Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Neoclassical Lego buildings
I came across these two models today, a neat pair of buildings in neo-classical style by german Lego builder Sherriff von Snottingham. What I particularly like here is the way that these buildings still have that overly ornate feel that genuine buildings of this style do, even though they are rendered in Lego bricks which make it impossible to achieve the same level of detail as the real thing.
Monday, April 18, 2011
USS Co of NZ Ltd of Gisborne
The building that houses this resturant was originally built for the Union Steamship Company - hence, the name USSCo, and the port-hole shapped windows.
I'd certainly describe this as one of the better resturants I've visited in Gizzy, and enjoyed a generous portion of two lamb shanks, wonderfully slow cooked (the meat stuck to the mashed potato bed more than the bone!).
The ambience of the building is brilliant, with the warmth of polished wood floors, pressed steel ceilings, and a crisp modern ambience. I'll rate this place with 9/10. The only thing I could complain about was over-sized portions - how am I supposed to fit three courses?
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| USSCo Gisborne |
The ambience of the building is brilliant, with the warmth of polished wood floors, pressed steel ceilings, and a crisp modern ambience. I'll rate this place with 9/10. The only thing I could complain about was over-sized portions - how am I supposed to fit three courses?
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Eastwoodhill Arboretum
A convinient six hour drive away from Hamilton lies the national arboretum at Eastwoodhill, just out of Gisborne. This is the most perfect time of year to visit, with autumn colours in full swing.
You can easily spend all day in the massive grounds (135ha even), and it's worth spending all that time too - I only saw the half of it. This arboretum happens to be the largest, and most comprehensive in the Southern Hemisphere.
Here are a few photos I took today:
You can easily spend all day in the massive grounds (135ha even), and it's worth spending all that time too - I only saw the half of it. This arboretum happens to be the largest, and most comprehensive in the Southern Hemisphere.
Here are a few photos I took today:
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| Eastwoodhill Arboretum - April 2011 |
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Another aftershock in Christchurch
So the news tonight is that another aftershock has his Christchurch. At 5.3 on the richter scale, it's not the biggest, but will of course have caused more damage, in particular to people's faith that this will all come to and end.
Word has it that the Strategy building in Victoria Street is now on a lean, and the surrounding area is closed. I guess if it doesn't come down of it's own accord, it will soon be persuaded.
Word has it that the Strategy building in Victoria Street is now on a lean, and the surrounding area is closed. I guess if it doesn't come down of it's own accord, it will soon be persuaded.
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| Strategy Building, 374 Montreal Street (cnr Victoria Street), Christchurch |
Friday, April 15, 2011
Paul
Usually, when you take every movie cliche out there, you end up with something awful, like Date Movie. Some people however are better at it than others though.
For example, Hot Fuzz was a great movie, with constant parody of the police movie theme. Similarly, Paul is one long gag about sci-fi related movies.
But, it works, in that way that only Simon Pegg and Nick Frost can pull off. The two are comic buffs who happen to find Paul (the alien) in the middle of Area 51. From there, the adventure truely begins, including federal agents, hill billies, crazy Christians and everything in between.
The movie has many great moments, and only a handful of the gags fall flat. All up, a great film, though surprisingly athiest. 9/10.
For example, Hot Fuzz was a great movie, with constant parody of the police movie theme. Similarly, Paul is one long gag about sci-fi related movies.
But, it works, in that way that only Simon Pegg and Nick Frost can pull off. The two are comic buffs who happen to find Paul (the alien) in the middle of Area 51. From there, the adventure truely begins, including federal agents, hill billies, crazy Christians and everything in between.
The movie has many great moments, and only a handful of the gags fall flat. All up, a great film, though surprisingly athiest. 9/10.
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| Paul the Movie |
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The New Zealand Dairy Association building on Victoria/London
On the corner of Victoria and London streets stands one of my favourite historic buildings in Hamilton, the former Dairy Association building, built in 1920. I have as yet never found a historic photo of this building, but it's been there ninety odd years.
What has saddened me all these years is the fact that this building has continuately remained tenantless, and seemed to be owned by someone who didn't want to invest much money into it. Fortunately, that is about to change, as the building has just recently sold, and will be restored to contain a series of apartments. That means the facade will be restored and earthquake strengthened, and this building will grace our main street for many years to come.
