Baird Brittingham, Bill Bellamy
HAWAII is something of a Mecca for golfers, in that there are so many courses here, and tournaments are just about a weekly event, particularly where charities are concerned. Some of these tournaments have trouble getting a full field, however, since there are so many of them around and even golf enthusiasts have only so much money. So something like the St. Louis Alumni golf event, coming up Aug. 25, is a rarity since it's been sold out for some time and there's a long waiting list to get in. Here's one reason why: Each of the 200 players gets a prize at each hole, a total of some $50,000 in gifties. And each player gets a dozen logo balls and while that may not seem like much, there are 2,400 of them given out, or $5,000 worth, and that's a lot. Want to play? Get in line! ... Teeing off for
charity, big timeLOCAL publicist Lisa Josephsohn flew in with Bob Dole this week -- well, they were on the same plane -- after seeing 12 shows on her annual theater pilgrimage to New York, Canada's Shaw Festival and L.A. She took in "Ragtime" in L.A. with Shirley MacLaine -- that is to say, they were in the same audience -- and saw Mary Gutzi, who had starred in "Annie Get Your Gun" at Diamond Head Theater. And since "Ragtime" was produced by Garth Drabinsky and his Livent company, you might well see it playing in Honolulu in soon since Josephsohn handles their publicity in Hawaii ...
FROM "Ragtime" to "Quiet time." I stopped the Lewers Lounge Monday night, Loretta Ables' night off, and was pleased to find John Basebase alternately playing guitar and piano and singing. He's shy and understated but a talented performer ... And after a preview of jazz at John Dominis last Sunday, boss Andy Anderson asked Frances Hookano and Kirk Thompson of Pacific International Productions to have another quiet jam in the lounge there. So joining Hookano Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. will be Ernie Durante, Winston Ruval, Lewis Benanto, Creel Fernandez and Peter Empenio ... Those who've been enjoying Baird Brittingham's solo slot at Sarento's in the Ilikai will want to check out his new CD, "Angel with a Bad Intention." ...
THE Big Isle has for years been home to two reporters who got out of the news business and moved on to other things, and both have had serious medical problems they've struggled to overcome. Bill Cook's heart bypasses appear behind him and he got a "well baby" checkup this week, cautioned only to give up his beloved gin for good. (Sell your Beefeater stock!) And Walt Southward, who turned his energies toward public relations, was felled with a devastating stroke in March, and after six weeks in Hilo Medical Center and a grueling six weeks at the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific in Honolulu, Southward is home, regaining his motor skills and determined to walk and type again without help. He and wife Leilani plus trusty dog Moku are welcoming visitors to their hale on a hill above Hilo ... Southward bound to recup
COMING up Monday for the fourth year in a row in the Outrigger Canoe Club's "Non-Run Fun Festival." The only running allowed is from table to table where 12 restaurants have set up "aid stations" serving a variety of food. Again this year, Marathon Man Dr. Jack Scaff is bringing his incredibly loud cannon to start the festivities, and Guido Salmaggi is returning a week earlier than planned from Florida to sing "The Star Spangled Banner." Non-Race director Don Eovino threatened to get a replacement if he didn't show up ...
FANS of MTV will recognize the name Bill Bellamy, who hosts "MTV JAMS." A company with the strange name Bumping Sunset Promotions is presenting the comedy of Bellamy and singer Dana Harris in concert tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Theatre. Bellamy was on the Showtime special "Booty Call" and has appeared in two new films, "Love Jones" and "How to be a Player." He's also in new TV campaigns for AT&T and Reebok with Shaquille O'Neal. He's more like a sun on the rise ... Bumping to the sunset
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.