Being a good wedding guest is pretty simple: make sure to RSVP, bring a gift, and definitely don’t kidnap the bride.
Radhika Apte as “Samira” in Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest. Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
In Michael Winterbottom’s new film, The Wedding Guest, the titular character, Jay, does not follow any of that etiquette.
Dev Patel as “Jay” in Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest. Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
Program
Dev Patel as “Jay” shows up in Pakistan uninvited, his duffel packed with multiple passports, a gun, and really nothing suitable to wear to a wedding. He’s looking for bride-to-be Samira, because has a job to do – and it’s not as a DJ or caterer.
Although Samira, who is played brilliantly by Radhika Apte, does have misgivings about her impending nuptials, she’s (understandably) not psyched about the alternative of waking up with said gun to her head.
We travel with them from city to city, as they they cross the border into India, change identities, hide in plain sight, and try to determine how much each can trust the other.
Jay is meticulous about covering his tracks and wiping his fingerprints. And, yet, when a key contact fails to appear at their rendezvous point, he realizes he’s made a mistake that puts everything at risk.
Photography
Most of the film was shot on location in India, with the production following roughly the same route as the characters.
They were even granted permission to film at the India-Pakistan border crossing. It was rare to get a permit then, but seems impossible now — just a year later — as tensions have escalated between the two countries.
Instead of sets with extras, director Michael Winterbottom used actual city streets, alleys, and markets as backdrops, along with any people who happened to be in the shot (and may not have even realized they were in a movie). Often this guerrilla-style filming would continue for eight hours straight to capture the real-world setting.
Guest List
For as much time as we spend with the film’s principal characters, we barely get to know them.
Jay is particularly opaque, maintaining his stoic exterior and leaving us to wonder about his true motivations and background.
We get a bit more of a glimpse into Samira, her feelings, where she’s from, who she loves, and what’s important to her.
She’s been taken from one situation she didn’t want to be in and put into another one. Over the course of the film, she finds her footing and gradually begins to take back control over her life. I would have loved to see more from her point of view.
Although the pacing is more art film than thriller, The Wedding Guest is a good watch, delivering a steady stream of suspense and some surprising plot twists.
The Wedding Guest will show up in theaters in New York and Los Angeles March 1 with a wider release March 8.
Film preview and photos courtesy of IFC Films. Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest is an IFC Films Release.
I’m changing up My Photo of the Month series to be more of a recap of the last month, instead of focusing on just one Instagram photo.
1. Getting out of the Holiday Blanket
Getting back into a regular routine at the beginning of January feels like emerging from a holiday cocoon. Or, as Quijote illustrated, peeking out from the snuggly blanket my mom made me (us?) for Christmas.
2. Museum Date Day
Phillip and I had a couples’ counseling appointment (we go periodically — I recommend it!) and decided to make an afternoon of it.
We dropped Quijote off at doggie daycare, went to therapy, got lunch at The Coronado, and then went to the Phoenix Art Museum, so we could see the Teotihuacan exhibition before it closed.
Also, I did a double take on the way to the elevators when I spotted a particular neon color combination that I thought I recognized from the Seven Magic Mountains installation we saw in Nevada. I don’t even know what exhibit it was part of, but, yep, it was a single Ugo Rondinone sculpture — in travel size, I guess!
3. Park Snacks
We’ve been trying to be more consistent in Quijote’s training, practicing things like coming when he’s called at the park. One day, I thought I’d give him a break since I didn’t have his usual reward treats with me, and he seemed (hilariously) annoyed.
Spring is just around the corner and not only are wildflowers popping up in the desert, so are a ton of festivals, workshops, exhibitions, and other intriguing events.
In fact, I’ve picked out 55 of them from Australia, Italy, New Zealand, South Korea, and across the U.S. to share with you.
I thought you might like to attend a traditional pottery festival in South Korea (#54) or hunt for mushrooms in Australia (#46), wander amongst tulip fields (#37) or cherry blossoms (#40), go to a Star Wars Day screening at a cultural center (#5) or an office party that’s actually a dance performance (#23 + #30), see contemporary Aboriginal Australian art in Reno (#32) or ancient terra cotta warriors in Wellington (#50), attend Arizona’s longest-running film festival (#15) or its festival with the shortest films (#7). I’m also including a few summer and fall events that require advance booking, in case you’d like to learn wood oven cooking in an Italian farmhouse (#49) or photograph brown bears in Alaska (#2), for example.
If you could go anywhere on the list, where would it be?
