Candlelight Vigil for a Real Deal at Copenhagen

December 8th, 2009

The long awaited Climate Change conference in Copenhagen has started for real now. We support 350.org.nz, saying that this week is the time to show the leaders of today that we want a strong response for climate action. Let the world and the New Zealand government know just how many of us are concerned about climate change.

Candlelight VigilAvaaz and 350.org have asked people to organise candlelight vigils.There are 1400 vigils being organised in nearly 100 countries around the world. Bring a candle, and a glass jar to protect it from the wind and a banner with for instance: “the world wants a real deal”. Ask your friends and whanau along (forward this email to a few people you know now and ask them to forward it on).

Wellington’s candlelight vigil is on Saturday, 12 December, 8.30pm – 9.15pm, Courtenay Place (on the square between Burger Fuel and the St James Theatre with an aim to spread people along the length of Courtenay Place).

All I want for Christmas

December 8th, 2009

Jess Chambers and FriendsJess Chambers (she’s a part of our WSW Summer Mixed Tape compilation) is returning to Wellington for a festive season show, featuring Sam Scott as the opening act. That’s gonna be a great night – I think I can’t miss it. At San Francisco Bathhouse, Sunday 13th Dec. Doors open at 7.30pm, gig starts at 8pm. Tickets are $20, available from iticketexpress.co.nz.

Chocolate spice and orange Biscotti

December 8th, 2009

This is from Emma Cowan‘s article on Christmas, “‘Tis the season”, in the latest issue #8 of World Sweet World. We forgot to put the amount of flour in the ingredients list, sorry about that, so here’s the whole recipe.

BiscottiThese snappy biscuits are easy to make; they just take a little time. You bake the dough first, in little log shapes, then slice it thinly and bake it again. This recipe makes around 60.
1. Preheat the oven to 170°C
2. Beat the eggs with the sugar until pale and thick. Add the flour and baking powder, mix together, then divide the dough into two bowls.
3. Add the grated zest of an orange and the almonds to one bowl, and knead until the ingredients are combined and the dough is smooth. Add the cocoa and spices to the other bowl, mix through and then add the chocolate, kneading until combined.
4. Form each bowl of dough into two log shapes, then place on a baking tray with plenty of space between them. Bake them for 25 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely (at least an hour).
5. Preheat the oven to 140°C
6. With a sharp knife, cut the logs into 1/2cm slices, then lay them out on a baking tray. Slice on an angle to make long thin shapes.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the biscotti are dry and just starting to brown. Remove and leave to cool on a rack. They will continue to harden as they cool.

Ingredients

2 cups raw sugar
4 eggs
Rind of one orange
4 cups of plain flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 cup raw almonds (with skin)
1/2 cup chopped chocolate
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 t cinnamon and a pinch of ground cardamom

A new issue of World Sweet World magazine

December 7th, 2009

Hi everyone,

we proudly announce that the latest issue, #8, of World Sweet World magazine is out now, in shops around the country and some shops in Australia, and available from our website. Here’s a little sneak preview!

World Sweet World Issue 8We have a picnic-set project in store for you, in time for summer – have your own kit stowed in your bag at all times for emergency picnic breaks. We talk about crafty businesses again, in Miss Millie and Lucy Arnold’s article on selling at craft fairs, which is full of inspirational tips to help you get the most out of your crafty day. Also, we’re excited to report that Wellington now has it’s very own weekly craft fair – Frank Kitts Market, starting Dec 12th, underneath Frank Kitts Park on the waterfront. We’ll be there most Saturdays, so do pop by to stock up on mags for gifts, to renew your subscription, or just to say hi.

Last not least, summer is never complete without a soundtrack, so we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite New Zealand musicians and compiled a summer mixed tape (free download!) for you to bike, swim and play to. We’re absolutely stoked to have such talented artists on board and are proud to be able to support their music.

Have fun, and we hope you have a good summer! xx Thomas and Hannah

Flocking for shopping, part 2

November 27th, 2009

Due to unruly weather in Wellington, Frocks on Bikes had to postpone “Flocking for Shopping” and make use of the wet weather date. The shopping and cycling event is rescheduled for Saturday, the 12th of December now. Join in!

Ply-Ability

November 25th, 2009

There’s a very interesting exhibition coming up at Napier’s Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery, about New Zealand’s plywood studio furniture history. Ply-Ability opens on the 12th of December and will run until June, so hopefully time enough to venture up to the vintage city for a visit.

