CHINAWOOD – HENGDIAN WORLD STUDIOS IN CHINA LOOKS GROOVY TODAY
The good thing about being a blogger, is that other bloggers, whose world you know nada (Espanol for al zippo) about link to your blog–and teach you something.
For example some blogger with a teen persona named “Au-Yeung” just linked to Horiwood.Com. Already people are reading a Horiwood.Com post about Lucy Liu written and posted on February 21st 2009, shortly after I first started blogging and Rihanna‘s nasty black eye was THE topic of conversation in Young Hollywood that rocked the world of entertainment.
Au-Yeung’s post is this picture about Hengdian World Studios. Believe it or not, we rave on about Hollywood studios here in L.A but this pic features the film studio that China describes as being the largest in the world that was founded by a farmer turned millionaire Xu W sometimes called “Chinawood.” Now that was one farmer who upgraded his golden crops smartly.
The Standard Hong Kong sheds light on Chinawood’s founding once-poor farmer, noting: “Behind Hengdian’s rise is Xu Wenrong, a fiery 72-year-old multimillionaire who made a fortune manufacturing textiles, electronics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Since building his first set there a decade ago for a director-friend making a film about the opium wars, Xu has plowed millions of dollars from his Hengdian Group empire to remake this farming enclave into “Chinawood.”
Xu said he picked Hengdian because it was his hometown.From a single lot, Hengdian World Studios has spread to a 25-square-kilometer area, almost twice the size of Beverly Hills. The local government has given him permission to expand tenfold. Now, Xu speaks with the arrogance of a Hollywood mogul. (<– Hey, cut it out! Hollywood moguls are becoming more gracious!)”Beijing can’t compete with me,” said Xu, who was himself a poor farmer.
He scoffed at Beijing’s chronic water shortage. “And who can afford Shanghai?” he asked.”
Alright, perhaps China does need to click on this PURE WATER post to be humanely royal too then to the good people of Beijing with water flow and power flows in the right and more humane directions. I do love this story about Chinawood. Very cool via Hong Kong.
Apparently, Xu envisions his studio as a one-stop filming center. ”Our slogan is, `You come here with a script and leave with a finished story,”‘ he said. Hengdian Group has already teamed up with Warner Brothers and another local company to create Warner China Films HG, which will produce Chinese- language movies for the big screen and television.” There’s no stopping Warner Bros. expansion worldwide. What a good tie in. That slogan does need rewriting though. It’s like doh! Of course scripts should become finished stories–you’re a film studio! Blimey!
What a nice Christmas gift. New news about other places, locations and people in the world who entertain with the medium of film and cinema all year round like bloggers do too sharing their news and images in Hollywood. Thanks Au-Yeung.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.25.10~
RYAN SEACREST IS 36 TODAY
Happy Disney Birthday.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.24.10~
MEGAN FOX AND BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN ZIP OVER TO HAWAII’S TROPICAL BEACHES
Pics of Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green catching some rays and mohitos on Hawaii’s beaut beaches are doing the rounds on celeb websites as a holiday trending vacation spot to be spotted at.
Absolutely, why not! Hawaii is so much fun. Tropical climates and chill beaches can’t be beat. Love it.
By the way, for somewhere exotic if you’re from the mainland in the US, Fiji is pretty hot too to vacation at.
[Images courtesy of Bauer Griffin Online]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.19.10~
MICHELLE OBAMA AND GIRLS HEAD TO HAWAII, IN AN EFFICIENT PLANE, FOR SCHEDULED FAMILY VACATION TIME
HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama‘s Hawaii vacation is being delayed by unfinished business in Washington, but first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha are going ahead with their trip this weekend.
A statement from Michelle Obama’s office Friday said the rest of the family — including the first dog, Bo — will depart for Honolulu on Saturday as originally scheduled for the holidays.
The president won’t fly to Hawaii until Congress’ session is complete, possibly on Wednesday.
The family won’t take Air Force One, instead flying on a C40B, a version of the Boeing 737 that the first lady’s office described as one of the White House fleet’s smaller and most efficient planes.
The entire Obama family will return to Washington on Jan. 1.
