SEPT. 4

Become a friend of the Hawaii Writers Foundation for $25 and you can buy tickets to Norah Jones' exclusive concert Sept. 4 at the Hawai'i Writers Conference. Check out www.hawaiiwriters.org for more conference deals.

5:30 p.m. (concert 9 p.m) / Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom / $100 / 737-0360, www.hawaiiwriters.org

SEPT. 5

The subject line in the e-mail stated "Guns ... Booze ... Broads," so Hot Club of Hulaville had us at hello. It's really about the love story "Noir," a gypsy jazz opera.

7:30 p.m. / Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts / $30 ($25 for members) / 532-8765, www.honoluluacademy.org

SEPT. 12

There's the wine tasting, but the Ko Olina Taste of Kapolei includes an all-you-can-eat benefit on the beach at Ko Olina Resort's Lagoon 4, aka Ulua.

5:30-9 p.m. / Ko Olina Resort & Marina, Lagoon 4 / $75 ($35 for ages 7-12) / 545-2772, www.hawaiisbesttickets.com

SEP. 19-20

Those fabulous Thunderbirds are returning for two awe-inspiring air shows. These are some of the best pilots the Air Force has to offer, and the precision stunts they perform at high speeds are incredible.

Gates open 10 a.m. / Hickam Air Force Base / free / www.hickamservices.com

SEPT. 25

With new guitarist Matthew Fazzi onboard, Taking Back Sunday is creating a buzz again. "Sink Into Me," from the "New Again" CD, debuted at No. 7 on Billboard 200's chart.

8 p.m. (doors open 7 p.m.) / Pipeline Café / $27.50, $60 VIP / 877-714-7668, www.groovetickets.com

SEPT. 26

Dole Plantation is holding its first Family Fun Day. It's a chance to ride the train and try your luck at getting through the world's largest maze. (2.4 miles of paths over two acres). Good luck!

10 a.m.-2 p.m. / Dole Plantation, Wahiawa / free / www.doleplantation.com, 220-4981

OCT. 15-25

If you love independent and foreign films, then you can't wait for the Hawaii International Film Festival. One promising flick is "Real Shoalin". This year, HIFF is including a tribute to "Lost."

Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 / $15, $10, $9, $8 / for schedule, go to www.hiff.org

OCT. 17

Cedric the Entertainer may be best known as Eddie in the "Barbershop" films and for the WB sitcom "The Steve Harvey Show," but his standup may make your knees buckle in laughter.

8 p.m. / Blaisdell Arena / $45, $75, $100 / www.ticketmaster.com, 877-750-4400

HOT DATES

Sept. 5 Silversun Pickups, Pipeline Café

Sept. 5 Ka Himeni Ana 25th Unamplified Hawaiian Music Contest, Hawai'i Theatre

Sept. 5 Saloon Pilots, Atherton Performing Arts Studio

Sept. 5-6 Okinawan Festival, Kapi'olani Park Sept. 9 Modest Mouse, Pipeline Café

Sept. 12 Daikon Festival 2009, Honbushin International Center

Sept. 13 La Pietra's Sunset Jazz Concert, La Pietra school's Great Lawn Sept. 16 Comedians Rich Vos and Bonnie McFarlane, Pipeline Café

Sept. 25-Oct. 11 "The Drowsy Chaperone," Diamond Head Theatre