WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN . . . Every year the Maui Humane Society gets more creative with its annual Fur Ball fundraiser. This year it's Cleocatra: Queen of the Nile - "where all cats are revered." Even Ramses the Great would approve. The event will transpire from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the ballroom of Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
"The ballroom is super humongous and board member and event Chairman Paul Davis of Latitudes is the designer. He'll take you on a trip to Egypt with pylons, fountains and pyramids," says Dawn Hall, director of development for MHS. About 400 people typically attend and many get into dressing the part."
Emcee Alaka'i Paleka will be Cleocatra. The queen will be carried in on a giant gold sphinx platform by her scantily clad slaves. Others will wear costumes, tuxes, T-shirts and regular evening attire. There will be live and silent auctions, too, dripping with jewels.
Article Photos
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Maui Humane Society’s Donor Relations Coordinator Jennifer Friedberg gets into the Egyptian groove for the 2009 Fur Ball to be held Saturday.
Your taste buds will want to part the Red Sea for North African spiced mahimahi with cherimoya relish; Moroccan braised beef short ribs, harissa and carrot yogurt with paneer kernia; fig, pistachio and wild rice salad with mint yogurt; tabouleh; and olive oil, lemon and smoked paprika roasted chicken. Exotic desserts will take it over the top. For tickets, call 877-3680, ext. 32.
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IN LUSH IAO VALLEY . . . Celebrating the various cultures of Maui through dance, art, demonstrations and food will be the free Culture & Arts Day at Iao Valley's Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens.
It's the perfect family affair and will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. But there is no parking. So you must catch a shuttle from either the County Parking Lot at 200 S. High St. or the municipal lots in central Wailuku.
The Portuguese Cultural Club will sell stone-oven white bread, jams and jellies made by its members. The Kepaniwai oven will be open for display, and members of the club will demonstrate how to make charola (a net made out of string to hang vegetables).
The African Americans on Maui organization will get you hankering for ham hocks, lima beans, black-eyed peas, fried chicken, collard greens and sweet potato pie. Filipino favorites will include chicken adobo, pancit, bibingka, lumpia and sweet rice, all made by those at Good Shepherd Church.
Local-style chili and rice and cookies will be sold by Maui County Sister Cities Foundation. Dogs, pups, patties and all of the fixings will be made by Tikitorch Productions in the form of teriyaki burgers, kosher hot dogs (extra large and keiki sizes), and Boca burgers.
"Royal Island Drive Inn is doing the catering for the Maui Chinese Club food booth and is preparing noodles, meats, vegetables and rice. Refreshing beverages will be for sale by Arts Education for Children Group and Jamba Juice," says publicist Linda Mather Olds.
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BITS AND PIECES . . . Want to get in shape? Then come check out the open house for Reps Training Center in Kihei from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and get free food tastes from Joy's Place. They'll also offer mini Spin, pilates and cardio kickboxing classes, door prizes and sample neck massages, says owner Marjo Selin.
Maui Brewing Co. in Kahana will hold "Pint Night" from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday and a portion of all proceeds from all pints sold will be donated to Pacific Whale Foundation. Ditto for the special pizza.
Speaking of pizza, come enjoy delicious and organic pies for a good cause from 5 to 10 p.m. March 31 at Flatbread Company in Paia, where partial proceeds will benefit Hale Makua Health Services.
* Carla Tracy is dining editor of Scene. Call 242-6342 or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.
