MOVIES
It's school holidays, which means Zac Efron, Buzz and Woody and a Great Dane wearing sunglasses called Marmaduke are at the cinemas today. And of course, if every 15 year-old girl hasn't reminded you already, the vampires and werewolves of Twilight's third instalment Eclipse was also rolled out today - at one minute past midnight to be precise. For those unable to make head nor tail of the fantasy, TimeOut has compiled a who's-who guide which is available for your downloading convenience at nzherald.co.nz. Just click "Vampire Invasion" and it should pop up alongside this story. For everyone else, there's the highly emotional French drama that highlights France's immigration issues, called Welcome.
MUSIC
How about making it a week of checking out below-the-radar acts in cosy venues? Ska-reggae act Yebiisu bring their thundering tribal sounds to the Kings Arms tomorrow night playing with the Managers and the Offbeats, and rock/reggae locals Soljah have an EP release gig at 4.20 on K Rd tonight. Japanese radical experimental guitarist Tetuzi Akiyama is also in Auckland over the next couple of days. He's playing his crazy acoustic boogie woogie at the Wine Cellar in St Kevin's Arcade tomorrow and at the High Seas Gallery in Beresford Square on Saturday.
TV
New Zealand might be out of the next round at the Fifa World Cup in South Africa, but there is plenty to fill the gaps of sports viewing this week. As well as the quarter finals of the Cup, the spandex-wearing riders of the Tour de France set off on Saturday and the Wimbledon tennis finals are on Sunday and Monday. A more girly and frivolous sports viewing option might be Make It Or Break It, the new TV2 teen drama replacing Ugly Betty on Sundays, about a bunch of teenage gymnasts who have high hopes of making it to the Olympics. Maori Television's Tuesday night slot stays strong this week with a new Australian drama to replace The Circuit. This one is called East West 101 - it's another drama about crime in Sydney, but this time set post-9/11.
OR...
Here's something different for those in Auckland over the school holidays - a night-time scavenge around the museum. It's on Sunday and Wednesday this week from 6pm-8pm. Bring a torch and be prepared to earn your wartime rations and survive as a castaway. There's a foodie theme to tie in with the current Kai to Pie exhibition so you can feed the dragon and hear spooky stories involving food. There are even whispers of a chocolate fountain. Book to reserve your place on (09) 306 7048.