[Let's hope the Obama ladies have the best holiday ever. They so deserve it. I mean to be in sun and around people who are genuinely friendly and with plenty of tropical flavored shave ice would be fun and so healthy for this family. It's not sugar that is harmful to this family. Wishing them a good Hawaii Christmas]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.17.10~
GOOD GOLLY – JAY-Z AND BEYONCE ARE QUITE A DRAW AT LUNCH IN NEW ZEALAND
Yesterday my mom called to say Beyonce and Jay-Z lunched at Soul Cafe on the viaduct basin of Auckland The Supercity. It was quite a moment. Here’s the highlights while the couple stayed at Mollies a boutqiue hotel in the trendy restaurant-suburb of Ponsonby. Here’s Ten Things about the superstar couples lunch in New Zealand:
New York Body Guards: The couple travel with bodyguards who were toting”thick raspy New Yorker accents.”
Beyonce loves New Zealand Snapper: New Zealand snapper is a deep sea fish that you grow up catching as a kid with your dad on fishing weekends. It’s loved by Japan, China and those in the know in Europe. The cool thing is, when you go to any local fish ‘n chip store near a beach, snapper is also on the menu for $4 – $6 a piece. With a beer it’s delicious. She’s got good taste in food this girl.
Jay-Z dined on John Dory fish: Jigga also had fish. Apparently his taste preference was the John Dory and fries. John Dory is oilier in texture than snapper–and in my opinion not as good, although it is faintly sweeter to the taste, but less juicy on the palate. Having said that, all New Zealand seafood (Australian seafood too) is good.
Fun with cameras: The Queen Bee of R n’ B, took great delight in (snapping) photographing Jay-Z and the paparazzi too with her camera as a reminder that it was Jay-Z’s entertainment moment, not hers. Gracious and fun.
What wine did the star couple share? The Gibbston Valley Pinos Gris. With a sense of Kiwi humor, the gold medal winning wine is described as so: “A very bright nose, strongly infused with passionfruit. On the palate, the energy of the wine is juxtaposed against a very creamy, expansive palate. A surge of concentrated fruit relaxes all the way through the long lingering finish. An amazingly versatile wine with food, its strength is that it combines fullness of structure with pleasing aromatics. We have consistently found our Pinot Gris cellar well between 5-8 years.” You can order a case of it here.
The onlookers at nearby tables: Who should have been at this lunch are TV directors/ producers: Tini Molyneux, Nicole Hoey, Joanna Paul, Stacey Morrison, Paora Maxwell, Greg Mayor, Eliza Bidois, Scotty Morrison, Matai Rangi Smith to name a few star Auckland show biz entertainers–who could have provided Bee and Jay-Z with some fun cultural sense of Kiwi humor. However, this is who was present: TV Game Show Producer Julie Christie. Magazine editor Bevan Rapson. Tres blanca, I must say for NZ’s colorful entertainment diversity, but all good.
Onlookers quote of the day: Said winemaker Kim Crawford: “I walked out the front of the restaurant to have a smoke,” Crawford told the Herald on Sunday, “and I went to pull out my ciggies from my pocket and the bodyguard yelled ‘No photos!’ I said, ‘f*** off, mate, this is New Zealand. It’s just cigarettes. He did apologise, so that was okay.”
Someone needs to tell Kim, that if you spark up a joint in California (in many parts of the US) no one would look at you twice. Cigarettes are like what the devil smokes–they are satanic for one’s lungs is the belief, so um, yeah! It’s very self-righteous of the US, but it’s the developing trend of etiquette here. The French will love this story though from Kim Crawford. Too funny. What a cowboy! It’s just that in air polluted cities, people like to avoid cigarette smoke in preference of the ganja–yet in New Zealand with good clean air, the reverse is probably true when lunching. We don’t have air issues in the same way big US cities do. Every little bit of air management helps here.
A bit about Mollies – celebrity couples romance star-accommodation spot: Mollies romantic boutique hotel accommodation in Auckland city New Zealand, is a small luxury hotel, named “Best New Small Hotel in The World” by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Hotel Awards. Think Ireland, meets classic operatic overtones with a hint of Asia-Pacific freshness to get the gist. I smile when I see a picture of Mollies. It’s a converted colonial styled house that once belonged to Liz and Rick who were my bosses when I was 16 living, studying and working in Auckland at Rick’s Cafe Americain. Love what’s been done to this house. Hot!
The restaurant exit: Jigga and Bee’s romantic 90-minute late lunch saw them ushered to an awaiting Audi that transported the star couple to a helicopter to chopper their way a short distance to Mt Smart Stadium for the final concert of the New Zealand leg where Jay-Z played support act to U2.
Are Jay-Z and Beyonce still in New Zealand? No. They flew out yesterday.
