SATURDAY SCOOPS
Last weekend to take in Honolulu City Lights

Advertiser staff and news services

Work off those holiday calories and take a stroll around the grounds, where the trees are glistening with lights; and don't forget to view the Christmas tree and wreath exhibits inside City Hall.

It's all free, and it all ends tomorrow night.

Queen's Surf will try Sunset again

Oops, last weekend's Sunset on the Beach events at Queen's Surf Beach were canceled because of weather problems. But city officials plan to try again this weekend with the same movies — "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" today, "K19: The Widowmaker" tomorrow.

Each film screens at about 6:30 p.m. Entertainment and food booths will be offered from 4 p.m. We'll cross our fingers on the weather.

Admission is free. 523-2489.

Waiting for movie blockbusters? See 'Metropolis' instead

"The Quiet American"? The Maui Film Festival's FirstLight series managed to snag all of these and more, and here we are in Honolulu, still waiting. (OK, so "About Schmidt" and "Chicago" finally did open yesterday — hooray!)

Well, one special screening room we do have is the Academy of Arts theater, the Doris Duke. This weekend it's offering one of cinema's greatest masterpieces, the 1927 silent film "Metropolis," directed by Fritz Lang. The two-hour sci-fi trailblazer dramatizes the division between the elite and the working class in a futuristic city.

The film is accompanied by an orchestral score and has been restored to its breathtaking glory. Screen times are 7:30 p.m. today and 4 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets are $5 general, $3 for museum members. 532-8768.

"Metropolis" will be screened on Maui, too, as part of the ongoing Maui Film Festival, at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Admission is $10 general, $7 with festival passport, $5 for kids 12 and younger.

Watch your step!

• Inspect the ladder for loose screws, hinges or rungs. Clean off mud or other matter that has accumulated on the ladder.
• Set up the ladder on a firm, level, slip-free surface. If you're working outside, make sure the ladder won't hit electrical wires, tree limbs or other obstructions when it's extended.
• Remember the 1-to-4 rule: The bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet the ladder rises.
• If you're climbing on to a roof, the ladder should extend at least 3 feet higher than the roof.
• Move materials with caution when you're on the ladder, so you don't lose your balance.
• Always reposition the ladder closer to the work so you don't have to reach or lean. Your navel shouldn't go beyond the sides of the ladder.
• Wear proper, nonslip footwear. Make sure the laces are tied and the soles are free of greasy, oily or wet substances. Pant legs shouldn't be too wide or too long.
• Stay in the center of the ladder as you climb, and hold the side rails with both hands. If necessary, ask someone to hold the ladder while you climb.

Slather a little mayo on your furniture to fix white rings

Do white rings on your fine wood furniture have you perplexed? Contrary to common belief, a white ring results from damage to the waxed finish and not to the wood.

Here's a trick to remove those nasty rings: First, make sure that the surface is clean and dry. Next, place a small amount of mayonnaise directly over the ring. Cover the area with a piece of plastic wrap and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes.

Remove the plastic wrap and lightly rub the mayonnaise into the finish using a nylon scouring pad and working in the direction of the grain. Wipe up all the mayonnaise with a soft cloth and restore the luster to the area with a little lemon oil or paste wax.

Wander through a virtual craft fair

ArtisanStreet.com is a sort of virtual arts and crafts fair where buyers can browse among such handmade items as painted children's furniture, art-glass outdoor lights and crocheted baby dresses.

The works of 22 artisans are available on the site, offering items including clothing, jewelry, furniture, gift items, home accessories and stationery. Prices range from $25 to several thousand dollars, but most are less than $500.

The site intends to expand to offer seminars on craft processes as well as chat rooms for consumers and artisans.