Monthly Archives: June 2022

Where have you been, asked my neighbour. I enthused about the pub meal I'd just enjoyed. "I'd forgotten about that place, it's been years since I went there." There was a time when the Plume of Feathers was renowned as one of THE pubs to dine in Cornwall. It's understandable why it may have fallen off my neighbour's radar.

Not because the standard has dropped, but because everywhere else has pulled up its collective socks in the past decade or so. Cornwall is now one of the best places to eat out in the UK, so the choice and quality has improved manifold since the Plume ran the roost.

However, it deserves to be talked up again among the very best dining pubs in Cornwall - the Three Pilchards in Polperro, Pennycomequick and Star & Garter in Falmouth, Rising Sun and Heron Inn in Truro, St Kew Inn, Gurnard's Head at Zennor and the Mariners in Rock all spring to mind.

Read more: Cornwall's restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes you must visit in June

Situated a stone's throw from the A30, if Cornwall was the sort of place to have a commuter belt then Mitchell would be it - equidistant as it is from Truro and Newquay. The village once straddled the old A30 but has got a lot quieter since it was bypassed. It hides a lot of history - its first recorded mention was in 1234 and it was renowned for holding markets and fairs on the Feast of Saint Francis. Good piece of pub quiz action this - both Walter Raleigh and Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, were MPs representing Mitchell.

It became the place to be during the 1960s folk boom thanks to the legendary Folk Cottage, which played host to burgeoning big names including Wizz Jones, Jacqui McShee, Incredible String Band co-founder Clive Palmer, Michael Chapman and Ralph McTell, who doesn't live that far away to this day.

Now it's most famous for two things - Mitchell Fruit Garden, where you can pick your own strawberries, raspberries and more (believe me, it's a brilliant family day out on a summer's day) and the 16th century coaching inn. That olde worlde rural charm is still there but sympathetically fluffed up with some modern cool, including 20 rooms converted from the pub's original barns, stables and hen houses.

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One of the Plume's most unusual features is the ancient well in the heart of the pub which you stand on top of thanks to a glass section of flooring. Fresh spring water flows below. The pub itself is a mix of the old (huge, gnarly wooden beams and granite walls), the cosy (eat by an open fire) and the new (the light and airy conservatory dining area which is beautifully sun-kissed on a good day). There is a place for everyone - bright spaces for large family gatherings and special occasions, dark little corners for besotted lovers.

I had a sneaky peek at the menu online before visiting just to get the juices flowing and it's one of those where the choice is impressive and a bit overwhelming. On visiting, I asked the obliging waiter what he would go for - he chose well. 'Squid and bacon' may sound like a simple starter, but this is pub food with delusions of grandeur, though it's far from deluded.

Crispy crackling squid puts its friendly little tentacle around maple belly pork rasher and gives it a tweak with burnt apple puree, bacon jam, charred gem and sherry caramel. It's a beauty. Head chef Andrew Dudley and his team seek out the best local suppliers and this is a great example of Cornish produce at its best.

It's also a bit of a multicultural menu too - Korean fried tofu is a particularly popular starter as is The Nurse's choice, Mexican prawns - marinated prawns, chunky guacamole, charred gem lettuce, salsa, spicy Mexican mayo and cheesy breadsticks. I nicked some of the latter - deliciosa. Starters range from 6 to 9.50 and also include mackerel on toast, ham and cheese croquette, and the intriguing Walnut Whip - whipped goats curd, candied walnut crumb, frozen blackberries, torched fig, BBQ beetroot, watercress, honeycomb, burnt orange and honey oat crumble. See, this isn't your standard fish and chips gaff (though that's on the menu too).

Mains are priced from 16 to 25 and prove that 'something for everyone' isn't a clich. Want it vegan or veggie? How about a hedgerow risotto or spiced jack fruit and smoked tofu burger. Want it traditional? There's sirloin and rump steak and a range of burgers? Want it a bit more exotic? Malaysian chicken curry, Cornish homity pie or pan fried salt and citrus hake should see you right.

Even when it sounds pretty straightforward, Andrew is working his magic. 'Ham and egg' is a lot more than 'ham and egg'. Honey glazed ham is served with Scotch egg, cheesy ham hock and leek croquettes (again nicked by me and, again, excellent), pickles, onion relish and slaw.