[Photog credit: Stephen McNicholl: Jay-Z does his thing in concert, having fun at Auckland The Supercity's Mount Smart Stadium concert venue]
I remember watching Beyonce live at Mt Smart Stadium myself, long before she was ‘officially dating’ her hubby with her girl group Destiny’s Child. The moment was harmonious and magical under a big super top tent. She proudly wore the biggest blondest afro wig, her head could hold and hula skirts for much of the concert. At the same venue, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Bon Jovi, Alanis Morissette and Robbie Williams are also fond rock star moments I remember seeing at Mt Smart. Auckland The Supercity is one of the best venues you could ever see a rock star perform in. It’s a place that is getting LOUDER in a good way, with rock star diverstity! Such a cool city with fun surrounding adventure activities to enjoy with a quality of restaurant life and culture that’s second to none in the world. Much fun. Having seen Beyonce in concert here too at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles, you just ignore exaggerated reports that she towers in a red dress and Loubouton leopard print heels. Bee is actually average or short in stature, like many of America’s most famous pop stars are, if you see them live. There’s nothing much to them, but their spirits are larger than life in concert. It’s all camera work, best angles and mega-projection. As a performer, Beyonce is second to none. She’s like a Jackson, or lately, a Bieber–they’re the best show people in the world.
My nephew Bradley James totally digs Jay-Z and was so mega-excited that Jigga was performing at this concert with U2. He was there watching the concert, a dream come true. Apparently these lads were amazing!
[Hollywood star today--A publicist's soldier tribute Hollywood star--Photographed for you by Horiwood.Com]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.27.10~
RYAN AND JULIANNE NEWS – THE HOUGH-SEACREST FAMILY ROMANCE AS TOURISTS IN PARIS
With this photo of Ryan Seacrest romancing Julianne Hough of the Hough family, I am reminded of these things:
1. How Angelina Jolie always snubs Ryan on the red carpet at Oscars awards ceremonies whenever he tries to interview her. So Ryan being a tourist abroad perhaps shows he has a good sense of humor in mimicking Jolie as a bigger star than him, with no hard feelings.
2. How Julianne Hough is a worthy rising Taylor Swift-esque country singer. Julianne is even pitch perfect when she sings live in shopping malls. For that she deserves a lot of kuros. She’s fearless.
3. And how healthy it is for Ryan to be celebrating with his family instead of in studios all the time. Let’s get used to this picture of the Hough-Seacrest family in Paris then. They’re going to amazing lengths to turn on a show for America today. A good effort all round across this show biz team, showing they can switch it up in two different countries today. Not many show biz families are doing that today. :)
Country star Julianne can be seen and heard singing her new single, Is that so wrong? right here.
Ryan‘s Hollywood Hills home is up for sale and can be seen, right here.
[Image courtesy of Bauer Griffin]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com. Hollywood California USA. 11.23.10~
A ROYAL HONEYMOON LOCATION – SWIM WITH DOLPHINS IN THE BEAUTIFUL BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
A ROYAL HONEYMOON LOCATION – SWIM WITH DOLPHINS IN THE BEAUTIFUL BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND.
TAHITIAN DANCE HIPS by THE KIWI-TAHITIAN GIRLS OF AUCKLAND, THE SUPERCITY
No one can quite move their hips and hands, like the Kiwi-Tahitian girls dancing to cultural choreography in Auckland, The Supercity New Zealand. They’re the Polynesian version of beautiful Middle-Eastern belly dancers of the Middle East. These one’s are found in peaceful beautiful clean and green New Zealand, or, Middle Earth if you’re a fan of New Zealand cinema.
Anyway Kiwi-Tahitian girls are quite unique in New Zealand. Seen at the Pasifika Cultural festival (they’re the highlight) each year.
Check them out one year. Well worth it. :)
Happy global traveling and exploring diversely colorful dance cultures of the world. Chalk Auckland into your cities to visit. The city’s mayor Len Brown has this to say as an official invite to US all:
“Auckland Mayor Len Brown has taken the first steps towards making Auckland one of the world’s leading events cities.
The mayor has commissioned a report from the council controlled organisation Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development Ltd on how to make the city more of a destination for unforgettable local and international events.
“I want Aucklanders to have a sense of pride and excitement about the events in their city, I want Kiwis from other regions to come and experience the best we can offer, and I want international visitors to go home telling everyone Auckland is the place to go,” says Len Brown.
Next year, Auckland hosts international events such as the Rugby World Cup 2011 followed by Volvo Ocean Race, and the ITU World Championships in 2012. Auckland’s biennial arts festival celebrates its fifth birthday, showcasing artists and performers from New Zealand and abroad, and as every year, the city hosts the largest Pacific festival in the world, Pasifika.
