Our Picks for the Weekend
Star-Bulletin staff
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FREEBIE
'Don Tini' show at Hilton extended through July
Fluid Floyd couldn't be prouder. He and his musical director Perry Coma have had their miniversion of their Don Tiki floor show extended through the remainder of July after debuting early last month at the Tapa Bar of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Every Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., local and visiting enthusiasts of exotic tiki culture can enjoy some "Don Tini" as masterminded by Floyd and Perry (aka Lloyd Kandell and Kit Ebersbach). You can expect to hear a wide array of original and classic tunes all styled after the Martin Denny/Arthur Lyman exotica soundscape of decades gone by.
Featured performers include Sherry Shaoling (when she isn't trying to put her acting/singing career on the fast track in Los Angeles), Rocky Holmes, percussionist Lopaka Colón, multiinstrumentalist Abe Lagrimas Jr. and, of course, those sultry and sassy Don Tiki Dancers.
With no cover charge, there's no excuse not to kick back with a mai tai or two and soak in a little TLC -- tiki lounge culture, that is.
MUSIC
'80s girl groups make comeback at Pipeline
Take a walk down memory lane on Saturday with some of the biggest girl groups of the '80s, thanks to Big Ben Entertainment and Pipeline Cafe.
"The Ladies of the '80s" will feature performances by Expose, Lisa Lisa and Sweet Sensation. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the 18-and-over crowd; tickets start at $40.
Expose, best known for hits like "I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)," has undergone a number of lineup changes. But Gioia Bruno, Ann Curless and Jeanette Jurado were part of the group at its height and will all be in town for this weekend's concert.
With her backing band Cult Jam with Full Force, Lisa "Lisa Lisa" Velez had a chart-topping hit with "I Wonder if I Take You Home" in 1985. The next two years were even bigger, as "All Cried Out" and "Lost in Emotion" enjoyed great success.
The trio Sweet Sensation enjoyed success based upon groups like Expose and Lisa Lisa. After building a fan base with singles like "Sincerely Yours," they hit the jackpot in 1990 with their hit single "If Wishes Came True."
LAST CHANCE
Get deep discounts and help library at book sale
Veterans of the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale know it's best to show up on Day One to score the treasures and rarities. But bargain hunters know there's value in the last few days as well.
The 60th book sale began last weekend, but the discounting starts Thursday, with prices cut by 10 percent. Friday, the discount is 25 percent; Saturday, 50 percent. On closing day, Sunday, all items will sell for 50 cents.
You could fill a whole bookshelf for 20 bucks.
Also on Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m., several local children's authors will be available to sign their books.
The selling is happening at the McKinley High School Cafeteria, with CDs, DVDs and videos available as well as books. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
All proceeds -- they totaled $150,000 last year -- benefit the state's public libraries.
FAMILY
Flip out and claim victory at swap meet POG contest
Sometime when you were not paying attention, POGs made a comeback. That milkcap-slamming competitive "sport" seems to sweep back through the world of kids every seven years or so, just like re-releases of Disney classic cartoons.
Which brings us to the All American Slam-O-Rama Milkcap Tournament, to be held at Saturday and Sunday at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.
Head for Section 14-C of the South End for qualifying rounds at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. and noon Sunday. The championship will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The swap meet is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Admission is $1; children free. Call 486-6704 or visit alohastadiumswapmeet.net.
FOOD
When it's hot outside, the body seems to demand that diners lighten up their intake. That may be a point of contention between your brain and stomach, but if you happen to be in Kailua, here are a couple of places with selections to go.
Aloha Salad
Kailua Shopping Center, 600 Kailua Road / 262-2016
Forget about the 5-A-Day campaign. New dietary recommendations call for four to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, depending on your age, gender and fitness regimen. To determine your needs, visit www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.
Living up to the guidelines is doable with the help of Aloha Salads in Kailua, where you'll find more than 80 kinds of crisp, fresh produce, toppings and protein sources for customizing a salad.
Their signature salads are far from boring. Any restaurant can serve a basic blackened ahi salad ($9.95) of greens and fish. Aloha Salads goes beyond the call of duty, adding diced mangoes and avocado, strawberries, shredded coconut, green onions and bean sprouts. The Mandarin Ginger ($8.95) features mesclun, mandarin oranges, carrots, snow peas, diced grilled chicken, crisp wonton strips and sesame seeds, served with ginger dressing. If seeing all those greens is daunting, get those veggies covered up in the form of sub sandwiches.
Open: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Costs about $7 to $10 per person. A second location is slated to open in Kahala Mall in November.
Elvin's Bakery & Cafe
Kailua Shopping Center / 262-1688
If you want to reward yourself with dessert after finishing your salad (above), head next door to Elvin's, where Elvin Lau, a former Panya chef, has set up shop.
You'll find basic sandwiches and salads, but busy types find it easiest to grab some tongs and pick up some ham-and-cheese or tuna croissants to go. And who can resist those light-as-air slices of tiramisu and strawberry shortcake?
My favorite dessert is the Japanese cheesecake that reduces the cheese factor to a creamy spread between two layers of spongecake, giving you all the flavor and mouth-feel without the calories of regular cheesecake. It can be more dangerous because it leaves you feeling invincible downing a whole slice.
Open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
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