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Here we go, the end of the week. Which means... anyone? Anyone?
How about a Friday evening jig, a Saturday morning quilt, a Sunday morning sweat and a cameo from a classically inclined Wallace and Gromit. Sound good?
Here are 18 epic ways to have fun in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.
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Friday 22 August
The Auckland Céilí/ Cèilidh Band
6.30-9pm |Parāoa Brewing Co., Whangaparaoa Peninsula | $
Image credit: The Auckland Céilí/ Cèilidh Band | Facebook
So what's the craic this Friday? Could it be a live folk band, a bit of jig, a few cold ones and a night of Irish and Scottish dancing for the whole whanau? With instructors leading the way and a mantra of "everyone in", there's no doubt that with Auckland Céilí/ Cèilidh Band's night of traditional music and dance coming through their doors, Parāoa Brewing Co. have a bit of a humdinger on their hands.
Attend A Networking-Party-Live-Crowdfunding Extravaganza
6.30-11.30pm, Doors @ 6pm | 321 Karangahape Road | Free
Calling all creatives: The Feelings Club is hosting a brand-spankin' new networking event party as a way to LIVE crowdfund for their new series exploring youth mental health. If you're a filmmaker, photographer, artist, writer, designer, musician, performer or any other kind of creatively inclined 'er', then you better be there. Make sure you RSVP to reserve a spot though.
Cure Those Office Blues
From 10pm (Door Sales @ 7pm) | The Classic, Auckland Central | $
Image credit: The Classic Comedy Club | Instagram
Bossman got ya down? How about a wee Friday night fix of funny? The Classic, an Aotearoan institution of live comedy for the past quarter century, has you covered with their weekly L8 SHOW, kicking off at 10pm this Friday (and every other Friday, for that matter). A chance to peep eight of the hottest up-and-coming comedians on the local pro circuit before they blow up, plus gorge on their bar snack menu while they’re at it. Door sales are usually from 7pm, and booking is recommended for groups who might also want to visit neighbours Tanuki Sake Bar 7 Restaurant for a pre-gig feast.
Shake What Your Momma Gave Ya... For 50c An Hour
10pm-Late | Pointers Bar & Grill, Auckland CBD | $
Image credit: Nazim Ould | Instagram
La Latina is returning to where it all began with many consecutive hours of energy, rhythm, community and, of course, as much reggaeton as you can shake that booty to. The Latin Club has decided it's time to relive the magic at the original joint—Pointers—so this Friday you can expect a night (and early morning) filled with pure Latin energy, heavy perreo, salsa, dembow and all the classics and bangers you know and love. P.S. Online tix are only ten bucks, baby, so if you dance long enough, it will only cost something like, idk, 50c per hip-swivelling hour?
Saturday 23 August
Rummage Through Some Retro Riches
10am-4pm | Ponsonby Central | $-$$$
Image Credit: Ponsonby Central Vintage Market | Instagram
For the vintage vultures—this Saturday is another chance to get your mitts on some serious finds at the latest iteration of Ponsonby Central's Vintage Market. Each month, you may unearth a treasure trove of pre-loved goodies, from retro threads and funky furniture to quirky homewares and handmade art, and this month is much the same arrangement: doors fling open at 10am, entry is free, and the rummaging goes 'til 4pm. Make a day of it and refuel at one of Ponsonby Central's many gorge-worthy eateries afterwards—’cause treasure hunting is hungry work.
Strap-In For A Truly Wild Saturday
10am-1pm, Doors@ 9:45am | OORT Studio, 58 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn | $
Fancy a bit of quilting on a Saturday morning? I know you do, silly question. 2025 is the year of nana-ering your way through existential dread and global calamity. This is Quilting 101, brought to you by OORT studio, and this is on the top of my must-do list this glorious weekend.
Find The Mainline To The Right Brain
10.30am-12.30pm | Fickling Convention Centre, Three Kings | Free
My Cap'ain! My Cap'ain! In a double-dose of aesthetic expression, Mac O'Sullivan is putting on a collage x poetry session for those wishing to get their creative juices seriously flowin'. Seasoned poets, curious beginners or semi-Poes—come one, come all.
Get Yo Stuff Fixed For Free
From 11am | Te Mātāwai Café, Auckland CBD | Free/Koha
Image credit: Repair Café | Instagram
I'm bringing my broken stuff to the Repair Café's CBD spot (Te Mātāwai Café) this Saturday. Free fixes from actual legends who know what they're doing while I pretend I'm not completely hopeless with anything that’s more than one cable or two batteries. Join me from 11am, where these fix-it folks will offer much more than a simple “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” Donation/koha welcome.
Try Candle Play On The First Date
Various Sessions From 1pm | Milford Shopping Centre, Milford | $$
Image credit: Flame In Vintage | Instagram
No, not really. But candle making? Flame In Vintage reckon it’s a great idea for a date, and I happen to agree. Every Saturday from 1pm at Milford Mall, but ya gotta book! And yes, that's a candle.
