As a person who simply writes about the fun and non-threatening topic of food, I have a huge respect for caring journalists like him, who help us to see news from a different angle, and fearlessly push to change things for the better. So, while staying on topic, I thought I would share some eateries in Auckland that feed the mind as well.
1) IKA Seafood Bar and Grill
In my last post, I wrote about a restaurant that featured in Metro Magazine's 50 Under $50 list. In part, we gave Ika a try at the urging of Nanogirl, otherwise known as Dr. Michelle Dickinson, a passionate engineer who freely gives her time and money to foster an interest in science, particularly in the young. She was one of a line-up of speakers at a conversation at the restaurant last week, and there is another talk coming up soon on a completely different topic too.
Previous Talk
Table Talk: Beneath the Ponytail: women, work, progress?
Michelle Parks summary from last nights gender debate @lailaharre @lisaowennz @jacindaardern @GayMaxine @drjackieblue pic.twitter.com/s3wlEXgV7C
— Nanogirl (@medickinson) May 19, 2015
Tuesday 19 May – doors open 5 pm, discussion at 6.15 pm
Hosted by Lisa Owen, from TV3’s The Nation, with
- EEO Commissioner, Human Rights Commission, Dr Jackie Blue
- Senior Lecturer, UofA Engineering School, Dr Michelle Dickinson aka @nanogirl
- First Union Secretary, Maxine Gay
- Labour Party MP, Jacinda Ardern
Bar open from 5 pm, small & large plates served throughout evening
Showtime 6.15 – 7 pm
Next Talk
“Abba to Gaga: pop music as queer revolution” - an Ika Salon with Dr Kirsten Zemke
(Facebook event here)
Tuesday 26 May
Dr. Kirsten Zemke is a Senior Lecturer in Ethnomusicology in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Auckland. She famously completed her PhD on New Zealand hip hop in 2000, and has been teaching, and talking, about popular music, race, gender, genre and identity since then. She currently has regular radio spots on bFM and Radio National.
Despite its sometime silliness, shallowness, sexism and commercialisation, pop music has been quite a radical site for promoting queer identities. Genres of glam rock, disco, and eighties new wave all projected gender fluid identities and sexualities- mostly unheard of in the rest of the mainstream at those times. We’ll re-visit David Bowie, Boy George, Queen, Grace Jones and Abba, their ground-breaking gender bending and ‘gay play’. Then to contemporary artists & pop music that continues to represent minority identities, engendering validation and understanding.
$30 including dinner – with seafood, meat and vegetarian options.
Doors and bar open from 5, dinner served from 6 folowed By Kirsten’s presentation (approx 7.30). We’ll be open for drinks, dessert and conversation into the evening (dessert & drinks extra).
The Ika Salon is a chance to share food and conversation with others. We welcome single, double or larger bookings & will develop a seating plan with a great night in mind for you.
2) Ima Restaurant
Ima is another restaurant in Metro's 50 Under $50 list. Not only serving delicious Israeli and Middle Eastern food downtown, it hosts a monthly talk from The University of Auckland Faculty of Arts.
Previous Talk
Arts Café: Understanding the Ukraine Conflict
Wednesday 22 April 2015, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Professor Greenberg is a scholar of South Slavic Linguistics with an emphasis on ethnic conflict and nationalism. He has taught at Yale University, University of North Carolina and Georgetown University. His publications include numerous books and articles on South Slavic and Balkan topics, including language and identity in the Balkans, published by Oxford University Press.
This talk is the first in a series of informal presentations by members of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland. Arts Café will be held on the third Wednesday of each month. This series is co-sponsored by Ima Restaurant and the Faculty of Arts.
