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I’M NOT GOING to go into too much detail about the new Cajun restaurant, A Taste of the Bayou, on Kapahulu Avenue because I want to give it a proper review in the newspaper. This is just an FYI post to get people interested in the place. What’s important is this: The little restaurant turns out delicious southern comfort food for a reasonable price. I went last night with a few friends and we enjoyed every last bite. Here are a few photos to pique your interest and whet your appetite.

A Taste of the Bayou is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Fried green tomatoes. Awe. Some.

A closer look at the thick, juicy tomato slice encased in a light breading and topped with a spicy aioli.

The chicken etouffee with a side of maque choux. Super ‘ono and satisfying.

Catfish and hushpuppies. Perfect.

A sampler dish of jambalaya, red beans and rice and gumbo. A trio of great flavors.

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PRINT THIS PASS to attend the free press screening of the Coen brothers’ new film Burn After Reading Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Dole Cannery theaters. Keep in mind that there are way more passes than seats. The theater is filled on a first-come-first-seated basis. Most people arrive at least one hour in advance.

Super BIG thanks to Andrea Galvin for letting me give out the pass!

If, for some reason, you aren’t able to print the pass, e-mail me and I’ll send you the pass via attachment.

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IT’S BEEN A LONG, hard summer for Next Door (and for fans of the nightclub). The last you heard, Next Door was closed indefinitely for some hashing out of a few logistical issues. Here’s the latest: Co-owner and the face of the place Chris Kahunahana said today that the club will be open on a special-occasion basis for the next six months or so. What does that mean for you? It means that you can get your Next Door fix in small doses.

Next Door will be open tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. for downtown’s First Friday festivities. It will host a poster art show and sale, and Chris even managed to get a temporary liquor license, so it’s full bar Friday. It’ll be like old times.

As for the future, Chris said he’s working with a few new financial partners to make the place what it was always meant to be: a fully functional multi-media space, complete with a mezzanine, stage and booming sound system.

Chris is also planning to be open Halloween night, and you can bet the place will go off like it always does.

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IN A FEATURE that lists its “33 most overrated people, places, trends and other junk in rock,” Blender magazine takes a dig at Jack Johnson. The snipe appears under the mag’s No. 22 overrated thing on the list: festivals. My inner loyalist wants to jump to his defense (he’s one of us, after all…plus, I like at least one of his albums), but it’s at battle with my inner music snob that wants to scream “hooray” in agreement.

Here’s Blender’s take:

Read the full list here.

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I’LL JUST COME right out with it: I didn’t hate The Rocker. I know it’s a film critic’s nightmare, but I’m not a film critic. Was I entertained? Yes. Did I laugh? Yes. Do I think it was on par with other similar comedies. Absolutely not.

The story of an aging drummer who almost made it big, and then lives to regret his failure before finding redemption by way of a high school band isn’t groundbreaking, but it isn’t horrible either. A plot like that leaves plenty of room for heartwarming moments, inspirational anecdotes and other cute stuff. You can’t help but cheer on the success of the protagonists, in all their cliched glory. The most disappointing thing about The Rocker is the rocker himself. As Dwight on The Office, Rainn Wilson is a comedic genius — spot-on and hilarious in his depiction of an anal retentive paper salesman with an overinflated sense of self-importance. As the rocker, he’s just a semi funny guy who’s better off being Dwight.

See it if…
1. You don’t mind — and even admit to liking — some interpersonal relationship kitsch. There are sappy moments.
2. You remember and/or can relate to 1980s hair bands.
3. You once had a dream of being a rock star (and who hasn’t, right?).

Don’t see it if…
1. Cynicism tends to get the better of you.
2. You hate kids. Even the cool ones.
3. You once had a dream of being a rock star and it’s made you bitter.

The scene stealer:
Joshua Gad, as Robert ‘Fish” Fishman’s (the rocker) overweight, insecure and super lovable nephew Matt. As Matt, the scrubby haired keyboard player for the up-and-coming band A.D.D., Gad delivers a funny and perfectly awkward performance that makes you laugh while squealing awwww! If only all teenagers were as cute and endearing.

Would I see it again?
Yeah, I think I would.

Is there anything better out there?
Yeah. Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder. In that order.