Our Picks for the Weekend Star-Bulletin staff

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FAMILY

Former Hokule'a crew read story of Eddie Aikau

Former Hokule'a crew members will perform a reading of the local children's book "Eddie Wen' Go: The Story of the Upside-Down Canoe" at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kahala Sportswear store in the Nordstrom wing of Ala Moana Center.

Written by crewmember Marion Lyman-Mersereau, the story imagines what Hawaii's ocean creatures might have seen when the famous voyaging canoe capsized on March 17, 1978, and Eddie Aikau, a noted big-wave surfer and lifeguard himself, tried to paddle to Lanai for help but was never seen again.

Lyman-Mersereau's former ocean-mates Mel Kinney, Ka'au McKenney and Tai Crouch will join her in the reading.

FOOD

Pasta & Basta, In & Out

The space at Restaurant Row occupied by Pasta & Basta includes a second take-out window in back, both a blessing and curse. With the space, the restaurant can catch those too busy for a sit-down lunch at the restaurant, but it creates a dilemma for the restaurateur in trying to invent an appealing menu that doesn't cannibalize the rest of the casual pasta, pizza and salad operation.

Tricky.

The result has been mostly experimental as he tries to figure out what people want most (a little bit of everything) and what they're willing to pay (not much).

What may be a source of frustration for the restaurateur is great for those who like variety. Last month, for example, we welcomed a spate of panini. This month, In & Out has added a temporary name, "Il Taco Bello," with a trio of tacos (fish, pork or chicken) delivered on 5-inch white corn tortillas with a generous helping of avocado-tomato salsa. The tacos are $4 each, or $10 for three.

Otherwise, you'll find a trio of entree salads daily: pasta with roasted vegetables and arugula-walnut pesto ($6); the Mediterranean with homemade mozzarella, Kalamata olives, tomatoes, onions and aged balsamic vinegar ($7); and rustic chopped salad with romaine, Kahuku sweet corn, asparagus, grape tomatoes, olives, Maui onion, gorgonzola and grilled chicken ($8).

Keep the experiments coming; we're a short-attention-span society.

Open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.

FREEBIE

Hawaiian groups perform at Hall of Fame event

Two of the better young Hawaiian music groups, Manoa Voices and Keauhou, will be performing at the annual meeting and induction ceremony of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

The bands are the current and previous winners of the Ka Himeni Ana all-acoustic competition held at the Hawaii Theatre.

The 2008 group of inductees will be honored during the event at 2 p.m. Sunday at Kamehameha Schools' Ke'elikolani Performing Arts Auditorium. Last year's honorees included such people as Bill Kaiwa, Eddie Kamae, Marlene Sai and Peter Moon.

Admission is free. Call 392-3649 or visit www.hmhof.org.

MUSIC

Bluegrass musicians get together in the park

On Sunday, the Bluegrass Hawaii Traditional & Bluegrass Music Society is resuming its free Pickin' In the Park jam sessions this month and next. Thomas Square was the site of the society's very first jam back in May 2003, and they return to the park to play from 1 to 5 p.m.

Any musician who can play acoustic bluegrass, mountain, roots, traditional country, Hawaiian, Americana, folk, Western, Celtic and Irish music are welcome. Listeners are also welcome.

Next month, Pickin' In the Park moves to Kapiolani Park -- specifically Area #4, near the tennis courts -- for music from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call 206-3459 or visit www.bluegrasshawaii.com/events.html.

THEATER

Improvaganza showcases mainland talent, too

Synapses will be firing at their peak next week at the third annual Improvaganza festival.

Besides the usual local bunch of suspects -- Loose Screws, On the Spot, Garrick Paikai, Casual Threat, The Initiative and Mid-Pacific Institute's Owltastic -- there'll be guest groups from the mainland as well.

The fest, starting Sept. 25 and running through Sept. 27, will be held in The ARTS at Marks Garage (1159 Nuuanu Ave.), the second floor of the Mendonca Building (1118 Smith St.) and the newly opened Laughtrack Theater (1123 Bethel St.)

Tickets are available at www.honoluluboxoffice.com. Visit www.improvhawaii.org/improvaganza.