I bowed down to the waiter's knowledge and chose the Mexican BBQ. Not for the fainthearted or small of appetite, this wonderful plate of food features smoked and spiced beef brisket (which manages to be both heady and delicate), Mexican pulled pork, charred corn, sweet potato fries, corn mole, fried chicken wings, guacamole, sour cream, tortilla and Mexican slaw. It's as good as anything you'll get in a traditional Mexican restaurant.

The food here's hearty so there was only room for one dessert but, again, what a choice (prices range from 2.50 for a scoop of ice cream or sorbet to 9 for a knickerbocker glory) . Every kid will be tempted by 'Paddington Bears marmalade sandwich', bitter marmalade sauce, candied zest, orange sherbet, caramel shards, orange biscuit crumble with a mango, and a lime and passion fruit sorbet. Then you might get pudding envy when you spot someone being served 'I love strawberries' - which looks like an explosion at a fairground; strawberry candyfloss and all manner of loveliness dedicated to everyone's favourite summer fruit.

I went for the relatively simple but effective 'coffee jar' - a jar of tiramisu alongside espresso ice cream, cranberry and pistachio biscotti. Bleddy 'ansum as they've been saying in Mitchell for years. This is ingenious pub food which needs to be experienced. It's definitely worth taking that detour off the A30 for - I've already told my forgetful neighbour to drive there.

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Ingenious pub food at the Plume of Feathers is worth the detour off the A30 in Cornwall - Cornwall Live

Though its often overshadowed by larger events of the era, Americas first rock festival the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival was held June 10 and 11, 1967, at Mount Tamalpais in Northern California. The location was a natural choice. The Summer of Love was blooming in nearby San Francisco and the hippie counterculture was ready to join together in celebration. Local radio station KFRC hosted the event, with profits from ticket sales (which cost $2 each) benefiting local charities.

Up until this point, outdoor music festivals had been more subdued affairs, focused on jazz or folk.

Maria Muldaur, who performed at the Fantasy Fair with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, told Rolling Stone that the portent of things turning into rock festivals was when [Bob] Dylan first played electric at Newport [in 1965]. The alternative lifestyle the hipsters, the jazz aficionados were already drawn to Newport, but things were a little more buttoned-down and straight. There were still vestiges of the '50s.

As Americas first rock fest, the Fantasy Fair would dramatically change the festival blueprint.

For starters, road access to the picturesque festival site was limited. Attendees had to park in nearby Marin and take rented school buses to the event, dubbed the Trans-Love bus line. Meanwhile, the local Hells Angels motorcycle gang was enlisted to keep the peace.

They were not hired, festival co-producer Tom Rounds later clarified. It was their turf and we needed their support. I dont think it was our intention to use them as security; it was just our intention to have them present to be fearsome. [Laughs.] It was totally nonconfrontational, just them being there said, OK, theres law and order.

The Fantasy Fair also played up its theme, with decorations including a giant inflatable Buddha balloon and banners displaying each astrological sign. Booths and tents housed a wide array of local merchants selling food, jewelry, handmade candles, clothing, bongs and almost any other trinket you could dream up.

The fair part was based on the Renaissance Fairs where people dressed up in costumes for period pieces and they had jugglers, acrobats and people reciting old poetry, noted Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady. It was part of the whole attraction of the festival of having various talented people in their community able to express their talent in so many different ways.

There were kids sliding down the hill on cardboard, people selling trinkets and incense, painting faces, all kinds of people in the woods smoking pot that was the most amazing thing, photographer Elaine Mayes told Marin Magazine.

There were cops everywhere, and nobody paid any attention. That had never happened before.

Watch Fan-Shot Footage FromFantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival

Despite all the accoutrement, the Fantasy Fair was still a music festival. Organizers delivered an eclectic lineup, including Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, Dionne Warwick, the Byrds, Steve Miller Blues Band and in one of their biggest gigs outside of L.A. at that point the Doors.

I remember seeing the Doors and thinking it was more theater than music, John York, who was playing with the Byrds at the time, later recalled. Jim [Morrison] was like Hamlet or Macbeth; hes created some kind of a character that generates this energy where people want to see what happens next.

Unfortunately, the Doors singer wasn't exactly on his game.

Morrison was shit-faced drunk and there were these two poles on the corner of the stage that held lighting, long-time San Francisco music critic Joel Selvin later recalled. He was swinging around it. One minute he was there, the other, he wasnt. He fell off the stage about 15 feet, but came back and finished the song like nothing happened.

