Kiwi jewellery designer shows fashion has a heart
Posted on September 1st, 2009 by micosantos, under Arts and Music, Fashion and Lifestyle, Features.
Leading New Zealand jewellery designer Kat Gee and her accessories label KAGI has again joined forces with the Child Cancer Foundation to produce a limited edition, handcrafted charm bracelet to raise funds to support children and their families affected by the life threatening disease.
Called Jewel Purpose, the bracelet is made of gemstones selected for their nurturing and healing abilities, including Amazonite, Clear Quartz and Turquoise and features a charm of the Child Cancer Foundation (CCF) logo, a mother holding a child.
Each time a child with cancer undergoes a painful or invasive procedure (i.e. blood tranfusion, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) they receive a unique bead of courage. “We saw a real synergy between CCF’s Bravery Beads and the materials KAGI uses,” says Kat.
“Like how every bravery bead tells a story, the gemstones used in the Jewel Purpose bracelet also have unique meanings associated with them – for instance Turquoise is considered a lucky and protective stone, Amazonite soothes the soul and Clear Quartz gives harmony,” she says.
“I wanted this bracelet to flatter all women and be something you can easily dress up or down, day or night,”says Kat. “I feel we achieved this with the extendable clasp, the feminine mix of baby blue and teal colours and just the right amount of sparkle.”
KAGI is renowned for its jewellery designs made from semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls and crystals, offering distinctive pieces to truly awaken any wardrobe. KAGI is loved by women worldwide including a strong celebrity following with fans including Trinny and Susannah, Rachel Hunter, Amber Peebles and Carly Flynn.
Cancer is the leading disease killer amongst New Zealand children with more than 150 new diagnoses each year and it was with this in mind that KAGI created this unique and meaningful bracelet. Jewel Purpose bracelets can be purchased from kagijewellery.com and childcancer.org.nz for $95, of which $30 will go directly to the Child Cancer Foundation.
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Beer,foods and wines at Wellington on a Plate
Posted on August 17th, 2009 by micosantos, under Daily Expedition, Features, Foodtrip, In and Out, Show and Tell, news and events.
With more than 30 events ,the Wellington on a Plate is the must -see Culinary festival here in Wellington.
Positively Wellington Tourism and Grow Wellington have joined forces to establish Wellington On a Plate, an annual festival of food to run from August 17-30 this year.
Positively Wellington Tourism General Manager of Marketing Sarah Meikle says the festival will start small and local, but the long-term vision is for Wellington On a Plate to be an annual gourmet showcase that will draw residents into the downtown area and attract visitors from around the country and Australia.
This year the central event will be Dine Wellington, a fortnight where the city’s finest restaurants offer lunchtime set menus for $15, $25 and $35 – including two courses, a cup of coffee or tea, and a glass of Wairarapa wine for the $25 or $35 options. At dinnertime the restaurants’ offers will be based around a value-add, discount, or set menu.
“This gives everyone the chance to dine at the likes of Martin Bosley’s Yacht Club Restaurant and Logan Brown, it also encourages people to try somewhere different. Dine Wellington will be that chance to go and discover all that Wellington’s food scene has to offer.”
According to Grow Wellington Chief Executive Nigel Kirkpatrick, a critical part of the capital’s economic development hinges upon the food and beverage sector.
“To be able to showcase local products in this way is a positive step towards realising the full potential of our exciting food and beverage sector,” Mr Kirkpatrick says.
“This festival combines local economic activity and ongoing development of a food sector that has the potential to generate significant export revenue.”
Wellington’s cuisine scene is second-to-none in New Zealand and Wellington On a Plate will help the city maximise on the culinary tourism trend, Ms Meikle says. The aim is to get as many restaurants as possible involved. To make the most of what is produced in the Wellington region restaurateurs will be encouraged to use local produce and suppliers where possible and to match those fantastic flavours with the best of our regional wines.
“Wellington sets the bar for coffee and cocktails, is neighboured by one of the country’s top wine regions, and the quality of cuisine and service in our restaurants are regularly hailed as world class by the international media we host here.”
The latest issue of Vogue Entertainment & Travel raves about Wellington’s hospitality, declaring it is “defined by a refreshing lack of pretension that often belies the finesse of what’s presented on the plate”.