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| Former Dairy Association building, 661 Victoria Street (cnr London Street), Hamilton - April 2011 |
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wallace Arts Centre and the Pah Homestead
Just a wee way away from the Hillsborough off ramp from SH20 lies Monte Cecilia Park. Within Monte Cecilia Park lies the old Pah Homestead which has been recently restored, and within that is exhibited part of James Wallace's art collection (that is, the Wallace Arts Trust).
The collection contains over 5000 items, so obviously only a sample of them are on display, but that which is, is very good, and contains a neat cross section of New Zealand art from the last fifty years or so. As photography is not permitted inside, I have no pictures to share, but can certainly vouch for this place.
Perhaps my favourite display was a modern plastic robot sculpture sitting in a niche in the stairwell where one would generally expect to see a greco-roman stutue - a very neat juxtoposition indeed.
Not only is the place worth visiting for the art, but also the architecture. This was at one point the largest residence in Auckland, and it's opulence has been tastefully restored. Moreover, Cafe Pah on site has excellent coffee and baked goods (I'll give them 8/10 for morning tea), and appears to be a favourite among Auckland's ladies who lunch.
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
Perhaps my favourite display was a modern plastic robot sculpture sitting in a niche in the stairwell where one would generally expect to see a greco-roman stutue - a very neat juxtoposition indeed.
Not only is the place worth visiting for the art, but also the architecture. This was at one point the largest residence in Auckland, and it's opulence has been tastefully restored. Moreover, Cafe Pah on site has excellent coffee and baked goods (I'll give them 8/10 for morning tea), and appears to be a favourite among Auckland's ladies who lunch.
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
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| Pah Homestead, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland - April 2011 |
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The secret art of Dr. Seuss comes to Hamilton
The Waikato Museum has a neat exhibition on at the moment - The Art of Dr. Seuss.
Dr. Seuss has always been a childhood favourite of mine - but then how can you go wrong with rhyming prose with so much going on on so many levels. To quote Suess: "I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living; it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.". The man has a point.
The exhibit goes through many of Seuss' works, ranging from artworks form his books (like sneetches), through to his artworks that weren't drawn for children, through to the unorthodox taxidermy. All up, a really neat exhibit, and one that you can easily spend an hour in - all the better because it is free.
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| The secret art of Dr. Seuss comes to Hamilton |
The exhibit goes through many of Seuss' works, ranging from artworks form his books (like sneetches), through to his artworks that weren't drawn for children, through to the unorthodox taxidermy. All up, a really neat exhibit, and one that you can easily spend an hour in - all the better because it is free.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Time for an upgrade - Centre Place Bryce Street facade
Kiwi income announced a while ago that it will spend $40m upgrading it's two Centre Place malls in Hamilton (two, as in the original Centre Place and the part once called Downtown Plaza), however it's always played it's cards close to it's chest.
The first announcement as such was made a few days ago, and concerns the northern side of the mall, on Bryce Street, the dull boring side shown here.
This side once boasted shops, in particular, a Cash Converters which moved accross the street a few years ago, and a Postie Plus store. They are now gone, and the windows covered in large stickers (white in the photo above). In other words, this side of the mall looks even more dead than outsides of malls typically do.
But that's all set to change. Kiwi Income plans to do away with the diagonal carparks and the slip lane to the main parking building entrance, and build a dining lane, which will give the mall an outward focus towards Barton Street. Probably not a bad idea as Barton Street and Casabella Lane are two of the more successful streets in terms of retail occupancy at present. Here is an impression of what is proposed. We'll see how it turns out in the end, as these things to change sometimes.
This portion of the upgrade, along with the improved food court inside are due to be completed by September, so it'll be good to see what this all turns out like.
What's the other $30m or so to be spent on? The word through the grapevine is that Kiwi Income will pedestrianise the western portion of Ward Street, and link the two malls together with an outdoor area. However, none of that will commence until the council has finished certain portions of it's City Heart project.
The first announcement as such was made a few days ago, and concerns the northern side of the mall, on Bryce Street, the dull boring side shown here.
This side once boasted shops, in particular, a Cash Converters which moved accross the street a few years ago, and a Postie Plus store. They are now gone, and the windows covered in large stickers (white in the photo above). In other words, this side of the mall looks even more dead than outsides of malls typically do.
