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Local favorite Get into the Mardi Gras spirit downtown Celebrate Fat Tuesday to the fullest at the fourth annual Nu'uanu Mardi Gras block party. There will be two stages of entertainment with H20 and Aloha Brasil. Hanks Café Honolulu, Indigo Restaurant, Tea at 1024, Murphy's Bar & Grill, Kevin's Two Boots, Fort Street Bar & Grill and Paul & Terry's Place will offer up some authentic New Orleans cuisine. And there are Liquid Tents, games, art displays, palm readings and a Krewe Ball Costume Contest at 9 p.m., too. A percentage of the proceeds benefits The ARTS at Marks Garage Community Program of the Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education. Hours are 6:30-10 p.m. Feb. 24 along Nu'uanu Avenue. Admission is free. www.indigo-hawaii.com

"Get Busy" because Grammy winner Sean Paul, left, and his band are heading our way. The alternative rap and dancehall star has been red-hot since he burst on the scene at the beginning of the new millennium. The concert also features Mr. Easy and Thalisha. This concert serves as a benefit for the nene goose, Hawai'i's state bird, and for National Domestic Violence Awareness and Solutions Inc. Tickets are $32.50 for the loges and above, and $40 for the dance floor.

• 8 p.m. Feb. 20 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

Also: Sean Paul and his show will be at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Feb. 21.

COMEDY: Feb. 20

Make Me Laugh 2, a new showcase of comedy, features a crew of veteran and new comics ready and willing to tickle those funnybones. The lineup: Bo Irvine, Da Braddahs, Mel Cabang, Tony Solis, Champ, Shawn Felipe, Cathy Tanaka, Kaleo Pilanca and a few surprises. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door; available at Cheapo's, Rainbow Music, Harry's Music, Jelly's in 'Aiea and Hungry Ear in Kailua.

• 9 and 11:30 p.m. Feb. 20 / Hawaiian Hut, South Seas Village, Ala Moana Hotel / 735-0292 ext. 206

CONCERT: Feb. 24-26

Hip-hoppers Psychokinetics return from the Bay Area to bring down three concerts in Waikiki. Dance your heart out to the eclectic beats, with a mix of styles ranging from down tempo reflective tracks to heavy bass sounds to scratch-filled instrumentals. The first concert takes place Feb. 24, during a special Mardi Gras edition of the Pussycat Lounge, along with opening act Sub Zero's Strong Arm crew. DJs A2Z, KSM, Sub Zero and D:ManD also spin their grooves. There'll be free beads and other Mardi Gras party favors, too. Those wearing green, gold and purple get in free before midnight; for 21 and older. Admission is $10 before midnight.

The following two nights, opening acts will be MC Trace and Kimo James, EyeSoulAted Mindz, Communication and 4 Elements. DJs BTF, RacerX, A2Z and D:ManD will also be in the house. On Feb. 25, entry is for those 18 and older; Feb. 26 is for those 21 and older . Cover is $10 for all on both nights.

• 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Feb. 24-26 / Wave Waikiki / 941-0424

STAGE: Feb. 26-March 13

Army Community Theatre presents Cole Porter's musical "Kiss Me, Kate." The retelling of Shakespeare's comedy "Taming of the Shrew" stars Cathy Foy and Buz Tennent. Get ready to hear such popular songs as "Wunderbar," "Why Can't You Behave" and "Too Darned Hot." The cast also includes Tricia Marciel, Cole Horibe, Gerald Altwies, David Starr, Larry Bialock, Alison Maldonado, Eric Richards, Daren Kimura, Jack Bates and Larry Fukumoto. Jim Hutchison directs and choreographs the musical. Tickets: $14 and $17 for adults and $8 and $10 for children.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-28, March 5-6, 12-13 / Fort Shafter's Richardson Theatre / 438-4480

STAGE: Feb. 27-March 7

Enjoy the songs of Irving Berlin at Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center's spring production, "The Melody Lingers On." The musical features the life story and classic songs of award-winning composer Berlin, a Russian immigrant who died in 1989 after contributing a wealth of American pop standards. Tickets are $8 general and $5 children, seniors and students with ID. Preschool-aged children and younger are free. Tickets for Alumni Night, which will be March 6, are $10 for adults and seniors and $5 for children and students.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27-28, March 5-6 and 3 p.m. March 7 / Kaimuki High School Auditorium / 733-4913

CONCERT: March 1

Former Lemonheads frontman Evan Dando makes his way to Waikiki as part of Hawaiian Express' monthlong ninth anniversary celebration. After the alternative-rock band broke up in 1997, Dando broke away to tour as a solo acoustic artist. Local rock band The Crud opens. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the door.

