As I was walking through my city this morning, I noticed things I don’t like:
- Our shopping golden mile has become Australia Mile, with endless Australian chains filled with clothes designed by Australians for the Australian climate and predilections, topped off by the recent opening of an Australian department store, replacing our much-loved and gone forever Kirkcaldies, the David Jones, which is flashy and shiny and chic and utterly generic, indistinguishable from its stores in Sydney or Brisbane, pitched at a market that is well-heeled and cares more about the labels than the individuality of the item, and – until the cruise ship passengers (mostly Australian) arrived this afternoon – was eerily empty; though it does have good loos.
- Buildings are closed – even my doctor’s medical practice has had to move until their building is remediated after earthquake damage – and it makes me shudder to think about what happens if the Big One hits directly under us.
And I noticed things I like:
- In a former nightlife area, several green pedestrian traffic lights are in the unmistakable form of Carmen, a famous Wellington drag performer
- A kilometre or two north, near Parliament, there are other pedestrian lights in the shape of Kate Sheppard, our most well-known suffragette
- The plethora of Asian eateries, some larger, some tiny hole-in-the-wall outlets, all with amazing smells emanating onto the street.
- The plethora of coffee shops, some modern and cool, some retro and hip, and some tiny hole-in-the-wall joints.
- Since the earthquake, these two things have combined on Courtenay Place, where the Mojo coffee shop in the lovely restored St James Theatre is by day a coffee shop (and I enjoyed a flat white there this morning), and by night, its premises are taken over by Dragonfly, a modern Thai-Asian restaurant which has had to close until a building adjoining theirs is demolished.
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I have never heard of these green-light shapes and LOVE it. May have to discuss it myself. Also, when a certain flagship store was being built around here with very nice bathrooms, I heard some of the highers-up mention that women customers will talk about the bathrooms, so having really good ones gets more people in the front door. First thing I thought of you when you said, “though it does have good loos.”
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We have had a similar problem here with chain stores taking over. Although, more recently, there’s been an effort to support local businesses, and I hope that trend continues.
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Also, very cool about the traffic lights! I thought it was some kind of street art until I looked it up. What a neat way for the government to commemorate local heroes!
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OMG! those street lights!!! and I thought ours in the east side of Berlin are cool. NZ is definitely in my bucket list.
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Wellington was dubbed “The Coolest Little Capital” by Lonely Planet a few years ago. Though maybe not quite as cool as Berlin. Come on down!
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I love your pedestrian lights! That is so clever.
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As everyone else has already mentioned–I really need to shape up and get ahead of the commenting curve–I love those pedestrian lights. New Zealanders are so creative! (Unlike the Aussies, who are mainly into chain stores and cruise ships 🙂 ).
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Awesome that your likes outnumber your dislikes. 😀
I’m joining the chorus of, “cool pedestrian lights!” I also love the fact that those two businesses are working together in such a difficult time – I can see why it’s the coolest little capital!
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I love the green lights! We could use some fun ones here.
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It seems like U.S. chain stores are taking over our malls & streets here (to the detriment of our own Canadian-based businesses), so I can relate. I love your idea of “a walk through my city” — I may try this sometime!
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Been reflecting on your comment about the Australian shops. Agree totally – they are so NOT the clothes we wear. Went to David Lawrence to try and get a nice summer dress – with sleeves. None! It’s not hot enough or we’re not body conscious enough to wear sleeveless. And of course they’re all colours – where’s our black?
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