FAMILY

Academy of Arts hosting Family Sunday activities

“;Start a MOVEMENT”; at this month's Family Sunday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Families can learn all about the art concept of movement by watching contra dancers performing to the music of Whiskey Starship, play musical chairs and balloon tag, make paintings with watercolor and shaving cream, and go through a labyrinth donated by the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew's.

Sunday is also the last day to see master kapa maker Marie McDonald's “;He Ho'ala Ana/An Awakening: Kapa”; exhibit at the academy.

Family Sunday, sponsored by Bank of Hawaii, happens every third Sunday of the month.

The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 532-8700 or visit www.honoluluacademy.org.

'Optimysstique' event has wellness activities

Wellness will happen, rain or shine, at the “;Optimysstique”; Interactive Wellness Event this Sunday at the Haleiwa Shopping Center.

From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., organizer Cab Spates will help patrons experience wellness aimed at a better 2009 and beyond. The event is being held in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday by emphasizing bio, ethnic, economic and cultural diversity.

Wellness activities include yoga, meditation and chi kung classes; massage and body work; green building with guest exhibitors; shopping, swapping and bartering; nutritional cuisine; and products that care for the body and the environment.

Plus, there'll be live entertainment, deejays, dance and arts and crafts to check out and enjoy.

E-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more about “;Optimysstique.”;

COMEDY

Comic Swardson does stand-up at Pipeline Cafe

Nick Swardson is one of those guys you've seen in almost every comic movie and TV show in recent memory. He's been in “;Malibu's Most Wanted”; (which he co-wrote with Jamie Kennedy), “;Grandma's Boy,”; “;The Benchwarmers,”; “;Blades of Glory,”; “;I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”; and “;You Don't Mess With the Zohan.”;

He also reprised his memorable role as Terry, the roller-skating gay prostitute, in “;Reno 911!: Miami.”;

Now Swardson brings his stand-up act to the Pipeline Cafe Saturday night, starting at 7. Tickets are $35 and $50 VIP. Call (877) 750-4400 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

In the meantime, check out his hilarious video short at funnyordie.com called “;A Day in the Life of Nick Swardson.”; He's just trying to make a living in Hollywood, a regular guy ... fueled by cocaine and vodka!

MUSIC

Music therapy group puts on benefit concert

Sounding Joy Music Therapy presents its sixth annual benefit concert Sunday afternoon.

The nonprofit group, which promotes the healing effects of music therapy, will present slack-key guitarist Ozzie Kotani and special guests Cherub Aumavare, former “;Hawaii Stars”; contestant, and the Waialae Baptist Church Senior Adult Ukulele Choir.

Dr. Clive Robbins, founding director of Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University, will also give a talk and video presentation.

A silent auction of ceramics donated by Diane KW, Daven Hee, Joel Park and Corey Lum will also help raise funds.

Music therapy attempts to enhance quality of life in relationships by creating a positive environment and setting up personal growth.

A suggested donation of $20 is being requested for concert attendees; the concert will be held at Fuller Hall in the YWCA's Richards Street branch downtown. Call 593-2620 or visit www.soundingjoymt.org.

FOOD

Z Pizza

Ward Centre (Auahi streetfront) / 596-0066

With a name like Z Pizza, it's hard to determine just what type of pizza you might find at the newest Ward Centre food tenant, but you owe it to yourself to check it out.

What struck me as being most different about Z Pizza was the freshness of its thin crust and its nongreasy appeal. Yes, there was oil to be expected of the pesto on the Moroccan Rustica pizza ($11.95), but otherwise the paper beneath other pizzas was remarkably dry, with toppings that sang with purity.

The company's roots are in Laguna Beach, Calif., where its creators aimed to build a lighter, healthier, yet still delicious pizza. Fast-forward more than 20 years, and the rest of the world is only now coming 'round to ideas Z Pizza had embraced since 1986. Among their practices is using 100 percent certified organic wheat dough, 100 percent certified organic tomato sauce and Wisconsin low-fat mozzarella.

The pizzas come in 10-inch small, 14-inch large and 18-inch extra-large sizes. To maximize your experience in one sitting, you can order two flavor combinations on two halves of your pizza on large and extra-large orders.

The Provence ($12.95/$22.95/ $25.95) is one of the basics, made with organic tomato sauce, homemade roasted garlic sauce, mozzarella, artichoke hearts, basil and the salty zing of marinated capers. I also enjoyed two styles of Moroccan pizzas. One was the Casablanca ($12.95/$22.95/25.95), with its combination of roasted garlic sauce, mozzarella, balls of ricotta, mushrooms and artichoke hearts. As good as it was, my favorite was the one-size Moroccan pizza with eggplant, pesto and pine nuts, with a rectangular, free-form Rustica crust.

A Rustica pizza of chicken curry and orange yam ($11.95) was unusual and strictly for those with a sweet tooth because the curry flavor is nil. What stands out is its candy-like coating of mango chutney with raisins and a touch of cilantro.

Those who can't afford the full pizza can order simpler styles by the slice for $3.25.

Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Costs about $20 to $30 for two.