BEST IDOLATRY
You've seen the telly programme. Now buy the album. NZ Idol winner Ben Lummis' debut album One Road hit the stores earlier this week. Here's a chance to get it signed by the idol himself. He's at The Warehouse in Manukau City at 2pm today to do that very thing. "Chaos expected," say the promoters. And if his previous in-store appearances are anything to go by, this could well be true.
Ben Lummis, in-store record signing, The Warehouse, Manukau City, today, 2pm
BEST CREEPY-CRAWLIES
The Auckland Museum is not the place to be if anything with eight legs sends shivers down your spine. But for those keen on spiders, the Auckland Museum's Big Scary Spider Day is on today. For the very brave, there's the big, scary spider handling sessions with animal curator Brian Lawton and spider identification with entomology curator John Early and Landcare research specialist Grace Hall. Those bringing spiders in for this need to bring them in a sealed jar. Less hands-on-spider activities include spider stories, origami spider-making, website activities and a bug-writing workshop with Simon Pollard, author of I am a Spider and I am an Insect. He'll be signing copies of it if you care to bring yours in.
Big Scary Spider Day, Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain, from 10am
BEST BOOK CLUB
The annual Storylines free family day is bound to be rowdy. The organisers are expecting around 20,000 children and parents to come to the Aotea Centre for a chance to see authors and illustrators in action tomorrow. They'll be reading, drawing, performing, answering questions and signing autographs. Long-time favourite authors Margaret Mahy, Tessa Duder and Joy Cowley will be reading aloud, as will Keisha Castle-Hughes together with Witi Ihimaera. There is also a sneak preview of the musical Napoleon and the Chicken Farmer with Jackie Clarke, storytelling, puppet shows, songs, goal shooting with the Silver Ferns, the Paper Plus Kids' Lit Quiz National Finals and much more besides. A write good time for all.
Storylines Free Family Day, Aotea Centre, from 9.45am.
BEST BAND OF BROTHERS
Last call for Harold Pinter's play The Caretaker. (potent pause) Production's run ends tonight at the Maidment Studio. Herald reviewer Peter Calder called it a "polished reading of a classic and deserves excellent houses". The characters, Mick, his brother Aston and the tramp Davies whom Aston brings back to the one-room flat, have been "delving into the dark crevices of the human condition and exposing the dysfunction of relationships" since the play's premiere in 1960.
The Caretaker, (potent pause) Productions, Maidment Studio, Alfred St, today 2pm, 7.30pm, adults $32, students $22. Ph (09) 308
BEST MUCKING IN
Townies may not need to be up on the latest in tractors but that won't stop them from admiring the shiny machinery at the 36th National Fieldays at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton today. This is one big agricultural show with 1280 exhibition sites and around 120,000 visitors expected - not all for the seminar A Lame Excuse: Horses Barefoot Trimming for Soundness either. The Ag Art Wear fashion shows, chainsaw, tractor pull and fencing competitions are a big draw, as is the Rural Bachelor of the Year Competition.
National Fieldays, Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, today, 8am-5pm, adults $12, children $6.
Best of the weekend
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