an endless coast of user-friendly beaches and some of the most relaxed cafes in town.
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Event
Sticky Fingers
Sat, 21 Feb, 2015
Powerstation, Auckland
Get your fingers on some Sticky Fingers tickets.
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News
McDonald’s Is Getting Table Service and Gourmet DIY Burgers in New Zealand
McDonald's is going classy. Well, trying to anyway.
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News
Dutch Lottery Helps Sea Shephard Stop Illegal Fishing in the Southern Ocean
New 8.3-million-Euro boat will help save the Antarctic eco-system.
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