From Garth Chester’s significant Curvesse chair from 1944, over DIY pieces, to works by contemporary designers, this exhibition explores the innovation and change in plywood furniture design.  Wellington’s furniture designer and plywood specialist Duncan Sargent has been selected to take part in the exhibition with his Coffee Drawer coffee table – a brilliant piece of work.

Frocking and flocking

November 23rd, 2009

Hello everyone,

get your frocks on this Saturday and cycle to Martha’s Pantry at 10.30am, to join the Wellington Frocks on Bikes people for cycling and shopping fun. The motto: “Shop ’til you puncture!”. So while you get to see interesting shops with a bunch of like-minded gals, you can at the same time promote Lycra- and sportsgear-free inner city cycling

Here’s the programme for the morning:

Meeting spot #1: Rendezvous at 10.30am at the delightful Martha’s Pantry for a cup of tea and a safety talk (situated just off upper Cuba St on the bypass). At 11am we will set off for a little leisurely cycling to our first frock-stop: ‘Emma’ in Berhampore is offering “nana treats”, so the ride across town will be well rewarded.

Meeting spot #2 and #3: If you’d prefer, feel free to meet us at Emma in Berhampore (476 Adelaide Road) 11.30am; or at Pixel Ink/People’s Coffee on Constable St at 12.15pm.

More info on frocksonbikes.wordpress.com/wellington, under “Flocking for Shopping”.

Weekly Climate Walk

November 16th, 2009

Hi, just a quick note to say that the Weekly Climate Walk has moved to Tuesdays! Join us tonight (and every Tuesday), if you like, at the Embassy Theatre, at 5.30pm, to walk to the Parliament and have a cup of tea on the lawn.

Weekly Climate Walk

Woven tales of ink, silver and silk

November 11th, 2009

Wow, this looks fantastic! Looking forward to the exhibition, 17th – 22nd November, at Thistle Hall, cnr Cuba and Arthur Streets.

woven tales

Victorian Victoria, and Vancouver, BC

October 30th, 2009

Before we forget all about it, we should really tell you about our little visit to Victoria and Vancouver in British Columbia.

Getting into Victoria by ferry from Seattle was really nice, and arriving in Victoria felt quite a bit like coming home. It feels very similar to Wellington, with its Victorian style houses, and its seaside setting. Once you’ve done the touristy stuff around the waterfront, it’s probably a good idea to head towards Fernwood, up the hill.

Cornerstone Cafe (cnr Gladstone Ave/Fernwood Rd), run by the “Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group“, is a good starting point to explore the Victorian neighbourhood, around Gladstone Avenue and Fort Street. Apparently, Italianate and a Folk Victorian houses still live peacefully side by side here:

Italianate and a Folk Victorian houses

Downtown Victoria is quite cute and has nice Cafes and Galleries and shops, especially around Pandora Ave and Government Street. Smoking Lily (569a Johnson St) is the tiniest store in Victoria, literally a whole in the wall, and has great, locally made clothing. Next street over is Solstice Cafe (529 Pandora Ave), which has free wireless, which was a lifesaver for us ;).

smokingLilyA cool mobile in a cafe I forgot the name ofAt the waterfrontNext street over again is Victoria’s China Town (or should I say “China Street”?). Walk through the cute Fan-Tan Alley, where you find Boucherat Gallery, which had a fantastic exhibition on when we were there. “Seeker teacher dancer dreamer”, by Vancouver’s Peter Taylor; beautifully made, enticing drawings:

Peter Taylor 1seeker teacher dancer dreamer, Peter Taylor

Victoria also has its own nood shop, 546 Yates Street, and Capital City Cycles, 1419 Broad Street, which sells nice dutch style city bikes. Aah, so much to see/get and not enough time/money/baggage allowance.

Alright, if you do want to get out of the city a bit, go to East Sooke Park. It was a drizzly day, but seemed to be perfect for sea wildlife -  we saw whales, seals and a sea leopard, all in one afternoon.

East Sooke Park

Ok, it was off to Vancouver for us after a few days, and unfortunately we didn’t have much time at all left for Vancouver. Our main goal for the afternoon we had was to find a nice, cheap (as we had 20$ left) place to eat, and we were rewarded by stumbling upon Donburiya, 1329 Robson Street/West End. Absolutely yuuuuummy, friendly, and affordable! And their lamps were a true craft-work, made out of bowls with their bottoms cut off:

Donburiya bowl lampsDonburiya - yum!

We walked once around the waterfront, and came across red men and a snowy wonderland. We left just before the storm hit, knowing we’ll be back in the creative Northwest again sometime.

SummitSnowStorm

Thomas