AND SHE BORROWED HER HUSBAND’S EAGLE FEATHER CAPE by Gertrude Svarny via Anchorage Museum
Now – Apr 14 Anchorage Museum, Anchorage
Exhibition of work by Unangan artist, carver, and weaver Gertrude Svarny, who interprets her history and culture using traditional materials, such as local mineral pigments, seal intestine, and sea lion whiskers.
June 23-25 or July 5-7 Sterling and Lake Clark National Park (Meet at Homewood Suites in Anchorage)
3-day photography tour in bear country, where you can view about 20-40 bears each day with Lisa Langell plus an additional photography instructor. Includes all meals, transportation (including round trip sea plane flights to/from lodge) and lodging (1 night in Sterling and 2 nights in a lodge adjacent to Lake Clark National Park.) $2695 per person
Now – Mar 14, Thursdays at 12:30pm Wells Fargo Garden performance area at Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Weekly outdoor concerts featuring a variety of music. Bring a folding chair or blanket. Pack a picnic lunch or purchase food on-site. Free.
Now – Apr 30, Tuesdays at 7pm
Cline Library at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
Film series on youth in the movies with films about coming of age. A local film expert introduces each film and puts it in context. Each film is followed by a discussion. Free. Donations accepted.
The CAL film series blends well-known audience favorites along with lesser-known movies, as well as a mix of genres, artists, and decades, moving chronologically from past to present so that audiences can see the evolution of the art form.
Free parking behind Cline Library in lot P13 with permit. Create a Guest Account at nau.edu/guest. Then contact NAU Parking by calling 928-523-6623 or emailing ask.parking@nau.edu. Print an evening parking permit for each film and display it on your vehicle dashboard.
Now – Jun 27:The Irish in Latin America exhibition in the McClelland Library’s Exhibit Hall. Traveling exhibit of twenty-three informative panels on the history of Irish immigrants and their descendants across Latin America from 1611- 1968. Tickets $10 (free for ages 6 and under).
Mar 16:St. Patrick’s Day Faire at Hance Park, following the Parade. Irish music and dance performances, food, crafts, Irish clubs, vendors, and children’s area. Tickets $12 (free for ages 12 and under). Free parking at 1850 North Central Avenue garage and round-trip event shuttle (9am-6pm) with purchase of St. Patrick’s Day Faire Ticket.
May 4, 1pm: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” screening in the Great Hall. Part of the Irish Family Film Series held on International Star Wars Day, this is a celebration of modern cinema in Ireland, where parts of the movie were filmed. Costumes encouraged. Free.
Feb 23 – Mar 3
Sedona
25th anniversary celebration of this festival with over 160 independent films from around the world, including features, shorts, documentaries, animation, foreign films, and student films. 10-ticket pack $130.
7. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Tucson Events
Mar 2, 11am-2pm:Soundwalk with MOCA. Urban hike through downtown Tucson’s streets, washes, gardens, and parks led by local field recordist David Dearmore, who will help you discern the distinct sounds of the city using a combination of “naked-ear” and amplified listening. Participants are encouraged to bring their own recording gear, though some will be provided. Not wheelchair accessible. Registration recommended. Fee $30.
Mar 29, 2:30-9:30pm:Echo Chamber: a day of experimental music performances in The Great Hall. Admission $5.
Apr 27: New Histories: AZ Juried Youth Art Exhibition. MOCA Tucson’s inaugural juried statewide youth art exhibition for painting, sculpture, photography, video, performance, and all 2D/3D and time-based mediums.
May 24:5 Minute Film Festival on Cox Plaza. Festival of documentary, short films, animation, and experimental video that are 5 minutes in length or shorter by filmmakers living or working in Southern Arizona. Free.
March 2, 10am–2pm Amerind Museum, Dragoon
Prepare three traditional Oaxacan Molés — Molé Negro (which uses over 20 ingredients, including bittersweet chocolate), Molé Rojo (which adds dried fruit), and Molé Manchamantales (the “tablecloth stainer” with vibrant red chiles and tomatoes, fresh pineapple, plantain, and honey, and no chocolate). The feast will be rounded out with roasted chicken, rice, tortillas, and a spicy hot chocolate pudding for dessert. To register, call Amerind at 520-586-3666 or email Debbie@amerind.org. Cost: $85 for non-members (feast included!)
March 6, 8am-1:30pm
Visitor Information Center, Yuma (201 N. 4th Ave.)
Half-day farm tour. Hands-on harvesting instruction from a local grower followed by lunch made from the produce you picked. Includes transportation, some veggies to take home, and a healthy, field-fresh lunch. Tickets $55.