“We will continue to attract high profile international events while promoting our distinctive local events to domestic and international visitors. Similarly attractions around the city, such as sculpture or wine trails, can be promoted as regional packages to our visitors. With all our attractions, stunning environment and friendly people, we have the potential to develop a world class reputation and a prosperous tourism industry,” says Len Brown.” 
Fun, let’s do it then. Heilani Hula School, Hawaii also has Tahitian dancers too. This post also features Indian actress, Smita Patel. :)
Air New Zealand is the airline to give a whirl. They’re cool.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.8.10~
GOT JUICE? AMERICA’S YOUTH IN THE NATION’S CAPITOL -11.3.10
America is a great nation of a wealth of existing potential. There’s work to be done in creating opportunity for America’s youth.
Look at this face of this young girl. She implores, do something. I want to work.
Maybe she should jump on a plane and go orange picking in Keri Keri, Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand – where she can swim with new summer friends after work and on weekends. Just a thought. Kids the world over, do that every summer.
[An orange picker is ready for work in Keri Keri, Bay of Islands New]
[Top image: Restore Sanity Rally - Signage via TPM]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.3.10~
NGA-LEE MUSIC TEES – WE THE KINGS
Two thoughts with this pic of We The Kings:
“Rockers who wear a good Cree tee shirt in Chinese yellow, will always rock.”
If you’ve ever wanted to swim with dolphins in the wild, click on the blue pic below:
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California, Surfin’ USA. 10.30.10~
HE KAAKANO of HE MATAARIKI HOLLYWOOD TRIBUTE for PHIL HEATLEY AND MORRIS CUTFORTH AND ASB TRUST
He Kaakano of He Mataariki has begun a $1.4 million building project for teen moms and their children in Whangarei City, Te Taitokerau, Northland of Aoteroa/ New Zealand. Prime Minister John Key has a sweet spot for this school.
Read all about it, here, if you haven’t already.
In honor of people of vision’s collective energy and focus, here’s a special tribute to ex Mayor of Whangarei City, Stan Semenoff, the new mayor Morris Cutforth, The ASB Trust and the Member of Parliament of Whangarei City, Phil Heatley.
“May you watch over this school and the community of people it serves, as the apple of your eye, as the brightest star in your galaxy. May great leaders arise in the world from He Mataariki and He Kaakano within the City you lead and serve.”
Mauri Ora, Life to You –from Hollywood. A good effort!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.30.10~
JAKEY DAVIS MEETS JOHN KEY AND HILARY CLINTON, SIR GEOFFERY PALMER, MANMOHAN SINGH, PHIL HEATLEY, WEN JIABO NEWS, APEC 2010
(Picture: PERSONAL PM: Former teen parent student Danielle Logan, left, tells Prime Minister John Key about currently studying at teacher’s college and presents him with an edible bouquet grown at He Kaakano childcare unit. Sharon Davis (The Maori Rose of Sharon) and politician Phil Heatley watch their exchange and banter, Whangarei City, Te Tai Tokerau, Northland, New Zealand).
At the moment New Zealand’s Prime Minister has met with key global leaders at the APEC Summit in Vietnam this year. But before the PM of New Zealand jetted out for the global summit, Mr Key took some time out of his schedule to meet some incredible people of He Mataariki School in Whangarei City, Northland, New Zealand. They are remarkable, being commented on today for their passion for education, children’s value and place in the world, women’s achievement and collective community leadership from Hollywood.
The school works with teen parent moms and their children. If you live in America you will know that teen parent moms are on tabloids spotted at supermarket check out aisles in the US. They are big news.
[This photo: U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton left, talks with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during the ASEAN summit on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Image via AP via India Times]
Jake Davis, my youngest nephew, got to the meet the PM with the turning of the first sod for a $1.4m development of the teen parent unit and associated childcare centre He Kaakano that He Mataariki have championed being built. Here’s news snippets of Mr Key’s visit:
[This photo: Jake Davis meets John Key]
“At He Mataariki Teen Parent School, John Key even insisted one pregnant girl call her baby John despite the fact it’s going to be a girl.”
“He also told a three-year-old girl his cat’s name is Moonbeam Smoky Fluffy-Pea.”
“Mr Key was escorted by Whangarei Member of Parliament Phil Heatley who says he knows what the demands are on the prime minister’s time. Mr Heatley says it is extraordinary Mr Key chose to visit He Mataariki for a second time – he visited the unit once when he was leader of the opposition.
