Priscilla Ahn
I heard this chicky on Grey's Anatomy a while ago and I can’t stop listening to her! She is a singer/songwriter and embarked upon a career the old-fashioned way. She packed her belongings in a car - “two guitars, clothes, and some other junk I really didn't need to bring” - and left home for L.A. She found steady gigs, a supportive circle of fellow artists and a record deal in a relatively short period of time, give or take several months of bad waitressing jobs. Although her album isn’t available in stores here yet – you can download some songs off itunes or order it here. Ahn artfully balances youthful whimsy and grown-up sophistication, playing her guitar and singing in a warm, welcoming, and stunningly self-assured voice. She’s brilliant, have a look and listen here.

Kiwi Ukulele: The New Zealand Ukulele Companion
by Mike Dickison
If you are like me and only relate the Ukulele with island holidays in the sun, this book lets us know that the Ukulele can be fun and easy, and not just for Hawaiian songs! The book boasts; "Everything the Kiwi uke player needs to know: choosing, tuning, playing; strings and other accessories; tips for practising, performing, and playing in groups; and a pile of contemporary Kiwi songs". Author Mike Dickison writes "If you like old-timey standards or Hawaiian music, go for it, but I don’t. Play what you normally listen to; I regularly play at least a couple of songs by the Magnetic Fields, the White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie, Belle & Sebastian... It’s fun to be ironic and play Nirvana or the Sex Pistols, but the gag wears thin unless you have the knack of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.” Sounds like fun to me! Available at all good bookstores for RRP$19.95. Or you can check it out here.

Get Smart Season 2 & 3 on DVD
If you’ve seen the movie – that’s nice, but it’s nothing compared to the real thing. Get Smart seasons 1 – 3 are all now available on DVD. I remember the re-runs of Get Smart when they were on after school, I never did quite find it as funny as my parents, but now when I watch it, my sides splitting! There are 30 episodes from each season on five DVDs, almost two hours of bonus footage and features, and the episodes are digitally restored and remastered. Cosy up  with Maxwell Smart, Agent 99 and The Chief on a rainy afternoon and laugh yourself silly. Buy them here for only $39.95.

Nkb Fine Art Gallery opens in Mt Eden Village, Auckland.
Check out Overture I running from August 14 til September 9. This show will proudly showcase the work of Mt Eden based artists Peter Siddell, Peter Gibson-Smith, Damien Kurth, Russell Jackson, George Baloghy, Stanley Palmer, Sylvia Siddell, Belinda Wilson, Tracey Walker and sculptor Peter Lange. Overture II, the second group show will display the work of established and emerging artists who have supported the bi-annual exhibitions. It will feature works from artists Michael Smither, Gavin Hurley, Ruth Cole and sculptor Marte Szirmay amongst others and will run from September 11 to October 2. For details or dates for previews of each show please contact ngaire@mtedenart.co.nz

Art Directors Pick - Rockids tees
I like anything that is too tiny for its own good. The ultimate cute right now is design entrepreneurs 1976’s Rockids tees for toddlers. 1976 were sick of kids clothing being too plain and uncool, so decided to do something about it. The designs comprise of a drummer, guitarist and lead singer illustrations placed on the tee so that your kid's head is the head of the musician. Genius, and so darn cute. Other designs include tees with slogans such as ‘Dad’s a Rockstar, Mum’s a Supermodel’, ‘Papa was a Rolling Stone’ and ‘Awop Bopa Loobop Alop Bam Boom’. Rockids Tees are an excellent idea for a gift and will make you the coolest mum, dad, aunty, uncle, cousin or grandparent on the planet!. Get yours here for a mealsey $37 each!