March 7 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Bungalow@Heritage Square
Learn how to upgrade your handwritten projects with modern calligraphy. You will receive attentive instruction, time to make a few projects, and a goodie bag of supplies to take home, including an instruction booklet. Fee $20 – $22
Mar 14-18
Downtown Phoenix
Five-day, multi-faceted exploration of Phoenix arts and culture at approximately 100 artist studios, galleries, pop-up spaces and other venues, open to the community. Meet artists, see and shop for art, and enjoy live performances.
Mar 14: Opening night Art D’Core Gala at Warehouse215 at Bentley Projects to benefit Artlink Inc. Advance tickets: $20/person, $35/pair. At the door: $25/person, $45/pair. Creative cocktail attire encouraged.
Mar 15-17: Self-guided art space tours, performances, and events.
Mar 16, 11am:Guided tour of the art and architecture of Burton Barr Central Library.
Mar 16- 17 Community Field, Camp Verde
Wine tasting and all-ages festival with a pie baking contest, archaelogy fair, canoe and kayak racing, 40 vendors, and activities for kids.
Mar 17, 11am: Pecan Pie Contest. Competition for the best pecan pie made with local ingredients.
March 21-23 Mesa Convention Center, Mesa
Non-juried show that gives quilt makers the opportunity to share their work with the community. There will be quilts on display, lectures, vendors, quilt appraisals ($75), and a live auction. One-day pass $15 / two-day pass $20.
Mar 23 + April 25
Garden at Bar Bianco, Phoenix
Monthly four-course meal with local and seasonal ingredients hosted by Bar Bianco. Each dinner will be paired with wines from a different winery. Reception starts at 6:30pm with dinner to follow. Tickets $150-250. Featured wineries:
Apr 25-28 Cottonwood
4-day event with guided walks, workshops, vendors, and exhibitors focused on the Verde Valley habitat. Register online by April 17 or on-site starting April 24.
Apr 27, 6:30-8pm: Food + Fun: For the Birds at Calavera Mexican Restaurant, (747 S Main St., Cottonwood). Mixer with a taco bar and musical program and storytelling by Still on the Hill. $40 advanced registration required.
May 4, 10am-5pm Gotham City Comics and throughout Downtown Mesa
Participating downtown Mesa businesses will give away over 10,000 comic books (while supplies last) and host meet-and-greets with comic book artists. There will also be live music, a cosplay contest and a scavenger hunt. Free.
Now – Mar 30
Casemore Kirkeby Gallery, San Francisco
Exhibition of new work by artist Todd Hido. It explores the dark topography of the Northern European landscape during his first foray extensively photographing territory outside of the United States.
Now – Sep (estimated) Huntington Art Gallery, San Marino (Pasadena)
Watch the process of conservation work on the iconic painting The Blue Boy (ca. 1770) by Thomas Gainsborough each Thursday and Friday, 10am – noon + 2-4pm and 2-4pm on the first Sunday of the month. This is one segment of Project Blue Boy, which is ongoing from September 22, 2018 to September 30, 2019.
Free admission with advance reservation 1st Thursday of every month, 10am–5pm.
Apr 2, 6–8pm,
San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco
Book artist and letterpress printer Brooke Holve reports back on Book Iceland, her 2018 residency project, where she led artist book workshops focused on the process of making and inspired by Iceland’s landscape.
April 6-7, 12-6pm 1890 Bryant Street Studios, San Francisco
Open studios event at a center for fine artists and craftspersons including bakers, ceramicists, designers, jewelers, musicians, painters, photographers, printmakers, sculptors, and vintners.
A weekend of shopping featuring local, hand-selected artisans, crafters, and DIY enthusiasts selling original fashion, jewelry, ceramics, paper goods, housewares, art, and photography. Both locations below are handicap accessible, open to all ages, and allow leashed pets. Free admission.
Apr 27-28, 10am – 5pm: Central Park, Pasadena.
May 18-19, 11am – 7pm: Downtown Burbank Arts Festival (San Fernando Blvd), Burbank.
Photo via Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver.
Now – Mar 30
Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver
Exhibit of vintage camping trailers that looks at the history and various styles of the “Home away from home.” Museum admission $12.
Mar 1-3, 8-10, 16-17, 23-24, 30-31
Denver Union Station
Historic weekend train trip from Denver Union Station to Winter Park, which originated in 1912. Tickets $39, $49, $59, subject to availability.
