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FRIDAY
>> Museum blooms for First Friday
The Hawaii State Art Museum and curators at the museum’s gallery shop are pulling out the stops for First Friday events .
HiSAM x Mori features the work of two artists, painter Jamie R. Allen and ceramicist Licia McDonald. Both artists create colorful, vibrant artworks inspired by Hawaii’s natural flora.
McDonald is based on Kauai and calls her work “a celebration of life.” Allen, granddaughter of local artist Joan Allen, studied indigenous plants, limu (seaweed) and native invertebrates to create works that “combine representational elements and abstract gestures to build an ecosystem where all organisms can thrive.”
Both artists will be on hand today at a reception. Their works are on display through March.
Rock band PAGE will perform and DJs will spin tunes in the museum’s ground-floor sculpture garden as Barrio Vintage Resale Shop holds a fashion show dubbed “Protea” during the event.
Designer Andrew Mau (creator of Mahina & Sun’s “shaka” wallpaper) offers a pop-up flower and specialty shop.
Upstairs, the evening features live music by Partners in Time, an ensemble that performs ethnic songs from Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and other Near Eastern nations, with a bit of jazz.
FIRST FRIDAY
>> Where: Hawaii State Art Museum
>> When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday
>> Cost: Free
>> Info: facebook.com/hawaiistateartmuseum
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
>> Taking Back Sunday celebrates 20 years
Alt-rock group Taking Back Sunday celebrates its 20th year with a two-night retrospective gig at The Republik.
The New York-based band is considered one of the top “emo” rock bands from a time when the genre was in its mainstream heyday, with 2002 debut album “Tell All Your Friends” seen as a classic of the era. While lead singer Adam Lazzara later moved away from the emo label, the band’s 2006 hit “MakeDamnSure,” typified emo’s exaggerated romanticism, expressing obsessive love (“I just wanna break you down so badly/ In the worst way. …”).
The band will present two different sets. One night will feature “Tell All Your Friends,” while the other will feature either the band’s second album, 2004’s “Where You Want To Be,” or 2006’s “Louder Now.”
The band has endured a multitude of lineup changes over the years, but members keep coming back. Guitarist/keyboard player John Nolan is the only original member, and even he took off for seven years. Bass guitarist Shaun Cooper, back after a time apart, lead vocalist Lazzara and drummer Mark O’Connell started with the band in 2001.
TAKING BACK SUNDAY
Presented by BAMP Project
>> Where: The Republik
>> When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
>> Cost: $35 to $40
>> Info: 941-7469, jointherepublik.com
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
>> Chinese New Year parade, events return to Chinatown
Celebrate the Year of the Boar as a full array of Chinese New Year festivities return to Chinatown this year.
Chinese New Year officially falls on Tuesday, but festivities begin today with Choy Cheng, a ritual in which lion dancers bless Chinatown businesses and visitors, collecting a little tip along the way. Newly crowned Narcissus Queen Tiana Wong and her court will accompany the lion dance teams to provide a bit of incentive, while stores set off firecrackers to scare off evil spirits. The celebration extends to the Chinatown Cultural Plaza today and Saturday, with food, cultural activities and the return of the popular dog costume contest, a holdover from last year’s Year of the Dog events.
On Saturday, an all-day festival includes three stages of entertainment and dozens of vendors along the streets of Chinatown, along with the return of the Chinese New Year’s Parade. Miss Chinatown Hawaii Queen Brooke Lynne Alcuran, Miss Hawaii Chinese Ivonne Lee and Miss Chinese Jaycees Danicia Honda will appear in the parade, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the State Capitol and following Hotel Street to River Street. Note: Hotel, Maunakea, Smith and Pauahi streets will be closed to traffic all day, and 30,000 people are expected to attend.
Also on Saturday, head to Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., where there will be a Pan-Asian celebration with lion dancing, a Shinto blessing and Korean drumming.
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2019
>> Where: Chinatown
>> When: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday (Choy Cheng); 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday (Chinese New Year Festival), with parade at 4:30 p.m.
>> Cost: Free
>> Info: chinesenewyearinhawaii.com
MONDAY
>> ‘Iolani grad, jazz author Nate Chinen talks story
Get the stories behind the music with top jazz writer and Hawaii native Nate Chinen, an ‘Iolani School graduate.
Chinen, a former critic for the New York Times, frequent contributor to NPR, and currently the director of editorial content at jazz radio station WBGO, has released a new book, “Playing Changes: Jazz For the New Century,” in which he argues that jazz is entering “a brilliant new evolutionary phase.”
The book features sections on his favorite jazz artists of today, as well as vignettes from musicians that explain their approach to music, such as when Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock saw a woman trip on the street and Davis told his band: “Play that.” Hancock is one of several musicians who have praised the book.
Local jazz artists Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Dean Taba join Chinen in the discussion; percussionist Lagrimas and bassist Taba will also perform with saxophonist Jason Gay.
“PLAYING CHANGES” BOOK LAUNCH CELEBRATION
With author Nate Chinen and special guests Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Dean Taba
>> Where: Blue Note Hawaii
>> When: 6 p.m. Monday
>> Cost: $20 in advance; $25 at door
>> Info: 777-4890, bluenotehawaii.com
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