THE INTERNAL - NEWSLETTER 14/04

Hello guys – it was nice to see some of you last Friday at the party. Was a wonderful venue, wasn’t it? An apartment at the 12th floor in the middle of the town with an awesome view – not bad! But a pity that it was raining. Well, we had a few drinks and it was definitely different from good old Globe Bar. Roul, how could you possibly miss that???

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Fanny called yesterday – big hello to everybody! It seems that she had a pretty good trip – it was organised properly, that’s for sure! Today they are in Kaikoura for a whale watching tour and will be back in Auckland on Saturday.

Since she is leaving next Thursday, she would like to invite all of you the coming Wednesday (26.05.2004) for a little gathering at the Woxa house at about 7.30pm. We could have some drinks + chitchat and maybe go to town later on.

NIGHTLIVE & LIVE MUSIC

Now that some people already moved on from only visiting Globe Bar to also enjoying Margaritas, I’ll try to come up with some more venues. Sorry, I forgot Khuja Lounge among the visited ones. Guys do not forget all the clubs and bars down at the viaduct – some of them are well worth a visit!

Lime Bar

It is maybe the smallest bar in the world, but it has oldies but goldies singalong music, a much cooler clientele with a raunchy atmosphere that makes this lime-soaked cocktail-saturated bar gyrate. From Thursday to Saturday the place is really packed and you have to squeeze in with the hive of hip people. Open Mon-Fri 4pm-3am, Sat 6pm – 3am 167 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby

Grand Central

… is a good place to start or end a night. Different bands are playing almost every evening; especially the jazz band on Thursdays is pretty good!

126, Ponsonby Rd, phone 3601260

Lenin

This bar has a tendency to be outrageously packed out, noisy and a lot of fun. Drop in here and experience sleek surroundings, young women with midriffs showing, high heels, and expensive outfits, bulky men from the suburbs and a few yacht crews. There is no dance floor as such but people still let rip and party. There is plenty of room at the circular bar and high tables, with soft furnishings and couches used later in the night. Open daily, 12noon-late

201 Quay St, Princess Wharf

The Dog’s Bullox

A very nice Irish Pub out of the city. Each night they have another entertainment program, like bands, or giving the guests the chance to proof their singing talent. On the weekends it is quite packed and depending on the show you see you have to pay to go in there, but it is a really nice place and it is worth it to go in there. Open daily 7pm- late on Newton Road

Garage Bar

Long, narrow, concrete bunker style bar on trendy Ponsonby, playing cool house and serving quality cocktails. Roll up a stool by the street-side windows and watch the world go by. A special place (dresscode!)!

152b Ponsonby Rd

Fu Bar

This innovative basement dance club has house and techno DJ’s with some drum and bass and hip-hop, plus pool tables. They also do have live acts quite often.

166 Queen Street

The Kings Arms Tavern

This is a popular venue for small live acts, with emerging bands, rock and alternative rock. Highly recommended by Steve!

59 France St, Newton, Thur – Sun

Papa Jack’s Voodoo Lounge

Kevin was there last weekend and he liked it pretty much – so if anybody else is in the mood of rock/ punk … that’s the place to be.

Vulcan Lane

Galatos

This small and funky club has dance, funk and soul DJ music + a lot of concerts to offer.

17 Galatos Street, one block south of K Road in Newton, Wed-Sat from 8pm

Float

…is a nightclub down at the Auckland Viaduct. The music is comparable to Globe Bar, but people there tend to be older.

Shed 19, Princes Warf, Quay Street

Mojo Bar

... is also at the Viaduct, featuring Aucklands Hottest Hip-Hop and R'n B DJs. 48 Market Place, Viaduct Basin, Friday & Saturday 9 pm till late

Safari Lounge

At night the large flaming torches lead you to the Safari Lounge. Local and foreign DJs play Latin or African influenced tracks into the wee hours, starting up again the following afternoon.

116 Ponsonby Rd

WHATS ON IN AND AROUND AUCKLAND

AOTEA SQUARE MARKETS

Every Friday and Saturday from 10am – 6pm

This is when Aotea Square is taken over by the colourful and bustling Aotea Square Markets The Markets offer a range of stalls from Pasifika arts and crafts to pot plants, flowers, underground designer clothes, jewellery, vinyl and CDs. In addition there is a range of fine food stalls Every Saturday from midday to 2.00pm the Aotea Square Markets are "keeping real" with an ever-changing line-up of bands and DJs adding to the atmosphere

TAKAPUNA MARKETS

Every Sunday from 6am till noon

That is when Takapuna’s Central Carpark (corner Anzac Street & Lake Road) transforms into an eclectic market that offers fresh produce, flowers, crafts, furniture, foods, antiques and more.

