The Summer Arts & Entertainment Guide
Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.
We hope you weren’t expecting to get much work done this summer. The cultural calendar is bursting with so much talent that getting to the ‘must-sees’ alone could be your full-time job.
The nights are long; savour them. Festivals call out for your dance moves, outdoor cinemas flicker invitingly in oasis-like parks, the circus comes to town and art galleries proffer the balm of air conditioning with their summer blockbusters. Whether you've got the hot ticket of the season or are meandering down to something free and loose, there's plenty to inspire.
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NewsThe 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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EventOcean Film Festival
Tue, 31 Mar - Wed, 1 Apr 2015
Paramount Cinema, Wellington
The festival is a night of exploration and appreciation for the big blue - all from the comfort of a soft, dry seat.
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EventCosmic's 18th Birthday
Sat, 21 Mar, 2015
Bar Bodega, Wellington
Cosmic has finally become a legal adult and wants everyone to know about it.
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NewsBehold, You Can Now Have Your Pizza Delivered By Boat in the US Virgin Islands
Brb, booking flights.
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NewsThe Best Gigs in Wellington This March
Guitar-led earworms, mind bending white noise, indie-pop based around long-form journalism, playful/intelligent rock and shredding.
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EventI Predict a Riot
Tue, 3 Mar - Wed, 11 Mar 2015
Paintball Corporation, Wellington
War with a PG rating attached.
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EventGorillaz Sound System
Wed, 15 Apr - Thu, 16 Apr 2015
James Caberet, Wellington
Gorillaz the DJ set, not the band.
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NewsConcrete Playground's Summer Reading List
Ten books from this year that no bibliophile should miss.
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NewsCould 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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NewsStoneleigh 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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EventWake Up Tomorrow
Sat, 21 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb 2015
Circa Theatre, Te Aro
A theatrical collage aboard an aircraft.
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EventLady Liberty
Mon, 2 Mar - Fri, 6 Mar 2015
Whitireia New Zealand : Wellington Performing Arts Centre, Wellington
The Lady of suburban folklore has her story told through dance.
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NewsHere's Wally: Your Search for the Elusive Waldo Has Been Optimised Using Math
Waldo doesn't stand a chance.
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Event10 Things I Hate About Us
Tue, 24 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb 2015
Gryphon Theatre, Te Aro
A play with a less predictable ending than its namesake.
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EventPerfume Genius
Sat, 21 Feb, 2015
Bar Bodega, Wellington
Seattle's Mike Hadreas brings his boundary pushing alter-ego to Wellington.
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EventNewtown Festival Fair Day 2015
Sun, 8 Mar, 2015
Newtown Centre, Newtown
New Zealand's largest free outdoor street concert.
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NewsThe 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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NewsSummer Style Guide for Men
Because swim shorts 24-7 are not socially acceptable unless you live on the beach.
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Event
A Movement
Thu, 12 Mar - Tue, 17 Mar 2015
Various locations across Wellington, Wellington
Blink, the 'A Low Hum' maverick, is going on tour - with 1000 photos of 300 bands, and a few live supporting acts too.
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NewsHow 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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NewsThis 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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GuideThe 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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GuideThe 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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GuideThe Summer Food & Drink Guide
Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.
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NewsThe Eight Best Mexican Restaurants in Wellington
Great Mexican food, much like Wellington city, is a study of contrasts.
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NewsNew Web Comedy 'The Katering Show' Skewers Foodie Culture
"The journey of a food intolerant, and an intolerable foodie."
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EventEddie Izzard
Sat, 14 Feb - Sun, 15 Feb 2015
Michael Fowler Centre, Te Aro
A rambling, whimsical monologue delivered by an ex-accounting student now "executive transvestite".
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NewsThis Swing Table Just Made Meetings Way More Fun
Swing your way through boring PowerPoint presentations.
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NewsYou Can Now Turn Your Tweets Into Poetry
Computer-generated works of art from 140-character musings.
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EventWellington Free Outdoor Cinema
Sat, 14 Feb - Tue, 31 Mar 2015
Lagoon Lawn, Wellington
Watch your favourite Hollywood films from the last decade or so out in the open air for free.
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NewsVan Gogh Paintings Realised as Haute Couture
Van Gogh's little straw hat has never looked so Bjork.
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NewsTen 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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NewsA 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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NewsThis 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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NewsJamie Oliver's Opening a New Restaurant in Wellington, Hopefully
Welcome to New Zealand, we think.