[Photo: John Key Arrives in Vietnam]
But Mr Heatley says it was good to have him back to seal the deal for the upgrade. “Once a prime minister opens it there’s no turning back.”
Jake Davis‘ mother Sharon Davis (known as the Maori Rose of Sharon in Hollywood), who was born in Tonga, raised later in Fiji and returned to New Zealand when she was her son Jake’s age; has a rather cute story about Mr Key meeting young Jake.
She writes: “Today the Prime Minister came to turn the first sod of grass, in preparation for the building of a new teen parent school. The little helper chosen to help him turn the sod was Te Raukura (the two year old child of a teen parent). She didn’t want to do the deed, so he grabbed the hand of a little 4 year old boy.
That little 4 year old boy was Jake. Our Jakey (our little Maori prince’s family name of endearment, although he’s almost growing out of that now) turned the first sod of earth over for the new teen parent school with the PM.
[This photo: John Key and Jake Davis, 4, discover an earthworm, while Te Raukura 2, watches on. Image via FlipVideo]
When the sod came up Jake looked at the sod, looked at the prime minister and exclaimed ‘Look a worm’. John Key bent down and scooped up the worm and put it in Jake’s little hand and chatted away with an excited Jake about their find.” A cute green thinking story.
[Below image: ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsawan (R) shakes hands with New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key next to (R-L) Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Buphavanh, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and China's Premier Wen Jiabao as they wait for the start of a gala dinner on the sidelines of the summit meetings between leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their counterparts from partner countries including US, China, Japan, Russian, South Korea and Australia in Hanoi on October 29, 2010. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that he would visit India later this year, stressing there was 'enough space in the world' for both the giant nations to prosper despite a backdrop of frosty ties. Image: The Times of India]
Alrighty then: moving on now to global leaders news at APEC. John Key has met with Hilary Clinton briefly who is excited to be traveling to New Zealand next week for talks with the PM. Mr Keys says India’s Pime Minister, Manmohan does not appear to be phased by broadcaster Paul Henry‘s comments about Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand. Mr Keys says all leaders understand it is an open world and people say “many things.”
The NZ Herald reports: “Mr Key will visit India next year with a business delegation and Dr Singh indicated he was looking forward to the visit.
“He’s very optimistic about the growth of India, he’s talking about at a minimum it’ll be 8.5 per cent, maybe 9, so maybe there’s one or two things we can learn from that.”"
“Mr Keys has announced that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is likely to attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland next year. It would be the first time a UN Secretary-General had attended such a meeting, Mr Key says, and a recognition of the increasing importance of the Pacific region.”
Mr Keys hopes to discuss Fiji‘s return to democracy with newly elected Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard next year. He adds: “‘We remain absolutely committed together to do whatever we can to have democracy restored in Fiji.”
At APEC a lot of interest surround’s Japan’s detaining of a Chinese sea captain when these two nations fishing vessel/ Patrol boats collided off the coast of East China Islands, sparking the Chinese people to be incensed at the detaining.
This prompted Japan’s Prime Minister Nato Kan to say: the current spat should not be regarded as “a decisive trouble,” saying the two countries have weathered a long history together.
“This sort of trouble that we’re seeing right now, compared to various incidents we’ve had in the long history of our relations, would not be regarded as a decisive trouble. And I think both countries remain calm and try to come up with solutions that would be positive to both countries … in terms of peace and stability for the Asia-Pacific and the entire world,” he told reporters.” It’s handy a Kiwi is at APEC to smooth strained relationships between China and Japan’s leading lads with a good Kiwi smile and sense of humor. Goes a long way.
Mr Key also spoke of Ban ki-Moon’s gratitude towards Sir Geoffrey Palmer‘s abilities with the the upcoming investigation of Gaza, Palestine for the United Nations. (Commentary on that can be found here).
Back in Whangarei City: A Humpback Whale was sighted in the bay this week. A pretty city.
[This image: Reuters Pictures: China's Premier Wen Jiabo (L) and New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key (R) show the way to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a group photo at the 5th East Asia Summit in Hanoi October 30, 2010].
[This image below, depicting New Zealand's ecotourism travel destination activities: "A boy swims with dolphins in the Bay of Islands" Horiwood.Com].
~To learn of the Maori culture that Jake descends from of the Nga Puhitonunui tribe and Ngati Whatua tribe, go here to see how young lads like Jake are raised. Fierce warriors. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.29.10. Billy Graham‘s Hollywood Star – Walk of Fame for Jake’s Uncle Billy Davis and his esteemed visionary grandfather, Graham Adrian and Jake and Sharon’s kinsmen by blood–serving in politics: Sir Douglas Graham and Kennedy Graham- image photographed, Hollywood Blvd, Horiwood’s own.~
HORIWOOD.COM THANKS THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL HOLLYWOOD
A special thanks to The Team at The Roosevelt Hotel – for fixing my computer so I can still blog in Hollywood and bring you entertainment news.