Find Out What Cracking Toast Plus Classical Instruments Equals
2pm & 4pm | Aotea Centre, Auckland CBD | $$$
Image credit: TM Aardman/W&G Ltd.
Auckland Philharmonia are finally tackling the big stuff. The classics. I'm talking some serious high-art, folks. Cheese and Crackers #7, Synthony du Mauvais Pantalon... yep, it's Wallace & Gromit in Concert, complete with live music, custom animations and classic movie clips, including 'The Wrong Trousers' screened in full.
Get Grooved By Some Kiwi Icons Out West
3-10pm | The Trusts Arena, Henderson | $$$
Image credit: Sunflower Sessions Photography | Instagram
L.A.B., Stan Walker, Aaradhna, Nesian Mystik, Te Wehi... say less. AND at Trusts Arena? If it were any more laid back, it would be horizontal. What. A. Gig.
Sunday 17 August
Sweat With The Best
9-11am, Doors @ 8.45am | The Sapphire Room, Ponsonby Central | $
Image credit: LSKD | Instagram
Heard the latest? LSKD are setting up shop in Pons Central next weekend, and as a bit of an early taster-tester-teaser, they're hosting a 45-minute sweat sesh at Sapphire Room on Sunday morning. $10 to be 1% better a weekend early with coffee, snacks and goodies all awaiting post workout. Hell yeah.
Get Your Van Gogh Going With A Hit Of Caffeine
2-4pm | Café Greenfingers, Remuera | $$
Image credit: Petal & Posie | Instagram
I'm always recommending a good paint and sip session for your weekend. But I suppose there's only so much amateur magic one can achieve with a canvas and some wine, and where does the line between drunk and savant really end? Let’s swap the mediums and see what happens: Petal & Posie x Café Greenfinger's Coffee & Colour - Daytime Vase Sip & Paint is two wholesome hours of pretending wobbly brush strokes are "abstract" while painting a cute vase for those post-Sunday-market flowers. And yup, coffee to properly fuel your creativity.
Experience An Empowering Evening Of Boudair
From 4.30pm | Enamoured Books, Remuera | $$
Image credit: Tease Me Boudair | Instagram
This will be the most seriously sexy Sunday you've had in recent times, I'm sure of it. Enamoured books—the ever-steamy merchants of romantic fiction are welcoming Sophie White AKA Tease Me Boudair, for "an afternoon of connecting to your sexual self through learning about the art of boudoir." It all kicks off from 4.30pm, but be sure to snag your tickets early in the week, as this is one of the last workshops Sophie will run before she calls a bittersweet end to TMB come November.
Score Some Brownie Points By Suggesting This Date Night
6-8pm | Everybody Eats Onehunga or Glenn Inness | Pay What You Can
Image credit: Everybody Eats | Instagram
The good folks at Everybody Eats provide their stomach-filling services to three premises around the country every single week. It's a pay-what-you-can sitch, with the first arrivals served typically those who are in serious need of a nutritious meal. Everything's donated, even the time of the volunteers, and without a few paying patrons, it would struggle to do the greatness that is so thoroughly does. So pop into Onehunga or Glenn Innes from 6-8pm Sunday to Thursday for a delicious three-course chef-prepared meal for a cause.
Cap Off Your Weekend With Some Comedy
7-9pm | Cardboard Comedy Club, Kingsland | $
Cardboard Comedy Club is Tāmaki's latest and greatest dedicated standup venue, and they're rolling out the laughs from the heart of Kingsland. In fact, they're so new, they don't even have a sign, and yep, the showroom is made from cardboard. Regardless of the clandestine arrangement, every Sunday they throw a free gig featuring comedy pros, a few fresh faces and a bunch of new material for you, the esteemed guinea pig. Kicks off at seven sharp, and runs no later than 9pm, so you can get your beauty sleep before the week ahead.
Then, Dust Off Your Very Best Mink
9-11pm | Caretaker, Auckland CBD | Free For Patrons
Smooth, flowing, late-night jazz at an underground alleyway cocktail club. It's either the ideal date idea or the perfect chance to live out your neo-noir dreams of sitting in the shadowed corner, sipping on something stiff and sitting back to enjoy one of Caretaker's Junglebird Jazz and Cocktail nights.
All Weekend
Lock-In For A Live-Stream
Every night From 7.30pm | Roundhead Studios Online | Free To Stream
Image credit: INFINITY SESSIONS/Dave Dobbyn | Instagram
Deep down in the grey doldrum of midwinter, you might be aching for a pick-me-up of sorts. Who could blame you? Kiwi muso icon Neil Finn and Roundhead Studios have sensed as much and, as such, have gathered together a big bunch of friends to bring you the INFINITY SESSIONS. This weekend it's Bic Runga with CHAII on Friday, Tiny Ruins with Jazmine Mary Saturday, and Sunday is Troy Kingi. And although the limited in-studio tickets are all gone, the good news is, you can sit back in the comfort of your own couch and stream all these legendary sounds for free.
All that weekend planning left you hangry? Check out The Feed.
Main image credit: L.A.B. | Instagram.
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