Shawn Moodie – The Speakeasy

Bourbon Cocktails Every Millennial Should Know

November 1, 2019

So you're in your twenties or thirties now and that can of Double Brown just won't cut it anymore - you need to up your game. Sure, these days there seems to be no shortage of chic craft cocktail bars...

A very spring soiree at Andiamo

Shawn Moodie

October 23, 2019

Food, Lifestyle

Spring has sprung and a new season calls for a menu shake up. Herne Bay institution Andiamo is welcoming a host of new dishes, arriving just in time for warmer climes (and long lunch dates). The Speak...

Gin Lover Rejoice – The East Imperial Gin Jubilee Is Back!

Shawn Moodie

October 22, 2019

Culture, Lifestyle, Night Life

Auckland’s best-loved bars and restaurants are sharing their hosting hacks with Aucklanders this month during the East Imperial Gin Jubilee. From this Friday the 25th of October, 54 bars and restaurants in Auc...

‘Tis the party season – the best spots for your Christmas work do

Shawn Moodie

October 22, 2019

Food, Lifestyle, Night Life

PSA: there are 98 days remaining ‘til Christmas! If you’ve left booking in the office shenanigans to the eleventh hour, best get on your merry way. Prepare to ditch the desk attire, get into the spirit(s) and...

What’s On: Auckland amping up for a record-breaking summer

Shawn Moodie

October 21, 2019

Culture, Entertainment, Fashion, Food, Lifestyle, Night Life, Theatre

It's looking like a big summer for Auckland, with a massive number of events scheduled over the next few months. Concerts and major events in venues such as Mt Smart and Western Springs stadiums and The ...

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Joker – a masterpiece of time and place.

Shawn Moodie

October 2, 2019

Entertainment, Film, Geek and Web

I am not a huge fan of comics and the multiple universes out there dedicated to their heroes. I enjoy some of the movies in isolation but have never rushed off to see them. So, I approached Joker with a certai...

Oyster Festival Matakana: The Best Shuck In Town

Shawn Moodie

September 10, 2019

Food, Lifestyle

It’s no secret that oysters and wine are our two favourite summer treats, and where better to enjoy them than Matakana, a region famous for both? Now in its third year, Oyster Festival Matakana promises to...

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IT: Chapter Two review: bigger budget, bigger run-time, bigger scares

Shawn Moodie

September 5, 2019

Entertainment, Film, Spotlight

Before I get into the review properly I want to get something out of the way early - if you're in the market for scares It Chapter Two delivers. It's a nerve-rattling, fiendishly frightening, and at times down...

We Will Rock You: The Musical – Interview with David Mackie

Shawn Moodie

August 20, 2019

Comedy, Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, rock, Spotlight, Theatre

Following hot on the heels of the release of the internationally loved Queen biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, the smash-hit West End musical ‘We Will Rock You’ returns to Auckland for a strictly limited season this...

IN REVIEW: Local Natives @ The Tuning Fork, Auckland

Shawn Moodie

July 24, 2019

Music

Photography by Chontalle Musson I’ll be the first to admit that until quite recently, Local Natives had shamefully drifted somewhat off my radar. I wasn’t sure they were still together and neither did my fr...

INTERVIEW: Jack Jones on ‘All You Need Is Love’

Shawn Moodie

July 23, 2019

Music, Spotlight, Watch and Listen

Audiences will have the opportunity to experience the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) at its finest as it plays its first ever full-length Beatles concert. Led by some of Australia’s most talented rock s...

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In Review: ONCE The Musical

Shawn Moodie

July 2, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Spotlight, Theatre

Musicals these days tend to batter you into submission. Many rely on orchestral bombardment, saccharin smiles, and jazz hands in an attempt to win you over. I say that as unashamed fan of the genre (I took a 2...

In Review: The Wolves

Shawn Moodie

June 24, 2019

Comedy, Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Spotlight, Theatre

There have been very few plays (or films for that matter) that have offered an examination of young women that is as refreshing or eloquent as Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves. This is not a traditional play ab...

The 2019 Pacific Dance Festival is finally here!

Shawn Moodie

June 7, 2019

Culture, Entertainment, Film, Lifestyle, Spotlight, Theatre

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Read the full programme below. Acclaimed and accomplished Pacific dance artists take the floor in the fourth rendition of the Pacific Dance Festival bringing a moving feast of entertaining and thought-provo...

NZICF: Fred Awards Finalists Announced

Shawn Moodie

May 25, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

This year’s Fred Award judges have chosen three finalists to compete at Electric Kiwi Last Laughs on Sunday for The FRED, which is awarded to the Best New Zealand Show in the 2019 NZ Internatio...

Better late than never – The Pacific Dance Festival gets a reboot

Shawn Moodie

May 25, 2019

Culture, Entertainment, Film, Lifestyle, Theatre

In the wake of the cancellation of the Pasifika Festival and the final day of Polyfestfollowing the Christchurch terrorist attack, the Pacific Dance Festival is proud to offer supporte...

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NZICF In Review: Your Wrong – Phil Nichol

Shawn Moodie

May 16, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight

Within minutes of Phil Nichol walking on-stage I knew that his show ‘Your Wrong’ would be something different. Very different as it turns out. Before going any further, I feel that it’s important to note t...

NZICF In Review: Best Comedy Show on Earth – Mother’s Day Special

Shawn Moodie

May 13, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight

I always get a little nervous taking my Mum to a comedy show. What if she doesn’t find it funny? What if I start cracking up at a dark or crass joke and she finds out how twisted my sense of humour is? Even wo...

NZICF In Review: Late & Live at The Classic

Shawn Moodie

May 11, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight

We have an enviable crop of talented comedians in New Zealand, but like it or loathe it, it often takes a few international drawcards to really capture people’s attention. That is where the NZ International Co...

NZICF In Review: The Comedy All-Star Showcase

Shawn Moodie

May 6, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight

What a difference a day makes. On Friday my partner and I were lucky enough to head down to The Classic to check out their festival preview, aptly named The Classic Comedy Fest Preview. It was a shit show,...

The Classic Comedy Fest Preview: Surviving two hours in a room full of annoyingly drunk hecklers

Shawn Moodie

May 4, 2019

Comedy, Entertainment, Gaming, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight

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What do you get when you put a veritable smörgåsbord of top-tier international comics (more-often than not British) in New Zealand's most famous comedy club on 10pm on Friday night? Usually magic. Last night.....

Author Shawn Moodie