By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– ARTS at Marks Garage. MAMo 2015 opening reception from 6-9PM featuring Hawaiian entertainment and “The World’s Smallest Beer Garden” on a wee little patch of grass in front of ARTS at Marks Garage. The theme of this exhibit, KĀHEA, explores each artists’ personal calling. The show was curated by 2008 MAMo awardee Al Lagunero. Art from the 2015 MAMo awardee recipients Kauanoe Chang and Sol Apio will be on display, along with works by Kawika Lum, Mele Chun, Kyle Wright, Meala Bishop, Olalehua Ah Chong, Meleanna Meyer, Harinani Orme, Kapeka Forges, Momi Greene, Kazu Kauinana, and A‘ia‘i Bello. 1159 Nuuanu Avenue.
Bar 35. Open 4pm-2am. Happy hour deals from 4-10pm. DJs and dancing. No cover until 9PM. 35 North Hotel Street.
Barrio Vintage. First Friday is a great reason to stop by and check out the latest vintage arrivals! Plus, enjoy live, acoustic music and complimentary refreshments. Store open until 8PM. 1161 Nuuanu Avenue.
Blank Canvas. Offering affordable off-the-shelf contemporary clothing designs and create-your-own designs. Extended shop hours until 8PM. 1145 Bethel Street.
Downbeat Lounge. Downbeat Diner and Lounge proudly present Club Underground with DJ Ross Jackson, and Davey Shindig spinning on the decks. This non-stop dance party with feature some of the best of Post Punk, Britpop, Indie, Electro Pop, Italo Disco and more! Not to mention $4 Fireball and $4 PBR pints on special all night long. This event is 21 and up and FREE! 9PM-2AM. 40 North Hotel Street.
Chinatown Artists Lofts.
1116 Smith Street, 5-9/10PM. 2nd floor of the Mendonca building. Enter on Smith Street between Hotel and Pauahi.
Katherine Kirk. Offering centered expressive arts for healing. Interactive art making experience through The CREATIVE. James Anshutz and Mise En Scene Pictures (loft 210) will be featuring aerial helicopter photography along with James’ commercial work and photo illustrations.
James McCarthy. Plays solo on the stoop, mild to wild. James McCarthy, lead singer of Doolin Rakes and founder of Truetone Songwriter Series, brings his experiential improvisational solo style to First Friday. Singing original and familiar and obscure covers, James’ music floats through the courtyard, providing ambience for the creative offerings of his fellow tenants at the Chinatown Artists Lofts.
Park and Terrier Pop Up Shop. Items made from fine American leather and hand-stitched with German Tiger wax thread. Park and Terrier’s latest collection offers an array of unisex wallets, bracelets and lanyards. Designer Justin Park creates limited-edition, exquisite pieces using Chromexcel pull-up leather, crafted using time-honored techniques to achieve the highest level of superior comfort and durability.
Pukoa Studios. (loft 202). Features paintings and Hawaiian Kapa pieces by owner/artist, Page Chang. Chang focuses on local Hawaiian life in her oil paintings, and is connecting the past and the present with her Native Practice of Kapa making.
The CREATIVE. Artist Christie Knoll of Roping The Moon Studio will exhibit her handmade papers, paper forms and handcraft items. Also for your viewing, Christie will present an experimental project: machinima. Light pupus and a donation bar.
Chinatown Improvement District. Lei Day in Chinatown, a benefit for the Chinatown Improvement District. The evening’s activities include a photography show featuring artists from the first-ever Chinatown Improvement District photo contest, Hawaiian music, plant sale, wine, beer, art and treasure sale, vintage photo booth, and more. 25 North Hotel Street and Courtyard (Club Hubba Hubba building.)
eleven44. Happy hour from 4-7PM. It’s Foundation First Friday with Honolulu’s favorite House DJs, including Ramit, Jimmy Lee, Loic Tambay, and others. $5 cover after 9PM. 1144 Bethel Street.
Fighting Eel. Offers extended shop hours until 9PM with new clothing items from the Fighting Eel and Ava Sky collections. 1133 Bethel Street.
The Fix Sports Lounge and Nightclub. Featuring Honolulu DJs spinning dance tracks until 2AM. Drink specials and the kitchen is open until midnight. No cover. 80 South Pauahi Street.
Grondin French-Latin KitcheNorth.. Offers a happy hour late night menu every First Friday starting at 10PM. Look for tasty items including chicken sofrito and charcuterie sandwiches, prawn ceviche, pommes frites paired with classically-made cocktails and $6 well drinks. 62 North Hotel Street.
House of Aria. A great place to shop for the latest women’s fashion trends. Extended hours until 9PM, plus $5, $10, $15 sale bins and 50% off sale racks. 1140 Bethel Street.
Livestock Tavern. One of the new, exciting dining options in the area. Dining room and bar open until 10PM. 49 North Hotel Street.
Louis Pohl Gallery. Meet the artist! Helen Iaea, exhibiting watercolor and pastel works. Plus Slack Key music by Nate Hatico. Artist’s reception 6-8:30PM. 1142 Bethel Street.
Lucky Belly. Dining room and bar open until 12AM. The Window, locate on Smith Street, serves hot, savory, to-go specials and is open until 2:30AM. 50 North Hotel Street.
Manifest. The night starts with live music from 6:30-8:30PM, then shifts to #GOODFridays with DJs JON C, SSSolution, and J Mellow (10PM-2AM). 32 North Hotel Street.
O’Toole’s Irish Pub. Live music, drink specials and happy hour until 10PM. Never a cover! 902 Nuuanu Avenue.
Proof Public House. Hosting perhaps the only full-sized pool table in the area! Plus rock and roll, pizza and drink specials. No cover. Open until 2AM. 1154 Fort Street (enter on Chaplain Lane).
Pegge Hopper Gallery. Exhibiting landscape photographs by Cliff Slater who considers landscape photography a way to sharpen your vision and open your aesthetic world. 5-9PM. 1164 Nuuanu Avenue.
Soul de Cuba. Live music with “Lanai Sessions” starting at 9PM. Drink special all night long ($3 tequila shots, $4 Cuba Libre, $5 mojito, $6 sangria). No cover. 1121 Bethel Street.
Prepared by the Arts District Merchants’ Association on behalf of Downtown-Chinatown merchants. The list was developed with the help of contributors and the (sometimes fuzzy) memory of the author. Any omissions unintended! For site-specific info, contact the business directly. For general First Friday and ADMA information Miki Lee at auroragroup.pa@gmail.com or 808-779-7235.