See Footage of the Doors at Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival

The Doors' performance was just one of the weekend's memorable moments. The Byrds delivered their set with a stagehand as their drummer. He had no idea who we were; he just recognized that we were four guys on stage with guitars and a bass but no drummer, York recalled. Unable to find a spare set of drumsticks, the stagehand played using the broken-off legs of a coffee table. He didnt know the songs. He just listened to the music and played. And no one was upset with what he sounded like.

Still, the trippiest performance of the fest belonged to Captain Beefheart. During his Magic Bands second song, something came over namesake frontman Don Van Vliet.

Don completely froze, drummer John French said. I see Don turn around, panicked, and walk off the back of the stage like there was no drop and fall off. According to French, Van Vliet suffered an intense acid flashback. He was looking down at this girl [from the stage] and her face turned into a fish and bubbles came out of her mouth. Captain Beefheart wasnt the only one seeing things at the Fantasy Fair. By all accounts, drug use was rampant. Everybody was doing acid, if nothing else, admitted Art Resnick of the band Salvation. It was San Francisco in the Summer of Love, for Christs sake. After all the drugs and shit, man, I dont even remember playing.

WatchAmateur Footage From Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival

The Fantasy Fair was celebrated by attendees and hailed in the local press as a huge success. The San Francisco Chronicle described it as wild sound and wild colors, skydivers and side-shows, bizarre hippies from the Haight-Ashbury and T-shirted fraternity boys from Cal, young people necking. ... There was something for everybody.

Despite breaking new ground and establishing many elements that are still used in music festivals today, the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain event has been largely forgotten. The Monterey Pop Festival took place a week later followed by 1969s Woodstock, and they are commonly held as the eras most historically significant fests.

[Fantasy Fair] was a weekend that symbolized how we were and how we felt at the time, singer-songwriter Penny Nichols later explained. By the time Monterey comes around, now were all feeling self-aware of how important we are.

Here's a chronological look at the 100 best rock albums of the '60s.

Jim Morrison is Part of Rocks Tragic 27 Club

Originally posted here:

America's First Rock Festival: Drugs, Hells Angels and the Doors - Ultimate Classic Rock

How do I order food?! and other good things to know if youre visiting Japan this summer for the first time since before the start of the pandemic.

With Japan preparing to greatly increase the number of international tourists and relax certain immigration procedures on June 10, there are likely to be many first-time visitors to the country finally able to fulfill their pre-pandemic travel plans. At the same time, even frequent travelers to the country will likely be stepping foot inside the borders for the first time in years. In my case, Im part of the latter group but actually arrived three weeks ago on a work-related family visa and will be in Tokyo for the duration of the summer.

Its been five years since I last visited Japan in 2017 (my March 2020 plans to visit were derailed), nine years since I worked at a Japanese junior high school, and 12 years since I studied abroad in Tokyo. Apart from the slight shock that comes from living in a small, rural town in the U.S. and suddenly finding myself in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, Ive often found myself thinking Huh? Was it always like this? on multiple occasions over the past few weeks. Im not just referring to things that can be expected to change as time goes by, like stations being remodeled, the sales tax now being systematically noted in prices, or stores opening and closing (though seriously, what do you mean theres a Pokmon Center Tokyo DX AND a Pokmon Center Mega now?!), but more like different ways of doing things. The following is a short list of these personal takes on little things about daily life that feel different to me since my last visit.

By the way, the permanent Pokmon Caf is also new since five years ago!

Disclaimer: These reflections are entirely mine and mine alone. It could be that my memory stinks, or that I was just oblivious to certain things in the past and am now noticing them all the time (the frequency illusion). It could also be the fact that my Japan lens is more focused on the happenings of the northeastern Tohoku region, which is where Ive spent the duration of my time living and working in the country. In any case, I hope readers both outside of the country and within can find common ground with me on at least one of these items.

1. Hand sanitizer is EVERYWHERE

Im sure this is old news to anyone whos lived in Japan throughout the pandemic, but alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations are everywhere in Tokyo. Normally this kind of mundane observation wouldnt be interesting at all if not for the fact that they are truly EVERYWHERE here.

