By Miguel Gonzalez
Editor
(Oahu)–Do you have fun in mind? First Friday is just 24 hours away with an array of events designed to please families and late night crowds alike. “The best way to describe First Friday is to think of fun and cultural events all within a few blocks of each other and all at very affordable, if not free, for attendees,” said Kailua resident Alice Smith, a regular at First Friday since 2009.
On the first Friday of each month an array of activities and entertainment can be found in the Downtown-Chinatown Arts and Cultural District. The area’s galleries, shops and boutiques have extended evening hours. First Friday offers art gallery exhibits, demonstrations and openings, performances, trunk and clearance sales and happy hour deals. And you never know what kind of entertainment will pop up on a street corner – from classical string quartets to acoustic bands and Brazilian dance.
Families are often seen prowling around in the earlier part of the evening and once galleries and shops close, the crowd shifts to a late night scene.
Drivers and pedestrians should be aware of the modified traffic patterns on First Friday. Hotel Street, between Smith and Nuuanu, is closed to traffic to allow a safe path for pedestrians to walk the area. It’s an alcohol-free zone. (In fact, alcohol is not served or allowed on the street on First Friday.)
Among the many highlights of First Friday, the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts will feature, from 6pm to 9pm, the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, which will provide attendees a cultural, sensory experience. “This is the first time we will be doing a cultural collaboration with the Indonesian cultural community,” said Eva Laird Smith, Executive Director of the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts.
“This event will be rich in culture and will offer something for every member of the family from kids to adults,” said Laird Smith who added that Governor Neil Abercrombie and, President Obama’s sister, Maya Kassandra Soetoro-Ng will also speak at this cultural event.
This event will take place on the second floor of the Hawaii State Art Museum. Free. 250 S. Hotel Street. For more information: www.hawaii.gov/sfca/HiSAM.html
COMPLETE LISTING OF EVENTS FOR FIRST FRIDAY MARCH 1ST:
Andrew Rose Gallery. Artist talk and reception at 6pm. 1003 Bishop Street. www.andrewrosegallery.com.
Arts at Marks Garage. Hawaii Watercolor Society’s annual exhibit and sale of original paintings. Musical guest Sean Cleland playing acoustic originals. 5-10pm. 1159 Nuuanu Avenue. www.artsatmarks.com
bambuTwo Cafe + Martini Lounge. Happy hour from 4-7pm. DJ Mortadelah starts spinning at 8 pm. No cover. Next door, at theVenue, check out the DJs and dancing. 1144 Bethel Street. www.bambutwo.com.
Bar 35. Open 4pm-2am. Happy hour deals from 4-8pm. DJs Rhombus, KSM and Anarch. Cover after 9pm. 35 N. Hotel Street. www.bar35.com.
Blank Canvas. Open until 9pm. Featuring hundreds of custom T-shirt designs. Find one you like to create your own. 1145 Bethel Street. www.facebook.com/blankcanvashi.
Brasserie Du Vin. Happy hour from 4-6pm. 1115 Bethel Street. www.brasserieduvin.com.
Downbeat Diner. Joe Agogo of Jet Setter productions will host “Club Underground”, showcasing electro, indie, post punk music and other musical styles. 9pm. 40 N. Hotel Street. www.downbeatdiner.com.
Fighting Eel. Trunk show and double stamp promotion all day long. Open until 9pm. 1133 Bethel Street. www.fightingeel.com.
Hawaii Academy of Performing Arts (HAPA). Steamrollers vs. Woodblocks – a live Printmaking Massive to be held in the middle of Hotel Street. HAPA presents a massive live printmaking demonstration with Chinatown Artist Lofts resident Sergio Garzon and visiting printmakers from across the state. Artists will be working on Hotel Street between Maunakea Avenue and Smith Street, using large scale and experimental material such as local fruits and vegetables. 7:30-10pm.
Florenicia Arias Boutique and Showroom. Posh Pua (Maui bikini designer) trunk show at 5pm; complimentary drinks for customers. Open until 9:30pm. 1161 Nuuanu Avenue. www.florenciaarias.com.
