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Local favorite A storytelling treat for listeners of all ages Once upon a time, in a park not so far away, a Talk Story Festival was born. And it's around the corner again, with a three-day program at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Park. Billed as Hawai'i's largest storytelling celebration, the festival presents Spooky Tales Oct. 18, Kid Kine Tales Oct. 19 and Legends (Old and New) Oct. 20. Each program takes place 7-9:30 p.m. Just bring your imagination and a keen appetite for the spoken word. Free. 523-4674.

Pianist-vocalist Michael Feinstein, a darling of the New York concert and cabaret circuit, brings his chic artistry and his Americana songbag (he is the unparalleled interpreter of tunes by George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Harry Warren), to the Honolulu Symphony's Hawaiian Airlines Pops Series, at 8 p.m. at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Find out why he's dubbed "America's Ambassador of Song." Tickets: $15-$57.

• 8 p.m. Oct. 18-19 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

CONCERT: Oct. 19

John Prine shares his folk/country songs in a one-nighter at the Hawai'i Theatre; his themes typify the genre, centering on loving, losing, leaving and cheating. Tickets: $33, $37.

• 8 p.m. Oct. 19 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

STAGE: Oct. 19-Nov. 9

The Monkey King, a staple in classic Chinese folk tales, lives anew in the Honolulu Theatre for Youth's production of "Amazing Adventures of the Marvelous Monkey King," a comedy by Elizabeth Wong, playing at two venues (one new). On Oct. 19 and 26, the show will be at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter; on Nov. 2 and 9, at Paliku Theatre on the grounds of Windward Community College. Aimed at keiki 7 and older, "Monkey" marvels through its acrobatic dance, martial arts wizardry and dazzling costumes. Tickets: $11 general, $5 seniors over 60, youths 3-18; free for children under 2.

• 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19, 26 at Richardson Theatre / 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 9 at Paliku Theatre / 839-9885

CONCERT: Oct. 21

The Ahn Trio, a Korean-American ensemble of talented sisters, performs at 11 a.m. for a youth audience and 7 p.m. for the community at Blaisdell Concert Hall. The group includes Lucia Ahn on piano, Angella Ahn on violin and Maria Ahn on cello, and their Ahn-plugged concert style has earned them worldwide raves. Tickets: $27, $32, $42 and $57 for the evening shows, $15 for the morning show.

• 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 21 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 526-4400

CHILDREN'S FAIR: Oct. 26-27

"Tricks & Treasures" is the theme of La Pietra's Children's Fair at the La Pietra campus, 2933 Poni Moi Road, on the slopes of Diamond Head. Aimed at youngsters 2 through 12, the school fund-raiser is down-sized for kids, who can indulge in a petting zoo, pony rides, games, hands-on arts and crafts and more. There will be a magic show and other entertainment, plus food booths offering fare including malassadas, shave ice, saimin, and taco salad. Free admission.

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 27 / La Pietra / 922-2744

STAGE: Oct. 25-Nov. 3

"Lysistrata," Aristophanes' classic political comedy, will take a sexual, contemporary note when it premieres at Kennedy Theatre under the direction of Glenn Cannon. Amy Matsen plays the title character in the classic tale of women finding ways to take charge in a world where men normally dominate. It's set in a frat house; it mixes Greek history with contemporary cultural references ... all accompanied by electronic rock vibes blended with dance and martial-arts postures. Tickets: $12 general, $10 seniors, military and UH staff, $8 students and $3 UH students with ID.

• Premieres 8 p.m. Oct. 25; repeats Oct. 26, 31, Nov. 1 and 2; 2 p.m. Nov. 3 / Kennedy Theatre / 956-7655

STAGE: Oct. 26-Nov. 2

"Crave," an import by Sarah Crane, one of those edgy chroniclers of Brit life (who committed suicide), is an assembly of five works to be directed by Taurie Kinoshita at Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. It's part of the Late Night series. Tickets: $7 general, $6 seniors, UH staff, military and students, $3 UH students.

• 11 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 1 and 2, 8 p.m. Oct. 27 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre / 956-7655

HALLOWEEN: Oct. 31

There will be no tricks, but plenty of treats at Bishop Museum's 15th Annual Treat Street event on Halloween. Participating goblins and ghosts should don costumes, paint their faces, listen to spooky stories and gather treats on a boulevard of bewitchingly decorated booths offering some spooks but mostly treats for tricksters. It's a safe haven for trick-or-treaters and a popular community celebration for families. Free.

• 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31 / Bishop Museum / 848-4187

DANCE: Nov. 2, 3

"Walking Out the Dark," a dance piece exploring the idea of transformation and a metaphor of emerging from darkness into light, will be performed by Ronald K. Brown's Evidence ensemble at the Hawai'i Theatre. The troupe, known for its energy and dynamics, melds African dance, ballet, hip-hop and modern dance into a dizzying brew. The Evidence is in the raves it receives. Tickets: $10-$27.

