Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball at Rod Laver Arena

Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball at Rod Laver Arena

I am new(ish) to the Lady Gaga bandwagon, and to be honest it was my baby girl that got me into her music… I have watched her fashion/art installations from the start but couldn't get into the chorouses, all I had heard, of her music (think 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face' choruses on ads etc for months, eeek!)… Marleys obsession with Bad Romance changed that…
The show delivered from all aspects… She looked amazing, her cast of dancers were brilliant, she can belt out a live tune and then some… She is an actual musician, not a cookie cutter pop princess as I had previously thought…
I always worry seeing a one album singer, even Beyonce and Santogold both felt short of material, but Gaga took you on an adventure with her… Looking for the Monster Ball and taking you with her to find it… It really felt that you were with her on this, aside from brilliant music, outfits, a spectacle from beginning to end, she talked with the audience so much it felt like it was all really real…
If you are a fan, or not, and there is a ticket available to any of her shows ever, I suggest you take it… I wish we had more tickets to her shows…

Dave Hughes - Retro - Melbourne International Comedy Festival - Palais Theatre

Dave Hughes at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne International Comedy Festival

I know a lot of people don’t like Hughesy, but I do, and after seeing his show Retro, I like him even more! Opening with a confused yet charming Glen Robbins, then Denise Scott… Denise is funny in a very niche way, she just makes me think about my mum and the concept that I am going to get old, so its not so much fun…

Dave came out and in a mix of scripted and improv kept us laughing from start to end… It did feel like it did go on a bit, but that’s probably because it was well past my bed time… He is far more entertaining in 3d then on TV, even if you aren't sure about him, if you get a chance to check him, do it!

Novotel St Kilda

Novotel St Kilda

It's been a long time since I have stayed here... Mum got us the room for our wedding anniversary to go with our tickets for Dave Hughes at the Palais... The staff were lovely, room was comfortable, recently refurbed, with everything required for a nice stay... The bathroom was massive and clean, but poorly designed as the open plan meant water from the shower went all over the back half of the floor...
We cheekily set up the wii and had a good time kicking back, playing games with a few drinks until it was time to go to the show... Ordered room service, I got the burger, pricey, but delicious!
Would definitely stay here again, recommend the spot, awesome location, nice room...

Alice in Wonderland - Tim Burton

Alice in Wonderland
I will pre empt my mediocre review by saying we didn't see this legit... So the picture and colours weren't as lush as I had hoped, and know they would have been if we went to the cinema, or 3D at the cinema...
An interesting and very Tim Burtonesque take on the story... It was mildly funny in parts but not as funny or as entertaining as expected... Maybe a cinema viewing was required, but certainly wouldn't recommend a dodgy copy at home ;)

Melbourne Aquarium

Melbourne Aquarium

Marley and I took Michelle to the aquarium to celebrate her birthday... It is an expensive venture, more then the zoo for less entertainment, however on entry you are presented with the penguin enclosure... This is by far the best thing about the aquarium, and I wish it was the last thing you saw so you could walk away with the feeling of awe that you do on first sighting... It's massive, and cold and white, feels good on the eyes... The penguins are right there next to you just chillin, Marley loved them and didn't want to move from the first window, eventually we got her around to the big window and then the swimming area... Truly magnificent and worth every penny of entry...
The rest is okay, there are a LOT of fish, loads of tanks, frogs, turtles, even dragons and lizard types... The walk under the huge tank is good, you could spend a lot of time there, just watching the fish and sharks go by...
It was a really nice time, and we will go back another time, but it is expensive for what it is...

Cop Out Film

Cop Out

Oh Kevin Smith you kill me... I wanted so badly for this film to be good, for both our sakes... But it wasn't... In the slightest... I couldn't stay awake through it... We turned it off, that's all I can really say about that...

Invictus Movie

When I first read about this release I had no care for it, but seeing the shorts I was interested... So we checked it out... A few points for starters:

if you like rugby you will like this film

if you like rugby and an inspirational story you will like this film

if you like inspirational stories and don't mind rugby you will like this film

if you like inspirational stories and don't like rugby you might not like this film

I fall into that last category... I thought I would love it, it has a great cast, looks good, but there was far too much actual rugby for me to get into it... I had hoped due to my interest in football I might be able to transfer some sporting interest, but that didn't happen! Overlooking the rugby (hard to do) it was great, and I can see why people would enjoy it!

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby

It was suggested by Mark that now I am a football fan I might like to read this book... I was thinking that I really enjoyed the film adaption 'The Perfect Catch' starring Drew Barrymore, I may like it... To begin, I don't know how the screen writers or whoever got that film from that book!

The book itself felt looong... There were definite moments I could feel like I related, but mostly it felt quite self indulgent, if you didn't support the gunners then maybe you were better off not reading it... It probably would have sat better if it wasn't so team/player specific, because I couldn't care less about the styles of players in the EPL 20 years ago... However if you are a fan of EPL, EPL history or Arsenal, you should definitely read it!

