THE LEFT LANE
'Rice paper' it is not

"There's not one grain of rice in Japanese washi!" says Ann Asakura, executive director of Temari, the Center for Asian & Pacific Arts.

Often erroneously called "rice paper," washi is made from the long inner fibers of plants called kozo (paper mulberry), mitsumata and gampi. It is thickened with the crushed roots of tororo aoi, a member of the hibiscus family, producing a translucent, malleable and prized paper used for books, folding screens and such.

Traditional handmade washi paper in many styles — chiyogami, momigami, yuzen, unryu and more — along with a selection of temari, or hand-woven balls, will be on sale at Temari's Paper Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday at the center, 1320-A 10th Ave. Phone 735-1860.

A few beauty tips for Oscar nominees

Sunday's Oscar night is the biggest beauty event of the year for Hollywood. Makeup artist Trish McEvoy has some ideas about how the best-actress nominees can enhance their assets:

• Nicole Kidman: To complement the copper highlights in her hair, McEvoy suggests a bronze powder eyeliner.
• Sissy Spacek: A peach-tone powder would even out Spacek's "fresh, pretty face," McEvoy says.
• Judi Dench: A very soft, nude, all-over face color would add warmth to the actress's skin.
• Halle Berry: She's so beautiful without makeup, McEvoy says, but a blush with a touch of gold would highlight her cheekbones.
• Renee Zellweger: McEvoy recommends Zellweger play up her "casual elegance" with a combination of sheer glosses.

'Toons' turn

With animation films competing in their own category in Sunday's Academy Awards, the Cartoon Network jumps the gun with the "1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Awards Show Program Special," at 5 p.m. tomorrow on Oceanic 440 digital, Oceanic 29 analog and Craig 32.

Host Johnny Bravo will be joined by Charles Barkley, Foghorn Leghorn, Al Roker, Elmer Fudd, 'N Sync's Chris Kirkpatrick, Sandy Duncan and Fred Flintstone, to honor winners, from best cartoon to best performance by an inanimate object. A lifetime achievement award will also be given to Scooby-Doo.

Mr. Potato Head celebrates 50 years

For decades he has encouraged youngsters to make faces — but in a good way. Mr. Potato Head, the icon who mixed fun with creative thinking for generations of children, celebrates his 50th birthday this year. The man — er, spud — of many faces was born Feb. 5, 1952, and made history as the first toy advertised on network television.

The first Mr. Potato Head toy contained only parts (eyes, ears, noses, mouths, etc.), and parents supplied children with real potatoes for the body. To find details — including a photo contest with a $25,000 grand prize — visit mrpotatohead.com.