Bored? There are still lots to do, places to go and movies to watch

• Elvis & Friends – A Mother’s Day special at Silverstar
Team Shaky in association with Silverstar Barnyard Theatre proudly presents Elvis & Friends, exclusively for one show only on May 8 (Mother’s Day). This spectacular show will keep audience members on the edge of their seats with Shaky’s array of custom-made costumes and energetic performance. With his incredible vocal range and resemblance, Shaky Russell and an awesome live 10-piece cast will perform more than 30 of Elvis’ greatest hits. Experience the songs, the moves and the voice that created a worldwide phenomenon that had never been seen before. Elvis Presley was one of the greatest singers and entertainers the world has ever known, and shook up the music industry for three decades before passing away in 1977 at the young age of 42. His death created a void in the hearts of music lovers the world over, and this tribute show aims to fill that gap by paying tribute to the legend that was Elvis – both the man and the performer. This awesome tribute show is a non-stop nostalgic party that takes you back to an age of discovery, when people enjoyed life and rocked like there was no tomorrow. The show captures the onstage excitement of Elvis’ greatest performances and energetically reproduces hits spanning the 50s, 60s and 70s. You can also expect a few surprises from other music legends including Tina Turner, Buddy Holly, Sha Na Na, Ritchie Valence, ABBA and more. Put on your Blue Suede Shoes, get ready to Shake Rattle and Roll ‘cause this show promises to rock both young and old in true Vegas spirit. For bookings call The Silverstar Barnyard Theatre on 010 593 0744 or book online at www.barnyardtheatre.co.za/silverstar.

• Rugby clash between two West Rand giants
Two giant rugby clubs in the West Rand, Randfontein Rugby Club and Buco Honeydew Khosa Rugby Club will go head to head for bragging rights come Saturday, May 7. Get to the House of Pain (Randfontein’s home ground) for a day of great rugby. No cooler boxes allowed. Cash bar and food kiosk. R20 parking fee.

• Celebrate Workers’ Day – do a 8km hike
On Workers’ Day on May 1, Melville Koppies is organising a guided 8km hike (children over six). The hike starts at 08:00 sharp from the reception hut opposite the Marks Park entrance on Judith Road. Or book a guided tour on 079 532 0083 (or be there by 08:30) and learn about the history and the way in which different living things on the koppies interact. Or self-guide yourselves on the 3km Heritage Trail. If 08:00 is too early for you, you can test your fitness on the 5km self-guided hike. And if these are too demanding, just take a chilled self-guided walk for however long or short you want along the extensive network of paths. Melville Koppies is open between 08:00 and 11:30 every Sunday. Adults R80, children R40; season ticket for a year per adult – R500 (not transferable). Income used for maintenance of the Koppies; R22 000 needs to be raised per month. Security on the Koppies is provided; park in secure parking opposite the entrance at Marks Park on Judith Road, Emmarentia. Contact wendavid@mweb.co.za or call 079 532 0083 to find out more. Check out www.mk.org.za for more detailed information about the history and what you can see or https://www.facebook.com/melvillekoppies.

• Upcoming U3A West Rand events
Are you retired or semi-retired and looking for something stimulating and affordable to do? If so, then join The University of the 3rd Age (U3A). The U3A is an organisation for senior citizens.
Tuesday, May 10 – The U3A West Rand will have their monthly meeting at The Anglican Church of the Ascension on Red Thorn Street, Rangeview at 09:30. Once a month you can listen to interesting talks, meet new people over a cup of tea and book for our monthly outings or lunches which will be on the following Wednesday. Bring family and friends to join the U3A West Rand and enjoy a cup of coffee/ tea and a biscuit for R5 before the talk starts. . The speaker will be Dick Randall and he will tell you about Ireland, his country of birth. He has a good knowledge of the history, culture and politics of the country and this will feature in his talk. For further information please contact John Giani on 083 729 4883 or contact / WhatsApp Marthie Coetzer on 083 297 9565.
Wednesday, May 18 – The U3A West Rand will have lunch at Jessica’s situated in the beautiful Eagles Canyon Golf Estate off Christiaan de Wet Road at 11:30 for noon. All welcome! Bookings at the U3A West Rand meeting on May 10 or phone/ WhatsApp Marthie Coetzer on 083 297 9565.

• Friends of Kloofendal (FroK) events this May
Why not spend the autumn walking in nature and learning about creepy crawlies, insect bites, flowers, trees and more? Don’t miss the Friends of Kloofendal events below:
• Goldmine tour by Rod Kruger from 14:00 to 16:00 on Sunday, May 1
• FroK invites kids to celebrate Mother’s Day at the Kloofendal Ecological Centre from 09:45 on Saturday, May 7. The occasion is specially created for little ones wanting to give their mothers something from the heart on Mother’s Day. Youngsters will have the opportunity to create art from nature in celebration of their mothers. Little ones can expect a short guided nature walk during which they will collect various items such as brightly coloured fallen leaves, small rocks and interesting twigs. Once back at the Ecological Centre, they will be creating special personalised Mother’s Day cards under the guidance of artist Diana Stewart. Children are asked to bring old cereal boxes, glue and scissors. Paint, brushes and nature magazines will be provided. Fathers and grandfathers are welcome to join in the event which is expected to end around 12:00. The costs are as follows:
Children up to 12 years: R60 and adults: R80. Bookings can be made on kloofendalfriends.org.za/events or Quicket Kloofendal. For more information, feel free to contact Karin on 079 693 5608.

