September #05

Sharing your hidden gems is always slightly dangerous (and probably no more so than in a medium-sized city) - if the masses swamp your favourite shoe-repair guy, while you can be happy for all involved, on a purely practical level is can just leave you waiting longer for a resole. So it is with genuine gratitude we thank everyone for giving up their treasured Kirikiriroa secrets for our Best of Kirikiriroa Spesh - particularly friend-of-the pod Anita who gave up her facebook-based authentic Malaysian home cook, which is very good of her.

Part of living well and being a Totally-Together-Grown Up is knowing where to get things altered, or take your dry cleaning, or having a good insurance broker. And we have the best of those too.

In other news, Made begins to open up and we’re very excited - we talk to the butcher with a cult following in Te Awamutu, Shawn Nicholas, about moving into the development. Also - a Crown Lynn market, vintage Steven Braunius, and Hamilton on film.

Along with our new subscribers, we say hello and welcome to Free FM. They had us on their breakfast show a couple a few weeks ago, and you might see a little more of us working together.

Scuttlebutt

The voting closed just prior to our deadline, but watch the same four-to-five Kirikiriroa eateries (we joke because we care) battle it out for the Waikato Hospitality Awards on September 17 at the Claudelands Events Centre.

The editor of the The Waikato Times, and stalwart of the media industry, Peter Tiffany has retired.

Our outgoing National MP in Hamilton East David Bennett leaves Parliament this term, and claims “They say you aren’t a true University of Waikato student if you don’t have a David Bennett pen.” The articles goes on to say “the electorate was also the only University seat National had consistently held since 2005”, but do note (and there is no shame in this) that currently the Honourable D Bennett is a list MP.

Like any Hamiltonian, we love excellent bridge content. The Kirikiriroa Metro substack has admirably ranked our bridges.

Pitching up to Hayes Common in the early afternoon and grazing and drinking our way to sunset and beyond had become something of a ritual birthday celebration in our circle of friends this year. But in response to challenging times, Hayes Common - who have always looked after their staff well - are no longer doing evening service. Understandable, but they will be missed. (Their evening events continue.)

Oh no - we reported, like many others, about the Avalon Bakehouse Cafe’s bacon and egg pie winning its category at the Bakels Supreme Pie Awards for this year. It was a mistake, and the award really meant to go to Taste Café of Avondale. The true baker of the pie, Sok Heang Nguon, spotted his signature pie-top on the winning photo. Hey, if the Academy Awards can announce the wrong winner, so too can the Bakels. We’ve tried the B&E at Avalon Bakehouse and it’s pretty great.

The Spinoff breaks down the craft beer economy in the light of Epic liquidation and Brothers Beer’s voluntary liquidation last month, and what it means for big-boutique beer brands, such as Good George. While we’re here, the newly opened Good George Napier Taphouse rang a local knitting group, who had booked a table later in the week, to say their needles weren’t welcome “because it wasn’t the vibe they were going for”. They have apologised and the two have resolved the matter privately.

This very good piece, from the New York Times, talks about the breakdown of the theatre subscription model, which might be worth a read ahead of our own regional theatre, due to open in 2024.

Heritage librarian Perry Rice writes about this vintage photograph of Frankton’s rail yard.

Now you can cry all the way to our new blood bank! Read about what wonderful medical miracles happen to your blood after donation.

We took Te Huia for the first time this month. We were going to write about it but then we remembered Steve Braunius’ Sunday Star Times column, on what was then the Overlander (now the Northern Explorer).

Oh, and Made will be open proper soonish. We heard Labour day, but if that’s wrong you didn’t hear it from us. There are still spots available.

We’ve mentioned Te Awamutu butcher Shawn Nicholas from Expleo before - so famous he got a shout out on Shortland Street. "We couldn’t believe it,” says Shawn. “We had no idea how they knew about us.” Expleo will be moving into the Made development, which is super exciting - initially as a stall, but a full store is in the works. Their produce will be making its way fresh from TA every day. We featured his blood pudding before, but the lamb kofta also deserves a shout out.

What’s on

We’re not sure about Hamilton being the “undisputed mural capital of Aotearoa”, but then again we also didn’t quite appreciate we have more than 60 city murals lining our fair city. Local non-profit Boon are very passionate about it, and are running street art walking tours around the city every Saturday in September, to usher in Spring. All the money is going back to supporting the art and artists. $30 for adults and a precise $19.20 for students.

