HAPPY NEW YEAR
What to look for in the year ahead
News, by definition, is something a reporter didn't know yesterday and feels obliged to share today. But what about tomorrow? We can't jump into Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine and see the future. Besides, if we could, we'd be playing the point spread on Oregon State games.
But there are trends, indications, groundswells, tipping points, foreshadowings, presagery and prefigurization. Or just the slightest smell in the breeze. There are a few things to watch out for in 2007. Contributions to the Saddam Hussein Defense Fund won't be one of them.
A new maestro faces a lion of a challenge
We know, for example, that over the holidays the upper-echelon honchos with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra have been interviewing the final round of potential candidates for the critical -- and long-vacant -- post of music director. Which means that this position will likely be filled shortly. And you can stop holding your breath.
Whoever snares the job will have to hit the ground running, because the symphony is going to be homeless for a big chunk of the fall season. The Blaisdell Concert Hall will host a three-month run of an enormous Broadway spectacular, a touring company of "The Lion King" -- which means the symphony will need to find a new place to play.
Based on the Disney animated movie, but owing mightily to the musical score by Elton John and Tim Rice and the astoundingly imaginative direction of Julie Taymor, "The Lion King" has spawned two touring companies that hit the road with virtually everything the Tony-winning Broadway stage featured -- giraffe suits, jumping gazelle costumes, lioney headdresses, birds swooping on strings, everything except some gigantic steam-driven apparatuses -- apparati? -- to heave chunks of the stage around.
Even so, we're hearing there may be some tinkering with the Blaisdell's stage to accommodate some special effects.
The show itself was called "a landmark event in entertainment" by Newsweek, and "there is simply nothing else like it" by the New York Times. Can you feel the love tonight? Stay tuned.
ABC's next 'Bachelor' will be a Hawaii gent
COURTESY ABC
Andy Baldwin: The Navy man will bring the reality show to Hawaii
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Speaking of tuned, or even toned, ABC's "Bachelor" is coming to Hawaii. This spring, the object of many a single gal's affections will be Navy Lt. Andy Baldwin, M.D., 30 and hunkyriffic, a Pearl Harbor submarine officer, a scholar, a scientist, a triathlete, a charity volunteer and, and ... gee, he's looking good to me, too.
Besides, ladies, if he finds true love among the dozens of dates and settles down, as a submarine officer he'll be gone half the year. Who could ask for anything more?
Will Lt. Andy be dating Honolulu gals in Honolulu, or will ABC fly in some panting ringers?
Restaurant stars plan openings in new year
If "The Bachelor" does go on dates in Hawaii, one possible hot spot -- looking ahead, again -- will be Nobu Matsuhisa's restaurant in the renovated Waikiki Parc Hotel. Nobu's ventures in "fusion cuisine" have been tasty in burgs such as New York, London and Tokyo.
Or maybe it'll be Tsukiji Fish Market's new style of buffet dining, coming to Ala Moana Center. Named after the huge and famous Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market -- if you can get a famous name, use it -- Tsukiji will be the latest anchor tenant of the mall's new Hookipa Terrace. And it really will be a fish market as well as an eatery.
Or maybe Lt. Andy and his countless dates can exchange liplocks at Hawaii chef Roy Yamaguchi's new place in Waikiki, set to join the international Roy's empire in March.
Roy's Waikiki will be part of the $460 million Outrigger Waikiki Beach Walk development. It'll be his third Oahu restaurant, and the opening will be a benefit for the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii.
Or maybe Lt. Andy will show up in "Lost." After all, that's an ABC show, too.
Actually, that's not a prediction. That's just wishful thinking.
But, it could happen.