Emma Clark-Dow

Oct 6, 2024 | concreteplayground.com | Sarah Templeton |Emma Clark-Dow

Lifting the curse that once hung over the corner of Britomart‘s Gore and Tyler Streets, alma is the light, bright and fabulous all-day eatery inspired by the food and culture of Andalusia, the region bordering Spain’s southern coast. Not only is the fit-out one of the best in the city, but the menu travels through seasons, incorporating produce and localities across a selection of flamed-kissed small plates. You might be confronted with some ingredients you’ve never heard of — zaalouk, anyone?

Mar 18, 2024 | concreteplayground.com | Emma Clark-Dow

Following a successful international run in Melbourne, Venice, Taipei and Shanghai, artists Luke George and Daniel Kok are bringing their exhibition Still Lives to Auckland for the first time. This thought-provoking work uses female-identifying rugby players to form a static human artwork, placing the players in a scrum position and tying them together with ropes.

Mar 18, 2024 | concreteplayground.com | Emma Clark-Dow

Parnell is getting a food market that's already a step above your average weekend jaunt — it'll be open all week long. 269 is set to open mid-2024, featuring seven permanent vendor spaces as well as a weekend market boasting an array of Latin American, European and Mediterranean food and drinks.

Mar 18, 2024 | concreteplayground.com | Emma Clark-Dow

Auckland's Grand Millennium Hotel has welcomed a brand new restaurant and bar, adding another two dining spots to their offering, which includes the sensory experience of Dans Le Noir, Dining in the Dark. The restaurant, Ember, is a bistro that encompasses the international palates of the hotel's many global visitors, while the Aviary Cocktail Bar is a slice of luxury for those wanting everything from a negroni in the evening to a cappuccino in the morning — or the other way around.

Mar 15, 2024 | concreteplayground.com | Emma Clark-Dow

Who said loving chocolate was just for children? Following a sold-out festival in 2021, Chocstock is making its triumphant return on Friday, June 21–Sunday, June 23. This weekend-long festival is a celebration of chocolate for adults, with craft chocolate makers hailing from Australia, the Pacific and right here in Aotearoa showing off their skills on Wellington's stunning waterfront. The festival has tripled in size since the first event in 2021, when only ten chocolate makers took part.