Sip and sew workshops is an exciting new business with good buzz already. Run by Sarah (a lifelong sewer with a teaching degree), it offers project-based sewing workshops where, unlike the intermediate-school-”home economics”-version, you also get a glass of bubbles thurst in your hand on arrival. Upcoming workshop projects include tote bags, eye masks, skirts and cushion covers. They also they have gift certificates available.

Dads, and lovers of Dad jokes, rejoice! Seven Days Live comes to Claudelands Event Centre September 8: that’s this Friday at time of writing!

And a NZ Vintage Pottery & Crown Lynn Market will be in the barn at Claudelands, September 30. Bliss.

Decibel wines are presenting five of their wines at Mr Pickles September 13th - $150pp with a five-course meal, or plonk only at the bar for $50pp. Booking essential.

Last, but not least, the NZ Cherry Blossom Festival runs for three weekends from the September 23, at English Cherry Tree Manor on Matangi Road. Instagram-ready backdrops abound. Their website also suggests pony rides.

Film

by Jason Marshall

We’re struggling to find any noteworthy new releases arriving in cinemas this month.

So, instead:

Hamilton plays itself in the 1985 post-apocalypse sci-fi cult classic, The Quiet Earth. Directed by Geoff Murphy (of Goodbye Pork Pie and Utu fame), the film follows scientist Zac Hobson (played by the always-brilliant Bruno Lawrence) waking up to find deserted streets, abandoned cars, and dead radio airwaves. After efforts to search for other survivors, he reluctantly concludes that he’s the last person left alive on earth. Thought provoking and affecting, The Quiet Earth examines isolation and the meaning of human connection, while musing on scientific hubris. The film depicts urban desolation and unclaimed spaces in a way that will excite fans of The Omega Man (and its later remake I Am Legend) and 28 Days Later, but altogether is a sparser and more contemplative experience.

Midway through the movie there’s a series of sequences taking place in and around Hamilton, and although it’s never directly named as such, the scenes are littered with references which ring true to local ears - with particular mentions of “searching both sides of the river”, and name dropping the corner of Mansel Ave and Hillcrest Road. Other scenes give us good 1980s glimpses of Waikato University, the hospital, and the lake. The filmmakers seemed to have had the run of the area around Alexandra Street, with a number of scenes shot there - culminating in a confrontation in the middle of (a much grassier) Garden Place.

Come for the beguiling sci-fi weirdness, stay for the shots of Hamilton circa 1985.

The Quiet Earth is available for rent and sale via NZ Film On Demand.

Music

by Adam Fulton

Don McGlashan & Motte, The Yard Raglan, September 7. Renowned singer of songs Don McG and most wondrous & hypnotic violinist Motte.

Swallow the Rat album release tour. Last Place , 22nd September. Post-punk trio from Tāmaki Makaurau. For fans of Wire, A Place to Bury Strangers & Big Black, joined by Empress and Orbjks.

There's a Tuesday, The Yot Club Raglan, 22nd September. Undulating indie-pop from Otautahi.

Te Henga Collective, Last Place, 29th September. Noodly, dubby reggae from Tāmaki Makaurau, joined by local hip hop duo No Exit to Grey Street

The Changing Same album launch, Last Place, 30th September. Flying Nun alumnus Matthew Bannister launches Go to the Movies, by his latest outfit the Changing Same. Joined by the Doubtful Sounds from Pōneke, and the New Existentialist from Tāmaki Makaurau

Theatre

by Louise Drummond

Monsters, The Meteor. 7-8 September, 7.30pm (with a 1pm matinee show on the 8th). The Wintec third year Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts students’ end-of-year show. This one is inspired by 1980s B-grade horror movies and involves a mad scientist's experiments going awry. Sounds very funny and, I'm sure, packed full of fabulous performances from people-to-watch.

The Cat in the Hat, Clarence St Theatre. 15th & 16th September, various times. A great one for all ages, with a couple of daytime performances on the Saturday. Will give the kids something to talk about for that last, endless week of school.

The Manic Monologues, The Meteor. 19th-23rd September, 7.30pm
Carving in Ice Theatre is back for Mental Health Week, with a series of monologues about different aspects of mental health conditions. The company is known for their high-quality work, and I'm sure this show will be no exception given the powerful subject matter.

Art

The National Contemporary Art Award 2023 is on at the Museum until November. You can also vote for the people’s choice award, which closes October 24.

Feature: the best of Kirikiriroa spesh

Best of Facebook Eats

The Facebook marketplace is a strange ecosystem all to itself - and in some parts of the world, was the hospo underground during lockdowns.

