FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE THAT YOUR FAVE BEACH BELONGS TO YOU (AND YOU)
1. Prove your loyalty and love by packing a picnic and spending a day there when it's persisting down, windy and cold. Then can you say, "Rain or shine ... "
2. Get married on the sand, have your kids baptised there, your ashes spread upon the waters, and divorce papers signed at an office in town.
3. Pick up the rubbish, don't eat the shellfish to let the stocks replenish, and object to fast-food joints in a 10km radius.
4. Circle it with razor wire, erect machine-gun towers, issue permits for visitors and ... Oh sorry, that's another list.
5. Actually, just invite others to share it. After all, no one can actually "own" the natural world. Can they?
FIVE ALBUMS
1. PanAm, PanAm (Flying Nun): Auckland trio deliver the feelgood five-star album of the year so far, which goes big on exuberant choruses and decibels, brash pop-rock and funky infectiousness.
2. Chris Whitley, Hotel Vast Horizon (Shock): Melancholy, all-acoustic alt.folk-blues which explores isolation and redemption over spare instrumentation and in slightly disconcerting songs. Grim pleasures.
3. Mareko, White Sunday (Dawn Raid): An impressive line-up of US rappers and producers help out on the South Auckland rapper's solidly impressive debut but he shines brighter when left to his own devices.
4. Drive By Truckers, Decoration Day (New West): Ebullient, intelligent, politicised death'n'incest southern rock with references in Crazy Horse, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Exile-period Stones.
5. Salmonella Dub, One Drop East (Virgin): On their fifth album local dub-dance heroes might have reached the point where they're repeating themselves, but the grooves are, as always, pleasingly hydraulic.
FIVE GALLERIES
1. Lane Gallery 12 O'Connell St. Korero, by Rona Ngahuia Osbourne, exploring personal new ways to recount family histories within a hybrid context.
2. Milford Galleries 26 Kitchener St. New works by Robert Bourdon, carved wood wall works derived from images of fish hooks and water icons.
3. PumpHouse Gallery Killarney Park, Takapuna. Old Masters: The Rutland Group, important collection of work by Elam and ex-Elam artists 1935-58.
4. NorthArt Norman King Square, Northcote. Two Rivers, sculptures by Peter Oxborough, paintings by son John Oxborough.
5. Gow Langsford Gallery cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Sts. The Anawhata Series, by Antonio Murado, big, moody, atmospheric seascapes.
FIVE VIDEOS/DVDs
1. Tape: Smart dialogue and stand-out performances from Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard and Uma Thurman as old high-school friends who dissect their shocking past.
2. Shanghai Knights: Goofy but hilarious sequel to Shanghai Noon reunites Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson in another chop-socky pantomime of big dumb fun.
3. The Brotherhood of the Wolf: Outlandish French period kung-fu horror film about a terrible creature which keeps eating the peasants.
4. Marvin Gaye Live in Montreux: The soul singer may not have been an obvious invitee to this 1980 jazz festival but his dazzling performance shows the height of his talents.
5. The Recruit: Al Pacino and Colin Farrell star in New Zealand director Roger Donaldson's twisting plot about a computer whiz signed up to CIA boot camp.
FIVE BARS TO TRY
1. Match Cnr Pitt and Hopetoun Sts, City: Sophisticated and stylish, very Sex and the City for more reasons than one.
2. Mad Dogs and Englishmen Westfield St Lukes: The Union Jack and other bits of British paraphernalia give this pub-in-a-mall an olde English feel. Relaxed spot for a pint after the movies.
3. Korova 429 New North Rd, Kingsland: An old scruffy pub has had a makeover to attract the thirtysomething crowd. Seems to be working.
4. Nikau Club 473 Scenic Drive, Waiatarua: The perfect place for a drink after a walk on a wild west coast beach. Stunning views.
5. The Pinnacle Club 24 St Benedicts St, Newton: A strange mixture of splendid historic building and old school pub - complete with old-fashioned prices.
<i>The five guide for the weekend</i>
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