Saturday Scoops

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Start your day by heading to the polls

Before you do anything else today, do your civic duty: Vote.

Polling hours for the primary election are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It's your chance to register your dismay or delight with your public office holders and wannabes.

If you don't vote, then don't complain.

A weekend of garlic — and more garlic

Get your nose and taste buds in gear for plenty of garlic at the two-day Hawai'i Garlic Festival and Home Grown Products show at the Waikiki Shell.

It's modeled after the Garlic Festival in Gilroy, Calif., self-proclaimed garlic capital of the United States, so you know the Honolulu version will be a biggie.

On the menu: cooking demonstrations, cook-offs, garlic-infused food from a number of local restaurants, fresh produce, keiki activities, inflatables, arts and crafts, a beer garden and wine tasting pavilion, wrestling matches, extreme sports exhibitions.

There's entertainment, too, including the Opihi Pickers, Go Jimmy Go, Jennifer Perri, Forté, Reign, Koa'uka, O-Shen, Believe and Solanna. Rising stars including Epic Session, Shot Glass, H20 and others also will share the spotlight.

Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. tomorrow. General admission is $5 ($2 discount if you wear an Aloha Festivals ribbon), free for keiki 12 and younger and those 65 or older. 528-7388.

Conan undertakes Emmy hosting job tomorrow on NBC

Peter Krause, who plays Nate Fisher on HBO's "Six Feet Under," is in the running for a best-actor Emmy. HBO

But for diehard TV fans, here are the details: The 54th prime-time awards will be broadcast at 7 tomorrow night on NBC (KHNL Channel 13, 8 on cable). Late-night host Conan O'Brien will host.

This year's leading contender to take home many statuettes is HBO's mortuary drama series "Six Feet Under," nominated for 23 awards.

Adasa Hawaii Boutique features latest edgy designs

Boutique in the Jean Lu Building, near Kailua Fitness and next door to Paul Brown Salon.

Owner/designer Donna Loren features her own designs, clearly inspired by the swinging '60s, as well as edgy styles from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Tam and Diane von Furstenburg. The boutique has lingerie by Cosabella and sleepwear by Nick and Nora (made famous by "Ally McBeal"). Soon to come: Juicy Couture T-shirts to pair with the Earl Jeans.

Accessories include handbags by Isabella Fiore and shoes by Rocket Dog and Donald Pliner. Loren has partnered with Pliner to create a line of sandals under the Adasa name.

The boutique also carries Antonia's Flowers, a classic but hard-to-find fragrance.

Taking a bite out of the low-fat snacks myth

So which low-fat foods taste like the real thing — and which don't?

• Milky Way: (270 calories, 10 grams fat) vs. Milky Way Lite: (170 calories, 5 grams fat). The winner: The real thing. Milky Way Lite isn't much "liter," unless you're talking about its weight (about half an ounce less).
• Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter: (100 calories, 8 grams fat per tablespoon) vs. Smucker's Natural Reduced-Fat Creamy Peanut Butter: (100 calories, 6 grams fat per tablespoon). The winner: The full-fat version, hands down. It's creamier and more flavorful, and it has just two ingredients — peanuts and salt. The reduced-fat version contains some preservatives we can't pronounce. Though peanut butter is high in fat, it's the cholesterol-lowering kind.
• Nabisco Fig Newtons: (55 calories, 1 gram fat per cookie) vs. Nabisco Fat Free Fig Newtons: (45 calories, 0 grams fat per cookie). The winner: The fat-free. There's almost no difference in fat, calories or taste.
• Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream: (260 calories, 16 grams fat per one-half cup serving) vs. Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Low Fat Frozen Yogurt: (170 calories, 3 grams fat per one-half cup serving). The winner: The yogurt wins. It tastes just like the ice cream, but supplies 5 percent more calcium and a small fraction of the fat.

Mr. Winkles stars in his own calendar

Maybe you saw this adorable little fellow upstage Sarah Jessica Parker on an episode of "Sex and the City." He's Mr. Winkle, the irrepressible canine with the dubious origins and the wallpaper-roll tongue.

Yes, he's a dog — NOT the Snuggle bear come to life! — breed(s) unknown; he was a rescued stray. And if you really can't resist him, he stars in a 2003 calendar available at most major bookstores.

Or log on to www.MrWinkle.com, to pre-order the official Mr. Winkle plush toy — complete with posable tongue.

Freezer is your friend when it comes to removing gum left behind by kids

• Remove chewing gum from clothing, shoes or other items by stashing the item in the freezer overnight, then gently chipping away the gum. For stubborn residue, try a small amount of paint thinner, but test it first on an inconspicuous spot.
• Take crayon marks off walls by rubbing with a small amount of paint thinner and wiping with a clean, dry cloth.
• To get Play-Doh out of a carpet, douse a clean, white towel with dry-cleaning solvent. Leave the towel on the affected area for one minute. Then lift the towel and gently rub the Play-Doh away, moving the towel in one direction only.
• To remove fingerprints from surfaces, buff with a clean cloth dampened with a neutral disinfectant. It will remove germs along with the smudgy prints.