• Weekday birding with Bradwin Adendorff from 08:00 to 10:00 on Wednesday, May 11.
• Morning Creepy Crawly Walk with Jonathan Leeming (suitable for all ages) from 09:00 to 11:00 on Saturday, May 14.
• Puppet show followed by a Nature Adventure Walk (kiddies event but adults are welcome to join) with Diana Steward from 10:00 to noon on Saturday, May 14. Cost: Kiddies up to 12 years: R60 and adults R80.
• Biomimicry walk with Jonathan Leeming from noon to 14:00 on Saturday, May 14.
• Weekend birding with Bradwin Adendorff from 08:00 to 10:00 on Saturday, May 15.

• Spider and scorpion ID course with Jonathan Leeming from 09:00 to noon on Sunday, May 15.

• Goudmyn-toer met Andre du Plessis van 14:00 to 16:00 op Sondag 15 Mei. Ontdek alles van die outydse goudmyners en hoe Johannesburg begin het. Koste: R70 volwassenes, R60 pensioenarisse, R50 kinders. Die Confidence Rif is die eerste goudmyn in Johannesburg.
• FroK Open Day from 08:00 to noon on Saturday, May 21. View FroK’s ecological displays in the Kloofendal Ecological Centre.
Free entrance. Also free short guided walks
• Geology walk with Steve Spottiswoode from 09:00 to Saturday, May 28.
• Tree and shrub walk from 09:00 to 11:00 on Saturday, May 28. Identification and interesting facts on both indigenous and alien invasive ones.
• Plastics presentation by Annabe Pretorius on how, when, what, where it can be recycled, re-used, from 11:15 to 12:15 on Saturday, May 28.

• Brauhaus Boeremusiek and Market Day
Pencil the event in your diary and get ready for a fun-filled day at the Brauhaus Boeremusiek and Market Day on Saturday, May 14 from 09:00 to 16:00. Browse through a variety of stalls that will sell only homemade, handmade and local products. There will also be live music and mouth-watering street-style German food to tuck into. The event takes place at Brauhaus Afrika on the R24 between Rustenburg and Joburg. Kids under 12 enter for free. Contact 064 617 2423 for more information.

• The Bell of Hope charity ride for mental wellness
Ebenezer Psychiatric Home is proud to announce that they are hosting their Bell of Hope Charity Ride for Mental Wellness again this year. Ebenezer House is a licensed non-profit organisation (NPO 088 960) taking care of fully functional adults suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. They depend on donations and assistance from the public and corporate sectors to keep the home open and functional. Every year they host a charity road cycle event, the Bell of Hope Charity Ride for Mental Wellness, in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The proceeds of this event go towards sustaining Ebenezer Psychiatric Home in Witpoortjie, Roodepoort. The Charity Ride will be held on Sunday, June 5 at Valverde Eco Hotel in the Cradle of Humankind. Starting times: 07:00 for 50km at R220 per cyclist; 07:30 for 15km at R150 per cyclist; and on the day R250 per cyclist. You can enter at Cycle Events at www.cycleevents.co.za, and for more information, contact their office on 011 955 6595 or email to bellofhopecycle@gmail.com.

• Magalies Monster and Platinum Trail Run 2022
Entries are open for the 2022 Fedhealth Magalies Monster MTB Classic on Saturday June 4, and the Fedhealth Platinum Trail Run on Sunday June 5 that will take place at the ATKV Buffelspoort in the North West province. This is the perfect weekend getaway for adventure-seeking families. Both events boast routes that incorporate the best trails on offer in the Magaliesberg. Irrespective of the distance entered, mountain bikers and trail runners can expect an exciting on-route challenge. Both events also feature a 2,5km distance for junior adventure-seekers. Families can look forward to spending the entire weekend outdoors celebrating health and wellness. For more information and/ or to enter the Fedhealth Magalies Monster MTB Classic or the Fedhealth Platinum Trail Run visit www.stillwatersports.com or email entries@stillwatersports.com.

Movies not to miss!

• MEMORY – From April 29
Alex Lewis (Liam Neeson) is an expert assassin with a reputation for discreet precision. Caught in a moral quagmire, Alex refuses to complete a job that violates his code and must quickly hunt down and kill the people who hired him before they and FBI agent Vincent Serra (Guy Pearce) find him first. Alex is built for revenge but, with a memory that is beginning to falter, he is forced to question his every action, blurring the line between right and wrong.

• OPERATION MINCEMEAT – From May 6
Uncover a most extraordinary true story and watch Colin Firth lead an all-star cast in the trailer for #OperationMincemeat, in cinemas May 6th. It’s 1943. The Allies are determined to break Hitler’s grip on occupied Europe and plan an all-out assault on Sicily; but they face an impossible challenge – how to protect a massive invasion force from potential massacre. It falls to two remarkable intelligence officers, Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen), to dream the most inspired and improbable disinformation strategy of the war – centred on the most unlikely of secret agents: a dead man

• EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE – From May 13
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes.

• MARMADUKE – From May 27
A legendary dog trainer believes he can help Marmaduke become the first Great Dane in history to win the Westminster Champion’s trophy.

• FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRET OF DUMBLEDORE – From April 15
Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

• UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT – From April 22
Nicolas Cage stars as … Nick Cage in the action-comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Creatively unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, the fictionalised version of Cage must accept a $1 million offer to attend the birthday of a dangerous superfan (Pedro Pascal). Things take a wildly unexpected turn when Cage is recruited by a CIA operative (Tiffany Haddish) and forced to live up to his own legend, channelling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones. With a career built for this very moment, the seminal award-winning actor must take on the role of a lifetime: Nick Cage

• Source: Empire Entertainment