MIDWINTER MAGIC
It might be grey outside, but the Christmas spirit will light up the inside of Alberton - that and a whole lot of flowers. Nearly every room in the grand Victorian mansion will be dressed and lit with festive floral art and creative Christmassy displays as part of exhibition Midwinter Magic, designed by members of the Mt Roskill Floral Art Society. Additional displays created by La Lumiere will illuminate the halls, and there will be a pop-up tearoom.
Now to July 17, 10.30-4pm, Alberton, 100 Mt Albert Rd, Mt Albert. Admission $10 adults. $5 members. Gold coin donation for kids.
IMAGINATION STATION
Motat is running a series of activities created to engage young minds, with new interactive fun to be had every weekend. July will feature Strawbees, an engineering toy that encourages trial-and-error-based learning.
Every Saturday and Sunday in July, 10am - 5pm, Motat, 805 Great North Rd, Western Springs, Auckland. For more information: Phone 0800 MOTATNZ (0800 668 286)
PROM TIME
Feeling a bit discouraged after Brexit? Cheer yourself up with a good dose of British pomp and ceremony. Last Night of the Proms features the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and more than 150 performers, including Celtic dancers and bagpipers, organist Philip Smith, solo cellist Sarah Spence, and Auckland choir Stellar Singers.
July 2, 7.30pm, Bruce Mason Centre and July 3, 5.30pm, Auckland Town Hall. Tickets $60 per adult, from Ticketmaster.
LEGO DAY
Kohia Terrace School will host its own Lego exhibition to raise funds for a Year 12 and 13 student trip to Fiji, where attendees will help at the Loloma orphanage and Sabeto school. There will be displays from the Auckland Lego user group, a Minecraft expert's interactive workshop, competitions, buckets of Lego to play with, a sausage sizzle and bake sale.
July 3, 10-4pm, Kohia Terrace School, Kohia Tce, Epsom (just off Gillies Ave). Tickets $8 - door sales only, eftpos available.
BRICK MAN EXPERIENCE
Think you're pretty flash when it comes to Lego? Got a pretty good turret up your sleeve? It's likely your skills will pale compared to Ryan McNaught, the only Lego-certified professional in the Southern Hemisphere. In Auckland and Hamilton he will show 60 works using 5 million Lego bricks, including his biggest ever Star Wars build, a model Airbus A380, a quarter scale Ferrari and the world's largest Lego flower.
Till July 24, ASB Showgrounds, Auckland. July 29-August 14, Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton. July 29-August 14. Exhibition sessions daily.
PICTURE THIS
The World Press Photo Exhibition features compelling images by photojournalists from around the world. The exhibition provides a striking perspective of the world we live in.
Today, till July 24. Level 6, Smith and Caughey's, Auckland
POLICE WOMEN
It's been 75 years since women joined the police, and Motat is celebrating the milestone. It will be marked by demonstrations by the Armed Offenders Squad, Search and Rescue Team and Dog and Maritime Units, exhibitions of historical Police communications equipment, and a display of Motat's collection alongside current Police vehicles and forensic imaging and fingerprinting activities. There will be a fashion show of current and vintage police uniforms.
July 3, 10am-4pm Motat: 805 Great North Rd, Western Springs, Auckland
LIVE STORIES
Get the story behind the stories with The Pantograph Punch. Four storytellers - Newshub weather presenter Kanoa Lloyd, theatre-maker Rob Mokaraka, private investigator Anna Jeffs and Shortland Street story editor Harry McNaughton - will star in an evening of risk-taking live storytelling. The Other Side of the Story will cover tales from inside the writer's room of the nation's favourite soap to days spent watching other's lives.
July 4, Herald Theatre, 7.30pm. Tickets $25 or $20 for Pantograph Punch members, from Ticketmaster.
PLAN AHEAD:
Next week: STELLAR
Interactive light displays, delicious street food and entertainment - Smales Farm is next weekend's after-dark family destination. The lighting installation includes the New Zealand debut of three works by Angus Muir Design, part of Vivid Sydney, alongside an LED play zone for kids and feature lighting around the farm. Last year 15,000 people visited the event, which celebrates Matariki.
July 8-10, 5pm until 10pm, Smales Farm, 74 Taharoto Rd, Takapuna. Entry is free. See smalesfarm.co.nz or follow on Facebook.
Next month: CELLO CHARMS
It's the charmer of the violin family, and in August the cello will be heard in all its glory when international musician Daniel Yeadon hits our shores. The Australian cellist will join the New Zealand Baroque Orchestra in concert for two Auckland dates only, playing a programme featuring works from the masters including Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Mozart. Yeadon, who lectures at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, makes his New Zealand debut.
August 6, 7.30pm and August 7, 2pm, St Luke's Church, Remuera. Tickets at iticket.co.nz.
We have a fabulous giveaway for one lucky family, thanks to Auckland Council, Auckland Live, Auckland Art Gallery and MOTAT.
• Win a school holiday learn to swim programme and a three-month fitness centre membership, including five personal training sessions (both at the centre of your choice, listed on the voucher)
• A family Indoor Rock Climbing session at Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre.
• A double pass to Space to Dream - Auckland Art Gallery's colourful and vibrant exhibition of recent art from South America, which has a family trail.
• A family pass to MOTAT.
• A family pass to the Aotea Square Ice Rink. There's plenty on offer during this year's programme including themed weekends, foam parties and the epic 35-metre ice slide.
To enter, visit winwiththeherald.co.nz and enter the code word WEEKENDWIN by 11:59pm Wednesday July 8.
