When booking agents scheduled Big Daddy Kane to perform at the second Old School Hip-Hop Fest, the Brooklyn-born smooth operator knew he was going to perform for some appreciative hip-hop fan, both young and old. "Throughout my career, Houston was always a big turnout," Kane says. Kane was here just a couple of months ago for another old-school jamboree, where he kicked out some classic jams with Slick Rick, Rob Base and Whodini. "The crowd was very much into it," he remembers. "[Cash Money producer] Mannie Fresh was there to support. It was a great turnout -- the crowd was very satisfied." Seriously, was there ever any doubt that the audience wouldn't be satisfied by the man who once proclaimed he'll lick on ladies' toes until their Revlon disappears?

Kane will be dropping many of those mackalicious nuggets at the upcoming festival, where he shares the stage with veterans MC Lyte, Black Sheep, Special Ed and Young MC, as well as young whippersnappers Big Pokey, Kane & Abel and GR Status. "I wanna tell everybody to come and show love," he says. "These cats have some energetic music."

As for Kane, he says he'll do a lot of his old joints: a little "I Get the Job Done" here, a bit of "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" there. Let's hope he also drops some of that "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" action -- because all those wannabe players out there need to know that. Noon. Saturday, March 27. Tom Bass Park, 15108 Cullen. For information, call 713-741-6140. $20 to $25. -- Craig D. Lindsey

ROYAL JAPAN'S BAHAMA MAMA

My long-awaited visit to the doctor was an absolute disaster. The problem with honestly telling your doc about your lifestyle (and hence, vices) is that you get a lecture in return. I was already a little tired of him sticking things in my ear and up my nose, but when he pried my mouth open with a tiny mirror and told me not to gag, I did just that, reaching out and grabbing the old geezer by the forearm. That was it. I got up, threw my money at the receptionist and stormed out of the office, vowing never to come back. An hour later I was sucking back Bahama Mamas at Royal Japan (2946 South Shepherd, 713-526-6888), looking through a stack of CDs I'd bought next door at Cactus. Real people with normal jobs were just getting off of work, and the place was starting to fill up. I could have done without the Bee Gees music, but my server, Ping, was charming. I asked what her sign was, and she brought me a menu. Then I asked her for another drink, and she brought me one with a different-colored umbrella. It was just what the doctor ordered.

3/4 ounce piña colada mix
1/2 ounce Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1/2 ounce Meyer's Dark Rum
1/2 ounce Bacardi Light Rum
Splash of orange juice
Splash of grenadine
2 maraschino cherries
Orange wedge

In a blender filled with two scoops of ice, measure out above ingredients, sans the orange and cherries. Blend for a few seconds until contents are frothy. Pour into hurricane glass (or a glass with curves) and garnish with cherries and orange. Great for tiki bars and bathing suits. -- J.W. Crooker

Game Boys and Girls

WED 3/31

Yeah, so maybe she ditched you because of all that "you're unmotivated" crap and got with that khaki-wearing lightweight with the "real job." But can Mr. Go-Getter land a 65-yard touchdown, snipe a terrorist in the rain or infiltrate a Level 3 alien command ship with nothing but a plasma pistol? Let's see him bring it at GameRiot, the traveling dance party/Lollapalooza for true video-gamers. You'll smoke his ass on every new Xbox title, show him up on the dance floor and get with one of those GameRiot Girls -- all in time for your pizza shift the next day. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 31. Numbers, 300 Westheimer. For information, call 713-526-6551 or visit www.gameriot.com. $15. -- Steven Devadanam

Sticky Sweet

SAT 3/27

Some bands with fancy-schmancy big-label contracts would kill for the kind of grassroots success that Seattle's Honey Tongue has mustered all on its own. This straight-up rock group starts and ends with hottie singer-keyboardist Jen Ayers, who turned heads for her tantalizing performance in a recent Shaggy video and likely is mere moments away from that all-important girl-next-door FHM photo shoot. Bridging some kind of chick-singer gap between Evanescence cutie Amy Lee and '80s rocker Pat Benatar, Ayers may not front the most original-sounding band on the planet, but the intensity of Honey Tongue's live shows deserves a look. 9 p.m. Saturday, March 27. The Rhythm Room, 1815 Washington. For information, call 713-863-0943. $5. -- Greg Barr