OTARA MARKET

Saturdays from 6am till noon, Newsbury Street, Otara

For an excellent Pacific experience, definitely visit the Otara Market, which is a pretty large Polynesian market offering exotic foods and smells, wonderful tapa cloth, flax mats and baskets and bone carvings.

NEW ZEALAND MUSIC MONTH

Check www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz for all kind of concerts the whole month. There are also special prices for CDs of New Zealand artists at the moment.

NBL BASKETBALL

01, 09, 22, 29 May, North Shore Events Centre

08, 21, 28 May, ASB Stadium, Kohimarama Rd

To know who is playing and when, check out www.aucklandstars.co.nz

THE NEWMARKET/ PARNELL HEART OF ART FESTIVAL 2004

10 – 24 May, Parnell Community Centre and other venues

The suburbs of Parnell and Newmarket will be set alive with a huge variety of artistic events this month. This includes exhibitions, talks, competitions, fundraising arts auctions and opportunities to try your hand at various arts and crafts. Especially during the Arts in action Weekend (15-16 May), the Parnell Community Centre will be bursting at the seams with artists, craftspeople and performers, as well as wine tasting and food stalls. Also local galleries and studios will be open to public all weekend, so that people can view artists at work.

Check out: www.heart-of-art.org.nz

NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2004 – THE BEST OF BRITISH

Until 22 May 2004

Featuring Ross Noble, Lee Mack, Russel Howard, Andy Parsons ....

The Classid, 321 Queen Street, Auckland

Check out www.comedy.co.nz

DEJA VOODOO

20th & 27th of May at Shadows, 34 Princes St, FREE ENTRY!!!

And again it is about punk rock – we heard them last week. They are quite good and well known in Auckland! Plus, it is a good opportunity to check out a typical student venue.

OUT TAKES, GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL

27 May – 07 June, Skycity metro and Academy Cinema

Check out www.outtakes.org.nz

MISSY ELLIOT

2nd of June, doors 7pm, Supertop Ericsson Stadium

In what can only be described as possibly THE biggest Hip Hop/R’n’B Event to be staged in New Zealand this year, the undisputed Queen of Hip/Hop Missy Elliot will be touring New Zealand for the very first time with 17 dancers, DJ’s, and live band, for a memorable 90 minute performance.

SOLA ROSA

6th June @ Leigh Sawmill, 6pm till late

142 Pakiri Rd, Leigh (one hour north of Auckland)

6 piece live band & special guests The Turnaround

The music is difficult to describe, somebody tried with: “... jazzed up down beat with a twist of hip-hop and a sprinkling of calypso funk. What a delicious cocktail!...“

SONIC YOUTH – the world’s greatest punk rock jam band, and more!

26th of June, Saint James Complex, Auckland

One NY Roch writer discribed the band as “a roller-coaster ride of distortion, flange, strobe lights and rapid-fire drumming that sounded like an acid-rain storm on a hot tin roof“. Also on thebill is former Dinosaur Jr-man J Mascis and Wellington’s one man noise machine Birchville Cat Motel.

FRANZ FERDINAND

July 26, Regent St. James, Auckland

The Glasgow-bred art-rock band & finest post-punkers are coming to Auckland! Get yourself a ticket and enjoy!!!!

MESSAGE FROM JONATHON

Hi Guys! Hope everything is going well. 

Well, the weather is getting more wintry here as you can tell.  Colder nights and mornings, although the daytime temperature is still staying pretty high.

Today I thought I’d just say a little about Wellington, which is the capital of New Zealand.  There are really only three real cities in New Zealand, although some smaller places like Hamilton or Dunedin would object to this.  Wellington has around 350,000 people, as does Christchurch.  Auckland is by far the biggest, with around 1.3 million. 

Wellington has  a much different feel than Auckland though.  It has a nice, vibrant culture with a great arts scene.  Lots of cafes, museums, and that sort of thing.  The nightlife is also very good, with University very close to downtown and a compact city centre. 

There is not so much cultural diversity in Wellington as in Auckland.  There are noticeably less Maori, Asians, and Polynesian people around.  But being the capital, it tends to be more affluent, with many people working in the public sector.

Ironically, although Australia is about 7-8 times larger than NZ, their capital is a very similar size, yet way more boring! Canberra is an inland city, and lacks anything interesting.  (Not that I am biased or anything!)

Wellington is about 7 hours drive from Auckland, or 1 hour flight.  Airfares are fairly cheap if purchased online, and Wellington makes a great weekend escape, especially if it’s a long weekend! (We have one coming up – June 7th is a holiday in NZ!)  Check it out while you are here!

Jonathon

THAT’S IT FOR TODAY!

That doesn’t really look like New Zealand, does it? It was taken last Saturday at Whatipu Beach (Waitakere Ranges), about 40 minutes north-west of Auckland.