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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, November 8, 2009

Maui publicist chows down, celeb-spots in NYC


By Wayne Harada

Maui foodie and publicist Bonnie Friedman is back home after a whirlwind New York trek that included family time in Brooklyn, beaucoup chowfests in Manhattan and incredible celeb-spotting.

Between bites, Friedman — a p.r. person with powerful antenna — managed to spot notables coming and going. So many, in fact, you gotta wonder if she's a closet groupie (she's not).

Here are sight 'ems she shared by e-mail:

Actress Tilda Swinton, looking eccentric-lovely, while gallery-hopping in Chelsea ... Comedian-TV gabber Joan Rivers, stopping traffic on Broadway; "she's tiny and was wearing a fabulous black coat with white piping," said Friedman, with a fashionista focus. ...

Then there was Mary Tyler Moore, the TV and film favorite, wearing jeans and a sweater but no makeup, having breakfast with her doctor husband at E.A.T., Eli Zabar's gourmet food emporium-café on the Upper East Side ... Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, "looking exactly like Philip Seymour Hoffman," knoshing at The Shake Shack in Madison Square Park ...

On a food note, Friedman saw Todd English of Oliver's (in Boston) and PBS' "Food Trip With Todd English," enjoying a late afternoon repast in Chelsea ... Brad Farmerie, a "Next Iron Chef" competitor, was incognito at Double Crown; "kinda funny, 'cause it's one of his restaurants," she said ... Michael Lomonaco, at his gorgeous Porter House New York palace in the Time Warner Center, where "food is absolutely fabulous, and he is a very gracious man." She neglected to say that it's an expensive haunt. ...

WEB SITE: Remember Webley Edwards, the founder-host of the popular "Hawaii Calls" radio show that lured folks to Hawaii pre-statehood? His grandniece, Tiffany Eve West, will be married to Timothy James O'Mara, in a ceremony at the Grand Wailea on Maui this Saturday, with about 90 guests in attendance. "I grew up going to Hawaii for family vacations and just love the Islands," said West, whose mom, Mary, often visited Webley and Louise Edwards at the height of his radio fame. Her fiancé proposed on the beach at Kähala, so they had to make it an Island wedding.

West said that an Edwards biography is in the works, entitled "The Original World-wide Web: Webley Edwards of 'Hawaii Calls.' " ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: John Rowles, who was to perform tonight at the Hawaii Theatre, is greatly disappointed at its cancellation, with the concert now likely to be pushed back to summer 2010. Poor ticket sales were a factor in this soft economy. He so wanted to share pictures and chatter on his two sons, Dane, 11, and Blake, 7. ...

Kyle Kakuno, veteran Saint Louis director and teacher, is experiencing a number of firsts as he helms "Annie" for Sacred Hearts Academy, which opened yesterday and continues at 2 p.m. today, 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. next Sunday at the Mamiya Theatre, Saint Louis School. It's his first "Annie," his first show with a large cast of kids, his first time directing a dog that required hair tinting. Kakuno has been delighted with Alana Glaser, 8, who "embodies the spirit and spunk of Annie," and is joined by students from Roosevelt, Saint Louis and Kamehameha who augment the cast. Tickets: $20 adults, $15 students, seniors and military. Call 734-5058. ...

FINALLY: von Baron makes his Hawaii Public Radio debut with a "von-derful" concert (he dubs it "new-age music on steroids"), a showcase of his "Pangaea" and "Souljourner" albums, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio. Joining him: Jeff Peterson, Dan Del Negro, Tim Tsukiyama and Mark Tanouye. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...