TV
My grandparents did always tell me good things come in small packages and I'm pleased to see the gazelle-like Tyra Banks finally feels the same way, opening this cycle of America's Next Top Model up to girls 5 ft 7 or less - real girls as cover girls huh? So novel. Other sign of the times shows are The Middle, a sitcom about life in a recession-struck middle-class family in the middle-states of America, which is going up against hugely popular TV3 show Modern Family on Sunday; Courteney Cox's latest comedy Cougar Town, is self-explanatory really.
MUSIC
It started with a bang and it's round two of music month this week. Check out the website, nzmusicmonth.co.nz, for a full list of gigs up and down the country. It's a good time to find acts you haven't heard of or reconnect with singers you haven't seen for years. Some of my picks for a range of tastes are; Kirsten Morrell at the Auckland Museum - along with a high-brow panel discussion on innovation - or Jan Hellriegel with Hanna Grace at The Whiskey in Ponsonby tonight, The Nukes at the Ranui Library, Clap Clap Riot at Cassette Number Nine, Scribe vs Savage in Manukau's Republic Bar tomorrow or the Nairobi Trio at the Whiskey Bar on Sunday.
MOVIES
You might feel as if you know the story of The Blind Side backwards following all the publicity touting Sandra Bullock's win - closely followed by her filing for divorce - but it's one of this year's heart-warming must-sees.
For a darker, twisted tale check out Colin Firth's attempt to shake the Mr Darcy label playing a homosexual suicidal university lecturer in A Single Man.
For those who loved Paris Je T'aime, there's the follow-up New York I Love You; this could be one for ladies day on Sunday.
Meanwhile, for the blokes, there's the post-apocalyptic warrior film Book of Eli starring action-man Denzel Washington.
OR ...
It's still comedy fest for another week so there is plenty to take Mum, or surrogate-Mum to for a ladies' day out. Or you can lay out the doilies and play ladies on the patio drinking tea, eating cake and gossiping about celebrities.
