Tonight's Taste of the Arts, in the Downtown arts district, is akin to First Friday but on steroids — with an energy booster.

It boasts art gallery crawls, like First Friday's art walk, but TOTA substantially ramps up the food-and-entertainment options with two locales for mini-street festivals offering a selection of international food, chef demos, three main performance stages, a wine-tasting option and other diversions including aerial artistry, stiltwalkers and, yep, even a Manapua Man.

Music-makers — including the just-added John Cruz, Go Jimmy Go and and the Hot Club of Hulaville — will set the tone for jams and jigs in the streets.

There will be craft vendors, too.

The producer of the second annual Taste is Tim Bostock, an advocate and booster of Downtown's revitalization, who was hooked on last year's trial balloon and decided to enhance, expand and enliven the block party on two small stretches in the Chinatown/Downtown vicinity.

"This truly is a fun one," said Bostock, a discriminating arts, culture and entertainment entrepreneur, who put together entertainment for the inaugural event a year ago. His Tim Bostock Productions is producing the event this year.

"This is way bigger than before — and it's outdoors, a mini-festival, just what people want," he said.

Party Central will be on Nu'uanu Avenue, from Chaplain Lane at Marks Garage to King Street, and on Hotel Street, from Bethel Street to Smith Street, in the heart of Chinatown.

The block party concept has high appeal, he said.

"Here's the thing: When the economy sinks, street fests do better; restaurants may have a dip in inside biz on a night like this, but there are a lot of folks (more) eager to try a small portion than sit for a pricier meal," Bostock said. "Even retail shops can get a booth going, offering jewelry, handmade keepsakes, those kinds of things, and the street fest format spells fun."

It's the right mix for the right time, Bostock said, explaining that food and wine options will be largely affordable, with plates at $10 with $5 and $9 tasting options; all beer will be $4, wines $5 and $7, with premium pours hosted by Brasserie Du Vin at slightly higher prices.

"There will be some wine pairings, too, so if you have pulled pork, Cuban style, with plantains, you might want a shiraz," Bostock said.

"I think we're bucking the trend of a soft economy with these outdoor events; the Downtown restaurants have had good success with outdoor events," he said. "It's cheaper to eat this way; grab an appetizer or two and have a beer, with free entertainment."

He expects throngs of 3,000-plus, based on typical First Friday patronage without the street closures, and figures the "taste" elements will be a selling point. Nearly all restaurants participating are a heartbeat away from the party zone. For now, bona-fide Chinatown eateries are not plugging into the celebration the way they go full throttle for the cultural "Night in Chinatown" pegged to Chinese New Year.

"People realize how good a value this kind of street fest is," said Bostock, because of the quality. "We have a good restaurant mix, we have some top entertainment. And we expect two cores of participants: families or those who are food-oriented, who would come earlier, then leave around 8 o'clock, and the night crowd, who'd come later for some of the food, but are more oriented to the bars, some which will stay open beyond the 'Taste' time."

A $15 wine-tasting voucher might include five vouchers for 2-ounce pours or two for wines with a pricier ticket. Prices were being set last week.

Bostock said additional information will be posted on the Web site, www.artsdistricthonolulu.com.

"And we welcome visitors, too," said Bostock. "For First Fridays, we get a good share of Downtown workers ... but also as many as 10 (percent) to 15 percent visitors."

For those seeking the Manapua Man (Preston Luke), he'll be roaming, with baskets dangling from a pole, selling manapua at $1 each.

"He's quite a master, and he's hard to miss," Bostock said. "He's a classic — he was a hit at the recent Triple 8 (8-8-08) festival."

And look for an aerial trapeze act, performing on a special rig set up in front of the Pegge Hopper Galley.

Taste of the Arts is yet another bud blooming into an annual event reflecting the cultural renaissance of the arts district; it is a project of the Honolulu Culture & Arts District Association, with support from the Arts District Merchants Association.

While Taste of the Arts is an annual event, Downtown regulars also have special monthly options: First Friday, Third Thursday and Second Saturday at HiSAM.

FESTIVAL FEATURES

FOOD VENDORS

Providing curbside tastings

Ba-Le

Cafe Joy

Brasserie Du Vin

Epic

Indigo Eurasian Cuisine

Kevin's Two Boots

Little Village

Soul de Cuba

Tea at 1024

Le Crepe Café

Bambu's (Restaurant Row)

CHEF DEMOS

Sharing recipe how-to's, from 6 p.m.

Dave Cruz, Indigo

Kelvin Ro, Diamond Head Grill

Scott Nelson, Brasserie Du Vin

WINE-TASTING

Hosted by Brasserie Du Vin

Eric Chandler, 2Couture

Tiana Kahauwila, Brasserie Du Vin

ENTERTAINMENT

Main stage

John Cruz, 6:30 p.m.

The Spacifics, with Tassho Pearce, 7:45 p.m.

Go Jimmy Go, 9 p.m.

Jazz stage

Chef demos from 6 p.m.

Satomi Jazz Trio, 6:30 p.m.

Hot Club of Hulaville, 8 p.m.

Blues stage

Friends of Adam, 8:15 p.m.

Downtown Charlie & the Humbones, 9 p.m.

On the street

Samadhi Hawaii aerial act, from 8 p.m.

Stiltwalkers

Manapua Man