Darren Bevan: Movies

This week, it's an Amy Adams cinematic double bill

First up, mystery flick, Arrival with Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker- Darren’s verdict: Rush to see it!

http://bit.ly/arrival-review

Amy also returns in Nocturnal Animals with Jake Gyllenhaal - Darren’s verdict: Rush to see it!

http://bit.ly/nocturnal-animals-review

And Weiner is out on DVD - Former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) runs for mayor of New York in 2013, but a new sex scandal ruins his attempt at a political comeback.  Darren’s verdict: Rush to see it!

For all Darren's reviews and info go to Darren's blog  http://www.darrens-world-of-entertainment.blogspot.co.nz/

Nici Wickes: Food

Something for celebrations or commiserations ... Nici's Nana's strawberry & rhubarb shortcake.  The recipe is on our page and for more inspiration visit  http://www.niciwickes.com/  or her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/niciwickes

Lynda Hallinan: Gardening

The best berries for making jam, or scoffing fresh. 

1. Strawberries - if your berries don't taste super delicious sun warmed and straight out of the garden, they won't make good jam either. In my garden Camarosa is the most reliable variety for large, sweet, good shaped berries. From now on, ease up the watering of strawberry plants because too much water dilutes their taste and makes the fruit bigger but more susceptible to rotting on wet soil. Mulch under the ripening berries with pea straw or black plastic. 

2. Thornless berries such as Thornless Jewel and Berry Delight are flowering and forming fruit now that will be ready to pick in six to eight weeks... around Christmas. These bramble or cane berries can be easily trained along a fence or up a wall to save space. They are generally tip-bearing, meaning all the berries are borne at the top of the plant, so grow them horizontally to encourage fruiting all along the cane.

3. There's a new mostly spineless boysenberry available in garden centres this year called Starlight. It has large (8-10g) fruit. 

4. Raspberries are awesome but thuggish. Give them their own bed as they sucker terribly.

5. Thornless blackberries to finish! Black Satin is good, not too vigorous and full of flavour. 

Bob Campbell: Wine

Bob's Desert Island Sauvignon Blanc:

I rather like the punchy, racy wine from Marlborough’s Awatere Valley. The best can resemble good Sancerre. My long term favourite is Astrolabe Awatere Valley Sauvignon. The current 2016 vintage costs around $24.

Visit Bob's website with over 22,000 wine reviews!  http://bobcampbell.nz/

Mike Yardley: Travel

Feature Topic- The Greek Island of Naxos - For more trip tips on exploring Naxos, head to our website www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle

Catherine Raynes: Books

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of A Family and Culture In Crisis by J. D. Vance , HarperCollins $35

Night School by  Lee Child, Penguin $38

Andrew Dickens: Music

Bic Runga 'Close Your Eyes' - Andrew's verdict: 8/10

The cover choices are exquisite.  Songs that suit her delicate touch and voice.  She’s a real 60s style chantreuse.  The production though is sparse when some people may want sumptuous.  But overall a lovely pretty album as light as air that would suit a Sunday hangover.