Up In The Air Movie

This was recommended to me by a friend... So I blame you Kelly, haha, not really it wasn't so bad...

The concept of this story I was in to... George Clooney did a great job, which is to be expected... And right up to the last minutes I was sucked in, going through the motions with him... Then it ends... With no closure, no wrap up and no happy ending... I have reached a point in my life where I am 'soft' I like a happy ending... I felt a bit ripped off... But I did enjoy the film, so I guess the job was done...

Valentines Day Movie

Okay, I wasn't thinking this was going to be great, yet somehow I convinced Mark to sit with me and watch this all star cast do...nothing... Absolutely nothing happened in this film... Absolute snoozefest, waste of a night... We didn't even finish it, with 40 minutes to go we decided we could be doing better things with our limited time... Bad, bad, bad, don't do it!

Good Vibrations Festival 2010

Good Vibrations has been a staple in my Summer Festival season every year since it began... I love it... Never had a bad year... I didn't go last year as I was due to have Marley, didn't think it would be an appropriate place to go into labour... I was interested in the change of venue though, and looked forward to going this year, especially with the line up, a whole day of great music!!!
It didn't turn out that way...

The venue was crap... Poorly laid out, over sold, poorly catered... If you wanted to go anywhere you had to battle with people... The Roots stage a usual favourite for its great line up and intimate vibe, was just as packed and hard to get in and out of as anywhere else... If you wanted a drink you had to wait half hour, if you wanted to eat you had to wait half an hour and if you wanted to use the bathroom it was another half hour, if you wanted to get in to see an act it took 20 minutes to get out again... Absolutely ridiculous... I really think that the promoters have become waaaay too greedy...

We checked Mafia's first set and it was a highlight, everybody got up and danced within minutes, she should have had a full hour or more, not been a support...

I have wanted to see Salt N Pepa since I missed them last time they were here... They had an hours slot, and when they were playing their own tracks they were amazing... The did miss a verse, but overall I was really happy with the 30 minutes or so that they performed, however they did about 30 minutes of festival karaoke, a singalong to other peoples songs... That sucked, and so did the teenagers in front of us who spent the whole set taking photos of each other...

The Gossip were good despite sh*t sound... I only saw a couple of their tracks but they were rocking it...

Naughty by Nature played mostly stuff that wasn't their best, and did some festival karaoke too (I have never heard Nirvana, The White Stripes or Rage Against the Machine so much, anywhere, even in the days of Goo), and then the highlight, Salt N Pepa joined them and performed 'Push It'... Wicked... Treach must be spewing that his ex brought it to his own show more then he did...

Busta Rhymes, lyrically amazing... At this point I just wanted the whole of 'The Coming' to be played, and I hardly got any of it... There was a lot of start stopping which was driving me crazy... He was good though... I did prefer his set we caught in NYC, it wasn't to dissimilar in set up, just felt more connected to the delivery... Salt N Pepa joined him too, another highlight... I do give respect to Busta for not doing festival karaoke, a true hiphop trooper...


The Killers, they did exactly what they were paid to do KILLED IT! I was far up the back and I still felt that Brandon was singing to me... This is the third time I have seen them, in the intimacy of Festival Hall, the vast expanse of Rod Laver and now outdoors at Good Vibes and they are one of the most consistent bands I have seen...

So there you have it... A lot of fun moments in an overall poorly designed and executed day... Thanks heavens for awesome friends and family that can make a day like this much better then what it was...

Couples Retreat DVD Release

I was thinking that with this cast 'Couples Retreat' would be hilarious... I was wrong... There were definitely funny moments, but few and far between... It felt like it had the contents for a great, light film, but was just light... Light on laughs, light on story... Don't bother...

Jersey Shore

Taken from MTV.com:
MTV has focused its lens on various subcultures and rites of passage, uncovering a host of memorable characters in the process. With its newest series, Jersey Shore, MTV peels back yet a different curtain to follow eight young adults as they move into a summer share to indulge in everything Seaside Heights, New Jersey, one of the most popular summer hot spots, has to offer. Jersey Shore uncovers sometimes surprising, often hilarious and usually over-the-top personalities as they juggle work, love, nightlife, friendship and the drama that ensues. In the end, viewers see that there is more to these tan and buff individuals than hair gel.


I had read too much about this cast on Perezhilton.com and decided to download it to watch in my bubs nap time... I wasn't sure what to expect, I couldn't get into the Hills and there were many comparisons... Well unlike the Hills, I was addicted to this from the first episode... Sure I can see why its controversial, but it is also HILARIOUS! Once you eventually remember who they all are (I keep getting confused with Sammi and JWow thinking ShamWow), you will be addicted too...

Avatar

I'm not going to tell you anything you haven't already heard... Yes, we all know the story of Pocahontas, but this is so lush, and beautiful to look at, especially in 3d, I think you need to catch it at the cinema before its too late! The whole length of the film, and was it looong, I didn't check my watch once! But I didn't move enough, legs seized up when I tried to stand at the end...

