Asher W.'s
Movie night
- 150Event Cinemas St LukesSt LukesI went to see the Hunt (a Danish film about a man who is wrongfully accused of being a pedophile) in the weekend at the Capitol cinema on Dominion Road. The cinema is beautiful but the movie was dark and haunting. The movie left me feeling a little icky so I headed along to the Event Cinemas in St Lukes for a slightly lighter experience. This time we opted for Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' which was a style over substance, fun adaptation of the book. The cinema was hooching due to it being deal night ($11 for a ticket, $15 if it's in 3D) and the smell of buttery popcorn was in the air. The staff were all professional and the seats, which i guess are a big part of the movie, comfy. If you're not looking for a gourmet, art house experience and are happy to enjoy a big Hollywood blockbuster and slurp on a frozen Coke this is the place for you.
- 230Event Cinemas Queen StreetAuckland CentralI’d been looking forward to watching This Is the End for a while now and I wasn't disappointed. The ensemble cast had jokes in spades. The cinema experience itself was also great. We didn't have to wait in line too long, the staff were efficient and the theater was what a cinema should be (comfy, good sound, great picture). I had a choc-top which was nothing special, but i wasn't exactly expecting Ben and Jerry's.
- 329Capitol CinemaBalmoralCapitol Cinema is a cinema with character. They play a great, but small, selection of well chosen art house and foreign films. It’s the perfect accompaniment to hitting up one of the dumpling houses on Dominion Road. Well worth checking out.
- 434The Civic TheatreAuckland CentralThe New Zealand film festival is one of my favourite events in Auckland. It hosts a carefully curated range of diverse films from around the world. The movies are played in theatres Auckland wide, the Civic being my favourite venue. There’s nothing quite like going to this grandiose theatre to watch a movie. It’s twinkling, starry ceiling, extravagant decorations and plush seating make for an enjoyable experience.
- 514SkyCity AucklandAuckland CentralIf you're looking for something to do with your precious two days off a week I recommend checking out what's on at the theatres around Auckland. There's generally no shortage of good shows on or movies being screened. Current I'm spoiled for choice as the New Zealand Film Festival is upon us. This has seen me flitting between the Civic and the SkyCity theatre for the last couple of weeks. The service at the SkyCity theatre is always great and there is a small bar with a variety of drinks and snacks. The entertainment that moves through the venue is of a high calibre and nothing quite beats the experience of going to the theatre.
Asher W.'s
A list for book lovers
- 129Hard to Find BooksOnehungaThe Hard to Find Book Shop in Onehunga is my favourite book store in the world. Crammed into the small space is a labrynth of sections spanning from classics to the occult and everything in between. Here you’ll find many treasures and curiosies that will excite even the most jaded of book buyers! If you love books, this is your place.
- 238Unity Books LimitedAuckland CentralUnity Books is a bookshop for book lovers. The store holds a great selection of fiction and non-fiction books spanning the mainstream to special interest books. The staff are always helpful and you can tell they are passionate about words. Recommended.
- 39Mag Nation - PonsonbyPonsonbyI really like magazines. There’s something about there glossy pages, exciting content and somewhat throwaway nature that enthralls me. Mag Nation has an extensive range of magazines, from fashion, culture, woman’s interests to cars and hunting they have it all. Keep a look out for air freighted volumes as the shop gets a bunch of products not found elsewhere in Auckland. I’m also a sucker for Moleskin notepads which they stock in abundance!
- 46Dear ReaderGrey LynnI live literally 200 meters away from Dear Reader but I'd never set foot inside til last week. I was on a mission to find a present for my sister's birthday and time was running low. It was just what I was looking for. The shop isn't huge but there is a great selection of quality fiction and non fiction. The shop assistant was helpful and help me find exactly what i was after. I picked up a cook book that I'm sure she will love.
Asher W.'s
Favourite restaurants
- 157When someone has had a particularly bad week it makes sense to take them to Coco's Cantina. At least this is my logic. As this is the case after a particularly big week the girlfriend and I headed to Coco's on a Friday night. Heads up, you can't book so be prepared to wait for a table. We had a drink at their bar next door and waited for a table to come up. When the time came I ordered the pork belly (with some kind of sausage, a pickled red cabbage, poached apples and pesto) and she ordered the ravioli (vegetarian friendly) with a sharing platter to start. Everything was exquisite, the ambiance cosy and the staff amazing. Kudos to whoever did the hiring. I know it's a big call but I would go as far to say as this is perhaps my favorite place to eat in the whole of Auckland.
