The Living Room will stay open during renovations
ANOTHER WEEK, another close call in Clubland. Fellow Star-Bulletin columnist
Erika Engle reported Sunday that
Fisherman's Wharf is closed for renovations, with no clear indication as to when it will reopen. General Manager
Sonny Morihara told her the building needs repair work on its roof and interior.
Naturally, my first reaction after last week's thirtyninehotel scare was "What about the Living Room?" The second-floor nightclub has enjoyed a faithful following since opening in 2004, and packs them in until 4 a.m. on the weekends.
"The Living Room is not going anywhere," said co-owner Vince DiPietro on Monday. "(The restaurant closure) isn't affecting us at the club at all, but it is a very old building and it's time it got a facelift."
So no worries -- "Redda Fire" still heats up Thursdays with DJ Jahson the 45 Revolver, while Furious Styles Productions holds down "The Limelight" on Fridays and Good Life Productions hosts "FAM Saturdays" at the club ...
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"LATE NIGHT with Andy Bumatai" hit a significant milestone this week, as the locally-produced talk show taped its 100th episode Monday.
"I feel broke," Bumatai said with a laugh while setting up with Don Stroud and John Lewis. "But I have this saying: 'If Hitler knew how to retreat, we'd all be speaking German!'
"People didn't think we'd last a month, and here we are, 100 shows ... we're doing well in the ratings and we're just asking people to watch."
I'm most impressed by the improvement Bumatai and crew have displayed from week to week. Moving out of the Honolulu Design Center was a necessary step, and it looks like the show is settling in well at its new home in the Outrigger Waikiki after a stint at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
You can watch the 100th episode next week; it airs on KFVE at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday ...
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I THOUGHT last Saturday would present a dilemma, as mainland clothing designer Indashio held his hyped-up fashion show at the same time the annual "Starlight Ball" was under way at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
But I was saved from a tough decision, since I never received an invitation to his event. That meant more time at the Academy, where I ran into Andy "The Bachelor" Baldwin on his last night before leaving the islands for deployment. He told me the Navy also wants to utilize his celebrity to help with recruiting efforts and shared stories about hanging out with Marla Maples, Deborah Gibson and Mischa Barton. Lucky guy!
Others spotted: NextDoor's Lacy Matsumoto in a stunning vintage gown, customized by Urban Nomad's Freida Hulse (who was also at the party), Kathy Muller Agency's Joy Kam, legendary actor Richard Chamberlain and DJ Schwinn ...
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ANOTHER PARTY that drew a crowd was last week's New Year's celebration at the Wyland Waikiki.
Robert Wyland himself was in the building, which was quite a feat since he spends up to 48 weeks out of the year traveling. Last Thursday was the first time his schedule was clear since Lodging Capital Partners LLC took over hotel operations almost a year ago.
Guests gorged themselves on pupu from Roy's Hawaii Kai, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Yatai Sushi; Uncle Willie K. was on hand to perform after remarks from Wyland and a special appearance by Jon Lovitz, who checked into the hotel just as the party hit full stride.
Seen in the crowd: "Lost" actor Daniel Dae Kim, promoter Michael Sponberg, Bishop Museum President Tim Johns, city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, "Hawaii In Style TV" executive producer Julie Aragaki, KITV's Jill Kuramoto, Gary Sprinkle and Pamela Young, KGMB's Malika Dudley, SMART Magazine's Sarah Honda, Aloha Airlines' Thom Nulty and Outrigger's Dr. Chuck Kelley, David Carey, Barry Wallace and Rob Solomon ...
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THIS WEEKEND: Nomasterbacks and Kavet the Catalyst perform at Borders Ward Centre from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, with Aaron "Angry Woebots" Martin doing live painting ... Talented local vocalist Maria Remos is the latest to announce she's moving to the mainland. Say goodbye from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at thirtyninehotel ... Pipeline Cafe security director Poloka Tereise died last month; the club will remember him with a fundraiser on Wednesday. Hot Rain and Ten Feet are scheduled to perform starting at 6 p.m. Donations collected during the evening will be given to Tereise's family ...