Pb41: Route 66 (Not that one)
Route 66 is a retro themed diner on State Highway 1 in Foxton. A mighty fine place for a burger & shake.
Five for September
I totally skipped writing one of these for August. It was a slow month for events and busy one for moi. In September and things are picking up again with a bang. Pretty much everything I’ve ever been waiting for this year. But before I get ahead of myself, heres one for last month.
0. Inglourious Basterds
For me there is nothing so cinematic as attending a Tarantino film on the big screen. It’s an archetypal experience where you know you’re watching a movie – but in the good way. And it manages to fulfill your wishes for a movie without being a cliche boring repetition of the past. But it’s no mystery why his films are so good – the guy lives, loves and breaths cinema. The powerful and also absolutely beautiful Shoshanna Dreyfus (played by Melanie Laurent) is enough of a reason to see Inglourious Basterds. Twice.
1. Kate’s Birthday
Birthday’s are great. Especially Kate’s.
2. Movies
Pixar make some of the most magical films in the world. Without a doubt my favorite is Monsters Inc. directed by Pete Doctor. It’s one of my treasured DVDs. Pixar’s latest offering Up is helmed by the aforementioned director. I haven’t looked into the synopsis or reviews, I don’t think I’ve even seen the trailer but I expect great* things.
*Also magical, whimsical, endearing, cute, enchanting and so forth.
After witnessing Click – let me get this straight, I never watched the film Click but I did see the surrounding billboards, synopsis and T.V. commercials – I realized that I may never watch a new Adam Sandler film again. When I was in high school I reveled in Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison. But that time had passed. Hilarious had become uninteresting, zany had become annoying. Adam Sandler’s repetition of being angry had lost it’s magic. And here I am torn. Beloved producer turned director Judd Apatow has made a film with Adam Sandler in it. I’m worn down to “never say never”. After all – Punch Drunk Love was a totally decent film. This is worth a chance, and so far the trailer points to a good film – especially when you throw in a little faith in Apatow. I wrote a few other things about Funny People here. Since this film seems to be bridging into reality and back again I’ve been watching a few Sandler flicks to make sure I’m not too out of the loop. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry – not bad, less offensive than I expected and at least a mixed message by the end. Big Daddy – hasn’t held up so well, but it’s Jon Stewart in a movie with Joey Lauren Adams and Leslie Mann, still kinda funny.
I don’t need to tell you about Grease, apart from that it’s showing at The Embassy Cinema on the 18th and 20th of September. Click for details: http://www.deluxe.co.nz/
3. The World Press Photo Exhibition
World Press Photo Exhibition (Photo by Eric B: http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikb/)
This annual selection of photography is my favorite exhibition. It’s missed Wellington the past two years but -thank god- is returning this year from the 11th of September until the 4th of October. I’ll be there at least once. For only a gold coin donation I highly suggest seeing this if you’ve never been before. More details at Texture.
4. Skate of Emergency
This event kicks of the first full competitive season for Richter City Roller Derby – Wellington’s very own roller derby league. I’ve already got my tickets. The 19th of September at the Wellington Basketball Association South West Stadium
5. The Big One – Yayoi Kusama and the reopening of the City Gallery.
Yayoi Kusama - Infinity (Photo from watz: http://www.flickr.com/photos/watz/)
The City Gallery in Wellington has been closed for something in the vicinity of one year. It reopens September 27th with Yayoi Kusama’s Mirrored Years. The newly revamped gallery is bound to open on a great note.
Pepperoni Melts and Date Shakes
These are so simple I don’t even feel they should be called recipes. But deliciousness awaits.
Pepperoni Melts
For each sandwich toast a couple slices of wholegrain bread under the grill.
When both sides are lightly toasted top one half with two large pieces of pepperoni and cheese and pop this half back under the grill. Top the other half with a thin spread of mayo, lettuce and tomato. Sandwich together and enjoy.
Date Shakes
For each shake throw a handful of dates into a small saucepan, add just enough water so they that they may simmer gently after arriving at the boil. After about 5 minutes the dates should have softened adequately. Puree this mixture with a stick blender. Throw 1/4 cup of the date puree in with your preferred ice-cream to milk shake ratio, blend and enjoy. I recommend using a top quality vanilla ice cream. Quality over quantity – especially with ice cream.
From Wet Floors to Wet Plates
So. From what I’ve heard the photographic dark room of my former high school has been condemned. The demise of traditional photography in high school is not exactly a surprise, even for my own – for one year we operated a darkroom in the bathrooms while the actual dark room served as a smoko room for the builders. When we returned to the intended dark room we soon missed the in floor drainage provided by the bathroom. This aside, it’s envigorating to see that, despite such a climate, photography is alive and rocking in New Plymouth. There are great exhibitions on at the moment at both Puke Ariki and the Govett-Brewster.
As part of the Fixated exhibition Puke Ariki have arranged a slew of photography related events. These include preservation, workshops and building a pinhole camera. I visited New Plymouth the weekend that Brian Scadden presented a wet-plate photography demonstration. Even though I’d already learned a little about the subject I was still as entertained for the full demonstration as were people who knew nearly nothing about the process or photographic history. Brian made the process look easy (though I’m sure it’s anything but) and finished the demonstration by rather quickly producing an ambrotype of the attendees.
The Fixated exhibition at Puke Ariki runs until October 26th and includes both contemporary photography, old wet-plate photographs and new prints from archive material. The range of material will interest the photography newcomer, the historian or the curious pro. This exhibition also includes one of my favourites, Wanganui artist Ben Cauchi.
Ben Cauchi - The Lowest Note
The Govett-Brewster is currently featuring China in Four Seasons until September 6th and Photo Histories until August 30th. Swing by to see some of the most definitive and final photographs of the remains of the Patea Freezing Works by Jin Jiangbo as well as the documentary photography of Mark Adams, Bruce Connew and John Miller.
Melbourne in a Day
Having never visited Australia before, not even for a stopover, I leapt at the chance to spend one day in Melbourne. I’d touch down at 11am, have some business to attend to, then be free to explore until my flight left at 12pm the following day. Subtract time for business, taxis and check in time I was left with about 20 hours to make the most of Melbourne. But what would I do? I have no friends there, no idea about the city at all. Screw lonely planet, I’ll take a few hints from people I know, including my girlfriend who had once lived there, then leg it around the city and enjoy whatever it is I find.
I’ve been awake for 12 hours already, having only slept for a few the night before. But I feel fresh, it’s like morning for me in Melbourne and after a wake up shower I’m ready to hit the streets by 1pm. My lodgings were nice enough – but no time for that. Come rain or shine I can enjoy the indoors back home.
