Visitor downs belly buster
DON'T know how a young visitor from Japan happened across the Dixie Grill on Ward Avenue, but just such a fellow stopped by on his own the other night. Retired United Airlines exec Chuck Novak was on hand and watched the slender fellow look at a menu, thoughtfully printed in Japanese (just in case), and order a "Bust Yo' Belly Burger." The manager on duty, Debra Webster, wondered if the guy knew what he was getting himself into, since the sandwich he ordered is two pounds of beef and to date only six people had ever consumed an entire one along with all the trimmings -- a half pound of Dixie fries, a half-pound of slaw, plus the made-to-order bun, lettuce, tomato and onions -- in the allotted half hour, in which case it's free. To this hungry visitor, no problem. He became the seventh to bring the "Bust Yo' Belly Burger" to its figurative knees. And think of the tales he'll tell in Japan of huge, free sandwiches in Hawaii.
COVERING all bases, the folks at Honolulu magazine had two covers printed for the August edition. One features Linda Lingle with the tag line, "Can She Win?" The other pictures Gov. Ben Cayetano and "Can He Lose?" Shades of TV Guide, which printed up four separate cover photos of the "Seinfeld" cast when that show went off the air ...
Bay views
SAN Francisco Chronicle society columnist Pat Steger has been coming to Hawaii with her husband for 37 years -- in fact, they honeymooned here -- but she's still surprised on occasion. Such as when dining at Orchids in the Halekulani the other night, she asked the server what the fresh catch of the day was. "We don't know," came the reply. "My gosh," said Steger, "it's really fresh." ... And speaking of San Francisco, one of the items up for bid at Murphy's "Pigskin Pigout" to raise funds for the UH football boosters club tomorrow night is an Olympic Club package. Dick Barry is inviting the high bidder and two friends to join him for a round of golf at the Olympic Club in S.F., site of the latest U.S. Open. The package includes airfare for three, the round of golf, lunch at the Olympic Club and a "Rainbow Victory Dinner" at the North Beach Restaurant. Other things at the "Pigout" will go for less, but still, bring a checkbook ...AFTER hearing singer Jimmy Borges at the Big Band Jazz Night at the Hawaii Theatre, I again realized what a remarkable and under-utilized talent he is. I wondered if there weren't a place he could call his own. Now I hear that Bernard Horowitz of Bernard's New York Deli is huddling with Azure McCall about opening a club featuring jazz and blues. Maybe Borges could find a home there?
Islands in the fog
FIRST, hula instructor Patrick Makuakane staged a hit show at Fort Mason's Cowell Theater in San Francisco called "The World According to Hula." On its heels came San Diego's Pacific Islander Festival, which was deemed a phenomenal success with an estimated attendance of 180,000 to 200,000. That makes it the second largest annual event in San Diego County. The theme this year was "The Children of Oceania" and people of all ages enjoyed the performances of Hawaiians, Samoans, Tongans, Fijians, Micronesians and other Pacific Islanders in the weekend event just past. Former localite Beth Saurer and her new husband, Samson Atuatasi, organized and coordinated all 87 food, crafts and information booths that provide the financial background for the festival, already planning Year Five ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.