Five years ago, hand sanitizers were pretty much limited to supermarket entrances if anywhere, but now you cant go more than a few steps in a public space without spotting one. The entrance to every single store Ive been to has a sanitizer, often with a convenient foot pedal or automatic sensor so you dont have to touch the nozzle.

Foot pedal style of sanitizer station

Its also good to note that at certain stores, especially restaurants, staff will direct you to use sanitizer before they guide you inside, or may even spray it on your open palms using a squirt bottle.

Automatic sensor kind

When I was last in Japan five years ago, I remember one of my Japanese friends commenting on how American it was of me to whip out my little bottle of hand sanitizer from my purse as it was uncommon to use it in Japan back then. Now I dont even think twice about using it when I get on and off the train. As a further note, pandemic protection is such a concern in Japan that staff may possibly scan your temperature or ask you to stand in front of a thermal camera on rare occasions as well, as I had to do the other day while visiting a university class. Just be prepared to follow any guidelines about precautionary health measures that you may be directed to take in public spaces.

2. I can get takeout from pretty much anywhere now?!

Another thing which has caused me to do a double take on several occasions is seeing takeout menus and posters for takeout food plastered everywhere. I dont mean just at places designed for takeout, like those selling bento or drinks, but virtually all types of restaurants offer it now, too. Oftentimes a menu posted outside of the entrance of a restaurant will even note in English something like Takeout OK or indicate the specific dishes that can be ordered to go.

A sign outside of a small, neighborhood caf

Im guessing its directly the result of the pandemic, but to me this is a major shift from five years ago, when most cafes and sit-down restaurants in Tokyo never gave the option for food to-go.

A takeout sign spotted in Odaiba. This one also indicates that online ordering is possible.

Along these same lines, Ive seen many more Uber Eats and other food delivery bikers than I previously recall seeing as well. Im super curiouswill the next big change in Japans restaurant scene five years from now be the ability to take home leftovers?

3. QR codes to order food

Speaking of food, boy was I surprised the first time I sat down at a local restaurant for lunch, only to then be directed by the server to order my food through a QR code taped to the table. Huh? Maybe Ive been living under a rock all these years, and Ive since heard that this system is also being used in some countries like Australia and particularly at bars in the U.S. largely due to the pandemic,but this one was new to me. It seems to be a fairly common practice (but not the norm) here because Ive now encountered it at several eateries in Japan.

A meal by QR code within Shinagawa Station

While it seems pretty split as to whether an English version of the online ordering menu is available at any particular restaurant, they all seem to display good photos of the dishes.

Similarly, some fast food chains like Sukiya seem to have done away with ticket vending machines at a lot of branches and now offer multilingual tablets for ordering at each table.

In a way, the QR system makes me relieved because I dont have to engage in yelling sumimasen across the room to call a server over when Im ready to order something (other foreigner friends and I used to play janken to determine who got to do that dreaded task). On the other hand, I can see how this might create a slight dilemma for international travelers who dont have a smartphone, pocket wi-fi, or international data plan during their stay in Japan. If all else fails, ordering the analog way is still an option.

4. The Land of Point Cards has become the Land of Point Apps

Japan has always been the Land of Point Cards, much to my delight. After all, if I repeatedly pour my yen into a particular store, why wouldnt I like to be rewarded with an occasional incentive (Im looking pointedly at you, Book-OffIve probably spent a years worth of my salary at you over my lifetime). However, something new and unexpected now greets me at the register of almost every retail location I visitthe Point App, as Im thinking of dubbing it.

It happened the first morning I ventured out to order an iced coffee. Do you have our point card? the staff asked, as is standard practice. When I replied that no, I didnt, but would like to get one, she handed me a small document with instructions on how to download their point app. This didnt appear to pose an issue until later when I tried to download the app on my Android phone, only to be told that this app isnt available in your countrys Google Play Store. Darn, but oh well. It didnt bother me at first, but after running into the same issue at every new store I went to, it got to be more and more frustrating.

Now, I try asking if its possible to get a good old-fashioned paper card. Ive had about 50-50 successat some stores, they simply shake their heads and say they dont offer them anymore.

A fraction of my Japanese point card and members card collection, both old and new

Speaking of barcode wizardry, when buying my new Spy x Family t-shirt at Uniqlo the other day, I discovered this new setup. You simply place your bag of items on the right and the system can scan them all at onceeven over a dozen items. Wild!

