By Jason Genegabus

Fireworks over Waikiki. (LeoP123 photo)

So here we are. The final day of 2008.

Many people will spend time with family this evening, playing with fireworks and talking story. Others will head for the best vantage point possible in order to watch various fireworks displays scheduled around Oahu.

And judging by the number of choices in last week’s HiLife, lots of folks will be out partying like rock stars.

In case you missed it, the Star-Bulletin’s New Year’s Eve calendar is here, nightclub listings are here and additional picks are available in Nightcrawlers.

But say $20 or $30 (or more) is just too much to spend on tickets to a party or cover at a nightclub this New Year’s Eve.

After the jump, I’ve got a few more options for tonight with absolutely no charge to get in – all you have to do is spend money on drinks!

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By Jason Genegabus

Jason Genegabus photos

Hope everybody is having a happy holiday season… can you believe tomorrow is New Year’s Eve?

I’ve been pretty busy myself, since the mid-week holidays have forced me to get four or five days worth of work done in just three. Lots of people end up taking time off, which can make it hard to get a phone call returned or an interview scheduled.

My mom, who normally works as a flight attendant on holidays to earn that overtime cash, was home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. That meant plenty of home-cooked food – and leftovers for days!!! – plus time to enjoy the view from her window overlooking downtown Honolulu (see above).

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By Jason Genegabus

By Jason Genegabus

The Vertical Junkies’ Blaine Tomita, center, partying with some of his crew’s regular customers (courtesy photo).

After years of throwing parties at different venues around town, the Vertical Junkies are making the leap from party promotion to venue management.

I started to get the e-mails and text messages last week - Venus Lounge was open for business once again, but this time it was Russ Inouye and his boys running things on Kona Street.

Instead of heading to Brew Moon, the Hard Rock Waikiki, Senor Frog’s or, most recently, the O Lounge and The Shack Waikiki, their core following of surf-and-skate scenesters will head for Ala Moana and the bar now known as the V Lounge.

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By Jason Genegabus

Jason Genegabus video

Here’s a little taste from the free Q-Tip concert at Pipeline Cafe back on Dec. 13. He performed for about 45 minutes in front of an enthusiastic crowd, promising that the free show was just “foreplay” until he could get back in 2009 with a full band.

(The YouTube version of the video is available here.)

By Jason Genegabus

Courtesy photo

At least one local radio station is running a commercial this week to announce a Valentine’s Day concert by Boyz II Men.

If my memory is correct, the last time the guys from Philadelphia visited Honolulu was in the early 90’s during the height of the group’s popularity. One of my co-workers remembers them visiting twice, with tickets for their return show breaking the $50 barrier for what might have been the first time in Honolulu.

These days, Boyz II Men tours as a trio, after founding member Michael McCary left the group due to complications from scoliosis. In 2007, they released “Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA,” an album of cover songs from the legendary label’s extensive catalog.

Tickets for the Feb. 14 show at Blaisdell Arena go on sale at 9 a.m. tomorrow at all Ticketmaster outlets. Prices range from $45 to $125.

By Jason Genegabus

More Picks:
Second Hand Serenade
Star-Bulletin Nightlife Listings
Crawlspace
Da Kine
SB Staff Picks

By Jason Genegabus

Hula Grill photo

As we get further into the holiday season, many people find themselves in and around Waikiki for one reason or another.

For some folks, it’s the company Christmas party or holiday dinner with friends and family. Others play tour guide for out-of-town visitors or go shopping at nearby Ala Moana Center.

If you time it right, Waikiki can be a great place to spend some time recovering from an epic shopping session or getting a jump on festivities for the night.

Hula Grill at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach is one spot that’s worth a visit, with four hours of valet parking for $5 and discounted drinks and pupu during “Aloha Hour” inside the restaurant’s Plantation Bar.

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By Jason Genegabus

By Jason Genegabus

Whatever works: A sandwich bag protects DJ Packo’s new mixtape from the elements. (Jason Genegabus photo)

It’s going to be quite an evening in Chinatown tonight.

In case you missed my column last week, the team behind Contrast Magazine will introduce themselves with “The Get Go” at thirtyninehotel. But you won’t have to walk very far to check out another solid party.

Over at the Loft, Future Underground hosts “re:LOAD,” with help from Contrast and SIQ Records. The local label’s newest project, Murder Mainstream, will be on hand to earn some new fans.

Also in the building: DJ Packo. The Clubland veteran will release his new mixtape, “Mosquito Diesel: The Glitchtape,” tonight at The Loft.

Packo just dropped off the CD last night (see picture above), so I haven’t had a chance to listen to all of it just yet. But so far, I’m enjoying the variety of tracks and the inclusion of a few favorite local MCs, and dude is no slouch when it comes to scratching vinyl.

I’ve got two exclusive samples off the new mixtape after the jump: “DJ Packo’s 73-D Glitchroduction” and “Freestyle On Memory Lane” featuring Seph1.

Enjoy… maybe I’ll see you in Chinatown tonight?

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