Entertainment picks: Still hungry for destruction

Velvet Revolver are at the Supertop on Saturday.

Music

You have to love that feeling when you put on a record and it makes you feel all frisky, just like you were in your adolescence. One of the few records that still inspires that for me is Appetite For Destruction by the mighty Guns N' Roses. Indeed, by all means, take me down to the Paradise City.

Well, you can at least get halfway there next Saturday night when Velvet Revolver - whose lineup includes Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum from the Gunners - play the Supertop at Ericsson Stadium.

Then, the night after, with more costume changes than Elton John, Cher - the sexiest grandma on the planet - takes over North Harbour Stadium.

Gigs also worth a look include old-time hip-hop crew Arrested Development, whose positive, uplifting tunes will raise the roof of the St James on Friday.

And if there are tickets left, check out the Shins on Wednesday at the Kings Arms. Zach Braff loves them.

Television

Forget plastic surgery dramas and feeling sorry for Paul Holmes, the best show on TV is about spies. Even torturing the agents from spy show Spooks (Tuesday, 9.30pm, TV One) with a red hot poker in the crotch region won't get them to talk. They're braver than I am. Okay, they're actors, but this may be the best spy show since The Avengers.

Last series it ended with Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen) - he's a hunk, according to certain female sources - swimming off into the sea. You were left wondering: is he a traitor or isn't he? In the first episode of series two this is all resolved so be watching to see if Tom gets a beach towel or the hot poker.

Now, I'm sure there's going to be some serious subjects raised on the brilliantly named Ask Your Auntie (Tuesday, 5.30pm, Maori TV), but with a name like that there's got to be a few laughs as well. It's kind of like Beauty and the Beast, or Charlotte Dawson's defunct How's Life, except with a panel of Maori women offering advice.

And check out Expose: Forgotten Kingdom: Prince Harry in Lesotho (Thursday, 8.30pm, TV One). We loved his partying and womanising but the Nazi uniform pushed it a little too far. What was William thinking, letting his little brother pick that costume? A documentary with the wee Prince voicing his concerns about the Aids crisis in Africa will be worth a laugh. I mean a look.

Art exhibition

A 21-year-old art gallery institution re-opens in new premises on Tuesday. Muka Gallery - best known for it's Muka Youth Prints project, which gets art into the hands of young people - is moving to 68-70 Ponsonby Rd.

The youth prints are owned by more than 30,000 young New Zealanders and are also popular among young art collectors from overseas.

The Muka Gallery started in 1984 when Belgians Frans Baetens and his wife, Magda Van Gils, set up a lithography studio workshop in Brown St, Ponsonby. Artist Tony Fomison was the first artist to work with the couple, which led to his art being printed on paper made out of New Zealand flax.

The Maori word for flax fibre, and things made out of it, is muka - hence the name of the gallery.

Movies

Historical, blood and guts, Adam Sandler in another serious role and imaginary friends - that's what the movies opening on Thursday offer.

First up, The House of Flying Daggers is more martial arts in a historical epic style from director Zhang Yimou (who did last year's Hero). It also stars Zhang Ziyi from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Meanwhile, Spanglish stars Adam Sandler as a struggling father and celebrity chef, with Tea Leoni as his neurotic wife and Spanish star Paz Vega as their new Mexican maid.

And last there's Hide and Seek, a thriller starring Robert De Niro as the father of a girl whose imaginary friend might not be so unreal. Sounds like one of those films Mr De Niro did for the cheque. Social Circuit Whitebait season or not, you'll be able to get a fritter or three at the Devonport Wine and Food Festival this weekend. Wash it down with some of Aotearoa's best plonk and then go back for a venison burger. It's $20 to get in, which includes a free glass of wine. After that you're on your own. For added enjoyment get a ferry or catch a cab.