5. Gates on train platforms

The last observation on my list today is that my first time riding a train in Tokyo again, it immediately struck me that many more JR lines now have automated gates on their platforms that only open when a train has arrived and come to a full stop. I vaguely recall this being the case at a number of particularly busy stations during my last visit (and certainly not where I had lived in the north at all), but now these gates seem much more common.According to official sources, the number of stations with gates in the Tokyo metropolitan area has rapidly increased since 2010, and records show that as of February 2022, 28 out of 30 stations on the popular Yamanote Line have gates. Furthermore, East Japan Rail announced in 2018 that its goal is to install gates at 330 train stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area by 2032, so they really are becoming more commonplace.Theyre certainly a welcome development to prevent all kinds of accidents and other unfortunate euphemistic-sounding delay notices that you might encounter around the city.

The gates on a JR Yamanote Line platform

Despite all of these little differences that Ive observed for myself, Ive found an equal number of things about daily life in Japan to be comfortingly familiar. Certain store jingles are still exactly the same (If youre selling books, its Book-Off ). I still want to bring ALL of the cute stationery at Loft home with me. Starbucks Japans limited-time seasonal drinks are still delicious. French fry portions are still way too small for my potato-loving comfort (unfortunately I missed Freshness Burgers 25 percent portion increase for free earlier this year). My 12-year old Suica transportation card still works like a charm. Japanese people are still pros at courteously lining up for anything. Elementary school students still walk themselves to and from school every day. I can still pass through a city block only to discover a tranquil Shinto shrine sandwiched between two high-rises. It makes me think, Oh yes, this is Japanand that will never change.

Reference: Reports for the FutureAbout Railway and InfrastructureAll images SoraNews24 Want to hear about SoraNews24s latest articles as soon as theyre published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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How life in Tokyo has changed from five years ago: Five personal takes from our reporter - SoraNews24

Fish Producers from across the island have called for a fair share of the rights to fish in the waters of our 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Other nations catch about 250m worth of fish a year in our waters almost twice as much as the Irish fleet catches, says IFPO chief executive, Aodh ODonnell.

The Carrick seafood producer says the quotas allocated by the EU to the Irish fishing fleet amount to a paltry 18% of the volume of fish in our 200-mile Zone every year. Other nations take the balance of the fish, but bizarrely some EU States are unable to catch their annual quota allocations in this EU zone.

So, we are calling on the EU to at the very least enable reallocation of annual uncaught quotas in Irelands EEZ to Irish vessels, to give us a more equitable share.

The IFPO statement follows a series of meetings in Brussels last week, arranged and hosted by SF MEP, Chris McManus. The meetings were attended by the IFPO, alongside other fishing organisations, such as Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, the Irish Fishing & Seafood Alliance, Foyle Fishermens Cooperative, and the Galway & Aran Fishermens Cooperative.

Irish Fish Producers meet with Director General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare).

The fishing organisations presented a united front, engaging with the EU marine and fisheries officials at the highest levels, says ODonnell. We met the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament (Pech) and the Director General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare).

Mr ODonnell says the team outlined ways of allocating the uncaught quotas of other EU states for species such as langoustines and monkfish, to Ireland. We support calls for a sensible mechanism for an equitable redistribution of all the annual uncaught EU fish quota in EU waters. We acknowledge that any such redistribution would take account of the quota rights of each of these member states.

At present, non-EU fishing vessels can fish large volumes of pelagic fish on Irelands west coast, based on annual access agreements negotiated to benefit other EU States. At the same time, the Irish fleet finds itself tied up at port, hindered from catching these same fish by low quotas. This needs to be addressed in a meaningful way so that our share of the important catch is more equitable. `

Irish fishing industry representatives and Sinn Fin delegations outside the Parliament Building

The delegation said the quotas transferred to the UK under BrexitsTrade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) were inequitable. In particular, Irish fishing vessels were excluded from traditional fishing grounds in the waters around Rockall. So, we made the case that quotas needed to be adjusted to rebalance long term losses and to restore access to these areas.

He says fishing organisations are united in a call for an urgent review of how the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is implemented. In particular, we want changes in how the annual quota of fish is allocated to the Irish fishing fleet and to rebalance the significant Brexit losses. We also believe allocations should be based on having greater rights to fish in our own Zones . This would be more democratic, and reduce the carbon footprint of EU fishing vessels, as they would travel shorter distances. It would also strengthen the economic and social linkage between those catching the fish and their coastal communities.

