get/together

Most venues remain unchanged, so if you've made it in the past, you probably know where to go. Lunch at the weekend seemed to go smoothly last year so I'm largely reproducing that.

The main venue:

Saint Christopher's Hall, Seatoun
Corner of Ventnor and Forres Streets

There's a beautiful old church to the right, sadly yellow stickered recently rescued by Peter Jackson, and a hall to the left. You want the hall! There's a fair amount of parking in the street outside for drivers.

( Assuming the absence of epic fail, this is how to get to the venue. )

Brunches and Dinners:

Friday:
Brunch at Elements, 144 Onepu Road, Lyall Bay
Cocktails at Matterhorn, 106 Cuba Street, because second chances
Dinner at Oaks Noodle House, 71-81 Cuba Street, because tradition ;-p

Saturday:
Dinner at Tandoori Heritage, 23 Coutts Street, Kilbirnie, because they can cope with our shenanigans :D

Sunday:
Dinner at Siam Thai, 64 Kilbirnie Crescent

Monday:
Brunch at The Carlton, 43 Coutts Street, Kilbirnie, because there are no buses to the beach, outrage!
Dinner at Pan de Muerto, 82 Tory Street, because two for one tapas and margarita of the day!

Lunches Saturday/Sunday:

The Four Square is definitely a superette rather than a supermarket, so good for snacks/sundries but not great for food shopping. There is a fish and chip shop (very nice), and a cafe (okay but slightly pricey) in the immediate vicinity.

If you're up for a ten minute walk (an easy and pleasant one -- assuming it's not raining which I have now jinxed -- and one which I take the kids from work on all the time so easily doable) then I actually recommend walking back to Strathmore (just through the tunnel) where there is a bakery/cafe, another fish and chip shop (more run of the mill), a Chinese takeaway, a Hell, and an Indian (though you might not want that given we'll probably have dinner at the Indian in Kilbirnie on Saturday night). Lunch breaks will be scheduled at an hour so there'll be plenty of time.

We may be able to prevail upon the drivers in the group to convoy a few extra people down to Strathmore (or to the New World in Miramar) but that's not going to be possible for me as I'll be busy at the hall prepping/fretting.

People staying at the Brentwood may choose to swing past the Pak n Save (or Countdown if that's the way you roll) or Subway in Kilbirnie before jumping on the bus in the morning. There is a goodish kitchen where you could stash your food if that seems preferable.

Lastly, some bon vivant mentioned the possibility of phoning in a group (or subset of group) pizza order to Hell in Strathmore (or indeed to Domino's in Miramar if you want cheap and cheerful instead) which is certainly possible. The only pitfall I see there is divvying up the bill, so if you think this is what you'd be in the mood for can I ask you to BRING CASH/CHANGE with you, or at the very least co-ordinate with your accommodation buddies so you can sort it out among yourselves later. I will NOT be putting this on my credit card which already has everything else on it. ;-p

The main venue itself:

Park Bowling Club, Kilbirnie
598-600 Evans Bay Parade

The Evans Bay Parade address is its official one, and those driving (depending where you're coming from) may prefer to come down that way. For myself I've always thought it was on Kilbirnie Crescent, and certainly that's where the bus will drop public transport takers. I can't get a number, obviously, but it's between the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre (no 63) and the Ruth Gottlieb Library (no 101).

There's a fair amount of parking there at the park for drivers.

Walk in through the main front doors, but then instead of walking through into the bar, which will presumably be full of old folks in their bowling gear, hang left and go upstairs. Ideally there will be some sort of sign, *g*.

( Assuming the absence of epic fail, this is how to get to the venue. )

Restaurants:

( Elements Cafe is at 144 Onepu Rd, Kilbirnie/Lyall Bay. )

( Friday Night Fangirls know where to go, all others: )

Saturday: Tandoori Heritage in Coutts Street, Kilbirnie
Sunday: Siam Thai on Kilbirnie Crescent

The main venue itself:

Park Bowling Club Kilbirnie
598-600 Evans Bay Parade

The Evans Bay Parade address is its official one, and those driving (depending where you're coming from) may prefer to come down that way. For myself I've always thought it was on Kilbirnie Crescent, and certainly that's where the bus will drop public transport takers. I can't get a number, obviously, but it's between the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre (no 63) and the Ruth Gottlieb Library (no 101).

There's a fair amount of parking there at the park for drivers.

Walk in through the main front doors, but then instead of walking through into the bar, which will presumably be full of old folks in their bowling gear, hang left and go upstairs. Ideally there will be some sort of sign, *g*.

( Assuming the absence of epic fail, this is how to get to the venue. )

Restaurants:

( Elements Cafe is at 144 Onepu Rd, Kilbirnie/Lyall Bay. )

( Friday Night Fangirls know where to go, all others: )

Saturday: Tandoori Heritage in Coutts Street, Kilbirnie

Sunday: Siam Thai on Kilbirnie Crescent