FROM THE EDITOR
It’s ‘Dry July’, which is why The Curious AF Bottle Shop has a pop-up in Ponsonby Central for the whole month. As more people continue to look at their relationship with alcohol and how they are drinking, the ‘sober curious’ movement is gaining momentum. This has seen a rise in the number of alcohol-free drink options available and the opening of New Zealand's first-ever alcohol-free pop up bottle shop in Ponsonby Central by Kiwi entrepreneur and founder of AF Drinks and Eat My Lunch, Lisa King. Open until 31st July 2022, The Curious AF Bottle Shop is offering New Zealanders the opportunity to taste and buy some of the world’s finest alcohol-free drinks, including all nine of the AF Drinks range and a curated collection of wine, beer and spirits from around the globe. For those readers who can’t give up for the whole month, Helene Ravlich’s editorial ‘Top of the Tipples’ has got you covered. With the cooler weather most definitely making its presence known, now is the perfect time to settle in at home with a glass – or bottle – of your favourite winter tipple close at hand. And whether you’re out for dinner, binge-watching ‘Stranger Things’ on the couch or entertaining a crowd, there’s a plethora of delicious winter-friendly beverages available to suit any taste, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. At this time I would ask our readers and friends to keep our colleague John Elliott in your thoughts and prayers. He remains seriously ill and is recovering at home. He is my mentor and a friend with a good sense of what drives our community. I miss his sage counsel. Our letters page continues to be popular with eight this month.
TRIED & TRUSTED IN TRYING TIMES
Gilbert & George
Late last month just as we went to press, Evan Woodroffe and I had a great afternoon interviewing and filming British icons, the human sculptures, Gilbert & George. I have had many encounters with the pair including a lunch with them 29 years ago at Pellicci in East London. I also saw them at one of their most controversial exhibitions at the South London Gallery, again at The Tate, and then at Dennis Severs’ home and later at his funeral (he was a neighbour of theirs in Spitalfields). Don’t miss their exhibition which runs until 11 September at Auckland Art Gallery. (MARTIN LEACH) PN
M AT T & RYA N N 1 I N G R E Y LY N N*
“My confidence in you and the team has never wavered and I thank you for your efforts in bringing the saga to an unconditional conclusion” Margaret- Grey Lynn
Matt O’Rourke 021 375 909
Ryan Harding 021 621 580
m.orourke@barfoot.co.nz
r.harding@barfoot.co.nz
* G re y Ly n n b ra n c h - ye a r e n d i n g M a rc h 2 0 2 2
PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2022
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