Hard Kandy - suck on that, bitches!

HARD KANDY featuring SHOCK:FORCE (UK), KARDIAC ARREST (AUS) and SCOTT ALERT (AUS) and Aucklands own Mirage (Kaos Radio)!

Tomorrow at 10:00pm - Sunday at 6:00am
Location Area 6
6 Osborne St, Newmarket
Auckland, New Zealand

Jagermeister brings us the Auckland Easter Weekender 2011!

...Jagermeister proudly present the Auckland Easter Weekender 2011!
♛ HUGE INTERNATIONAL ACTS / 3 MASSIVE WEEKS / 3 MASSIVE EVENTS ♛
Friday 8th April / Friday 15th April / Thursday 21st April

☠☠ TASTER WEEK 1 ☠☠
►DANNY BYRD (UK) - Hospital Records, Album Tour
➣Massive Local Support

☠☠ TASTER WEEK 2 ☠☠
►B-COMPLEX (SK) - Hospital Records
►THE UPBEATS (NZ) - Non-Vogue
►MC LOWQUI (UK)
➣Massive Local Support

♛♛ THE EASTER WEEKENDER 2011 ♛♛
►NERO (UK) - MTA, Album Tour
►FOREIGN BEGGARS LIVE (UK) - Dented, Never Say Die
►TROLLEY SNATCHA (UK) - Dubpolice
►SKISM (UK) - Never Say Die
►SHOCKONE (AU) - Viper Recordings
►FASTER THAN LIGHT (NZ) - Debut

Check out WWW.EASTERWEEKENDER.COM for info and tickets

Dressing up in Smoove as fuck

Thats their slogan, its on their swing tags - Smoove is out there in your face and they rock

You'll find them tucked in behind Whitcoulls amongst the asian clothing shops. They've been around for quite a while and are much loved by Aucklanders. Join their mailing list for text/email outs of secret sales, usually for half price everything! What more could you ask for. All you gotta do is say the secret password, usually something like 'Spank me.' Just don't be offended when they actually do.

http://smoove.co.nz/

Whiskey, all over the WORLD! In Elliott Stables

Alongside single malt, blended Scotch and Irish whiskey, they also stock Bourbon, rye, single grain whisky and all the best blends. You will find single malts from countries around the world, including New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Join their mailing list if you're an enthusiast as they host tasting nights regularly. The guy that owns/runs the place is like a walking talking whiskey encyclopaedia - I was in there for close to an hour one day talking to him, and he was spouting off info left right and centre about any bottle in the store you could point at. Fascinating stuff!

My favorite - the extremely old bottle in a beautiful wooden cradle. Of course it was my favorite, it was $13,000.... by the way, its my birthday coming up and I wouldn't mind

http://www.whiskyshop.co.nz/afawcs0133248/Home.html

Cigars and whiskey... old schoolz style

Looking for a good Cuban? Place to go is Havana House, which has now been in Auckland for 10 years! Happy Anniversary to them :)
They have a great range of cigars and the guys there are extremely helpful. Plus they have humidors, cases, lighters, and a small range of fine spirits - a couple of which I haven't seen anywhere else, so great place to get a special gift if you want to splash out a bit

http://www.havanahouse.co.nz

Great website with in depth explanations of Chinese signs

I love this kinda shit, nothing like having your personality spelled out for you. Does yours seem fitting?

http://www.rainfall.com/horoscop/chinese.htm

Summer Sounds - yet another awesome free summer event

Saturday, March 5
Time: 2-6pm
Raindate: Sun 6 March
Venue: Coyle Park
528 Pt Chevalier Road, Pt Chevalier, Auckland
Cost: Free
Suitable for: All ages

This year's heavy hitter, Summer Sounds presents none other than Anika Moa, Autozaam, Gareth Thomas and Julia Deans (of Fur Patrol fame) is set to deliver a kicker of an afternoon at Coyle Park.

FUN!

http://www.musicinparks.co.nz/events/detail.asp?ID=497

Sounds in The Sun - what better reason to pull a sickie?

It's free, what more can I say! On Thursday March 10th Sounds in the Sun is back for 2011 with a pretty sweet line up including:

• The Black Seeds
• Katchafire
• Kids of 88
• J. Williams
• Kidz in Space
• Mt Eden Dubstep
• North Shore Pony Club

Hosted by DJ Karn Hall

Sounds in the Sun sees thousands of people partying on the fields at Unitec from mid day enjoying an afternoon of good music, great company and a cold beer or three.
There will be market stalls, food stalls and an R18 bar
Its on a Thursday if you've gotta work but hit this as soon as you finish and you'll still get to catch some of the acts as it goes till 8pm

Deadmaus is coming. Da da da da da da….

Deadmaus hits Auckland with a bang on the night before Easter, April 21 at Vector Arena.
Not loving the venue, or that its an Our House gig - that to me is like having a rapper at a heavy metal event, weird fit much?
But - misgivings aside, I reckon it will be a pretty fantastic night. Tickets are selling like hotcakes here's hoping the rather hefty price of $100+ keeps the kiddies away.
Special Guest SKRILLEX from the USA is the 2nd headliner.