Mar 22-24, 10am-10pm
Historic Denver Coliseum, Denver
Performance of historical tribal dances by over 1,000 American Indian Dancers, accompanied by 30+ drum groups. $7/day, elders (60+) $3, children under 6 free
Now – Apr 15 Veterans Memorial Community Center, Las Vegas
A traveling exhibition of items sent to Las Vegas from all over the world expressing love and support in the aftermath of the tragic events of October 1, 2017.
Now – June 23
Nevada Museum of Art, Reno
94 works by contemporary Aboriginal artists from Arnhem Land. Traditionally, these poles (named lorrkkon or larrakitj) marked the final point in Aboriginal mortuary rites. Today, they are made as works of art. Museum admission: $10 (free for children under 5)
Now – Aug 17 Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, Las Vegas
Exhibition exploring form and function through ceramic vessels from West Mexico. Suggested voluntary contribution: $5
Enormous Tiny Art Show via Nahcotta Gallery in Portsmouth, NH.
Nahcotta gallery, Portsmouth, NH
Year-round exhibition both online and in the gallery with hundreds of pieces of original art — each ten by ten inches or smaller — made by artists from all over the globe. The aim is to give art lovers the ability to acquire well-curated, small works of art.
Feb 28, 6:30pm WeWork, New York
Learn how to make your own dumplings with cookbook author Cathy Erway. Workshop is open to the public. Admission $50 (including online ticket fee).
Followed by baked bao demonstration and snacking on dumplings.
Complimentary beer available courtesy of WeWork.
To celebrate the year of the pig, you can take home 1 pack of Local Roots ground pork for making more dumplings.
Mar 23 – Apr 2
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Woodbury
Festival with fresh flowers and food. Stroll through 40 acres of blooming tulip and daffodil bulbs with views of vineyards and distant mountains. All ages and dogs (on leashes) allowed.
Individual admission (one person for one day) $5
Family car day pass (one carload of people for one day) $20
Season pass (one carload of people for the entire festival) $40
Mar 23, 5pm: Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre. Performance of selections from the new musical “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.” Advance tickets required. $5 fee.
Mar 30, 10am-4:30pm: Blossom Kite Festival at Washington Monument Grounds. Kite competitions and demonstrations, public field for flying your own kite, kids’ kite-making activity station, and kite vendors. Free.
Apr 13, 10am-12pm: Parade along Constitution Avenue with floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and entertainment. Standing along the route is free, Grandstand Seating $20.
Now – Sep 20, 2020 New York Avenue (east of the White House)
Public art space featuring changing installations of contemporary works by women artists. Currently on display is Huellas y cicatricez (Traces and scars), four totemic sculptures by Mexico City-based Betsabeé Romero that speak to themes of human migration and the natural environment. The structures are constructed from carved tires with gleaming metallic paint and interior lighting.
Now – Mar 3
Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle
Installation of suspended glass panes that are, in the words of the artist, “creating a moving abstraction of a sunset.”
Mar 1 – Jun 9 Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA), Bainbridge Island
Installation of Artist’s Books, a lesser-known art form, which may combine drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, gluing and binding, sculpture, photography, textiles, creative writing, and storytelling. While many university libraries have artists’ books in their Special Collections, BIMA seeks to make the art form more visible to the public. Free.
The Garden of St Erth via The Diggers Club Pty Ltd.
Apr 14, 11am:Starting Your Apple Orchard. Learn about the best cider-making fruit varieties and rootstocks, and how to grow and maintain your own fruit trees at home. Afterwards, tour the St Erth orchard and stay for the afternoon cider making session. Fee: $49
Apr 14, 2pm:Cider Making At Home. Learn about the basic equipment you need to brew your own cider. Fee: $49
Apr 28, 11am:Basketry With Natural Fibres. Intimate Masterclass on gathering and drying natural fibres, and weaving with Random weave and Stitching weave methods. Bring your own snips. All other materials supplied. Includes a light lunch and glass of wine. Fee: $99
May 19, 2pm: Organic Pest Control. Learn how to control pests and weeds in your garden the natural way. Fee: $49
Apr 25, 12-4:15pm Gellibrand, Victoria
Introductory workshop on Kingdom Fungi in the Otways region, as well as wider Australian and global contexts. Fungi will be discussed in regard to their ecological roles, edibility, and toxicity. Fee: $50
90-minute interactive session on the basics of fungus identification where participants will get to handle, examine and identify various fungi.
2-hour foray through various local ecosystems to search for species of interest.
La Tavola Marche inn and cooking school in Piobicco, Italy.
