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Local favorite Christmas at the academy "Keiki Christmas," intended for youngsters but aimed at families, will be held 1-4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. There will be a Parasol Puppets show, "Christmas Around the World," at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. (free tickets available from 1 p.m.) as well as a storytelling Santa and a chance to create a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer puppet to try out on a shadow puppet stage. What fun! Free. 532-8700

Vivaldi's Four Seasons, which almost never is out of season, will be performed by the Honolulu Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor JoAnn Falleta, left, in a pair of Halekulani MasterWorks concerts Nov. 22 and 24 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Adele Anthony, violinist, also is on the bill. Tickets: $15-$57.

• 8 p.m. Nov. 22, 4 p.m. Nov. 24 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

CONCERT: Nov. 22, 23

Wycliffe Gordon brings his jazz trombone (he fronts a quartet) for a pair of concert gigs, Nov. 22 at the Ko'olau Golf Club Ballroom in Windward O'ahu, and Nov. 23 at Orvis Auditorium at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. He's a heavy when it comes to improv, so expect a hot jam. Tickets: $20, $15.

• 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at Ko'olau Golf Club Ballroom, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Orvis Auditorium / 956-6878

CONCERT: Nov. 23

Richard Thompson, a cult favorite for three decades, resurfaces again in Hawai'i with a performance Nov. 23 at the Doris Duke at the Academy. He's an icon among serious folk/rockers, who know him as a singer, a songwriter and a guitarist with enormous prowess on all fronts. Ledward Ka'apana will be the special guest. Tickets: $30.

• 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 / The Doris Duke at the Academy / 532-8700

BENEFIT JAZZ: Nov. 24

"Sunset Jazz, Etc.," a La Pietra-Hawai'i School for Girls benefit, unites two of the best in jazz vocal dynamics, Shari Lynn and Jimmy Borges. Fascinatin' Rhythm provides the back-up, and saxophonist Gabe Baltazar is a guest artist. Lawn opens at 5 p.m. for picnicking; music begins at 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs (the ground can be tough), blankets (there could be a chill in the evening) and picnic baskets (you may get your jazz appetite fulfilled, but the hunger pangs may linger). Tickets: $30, includes wine, dessert, coffee and soft drinks.

• 5-7 p.m. Nov. 24 / Hawai'i School for Girls at La Pietra / 924-7515

KIDSTUFF: Nov. 29-Dec. 8

Ask your kids; they'll know "Dragon Tales Live," the sing-along musical with adorable characters culled from the hit PBS TV show, which opens a 15-performance run Nov. 29 at the Blaisdell Arena. "Missing Music Mystery" is the theme of the show, which focuses on Emmy, 6, and her brother, Max, 4, and all of their dragon friends. "Dragon Tales" encourages children to pursue challenging experiences that support their growth and development and to recognize that there are numerous ways to approach and learn from life's challenges. Playdates: 7 p.m. Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 8. Tickets: $11 and $15.

• Premieres at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 / Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400

CONCERT: Nov. 30

Is it art? Is it music? Find out when "Zimbabwe Marimba & Mbira Music" takes the spotlight Nov. 30 at The ARTS at Marks Garage. Matanza Marimba and Sheree Seretse of Anzanga will move body and spirit for youngsters and adults alike. Tickets: $7 general, $3 kids. (A related Zimbabwe drum workshop is set from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 30, marimba and song workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 1 — call 422-4681 for details.)

• 8 p.m. Nov. 30 / The ARTS at Marks Garage / 521-2903

CONCERT: Dec. 6-8

Gollee, is it that time again? "A Merry Christmas With Friends & Nabors" returns for a sixth go-'round, with neighborly Jim Nabors assembling his musical buddies for a magical holiday ride through pop, symphonic and Hawaiian turfs, Dec. 6-8 at the Hawai'i Theatre. Guests include Jimmy Borges, Karen Keawehawai'i, and Emma Veary, who'll sing solo and with Nabors; puppeteer Philip Huber and his Huber Marionettes with David Alexander; Hula Hui O Kupunahala O' Nuuanu YMCA, the Company Singers, Halau Kawaili'ula, the Diamond Head Theatre Shooting Stars, and the Honolulu Symphony conducted by Matt Catingub. You can expect Nabors to sing "O Holy Night," always a chicken-skin moment, and you can marvel at Tom Hansen's military-like precision in moving bodies young and old on and off that stage. Tickets: $45, $55.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7, 2 p.m. Dec. 8 / Hawai'i Theatre / 526-4400

HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS: Dec. 7-Jan. 5

Honolulu's brightest holiday attraction, the annual Honolulu City Lights, premieres Dec. 7 with the usual downtown flair and finery: Christmas music from 4 p.m. on the Honolulu Hale lawn, where there will be entertainment and food booths; a Kawaiaha'o Church service across the street at 4 p.m.; a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.; the Electric Light Parade at 6:30 p.m. The parade has a different route this year, beginning at Aala Park, traveling on King Street to City Hall; doors to the Honolulu Hale exhibits open at 6:30 p.m. (thereafter, viewing hours will be from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily); lawn entertainment, coordinated by Tom Moffatt, starts at 7 p.m.; Santa checks in at 7:30 p.m. at Skygate. Of course, the various lighted displays along Beretania, King, Bishop, Alapai and Kapi'olani will be a-twinkling overnight for late-hour viewing. Free.