Crown Promenade Hotel

Crown Promenade Hotel
8 Whiteman Street,
Southbank 3006
Melbourne
Victoria
Reservations +61 3 9292 6688
Facsimile +61 3 9292 6600
Toll free (within Australia): 1800 776 612

Mark won this nights accommodation in a raffle (dude has amazing luck)... It included a breakfast and valet parking... Everything about the experience was wonderful... The staff, from valet, to room service to breakfast, were exceptional... The location was brilliant for a night at the casino, room was beautiful and clean... The bathroom was a tiny bit mouldy which I'm not a fan of, but otherwise it was lovely and big... Breakfast was divine, eggs to order, every pastry, cereal, fruit, bread you could think of... Got a couple drinks room service, really good cocktail!!! Overall I would highly recommend this as a place to stay with your lover, it ticks all the boxes!

The view...

The White Queen

The White Queen
A 15th Century Plantagenet Novel of Suspense
Philippa Gregory

I am a big Philippa Gregory fan, and this book does not disappoint... Sticking to a subject and style that she excels in, with great characters, beautifully described scenery and a plot that keeps you wanting more... All I can really say is if you are into this period, or any of her previous books you should read it... Looking forward to her next installment...

Synopsis (from the publisher): Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

Britney Spears - The Circus

After one extremely bad review of this show, Australia was up in arms about lip synching... I was honestly surprised that anyone who had a ticket to this show wouldn't know that Britney doesn't sing live... I bought my Mum a ticket for her birthday and in part to say thanks for looking after Marley all of the time... Not a big fan, but have enjoyed her latest album...

Rod Laver arena was full of young women, I felt old at the ripe old age of 31... Seating around the three ring circus was great, no matter where you were you could see the stage... The show started with side acts, circus side acts, complete with clowns, little people and an amputee... It was definitely amazing, and this was before we were graced with her presence... She came out and did what she was supposed to do, she danced around, her dancers were amazing, the costumes and choreography were great, the pyrotechnics were brilliant... We heard all of her songs worth hearing... I loved the 'everybodys looking for something' segueway, hotness!!! The few things that didn't impress me 100% was that she was cold, I imagine she didn't want to go on stage after that review, but she had to, and it felt like that... The lack of talk to the audience, we got something like 'Its great to be in Melbourne' she had more to say about Melbourne on her twitter that day... And lastly I think her heels were too high to pull off her moves convincingly... I had seen rehearsals in the studio for this and her fluidity when she was dancing was much better... Otherwise I truly feel like we got our moneys worth...


The setlist:
CIRCUS
Parade Intro
Circus (Funky Remix)
Piece of Me
Thunderstorm Segue
Radar
HOUSE OF FUN (Anything Goes)
Martial Arts Segue
Ooh Ooh Baby/Hot as Ice
Boys
If U Seek Amy
Me Against the Music (Bollywood)
FREAKSHOW/PEEPSHOW
Everybody’s Looking for Something Segue
Freakshow
Get Naked
Britney’s Hotline
Breathe on Me/Touch of My Hand
ELECTRO CIRC
Break the Ice Segue
Do Something
Slave
Dancer Solo Segue/Heartbeat Segue
Toxic
Baby One More Time (Remix)
ENCORE
Womanizer (Extended Remix)
Circus Reprise: The Bow

Friday 18th September

Friday 18th September
RCA booked our cab, which turned out to be a limo (for the same price!) to go to the airport early in the morning, a great end to a great stay!

Serendipity 3

Serendipity 3
225 East 60th St
http://www.serendipity3.com/
We came for the frozen hot chocolate, and some lunch as we were ravenous by the time we arrived, went to enter there was a sign that there weren’t any strollers allowed… The man that worked there suggested leaving the stroller out the front or tipping a fellow across the road to mind it, which we didn’t feel comfortable with… I asked if I could just get one frozen hot chocolate take away and he said they didn’t do take away but would make an exception in this case… So glad he did it was HEAVEN! I honestly though that there was no way it could live it to the hype or expectations, but it blew me away! The only regret is that I didn’t buy some take away sachets for when we got home! I have since checked Amazon and they are very very expensive, even before adding international shipping!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
www.metmuseum.org
5th Avenue & 82,
New York -
+1 212-879-5500

The wonderful museums of NYC have always been on my to do list, but we have always been so caught up with being out and about they have always fallen by the wayside… On this trip it wasnt just about being out in the street, so we thought Marley might enjoy a rich art experience...

The Roman/Greek exhibit was awe inspiring… The modern section had loads of famous pieces and eventually making our way through the massive mazelike space we found the shark, it was very impressive, if not looking a little bit knackered… Out through the Egyptian space, there is one room which has one wall of windows, a water feature and some great pieces of Egyptian art, the through the other bits, the mummies, hieroglyphs etc, just fantastic!

We probably need another day or two there to get full scope, but we got to see the main points of interest to me and that was the main thing!