The party starts at 9am and goes till almost dawn so you'll be wanting to crank that Red Bull to keep up

Un prophete (A Prophet)

LOVED. Its not to everyone's tastes, a couple of my friends who saw it weren't as impressed as I was. But if you were like Scarface then its my bet this will be your cup of tea. It ain't a Hollywood flick by any stretch of the imagination.
Its French, subtitled, and 2.5 hours long so watch it when you have plenty of time and concentration.

Here's the synopsis.
Synopsis: Condemned to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena, part Arab, part Corsican, cannot read or write. Arriving at the jail entirely alone, he appears younger and more fragile than the other convicts. He is 19 years old. Cornered by the leader of the Corsican gang currently ruling the prison, he is given a number of "missions" to carry out, toughening him up and gaining the gang leader's confidence in the process. Malik is a fast learner and rises up the prison ranks, all the while secretly devising his own plans.
R18. Out on dvd now

Open Air Cinema - breathe in the freshy goodness (and hope it doesn't rain)

Open Air Cinema runs till March and its all FREE!! Oh my, how we love that word.

Wednesday 16 February 7:30 pm THE ROLLING STONES: SHINE A LIGHT
Thursday 17 February 7:30 pm IRON MAN 2
Wednesday 23 February 7:30 pm 500 DAYS OF SUMMER
Thursday 24 February 7:30 pm JULIE & JULIA
Friday 4 March 7:00 pm ECLIPSE
Saturday 5 March 7:00 pm SHREK FOREVER AFTER
Friday 11 March 7:00 pm THE KARATE KID
Saturday 12 March 7:00 pm TOY STORY 3
Friday 18 March 7:00 pm INCEPTION
Saturday 19 March 7:00 pm Peoples Choice:
DESPICABLE ME or
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD or
TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN

They're all held in different parks around Auckland, check the website for locations.
http://www.openair.co.nz/events/movies-by-moonlight/

Aqua - water fight, bitches

Wanna get wet? The first time this has been held in NZ, could be interesting!
AQUA
THE WATER PARTY
SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2011
SANCTAURY, PRINCESS WHARF

This event will have 2 zones, playing uplifting house, electro, dubstep and hard trance.

Zone one is the Aqua zone with water sprinklets overhead, water fountains, water spouts, water cannons, and water balloon drops. You will get wet - DUH

Zone two is the Dry zone.

Overhead aerial water pymphs and wet and wild f/m water dancers - sounds hot!

Wear whatever you want - I like that part! Bikini anyone?
And, you can bring water guns/pistols but they're not allowing super soakers. Aw.
There will be a free bag and coat check so could be a good idea to bring a towel/change of clothes

TICKETS
EARLYBIRDS $15 - 1ST EDITION $20 - 2ND EDITION $25 - FULL PRICE $ 30
AVAILBLE
WWW.ITICKETEXPRESS.CO.NZ , REAL GROOVY, SUPRE SHOPS OR DIRECT THREEAM2010@GMAIL.COM

More FM Winery Tour - good, but could be better

Brooke Fraser, we love you. Your music is wonderful, your voice is angelic, and you're so damn nice! But shame on you More FM for putting Brooke at the end of the concert after Midnight Youth and Opshop. Everybody was loving it, the energy levels are high - to follow that with Brooke and her lullabies was a crime.

All in all though, it was a brilliant day/evening out. The mad ques on arrival were as bad as previous years, no improvement there. But the setting at Acension Vineyard was magical, the weather was hot hot hot and people came armed with chairs, blankets, picnics and ready to have fun.

They are touring all over the country over the next few weeks

Pretentious, contentious bars - give it a break already

Long Room
1885

Seriously guys, you need to get a handle on your policies. I had a friend who recently celebrated her 30th at Long Room. A few male friends that came to join were refused entry - wearing tidy shirts, jeans, and expensive shoes - only they weren't black. Other guys were allowed in wearing cheap nasty No 1 shoes, because they were black. Its Ponsonby for Petes sake, is this really acceptable?

Chinese Lantern Festival Feb 18-20

Chinese Lantern Festival is on this weekend - Feb 18-20, in a blaze of color, food entertainment and of course, the lanterns which are the stars of the show.

Had a wicked time last year, but then again, I was pretty smashed. Get amongst it!

Live at the Islands, this Saturday!

SPLORE INDOORS - will it stack up?

There is huge debate over whether Splore should have ever done the city thing, when the essence of Splore is the magic of being in the middle of nature. Well the proof is in the pudding and the pudding gets eaten this weekend, so we shall find out soon enough!

I have to admit it went down the scale of interest for me a few days ago when they decided to move it to Auckland Town Hall - so not only is it in the city, but its completely indoors. However looking at the volatile weather that may have been entirely necessary.

There is no denying that the brains behind Splore are incredibly talented at finding new and exciting acts, and the ones less known. Standouts for me are The Cuban Brothers, who get pretty crazy and often naked to top it off. Empress Stah for her incredible burlesque performances will be doing 2 shows per night. Caribou, J Star and Shortee Blitz will also be ones to fight your way to the front for.

Splore also usually attracts a wider age group which, once you leave the 18-21 year bracket is a more pleasant experience than having to deal with hoards of barely-of-age kids that can't handle their alcohol/pills.

Yup, it's a long way from the pop culture of our other main events here such as Our House. We need more please!

They have also lowered the price (it is now $85 per night or $150 for both nights) and changed the schedule it now runs from 7pm to 2am Friday and Saturday.