Choice Stuff This Week

1) COMEDY FEST. We've been to about 15 shows so far and we're planning to do a Fringe Bar hit this evening. It will include TJ McDonald (funny and attractive = team member giddy), Irene Pink, and Rhys Mathewson (also, funny + attractive). It's the Fringe Bar Marathon. We're excited, you should all come along.

2) We here at Choice adore maps. There's something about them. And so this project makes us happy. You should all click on the link and do the survey (it's 10 questions, it'll take you no time at all).

I am attempting to create a topographical map of central Wellington, focusing on experiences with locations around the city as the peaks and troughs, in order to create an emotional landscape and develop an understanding of our shared experience with the city.

I can't do this without help from willing contributors, so if you have a spare couple of minutes to answer some quick questions that would be awesome. I promise I will give you a high five / hug next time I see you.

Here is the link to the survey... Please follow the instructions and try to be as honest and as serious as possible in order to create the best data. RAD!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7V2ZJTV

Galesburg

The summer just passed (past?) would not have been the same without Galesburg. The epic lineup of gigs that we got to see in lil ol' Wellington was truly amazing. However, it wasn't all sunshine and lollipops. The Summer Of Love has left them in a bit of debt (alright, maybe a lot of debt) and so now, I reckon it's time we put in support for the lovely souls at Galesburg.

The event is Sunday, 9th May at the San Fran - it's $10 on the door BUT I reckon you can chip in all your loose change, and maybe a few spare notes to say thanks for a great four years worth of gigs. I know we're all broke as heck but go a day without coffee. Rah rah rah, you know how to dig deep people!

All the info is on Facebook - just search Goodbye, Galesburg and I'm sure you'll find it.

XX

Me + Fidel's = serious crush

It's official. I'm swooning over a lot of things this week. Some of my swooning has been over new coats from the vintage fair in Newtown and some has been over this boy I'm taking delight in but most of it has been for the gorgeous folk at Fidel's.

I have a friend who remembers when Super Cuts was actually a hair place but nowadays, it forms part of the Wellington cafe Fidel's. Now, I must confess I'm a sucker for the cute guy who makes my coffee. There's actually two - one tall guy and one guy with the most amazing beard ever (I'm all over the facial hair) but the cafe also does good cafe stuff.

The coffee is always fantastic and the food is AMAZING. The salads are delicious - best salads in Wellington I reckon and I know for a fact many a person is after the muesli recipe. Oh and the overgrown brioche muffin things? Orgasm in my mouth. The staff are always smiley and happy. Well, except for this one time when half of them were hungover after a hipster gig at San Fran. I'll forgive them that though because lord knows they've saved my hungover ass quite a few times.

OK so that's my rant for the day. Now I have to get back to this thing called a job. Icky.

OOOOO and before I forget, you can check us out on The Kitchen Sink super soon!!!! SWOOOOOON. Told you it's a swoony week.

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.