One of the colourful Takapuna stall holders

Originally called the Takapuna Flea Market, this regular Sunday morning market had humble beginnings but is now positively thriving. Covering the whole of the municipal carpark in Anzac Street, it kicks off at 6am. There’s plenty of parking around Takapuna, but you have to be canny to get a free park. If you’re a serious shopper, you should arrive well before 9am for the pick of the day’s fresh produce and flowers. On the other hand, if you’re more interested in bargain hunting, it can pay to whizz around nearer to the midday closing time when many stallholders will do some great deals simply because they don’t want to take anything home with them.

Markets are a great place to buy fresh fruit and veges

As well as a huge selection of well-priced fresh fruit and vegetables, the Takapuna market is a popular spot for browsing the second hand goods, from tools to trinkets. Artisan products such as bread, olive oil, handmade soaps, cheeses and sausage are in abundance here, as well as some delightful cakes, local and ethnic foods (the mussel fritters are in huge demand), honey and fresh fish. You’ll also find a number of art and craft stalls. One of my favourites is the ponga logs carved with beautiful Maori motifs.

Today I sold a Group Architect Home in Hillcrest on the North Shore.

These homes are quite special and are part of New Zealand’s architectural heritage. They mark a major change in architecture and reflect the unique kiwi way of life. I did not recognise it at first as the present owners had painted all the timber with white wash. Group architect homes usually feature natural materials just as native timbers and stone. Personally I felt the white wash on the floorboards and paint on the ceiling beams are a great enhancement and make the home light and bright.

Constructed in 1953 this home boasts indoor – outdoor flow and open-plan living areas, something, which, at the time it was built would have been unique and avant garde! These features have become part of the kiwi way of life, we have a need to bring the outdoors inside and love to eat outside  and enjoy family life around a Barbecue. The  open plan living-dining and kitchen is egalitarian and reflected a growing equality of the sexes in the 1950’s. It was becoming unacceptable to lock Mum away in the kitchen, and the preparation of food was a part of entertaining and baby-boomer  family life that everyone enjoyed.

A modest bungalow, it demonstrated that architecture enhanced the everyday life of common people, again part of New Zealand’s egalitarianism. The windows are tall, floor to ceiling to allow lots of light inside, and the pitched ceiling with exposed beams are all part of the style. This home would have been a stand out amongst it’s more ordinary neighbours in Hillcrest.

I know of another in Quebec Road, Milford and 3, I think, in Northboro Road in Takapuna. Here’s a film made in 1950 of the construction of a home that could just about be the one I just sold in Ocean View Road.

Want to have a home garden and need some quidance? Maybe you’d like to reduce your household waste. Learn to make compost, how to make a worm farm, reduce your household waste and help keep our environment clean and healthy. The Kaipatiki Project runs regular adult education courses, activities and workshops free or at minimal cost. They will also tailor-make courses on demand for groups and they provide environmental education courses for schools. They are based in Lauderdale Road, Beach Haven and you will need to book in for a class as they are very popular and in demand.

Our favourite movie theatre on the Shore – strictly for grown-ups – it has big comfy seats and lots of leg room, an intimate setting, nice foyer where you can enjoy a glass of wine or a coffee before the film, and they even let you take your wine into the theatre IN A GLASS!. It’s nice to be treated like a grown-up for a change.

The Bridgeway – 122 Queen Street, Northcote Point – has a great back story (saved from destruction by some forward thinking people) and the model has been replicated in Matakana. While they screen mainly art-house films, these are generally quite accessible, and they run short seasons of Opera from the Met, as well as live screenings of plays. Senior citizens pay just $10 before 5pm, and $12 after 5pm (exclusive of special screenings and opera).

Take advantage of the $40 pizza and movie deal (2 movie tickets, 1 pizza) and enjoy a light meal before or after the film at adjoining cafe Sausalito. They make mighty good pizza and have a comprehensive wine list. See what’s screening now at The Bridgeway.

Visit the Lake House Arts Centre in Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna. In a beautiful garden setting (formerly the site of the Barry’s Pt tip), which often has fantastic outdoor sculptures, the Lake House is a fine example of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, preserved and lovingly maintained by a charitable trust. It was a boarding house in earlier times, built at the northern end of Takapuna Beach and was moved to its present site in the late 1990s.

You can visit the Lake House galleries to enjoy the rich variety of artworks on exhibition, you can join an art class for a term or more (adults and children’s classes are offered), or enjoy breakfast or lunch at the on-site cafe, amidst this wonderful piece of North Shore heritage. Perhaps you’d like to book your kids into a school holiday programme. Check out the timetable here.

Old building, new face

The Department Store, located at 10 Northcroft Street in Takapuna, is a refreshing change from the bland sameness of shopping malls. It’s a groovy industrial space – polished concrete floors, concrete ceilings and exposed beams – occupied by some savvy designers and retailers. Karen Walker Clothing, Black Box Boutique, Simon James Furniture/Design and Michael Lett Galleries occupy the ground floor, along with The Marr Lab (organic, non-toxic skin care), and The Tea Room (excellent coffee and delicious treats – I love the poppy seed cake!). There’s so many gorgeous things to look at and try on, and I really enjoy browsing the range of books on offer – architecture, design, cookery, art – the goods may be up-market but the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. A white spiral staircase leads to Lucy and the Powder Room (beauty spa), and the new Top Shop is on the top floor, sharing space with Stephen Marr Hair. The wash basins are cleverly hidden from view by an exotically lush, living wall of plants, all growing quite happily and providing a soft contrast to the hardness of the concrete. This building has come a long way since it was used as the Post Office (I worked there as a bank teller in the 70s). Good on the designers and business people who had the sense to retain the building and reinvent it as a superb, sophisticated retail experience.

So much yummy food to choose from!

A cafe with a name as cute as this has to be on the list of things to do on the North Shore. It’s little indeed -  a commercial kitchen with a bit of space out the front for customers. And it was only supposed to be open on Fridays. Fortunately, they’re now open Wednesday to Sunday, between 8 am and 3 pm.

The kitchen is separated from the public area by a glass counter that’s just bursting with  delightful looking goodies – quiches, cakes, brioche both sweet and savoury, and wonderful pies. Homemade fudge is piled high on the counter and the individual-serve cakes are works of art. They serve Supreme coffee (an awesome Wellington roastery) and the friendly barista makes a great espresso.

Sitting in Little and Friday is a bit like being in your mother’s (or grandmother’s) kitchen. Wonderful aromas waft out,  you can see everything that’s going on, and you get to sit around the big old dining table with its linen tablecloth, array of cookbooks, bowls of fruit, vase of flowers and fresh baked cookies under retro glass covers. It’s cluttered, homely and unpretentious. Even the outdoor furniture is an intriguing collection of old wooden beer crates, packing boxes and odd chairs.

This wee cafe is very popular with the locals – it’s run by people who are passionate about food and the passion is contagious. Read what the locals say about Little and Friday. You can order whole cakes and anything else on the menu by phoning 489 8527 or email kim@exquisit.co.nz

Piles of delicious fudge with samples to try