Rain Check.

Hi,

Auckland has suspended all activity, driven indoors like babies because of this rain. This stupid rain is so insistent, blown sideways by the wind, gathering into puddles for the hems of my jeans to dip into. It is terrible. For the whole afternoon, I was sitting inside, coddled into a state of total dullness. My eyes kept drooping, and I was genuinely worried I’d sleep through dinner. Perhaps I was hypnotised by the injustice of it all. It should be summer. 

Personally, I think it’s a very Auckland trait to be overly dramatic about the weather, and comment on it at every opportunity. The truth of the matter is, even if it wasn’t raining, I’d probably still be doing exactly what I’m doing right now: sitting inside, planning an evening of watching the new Industry episode and reading a book I bought recently from Lamplight (Moderation by Elaine Castillo).

The only thing I really did this week was go to LAMPLIGHT BOOKS, nipping out in a brief pocket of not-shit weather. I love Lamplight’s very astute curation, being much more concise than its competitors but still somehow representative of every book I want to read at that moment. It seems tailored for me, which is an impressive feat, or maybe a reflection of my complete lack of originality. After visiting Lamplight, we toured Parnell, where Lamplight is in, which has always felt so different to the other central Auckland suburbs. Me and Sam even got an eclair, at a place which only sells eclairs (called, aptly, ECLAIR STUDIO) which seems like one of those places that will either only last a year or, against all odds, be open for 10.

I hope this rain ends soon. I am supposed to be hosting a party on my building’s rooftop this weekend, which will really not be very fun if it doesn’t.

Love,
Jean

There’s a new MALAYSIAN PLACE open in the food court at 35 Albert St, which mostly serves quick, lunch-y rice bowls (think salted egg yolk chicken on rice).

Kelmarna Farm is doing its annual fundraising dinners again from February 11 to 21. Guest chefs this time include Elie Assaf from Lebanese Grocer and Joe O’Connell from Mama. Tickets HERE

Auckland, we need to stop SIMPING FOR IKEA. We have eaten more than 54,000 hot dogs and 28,000 plates of meatballs in the last month, within the walls of the furniture store IKEA. This is somewhat of an embarrassment, seeing as it’s more than any other IKEA store in the entire world. The world! We are only a city of 1.8 million! They’ve also sold out of lingonberry jam, which I can only imagine is due to novelty, seeing as most of us will have absolutely no clue what a lingonberry even is. 

WISHLIST: Where I want to eat right now.

SFERA TRATTORIA 
I’ve been meaning to go to this new Italian restaurant in Northcote Point, which is headed by the ex-chef/owner of Candela (Karangahape Rd). I would order: warm focaccia with anchovy, fried calamari, black tiger prawns with fennel butter, the rigatoni with vodka sauce, and a baked basque cheesecake. Followed by a movie (The Secret Agent or Hamnet) at BRIDGEWAY CINEMA.

MAAKIINDI THAI
I’ve had my eye on the coppa (marinated then grilled pork jowl), one of the punchy salads, the mama jumbo seafood hot pot, and the tom zap pork ribs. Honestly a heavenly sounding meal.

PRAWN BOSS
I like the fun bright-red prawns placed outside the curved corner building near Dominion Rd’s Countdown – the whole thing does feel quite gimmicky (they have this weird BURN-BOOK DISH), but, you know, life is made for living.

Surprising absolutely no one, the aging-inner-suburbs gentry have NIMBYed their way to the GOVERNMENT WATERING DOWN the most straightforward and obvious approach to increasing housing supply in the central areas: focus on transport links where there’s infrastructure to support growth. The timing of the government’s retreat from common sense is notable for pre-empting Council’s review of PC120 submissions made by the public – not the best endorsement of local democracy. Despite housing affordability being arguably the greatest economic problem that underlies many of the issues facing the city, it seems that nothing short of generational change will allow the YIMBY movement to break through here as it has in OTHER CITIES. Assuming, that is, that enough younger Aucklanders are even willing and able to stick around long enough for the tide to eventually turn. – Mike

Items from the liquidation sales of the two-speed recovery.

BULK LOT OF DICKIES MEDICAL UNIFORMS
Closes tonight, Current bid $25
For the next time you need to sneak in and out of a hospital undetected, here’s 65 tops and 18 trousers in various medical-looking colours at an amazing price.

PYRA LIGHT TAP
Closes Tuesday, Current bid $105
Now that I know that these taps exist which shine a blue light through their water when it’s cold and a red light when it’s hot, I hate my dumb taps at home where you just have to guess or put a finger in to check. 

