Mick gave
hotel guests a showALOHA is more than just a Stadium. Mick Jagger knows that. It was lunchtime last Friday as Dick and Mary Alice Barry were lunching with visiting Long Islanders Lawrence "Black Bart" McGiveney and wife Nancy at the Kahala Mandarin. They recognized the extremely thin chap at the next table as Jagger, getting in a bite before the Rolling Stones concert that night at Aloha Stadium. The visitors were amazed that Jagger, curing his munchies with bassist Darryl Jones and a couple of others on the Stones tour, was left alone by other guests. The Barrys were explaining that such behavior is fairly typical in Hawaii where folks tend to let celebs go about their business without interference. Suddenly a teen-age boy, ball hat on backward, approached Jagger's table to say hello. Probably a tourist lad, Barry explained. And to their surprise, Jagger invited the young man to join them, doubtless giving him a story to take home that none of his pals will ever believe ...
BY now you've surely heard, read or witnessed what a smashing show the Rolling Stones put on, surpassing even the spectacular extravaganza Michael Jackson presided over months back. I was fortunate to witness the Stones perform at the Blaisdell Arena in the '60s and again in the '70s. They didn't appear here in the '80s, probably still trying to remember the '60s and '70s. But they were back with a vengeance in the '90s at the Stadium with their "Bridges to Babylon" tour, and you can forget the "geezer" talk. As they were singing, "This Could Be the Last Time," I found myself saying, "Fat chance." My money is on their returning with an "Against All Odds" tour in the next decade, which will also be the next millennium. This show was easily the best of the three I saw, and it wouldn't surprise me if the next one isn't even better ...
Gorilla my dreams
THE Phoenix Suns' gorilla mascot is a popular character in Arizona, and was a big hit when Randy Schoch opened Roy's Restaurant in Scottsdale along with partner Roy Yamaguchi. Schoch, who used to own Nick's Fishmarket locally, still holds the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse franchise in Hawaii. And Yamaguchi still owns and operates the various Roy's eateries here. The two teamed up to turn out the chef's signature cuisine in the desert, and among those who flew down for the opening were old Schoch troops Lynda and Dennis Conway, isle expats now living in Las Vegas. They report it was "a wonderful food fest complete with Hawaiian music, hula dancers and, of course, a Hawaiian blessing." Proceeds went to the Phoenix Suns Charities, hence the gorilla ...
Parsons well connected
DURING a ceremony at UH to recognize the commitment by Time-Warner and subsidiary Oceanic Cable to provide Internet access in the classroom, UH president Kenneth Mortimer introduced Regent Donna Tanoue to Time Warner president and CEO Richard Parsons as "the next president of FDIC." Tanoue hastened to add, "If I'm confirmed." Parsons, who had first-hand experience with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. while turning around the nearly-failed Dime Savings Bank before joining Tim Warner, rejoined, "Be careful what you wish for." ...Hawaii's school system leads the nation in in-class Internet connectivity, which explains why Parsons chose Honolulu to announce his company's plan to extend free Road Runner on-line access to every U.S. school in a community served by Time Warner cable subsidiaries. Also, Parsons attended UH in the '60s and his wife, Dr. Laura Parsons is a UH alumna ...
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.