Remove ImagesPicks of the Week
May 21, 2009
Thursday (May 21), 9pm, Cafe Mambo, Paia
The Big Lebowski is the Greatest Movie Known to Man. That's really all that can be said. The fact that it has a humongous cult following should demonstrate its place within the cream of the classic film crop. Need more? Lebowski festivals take place across the country, and Lebowski-philes attend dressed as the Dude, Maude, Bunny, green polish-adorned toes, 5,000 years of beautiful tradition from Moses to Sandy Koufax, the f*&^in' Eagles and other people, things and lines having to do with the Coen Brother's quirky masterpiece. Even Maui has a Lebowski party or two. For a recent one, I went as Bunny (my friend and I drove all over the island to find the right shade of toenail polish), but I think next year I'm going to go as the Tenets of National Socialism. If you have any idea what in God's name I'm blathering about, attending tonight's screening at Cafe Mambo is imperative. Don a robe and jelly shoes and have yourself an oat soda. It's a league game, Smokey.
Saddle tale
Thursday (May 21) 6:30pm, Kula Community Center
Republicans use cowboys to signify rugged individualism and justify not taxing the super rich. But John Wayne these folks were not. Probably a more realistic portrayal of cowboys, said to have generally been softspoken loners who shied away from showdowns, was that of the Tommy Lee Jones film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. This evening's event, called "When Maui was Horse Crazy," aims to show the real lives of real-life Maui paniolos, who played a huge part in the island's evolution. The Maui Cattleman's Association as well as the Kula Community Association host this opportunity to check out a temporary display of the Paniolo Hall of Fame (to the dismay of those who know how important paniolos are on Maui, the Valley Isle lacks a permanent home for this exhibit, which consists of photos, biographies and oral histories). Famed paniolos Harold Amoral, Henry Silva and Merton Kekiwi will be on hand to talk story. The night kicks off with a screening of the short film Ikua Rides Again: King of the Hawaiian Cowboys. (Ikua Purdy was an Ulupalakua ranch foreman who in 1908 blew away the competition at the World Roping Championship in Cheyenne.)
Prog rock
Friday & Saturday (May 22-23), 5:30 & 6:30pm, Lahaina town
Your favorite Moby Dick character says a lot about you. I went through an Ahab phase a while back, but I must say that these day's it's a toss-up between Queequeg and the Whale. Whaling, however twisted, was obviously one of the most important industries on the Valley Isle at one time. Lahaina Restoration Foundation's first-ever "progressive dinner" aims to take us back to those days without the aid of a time machine or George Carlin. The LRF scholarship fund benefit consists of four phases. The first phase is grog and pupus at the historic Pioneer Inn. The second is dinner at the Baldwin home, complete with vegetables from Mrs. Baldwin's Garden. The third: "class" and a church choir performance at Hale Aloha. And finally, tea, desserts and chicken-skin tales at the old Lahaina prison. Theatrical director Katherine Cloutier and costume designer Sharon Fredy choreograph this theatrical glimpse into the past, where guests can converse with seafarers and other friendly period costume-festooned folk. There will be two seatings each night; capacity is limited to 49 due to fire code (did they have those in Melville's day?). Call 661-3262 to reserve. $135.
Ten years gone
Saturday (May 23), 9pm, Casanova, Makawao
Excellently enough, Casanova has been helping Upcountry rock for a full two decades. To celebrate the Italian joint/nightlife hub's first ten years back in 1999, they brought in enormously popular, multiple-Hoku-winning Hawaiian-folk-surf-what have you band Hapa. The duo originally formed in 1983 (the lineup was Barry Flanagan and Kelii Kanealii), blew up in 1993 and currently consists of Flanagan and Nathan Aweau. They return to make the celebration of Casanova's second decade a surefire rager. Most excellent. Hail Eris. $35/$70 (dinner and show).
But does it match the drapes?
Saturday (May 23), 6:30pm, Gian Don's, Kihei
Opportunities to get glammed up to the Ts are rare on Maui. But sometimes a formal-ish benefit comes around that warrants the donning of the strappiest of heels and perhaps a spot of glitter. Saturday's Hollywood Red Carpet Night is one such instance. A benefit for Women Helping Women of Maui, its organizers aim to make a movie star out of you…for the evening. Guests walk in on a real red carpet and even get their photos taken by "paparazzi" at the entrance. Food and drink, likely of the fancy variety, will abound, and a fashion show featuring the goods from Elly's Formal Wear & Bridals will ensue at 7:30pm. DJ Del Sol, who rules, will spin. Admission is $30 at the door. DJ Michael Fong will preside over the super-fabulous after party, which begins at 10pm.