• 7:30 p.m. March 1 / Tabu Nightclub / www.808shows.com

CONCERT: March 5

Hawaiian Hut will be the place to catch the big fish when blues band Hot Tuna swims into town. The '70s band, formed as a spinoff to Jefferson Airplane, features Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, left, below. Barry Mitterhoff joins in on the mandolin as special guest. Tickets: $30 advance, $35 at the door.

• 9 p.m. March 5 / Hawaiian Hut / 941-5205

Also, Hot Tuna sandwiches in the O'ahu performance between concerts at:

• Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall Theater at 6 p.m. March 4. Tickets are $25 advance, $30 at the door. (808) 241-6623, (808) 337-9234.
• Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort in Kona at 5 p.m. March 6. Tickets are $28 advance, $30 at the door. (808) 322-3441.
• Maui Arts and Cultural Center's Castle Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 7. Tickets are $25, $30 and $35. (808) 242-7469.

CONCERTS: March 5-6, 12-14

"Music, Art and Dance Fest!" is a collaboration of the musicians and artists in the University of Hawai'i community. Works of art will adorn the upper and lower lobbies of the theater; a hula kahiko, directed by Vicky Holt Takamine, will open the program; and performances will range from ballet to the UH Jazz Ensemble to poetry readings. Tickets are $15 general, $12 seniors, military, UH faculty/staff, $10 non-UHM students and children, $3 UHM students.

• 8 p.m. March 5-6, 12-13; 2 p.m. March 14 / Kennedy Theatre mainstage / 956-7655

STAGE: March 5-14

The Saint Louis Players prepare to razzle dazzle the masses with all that jazz in the musical feast "Chicago." Produced in collaboration with ladies from Castle, Iolani, Kaiser, Kamehameha, Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific Institute, La Pietra, Punahou, Roosevelt and Sacred Hearts Academy, the students will bring the song and dance extravaganza to life at Mamiya Theatre. The 3rd Annual Drama Gala benefit night on March 5 is a fund-raiser for the fine arts program at Saint Louis High School. Tickets to the opening night gala are $100, with pupu and cocktails from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the show at 7:30. 739-4862. Tickets to the public performances are $18 general, $12 military, seniors and students.

• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays March 6-14 / Mamiya Theatre / 739-4896

FESTIVAL: March 5-7

Help celebrate 150 years of U.S.-Japan relations during the 10th anniversary of the Honolulu Festival, right. This year's event expects more than 5,500 artisans, performers and spectators from Japan to come out for the festival. The fun includes musical and dance performances, art exhibits, cultural displays, seminars, educational programs and a parade. Admission is free.

• March 5-7 / Hawai'i Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Honolulu Academy of Arts / www.honolulufestival.com

COMING UP:

• "The Merry Widow," a Hawaii Opera Theatre production, Feb. 27, 29, March 2, 4, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• The Brothers Cazimero, March 12, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Mareke me Venuse" ("Mars & Venus"), a Tau Dance Theater production, March 19-20, Hawai'i Theatre
• Sir James Galway and Lady Jeanne Galway, with the Honolulu Symphony, March 19, 21, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, April 2-3, Hawai'i Theatre
• blink-182, April 3 at Blaisdell Arena, April 4 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center
• Na Palapalai, April 23, Hawai'i Theatre
• David Benoit and Michael Paulo, with the Honolulu Sym-phony Pops, April 9-10, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Toto, with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, May 7-8, Blaisdell Concert Hall

BUZZING ABOUT:

Surf's up: The Bud Lite Surfer's Big Splash Island Reggae Tour, featuring Barrington Levy, Pato Bantan and the Reggae Revolution, splashes into Sea Life Park at 7 p.m. Feb. 21. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; tickets ($20 advance, $25 at the door) are on sale at all HIC stores on O'ahu, Blue Planet Surf, the University of Hawai'i Campus Center and the Sea Life Park box office, or call 259-2577. (The first 1,000 tickets are $10 each.)

Idol chatter: It's OK — and proper — to support our Hawai'i "American Idol" contestants, but let's hear it for the 2004 Talent Search under way weekly at Don Ho's Island Grill, Aloha Tower Marketplace. "Al Waterson and You" conducts the contest 7-10 p.m. every Tuesday; the winner gets a recording contract with Four Strings Production and gets to perform with Don Ho on the Mainland. Last year's winner, Christina Youngs, 18, accompanied Ho to Las Vegas during the holidays; he liked her so much, she's part of his musical 'ohana at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. When she's not entertaining, she attends Windward Community College.

Scouts' honor: Restaurateur Rick Enos of Compadres long has been a booster of Girl Scouts cookies, and though his daughter Lauren turned 24 recently, way too old to be scouting, the support has not waned. Instead of the usual Mexican chiclets that accompany the check, Compadres has been placing assorted Girl Scouts cookies (while supplies last), which Enos ordered from Angelica Voge, a member of Troop 312 and a student at Gus Webling Elementary School.

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.

E-mail: tgif@honoluluadvertiser.com

Schedule is subject to change.