SHOW BIZ
Pointer Sister discovers old fan at Halekulani
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
THE LOCAL ANGLE: "I'm So Excited" was the unofficial anthem last week at the Halekulani Hotel, where the Pointer Sisters were ensconced. When hotel secretary Rafi Reynolds escorted Anita Pointer to her room, she told the singer that she and two chums performed the trio's early hit, "Yes We Can, Can" at their Kansas high school and placed first. Pointer asked, "Which one were you?" And Reynolds responded, "You, of course." The Pointers dined at La Mer with comedian Sinbad; they all performed at the 2002 National Conference for Allstate Insurance at the Hawai'i Convention Center ...
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Bert Sagum of the Society of Seven said he can't believe how Hawai'i-style "local" downtown Las Vegas has become. The local-ness is more evident with the SOS' opening (a three-month run) Monday at the Golden Nugget, but Sagum said he bumped into a host of Hawai'i travelers at the California Hotel and the Fremont Hotel, and "90 percent of the people at the ABC Store was local, too." Folks wearing slippers and tank tops, and chowing down on portuguese sausage or Spam and eggs or oxtail soup leave little doubt about the popularity of Vegas among Hawai'i folks. Sagum's son, Christian, is hooked on the Loco Moco at the California Hotel ...
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NAMES 'N' FACES: Author Kent Keith's book, "The Paradoxical Commandments: Finding Personal Meaning in a Crazy World," will release a new edition Monday under the G.P. Putnam's Sons umbrella, and inherits a new title, "Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments." But that's only part of the good news. He is scheduled to appear on NBC's "Today" show that morning, the first day of his six-week book tour that will hit 29 cities. People magazine also has interviewed him for a profile ...
Acoustic Soul (Robb T. Shibayama and Mike K. Okouchi) holds a CD party tomorrow, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace ...
Steve and Suzanne Diamond, former Honolulu residents who divide their time between a Carmel, Calif., home, and a San Francisco penthouse, were in town last week for Contempo, the Contemporary Museum's fund-raiser at Neiman Marcus. Steve collects California impressionism, and Suzanne is president of the Collector's Guild for the Monterey Museum of Art, so they checked out the art. They also dined with artist Peggy Chun at Ruth's Chris Steak House and visited the Madge Tennent Gallery and the Honolulu Academy of Arts ...
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FOOD NOTES: If you're bound for the Ward Stadium cinema this weekend, check this out: from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow, Compadres Bar & Grill (at Ward Centre) will be making complimentary quesadilla in front of the theaters as part of its "Countdown to Cinco de Mayo" that G.M. John Langan has going ...
And a distinguished new restaurant formally opens Sunday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Rainbow Bazaar. It's Sergio's, with owners George and Wini Vandeman retaining the essence of namesake Serge Battistetti, with a Tuscan-inspired decor. A host of Hilton folks have been sampling the fare and giving the place a hearty thumbs up, including Hilton topper Peter Schall and his wife, Charlotte; hotel G.M. Noel Trainor and his wife, Lisa; food and beverage director Gary Monago; catering director Ivis Rose; and new P.R. director Karen Winpenny. Folks like Robyn Schaefer from Holistica and Judy Hollister from Mandara Spa have found joy in the menu, too. I'd go back for the pepper steak, prepared table side. More good news: Besides regular dinner service from 5 to 11 p.m. daily, there will be a late-night lite menu from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. for after-show munching ...
For another night, here's a dessert tip: You gotta try the banana cream pie at Ruth's Chris Steak House. Redefines pie — and it's a feast for the eyes, too ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz runs Wednesdays and Fridays; reach him at e-mail wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
