Posts by Venetia King
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Heh, I have a very poor memory and no fear of being uncool. Better that than kicking myself for missing something fab...
Funnily enough when I read the comments threads on here, you're probably the person I agree with most often - guess we have a few things in common (not the ciggies though!).
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Not me, a PVR won't have Fiona telling me what to look out for (and I'm not sure I want to break the habit of going through next week's tv listings with a highlighter). A shiny new freeview box does seem quite appealing though, I haven't seen Media 7 yet.
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Gotta say that I'm enjoying Matt Nippert's TV highlights. Nice turn of phrase.
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Oh yes - I only mentioned Matt because I noticed only in the last few weeks he's been doing it I've long enjoyed Fiona's turns of phrase too.Um, actually, I think you'll find Matt Nippert's been doing the Films on TV reviews and Fiona's still on TV week duties.
Fiona's pages are always the first bit of the Listener I turn to :)
Sorry to see Wide Area News go, Russell (I've been reading your various columns since you started with the Listener), but fair enough if you're not being paid what you're worth. I'd been meaning to write in to them about the repositioning of your column (pointless now) - I'm sure Diana Wichtel's TV review column should be returned to that spot.
I've been irritated by the change in direction since P Stirling took over - like other commenters it's often about the loss of writers (still missing Steve B; getting used to Paul Lewis but preferred Joseph Romanos), but what really gets me is the cover stories aimed at anxious baby boomers. Gets pretty tedious for us subscribers, especially when there are other articles more deserving of a cover in a current affairs mag (e.g. David Fisher's housing story).
Has anyone else noticed the photography has fallen by the wayside over the last little while? The covers are dull and same-y, and most of the photos used for articles seem to be stock images.
But ... despite all that, I still read the Listener almost cover to cover every week, I rely on the entertainment listings, and there really isn't anything else like it around. So I'm keeping my subscription.
Maybe you should put your hand up when it's time for a change of editor, Russell ;-)
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Gareth wrote early on:
That's a shame about Ciao ... And have heard that there's a new place called something like Wine and Roses (??) - about 8 tables, booked for months and doing genuinely good food (genuine being a little lost on many establishments in that area).
I was visiting my folks on the Shore a couple of weeks ago and we ate at Wine & Roses earlyish on a Saturday evening. I'm not sure if we had a booking - if so, it was made that day. I'd definitely go back - lovely food and pleasant service (friendly and helpful without being too friendly or too helpful). The decor's unusual - I rather liked the gothic feature wallpaper and black chandeliers though.
Re Ciao, David had mentioned:
Until just a few months ago, there was a brilliant restaurant directly facing Lone Star on Hauraki Corner. Ciao. An authentic Italian restaurant with great staff, fascinating food and an impressive cellar of Italian wine.
That was another one I'd visited with my parents, quite a while ago. At the time the staff behaved as though they'd rather we hadn't come in (I don't think we were dressed to the nines, but we wouldn't have been too poorly presented, and we're all very courteous types). Feeling rather uncomfortable, we ordered less than we wanted and never darkened their doors again. I guess we caught them on a bad day - perhaps if they find a new venue we'll give them another go.
Thinking about my Wellington favourites, most seem to be run/staffed by immigrants - e.g. Aubergine (a couple from Hong Kong), Le Métropolitain (French) and the late lamented Phnom Penh - but some aren't, like Eateria de Manon in Newtown. I think what they have in common (apart from fabulous food, mostly French-themed - I find it hard to resist) is staff who know what they're doing and are consistently pleasant and helpful. Some of them are also good fun :)
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O how sad I am to be on dial-up, when I could be watching Mole's adventures again, and exciting new NZ arts programming! One day...
That Lavinia Greenlaw book looked just my sort of thing too, I'll have to have a hunt for it. Thanks for the tip :) -
What most of those other people said... (I didn't have to register to say this but if I hadn't already I would have).
Thanks Tze Ming, for opening a window into another world for me - I'm a white chick who moved from Auckland's North Shore to Wellington's CBD before the Shore's Asian population skyrocketed, so I hadn't previously known much about that aspect of NZ's culture. I don't pretend to know a lot more now but what I do know is for the most part down to you.
You're an exceptional writer - incisive, illuminating, entertaining and thought-provoking. I really hope this isn't the last of your writing I get to read.
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... everyone between 15 - 25 was there for the Foo Fighters, whereas everyone older than that were there for Sonic Youth, there was no cross-over at all.
Heh, I was 25 and was there for both - I'll admit to having been leaning more in FF's direction though, and I remember enjoying their set enormously. Funnily enough I can't remember anything about what they played (and no recollection of White-Winged Moth! perhaps we missed them), but Sonic Youth doing a 20 minute version of Diamond Sea has stuck with me. That was the part that really did my head in! Strobe lights wouldn't have helped either, I don't handle them too well - perhaps that was why I had to go & sit on a comfy bench in the corridor for a bit...
I saw the Foos again on their next visit to Wellington, but when they came to the BDO (I forget what year) I ignored them in favour of PanAm and was very pleased with my decision.
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I've probably missed the boat on this thread but never mind...
I saw Sonic Youth at the Wellington Town Hall years ago and was bored nearly to tears. But each to their own :)
The Veils show at the Masonic in Devonport was also pretty packed, the night before the Kings Arms show. Not sure if it sold out but it was sufficiently crowded that from my mosh-free possie near the mixing desk I could barely see anyone on stage. I saw someone in the audience that looked rather like their keyboardist while they were on so I've no idea whether he was playing that night or not.
However the really startling thing was how early the gig started. I got there at 9:40pm expecting the support act to start 9:30-10ish but I'd missed them and the Veils were on at 10. And apparently had an 11pm curfew. Oh how I envy those Devonport people - I'd love to have gigs that early at home in Wellington, I'd be able to go to more of them.
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Is it just me, or could Hiro's visit to feudal Japan have been written by Terry Pratchett? Cohen the Barbarian goes East...
So the gaijin is Cohen, and Hiro is... the Japanese version of Rincewind? Yeah, I can see that.
Hey I found Hex in the Listener, but they've got the little 'return season' marker on it - does anyone know, has an earlier season already screened (or is this a repeat)? I remember reading about it a while back but I didn't think it had been on yet. -
Hmmm. If hitting "Preview" posts my comment, does that mean Preview is broken, or that my work browser has something switched off that Preview needs?