Team Roosevelt are the best. Amazingly supportive of Maori Kiwis in Tinsel Town. Thanks.
Stay Roosevelt when you get to Hollywood – it’s where the Jolie-Pitt family stay when on red carpet duties in the hood.
[ps: And I must say: New Zealand --kei hea te tautoko? Where is the support? Love ya. :)]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.27.10~
OMG! NORMS OF ANAHEIM NEAR DISNEYLAND, CALIFORNIA HAVE A DEAL ON
Grease is the friend of all post recession. Because although you could run the risk of having a heart attack further down the track – at least grease is not going to foreclose on your home, ever, like a two-faced paper gangsta banker (as Lady Gaga has rather famously called them).
Grease is one of the little people’s best friend in America. Honest. It is what it is. As proof of grease’s friendly power to the average Joe Bloggs American worker, here’s my favorite pancake griddler’s affordable culinary mastery – after a sweaty night on an LA d-floor, with some exciting news for tourists and residents of Anaheim, Disneyland California terrain.
Norms Restaurants pancakes are the best in the USA. It’s a crying shame that one can’t smother their NORMS pancakes in the gorgeous condensed sunlight of New Zealand butter. That would be a pancake lover’s close-to-heaven moment, but alas, New Zealand butter can rarely be found at NORMS, let alone the USA in general. Why is that? A mystery of dairy magic hidden-ness from the American people. Proof that exciting times still lie ahead for the USA when NZ butter hits NORMS tables nationwide.
My new blog “super hero” persona by the way for the American people, is The Anchor Man starring as Captain Golden Fern (aka Captain NZ Butter). Lol!
Says Norms on Facebook (yes, I really do follow Norm’s on Facebook – I am a true blue-blooded hori who needs a fix of grease too in L.A) -
“If there are two of you headed out for dinner tonight then head to NORMS Anaheim. Because you can get dinner for TWO tonight. Two Mushroom Steak Dinners served with a sweet Dessert (Bread Pudding with Lemon Sauce) and soup and salad is included for ONLY $16.99.”
That’s freakin awesome. Go Norms!
This image snapped by a fellow NORMS fanatic at Ketella Norms, USA. Unfortunately, with a glob of some chemically infused – pale off-yellow dairy crap, dumped on those delicious norms signature pancakes. It’s just wrong. But never mind – the Anaheim special’s still all good. Make the most of it Anaheim at NORMS. 
By the way, NZ butter can be purchased like – for reals in the US via Amazon.Com to take with you to NORMS – your good self. Hey! Fight the Power of the “Butter Grinch” in America – and start the golden butter happiness movement, I say! The Chinese know where their best butter’s at as depicted in this Golden Fern packaging of New Zealand butter that the Chinese people go wild for. Come on America – get with the Best Butter Global Program. Share a little – to gain a lot of golden goodness buttery happiness. :)
_____
When visiting California – Disneyland Anaheim is a “heck yeah!” location of fun for family and kidults alike to enjoy. Check em, right here.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.25.10~
ONE FOR PORIRUA CITY – HAWAII LOVE, ROMANTIC VACATION NATION – ALOHA TO DARRIN AND KOBEZ IN HAWAII
Aloha! Talofa, Kia Ora, Malo ni, ea mai koe? Kia orana, Malo lelei! ’Sup? And, who are these two love birds then?
Who: Darrin & Kobez
Where: Hawaii, Obama‘s home State.
What: Vacationing love birds from New Zealand in Hawaii, USA.
Shout Out: Are you voting Parata for Mana electorate? I hear she’s the best candidate and most experienced for the job. Exciting stuff!
Btw: The chop suey at the Sidewalk restaurant in Oa’ahu, Hawaii, is even more amazing than the chop suey, Aunty Sia makes in Porirua, after Tongan Church on Sundays. Aunty Sia, would be impressed. Eat there. Yummy Polynesian delicacies. Their Ahi Poke is to die for, huge portions! (recipe: fresh tuna, cut in generous chunks, freshly grated ginger, lemon juice, plenty of sesame seed oil and sliced green, spring onion – yummo!). Try this at home in Porirua. Too good to be true.