Apr 13-14 Fiera Milano, Rho (Milan)
Showcase for Italian furniture and design trends. Admission €25 online / €29 at the door
49. La Tavola Marche Classes
Jul 3-6 or Sep 4-7: Wood Oven Workshop. Includes 3 nights’ accommodations, welcome dinner, Wood Oven class with snacks, wine + handmade apron gift. 3 dinners, 1 lunch, breakfast daily. €1080/couple or €864/single
Oct 15-20:Made in Le Marche: D.O.C. Wine Tour, Artisan Meat and Cheese Market Trip, Craft Beer Tasting + 3 Cooking Classes. Includes 5 nights’ accommodations, welcome dinner, 3 half-day cooking classes with meals, wine + handmade apron gift, 1-day wine tour with lunch and transportation, Pizza Night Dinner, Apecchio market tour and tasting, breakfast daily. €1025/person (Price based on double occupancy.)
Now – Apr 22 Toi Art, Level 4, Wellington
Exhibition featuring eight of the famous 2,300-year-old terra-cotta warriors found at the tomb of China’s First Emperor, two full-size horses, two half-size replica bronze chariots, and over 160 works of ancient Chinese art (from 1046 BCE – 220 CE) crafted from gold, jade and bronze. Admission $9.
Mar 20-24 Ōtaki
New Zealand Film Festival that welcomes Indigenous filmmakers from around the world to celebrate Indigenous creativity and storytelling.
Mar 30-31 Wellington
Festival with a wide range of street performances, including theater, bands, and opera, as well as a parade and interactive art installations. 2019 performers include Cha Wa (New Orleans), Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra (Canada), Electric Fields (Sydney), Hot Potato (Sydney), Alien Weaponry (NZ), Touch Compass (NZ), Tunes of I (Wellington), Phoenix Foundation (Wellington). Free.
Now – May 6 National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon
Large-scale international exhibition illuminating the social, political, and cultural changes that occurred throughout Asia from the 1960s to the 1990s and subsequent changes in Asian contemporary art. Includes approximately 170 works by 100 major artists from 13 Asian countries: Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Apr 27 – May 5 Mungyeongsaejae Open Set in Gyeongsangbuk-do
Festival of traditional ceramics. Visitors will be able to join in traditional tea ceremony and pottery-making programs, operated by local artisans.
May 3-5 Jongno Street, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Jogyesa Temple, and Bongeunsa Temple, Seoul
Thousand-year-old festival to celebrate Buddha’s birthday and wish the world happiness by lighting lanterns.
May 3-12: Exhibition of Traditional Lanterns.
May 4, 7-9pm: Lantern Parade on Jongno Street (from Dongdaemun Gate to Jogyesa Temple). Thousands of lanterns will create waves of light flowing through the heart of metropolitan Seoul. Anyone can participate.
May 4, 9:30-11pm: Cultural performances at Jonggak Intersection. Lively group dance under a rain of flowers.
May 5, 4-7pm: Traditional Cultural Events in front of Jogyesa Temple. Folk performances including songs, dances and rope walking, along with Buddhist performances, plus a variety of hands-on cultural experiences, such as lantern making and temple food tasting.
May 5, 7-9pm: Yeondeungnori (Final Celebration) from Insa-dong to Jogyesa Temple. Following the performance groups, another lantern parade will be held to express the aspiration for peace and happiness all over the world.
Spring blossoms at Chiricahua National Monument near Willcox, Arizona.
The Happenings List is sourced from a combination of places I’ve visited, Instagram posts, posters I’ve walked by, internet rabbit trails, small-town community bulletin boards, email lists I’m on, and old fashioned hearsay. I fact check as much as I can and edit event descriptions for length and clarity.
I can’t go to everything (no matter how much I’d like to), so I’d love your feedback on any Happenings you’ve participated in!
-S
See captions for photo credits. Uncredited photos by Phillip or Stephanie Liebold.
If fire engine red screams Valentine’s Day, blush whispers it sweetly.
It’s a romantic yet subtle shade, as lovely on walls as it is on flowers. Although it’s a more traditional choice for this holiday than last year’s black and white, they look fabulous together. Blush is also great with deep blues or teal-y greens.
Like the illustrations, destinations, and DIYs in this post, blush doesn’t even have to be about Valentine’s Day at all.
P.S. Post title is a bit of a nod to Kristin Tovar’s fabulous site, Why I Love Where I Live. Based in Tucson, WILWIL encourages everyone to find things to love wherever they are and get involved in their communities.
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