The Buzz
Mixing it up, East Coast style
DJ Micro — New York artist, DJ, producer and remixer of the dance music phenomenon — will bring a taste of the East Coast underground scene to Honolulu at his debut performance, MICRO:TEK:NOLOGY, 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Saturday at Club 111 (also known as Club One Eleven) at 111 N. King St. in Chinatown. The event, presented by The Imaginary Friends and BPT, is one of the summer's last massives and an official CD-release tour party for DJ Micro's new mix, "Music Through Me" (Moonshine Music). Admission is $15 presale; for all ages. Information: 299-7160.
A benefit 'Rock 'n' Blues Concert'
Bob Jones & Hard Drive (above), Hawai'i's funk, soul, blues, R&B, Hawaiian and jazz band extraordinaire, will lend a hand in raising community awareness about child abduction through tonight's "Rock 'n' Blues Concert," a benefit for the Missing Child Center Hawai'i Trust. The concert, 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. at John Dominis Restaurant, will also feature an up-and-coming alto saxophonist, Pablo Lee Warner, 11. Special pupu menu and sushi bar, too. Tickets are $20 general, $15 advance; reserved tables are $500 (for 10, including gifts). 586-8197 or 523-0955.
Homegrown with aloha
Throngs of "Buy Hawai'i" enthusiasts will be making their way to First Hawaiian Bank's seventh annual Made in Hawaii Festival this weekend at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall and Arena, where about 400 vendors will entice shoppers with their locally made goods. Hours are noon-9 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
In addition to feather lei and accessories, hula dancer metal sculptures, seasoned sweet potato chips and other one-of-a-kind items, the festival will offer cooking demonstrations with guest chefs and entertainment throughout the weekend.
There will also be a "Local Treasures: What's It Worth?" session, when the public can have Hawaiiana collectibles evaluated by industry experts, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Admission for the festival is $2; children under 6 are free. Half-off coupons are available at First Hawaiian Bank branches on O'ahu, while supplies last. 533-1292, www.madeinhawaiifestival.com
Words and music
The works of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Giuseppi Verdi, among others, will come to life as baritone Leslie "Buz" Tennent and pianist Melina Lillios team up for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Hawai'i Public Radio's Atherton Performing Arts Studio.
Tennent, an internationally recognized performing artist, and Lillios, who recently won a Po'okela Award for her work as musical director for Diamond Head Theatre's "Titanic," have arranged a program that includes works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Maurice Ravel, Jerome Kern, and Rodgers and Hammerstein. Tickets are $17.50 general admission, $15 for HPR members and $10 for students. 955-8821.
Riding high at the rodeo
Dust off the cowboy hats for a day of horsing around at the 2002 Nissan Extreme Rodeo, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Kualoa Ranch. The day will kick off with the Ko'olau Mountain Oyster Cook-Off (that's, er ... a bull testicle cook-off), followed by paniolo competitions like wild cow milking, team roping and a "dash for cash," where ribbons are placed on bulls for brave contestants to retrieve.
"We have a few events that aren't your standard rodeo events," organizer Terry Shintaku said about the extreme format. "It'll be pretty chaotic."
But it's a family-oriented affair, and the keiki can get down and dirty, too, with stick-horse races, pony rides and a petting zoo. There will also be cowboy crafts, roping lessons, a horseshoe toss and lots of food. Admission is free; parking is $3. Designated proceeds will benefit Mental Health Kokua. Information: 220-1874 or 754-3395.
