Our Picks for the Weekend
Star-Bulletin staff
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LAST CHANCE
Indonesian gamelans will chime in at concert
If you haven't heard the ringing, gently chiming Indonesian music known as gamelan, you're in for a real treat this weekend as the University of Hawaii Gamelan Ensemble, in conjunction with the Departments of Music and Theatre and Dance, presents its winter program Saturday at the Barbara Smith Amphitheater on the grounds of the UH Music Building complex.
Enjoy a unique visual and aural introduction to two aspects of Indonesian culture in this concert featuring both Javanese and Balinese gamelan music performed on the Music Department's exquisite sets of gamelan instruments. The program begins with the UH Javanese Gamelan Ensemble, followed by visiting Balinese master musician I Nyoman Sumandhi directing the UH Balinese Gamelan Ensemble in preparation for next semester's production of "A (Balinese) Tempest" at Kennedy Theatre.
In addition, the Balinese Ensemble will accompany Sumandhi in a powerful traditional Balinese dance.
The program starts at 7:30 p.m.. Admission is $12; $8 students.
MUSIC
Ward's Rafters hosts Phil and Bob Scellato
Last week, we mentioned downtown's the Dragon Upstairs as a nice little jazz venue. (By the way, DeShannon Higa's Quadpod band will do only an occasional special Monday appearance there, instead of weekly. Their next performance will be Dec. 17 with guest bassist Shawn Conley.)
But we can't forget Ward's Rafters in Kaimuki, as Jackie Ward welcomes musicians to her residence at 3810 Maunaloa Ave. on a regular basis. Sunday afternoon, it's trumpeters Phil and Bob Scellato and their band, including Reggie Padillia and Chris Yeh on saxophones, Jeannette Trevias on piano, and the rhythm section of Troy Millard and Chuck James.
The music goes from 3 to 6 p.m. with no cover, but there's a basket near the front door if you're so moved to give the musicians a little green in appreciation. Call 735-8012 for more info.
THEATER
"Plaid Tidings" extends run at Manoa theater
As "Disney's The Lion King" winds down its lengthy run here, the local community theater groups must be breathing a sigh of relief. While the visiting juggernaut has taken away some needed fall revenue, there's at least one group that doesn't appear to have been affected.
Manoa Valley Theatre has extended its run of the musical "Plaid Tidings" for a second time, as the cabaret-style show will now run through Dec. 9.
Starring Andrew Sakaguchi, Mike Dupre, Aaron Komo and Sean Jones as the plaid-clad singing quartet, the guys wrap their harmonic voices around Christmas favorites, swing standards and hits from the 1950s and '60s.
Tickets are $35 (includes one standard beverage), with a $5 discount for seniors and military. Those 25 and under pay $20. Call 988-6131 or purchase tickets online at manoavalleytheatre.com.
FAMILY
McClarinet Quartet will give a McConcert
It's not often you hear live music at a McDonald's, but 'tis the season, and the Honolulu Clarinet Quartet will be playing holiday music Monday at the fast-food location at Kamehameha Shopping Center.
The group will also be doing its part to raise money to buy new instruments for the Kapalama Elementary School band program. The program is an extracurricular activity that meets once a week after school and is designed to introduce fifth-graders to basic musical concepts and playing. According to band instructor Steven Agasa, about 70 percent of the fifth-grade class of '47 has joined the band program this year. He hopes that the fundraiser this weekend will help increase the previous year's band budget of $500.
From 4 to 7 p.m., the McDonald's at the shopping center will donate a portion of sales to the band program. The quartet will play starting at 6.
FOOD
Guide brings local picks to hungry tourists
Every traveler faces the dining dilemma: guidebooks filled with hundreds of restaurants, each seeming spectacular in its own unique way. But how does one go about whittling down the choices from 100 to the 14 or so that you will actually be able to visit in the course of a two-week stay?
"Where the Locals Eat: The 100 Best Restaurants in the Top 50 Cities"
(Magellan Press)
312 pages, $11.95
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I have been stumped in New York, where every restaurant decision represents one lost opportunity elsewhere.
Along comes the guidebook "Where the Locals Eat: The 100 Best Restaurants in the Top 50 Cities," which offers a good cross section of restaurants from San Francisco to Atlanta, where local diners choose to spend their dining dollars, making for some quirky choices often missed by glossy travel magazines.
Studying Honolulu's roster provides a pretty good idea of where the reviewers are coming from, and that bodes well for those taking the book on the road.
The book is the companion to a free, searchable Web site, www.WhereTheLocalsEat.com, that includes the latest foodie news, blogs and restaurant updates, in addition to the restaurant listings from the book. Reviews are based on surveys of 50,000 diners across the country. Ten restaurants are highlighted for each city, with another 90 dispatched with a phone number and a word or two categorizing cuisine.
Honolulu restaurants and eateries singled out for longer reviews are 12th Avenue Grill (best contemporary), Alan Wong's Restaurant (best dessert and best Hawaiian Regional), Ba-Le Sandwich Shop (best Vietnamese), Giovanni's Original White Shrimp Truck (best shrimp truck), Hoku's (top 100 restaurant), Hy's Steak House (best steakhouse), La Mer (best French), Leonard's (best bakery), Nick's Fishmarket (best seafood) and Orchids (best brunch).
A range of cheap eats to fine dining are covered, embracing local specialties such as Giovanni's garlic and spicy shrimp and Leonard's malasadas.
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