Nick’s jazzes up holidays
THE holiday season is in full swing. The dazzling Christmas lights at Honolulu Hale and nearby areas should not be missed. There's a Christmas present for jazz and swing lovers Sunday evenings at Nick's Fishmarket, where Abe Weinstein's group is booked. Abe, who plays clarinet, has assembled some of the town's top jazz musicians for the 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. gig: Pianist Betty Loo Taylor, guitarist Danny Otholt, bassist Steve Jones, trombonist Rob Kaufman and drummer Noel Okimoto. Dancers are welcome. The surprise of the show is vocalist Maria Naylor, a cocktail waitress at the Ala Moana Hotel. She knows how to sing 'em sweet and hot ...
A Naborly Kahala reception
LAST SUNDAY, the Kahala Mandarin and new manager Jan Goessing held a reception for Jim Nabors following the last of Jim's smashing Christmas shows at the Hawaii Theatre. Nabors said he felt this year's show was better than last year's. It was a superb production and it did run smoother than last year's treat. Backed by the Honolulu Symphony, soloists Nabors, Emma Veary and Karen Keawehawaii were in fine voice. Tom Hansen's direction and staging were again outstanding and the various hula and vocal groups were strong contributors. Good guy Jim donated his services, as he did last year ... The Mandarin held its tree-lighting ceremony Monday. Songs by Na Leo Pilimehana enhanced the evening. Bobby Krewson, formerly in charge of the pool and beach service at the Kahala when it was a Hilton, arrived with Tom Moffatt. Bobby suffered a stroke this summer but shows no ill effects, although he says he's not 100 percent recovered ...MORE than 1,800 people flocked to Neiman Marcus Tuesday night for a party and sale. Food and drink stations were located on all three floors and there was entertainment on all levels. Acts included Puamana, Honolulu Symphony brass, woodwind and string quartets, costumed carolers and jazz by Ginai, Zanuck Lindsey and John Kolivas. "It's good to see everybody get into the Christmas spirit," said store G.M. Al Tomonari. ... At Waikele's Saks Off 5th, G.M. Joy Oshiro has Espie Mapanao dressed as a colorful Christmas elf, giving out goodies on Saturdays ... The Halekulani has a Hawaii Youth Symphony string quartet performing today and next Saturday, 3:30 to 5 p.m. ...
PEOPLE who buy $100 tickets for Ballet Hawaii's "Nutcracker" Dec. 18 can dance right onto the stage after the performance and dig into food and wine from some of Oahu's leading restaurants and hotels. There are also tickets priced from $15 to $35. The production stars dancers from the American Ballet Theatre, local dancers and the Honolulu Symphony. Performances are also scheduled Dec. 19-20 ...
Zoe Ann gets her present
FORMER Miss Hawaii USA Zoe Ann Roach had a birthday Wednesday, and on Friday got what she really wanted: she was hired as a pilot for Hawaiian. She had been a flight attendant for Aloha for 20 years ... Ted Sturdivant and his crew deserve praise for putting on the Old Timers Reunion of media, P.R. and ad people at Murphy's Thursday night ... Bill Olds called Wednesday to say his mom, Donna Bowman Olds, 85, died Tuesday. I had many enjoyable talks over the years with Donna about the old days. As a young girl, she danced hula at the opening of the Hawaii Theatre in 1922 with her girlfriend, Juliette "Baby Girl" Magoon, sister of Jack Magoon, who was also at the opening ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets
of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of
people, places and things every Saturday.
His columns appear online every Monday.