Karangahape Road, Auckland, in 1910. Rendell’s Fashion House, George Court and Sons, Jas Clarkson, the British Photographic Studio and The Frisco Candy Kitchen. There is a car on the road as well as carts and pedestrians with a pram
Don’t you think Frisco Candy Kitchen would be a great name for a K Road bar? Or maybe just a high end chocolate shop, selling salted caramels and stretchy taffy. I miss this place, and I never stop dreaming for it.
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In 1977, photographer Robin Morrison produced a calendar featuring the local faces and businesses of Ponsonby, Auckland. Some have disappeared over the years, while others, like Bhana Brothers are still going strong. (Bhana has always been my favourite place to buy flowers in Auckland.)
Dick Armstrong’s – affectionately known as Dirty Dick’s (now State of Grace)
Arthur Cooper, Barber, Jervois Road (now Pure Restaurant, 186 Jervois Road)
Peter Rogers Art Deco (still Peter Rogers, Real Time, 74 Ponsonby Road)
Tony Burrows, the Mussel Man, Ponsonby (now Plants and Pots, corner O’Neill St and Ponsonby Rd)
John Moller, Funeral Director, & Noball (70 Ponsonby Road, now the site of the Quest Hotel)
Ivan, Ivan’s Restaurant, Ponsonby Road (now Chapel Bar & Restaurant)
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I am still enjoying the virtual travel lark. Here are some of my former residences in Auckland – from childhood to just last week. We moved around a lot, so there are quite a few far-flung addresses. I was feeling a little sentimental, and wanted to revisit some of these places, but really, who has the time?
My favourite picture is of Vermont St, Ponsonby; a big rambling flat next to a mosque. My favourite home? The one not on street view…
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The new stencil mural on Cross Street, by Auckland artist Flox:
It’s nice to see a little colour around here.
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Saturday afternoon lunch with my family at the Jade Dragon. The food was good, the people better. My family is hilarious, especially my little sister Courtney. However, it was a little emotional (cue me weeping over Thom’s shumai) because it was the last chance I had to see my grandmother before the big move. I’m going to send her lots of postcards though, so she better watch out.
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Celebrating the art of small press, every year the Auckland Zinefest gets bigger and better (Auckland Zinefests of yore: 2010 and 2009). The festival was scheduled to coincide with international zine month, July, and incorporated a month-long calendar of DIY and self publishing activities. Tessa puts her heart and soul into running the event, and it was wonderful to take part in it.
On July 16, St. Kevins Arcade hosted a day of markets, workshops and talks for both old hands with the long-arm stapler, and those new to the cut & paste scene. It was cool to see people come from all over the country for the event, and the joy on the faces of those who just wandered in off the street. Here are some photos from the main Zinefest event:
(Even the pup was having a great time)
The after party was held later that night at the Wine Cellar – friends, karaoke, cupcakes, pinball and hijinks. Noting my prowess for hocking goods, I was asked to design a sign for the special Zinefest only red wine punch. Fruity, friendly and utterly delicious. Do you think maybe there’s a career for me in this?
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With departure imminent, I am trying to tick all the Auckland boxes I have just never got round to…. One of these to-do’s was a visit to Martha’s Backyard, the local USA food and clothing emporium. I have no pictures of the shop, but a few photos of the bounty and some sub-par junk food reviews!
There was also some Big Red soda which tasted just like cinnamon bubble gum. Next time? More soda, perhaps some Lucky Charms and wheatie, sugary Life cereal, some of those “smore” flavoured pop tarts (they have a big range), and yes, an essential tub of marshmallow whip…
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The light is just so in the Alleluyah end of arcade; meaning I can’t help but try and record it every time I visit. And there’s one table in particular, made of old floorboards, that has me enraptured. I am trying to limit my use of the word perfect, but this table just is.
That’s my gorgeous friend Laura. We had coffee in the midst of 2011′s Auckland Zinefest… more on that to come.
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cos·set/ˈkäsit/ verb: Care for and protect in an overindulgent way. Taking refuge from the winter winds that battered the city all weekend, the brunch club ventured out to suburbia out to Cosset, a sweet little café in Auckland’s Mt Albert. And indulge us they did.
It’s a warm and cozy place, filled with vintage furniture, stacks of magazines and lots of plants. The counter was stacked high with homemade bread and baking, and the staff were incredibly friendly. You can’t help but feel like you are taking tea in someone’s stylish living room.
I was delighted to discover that Cosset’s menu is entirely vegetarian, and was so delicious that the rest of the crew forgot about bacon. We ate: beans on toast with ripe avocado, coffee beans smothered in chocolate truffle, garlic mushrooms, and my pick of the day; toasted banana nut bread smeared with butter. We drank: star anise and feijoa sodas (made with Cosset’s own syrups), lavender lattes, and bracing Kokako coffee.
Oh boy, it was a lovely way to spend a lazy Sunday. With bellies full and minds humming from all the caffeine; we headed back to the car feeling, yes, cared for. I think we are all promising to ourselves that we will visit Cosset again soon.
Cosset
A. 1087 New North Rd, Mt Albert 1025
T. 09 846 0655
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Despite the calendar telling me it’s winter, I can’t quite believe it yet… There’s too much warm sunshine and colour everywhere. So what to do on a clear Sunday afternoon, with not much money and tummies full from breakfast galettes? The answer is walk, from the top of town to the bottom, from head to toe; peering in shiny windows packed with merchandise, and people watch, until the sun sets over the port.
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More glorious, crooked, colourful, peeling, perfect, typography from the streets of Newton. See part 1 of the fun here.
Some are actually different ‘crops’ of the same building. Once again, I love the details – the ribbed diamonds of the awning above the not-a-love-shop, tired neon signs, the stripes behind the fish shop hours and the way Suits To Measure is broken up (like a poem, or one of those best friends necklaces – Be fri & St ends).
It’s hard not to be stimulated and inspired around here. I hope where you live has just as many visual tidbits.
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I’m not savvy enough for Instagram (it’s for iPhones right?)….
But I do have a camera phone, and a pair of sunglasses with brown tints. I like the end result. And I like Sundays at Alleluyah – coffee, soup de jour, sunshine and hilarious company.
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I live in a place called Newton. I am very fond of the name Newton – it was my great grandfather’s English name. I also adore the names of the streets. The neighbourhood centers around one long strip – Karangahape Road (K Rd), and then there’s Mercury Lane, Cross Street, East Street, Pitt Street, Poynton Terrace… So without further ado, here is a selection of type and letters spotted around my favourite neighbourhood:
It pays to keep your eyes open. And look up.
{See part 2 – more Karangahape type – here!}
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Just wanted to share with you this gorgeous poster designed by my dear friend Tessa Stubbing. It’s a simple poster made of found images, but it really works. I want a print of this beauty for my new house.
The gig itself sounds pretty swell too! D. Burmester is touring his new alt-country album “The World Of Beast”, with support from Lubin Rains (The Vietnam War) and Ms. Ivy Rossiter, aka Luckless.
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Hello! My name is Amber Parkin. I'm a New Zealander living in London. I'm a writer obsessed with fondue, chesterfield sofas, vintage dresses, foxes, and 35mm.
Here I like to talk about fashion, design, food, travel, writing & books, and culture. Everything else (including my photography) goes into my digital notebook.
If you'd like to email me the address is amber@codeforsomething.com
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