Wellington On a Plate will be a celebration of the capital’s flavour in terms of both taste and culture, Ms Meikle says.
“Food isn’t just about flavour – it’s about service, people and passion.”
Various new and existing events are currently being looked at for inclusion in the Wellington On a Plate menu. The Brewers Guild of New Zealand’s Brew NZ and Beervana events have come under the banner, with other events also being looked at. Initial forecasts show economic impact potential of up to $3.4 million total output by year three, Ms Meikle says.
“With the City Market opening at Chaffers Dock this month, the timing is perfect for launching Wellington On a Plate and cementing Wellington as one of New Zealand’s culinary destinations.”
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Top 10 emerging Influential Blog winners Announcement
Posted on August 7th, 2009 by micosantos, under Blogging.
Our Friend Janette of Digital Filipino Club recently the announcement of Top 10 emerging Influential Blogs 2009 and the event will be held on August 8, 2009 Saturday, 6 pm to 11 pm at the Forum Hall, Casino Filipino, PIRC Bldg. Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Parañaque City.
This writing project will not be possible without the support of sponsors such as Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, Business Summaries, Fitness Advantage Club,Events and Corporate Video, Events at Work, Dominguez Marketing Communications, Red Mobile, Budget hotel in Makati, Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies, andBlog4Reviews.com.
To Recall, Here my choices for Top Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009
2. TheSidestrip
4. Repress
5. Lovely
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Handle the Jandal DIY Music Video Awards is back
Posted on August 6th, 2009 by micosantos, under Arts and Music, Daily Expedition, Features, In and Out, Show and Tell.
Our friend Phil Reed of Message Traders Publicity sent this announcement calling aspiring film-makers and he said :
Calling all Kiwi filmmakers: It’s time to rise up, throw down the oppression of winter and give yourself a shot at bathing in golden glory. Radio Active 89FM today announced the 11th Handle the Jandal DIY Music Video Awards.
The nationwide DIY music video competiton, Handle the Jandal returns home to Wellington’s Embassy Theatre for 2009, to be held Thursday October 29 from 6.30pm and is now calling for entries from far and wide. Anyone can enter so it’s time to get busy.
The deadline for entries is 5pm, Monday September 21, 2009. All entry requirements, specifications and further information is available from Radio Active 89FM’s website radioactive.fm, ph 04 801 9899 or email Hadden Morrison on hadden@radioactive.co.nz
The prize package for last year’s event totaled $40,000 and featured film equipment and highly valued services from the cream of New Zealand’s film production companies. Stay tuned for an announcement on this year’s prize pool.
Last year, a record 122 entries were received, smashing the previous mark of 93 set in 2006. The overall winner of the Golden Jandal was The Downlow Concept for their controversial video for the Hot Grits track ‘Headlights’, notorious for its depiction of toddlers drinking milk at a nightclub.
Handle the Jandal is the annual competition for Do-It-Yourself New Zealand filmmakers to create music videos for local bands and artists. It’s about matching rising music stars with up’n’coming filmmakers, so all videos must be completely self-funded and may only use New Zealand music.
A panel of judges will decide Best Editing, Best use of Exploitative Tactics to Promote a Band, Best Cinematography, Best Concept, Best Animation and Rising Star. An audience vote at the awards will decide the seventh golden flip flop category: the Favourite Handle the Jandal Video award winner.
All videos may be promoted and re-broadcast on television, mobile phone networks and social networking websites.
For an info pack and entry form, visit www.radioactive.fm
Radio Active 89FM’s Handle the Jandal DIY Music Video Awards
October 29, 6.30pm
Embassy Theatre, 10 Kent Terrace, Wellington
Publicity contact: Phil Reed, 04 385 3111 / 021 433 432 or phil@messagetraders.co.nz
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NZ’s first official Rubik’s speed-cubing championships at Te Papa
Posted on July 16th, 2009 by micosantos, under In and Out, Show and Tell, news and events.
Rubik’s Speed-Cubing is coming to New Zealand with the first official championships to be held in Australasia taking place in Te Papa’s Wellington Foyer on 18 July from 10am–4pm.
