Lollingtonista
If you’re a stranger to the whole Lolcats phenomenon, then … lucky you. Please take a while to think about whether you want to initiate yourself into a world that’s as pointless, yet as addictive, as P. Then read up on Lolcats, Lolrus, LOL Presidents and the self-referential geek overload that is Lolcode. Now you are ready for Lollington.
More after the jump.
Film Festival Sneak Peak
Some of you will be like me and saving your pennies up for the 36th Wellington Film Festival. It hits town on July 20th and runs till August 4th.
If the early line up announcement of some globally anticipated films is anything to go by it’s going to be yet another great see festival.
My top 3 picks are:
- Perfume, starring the amazing Alan Rickman
- Eagle vs. Shark, a home-grown beauty
- Helvetica, a celebration of the world’s most beloved font.
Ghetto Red Hot
Man, I don’t know how many times i’ve promised the NiceUp Crew that I’ll get along to one of their gigs…
It’s just that I’m getting real long in the tooth, even though I’m a huuuge fan of dancehall reggae and ska.
But don’t let me being old stop you from having a grand old time!
Get yourself along to Ghetto Red Hot on June 23.
And then write and tell us old geezers how excellent it was.
Cinephilia: Opening This Week
UPDATE: How Much Do You Love Me? is also playing at the Lighthouse in Petone.
This week’s blockbuster is the third installment in the Pitt/ Clooney/ Damon/ Soderbergh smug-fest, Ocean’s 13. This time the 11 from the first picture are joined by Ellen Barkin and Mr Hoo-Haa himself, Al Pacino. Diminishing returns? You be the judge at Readings, Sky City Queensgate, Penthouse or Empire Island Bay.
More down-to-earth is the messed-up Aussie no-budget romance Puppy (Paramount), described as a “weird and wonderful journey”. Another messed-up romance starts Thursday at the Paramount: How Much Do You Love Me? stars Monica Belluci as a prostitute who gets paid 100,00 euros a month to live with a lottery winner – until the money runs out. Also starring Gérard Depardieu.
Bridge to Terabithia, Pierrepoint, Scenes of a Sexual Nature and Off the Grid – after the jump.
Pruning With The Stars! Sunday 17 June
This weekend sees the Annual Rose Pruning Demonstration at the Lady Norwood Rose Garden in the Botanic Gardens.
Want to bone up on proper garden maintenance? This is your chance! The Wellington City Council has laid on the roses, and the experts. There will be tips on both pruning AND growing your roses. Dancing with the Stars contestants may or may not be there. The same goes for the surviving Beatles & Nastassja Kinski, but I remain hopeful.
I usually make wise with the Rose puns at this point, but she emailed this year & asked me to kindly stop.
There are two sessions:
1.30 – 2.30pm: pruning modern roses in the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. Meet at the Begonia House.
2.30 – 3.30pm: pruning rambling and heritage roses at the Bolton Street Memorial Park. Meet at the Seddon Memorial.
Grab your blades & go to it!
Addendum – Glow Worms:
While I’m on the subject of the Gardens, I happened upon an official person taking a bunch of schoolkids on a glow worm tour last week & feel I should pass on the intelligence I gleaned on my way past them. The poor lady was stretched thin by 10 or so bored & restless boys. It didn’t help that there were no worms glowing at all.
I’d wondered for a while, from personal experience, but as the lady snapped at the boys she confirmed my theory that glow worms put on their best display after rain or a heavy dew (I do not know why this is).
So should you be planning a visit, do so soon after rain & while the worms can be found in most places in the Gardens, the easiest to find & arguably best are on the main track between Glen Road & the Duckpond.
Entertainment Book review: Medina
Once again, I had left my book at home somewhere, so it was another gold card restaurant that was needed. Since my other sister decided to gatecrash our party, a total discount venue, rather than a two-for-one mains was desireable. And because it was cold and I was lazy and didn’t feel like walking anywhere, somewhere on the bus route home was needed – preferably somewhere that I could get a big plate of heartiness at. Medina was decided upon, as it seems to have beaten the curse that made other restaurants in its location at 18 Cambridge Terrace close down very rapidly. The review is after the jump.
Jo Russ’ photo diary
On a recent visit ex-Wellingtonian photographer Jo Russ used her artist’s eye to snap a set of images which share a certain group characteristic; I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I feel like I’m looking at the mundane and the familiar from an outsider’s fresh perspective.
More after the jump.
Crafting at Pataka
Saturday June 9, 10am – 4pm
CRAFTING is a part of THE BIG LOOK-SEE at Pataka this weekend, which is an open day event for galleries and museums in the region.
CRAFTING will also celebrate one of Pataka’s exhibitions called Arts Society by Judy Darragh. The exhibition is an art installation that celebrates ‘craft’ and the handmade.
There will be a stunning range of fun and funky jewellery, art objects, cushions, toys, clothes, accessories and loads more cool stuff.
You can also play a little game of ‘Spot the Wellingtonista’, as there will be no less than THREE of us there. Come and say a big “hola”, and buy us a gin. Man, there’d better be some gin.
Webstock Mini
The handy pocket-sized version of Webstock returns to Wellington on Tuesday next week. You might think it’s all for uber nerds and super geeks, but you would be wrong.
In fact, research just in has shown that attending Webstock Minis has been scientifically proven to make you more interesting, better-looking and all round more desirable. And, honestly, that’s regardless of how much you drink!
For your ticket price you can learn about some cool things like Second Life, the upcoming version of Firefox and all you can eat and drink.
The whole thing winds up with a debate entitled “Web 2.0 is all fizz and no substance”. Mike Brown, Sandy Mamoli and
Mark Cubey will uphold the proposition against Philip Fierlinger, Brenda Leeuwenberg and Che Tibby.
We are fully in the negative camp, because the team features one of our newest Wellingtonistas, Che Tibby.
Register for Webstock Mini:
http://www.webstock.org.nz
Hamish McKay Gallery reopens
(via White Fungus News…)
The new Hamish McKay Gallery is now open at Level one, 39 Ghuznee Street.
More info after the jump.