[As published in July/August BayBuzz magazine.]
I hear people saying the best thing about winter is getting out of here for a week or two. Bali and Fiji are lovely. Noosa provides a welcome, warm relief. But for those of us sticking close to home, here’s a handful of Hawke’s Bay Winter Warmers:
1. Clamber out of the Netflix-Neon vortex and get into some live music. Dance yourself warm. Getting out of the house of an evening and supporting local is good for the soul and great for the local entertainment economy. We’ve got lots of options – The Small Hall Sessions, Urban Winery, Cabana, Common Room, Paisley. Check out their social platforms for the details.
2. Hawke’s Bay’s Catherine Robertson has a gorgeous new book out, and it won’t take a weekend to read. Pearl in a Whirl, illustrated by Fifi Colston tells the sweet story of a fluffy cat’s challenges and rescue during the February floods.
3. Pecha Kucha is back! In early June, 280 people piled into the MTG Century Theatre for the first PK Night in two years. Clearly it had been missed. The 20 slide – 20 second format speaking events have been popular in the Bay for over a decade now, and are a great way to learn about the many treasures in our community. The next PK Night is back at the Century on August 1st. Doors open at 5:30pm, speakers start at 6pm.
4. Ocean Spa on Napier’s Marine Parade is open again after repairs and refurbishment. What’s better than soaking your tired muscles in hot water against the brisk wintry air?!
5. Happy Bay News. This youth-led local publishing project brings the sunshine. Onto their third edition, Happy Bay News covers good news stories for and from young people across the region. Keep an eye out for the printed version in cafes, follow them on Facebook or see happybaynews.co.nz – no doom or gloom here!