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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, June 8, 2008

ISLAND LIFE SHORTS
Sedaris riffs on

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Well Bento offerings are quick, healthy and locally fresh when possible.

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WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD?

Dan Weaver from www.Danceonpartyon.com:

1. “Tick of Time,” The Kooks

2. “Funeral Home,” Neva Dinova

3. “I Feel It All,” Feist (Britt Daniel Remix)

4. “Jigsaw,” Mates of State

5. “Kids,” MGMT

Got a sales tip? Send it to salesandbargains@gmail.com

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David Sedaris is famous now, but he's spent so much time remembering the years when he was a slacker and a pothead that he's come to seem like the ordinary kid who one day discovers he has superpowers. Upon few are such gifts bestowed. Will he apply them to the good of humankind?

The author, whose sold-out readings have lifted him to rock-star status, is obviously no longer a slacker (if he ever really was). As he informs us in his sixth book, "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" (Little, Brown), the pot is a thing of the past, too. He doesn't even smoke cigarettes now. The question of how he'll use his gifts continues, though.

One side of him just wants to be funny. How many essayists get invited to perform their work on David Letterman? When Sedaris did, he judiciously chose to discuss the Stadium Pal, "an external catheter currently being marketed to sports fans, truck drivers and anyone else who's tired of searching for a bathroom." It's in the book.

Another side of him is more ambitious — more introspective, more "serious." At 51, his young man's meanness has cooled. These days he regards people more in the manner of an anthropologist than of a judge. Two of the best pieces in the book are lightly regretful memoirs of elderly (now deceased) neighbors he feels he might have been a little nicer to, even if one was a foulmouthed thundercloud and the other a child molester.

Sedaris has always been open about being gay, and he gets a lot of mileage out of his now long-term relationship with his partner, Hugh. Occasionally the Hugh essays verge on shtick; there's something very marital sitcom about his feigned exasperation with a man he so clearly adores. But others go deeper. One lovely piece of writing, "Old Faithful," addresses the unglamorousness of monogamy. Another, titled "All the Beauty You Will Ever Need," is about the freedom gay couples have from straight role-playing (as in "Which one's the man?").

— Craig Seligman, Bloomberg News Service



DINNER ON THE GO

It's been a long day, you're stuck in traffic, and there's no dinner waiting for you at home? Skip the drive-through and pick up something healthy and delicious. Just dial the number, place your order, and the friendly people at Well Bento will have your meal ready without a sweat.

Choose from an array of take-out choices — grilled chicken, salmon, steak, 'ahi or vegetarian plates like grilled tempeh, tofu and seitan. All are served with a macrobiotic combination of brown rice, miso gravy and blanched vegetables. The low-sodium, low-oil meals are prepared with local and organic ingredients whenever available. A meal so delicious, you won't even notice that it doesn't come with a toy! The Well Bento, 2570 S. Beretania St., Suite 204 (upstairs); 941-5261.

— L.M.



ANCIENT HISTORY

Makini: In the Hawaiian language, it means "a group of spears tied together, used as a battering ram in war; many deaths; or a gourd mask used by canoe men." Fashioned with 'uki grass, and carved out of coconuts, it is a symbol of war, death and power. Nowadays, these handcrafted masks are often used as accessories to hang on your rearview mirror.

At Fitted, the hat company strives to share Hawaiian history by incorporating stories and native Hawaiian symbols into its designs. The Makini hat has an overall "power" look, with embroidery representing the eyes of the gourd mask, red detail to represent the 'uki feathers, and a water tattoo around the base of the hat — representing strength. The hat is lined with satin, and printed on the bill is "Pupukahi'i holomua," meaning "To unite, move forward — by working together, we make progress." This rare, detailed hat dropped just yesterday, so get down to Fitted to score yours. Fitted Hawaii, 1438 Kona St., Suite B; 942-3100.

— Lacy Matsumoto



SALES & BARGAINS

  • With all this heat, who wants to wear anything other than a dress? The maker of beautiful and wearable frocks — BCBG Max Azria — just made its sale hotter, with spring and summer styles marked up to 70 percent off, in store and online. Ala Moana Center; 946-9794, www.bcbg.com.

  • Recently relocated to Kailua, the Madison and Company boutique has a ceiling dripping in funky and beautiful crystal chandeliers. You might expect prices to match the extravagant and pretty decor, but most clothing items we found were around 30 bucks. A refreshing change from anything you'd find at the mall, this shop also features quirky, shabby- chic-inspired decor like over-the-top picture frames, sweet-smelling beauty creams and even a carefully chosen selection of sounds to chill to. Even better: The weekend of June 20-22 the whole store will be marked off 75 percent to 85 percent off, as the shop gets ready for a remodel. 337 Uluniu St. (across the street from Aloha Rentals and around the corner from Baci restaurant); 266-5000.

  • Give Dad something beyond the expected monogrammed money clip or aloha shirt on Father's Day. The Contemporary Museum Shop's Vino Globe is an odd-looking contraption designed to aerate wine as you pour it, so no more waiting for tannins to mellow out. Though it may seem like a spoof, the vino globe really does work (yep, my dad has one). At just $14.95, it's a pocket-size gift. TCM Shop, 2411 Makiki Heights Drive; 523-3447.

    — Pualana Lemelle



    CUP O' JOE FOR YOUR PLANTS

    As you have your morning cup of coffee, take a look at your plants: They're jealous. Those coffee grounds are a great nitrogen source, a plant super food. By mixing coffee grounds into your compost, you'll also reduce waste.

    Don't have a compost pile? Fill a wooden or plastic bin with leaves, coffee grounds and kitchen scraps, but leave out meat products. To help the pile decompose faster, make sure that the materials are moist. Mixing and turning helps. Compost is ready for the garden when it has fully decomposed into a dark, rich, soil-like material. Pick up a bag of coffee grounds from your local Starbucks, or at Coffee Talk (3601 Wai'alae Ave.; 737-7444).

    — L.M.