The IFPO say its also time now to examine diversification opportunities and allocate a quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Its proven to be in abundance and available on the West Coast within the Irish EEZ and could be worth 150 million annually in revenues to the Irish fishing and Tourism Sectors. This initiative could also impact favourably on the carbon footprint in terms of reducing long transit routes of distant water fleets to these waters from countries such as Japan, large vessels that travel halfway around the globe to harvest this high valued tuna fishery.

The fishing industry delegation to Brussels was also supported by key fishermen stakeholders from Greencastle, Galway and Clogherhead with first hand contributions to the process. It was also attended by Oliver Mc Bride of The Fishing Daily

The Sinn Fein delegation was arranged and led by MEP Chris MacManus and TD Padraig MacLochainn, and supported by TDs Rose Conway Walsh, Johnny Mythen & Pa Daly. The SF team also included Cllr Tom Cunningham, Clogherhead and Cllr Conor Mc Guinness, West Waterford as well as area representatives Clare O Callaghan Cork SW, and Louis O Hara Galway East.

Mr Colm O Silleabhin, Irish Permanent Representative and EU Marine attach, also attended some meetings.

The fishing industry delegation also met several Irish MEPS including Fine Gaels Colum Markey, a member of the fisheries committee, who has previously hosted a number of fishing industry meetings in Ireland and Brussels. Other MEPs they met on this trip included Fianna Fil MEP Barry Andrews, and Independent MEPS, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.

The Commission officials took note of the submissions and undertook to have an additional follow up meeting in Ireland.

Other nations catch almost twice as much as the Irish in our waters IFPO was last modified: June 9th, 2022 by Staff Writer

Read more here:

Other nations catch almost twice as much as the Irish in our waters IFPO - Donegal Daily

With a lack of whakairo facilities in Tauranga, The Incubator Creative Hub has decided to open their own hub to further support Toi Maori in our community.

The whakairo hub was blessed and named Te Whare Toi O Te Moana last Thursday, as a part of The Incubators Matariki celebrations launching this month.

Carver and artist Peri Kohu of Ngi Tamarawaho gifted the hubs name, and was supportive of this initiative, being the previous lease-holder of the new whakairo space.

This is an important initiative as there are currently no other venues offering this type of facility in Tauranga, and I believe there is a need and a desire for many of our locals and visitors to participate in and get up close and personal with Toi Whakairo where the mana is often diminished both culturally and financially through lack of understanding and value, says Marama Mateparae, who is director of support and project development at The Incubator.

Marama says The Incubator recently applied for funding for a whakairo hub through Creative NZ but were disappointed to miss out. Even without knowing where we are getting the funds from we have decided to launch the hub with the aim to find funds over the next year, says Marama.

She adds: Tauranga Moana is home to many esteemed Whakairo artists, many of whom have already expressed an interest in using this facility to run wnanga or as a place they could mentor students.

Further afield

Marama says that there are whakairo courses through local schools such as Tauranga Boys College and Te Wharekura o Mauao but little access outside of these.

Im often contacted by ex-students of mine who are wanting to practise and learn more whakairo but there isnt anywhere else in Tauranga they can go, says Joel Komene, director of Aronui at Tauranga Boys College.

Joel is happy about the development of a whakairo hub and says it will be a space where the public is able to view carvers working, to be able to interact with them, see the tools and processes that are used in this artform, to learn the history and stories of local iwi that are told through the carvings, and to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of this artform and Mori culture.

Breath and growth

The hub space is also local whakairo artist Whare Thompsons studio and is where he created his piece H which is y on display as a part of The Incubators Matariki exhibitions.

Experimenting with recycled wood, Whare says the piece was carved into a dining table top using a water jet cutter. Whare also installed led lighting into his carving to backlight it with different colours to give unique meanings to his work.

H means breath and Whare says: [The design] creates a single face and that single face is representational of two people coming together and greeting each other; and that whole process is the exchange of breath with the hongi.

From that breath of life comes growth, hence the kowhaiwhai design that sits behind the figure.

Whare says its the connection between breath and growth which ties his work to Matariki.

The whakairo exhibition runs from June 3-July 10 at The Incubator Gallery as a part of The Incubator Creative Hubs Matariki celebrations.

