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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Show Biz
James Taylor concert comes with own setting

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

CONCERT CUES: James Taylor's Oct. 27 concert, at Blaisdell Concert Hall, is pricey for a reason. Tickets are $65 and $45 to enjoy Sweet Baby James, circa 2001, partly because he now travels with somewhat of a mammoth set that dresses the stage. Thus, the concert is akin to theater — which yields a higher tariff ...

Christopher Cross' pops concerts with the Honolulu Symphony last weekend restored the tradition of opening up the show with both the National Anthem and "Hawai'i Pono'i," played by the orchestra and sung by the audience — a unifying gesture in these problematic times. The anthems should be rendered before all programs this season. Cross, plagued with laryngitis, managed to captivate his fans with his arsenal of hits; he dedicated "Arthur's Theme" to his ailing friend and star of the flick, Dudley Moore ...

And that tribute to Loyal Garner Sunday night at Windward Mall (the show finally was pau at 1:30 a.m. Monday) was part kanikapila, part ho'olaule'a, and proved that Islanders have a big heart. The event raised $30,000 for the Lady of Love's mounting medical bills as she battles cancer. "She stayed for the whole show," said Melveen Leed, a fellow Local Diva and one of the organizers of the benefit. "It was great to see her out of her house," said Carole Kai ...

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SIGHT 'EMS: Paul Walker, star of the current "Joy Ride" and recent "The Fast and the Furious," stepped out of the driver's seat for a leisurely afternoon at Kaanapali. He was spotted at Leilani's on the Beach, listening to local band Kilohana, soaking up the Hawaiian hospitality ...

Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers had dinner with friends at Don Ho's Island Grill, meeting Mr. Tiny Bubbles himself, but he returned for lunch, too. On another night, he dined at the Trattoria ...

The L.A. Lakers must adore Italian fare. Chick Hearn, Lakers announcer, dined at Matteo's and opined that the Matteo's here is much better than Matteo's in L.A. Kobe Bryant, Rick Foxx and Dr. Jerry Buss also were Matteo diners ...

Then again, Lakers adore golf, too. A whole crew spent a day off last week at the Ko'olau Golf Club, including Rick Foxx, Jerome Crawford, Mike Penberthy, Derek Fisher, Jerry West, Bill Sharman, Irving Thomas, Kevin Grevy, Mitch Kupchak ...

B Tia Carrere, Hawai'i native, is beginning her third season as star of the syndicated "Relic Hunter," in which she plays a female character not unlike Indiana Jones. Anyway, filming commences in Seville, and Carrere, a singer (former Brown Bags to Stardom winner who's made good) and an actress, talks story with Emme Tomimbang on "Emme's Island Moments" at 9 p.m. tomorrow and 8 a.m. Oct. 20 on KGMB-9. This is the show on which Tomimbang showcases resident Filipinos who've brought fame and dignity to their home state: Angela Perez Baraquio and Benny Agbayani are other guests ...

On a quickie trip to Maui last week, we ventured into a relatively new restaurant, Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe, which adjoins the Tommy Bahama store at The Shops at Wailea. Enjoyed the paella and the key lime pie; the menu has a deliberate Caribbean spin, so some of the entrees are spicy. But the spirit of the restaurant is hip and now, much like the clothing line: cool fabric pillows in the booths, appointments (wallpaper, lamps, furniture, etc.) that evoke the general chic and edge of Bahamaland ...

And that's Show Biz ...

Wayne Harada's Show Biz runs Wednesdays and Fridays. Reach him at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.