Hawaii State Art Museum. Gamelan Segara Madu, the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Balinese gamelan ensemble provides a cultural, sensory experience. Film screening of documentary “Where Heaven Meets Hell”, on Indonesian workers harvesting sulphur in the active volcano of Eastern Java. Food and other goodies on sale. 6-9pm, second floor of the Hawaii State Art Museum. Free. 250 S. Hotel Street. www.hawaii.gov/sfca/HiSAM.html.
HASR Bistro. Happy hour entertainment with David Toma, 4:30-6:30pm. Wine tasting at HASR Wine Co. And Autumn Complex performs at 7pm. Late night menu available 9-11pm. 31 N Pauahi Street. www.hasrbistro.com.
Homecoming. Shop with a friend and save! You and one friend = 10% off; you and two friends = 15% off; and you and three or more friends = 20% off. Complimentary beverages. Open until 10pm. 1191 Bethel Street. www.facebook.com/HomecomingHonolulu.
Lotus Downtown. Return of the Quadrophonix, plus two rooms music, from deep house and throwback R & B to hip hop by Lotus resident and guest DJs. Music starts at 8pm. No cover until. 34 n. Hotel Street.
Louis Pohl Gallery. Artists reception featuring the work of printmakers Deborah Pacheco, Hans Loffel and Fred Smith. Reception at 6pm; open until 9pm. Free. 1142 Bethel Street. www.louispohlgallery.com.
Lucky Belly. The restaurant is open from 5pm-Midnight. The take-away window from 10pm-2:30am. Everything at the window $5. 50 N. Hotel Street. www.luckybelly.com.
Manifest. Live jazz with the Quiet Band at 7pm. Good Company DJs from 10pm to closing. “Bones and Bitter”, art by Justin Park. 32 N. Hotel Street. www.manifesthawaii.com.
Mendonca Building, Chinatown Courtyard. ARTmusicBEER. The courtyard morphs into a secret beer garden (benefiting Arts at Marks Garage). Shop Bop & Grind takes over the downstairs walkway with music by DJ Mr. Nick and delicious grinds by Cafe 888. The Chinatown Artist Loft inhabitants will open their galleries to the public. Check out photography, prints, paintings, pen and ink and more. There is a lot to see and do, so plan to stay a while. 5-10pm. 1123 Maunakea Street.
Pegge Hopper Gallery. Presenting a show celebrating Susan McGovney Hansen who passed away in 2011. Hansen was born in Southern California and moved to Hawaii in 1963. Her works of Polynesian still life and people are in the collections of the Bank of Hawaii, The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, The Pacific Club, among many others. This exhibit features a selection of oil paintings, pastels and watercolors from the collections of Hansen’s family and the Bank of Hawaii. 5-9pm. Free. 1164 Nuuanu Avenue. www.peggehopper.com.
Soul de Cuba Cafe. Pitchers of mojitos just $25 after 10pm and the kitchen open until Midnight. 1121 Bethel Street. www.souldecuba.com.
Thirty Nine Hotel. Gelareh Khoie begins a 7-painting project called “Tabula Rasa”. She starts painting on First Friday and continues to develop the work (live and open to the public) throughout the month. Painting from 5-9pm. “Go Bang” kicks in at 9pm to closing, with DJs Mark Chittom and Timo, playing disco, house and neu techno. $10 cover. 21+. 39 N. Hotel Street. www.thirtyninehotel.com.
Other things to consider in the neighborhood…
Art
Hawaii Theatre
The Loading Zone
Ong King Art Center
Nightclubs
Dragon Upstairs
Hank’s
Next Door
SOHO
Restaurants
Adega
Duc’s Bistro
Epic
Indigo
JJ Dolan’s
Little Village
Murphy’s Bar & Grill
O’Toole’s
Otto Cheesecake
Shops
Art Treasures Gallery
Barrio Vintage
Catherine’s Closet Vintage Boutique
Community Hawaii Boutique
Fashionista’s Market
House of Aria
Human Imagination
Island Keepsakes
La Muse
Owens & Co.
Roberta Oaks
Tin Can Mail Man
Wahine Couture