As part of their weekly Sunday countdown of top classical music and movie scores, the U.K. station,Classic fm, will be playing exerpts from Howard Shore’s score to “The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey.”  The countdown show is playing as I type this with the #1 slot set to begin around  6:30 p.m. GMT (that’s 11:30 a.m. EST (New York) and 7:30 a.m NADT (Auckland). Follow this link to listen live on your computer: classicfm.com. Read More

embassy theatre bag end facade
Bag End goes up at the Embassy Theatre for the premiere of The Hobbit.
WETA Worskshop writes: “Our clever friends at the 3 Foot 7 Art department have created a rather spectacular new facade for the building. Please share photos if you’ve been down at the cinema today!” We agree, if you’ve been down at the Embassy today, send us your photos and descriptions of what’s been going on!

Additionally, Ringer Selfish Narwal send us this article from the Dominion Post:

A Hobbit-themed sculpture is being unveiled on top of the Embassy Theatre today, as Middle- earth fever sweeps Wellington less than a fortnight out from the world premiere of Sir Peter Jackson’s new epic.

Workers have this morning been craning the huge installation pieces into place – including a Gandalf sculpture and what appears to be the front of a Hobbit house – since about 8am this morning.

Embassy duty manager Charlotte Weston said the installation was progressing well.

“It’s just taking a bit to get it up there.”

[Read More]

desert island supply co hobbit readathon
Desert Island Supply Co — a Birmingham-based (in Alabama) creative writing program for kids — is holding a Hobbit Readathon on Nov 17.

Desert Island Supply Co. is a new Birmingham-based creative writing program for kids (it’s very similar to 826 Valenciain San Francisco). To celebrate their Grand Opening on Saturday, November 17, they will be hosting The Hobbit Read-a-Thon. That’s right, all through the day, they’ll be having an out-loud, non-stop reading of J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic childrens’ tale.

Read-a-thon participants can sign up to read for five-minute slots. The event is open to readers of all ages, and they say that costumes are welcome. If you live in the vicinity and can make it there on the day, Desert Island Supply Co. invites you to sign up to read as an individual or as part of a group.

The reading begins at 9 am. Other events planned for the grand opening party include live music and storytelling, balloon mapping, a “second-breakfast menu” writing booth, pin-the-tail-on-Smaug and other crafts and games. Food and drinks will be available all day.

Festivities will take place at DISCO headquarters at 5500 First Avenue North, in Woodlawn. Thanks to Ringer Sivad Will for the heads-up on this very worthy cause!

[Desert Island Supply Co.]