However, Sidewalk’s or Aunty Sia’s chop suey, isn’t quite as good as the chop suey Miss Universe of Samoa, the one and only Aunty Martha makes (my Aunty and Aunty of Michael Jones and Cathy Collins & Mr Cool - Derek Jones too, obviously!). But definitely a close second.
Now back to our two lovebirds, Kobez and Darrin: You two Wellingtonians are both so lucky, to be in yummo chop suey, rich, Polynesian heat, right now! It’s raining today in otherwise sunny California – the home of Dwayne Johnson.,”The Rock” -formerly of Grey Lyn, Auckers.
Gosh, just thinking about Aunty Sia’s chop suey in Porirua and Aunty Martha’s as well is making me want to play down some major records of The Jets here in Hollywood, but I should show some respect to Brother Love with his Poly club classic we all can get our siva-salsa-haka dance grooves on to. He’s coco-licious cool.
Here’s Roimata for you Wellywood-Hawaiian birds of love to enjoy and all of Porirua City. Like Aunty Sia’s chop suey in colourful Porirua, Brother Love is the best. Playing it down from Hollywood today for all of us in Porirua City, Grey Lyn, California and Hawaii. Heck Yeah! Let’s go Porirua! Up!
___
To experience Hawaii too as a tropical getaway vaction location, here’s a good link.
_____
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.19.10~
BETTY WHITE TVC FOR CALIFORNIA – GET OUT HERE, WE’LL SHOW YOU HOW WE ROLL
Betty White appearing with Kim Kardashian and the Jonas Brothers in the TVC that says “Come to California” is a riot on a golf cart when she says:
“Get Out Here. We’ll show you how we roll.”
Vignettes of fun. Plan yours. Come visit California. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.1.10~
WHY NOT TAKE A DIP ON A NEW ZEALAND BEACH AT RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011
Richie Mcaw (R), the captain of the New Zealand All Black rugby football team and Jimmy Cowan of the All Blacks team too, enjoy a relaxing dip in the Ocean.
You can see Richard and Jimmy live, at the Rugby World Cup 2011, in New Zealand, paradise on earth, if you love watching good sport.
Get there for a good time at a popular event. New Zealand has great beaches too for you to take full advantage of while there, like these two rugby lads are. Ocean fun.
[Image courtesy of David Rodgers for Getty Images via Zimbio]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.5.10~
SOME BILLY T. JAMES – VINTAGE HORI HUMOR FOR MY JAPANESE PEOPLE WITH MOUSTACHES- HOW TO GROW A TOURISM ECONOMY
Recently, I got dissed publically, by a magazine, dissing and denoucing a ‘hori aesthetic.’ I loved the diss, and responded to it in kind, here.
The gift of ‘diss rhetoric’ is that it challenges you and makes you think a lot about a word. This has led me –on top of the other ten disses I can get in any given week, on a variety of topics of other words (I have a full plate. Lol! :) to:
a) hybernate, and b) reflect on how important a hori aesthetic is.
Here’s an example on that line of thinking: One man, used a hori aesthetic to grow the tourism dollar and markets in his country. He was a social engineer at the culture of cross-cultural hospitality.
In particular, the late comedian Billy T. James (a big pot smoking Maori), used ‘hori humor’ to “edu-ma-cate” his fairer brothers and sisters in New Zealand in the 70′s and 80′s, about why learning Japanese would be good for both Japan and New Zealand. He took it upon himself, to make his country more culturally friendly to Asian nations. [View clip]
It has always been the role of the hori entertainer to be Asian friendly (see also Maori actor Cliff Curtis too in The Last Airbender in 3D, a #1 box office film in its run, worldwide).
HANMER SPRINGS IS A THERMAL RESORT GETAWAY PARADISE
If you only live once in your body, why not steep yourself in nature’s revitalizing touch, in Eco-Tourism Award winning New Zealand?
What: Adventure Tourism
Who: Hanmer Springs Thermal Resort
Where: Hurunui District, Canterbury, New Zealand
When: All year round
Main Benefits: Thermal healing properties of water.
How to discover: Go here to see.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.7.10~
HOT AIR BALLOONING, CANTERBURY PLAINS LOOKS FUN
Live a little, in a place that knows the value of life with magnificent views
What: Adventure Tourism
Who: Red Balloon NZ
Where: Canterbury Plains, Christchurch New Zealand
How Much: Varies. Go here to see
World Famous: The Guinness Book of Records have acknowledged that “The oldest known person in the world to fly in a Hot Air Balloon” at 102, was flown by Red Balloon NZ.
