Our Picks for the Weekend
Star-Bulletin staff
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FAMILY
Dance the night away at Atherton YMCA
Christmas isn't over yet at the Atherton YMCA. Grab your salsa shoes, dance clothes and the family and head down to the Latin Dance Night Christmas Extravaganza Saturday.
For those who made a resolution to do something new this year, now is the chance. Salsa and tango lessons will be available.
If you're more of a watcher, there will be two dance floors of Latin dancers strutting their stuff.
All ages are welcomed at this non-smoking event, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Cost is $8; kids 16 and under free when accompanied by an adult. The Atherton YMCA is at 1800 University Ave. Call 739-9666 or 256-7556.
ON STAGE
'The Laughing Samoans' bring humor to Blaisdell
Arriving straight from New Zealand Friday night -- "The Laughing Samoans."
Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepulea'i perform at the Blaisdell Concert Hall with a comedy act that has toured the Pacific Islands and is billed as "always clean" and suited to all ages.
Both performers have roots in the Samoan Congregational Christian church in Wellington, New Zealand, where both their fathers are preachers.
Ete, born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand, was among the first Pacific Islanders to attend the New Zealand Drama School and is one of the founding members of New Zealand's first Pacific Island Theatre group, Taotahi.
Fepulea'i, born and raised in New Zealand, is a former rugby player who began his comedy career entertaining family and church members.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the performance starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, $30 and $40. Call 591-2211 or visit ticketmaster.com.
FREEBIE
Children can enjoy toys from around the world
The East-West Center gallery exhibit "Whimsical World: Toys Across Asia" goes interactive with special events over the next three Sundays.
This weekend it's Family Festivity Day. Bring a favorite toy to share and walk through the gallery with curator Michael Schuster, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
On Jan. 21, University of Hawaii librarian Diane Perushek, who has amassed a collection of tops from around the world, gives a lecture at 2 p.m.
On Jan. 28, the University of Hawaii's Timpuyog Organization presents a hands-on workshop, "Simple Filipino Games," 2 p.m.
The exhibit itself showcases hand-crafted, kid-powered toys that might be unfamiliar to children who've grown up in the Game-Boy age. They are accompanied by photographs by National Geographic photographer Paul Chesley showing children throughout Asia at play.
Exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 16. Admission is free. Call 944-7177.
CULTURE
Welcome in the Year of the Boar at JCCH
The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i's New Year's 'Ohana Festival takes place on Sunday, ringing in the Year of the Boar with food, entertainment, cultural art displays and demonstrations, a craft fair and book sale.
Partake in displays of bonsai, anime, calligraphy, the game of go, ikebana, origami, paper-tearing art and cord-braiding, with Carol Nagano. Or pick up good-luck charms for the new year.
For the kids, there'll be make-and-take activities, games, jumpers and story-telling with Jeff Gere and Janice Terukina.
And don't forget the eats: The festival's most popular dish is Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a specialty of layered vegetables, noodles, meat and fried egg in a crepe.
A mochi-making demonstration will take place on Moiliili Field, with samples.
Admission is free, with scrip sold for food and activities. A shuttle will run from the University of Hawai'i Dole Street parking structure, where parking will be free. Call 945-7633, or e-mail info@jcch.com.
FOOD
Bombay Indian Restaurant
Discovery Bay Center, 1778 Ala Moana Blvd. 942-3990
Bombay makes up for the lack of Indian cuisine here with an extensive menu including curries and tandoor specialties.
Its focus is on Northern India cuisine, which is most familiar to Western diners. This would include use of yogurt marinades, garam masala (spice blends of cumin, coriander, cinnamon and more), breads and meats baked in clay tandoor ovens, and biryanis (rice pilafs).
Prices are higher than we're accustomed to, although curries can be shared and that's one way to sample one's way through the menu.
When ordering, go for variety. If you order correctly, your senses will be jolted by a riot of flavors and scents.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tandoori chicken, left, chicken curry and a spinach dish called palak paneer are among the offerings at Bombay.
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Kadai chicken ($14.95) is likely to be one of the most popular curries. Boneless chunks of chicken are cooked over high heat in a wok with onions, tomatoes and bell peppers. Bombay may also be the only Indian restaurant here to serve a salmon curry ($18.95), and the chef's specialty is lamb rogan josh ($15.95), tender pieces of lamb cooked in a savory yogurt-based curry sauce spiked with whole cloves.
Lamb seekh kebab ($7.95) is made in traditional style with a mixture of minced lamb, cilantro, garlic and touch of ginger so that it's more like a flavorful, lean sausage, charbroiled in the tandoor. If you prefer cubed lamb, or boti kebab, it's part of the mixed grill ($17.95) also featuring shrimp and charbroiled chicken.
And vegetarians will find an abundance of dishes, from a lentil stew called dal makhni ($9.95) to baingan bhartha ($11.95), baked eggplant sautéed with onions, tomatoes and herbs.
Open 5 to 10 p.m. daily. Brunch service is slated to start up soon. Dinner for two is about $45 to $60 without drinks.
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