the gas project

The regions deserve more love. While there’s a new bar opening in Auckland every week (and one closing down), Napier hasn’t seen a lot of action. That was until December when a new kid on the block opened (and created by) the good folk at Mister D on Tennyson St. Monica Loves is a grown-up sort of place for people who’ve travelled and love travelling. The name and interior were inspired by a graffiti wall in Verona, near the Romeo and Juliet balcony. As well as branding and graphics, Gas also worked on the interior design and found there’s no shortage of talent in ‘the Bay’. Another great reason to visit.

Sometimes you just get lucky. We’ve been lucky to work with some great clients – business owners with drive, vision, talent and humor. But to that Al Brown adds generosity. Last year we worked together on a book celebrating the Auckland restaurant Depot, published by Random house. Al’s one of those clients who pushes you to do your absolute best and he’s built a great team around him who share his vision for hospitality in NZ. We’re stoked to have worked on the restaurant, t shirts and now a book for Depot. Our tip: if you eat there sit at the back bench watching the kitchen with a glass of Duncan’s pinot noir. Order the oysters and the lamb ribs. The Depot book is out now and is available from all good bookshops or here.

Work commitments mean we don’t get to ride as much as we’d like, however that doesn’t seem to stop us investing in good riding gear. Two items which recently landed in the office (thanks UPS!) were a pair of Gasolina boots and a Bell Bullitt helmet. Bell have been around for ages, and while this lid is new, it has a great retro look. The boots are from a new company, designed in the States and made in Mexico. Tested extensively on a blast to the Burt Munro weekend in the South Island, they stood up to every kind of weather the deep south could throw at them, from high winds and intense sun to hail and torrential rain. All hail the new ‘old’.