Bars Around Town

With the news that Matterhorn has been purchased by a non-Wellingtonian group, my heart sort of broke. To be honest, I've never been the biggest fan of Matterhorn. I'm often too broke to afford it and I'm sort of on a bit of a black list there. But, I digress. There are still a lot of great bars around Wellington that deserve a mention here (as well as fantastic bartenders).

1) San Francisco Bathhouse. My god they have come out swinging in terms of gigs this year haven't they? Almost every week I part with money and don't eat proper meals just so I can attend a gig. The regular parties like Atomic and 24 Hour Party People indulge my secret love of 80's fashion. A buzz note - the gig posters that they sometimes have out are the best ever. I can't be the only person who wants to steal them right out of their frames right??

If you click on it, you should go to the Flicker page to which this photo belongs.

2) Tokyo Tea House. Sometimes, the urge to venture down Courtenay Place becomes too strong to resist. When it does, you have a few options. Hooch (I'm broke, remember?), Hawthorne (I fell over drunk there once and have been too embarrassed to show my face again), and now this gem which has recently opened. It's the perfect place to sit outside and people watch the girls wearing no clothes walking down the street and make you feel classy-ish.

3) Watusi. I'm all about the leopard print booths. And I have a massive crush on the bartender with the long blonde hair. And they are wonderful when it comes to odd food requirements (burger without no gluten and no dairy? EASY). I was a happy camper. And coming up here super soon is the ROLLER DERBY FUNDRAISER QUIZ. How exciting is that going to be? If you want more details, flick me a message/comment.

4) Alice. The cocktails in a teapot give me joy. Because they're in a teacup and because they are usually pretty generous with the booze. We split these between three of us and whilst we're all lightweights, it still works out cost wise. AND there are so many beautiful people here you can just sit at the bar and stare for a little while.

5) Havana Bar. MOJITO MOJITO MOJITO. SANGRIA SANGRIA SANGRIA. Does anything more really need to be said? All right, all right. They are awesome. If you're nice to them they give you free donuts (well, I got one - it may have been my fantastic chatting up techniques... or the guy felt so sorry for my awful chatting up techniques that he gave me a donut out of pity). But in any case, go buy the sangria. It's $25 and is the best in Wellington I reckon. Split it between a few friends, or be the alcholic you always wanted to be.

6) Southern Cross. The Cross has its good points and its bad points. All is forgiven for the Garden Bar out the back and their new lounge area. Don't you wish you had that carpet in your house? Ooo and Kate (the girl in the lounge area with the dreads) is simply the sweetest.

7) The Fringe Bar. We're not going to refer to it as it's old name (it's that place on the corner of Vivian and Cuba) but this place certainly brings out the surprises sometimes. Flight of the Conchords last weekend anyone??? The comedy at this place is usually good and most importantly, it is cheap as chips. Monday night's are $5 to get in and pro-comedy on a Friday is $12. Really, who can complain about that? And of course there's the magic of karaoke... AND the bearded gentleman that used to work at BATS makes a swoon-worthy margarita.

8) Mighty Mighty. I don't have anything more to say about Mighty Mighty except that every time I go here I want to hang velvet pink curtains in my room. It's an institution for a reason.

Bartenders in Wellington

I'm going to do a bit of a series here because there are lots of amazing bar tenders around the place. If you want to nominate someone, go ahead. I drink out a lot so I'm always keen to try new people! That sounded way less dodgy in my head...

Today's bartender of choice is the miracle worker Sally at Mighty Mighty. She's so choice she could be the patron saint of this website.

Mighty would just not be as great if it didn't have the wonderful Sally working there. She's got just the right mix of motherly, kick ass, and killer drink maker to put me in awe of her. She parties hard (if you don't believe me, get there on one of her night's 'off/out', and you'll be amazed), works hard, and is just a lovely soul. I was once there after a particularly shitty day, practically in tears because of a stupid boy, she poured me a drink and it made it all better. To this day I don't know what was in it but I did go home about nine hours later after dancing up a storm with random people.

I don't know how to end this. With a photo I think. If you click on it you'll find out who took it.

Comedy Central, Wellington Style

New Zealand comedy is often described as hit and miss or just plain shit. For a country of people who claim to have good senses of humour, there aren't many of us that will get up on stage and be funny. Wellington's own Fringe Bar is attempting to change this with regular comedy nights both from established comedians and from new comers to the scene. My personal favourites?

1) TJ McDonald.