But that's all set to change. Kiwi Income plans to do away with the diagonal carparks and the slip lane to the main parking building entrance, and build a dining lane, which will give the mall an outward focus towards Barton Street. Probably not a bad idea as Barton Street and Casabella Lane are two of the more successful streets in terms of retail occupancy at present. Here is an impression of what is proposed. We'll see how it turns out in the end, as these things to change sometimes.
This portion of the upgrade, along with the improved food court inside are due to be completed by September, so it'll be good to see what this all turns out like.
What's the other $30m or so to be spent on? The word through the grapevine is that Kiwi Income will pedestrianise the western portion of Ward Street, and link the two malls together with an outdoor area. However, none of that will commence until the council has finished certain portions of it's City Heart project.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Te Koutu domain
In the middle of Cambridge is quite a large, and easy to miss lake, Lake Koutu. This lake was farmed when Taupo erupted and blocked off a tributatry to the river Waikato. Of course, that's history from a long time ago - now the lake froms part of the domain, a picturesque spot to go for a walk, with, or without a dog.
There are various walks through the domain, and you can easily spend an hour meandering around to see half of it. Some pics:
There are various walks through the domain, and you can easily spend an hour meandering around to see half of it. Some pics:
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| Te Koutu Park Gates, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Band Rotuna, Te Koutu Domain, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Domain, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Olympia Flowforms by Iain Turnball - Te Koutu Domain, Cambridge - April 2011 |
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Good coffee and good food?
So I went up to Auckland today. As I often do, I wound up at Roasted Addiqtion in Kingsland for lunch.
Of course, they served a good coffee, but not only that, a rather tasty Bubble and Squeak. Technically, this dish should come with Bacon or Choritzo or Avocado, but logically, I ordered it with Bacon AND Choritzo AND Avocado, a great improvement.
All up, a tasty meal. I'd quite like it again tommorrow, but it's probably not worth driving up to Auckland for it. All up, 8/10.
Of course, they served a good coffee, but not only that, a rather tasty Bubble and Squeak. Technically, this dish should come with Bacon or Choritzo or Avocado, but logically, I ordered it with Bacon AND Choritzo AND Avocado, a great improvement.
All up, a tasty meal. I'd quite like it again tommorrow, but it's probably not worth driving up to Auckland for it. All up, 8/10.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Never Let Me Go
Some movies are feel-good movies. This one is not. An intriguing story it is, however.
The story starts with the revelation that in the 1950's a medical breakthrough causes the life expectancy to increase drastically, soon exceeding one hundred years.
The thing is though, that this discovery isn't quite what it seems. The three children whom the movie follows; Ruth, Tommy and Kathy, are actually clones of people out in the real world (the "originals"), grown to provide backup organs.
The story starts out at the children's school, Hailsham, which is far from an ordinary school, and follows them through their less than ordinary lives. What becomes of them? I don't really want to spoil the story.
At then end of the movie, you are left wondering when this situation will become a reality - will there be a situation in which we have the option of having someone else die so we may live?, and will we be led to believe that they are even human?
A thought-provoking story 8/10, though sad it only seems to play at obscure hours at my local cinema.
The story starts with the revelation that in the 1950's a medical breakthrough causes the life expectancy to increase drastically, soon exceeding one hundred years.
The thing is though, that this discovery isn't quite what it seems. The three children whom the movie follows; Ruth, Tommy and Kathy, are actually clones of people out in the real world (the "originals"), grown to provide backup organs.
The story starts out at the children's school, Hailsham, which is far from an ordinary school, and follows them through their less than ordinary lives. What becomes of them? I don't really want to spoil the story.
At then end of the movie, you are left wondering when this situation will become a reality - will there be a situation in which we have the option of having someone else die so we may live?, and will we be led to believe that they are even human?
A thought-provoking story 8/10, though sad it only seems to play at obscure hours at my local cinema.
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| Never Let Me Go |
Thursday, April 7, 2011
An Art Deco hotel - Miami style in Lego
I came accross this neat model the other day, a hotel in Miami deco style.
The building has been put together nicely, combining the strong horizontal and vertical emphasis you see in designs of this era, and bringing out that Streamline Moderne look - though in my mind the windows should have been made up of more, smaller panes. A neat model none-the-less.
Original link: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/10204
The building has been put together nicely, combining the strong horizontal and vertical emphasis you see in designs of this era, and bringing out that Streamline Moderne look - though in my mind the windows should have been made up of more, smaller panes. A neat model none-the-less.
Original link: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/10204
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