It's a girl thing

The sixth annual GiRLFeST Hawaii kicks off today with a soft opening at 5 p.m. at the ING Direct Café. Tonight's event is the official opening of the GiRLFeST art gallery, this year located in the ING cafe. Comedian and GiRLFeST regular Ali Wong (pictured) will also give a preview show at 8 p.m. today at the University of Hawaii's Art Auditorium ($10 at the door, all ages with a strong parental advisory).

GiRLFeST starts in earnest Saturday and runs through Nov. 14. The annual event was founded by Kathryn Xian in an effort to raise awareness and prevent violence against women and girls through education and art. The festival incorporates film, music, art, spoken word and dance complemented by a mini-conference involving panels, lectures, outreach workshops for children and adults that address themes such as body image, identity, empowerment, social change and methods on how to prevent violence in relationships.

GiRLFeST Hawaii / Various locations / Through Nov. 14 / For a full schedule of events, visit www.girlfesthawaii.org

Of goats and men

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" (starring George Clooney) is inspired by real accounts of the U.S. government's attempts to harness paranormal abilities to combat its enemies. It opens in theaters today.

Fare thee well, Ong King

The Ong King Arts Center (84 N. King St.), Chinatown's hub of anti-hip, is closing its doors after almost four years. The place is going out with one final First Friday blowout at 5 p.m. today, and you know what that means: Musicians, poets, jugglers, dancers, artists and anyone else who dares enter.

Let's go Warriors, let's go!

Sure, they've lost their past six games, but this is the UH Warriors' homecoming game, so Aloha Stadium needs to be one big party. Bring on Utah State! (5:05 p.m. Saturday.)

Walking with a 'Winter Wonderette'

Manoa Valley Theatre's holiday musical revue comes in the form of four singing Christmas darlings, the "Winter Wonderettes." It opens 7:30 p.m. Thursday ($20-$35, 988-6131).

Shaken and stirred

Get your 007 on at Oceans 808's The Spy Who Loved Me party.

The Spy Who Loved Me / 9 p.m. today / Oceans 808, Restaurant Row / $10 at the door

Blondes have more fun

Comedian Bruce Vilanch takes irreverent humor to another level — and that's just with the slogans on his T-shirts. Vilanch performs at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Pipeline Café ($20 general, $40 VIP, www.groovetickets.com).

Tease to please

Local award-winning playwright Yokanaan Kearns brings his latest work to the stage with "Quiptease," a quirky comedy about a girl who just wants to be a poet. It opens at 8 p.m. today at HPU's Paul and Vi Loo Theatre ($5-$20, 375-1282).