Our neck of the wood is brimming with interesting folk and Hayden Glass, co-owner of the delightful second hand book store The Open Book is definitely one of them. Being a consulting economist by day didn’t stop Hayden realising his long-held dream of owning a book shop, so when the delightful cottage business he now owns came onto the market last year he went for it. Hayden’s lived around Ponsonby for a long time too, making him the perfect candidate to give us his take on the area.
Q: How long have you lived around these parts?
A: I moved into a bedraggled enormous three-bedroom villa in Summer St in October 2003. So I guess that means I am in my teenage Ponsonby years now.
Q: How would you describe your home and its inhabitants?
A: I live on Ponsonby Road itself these days, a few doors up from my delightful bookstore. I used to live at the bottom of Pompallier Terrace. Amazing how much better my life is for not having to climb that short (but steep) hill every day.
Q: What made you want to live in this part of the city versus somewhere else in Auckland?
A: Auckland was the compromise candidate for me and my partner at the time between Wellington (my choice) and Melbourne (hers). Neither of us really wanted to live here. So sadly this isn’t a story of love at first sight for Auckland or for Ponsonby. But it has grown on me over time.
Q: So based on that, what would you say to someone thinking about moving here?
A: I am a terrible tour guide and a hopeless giver of advice. I’d probably suggest they come sleep on my couch for a few days and try it out for themselves.
Q: How would you sum up the vibe of the area and its residents?
I am often surprised that I am not sick of it yet, fourteen years in. I like the small scale and the narrow streets and the boho vibe and the beautiful impractical housing and all the individuals being individual. Maybe I am hoping for coolness by association.
Q: What are your favourite things to do around here depending on the time of day?
A: Whenever I cross Anglesea Street, I take a look at the city. Beautiful at any time. Saturday nights I often marvel at the queues outside The Long Room and (until recently for some reason) Little Easy.
Q: Name something, or things, that you think are unique to this part of town.
A: We are all special snowflakes and I can’t say I spend enough time anywhere else to have any kind of perspective. Besides, who likes a skite?
Q: Most of us know the area’s famous for wining, dining and shopping, but what are your insider’s tips on places to eat, or things to buy?
A: Well obviously everyone needs more books. Apart from that, my only regular purchases are coffee (Salta or Dizengoff), pastries (omg La Boulange on Jervois Road), tasty beer (Conch) and noodles in a box (East, so great). If I want a fancy sit-down, then the Ponsonby Bistro or Prego never fail to delight.
Q: Not that it will be after you answer this, but what do think is the area’s best kept secret?
The backyard of Salta (at Three Lamps) any not-freezing morning is a peaceful haven of quiet and joy.
Q: What would you like to see happen, or change around here?
I would like to see some more apartments up on the ridge. And give us some separated cycle lanes so I don’t have to ride in fear of my life/on the footpath between Hopetoun Street and Franklin Road. The wonders of this place are marred only by the arterial road that bisects its heart.
Q: What do you imagine this part of the world will be like 50 years from now?
A: I think it will be awesome. It is a great time to be a small country. And New Zealand has such an amazing set of advantages, I am super optimistic about its future.
Q: Finally, could you please sum up the area in ten words or less?
A: For me, Ponsonby is a delightful splash of fabulous confident urbanism. More like this please.