- 245EbisuAuckland CentralLocated in the Britomart precinct Ebisu serves up contemporary Japanese food, a mix of sushi, sashimi and other traditional Japanese dishes. The decor is simple but elegant and it’s hard not to be mesmerised by the sushi chefs churning out classy dishes. This is exquisite cuisine and well worth checking out.
- 335The Blue Breeze InnPonsonbyOn paper new kid on the block the Blue Breeze Inn shouldn’t work. An eatery that serves up Chinese in a pacific island themed establishment, say what? When we arrived the place was already buzzing. We were met by an extremely helpful and friendly maitre d' who showed us to our seat. We ordered some BBQ pork buns, the bang bang chicken and half a crispy duck. It all tasted amazing. It may seem odd on paper but gosh it works. We’ll be back.
- 48I’m a big fan of Japanese and Yuzu do Japanese well. The staff is always friendly, in fact when I walked through the kitchen to the bathroom all of the chefs turned round smiled and said hi. We ordered a bridge to share which is a selection of sashimi, sushi, chicken and tempura served on a bridge like structure. Everything on the platter was tasty and we thoroughly enjoyed the plethora of flavours. I'm pretty sure I've 'loved' Yuzu before but this place definitely deserves a second round of loving!
- 564The French CafeNewtonThere’s a reason why The French Cafe has consistently won awards over the years. We had the tasting menu with matching wines. Highlights included the kingfish ceviche, the roasted quail and the poached pears. The service was exceptional and each dish was full of amazing flavours and textures. My Mum described the meal as a taste explosion and I wasn’t going to argue with her. For the record be prepared to spend some money ($140 each).
Asher W.'s
Baked goodness
- 118Bread & Butter Bakery & CafeGrey LynnThere’s something contrived about Bread and Butter cafe, it's glossy store bought vintage feel and odd soundtrack puts me on edge. Although this is the case their bread and food is undeniable. I'm a sucker for pulled pork at the best of time so when it came to ordering on bleary hungover Sunday my decision was an absolute no brainer. The chunky chips that it was accompanied were delicious, the bread fresh, the sauces rich and the meat itself succulent (although perhaps it could do with a touch more flavouring). Other members of my table enjoyed the fresh juice, avacado smash and grilled vege salad. Go there to check out the food!
- 211Mamata BakehouseGrey LynnI live about a five minute walk from the Mamata Bakehouse. I go there at about four thirty most afternoons because they put the days baking on special. The pies, bagels and bread generally have a dollar off them and the staff are always happy to get rid of them. If I’m lucky there’s a butter chicken pie left over, that little parcel of pastry is the bees knees.
- 33Tart BakeryGrey LynnTart bakery is run by what might be the friendliest baker in Auckland and her children. She's loud, friendly and some might find her a little too much in the mornings but I like her and what she's doing. Her kids (i presume they all belong to her) seem to be home schooled, and schooled in the art of baking. Generally some are out front serving while others are busy kneading dough in the back. The bread is delicious. The loaves light and fluffy, the pies full of tasty meat and the treats sweet in all the right places. My only question is what on earth happened to the croque monsieur that was once in the warmer? That was my happy place.
- 411Wild Wheat know bread, and they also take bread pretty seriously. Having been voted by Metro as the best bread since 2004 you know that they’re doing something right. Thre is a fantastic range to choose from ranging from sourdoughs to brioche and gluten free options. I got the bread of the month which was quinoa and apricot loaf. It was a flvoursome loaf with chunks of apricot scattered throughout the loaf matched with crunch of that in vogue grain quinoa. Delicious.
- 5107Little & Friday North ShoreBelmontI'm a sucker for Little and Friday's doughnuts, in fact I'd go as far as to say that they are the best in the whole of Auckland. No other quite comes close to their strawberry and cream filled parcels of goodness. The cafe on the whole is actually one of my favourite eateries in Auckland. There wide selection of buttery, tasty pastries, delicious cakes and assorted other baked goods make for an enjoyable experience. The space is open and you can either sit outside or at the large communal table inside. The light and airy space is perfect to relax in. Just beware, once you start it's hard to stop, I usually leave with a box of treats for the road.
Asher W.'s
Perks of Ponsonby
- 125Conch Records Kitchen and BarPonsonbyConch Records is one of Auckland’s best spots to pick through popular and rare vinyl. It’s also got a great collection of clothes, collectible toys and they make a dam good coffee. Their backyard has recently been opened as Boteco, a South American eatery, that’s on my list to try.