Speed-Cubing is a colourful and exciting spectator sport based around solving the famous Rubik’s Cube against the clock. In addition to the regular speed-solve events, such as for the 3×3, 4×4, and 5×5 Cubes, there will be a one-handed solve event, and even a blindfolded solve event (where the competitor studies the Cube, then puts a blindfold on and solves it from memory).
Currently 39 competitors have registered, including 9 international entrants coming to New Zealand especially for the event. A 13 year old Australian school boy registered to compete on the day claims to be able to solve the 3×3 Cube in a personal best time of 8 seconds (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,25572424-2862,00.html ).
The current world record for the fastest speed-solve of a 3×3 Cube is 7.08 seconds, set by Erik Akkersdijk at the Czech Open 2008. If a New Zealand competitor beats this time on the day, he or she will win a brand new Mini Cooper Clubman!
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Freezing In Wellington 09
Posted on June 8th, 2009 by micosantos, under Features, In and Out, Show and Tell, news and events.
More than 500 people from all walks of life gathered together last friday for World Environement Day in Lambton Quay in Wellington to do their part against Climate Change.
The event called “Freezing Wellington”, which people will stop or freeze for about 5 minutes to support the World Environment Day.
I personally support this event and I ‘m happy to joined again next year.
As the organizer said ,” We need to show more of that strength this year. New Zealand been a courageous country in the past. Now’s the time for us to show our true colours on climate change. There are many actions that we can take, and we need to make sure that our political representatives have the courage to show real leadership on climate change too.”
If you want to check some cool videos about this . Click Here:
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Fashion and feathers make wishes come true for sick children
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 by micosantos, under Advertising, Fashion and Lifestyle, Features, In and Out, Show and Tell, news and events.
SIX New Zealand fashion designers has invited by leading Designer down and feather duvet manufacturer Novadown to design a one-off statement garment using duvet feathers,down and fabric.
According to Novadown, The result will be auctioned off on Trademe every two weeks from June to September, raising money to help dreams come true children with life threatening diseases through the Make a Wish Foundation .
Among the designers are :
Gisborne designer Sheryl May
She said her Summer 09/10 collection Glamazons, a very tribal-luxe range that accentuates femininity. “I wanted to respect the integrity of the raw materials given to me, the scuptural quality of the fabric and the talisman-like feel of feathers” she added.
Oly was launched in 2006 to create clothing that is Timeless with a wow factor. Their submission to this auction features a hand dyed dress with a 1920’s feel and straps inlaid with a peacock feather quills.
Wellington milliner Amy Jansen-Leen’s hat design for Fashioned Feathers features goose feathers on parisisal and ramie straw, embellished with Swarovski crystals. Her inspiration came from this line of a poem: “something told the geese to go, though the elds lay golden, something whispered snow.”
Jane’s stunning waistcoat submission for Fashioned Feathers based it on the idea that after a long day you may have the worries of the world in your heart (as demonstrated by the black waistcoat embroidered with leather feathers), but once you let sleep drift from your mind down over your shoulders (like the white feather epaulets), your heart is once again light.
St Clair Design, Dunedin
Dallas Cunningham and Lana Neumegen are the creative talent behind Dunedin’s St Clair Design, creators of stylish women’s apparel. Their submission is a high fashion garment with a strong vintage feel. “It has an emphasis on combinations of textures, with a double layer style with a net over lay on the bodice, a trademark feature of our designs,” says Cunningham.
Creative Director for the Carpenters Daughter, Caroline Marr experimented with proportion for her submission. “
We accentuated volume in the hips and bust through padding with feather down, and shoulder pads to resemble a curvier body shape,” she says.
“The pads were made in different shades and hand stitched together to resemble the textures of a wing,” she says. “The supplied duvet fabric was hand dyed and used as a contrast to the luxury of satin.”
So, Let’s support this event
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A European Adventure for Just $50 A Day
Posted on June 1st, 2009 by micosantos, under Advertising, Arts and Music, Daily Expedition, Features, In and Out.
Eversince I was a kid I wish to travel around Europe explore iconic and historical site from France up to Spain. Unfortunately, budget is a big problem for me , so for now it will be just I dream.