I'm quite attracted to this man, again it's the beard and glasses combination that do me in. He's "fiercely intellectual", provacative (his show this year for the Billy T Award is called A Maori Ate My Grandad), and undeniably funny. He is the only Wellingtonian up for the Billy T Award this year which is held as part of the International Comedy Festival. Go him.

2) Jim Stanton.

Her profile on www.comedy.co.nz describes her as a girl who has "thrown off the shackles of having a name that sounds like a retired postman's and inability to bake a successful sponge cake". Getting into comedy, "simply because there was a lady shortage" she's been on the scence since 2002. I think of her humour as very intelligent kiwi - you know, it's not "oh I'm beached as bro" but instead sarcastic in a way on New Zealander's find humourous. If I was a guy, I would stalk her. Oh what the hell, I may just anyway.

3) Jez Brown.

A little bit mysterious is this man. I can't find a photo of him at the moment so can't show you who he is. You'll just have to have some faith that he's pretty entertaining. He often turns up at Fresh Meat nights at the Fringe Bar or was seen most recently at El Jaguar's Summer Fiesta de Variety with his new project, The Nana Squad. I was almost crying with laughter at them.

4) Sarah Harpur.

The first time I saw her, she talked about cat abortion. I was hooked. Go, go watch her. She performs with The Commediettes and also solo. Je suis adore!

Most of these acts frequent The Fringe Bar which is located in the middle of town. It's where Blue Note used to be and across from Midnight Espresso. Once you find your way in (I, without fail, lose the door), you'll be ensconced in hilarity, sometimes awkward silence, good drink specials (2-4-1 cider at the moment) and comfy couches. Fresh Meat is $5 and is on most Monday nights. They are hosting lots of stuff for Fringe Festival (Fringe Festival came first, I don't know why Fringe Bar is named as it is - I don't think they have any actual association) and there is lots on that is either free or under $20. Best pick? CHIT CHAT! If you go to nothing else at Fringe, go to Chit Chat - it's at the Fringe Bar Wednesday - Saturday while Fringe Fest is on and it is free so you have no excuse. Everyone likes to laugh right?!?!

Choice stuff I saw today

Let's be honest. We're all hanging out for next week - it's a goodie. There's Camera Obscura (swoooooon), Neko Case (I don't care, I dig on her) and then of course... CAMP CAMP CAMP. I'm hoping weather improves and it's not shit house like it is today. Once though I went to a similar thing to camp in the States and it poured with rain for the first day and it meant there were mud baths to be had. Well, I threw someone in and that resulted in war. It was fun. Ahem. Anyway. OK so I was trekking around town today and saw the following choice things:

1. A delightful lady with strawberry blonde hair in the cutest sailor coat I have ever seen. Whoever you are, you a delight!
2. This girl fell over on the wet cobbles - don't laugh I just about did as well - that wasn't choice but the three guys who rushed over to help her up were lovely lads. And dressed spectacularly well.
3. Some other people must swoon at the sight of the waiters at Duke Carvell's in their dashing waistcoats and jaunty hats? They're gorgeous.
4. Buskers on Cuba. Now that they are not playing Christmas carols, they're all good. And show more dedication than I ever have by getting out there in the rain.
5. The group sitting on the balcony of their house in Cuba playing Honky Tonk Woman really loud. Rolling Stones fix it.

Go forth and boogie down people! Or stay home, snuggle on the couch and watch crappy movies, or combine the two (sort of) and go watch Fantastic Mr. Fox. You will not be disappointed.

That's it from me for the week, I hope you all enjoyed the first week of You Are Choice. There is lots on the cards for next week including an extra special post on Monday for a really awesome cause.

Choicer than Fix

We've all been there. It's 4 in the morning, either you are on the hunt for a V (because Red Bull in bars is too expensive sometimes) or it's hometime. You don't feel like a kebab, you certainly don't want dirty Welcome Takeaways and McDonalds is, well McDonalds. BK has closed it's doors and then you see the orange and lime green glow of Fix. It's all going to be all right. Fix will fixie. You pay $3.50 for your $1.00 pie and go home, completely satisfied.

That's all well and good. But, during the day you have no excuse. You don't NEED to pay through the nose for any item available at Fix. Cider for $18.00 for a six pack? No thank you. No, you, you smart person you, will go to one of the following options for your daily needs whether they be bunches of flowers, toilet paper, ice creams, or a bottle of wine.

Sorry for the crap photos - my camera died so they were taken on a phone camera. EEK!