• 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 2 p.m. Nov. 3 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CONCERT: Nov. 5

Dashboard Confessional, composed of singer/songwriter Christopher Carrabba, who didn't want to name his act after himself, heads for an all-ages concert at World Café. A darling of the new indie rock set, Dashboard made big splashes with full-length CDs titled "The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most" and "Swiss Army Romance." Tickets: $20; at Tower Records (Kahala, Pearl Kai), Tower Video Kapi'olani, Cheapo Music (Puck's Alley, Pearl Kai), 808 Skate Kailua, ITT Marine Corps Base Hawai'i, Pearl Harbor Bloch Arena, Schofield ITR, University of Hawai'i Campus Center, World Café box office and Foodland stores.

• 7 p.m. Nov. 5 (doors open 6 p.m.) / World Café / 526-4400

CONCERTS: Nov. 7-10

The blues can't get any better than this, as the legendary B.B. King stops in the islands for a a series of concerts. King, whose latest CD is titled "Makin' Love Is Good for You," has been performing for more than 50 years. Details:

• Nov. 7: 7:30 p.m., Kaua'i Marriott Resort Grand Ballroom. Tickets: $40; limited $50 Golden Circle reserved seats available. Charge by phone: (808) 526-4400; information: (808) 245-5050.
• Nov. 8: 8 p.m., Blaisdell Arena. Tickets: $30, $40, $50. Charge by phone: 526-4400; information, 591-2211.
• Nov. 9: 7 p.m., A&B Amphitheater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets: $30, $40, $50; $55 reserved seats available. (808) 242-7469.
• Nov. 10: 8 p.m., Hilton Waikoloa Resort Grand Ballroom. Tickets: $45 ($55 at the door). (808) 886-1234.

STAGE: Nov. 7-Dec. 8

"The Conversion of Ka'ahumanu," by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, is a historical drama laced with religious and familial themes. It's a Kumu Kahua presentation, about Queen Ka'ahumanu and her adoption of a new religion and her relationship with missionary wives Sybil Bingham and Lucy Thurston. Tickets: $16 general, $13 seniors, $10 students.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 7-Dec. 8 / Kumu Kahua Theatre / 536-4441

COMING UP:

• Unwritten Law, Oct. 25, World Café
• Easter Seals Haunted House, Oct. 25-26, Easter Seals 'Ewa Office
• Goldfinger, Oct. 30, World Café
• Hawai'i International Film Festival's Fall Film Festival, Nov. 1-10 on O'ahu, Nov. 8-10 on the Neighbor Islands
• "Death of a Salesman," Nov.8-Dec. 8, Hawai'i Pacific University
• Art Sale 2002, Nov. 10, The Contemporary Museum
• "Smokey Joe's Cafe," Nov. 14-30, Army Community Theatre
• Reel Big Fish, Nov. 17, World Café
• "The Sound of Music," Dec. 6-22, Diamond Head Theatre
• Honolulu City Lights, annual tree-lighting ceremony and Electric Light Parade, Dec. 7, City Hall
• Quiet Riot, Dec. 7-9, Gussie L'Amour's
• Gingerbread Festival, Dec. 8, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
• "Cookin'," Dec. 11-14, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Luma: Theatre of Light," Dec. 19-22, Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

• Get Lucky: Tickets for Lucky Dube's concerts — Oct. 18-19 at Kapono's — go on sale at 9 a.m. today at Ticket Plus outlets and the Blaisdell box office. $20 advance, $25 at the door.
• Culture corner: Graham Nash, of Crosby Stills & Nash, and W.S. Merwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, will be among the speakers at the 2002 Governor's Statewide Conference on Culture & the Arts, set for Nov. 1 and 2 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Culture vultures may attend (deadline to register is Oct. 11); visit http://www.state.hi.us/sfca. It's the first such gathering in 30 years.
• Monster bash: If you're salsa-inclined and plan to party hearty in costume this Halloween, Salsa After Dark's Halloween Masquerade Party may be your ticket — there will be a "Monster Mash, Salsa-Style" dance contest from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Oct. 31 at Rumours, Ala Moana Hotel. Latin deejays Ray Cruz of Sabor Tropical and Rod El Moreno de Salsa spin the discs.
• Frank's dilemma: Only two more weekends remain — this one and next — to catch Frank DeLima's Noodle Shop Days show at the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel's Palace showroom; he closes Oct. 19, then journeys to gigs in California and Las Vegas, returning around Thanksgiving, in time for his favorite season: Christmas.

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.