Brown Bear Indulge Dunedin » News

Conan Mockasin coming to Dunedin

brownbear — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:08:21 +0000

Those of you who are in the know will have already found out that Conan Mockasin has just released his debut album, Please Turn Me Into The Snat, in New Zealand. And to celebrate, he’s touring the country! The four show tour will see Mockasin performing around New Zealand with his multi-talented band including Sam Eastgate (from top UK electro pop act Late of the Pier), Elroy Finn and Will Ricketts (The Phoenix Foundation). He will be in Port Chalmers at Chick’s Hotel on 20 March for one concert only – so get your skates on and get along!

The long awaited debut album Please Turn Me Into The Snat is an introduction for the uninitiated to the amazing world of Connan Mockasin, and a renewed pleasure for established followers – introducing characters from cats with larger-than-life personalities and unicorns in uniform, to alter egos such as Don Dicaprio. The album was written and recorded over 18 months in East Sussex, UK and an abandoned haunted house in Wellington.

Mar 20, from 8 pm, Chicks Hotel, 2 Mount St, Port Chalmers. Book it: www.eventfinder.co.nz & Cosmic Corner, $23.50.

Travel out of town for the Waimate Strawberry Fare tomorrow!

brownbear — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:08:49 +0000

Tomorrow sees Waimate host its annual Strawberry Fare, as thousands of visitors converge on the town for this ever-growing summer event. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m all for something sweet and delicious that you can also dip in chocolate or eat with icecream. I’ll be streaking up to Waimate with my biggest basket to forage for the delicious red berries. I won’t forget to investigate what’s on offer at the market stalls, either – I fancy a good rummage for some crafty Christmas surprises and some treats to stock the larder for the holidays.

Once I’m replete, though, I won’t have to go home – I can relax in my deckchair and watch some of the free street entertainment – or even stay for dinner, and to enjoy the music at the Meridian Strawberry Jam!

Waimate Strawberry Fare – Seddon Square and Boland Park, Waimate, December 12 from 10:30 am

Trade Aid urges: Give Good Gifts

brownbear — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:20:32 +0000

Trade Aid is asking us to think ethically and globally when we buy gifts this year: the global recession has hit the poor of the world much harder than the more wealthy nations. As one village woman from India said to Trade Aid’s founder, Vi Cottrell, “Yes, yes, but where is the rice for my grandchildren?”

Trade Aid gifts are a great choice because they are beautiful, unique and handcrafted. You know they will be ethical because they come from an organisation dedicated to giving the poorest workers in the world a fair price in exchange for their efforts, and at the same time, because they are fair trade goods, they are much more likely to be produced in a sustainable way. And when you give a gift from Trade Aid, you give twice – once to your loved one and once to the person who produced the gift!

So pop down to Trade Aid and see what they have – there’s a huge range and you can find something to suit virtually anyone! Christmas gifts, food, men’s and women’s gifts, and of course there are things for children, for the home and for fun! Lots of the goods are green, so you can shop there for the greenies in your life!

Find out more about Trade Aid, find your local branch and get tips on being a responsible shopper, at www.tradeaid.org.nz

iD Fashion Show set to go ahead in greater style than ever!

brownbear — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:14:17 +0000

Those who wish to indulge their taste for the cutting edge of high fashion won’t want to miss the iD Dunedin Fashion Show, now running on two consecutive nights, Friday 12 March and Saturday 13 March 2010.

After initial fears that funding wouldn’t be available for this year’s show, this fantastic community event is returning triumphant for an 11th year, bringing together a spectacular line-up of designers and emerging talent on the platform of the city’s captivating Victorian Railway Station. As Susie Staley, Chair of the iD Dunedin Fashion Committee, says:

“Our announcement of the line-up for the iD Fashion Show is confirmation of our commitment to the iD Dunedin Fashion Week. It’s full steam ahead and we are confident of providing a thrilling, engaging fashion week in March 2010.”

Sixteen labels will appear on stage, including crowd favourites Nom*D, Carlson and Mild Red. New to the iD Show is menswear label Rembrandt and Company of Strangers, who will feature alongside the ever popular Cherry Cotton Candy, twentysevennames and Charmaine Reveley

Sara Aspinall of Company of Strangers cut her fashion teeth working for six years with Nom*D’s Margarita Robertson after graduating from Otago Polytechnic. Company of Strangers gives second hand clothing a second chance in her 2010 winter collection, “Misery Loves Company”.

The 2010 Capsule Collections will see the return of Iris (Annette Cadogan), Jane Sutherland, Elusiv (Nicola Reilly) and BurtenShaw (Cheryl Burtenshaw) together with new designers Vaughan Geeson, Lou & Ash (Ava Sanders), and Lela Jacobs.

Originally a Southlander, Vaughan Geeson (also an Otago Polytechnic grad) celebrates his Dunedin roots by returning to the place where he gained his Diploma of Fashion Design to show his third season collection, Winter 2010. This year Vaughan relaunched his namesake womenswear label with a range for winter 2009 that was picked up by Japanese store Boutique Bb.

Complementing the line up of established designers will be five outstanding collections from 2009 Otago Polytechnic Fashion School graduates. Selected from a field of 21, the graduates are: Roxanna Zamani, Sophie Hardy, Bailey Meredith, Siobhan Moroney and Brigid Steeper. Selected by a panel comprised of: Tim Pollock (Dunedin Public Art Gallery), Diann Waugh (Waughs), Charmaine Reveley (fashion designer) and Tania Grey (Plume), the graduates will show alongside the winners of the iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards.

The Otago Polytechnic School of Fashion has helped to launch the careers of many talented New Zealand designers. The Polytechnic collaborates with other institutions, the city and the Dunedin Fashion Incubator (Dfi), making it a popular choice for would-be designers to hone their skills and learn the techniques they need to launch onto the increasingly crowded fashion industry.

We eagerly await future announcements!