— Pualana Lemelle

ART AS ACCESSORY

In addition to its painting and sculptures, the Honolulu Academy of Arts offers handcrafted gems in its gift shop. It's worth a trip to see the shop's exclusive selection of hand-blown glass jewelry from designer Jenny Gaynor.

Using the lampworking technique, Gaynor creates delicate, simple forms in beach-glass colors and uses them in earrings, necklaces and rings. Gaynor has studied in Murano, Italy's vaunted glass mecca, with glass masters Davide Penso, Fabio Fornazier, Luccio Bubacco and Paolo Cenadase. Her pieces are perfect for a casual outfit, adding just a hint of color and gleam.

— Lacy Matsumoto

BREAKFAST LOVERS

It's almost noon the day after a long night of partying, and you need breakfast. Where do you go? Along with the iced chais and hot coffee, Bogart's Cafe serves breakfast all day, which means you can curb that desire for a hot omelet; home-made pancakes; or their specialty, The Hawaiian Waffle, a fresh Belgian waffle topped with haupia syrup, whipped cream, and freshly sliced bananas and strawberries. For $10.95, it's almost a taste of pure paradise. The cafe's relaxed environment is the perfect place to stop in for a bite without any fuss. Bogart's Cafe, 3045 Monsarrat Ave. Suite 3; 739-0999.

— Lacy Matsumoto

MI CASA IS YOUR CASA

This quaint, brightly colored restaurant with surf memorabilia and a portrait of Frida Kahlo is closing its doors on Sept. 14, so get your fill in the coming week. The home of healthy pinto beans, hand-rolled enchiladas and homemade chips is hoping to move soon, but will no longer be at its Monsarrat location. In the meantime, the restaurant will be serving lunch and dinner daily. Waitress Marisa Wriston suggests the fresh fish tacos for $11.95 and the tofu adobo quesadilla for $10.95. Mi Casa, 3046 Monsarrat Ave.; 737-1562.

— Lacy Matsumoto

RELEASES

A GENIUS SNARL

GZA's greatest asset is his gritty, dexterous snarl that rhythmically punches carefully selected syllables like a boxer toying with an overmatched adversary.

On "Pro Tools" (Babygrande), the Wu-Tang Clan veteran, aka Genius, wins a split decision but rarely goes for the knockout. At times, he sounds indifferent, as if it's all too easy. But his rhymes are sharp as ever, displaying his knack for imbuing his lyrics with double-entendres and extended metaphors.

He finds his bite on "Cinema," the lyrical equivalent of packing a Wes Craven flick into an exhilarating three minutes: "In the back yard, two dogs were growling, barking / Eyes and their teeth were sparkling," he intones in a desperate whisper. "I started to sweat, they started to get closer / Then I saw the face on the Wanted poster."

— Alex Baldinger, Washington Post

WHAT'S ON YOUR IPOD?

DJ Benzi:

1. "Creator," by Santogold

2. "Pop the Gloc," by Uffie

3. "Cocaine Disc," by Roxy Cottontail

4. "Wicked Little Girl," by Esthero

5. "Beatrific," by Glass Candy