Our Picks for the Weekend
Star-Bulletin staff
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MUSIC
Symphony features after-concert discussion
After all the hype, here's your chance to see the new maestro of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra in action. Andreas Delfs will not only conduct, but he'll stick around afterwards to conduct curious audience members in the "Concert Conversations" wrap-up. This described "informal and exciting forum to share ideas about music" often includes musicians and guest artists as well.
As for the main event, Cecile Licad returns to caress the ivories in Chopin's "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2, in F minor, Op. 21," and it's pretty typical fare for the piano pounder -- never let the symphonic melodies interfere with the grandiose keyboards.
Also on the program are Schumann's rather cheerful "Overture, Scherzo and Finale for Orchestra, in E Flat, Op. 52."
Concerts are at 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Hawaii Theatre. Admission ranges from $21 to $74. Call 528-0506 or go to hawaiitheatre.com or honolulusymphony.com.
LAST CHANCE
Mos Def will rap it up at Pipeline Cafe concert
Critically acclaimed rapper/actor Mos Def returns to Honolulu for his third performance of 2007 at Pipeline Cafe.
Establishing himself with Talib Kweli as the duo Black Star in the late '90s, Mos Def released his solo debut in 1999: "Black on Both Sides," followed by "The New Danger" in 2004 and "True Magic" in 2006.
Earlier this year, Mos Def fulfilled his contract with Geffen Records and opted to go the independent route, releasing "Mos Definite" and signing with Downtown Recordings.
Mos Def isn't afraid of pushing the boundaries in Hollywood, either. The last five years have seen him in movies like "The Italian Job," "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," "The Woodsman" and "Talladega Nights." He'll also star in "Be Kind Rewind," set for release in the next few months.
Advance tickets for the concert are $30 and are available at DIG Lifestyles, KICKS HI and Fitted; $50 VIP tickets are also on sale. Doors open at 9 p.m. Sunday; 18-and-over welcome.
FAMILY
Leeward college hosts fun educational fair
This year's Leeward Community College Family Fun Fair is all about interactivity. The campus courtyard will be converted into a "Discovery Square" filled with more than 30 hands-on learning activities, including such fun stuff as Pliable Polymer, Spaghetti Engineering, Instant Snow and Chemistry Magic.
Plus there will be a "CSI: Leeward," a mock crime scene investigation where participants will collect and analyze evidence and clues to capture the perp.
Toss in continuous entertainment, cooking demonstrations, a book fair, a new car show, fossil and mineral displays, carnival games, a farmer's market, and food and craft booths, and it all makes for a full day of family activity.
It all happens Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and admission and parking are free. For more info, call 455-0524 or e-mail kcabral@hawaii.edu.
RADIO
Young musicians air out talent for radio show
"From the Top," the National Public Radio showcase for those young musicians who seem to have a freakish amount of talent, will be recording concert performances in the islands next week.
Concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hawaii Theatre and 7:30 p.m. next Friday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
Musicians, selected through a national audition process, will include several from Hawaii, as well as others coming from the mainland.
Tickets are $15 to $45 for the Honolulu show. Call 528-0506 or visit www.hawaiitheatre.com. For the Maui show, tickets are $10 to $40. Call (808) 242-7469 or visit www.mauiarts.org.
Host Christopher O'Riley will perform in a separate concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Punahou School. Tickets are $35, $20 students.
"From the Top" can be heard at 10 a.m. Saturdays on KHPR 88.1 Honolulu, KKUA 90.7 Wailuku and KANO 91.1 Hilo.
» An interview with area "From the Top" performers will run in Monday's Star-Bulletin Today section.
FOOD
Mix Cafe
35 S. Beretania St. / 537-1191
The success of the Downtown Honolulu Culture and Arts District can be attributed to the "mix": the cosmic alignment of art, cuisine, multiple cultural traditions, fashion and people.
Acknowledging this powerful combination, MixMix recently opened at 1133 Bethel St. to bring European clothing designs for men and women to the streets of Honolulu, while up the street and around the corner, Mix Cafe addresses a hunger for comfort cuisine that's part Italian, part Hawaii-American. Any current patron will tell you, that's a good mix.
Mix Cafe's chef-owner Bruno Iezzi can be counted on to continue adding, subtracting and experimenting with his mix of recipes and fresh seasonal ingredients. In other words, this is not a place for rigid types who must have the same thing prepared exactly the same way each visit.
At this point, you'll find it's a place for quickie breakfasts, lunches and light or takeout suppers. Iezzi is currently working on differentiating the menu, as well as the space, for a more traditional dinner. He's thinking softer lighting, and more extensive seafood entree and pasta offerings, in about a month.
For now, diners can content themselves early in the morning with Bruno's omelet ($5.75) of his choice of ingredients, or scrambled eggs with a choice of sausage or bacon ($4.50).
During lunch and early dinner hours (current closing time is 7 p.m.), you'll find an array of sandwiches and small selection of pastas for $6.50 to $7.75. Selections vary depending on the chef's whims and availability of ingredients. Of note are fresh roast turkey and pork sandwiches.
Open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays; costs less than $10 per person.
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