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EventSticky Fingers
Wed, 18 Feb, 2015
James Caberet, Wellington
Get your fingers on some Sticky Fingers tickets before they sell out.
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NewsMcDonald’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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RestaurantHouse of Dumplings
117 Taranaki Street, Wellington
You will have your dumpling and eat it too.
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NewsDutch 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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NewsSeven Days of Cheap Eats in Wellington
The following is a list of places where tasty and cheap meet. Nobody knows how they do it. Don’t ask, just eat.
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NewsThe Ten Best Craft Beer Bars in Wellington
Breweries housed within old petrol stations, pilsner served with a side of live music and resident English bulldogs patrolling the bar - these are just some of the things which make Wellington's local craft beer bar scene interesting.
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NewsTwelve Films to Get Excited About in 2015
A Lebowski-esque Pynchon adaptation, a sequel 30 years in the making and the Tarantino film that nearly got nixed - they've all made an impression long before they're released.
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EventHomegrown 2015
Sun, 8 Mar, 2015
Wellington Waterfront, Wellington
The only festival to shine a spotlight squarely in the eyes of New Zealand music.
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NewsEight Gadgets Attempting to Improve Your Life in 2015
Post-CES 2015, we're keen for our belts to tighten, plants to water and kettles to boil themselves.
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BarSouthern Cross
39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro
The bar's ridiculously ‘gram-able courtyard is the perfect summer afternoon spot to sip on a cold one.
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BarMac’s Brewbar
4 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
An excellent go-to when everyone in your group is too polite to say where they want to go.
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CafeDrexel’s Breakfast Restaurant
23 Waring Taylor Street, Lambton
US-style diner food to start your day.
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RestaurantDuke Carvell’s Emporium - CLOSED
3 Swan Lane, Te Aro
This place is everything you wish your home could be.
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CafeTi Kouka - CLOSED
76 Willis Street, Te Aro
Ti Kouka believes that local, seasonal produce is best, and based on the magic they create with it, we can’t help but agree. You can almost taste the ethics.
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RestaurantSeaview Takeaways
92 Lyall Parade, Lyall Bay
They might not win any gourmet awards, but the line out the door on Friday night says you’re onto something good at Lyall Bay's Seaview Takeaways.
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EventBilly Idol, Cheap Trick & The Angels
Thu, 2 Apr, 2015
TSB Arena, Wellington Central
It's a nice day for a...rock show.
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EventBeginners Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga
Tue, 17 Feb, 2015
Fergs Kayaks Wellington, Wellington
Downward dog on water.
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CafeQueen Sally’s Diamond Deli
200 Queens Drive , Lyall Bay
All beachside communities could do with a deli like this.
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RestaurantHippopotamus Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
90 Cable Street
One of Wellington's swishiest French restaurants.
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RestaurantEkim Burgers
257 Cuba St, Te Aro
The best homemade burgers that you can’t actually make at home.
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BarHop Garden - CLOSED
13 Pirie Street, Mount Victoria
The garden bar is a staple bar for any Wellingtonian craft beer aficionado.
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NewsThe Eight Best Breakfasts in Wellington
Set yourself up for the day with Wellington's finest fast-breakers.
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RestaurantLogan Brown
192 Cuba St, Te Aro
Eating at Logan Brown feels like eating a five star meal at your best friend's place.
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CafeGipsy Kitchen Delicatessen
4 Glamis Avenue
Accurately self-described as "a special wee diddy, tucked away and ready for you to discover".
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NewsTen Outdoor Accessories to Make Your Next Camping Trip the Ultimate
Summer is here, which means that it's time to leave the den. Might as well do it in style.
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CafeSix Barrel Soda Co.- CLOSED
Level 1, 33-35 Dixon Street
As refreshing as the soda they pump out.
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CafeSweet Mother's Kitchen
5 Courtenay Place, Wellington
New Orleans staples fused with Mexican snack food.
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CafeFloraditas Cafe and Restaurant
161 Cuba Street, Wellington
If porridge is your thing, you’ll love Floraditas.
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CafeFlight Coffee Hangar
171-177 Willis Street, Wellington
A big open space which you can fly in and out of (pun obviously intended) for your morning fix.
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NewsThe Ten Best Swings Ever
Things have come a long way since your ma or pa tied a threadbare rope to a used tyre.
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NewsTen Film-Inspired Luxury Getaways
We've reviewed the new releases and flipped through the DVD cabinet to bring you ten jaw-dropping locations.