Best Malaysian Uni Sally kitchen on facebook. This sacred writ was passed on to our friend from her Malaysian boss. A different menu is released each week - preorders need to be made by Tuesday, and are picked up on the relevant day.

Have you tried a Cambodian donut, or noun kong? Chewier and crisper than the American style, they feature a lot of sesame and poppy seeds, with fillings of mung or yellow bean with coconut cream. Srena Sok, in Te Awamutu, makes to order via facebook, or text her on 021 029 35381.

The usual hospo stuff

Best Burger hands down the smash burger at Last Place. Best cocktail the gummy sour cocktail at Mr Pickles: delivers just the right amount of novelty on the classic sour flavour profile. Best kebab Turkish Express on Heaphy Terrace - our only beef is that unless you live in Fairfield it’s probably not on your way home from town. Special mention, also, to Sumac Turkish Kebab at Five Cross Roads. Best pizza we’ve mentioned The Crust before, but let us single out the quattro formaggi with provolone, parmesan, gorgonzola and mozzarella. Best ice cream I mean doy, it’s Duck Island, but a string of flavours have really knocked it out of the park recently - beginning with their feijoa yohgurt and lime in autumn, followed by their apricot, rosemary and labneh over winter, and now their marmalade and earl grey favour, which will bring your British friends to actual tears. Best vegetarian dish A special mention from our music editor Adam - the best fried cauliflower dish in the city is at Rice Noodle Master on Victoria street. Best korean fried chicken K kitchen in Dinsdale. They also nail a delicately diced coleslaw with a big fat dollop of mayo on top. Also in the Dinsdale takeaway precinct is Ciao Ceylon; the best authentic Sri Lankan food in Hamilton.

Upkeep

Best shoe repair space Merv, from McCammon and Co shoe repairs on Galloway street, is, sadly for him, a Christchurch Earthquake refugee - but we’re lucky to have him. Down a little driveway, he has a little studio outback - where mountains of leather and trimmings sit behind the counter. In a recession, in hard times, he reminds us, people get stuff fixed - and currently he is busy. If he can’t save a pair of boots, a handbag, or whatever - he strips it for their parts in case he can graft it onto another repair job (thus, the mountains). He also carries a small collection of knitting and leather booties for babies, dog neckerchiefs, and does key cutting too.

Best dry cleaner Vogue Dry Cleaners in Frankton.

Best clothing alterations Several recommendations came in (including from high-end fashion boutique True) for Susan Rowland, on Victoria street right next door and upstairs to the Time Out. Many people in the city only trust her for their alternations.

Best graphic designer You already know the work of Alan Deare of Area design - he’s behind Lucy’s bread marketing, and Duck Island’s branding (which has scooped him more than one design award). He works on small business and high-end art projects alike.

Best framing place Friend of the pod Laree Payne, of the eponymous gallery in Riverbank Lane complex, uses both Framing House in Hamilton East (in Lovegrove Lane), as well as Sarah Marston of Framing Workshop, in Silverdale. If you’re ever couriering art, or anything fragile or urgent, Laree uses Pack and Send and says asks for Kurt.

Best Hairdresser Of course Fabrik, again in the Riverbank Lane complex, do excellent cuts and colour - we all know this. I don’t know about you, but a good home salon always feels like a true find to me - and it was a shame when Poppies, in Melville (we found them via a rec' from the Farmers MAC counter) closed as those involved pursued other projects. Dede and Daph, in Frankton, fills this niche, excellently.

Best post shop - we had definite criteria for this one: ample parking, low wait times, best magazine wrack. The NZ Post Shop Glenview Centre fill all the criteria - and with the new bus hub (now! more disability friendly! after a total fuck up!) all the more accessible via a number of means.

Best daycare The Park on Naylor Street, which came to us via a friend who specialises in early education.

Best insurance broker Steve Freeman, of Financial Independence, is actually based in Tauranga - but qualifies for our list in this po-co, virtual-friendly world. As he nears retirement, increasingly he refers business to his colleague James Jenkin, at the same firm.

Best panel beater: Again, a recommendation from our music-writer-at-large, Adam, who says he sent more people to Restoration Panel Works in Frankton than anywhere else, for anything else, in Hamilton.

Best gym and swimming pool Across the road from the prison-yard of Les Mills, Fastlane fitness is like it’s grown up, more sophistocated cousin. The pool, certainly, avoids all the fuss (and generally children) of Te Rapa or Melville, and their strict swimming cap rule keeps the water pristine.

You seldom have to wait for a lane.