Source: Maui Time, Maui News, Best of Maui, Maui Activities

Picks%20of%20the%20Week

by Starr Begley

October 25, 2007

Ectoplasmic Experience

Friday (Oct. 26) "“ Tuesday (Oct. 30), 6:30 "“ 9:30 p.m. at the Iao Theater, Wailuku

[HAUNTED HOUSE] The very first time that I went into a "haunted house"? I was five. Before we went in, my dad gave me the whole shpeel that none of the ghouls waiting for us were real, that it was for fun, and I really shouldn't be scared. Little kids believe their parents, so I was totally confident that it was going to be a blast. It was all fun and games until my dad went to mess with what looked like a statue of a life-sized devil and it stood up. My dad screamed like a girl and ran out of the exhibit. That was the end of that Halloween adventure. This year, I'm taking my family to the 2nd annual Haunted House being put on by Maui Onstage at the Historic and slightly creepy Iao Theater. C'mon think about it. Theater people are in charge of setting a ghostly maze of surprises and chills (they do this stuff for a living) and the Iao Theater is rumored to be haunted for real. "Last year we felt like there was a couple extra ghosts with us making it fun. I think they felt like they fit in,"? said technical director Louis Fernandez III. Due to strobe lights and fog machines, this event may not be suitable for all people. Tickets: $2, 242-6969. [STARR BEGLEY]

Down home Diva

Friday (Oct. 26) at Tip-Ups, Kihei and Saturday (Oct. 27), 8 "“ 11 p.m. at Lulu's, Kihei

[LIVE MUSIC] Those of you that have seen Anuhea perform know that not only is she super hot, she's super talented. I don't quite understand how this is humanly possible. In fact, when I get to heaven I'm going to have a little chat with the Big Man upstairs about it. Did she simply roll sevens, or is He just playing favorites? This weekend you can have Anuhea however you may prefer"“the Friday show is going to be more intimate and funky while the Saturday show (Lulu's Halloween bash) is going to be going down rager style. I guess it comes down to the question of, "Are you naughty or nice?"? Tip-Ups 874-9299, Lulu's 879-9944.

Fruit with Class

Saturday (Oct. 27),  6 - 9 p.m., Fairmont Kea Lani, 

[FOOD] I love the name of this event, The Noble Grape. It makes the fruit sound kind of medieval, or something. I also love that I share an office with a Maui Community College Culinary Arts student, and she brings yummy desserts of all varieties with her when she comes to work after class. My favorite so far was the sweet, chewy little lilikoi bars she brought a few weeks back. Mmm... lilikoi bars. What was I writing about? Oh, right"“the 11th Annual Noble Grape Food and Wine celebration. There's bound to be a delectable dessert or two at this extravagant dinner, prepared by top executive chefs Stanton Ho and Shirley Fong-Torres. Chinese cuisine is the evening's theme and proceeds benefit MCC culinary students and educators. The food is definitely going to be world class and the wine will be, well, fit for royalty. Tickets: $150. Corporate table for eight, $2,000. Reservations required: 984-3261. [JESSICA ARMSTRONG]

Masters of Rhythm

Saturday (Oct. 27), 7:30 p.m. at the Castle Theater, Maui Arts and Cultural Center

[TAP PERFORMANCE] I got to see The Masters of Rhythm last year. The Maui Tap Experience brought in Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, and (be still my heart) Grant Swift, along with other tap greats to clippity-clop at warp speed across the stage. It was phenomenal. I took my daughter, who was five at the time and she was entranced and attentive throughout the whole performance. This is saying a lot because she has the attention span of a gnat. This year, Master's of Rhythm is back, this time with tappers Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, Martin Tre Dumas, Dianne Walker, John Kloss and Yukiko Misumi. It's going to be specTAPular. Tickets: $38, $25, $10. 242-7469 or mauiarts.org for more information.

Musical Mantras

Sunday (Oct. 28), 7 p.m., The Studio Maui, Haiku

[MUSIC] Donna De Lory has one of those amazing voices that make me totally green with envy. When I picked up a couple of her albums I knew she'd worked as an accompanying vocalist for Madonna so I expected her to be pretty good, but I was still surprised by the beauty of her strong, clear music. First I listened to Sky Is Open, a fluid collection of pop songs with smooth harmonies and soulful lyrics. Then I popped in Lover and the Beloved, a brief but beautiful album inspired by Indian devotional music that blends ancient meditative chants with ambient music and western pop beats. I love how on the album jacket she roughly translates the Sanskrit words into English. I like to know what I'm singing along to. When she comes to perform on Maui she'll be accompanied by Fulbright award winning tabla drummer Daniel Paul, who has crazy classical and modern percussion skills. I mean, this seriously is the guy you want playing in your drum circle. Prepare for an eclectic evening of devotional mantras and exotic East Indian beats. Tickets: $15 advance at The Studio Maui, $20 at the door. 575-9390. [JA]