- 29Miss CrabbPonsonbyI’m a guy, so therefore I tend not to wear women’s clothes. This being said, if I did, I would be sure to shop at Miss Crabb. The designer doesn’t put a foot wrong and the local brands she stocks in store are also well worth investigating. Pictured is some of a new range of knits by Areez Katki which would be perfect for winter. The knitwear is bold and the introduction of hand embroided botanical motifs is perfect for this winter.
- 330Il BucoPonsonbyIl Buco is one of my favourite places to grab food on the go in Ponsonby. They have a great selection of rectangular slices packed with flavour. My favourite being the potato and sausage. Grab a coffee and a seat for a couple of minutes and watch Ponsonby Road happen.
- 412Two Hands TattooPonsonbyWhen it comes to ink there’s a new kid on the block, Stefan Sinclair, owner of Two Hands Tattoo, has opened a flash shop right next door to his flagship shop. The difference? It’s a flash shop, meaning that there is no custom work and clients choose from the tattoo flash that adorn the walls. Upstairs you’ll also find a classic mens’ barber, something that was missing from Ponsonby. Ink and fades, it’s a winning combo.
- 5101Ponsonby International FoodcourtPonsonbyIt was after having been to the Ponsonby International Foodcourt twice in one day that I figured out how important a role the Ponsonby International food court plays in my life. It's pretty close to my house so on average I eat there two to three times a week. Quality food, friendly staff and competitive prices. Generally I'll opt to have Malaysian or Japanese but the beauty of the place is that there are so many varieties of flavor under one roof. Sometimes I'll dip my my taste buds into a butter chicken or I've even been known to sample a kebab. The spectrum of food means that it's great for groups and it's extremely unusual to find someone unhappy with their decision.
Asher W.'s
K'rd institutions
- 115Paper Bag PrincessNewtonThe traditional op shop is dying. I'm talking about the church op shop that is run by retired old ladies who split their time between water walking, playing bridge, drinking gin and tonics in the afternoon and putting in a few hours at their local charity shop. I'm not saying they don't exist but increasingly in their place we have vintage shops, carefully chosen selections of retro threads with towering price tags. The Paperbag Princess fits somewhere between these two stores. Their nothing over $20 policy means that choosing clothes is affordable and due to that price tag you still have to go for a good rummage to find the treasure (which I enjoy). The staff are young and friendly, and the clothes are constantly being rotated so you know there will be some fresh finds in the mix. Definitely worth checking out. Definitely worth a rummage!
- 214Verona CafeAuckland CentralWhen I was younger I can remember being amazed at discovering that Verona Cafe was the same Verona mentioned in the Elemenop song of the very same name. Going there with my sister was some kind of holy pilgrimage through Kiwi rock'n'roll history. The establishment, which has been there for over twenty years, has had a facelift since I first started going there but the cosy vibe and great service remain the same. If you're in the mood for food they do a great selection of tapas and if you're just popping in for a beverage there is a good selection of wines and beers on tap. Choice.
- 333Alleluya Bar & CafeNewtonIt’s been a while since I’ve eaten at Alleluya cafe. Usually I just stop in for a coffee and roll out. Today I met a friend there for breakfast and ordered the eggs Benedict with salmon. I could barely get through the mountain of food that arrived which is a nice change from the miniature morsels that are sometimes delivered at other cafes. The eggs were perfect, the hollandaise just right and the salmon plentiful and delicious. Recommended.
- 430Iko Iko AucklandNewtonWhenever I need to buy a gift and am feeling a little stumped on the matter I head to Iko Iko. It's here in this haven of brightly colored plastic and painted wood surfaces I know that inspiration will strike. The shop, which has been there for as long as I can remember, stocks a great selection of quirky items. If you want a novely gift, a unique piece of jewellery or an eye catching coffee table book they have you covered with options to spare. It's not just for buying gifts either, feel free to treat yourself.
- 513Whammy BarAuckland CentralLast night Auckland based rock band Popstrangers played their final NZ show for a while at Whammy, and it was a winner. The night reminded me why Whammy Bar is one of my favourite places to watch live music in Auckland. The room was dark and hot, the beers cheap and the music loud. After emerging from downstairs, my shirt was pretty much soaked through with sweat but it didn’t matter, what else was I to expect?