Truth from Dare: Full speed ahead
A traditional Chinese lion dance was part of the festivities at "ARTafterDARK" last weekend. (Star-Advertiser File)
BY DERIN DEREGO / Special to the Star-Advertiser
Time sure flies when you’re having fun. It’s a very cliché thing to say, but it really does hold true.
It baffles me that we are already one month in to 2012. I guess it’s due to the endless amount of activities that have populated my social calendar lately. With New Year’s Eve, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, Chinese New Year and the 2012 Pro Bowl all taking place in January, its no wonder the past 30 days just flew right by.
The last weekend of January was no exception; my highlights included the return of “ARTafterDARK” on Friday. This month’s theme, “The Dragon Enters,” celebrated the arrival of Chinese New Year on Jan. 23, so the art and décor celebrated all things Chinese. There was a lion dance and drummers early, and DJ’s ANIT and Sylvania kept the beats going throughout the evening.
The majority of the crowd was packed into the back courtyard at the Honolulu Museum of Art by the time I arrived, and it consisted mainly of young professionals who appeared to have come straight from the office. I understand the event was conceived as a pau hana for the art set, but they really should call this party “Art at Dusk” since it ends at 9 p.m., which is quite early for a Friday night.
Saturday’s fun started early with the Pro Bowl Block Party in Waikiki. A variety of entertainment and food vendors lined Kalakaua Avenue and by the time the sun set, the street was overwhelmed by a mix of tourists who flew in for the game and locals eager to spot their favorite players. I tolerated the sports enthusiasts for as long as I could and then ducked into the Hideaway Bar on Ena Road for some refuge.
NFL fans crowd Kalakaua Avenue during the 2012 Pro Bowl Block Party on Saturday. (Star-Advertiser File)
Later that night I headed downtown to Nextdoor for “Dance or Die.” This monthly event, taking place every fourth Saturday, has become the destination for house music lovers from all generations. Not only is the music fueled with energy, but the lighting effects and lasers create a spectacle that needs to be seen to be appreciated.
After another long weekend, Sunday was a day for rest for me. I debated about going to the Pro Bowl and its many tailgate parties, but with the pristine weather we got that day on Oahu, I opted to catch the highlights after some pool time. The newly renovated Aloha Stadium looks great, but if you’ve ever been there in the sun you know it gets hot pretty quick. Instead of suffering through the heat in Halawa, I alternated between refreshing dips and watching the SAG Awards, which saw “The Help” and “Boardwalk Empire” win big.
This weekend is shaping up to be just as exciting as last week, with Super Bowl XLVI upon us. Growing up, I was always a fan of house parties. The various scoring games combined with the pot luck-style eats made for a day full of fun. Being away for college, I developed a liking for watching the big game at sports bars.
Speaking of sports bars, my weekend will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 2, at one of Waikiki’s newest. Rivals is an upscale sports bar tucked away in the Ohana Malia Hotel on Kuhio Avenue, and its lounge setup is quite a comfortable environment — nothing you’d expect from your everyday bar. This Thursday they launch a new industry night with DJ Soundcheck and drink specials.
Friday is another First Friday, so after a brief stop at the Punahou Carnival, I’ll head downtown to my usual haunts. Nextdoor hosts “Work It,” while SoHo Mixed Media Bar promises another rage session with the return of “Glow.” Almost every other venue in Chinatown will be filled to capacity, so make a night of it (and try the pedicabs that have been popping up in the neighborhood — they’re lots of fun).
On Saturday I’m heading to the ninth island — but I don’t really call it that — Las Vegas. Now that I’m older, I prefer to catch the Super Bowl in Sin City. It offers the feel of being in the city where the game is actually being played in, without all the die-hard fans and subsequent rioting. My venue of choice is SkyBox in the Aria Hotel at City Center. After the parties I’m heading to Denver for some much needed fun in the snow.
If you’re looking for somewhere to catch the big game locally (and aren’t a fan of house parties) I’d recommend Giovanni Pastrami on Lewers Street or the Modern Honolulu. But whatever your plans are for the big game, get there early if you plan to go out. Most bars have a cover charge and reach capacity well before kickoff.
If these weekends continue the way they’re going, the second month of 2012 is going to fly by just as quickly as the first did. But at least we have an extra day in February this year!
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When he’s not out and about at the hottest parties and other events in Honolulu, Derin “Dare” Derego works as an account executive at a local radio station group. Reach him via email at derinderego@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter.