The View: priceless :)
Give it a week or two, before you check it out.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.7.10~
RIHANNA ENJOYS HAWAII
There’s nothing like Hawaii’s tropical heat with cool of sea to unwind. Rihanna enjoys the ocean of Hawaii, Sunday 5th September.
[Image courtesy of Rihanna Daily.Com]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.6.10~
THE BEAUTY OF MEXICO IS WORTH SHARING
Mexico. Discover yourself.
[Courtesy of Visit Mexico via Forbes]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 9.4.10~
CELEBRITY HAMBURGERS @ HAMBUGER HAVEN – 8.26.10
California has some of the best hamburgers in the world. When you visit California, make sure you check in to Hamburger Haven. It’s many a local celebrities hamburger hang out of first preference, after red carpet duties in Hollywood.
This is where I had dinner tonight. Think bite-sized American tastings with a galaxy of local stars.
California has it all. Come and visit.
[Signed sealed and delivered, vintage celebrity images featured on Horiwood.Com, courtesy of: Eva Gabor of Green Acres elegant country fame, Robert Wagner of Hart to Hart detective romance time, Megan Mullally of Will & Grace for comically over-medicated, neurotic laughs, Farrah Fawcett of Charlie's Angeles California hotness and Coca-Cola . . . of course, for bleeding cool supa-hydration purposes.]
Happy Friday from L.A! :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com for Hamburger Haven, West Hollywood California USA. 8.26.10~
JOHNNY DEPP AND ANGELINA JOLIE – TWO HOLLYWOOD KIDS ON A BILLBOARD
While getting coffee this morning, I noticed Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie‘s new billboard for The Tourist. It’s in a pretty spot, where traffic banks up at lights and where the sky is always blue.
Their new movie incites travel–creates a strong image of the American abroad learning new things. A minority in a new culture – whose also not afraid to explore new terrain. Think Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman to get a sense of this Hollywood internationale vibe. In their new film The Tourist: “The story revolves around Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.”
That’s the latest from these two leading box office heavyweight kids of Hollywood town. I call them ‘billboard kids’ because, if you’re an actor on a billboard, you’re forever cast as a child in Hollywood.
Perhaps only living overseas, gives you the chance to grow up and live an adult life. Even if for a while, you are perpetually cast as a Tourist with an accent. As long as you’re on a billboard anywhere in the World but especially Hollywood, the town wants you to play the role of a child for it. Your job? To say: notice me, love me, play with me, go and see my movie for my high school (studio) I represent. Follow me.
A billboard is actually a physical manifestation of “twitter culture,” “facebook culture” even of a blog too with a following. A sign of our times in which we live, where people want their life to count, mean something, not get lost in an age of social media where –”visibility equates to credibility.” Period.
However, a Hollywood billboard is serious star status material. Money has been spent on the real estate. Billboard real estate is big biz in Hollywood, especially on The Sunset Strip of West Hollywood.
A-List actors promoting a movie, are like politicians campaigning for the popular vote of elections. When on a billboard, they just never appear to grow up. If you realize this, that there’s no escaping this rhetoric of any campaign that involves a media format (like a Hollywood billboard) — than the featured actors or political actors who never take themselves too seriously in this game of promotion, and who just produce images of fun (or beauty and strength as Angelina is here)–are the best at the game. Fun sells.
People need it. Always do fun bold pictures, I reckon. Can’t beat a smile in these times. Unless you’re Jolie, a pout provides variety to all of the smilers. She does it the best.
Johnny and Angelina are Hollywood’s two leading stars who provide star presence in the hood anywhere they appear. They know how to exist both within Hollywood and then go offshore and live their lives while dipping back in to Tinsel Town to make their money. They give Hollywood its current meaning as ‘A City of Stars’ even if they’re not here most of the year.
They’re ghosts, magicians in this regard, using billboard culture or the press to appear to be present. They’re the top of the pops at the promotions and publicity game. Big bucks.
I included trees with this billboard, because green is really the star of us all too. You know it. Enjoy the view in case this billboard never makes it to your town or your neighborhood in the world. You’ll always have trees beside you, as a reminder to think green to be a star too. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 11.
November 13, 2010 | Categories: Actors, Angelina Jolie, Box Office Stars, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment News, Hollywood Entertainment News, Johnny Depp, Movie News, Pop Art, Think Green, Travel Destinations | Tags: Actors, Angelina Jolie, billboards, Box Office Stars, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Environment, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hollywood Today, Johnny Depp, Marketing & Branding, Movie News, Pop Art, Pop Culture Commentary, Think Green, Travel Destinations | 3 Comments »