» TODAY

Last ARTafterDARK for 2009 dresses up

This month marks the last ARTafterDARK of the year at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and in celebration of “;All Hallows Eve,”; it's going to be an old-fashioned costume dance party, sponsored by Tori Richard.

A guest DJ from Ann Arbor, Mich., DJ Benzi, will preview his skills before tomorrow's gig at NextDoor as part of the Hallowbaloo Music + Arts Festival downtown. He'll be stationed in the museum's Central Court, while hometown favorites DJ Eskae and DJ Compose of the Nocturnal Sound Krew will be spinning hip-hop favorites in the Luce Pavilion.

In anticipation of some large costumes taking up extra room, all art galleries will be closed for this event.

Food and drink will be provided by Town and Downtown restaurants, offering a variety of tapas and tomato gazpacho with additional ingredients available.

ARTafterDARK will return Feb. 26 with the theme “;Mad for Modern.”;

» Where: Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 S. Beretania St.
» When: 6 to 9 p.m. today
» Cost: $10 general admission, free for academy members
» Info: 532-8701 or http://www.artafterdark.org

» TOMORROW

'Wonderland' of fun available for pennies

“;Wonderland”; is the theme of the 17th Annual Penny Carnival at the United Church of Christ.

There'll be lots of food, music, games for a penny and prizes to fill out a night of fun for the keiki as a safe alternative to Halloween trick-or-treating.

All proceeds will go to Ma'o Organic Fruit and Vegetable Farm, a nonprofit program that provides agricultural work training, farming and marketing experience to support local youth through college.

» Where: United Church of Christ, 467 N. Judd St.
» When: 6 to 8:30 p.m.
» Cost: Free
» Call: 536-8418

» SUNDAY

Benefit event offers many sweet escapes

Chocolate ... and chocolate, and chocolate, anyone?

Fifty of the tastiest sweets will be showcased at the United Cerebral Palsy Association's Dessert Fantasy.

It will be two hours of unlimited sampling of delicious desserts, all to help the nonprofit volunteer health organization, created to empower children and adults with cerebral palsy or other severe disabilities with similar service needs.

In addition to desserts galore, the fundraiser will also have a silent auction and entertainment by Herb Ohta Jr. and friends.

» Where: Pacific Beach Hotel, 2490 Kalakaua Ave.
» When: 1 to 3 p.m.
» Cost: $25 general admission, free for children 5 and under
» Info: 532-6744 or http://www.ucpahi.org

Cedric Yamanaka hosts a preview party for Bamboo Ridge.

Radio taping previews Bamboo Ridge

Local readers of Bamboo Ridge's literary journal will get a sneak peek, so to speak, of three stories from its upcoming 94th issue. This month's taping of Hawaii Public Radio's “;Aloha Shorts”; will have the theme of “;Man-Kine,”; as the stories delve into issues of masculine identity.

Guest readers include state Rep. Marcus R. Oshiro doing “;Peanut Butta Jelly,”; by University of Hawaii-Manoa graduate student Kenneth Lynn Quilantang Jr.; Mary Lombard's “;Guts Up,”; read by Kamehameha Schools educator Patrick Fujioka; and what should be most entertaining, Sami Akuna, also known as the fabulous cross-dressing creation Cocoa Chandelier, bringing to life “;Vergueenza,”; by Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhran, a doctoral student at Michigan State University.

Cedric Yamanaka is the host, and the house band is (the all-male) Hamajang.

» Where: Atherton Performing Arts Studio, 738 Kaheka St.
» When: 6:45 p.m.
» Cost: Free (limited seating available)
» Call: 955-8821
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Paparazzi nightclub bartender Jaime Nozaki mixes drinks in the VIP lounge during a grand opening party last weekend.

» THURSDAY

Oh yes, it's ladies' night

Paparazzi unveils an industry gathering where women can kick back

It'll be all about the ladies on Thursdays at Ward Centre, as Honolulu's newest nightspot hosts “;Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!”;

Paparazzi, occupying the former second-floor space of Brew Moon and under the management of longtime club impresario George Kail, made its public grand opening on the Hawaii night-life scene last weekend. The place has been renovated and refurbished with what's described as “;modern, elegant and fashion-forward designs,”; all for the ueber fashion-conscious crowd.

“;Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!”; will be set aside as an industry night specifically for women, and the club hopes to make it the new destination for ladies' birthday and bachelorette parties, and the weekly girls' night out. Kail said there will be pupu and drink specials, including half off for champagne.

» Where: Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd.
» When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays
» Cost: No cover
» Call: 596-8850