Next Talk
Arts Cafe: Algorithmic life and the “internet of things”
Wednesday 27 May 2015, 6 - 7:30pm
Wednesday night lectures are back! This week, the 27th of May at 6pm, join us for $10 appetizers, $7 Ima Red & White wines, our famous fresh juice and be enthralled by Neal Curtis as he launchs our new ARTS CAFÉ with ''Algorithmic life and the “internet of things”
This talk reflects on the role of the arts and humanities in the information age. This is an age defined by an increased use of algorithms that, amongst other things, define the nature of public knowledge, make calls about the next music hit, provide medical diagnoses, nominate “terrorists” for “kill lists” and make trades in stock markets around the world. We are also living through a paradigm shift in our relationship with computers and mobile media dubbed the “internet of things”, which promises to create “smart” rooms, “smart” buildings, even “smart” cities where every object can communicate with each other. Within an economy so dependent upon information, and where data directly equates to profit, it is imperative to think about the economic and corporate drivers behind these shifts and interrogate whose interests they best.
Neal Curtis is a Senior Lecturer in Media, Film and Television at the University
Stick around for more food and wine if you are still hungry afterwards!
3) Horse and Trap
The Horse and Trap is a pub in Mount Eden where the monthly Café Scientifique events are held (unfortunately these clash with the talks at Ima), as well as some of the talks organised by Nerd Nite Auckland.
Previous Talk
Musing on museums: …of ships and shoes … and many things
Wednesday April 29, 2015
Roy Clare, CBE
Director, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Museums around the world are facing new challenges and are evolving to meet them. Auckland’s own War Memorial Museum, with its unique collections and place in the ongoing story of Auckland, is changing too. Nearly four years after his appointment as Director of the Museum, and following the centennial ANZAC day commemorations on April 25th, Roy Clare scans the horizon and poses some questions for museums and the people who love them.
Roy Clare CBE used to drive an aircraft carrier for a living, before coming ashore to take up leadership roles at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and the UK’s Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. He was appointed Director of the Auckland Museum in August 2011.
Next Talk
A physicist and an anthropologist walk into a bar...
Wednesday 27 May 2015, discussion starts 6:30pm
Network science was "invented" independently by a number of different disciplines. Sociologists came up with sociograms; engineers created wiring diagrams; while mathematicians have long studied graphs.
At Te Pūnaha Matatini – “the meeting place of many faces” – researchers from very different backgrounds are using network science to gain fascinating, and sometimes non-intuitive, insights into New Zealand’s environment, economy and society.
About the speakers
Thegn Ladefoged
Thegn Ladefoged is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Auckland who has worked in Rotuma, Hawai‘i, Rapa Nui, and New Zealand. He is developing a network approach to investigate the connections between communities in pre-European Māori society.
Dion O'Neale
Dion O'Neale is a Research Fellow in the Physics department at the University of Auckland. He is particularly interested in how the properties of innovation networks might help predict the future economic success of regions. He has been known to (mis)use network science for topics ranging from sports to soils to conversations.
Also worth a mention: Toto
Toto Restaurant's Montecristo Room is where Refactor inspires women in the tech industry. Formerly known as Girl Geek Dinners, the Refactor events are open for both genders to attend, though the speakers are always talented females. In the sessions I've been to in the past, there has been some mix-and-mingle time before the presentations, where the price of the ticket includes a drink and some snacks from the restaurant.
Previous Talk
Refactor May 2015
Wednesday 20 May 2015, 6:00pm 8:30pm
presented in conjunction with our sponsors Microsoft NZ, and Catalyst
Tickets $25 – open to both women & men
Next Talk
In July, speakers to be announced.
Great post! I went to a Cafe Scientifique event at Horse and Trap once, it was excellent. My only tip is go early, as the seats go very quickly. I didn't realise there were other scientific talks at restaurants, so really appreciate this. I am excited about the IKA talks, - great topics and food, a perfect combination.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, just remembered I blogged about a Cafe Scientifique event a couple of years ago too. And Nanogirl was speaking, as it happened. There's so much more incentive to go to an interesting talk when you know you can get a good meal with it. Thanks for sharing the tip!
DeleteThanks for the post! I didn't realise there were so many interesting talks at restaurants -shows that I need to get out more often!
ReplyDeleteI think I heard about them all on social media. I could do with getting out more too, haha.
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