StarBulletin.com

Our Picks


By

POSTED: Friday, December 19, 2008

AUTOGRAPHS

'Dog' putting down paw prints on gifts

Get a little “;Dog”; this Christmas, courtesy the world-famous bounty hunter himself, Duane Chapman.

Dog, wife Beth and fellow bounty hunter-offspring Duane Lee, Leland and Lyssa will be at Da Dog House from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday to sign autographs and pose for photos with any purchase from their logo merchandise store, located just mauka from their headquarters, Da Kine Bail Bonds on Queen Emma Street, at 203 S. Vineyard Blvd. Merchandise includes $9.99 items for those on a budget.

Since an earlier autograph event was overwhelmingly popular, be sure to come early, as a long line into the store is expected. Call 548-2245.

 

FOOD

PIPELINE CAFE

805 Pohukaina St. / 589-1999

Since taking over ownership of Pipeline Cafe, Greg Azus has introduced a lot of new ideas. First and foremost was to take the cafe part of the name more seriously and add food to the music, comedy and club mix.

You don't see fresh in a bar/club environment too often, but you can get a meal that includes greens and vivid produce at a decent price. There's now more variety for those working in Kakaako, where there aren't many lunch options, and those heading to shows at the club no longer have to look far for a place to hang out beforehand.

It's not set up to be a restaurant, so seat yourself and order at the lunch counter by day and upstairs at the sports bar at night.

For lunch, order off the cafe's regular pupu menu or try one of the quarter-pound burgers available only by day, at $6.25 for a cheddar cheeseburger to $6.75 for a mushroom burger featuring shiitakes. The spinach and lobster quesadilla ($10.75) could have used more filling, but I was impressed by a fruit salsa of cantaloupe, onion and cilantro, as well as Pipeline's moderately spicy Cajun chicken fettuccine with a fresh dice of zucchini, yellow squash and red bell peppers ($9.50).

At night, there's pupu meant to share or to be the start of a meal. Nibble on spicy garlic soybeans ($5.75), spicy chicken wings ($6.25; it's $3 during happy hour from 4 to 9 p.m. weekdays except on nights there's a concert or special event) or nachos “;Pipeline”; style topped with jack and cheddar cheeses, tomatoes, olives, jalapenos, sour cream, salsa and black beans ($7.50), with chicken or beef for an extra $1.50.

A dish of pan-fried opakapaka ($10.75) is brushed with miso and served atop greens sauteed in a soy-ginger sauce. There's a grilled opakapaka sandwich ($7.25) available at lunch time as well. But my favorite was the trio of miniature burgers ($6.75) topped with cheddar.

Open from 11 a.m.; happy hour is 4 to 9 p.m. weekdays (not available during concerts or special events). Costs less than $10 per person for lunch, about $20 to $30 for dinner for two without drinks.

 

FREEBIE

Bishop Museum free on Friday for celebration

In celebration of the 177th anniversary of the birth of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Bishop Museum is offering free admission Friday.

The museum is currently exhibiting “;Megalodon: The Largest Shark That Ever Lived”; and “;'Ili Iho: The Surface Within,”; featuring the work of eight contemporary Hawaiian artists.

Also in honor of the late and beloved princess, the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki will conduct a ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday in the Royal Grove. The 45-minute ho'omanao ali'i (royal commemoration), with a kahili procession, entertainment and the local royal societies in full regalia, is free.

And in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, the Daughters of Hawai'i will present a free concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hulihe'e Palace, the former vacation residence of Hawaiian royalty. The Merrie Monarchs vocal group and kumu hula Etua Lopes and his Halau Na Pua Ui O Hawai'i will perform.

 

MOVIES

Sunset on the Beach draws Hawaii Bowl squads

This weekend's Sunset on the Beach in Waikiki celebrates Sheraton's Hawaii Bowl, featuring the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and our own University of Hawaii Warriors, to square off Christmas Eve at Aloha Stadium.

The teams will be in attendance on Saturday for a “;barefoot pep rally.”;

And it's appropriate that the evening's movie will be “;We Are Marshall,”; the drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox about the resurgence of that West Virginia University's football program after a deadly plane crash in 1970 .

Sunday's movie will be “;Kung Fu Panda,”; preceded by a special preview trailer of the Disney adventure-comedy “;Bedtime Stories,”; starring Adam Sandler, that opens nationwide on Christmas Day.

Musical entertainment, starting at 4 p.m., will be provided by the EMKE Hawaiian Music Center and Sunset (Saturday), and Island Storm (Sunday). Call 923-1094.

 

WALKING TOUR

See downtown through the eyes of WWII soldiers

For those people looking for something different to do during the holiday season, check out local historian Steven Fredrick and his Hawaii Wartime History Tour on Christmas Day.

Known for his walking tours of Honolulu, Fredrick will guide a historic tour through downtown and Chinatown to the recreation sights and entertainment hangouts frequented by U.S. servicemen during their stints on Oahu.

It'll be a four-hour walk to the sites of former dance halls, diners, government buildings, pool halls, taverns and theaters frequented by servicemen during World War II.

Because of the length of the tour, comfortable sports shoes are recommended.

The tour starts at Fort Street Mall at 1 p.m. Cost is $20, and because of the holiday, there should be plenty of free street parking.

Reservations are required. Call 395-0674 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Go to www.stevestoursandfilms.vpweb.com.