See what else is happening in and around Tauranga below:

Saturday 11 June

A Course In MiraclesThis is A Course In Miracles, a required course. Study this life transforming course for free in your home. Full support given. Txt/Ph 0210 274 2502

Art in the ParkOriginal art for sale. Weather permitting.9am - 4pm. Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui.Tauranga Society of Artists

Association CroquetSat, Mon & Wed at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 9.15am for 9.30am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Jacqui 07 574 9293

Bay Singles Social GroupJoin a bunch of over 50s young singles. Weekend dinners, pot lucks, occasional outings. Have a go! ph Delia 027 284 8762, Andrea 021 133 0313

Beth-El Messianic Family Celebrate Shabbat (Sabbath) as did Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), his disciples and early believers. All welcome Otumoetai Primary 10am or Facebook Live 11am. Joel 021 768 043 info@bethel.org.nz

Greerton Hall MarketMARKET Listing content: Last Saturday of each month. 8am-12pm. Stalls inside/outside. Discounts for charity groups. Refreshments at kitchen. Phone/txt for site. Tricia 075431487/ 0279082952, www face-book.com/greertonhallmarket

Indoor Bowls12.30pm Sat, Tues & Weds. Tauranga Senior Citizens Club Hall 14 Norris Street. $3 refreshments. Must be fully vaccinated. Come join us. Carol 022 639 2411

Ipu Weaving WorkshopWeave your own ipu with base and lid. Aroha & Sandra 11am-1pm at The Artery. $65, all materials and tools will be provided. To book, visit http://www.theincubator.co.nz/the-artery

Otumoetai Tennis ClubAdult tennis. Start 1.30pm. Bellevue Park, Windsor Rd (adjacent to swimming pool). New players & visitors welcome. Ph Victor 027 577 1818 a/hrs.

Otumoetai Toy LibraryQuality toys for children of all ages. 94 Bureta Road, Otumoetai, behind St Johns Anglican Church. Tues, Thurs & Saturday from 9.30-11.30am

Petanque Tauranga BOP AssociationClub days Saturday, Tuesday & Thursday. Tawa Street, Mt Maunganui. French game played with Kiwi flair, boules available. Ph Ray 027 756 3565 for playing times.

Rwena Mori Bread WorkshopLearn to make rwena bread with Karin Egan, step by step, beginning with the mixture/bug. 1.30-3.30pm at The Artery. $10. To book visit http://www.theincubator.co.nz/the-artery

St Stephen's Jigsaw LibraryEvery Saturday 10am-12noon. Hire a variety of 500 puzzles, of 100 to 2000 pieces. Please wear masks and bring Vaccine Pass. Located behind church at Highmore Terrace, Brookfield.

Taijiquan and Qigong9am Saturday & Weds free Taiji and Qigong group. Kulim park on beach by big rock. All welcome. Ph Petro 021 751 665

Tauranga Social DanceSequence dancing 7-10pm Wesley Church Hall 100. 13th Ave this Saturday 11th June Phone Jan 5763455

Continued here:

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Check out Aditi Rao Hydari's best blue outfits

Aditi Rao Hydari, the popular Bollywood actress, is beauty personified. The actress makes style statements and emerges as a head-turner on every occasion. From giving us style lessons on how to rock all one-piece outfits to nailing winter street fashion with elegance and charm, she has been on a roll.

Aditi is a fan of blue outfits. She once wore a blue Chikan ethnic dress with black sunglasses. The actress enhanced her look for the day with Kolhapuri chappals and a multicoloured handbag. Aditi celebrated Pongal 2021 in a breezy blue floral anarkali. Her outfit comprised of a blue anarkali kurta featuring pink, white and yellow flowers, a matching sheer dupatta, and churidar pants in a solide hue. Instead of piling on the jhumkas and kadas, the actor skipped on jewellery this time, and completed her ensemble with nothing but simple brown Kolhapuris.

At Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohlis wedding reception, Aditi wore blue Benarasi Manish Malhotra lehenga. The Padmaavat actor teamed it with an off-the-shoulder velvet blouse in the same navy shade, which was accentuated with Benarasi fabric on its sleeves. Check her best blue outfits below!

Also Read: Aditi Rao Hydari Looks Regal In Blue & We Surely Want This Outfit: See Pic

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5 Times Aditi Rao Hydari Proved She Is A Fan Of Blue: Checkout Her Blue Wardrobe - IWMBuzz