h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Ivan,

I'm wanting to buy some movie vouchers or such online in the easiest way possible (probably having them emailed, but posted would be ok too). Just wondering if you can recommend anything. It's for three people and I was thinking $45-ish (tickets here are usually $14 each) but would spend a bit more if needed.

I had a look on site and it looked like the tickets were $19 each Another site just has you choose an overall amount for a voucher but I don't know what the tickets would be individually.

Any suggestions for other gifts I can buy online this week for 3 Sydney people would be great.

cheers,
kea.

A nice bottle of wine would be good too, but again not sure of the prices over the ditch (they keep telling us it's cheaper to live there ).

Are you willing/able to disclose which part of Sydney? That might give me a few ideas, if it's a part of town I know.

If I were to pick a cinema chain, it would be Dendy; they're a bit more arthouse than the others. http://www.dendy.com.au/locations_newtown.asp $16.50 for a standard adult ticket, plus booking fee.

I was just looking at the Dendy site. They don't seem to have gift vouchers online though.

My friends are in Surry Hills (two of them are, the third is back visiting, not sure where she is staying).

For a generic bottle shop that offers gift cards, try this mob: http://danmurphys.com.au/help/gift-card-content They are of course part of a mass-market retail conglomerate; independent stores are becoming harder to find. Most wineries take online orders and will arrange delivery, but it tends to be by the dozen.

I know less than nothing about Ozzie wine. Can you recommend a vinyard? I did find a reasonable looking organic wine online seller but they're closed until mid Jan (good for them).

Ah, Surry Hills (or Slurry Hills, as my ex puts it, but he's like that).

Anyway. This is my favourite bit of Slurry, but it's awfully pricey. http://www.absinthesalon.com.au/

Here's a half-baked listing of bottle shops in Slurry: http://www.localbusinessguide.com.au/new-south-wales/Surry-Hills/Food-and-Dining/Bottle-Shop/ One of these smaller places might offer vouchers or something, but it might require a degree of faffing about.

As an alternative, this shop does nice gargoyles: http://www.stonefireandwater.com/ But now I'm being silly.

Good wineries:

Rockford
Turkey Flat
Wirra Wirra
Paulett
D'Arenberg
Grant Burge

They are a few of the ones that come to mind right now - but they're all in SA, not NSW, so you'll be hit for delivery charges too.

Sorry, I'm a bit unfocussed tonight and less helpful than I could have been.

How about books or music?

Books: http://www.betterread.com.au/

Music/DVD: http://www.localstore.com.au/cs/196/19291/music-shop/newtown/

These places are all in Newtown; it's close enough.

Thanks Ivan I'll have a look in the morning when I'm fresher.

The absinthe spoons look very cool

The Absinthe salon is 100% cool, plus a bit. I covet everything they sell.

I ended up sending them a bottle of the Turkey Flat Butcher's Block Red Thanks Ivan

Glad to be of service.

And Butcher's Block is a very decent drop indeed. Lovely stuff.

Ah, pity I won't get to try it.

I can't help thinking it should be served with tofu and lentils and things to get the full postmodern ironic impact.

I think tofu would be taking it a bit far though

Fair enough. I'll substitute mung beans.

Rod is ok, he's waiting to hear from his son who was in the CBD where most of the damage is.

I don't know about Frenchbean sorry. Do you know where she is? Somewhere just out of chch like Rod, or in the city?

Thanks.

It was truly frustrating, following the news from NZ and not being free to post anything on hootoo. It was a huge relief when Fb reported in just before I left the office tonight.

I'm glad all of my acquaintance are OK, if shaken. But I'm really rather rattled by the extent of the damage this time. Blimey.