By Dave Donnelly
Tuesday, December 24, 1996
Jay Larrin, Adelaida Severson
Jay Larrin, Adelaida Severson
THE Christmas spirit is upon us, hitting some in different ways. For instance, as Jay Larrin was performing a Christmas concert Sunday afternoon, he invited Micah Ganiron, 4-year-old nephew of his manager, Alan Yamamoto, on stage to sit next to him at the piano. As Jay launched into a medley of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "Little Drummer Boy," this tiny tot sat still for all of 10 seconds before breaking into an impromptu "Macarena" in time to the music. It broke up both Jay and the crowd. Now he's debating about inviting little Micah back for his second Christmas concert tonight at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom ... Tot shakes his
holiday bootiesIF you're in the mood for Christmas music tonight, you could do worse than put on KHET-TV - the PBS station has a series of Christmas music specials beginning with Jose Carreras at 7:30 p.m. ... Looking for last second Christmas gifts? How about tickets to the Honolulu Symphony's upcoming Hawaii Theatre concerts Jan. 10 & 11 featuring Joe Moore conducting a "mystery piece" for maestro Sam Wong? ... "How 'bout them Nicks?" Yanni Placourakis, who's relocated from Nicholas Nickolas to the chain's new eatery in Philly, couldn't pack all his paintings with him. But check out his paintings at reduced prices at Kaaawa Country Kitchen ...
THE Christmas card arrived at the home of Glenn and Marilyn Ige with 37 cents postage due. Inside they learned it was from their banker at the Liliha Branch of First Hawaiian Bank. Now you know why I trust Walter Dods with my money - he's not wasting it on postage! ... Mahi Beamer was, well, beaming when he got an early Christmas present with the unveiling of "Musical Images of Hawai'i." Beamer, photog Kazue Kurebayashi and writer Joe DeMattos collaborated on the book which highlights a collection of well known hula and mele of the islands, with translations in English, Hawaiian and Japanese. The book was the brainchild of retired Japanese exec Chikao Toriyama and is sure to be a hot gift this Christmas ...
WITH 1996 about to pass into memory, Adelaida Severson already is looking forward to the first day of 1997. Adelaida is the daughter of everyone's favorite isle bartender, Tommy Velasco, late of the Palm Tree Inn, Zebra Room, Sparkies - all now memories themselves. She's married to well-traveled TV reporter Barry Severson, who was transmissions manager for the entire aquatic venue at the Atlanta Olympics and covered both the Democratic and Republican conventions plus elections in Taiwan. She took some time off and joined him in Atlanta, and squeezed in a visit home for a family reunion at the Ihilani around her birthday. Now she and Barry are enjoying Christmas in his native South Dakota, but then it's back to work in Phoenix, where they live. Adelaida is host for the official delegation of undefeated Arizona State University at the Rose Bowl and the craziness attendant to all that. It's a far cry from the Palm Tree Inn ... Rose Bowl bound
SQUELCH city: As a friend was driving his kids home from seeing "Stomp" at the Hawaii Theatre, he mentioned to his 8-year-old daughter, "They sure knew a lot of ways to make noise." "Dad," she replied airily, "it's called 'percussion.' " Excuuuuuuuse me! ... Larry Pelligrini, writer/director of "Tony 'n Tina's Wedding," highest grossing show in Manoa Valley Theatre's 28-year history, is in town discussing with MVT's Dwight Martin the possible mounting of his new interactive play, "Sheila's Class Reunion."
CODGERS such as myself occasionally wax eloquent about the late, lamented Bistro on Kapiolani, one of the great restaurants whose doors are forever shuttered. Invariably, the conversation gets around to the French onion soup there. Barbara Holm claims she's rediscovered it at Michel's. Chef Daniel Dufort was at the Bistro when it was owned by Karl Diebold and Mike Pirics and says the same recipe is now being used at Michel's. Can't wait to sample it ... Happy Christmas. I'll be back Thursday. Soup’er Bowl found