Monty's: Monty's sells everything. I don't think I've ever been there and they haven't had what I wanted. They've been there so long they are practically an instituion. The people at the counter will always give you a smile and ask how your day was. Monty's also gets extra choice points because they put the apostrophe in the right place. It really, really bugs me when shops don't!

Cuba Mini-Mart: Almost directly across the road from Monty's is Cuba Mini Mart. It sure is one of the tiniest shops in existence but they still manage to pack in pretty much everything you need... white wine, red wine, beer... And a good selection of junk food. Mmmm M+M's. They also often have specials on old chocolate. Whoever told you not to eat old food was lying, chocolate is fine out-of-date.

Nic Nac's: Now Nic Nac's is just across the road from the evil Fix so you really don't have an excuse here. What's more, they're way funnier and won't rip you off quite so much. I buy a bottle of water here about once a week and every time he jokes that it will be $22.50 because the first time I went there he charged me $22.50 on the Eftpos machine. The joke got old quick but it's nice to be remembered.

S+S Patel's: Now heading up the road a bit, this is probably the newest and shiniest of all the mini-mart options. For that reason, it's not my favourite but it is good if you're up that end. I'm sure S+S Patel are lovely people, the shininess just doesn't fit my idea of what a dairy should be like.

Cuba St Superette: Now I have to confess I've never been here before today. I went for the purposes of this post and it seemed... all right. It did all the usual things that a superette should do. They weren't super friendly but weren't rude either.

So there you have it folks. Five perfectly good reasons to NOT go to Fix. I know it's tempting, it's all big and shiny and air-conditioned. But think of the people who actually own their shops and don't just work there. Fix staff will still get paid regardless of whether you go there or not during the day, the rest of them however may end up going out of business because of evil corporations.

Baristas are tops

In the NZ Herald recently, baristas and other hospo staff appeared in the top 5 lowest paid jobs in New Zealand. This is shit. How many of us would die, or at least have a bit less of a choice day without our daily hit of caffeine? I know if I didn't get to start my morning with a flat white from one of my favourite cafes, my day would be a million times less choice. And I'd have a killer headache.

I couldn't decide on just one that deserved choice barista of the day so there's five. So in no particular order...

1. Christy at Brooklyn. I actually don't know if she is still there - I haven't been there in a couple of months. But when I do go there, there is definite swooning. She knows how to get the milk just right and the extraction is always perfect. And it doesn't hurt that she's pretty hot and smart as well. Oh and if you can afford breakfast, I totally rate the mushroom and garlic and toast option. Nomnomnom.
2. Tom at Mojo on The Terrace. I'm not sure about the actual place. It's a bit swish and swanky for an uncouth soul like myself but Tom sure knows how to make a good coffee.
3. Nicci and team at Gotham. Oh I love Nicci. I have a bit of a crush on her. When she brews a coffee, it's almost like a witch brewing away. Bubble, bubble. The rest of the team there is also choice. Sometimes I want to get one person to do my milk and one person to do the extraction but you know, it's all g. OMG and the booths!
4. The tall brunette at Plum. I think she thinks I'm a nutter because of how I order my coffee when I go to Plum. She does it anyway with minimum amounts of fuss. She's sooo calm. It's hot.
5. Anyone at Peoples' coffee. They all know how to do their shit. They do it with maximum concentration and it results in the ideal coffee. I especially love Garrett St, it's where I go every single morning. In fact I was looking for a flat and saw one on Garrett St and thought how convenient it would be to roll out of bed, stumble down to People's and then be able to go back to bed with my flat white clutched desperately in hand. Still considering. Only issue with Peoples' is they need a comma in their name, somewhere. I think after the s? Not sure...

So that's my pick for top five. I'll probably remember people as the day goes on and think shit. So who are YOUR favourites? There's so many cafes in this here town that it would be mad to think these are the only decent ones.

If you're interested this is a top site: Espresso Porn

Either later today or possibly tomorrow, there will be a post on a girl I am crushing on... oh if only I knew her name... And then in the next few days something on art around Wellington. Any suggestions of stuff I should check out before posting are welcome!

Also... if you have something that you think is totally choice, email me and write a post! It doesn't have to be written, could just be a picture of something or someone you think is awesome or a poem or a song or a sculpture. Sculpture might be tricky but I'll try to accommodate. Email is either ireallylikeyoublog@gmail.com or youarechoice@gmail.com or facebook love is always appropriate.