Until my friend Mark Devlin from ImpactPr told that Camino Downunder offers comprehensive workshops for New Zealanders contemplating the great Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Western Europe at the low cost of only $50 a day.
According to Devlin, Camino de Santiago (or St James Way) has been in existence since the 9th Century and has become one of the most iconic and famous long distance walking tracks in Europe. The route begins in France and ends in the exciting city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
To give you a taste of what to expect on this amazing journey Marc Grossman, a specialised French and Spanish language teacher over the last thirty years, launched a series of classes and workshops called Camino Downunder.
Grossman’s passion for the Camino de Santiago inspired him to start Camino Downunder to communicate all facets and aspects of the pilgrimage to an Australian and New Zealand audience.
“While travelling on the route myself, I observed fellow Australian and Kiwi compatriots struggling with many issues including language barriers and difficulties understanding the policies, protocols and procedures of being a 21st century pilgrim,” says Grossman.
“Our mission is to comprehensively prepare all participants irrespective of age to successfully and confidently undertake their greatest long distance walking journey, whilst armed with deep knowledge and insights about the Camino.”
The Camino Downunder workshops help people prepare, understand and appreciate the universal pull and attraction of the life changing experience.
Attendees learn how to navigate along the Camino, successfully move between and among cultures – including specialised Spanish vocabulary and verbal expressions – and about the history and exquisite environment. It also helps travellers to better understand how the registration system works including the $50 a day living costs (accommodation, utilities, food and ablutions).
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Stomp to remember!!!
Posted on May 30th, 2009 by admin, under Arts and Music, Daily Expedition, In and Out, Show and Tell.
“A sure-fire crowd pleaser”
“Big ,Noisy and Irresistible”
“Brilliant and very Funny”
These are some of the reviews of international newspapers about the STOMP production that has stormed Wellington with unstoppable energy and toe-tapping experience.
The other day I was lucky that I’m able to watch this Britisth Theatrical sensation STOMP courtesy by Ms. Lyndsey O’Really, the Marketing Manager of St. James Theater Wellington.
Thank you very much!!
The show billed as “fresher,faster, funnier”are box office hits with people from all walks of life patiently waiting in line for the show to open.
My son and I, arrived at St. James Theater in Wellington 20 minutes before the show, after finding an empty car park for almost 40 minutes roaming around Courtney Place, all the hassles are worth the show.
Sorry , I don’t have photos or video of the production ,they are not allowed inside the Theater due to copyright infrigment or even the interview of the cast. Here the exmaple from STOMP website.
The show started with one broom which becomes an instrument and as he’s joined by seven other sweepers as they create an magical percussion of rhythm and dance.
Among the performers two from New Zealand, Ian Vincent ,grew up in Te Awamutu and studied commercial dance at Wellington Performing Arts Centre for two years then joined Stomp in late 2007 and Paul Russel .
Other member are Paul Bend from Sutton-in-Ashfield, England,Nathaniel Conroy of Gibraltar, Laetitia Lawrence, Keith Middleton, Aideen Gallagher, John Sawicki,RJ Samson, Troy Sexton, Gemma Shields and Sarah Lasaki
The STOMP international community of performers now totals 100 over fiver companies,including two US and one international touring company.
I must says, the show is absolutely fantastic, a show for all ages .
Next show at
Christchurch James Hay
2 – 7 JUNE
Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm
Saturday at 2pm
Sunday 1pm and 6pm
BOOKINGS:
PH: 0800 Ticketek or
www.premier.ticketek.co.nz
GROUPS PH: (03) 379 0597
For more information on the theatre visit:
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We Love Manners Mall
Posted on May 27th, 2009 by micosantos, under Blogging, Daily Expedition, In and Out.
Wet morninng in Wellington today with a temparature of 9 degree Celsus. As my friend Rey said it’s a early winter blast from Antartica. There’s evidence that everyone loves Manners Mall specially people in shops in other parts of Wellington from Kilbirnie to up to the City Centre.
I walked from Newtown up to Courtney Place the sign is everywhere from a book store in Newtown and Takeaway store along Cambridge Terrace.
The “Wellington Love Manners Mall” campaign is to supports Manners Malls against the plan of City Council to reopen it to cars and buses.
So what are you waiting ?