SMEG STAND MIXER
Closes Tuesday, Current bid $90
The Kitchen Things liquidation is STILL GOING AND MAY NEVER END – this week, it’s the Mangere and Henderson stores with 486 more lots. There’s a bunch of these mixers so hopefully you’ll be able to pick one up cheap. 

4 CAFE CHAIRS
Closes Thursday, Current bid $130
These chairs from the Double Dog liquidation are quite good as far as cafe chairs go - they have some MATCHING STOOLS as well which all together would make quite a nice dining table set up.

GELATO SHOWCASE
Closes Feb 3, Current bid $20
If you have any interest in starting a scoopery, all the Boozylato stuff is here.

PORTABLE EXECUTIVE COMMODORE 64
Closes Tuesday, Current bid $100
This thing is awesome and here is a VIDEO about it. 

HESTER BLUMENTHAL BBQ WITH PEDESTAL
Closes Tuesday, Current bid $10
This is a little beat up, but I think it could clean up nicely and, if so, it’s one of the only nice looking barbecues in the world.

FRIDAY 23RD

THE 7TH KIDS JAPANESE FESTIVAL
Ellen Melville, Free
They are playing My Neighbor Totoro at 10:30am and Spy x Family CODE: White at 2pm, and there’s games all day and nothing here to suggest that they will be turning away non-kids. There is also free popcorn and candy floss for ‘all kids’, which I am reading as ‘kids of all ages’.

AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL BUSKERS FESTIVAL
Till Monday, Everywhere, Free
If you don’t enjoy pushy carnies trying to rope you into their bullshit as you walk past minding your own business, avoid the city this weekend.

EVIE BAMFORD & RACHEL ANDIE
Whammy, $10
This should be a very cute indie gig with lots of weird instruments. NOTE: Early start at 7:30pm.

SCHKEUDITZER KREUZ
Dead Witch, $15
A NZ-born/Australian-dwelling Industrial Synth Crust act, on tour in support of their 3rd album, Swan Grinder (!). Support from Trauma Party, Death Portal and Creassault.

THE BIG FAKE
Netflix
Nicely art-directed, 1970s Italian art-forgery film based on a true story (ish). This is exactly the sort of thing I would love to be good.

SATURDAY 24TH

AFTERGLOW FESTIVAL
Claris Sports Club, $90
Downbeat festival on Great Barrier with Tiki Taane, Lost Tribe Aotearoa, Black Comet and more. Then there’s a wedding-esque day-after thing on Sunday at the Irish pub with P Digsss and Laughton Kora.

EMMANUELLE, ELLIOT & VINCENT
Old Folks Ass. $15
I really like Elliot and Vincent. Apparently there’s more acts TBA but I think maybe they are just saying that. Emmanuelle is playing with a new band so fingers crossed that all goes ok.

CINDY & WARM LEATHER
Whammy, $10
A proper, possibly a bit hectic, garage punk show at the Public Bar. NOTE: another 7:30 start.

SUNDAY 25TH

PARK RD
Whammy, $22
Farewell show for Park Rd, who are heading off to seek their fortunes in Australia. Support from Daffodils. NOTE: Monday is a public holiday so it’s ok to stay out late.

PAN AMSTERDAM
Tuning Fork, $35
Jazzy weirdo indie hip-hop based out of New York.

WEDNESDAY 28TH

JOE KAPTEIN QUARTET
Goblin, Free
4 piece jazz combo with Kaptein, Wil Goodinson, Elijah White and Kurt Dyer.

THE SEDUCTION
Sky/Neon
Sophia Coppola-coded, Dangerous Liaisons prequel mini series. 

THURSDAY 29TH

IGGY POP, JOAN JET AND THE BLACKHEARTS
Spark Arena, $146
More than any of the rock sub-genres, I feel like punk is the one most tied to youthful energy and it’s definitely not going to be present at this show. However the best songs from both acts are all-timers and they are probably touring with great bands, so maybe even if it’s not going to be great, it could still be good enough. Support from Zed.

SCOTT COOK & PAMELA MAE & HOOP
MoveSpace, $25
+
CJ WINSTANLEY & DAVE KHAN
Freida Margolis, $5
There’s a FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL in Kumeu this weekend so there’s a few side shows budding from it next week that you should go see if you are that way inclined and don’t trust the weather enough to risk the three-day outdoor festival.

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
In Cinemas
Iranian revenge-drama from director, Jafar Panahi. Winner of the 2025 Palm d’Or!

SEND HELP
In Cinemas
Table-turny survival thriller from Sam Raimi with misfit Rachel McAdams and her asshole boss Dylan O’Brien stranded on a desert island.