• Various times Dec. 7-Jan. 5 / Honolulu Hale and downtown routes / 523-4385

BENEFIT: Dec. 6

The under-construction walls are coming down at 2100 Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki, so a grand opening celebration is nearing, right? Al Green, right, the soul and gospel singer and a Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer, will bring stardust to the grand opening celebration Dec. 6. Also performing: Honolulu Symphony ensembles, Na Leo Pilimehana, kumu hula John Keola Lake and Halau Mele, Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble and La Pietra Show Choir. The black-tie gala also features food and, yes, marks the formal launch of the gallery of designer shops: Hono Group, Tiffany, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Gucci, Tod's and Boucheron. Beneficiary is the Storyteller Culture & Arts organization, which includes the Hawai'i Theatre Center, Diamond Head Theatre, the Hawai'i Opera Theatre, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Honolulu Symphony, The Contemporary Museum, the Hawai'i State Art Museum, 'Iolani Palace, Hawai'i Public Radio and Hawai'i Public Television. Tickets: $175.

• 6:30-10:30 p.m. Dec. 6 / 2100 Kalakaua Ave. / 550-4449

CONCERT: Dec. 18

Blaisdell Arena will be in the Pink Dec. 18, when Pink performs with Lucky 7 as guest star. Pink's Party Tour 2002 — which has been traipsing across America since May and now is in a Down Under and international phase (we're a stopover) — features music from her "M!ssundaztood" CD. Tickets: $45.50, $37.50.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 / Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400

BALLET: Dec. 13-22

Sugar plums, fairies and yuletide magic are part of the ritual for the beloved "Nutcracker," which the Hawai'i State Ballet will present Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22 at Mamiya Theatre, St. Louis Center for the Arts. John Landovsky directs. Tickets: $22, $18 and $16 general, with $2 discounts available for seniors and children 12 and younger; on sale at Step-N-Up at University Square (941-7837).

• 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 13-22 (6 p.m. show Dec. 15) / Mamiya Theatre / 947-2755

KIDSTUFF: Dec. 14

A "Breakfast With Santa" event, a benefit for Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i, will be held Dec. 14 at the Japanese Cultural Center's Manoa Grand Ballroom. You can mingle with St. Nick, but also cozy up to a myriad of familiar friends — Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Mickey House, Minnie Mouse, Elmo, Barney, Dalmatian, Taz, Bugs Bunny, Tweety and Sylvester. Breakfast (8:30-10:30 a.m.) and lunch (noon-2 p.m.) options are available. There will be clowns, entertainment, and, yes, a meal — and a snapshot with Santa. Tickets: $18 general, $15 for children 2 and over.

• 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 14 / Japanese Cultural Center / 440-4620

COMING UP:

• "Theatrefest 2002," Nov. 22-23, Tenney Theatre
• Social Distortion, Nov. 29, World Café
• World Art Bazaar, Nov. 30-Dec.15, Honolulu Academy of Arts
• Breakbeat Science NYC Showcase, Dec. 6, House of Hong
• "The Sound of Music," Dec. 6-22, Diamond Head Theatre
• Festival of Trees, Dec. 6-8, Ward Warehouse
• "Home for the Holidays III," Ho 'okena in concert, Dec. 7, Mamiya Theatre
• Quiet Riot, Dec. 7-9, Gussie L'Amour's
• Gingerbread Festival, Dec. 8, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
• "Cookin'," Dec. 11-14, Hawai'i Theatre
• Punk on a Rock, Dec. 14, Pipeline Cafe
• "Luma: Theatre of Light," Dec. 19-22, Hawai'i Theatre
• Ballet Hawai'i's "Nutcracker," Dec. 20-22, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Sony Open in Hawai'i, Jan. 13-19, Wai'alae Country Club

BUZZING ABOUT:

Season's greetings: When Frank DeLima & Na Kolohe return to the Palace Showroom of the 'Ohana Reef Towers Hotel tonight, they'll be in a Christmas wonderland, the creation of set decorator Debbie Spellman. You betcha, DeLima will be launching a Christmas show — need we remind you that his signature "Filipino Christmas" will be part of the musical gifts?

Comedy a-plenty: Tickets go on sale to the public tomorrow for three comedy shows heading for Honolulu and Maui in the weeks ahead:

Gallagher, the manic humorist who leaves a wake of destruction, plays at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall; and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Amphitheater. Tickets are $20, $25, $35.

Wayne Brady, who makes a good impression, performs at 7 p.m. Dec. 29 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawaii Ballroom ($35 general, $45 Golden Circle); and 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at MACC's Castle Theatre ($45, $40 and $35).

"Tim Conway and Harvey Korman: Together Again," a comedy revue co-starring the former regulars on TV's "Carol Burnett Show," plays at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at Blaisdell Concert Hall ($50, $55); and at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3 at MACC's Castle Theatre ($35, $45, $55). Call 526-4400 for Honolulu tickets, (808) 242-7469 for Maui tickets.

Freebie: Wycliffe Gordon, the trombone virtuoso heading this way for two gigs (Nov. 22 at the Ko'olau Golf Course Ballroom, Nov. 23 at Orvis Auditorium), also will appear in a free lecture-demonstration at 10 a.m. Nov. 23 at the Salt Lake/Moanalua Library.

Smooth jazz: Late-night jazz is coming to the Ship's Tavern at the Sheraton Moana-Surfrider Hotel starting Dec. 13. Rea Fox and friends will perform 9-11 p.m., giving jazz aficionados a cool spot to savor hot jazz.

Keyboard wizard: John O'Conor, a noted Irish pianist, gives a piano recital Jan. 12 at The Doris Duke at the Academy.

Submit information for

The Great Index to Fun (TGIF) four-week guide at least 10 working days before the event. This planner appears weekly, featuring major events only; others are listed in the weekend and daily calendars.

Write: TGIF, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, or fax 525-8055.

Schedule is subject to change.