Isle woman gets
Second City trySHANNON WINPENNY is braving Chicago's cold in hopes of becoming a hot addition to Second City's Conservatory Theatre. Shannon was one of fewer than 50 students selected nationally to attend the prestigious improvisational institute. Second City notables who have graduated to "Saturday Night Live" include Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman. Close family friend Kathleen Pellegrin made the trip to Chicago with Shannon because her mom, Island Business Publisher Mary Winpenny, wanted to be here with husband, Jim, who had surgery last month ...
Donnelly gets burned
DAVE DONNELLY'S pals (?) socked it to him Wednesday as the Star-Bulletin columnist was roasted in a benefit for Hawaii Public Television at Hawaii Theatre. Many blows were below the belt, but Dave took them, then stood up and fired back at the roasters. Highlights: Dave's son, Brendon, in a surprise appearance; Jim Leahey getting an ovation for beating cancer; Bob Sevey and Jack Kellner, who were truly professional in carving up their victim; Don Robbs' emcee skills; Tim Ryan and Charlie Memminger in colorful shorts with tuxedo tops; loquacious Kimo McVay's brevity; Jimmy Borges' musical parodies; Tom Moffatt's recollections; Barbara Holm's X-rated spice, and Dave's thanks to Joe North for donating blood to replace blood used by a onetime critically ill Dave. I'm surprised no one bashed Dave for trashing "There's Something About Mary" in a column. He also zinged me in print for praising it. "Mary" was one of the year's funniest films and became a box office smash ...ONWARD: The Society of Seven, Melveen Leed, Cathy Foy and O'Brien Eselu star in the Princess Kaiulani's Aloha Friday Luncheon Show Friday ... "A Simple Plan" is a powerful film about three guys who find a lot of money. Billy Bob Thornton sizzles. Bill Paxton is hot, too ... Keali'i Reichel opens Celine Dion's Stadium show Friday ... Don't forget Kenny Loggins with the Symphony Tuesday in a pops concert at the Shell. Hapa is guest act ... Iolani holds a free jazz fest Feb. 14, 3 p.m. at the school. Iolani Stage Band 3, UH Jazz Ensemble, Marine Forces Pacific Jazz Orchestra and Hawaii All-Star Big Band are booked ...
DENVER Super Bowl MVP John Elway was at Nick's Fishmarket Wednesday with Denver Broncos and Nick's owner Pat Bowlen and Pat's wife, Annabel ... Monday Night Football's Boomer Esiason was at Don Ho's Island Grill Tuesday ... Baseball's Cal Ripkin Jr. signed wine bottles at Auntie Pasto's the other night, delighting owner Ed Wary ...
ASHES of Norman Reyes were scattered in Corregidor by his wife, Farida, with a Philippine Marine escort, on Tuesday, his birthday. The ashes were in a wooden container, a gift from First Hawaiian Bank, his former employer. Emma Veary's recording of "Here in This Enchanted Place," a favorite of Norman's, was played. The CD was a Christmas gift to Norman from Corky Trinidad. The ceremony was carried by Manila radio stations. Corky said stations got calls asking where Emma's CD is sold ...
A Princely dinner
CHEFS Alan Wong, George Mavrothalassitis, Eberhard Kintcher, Jean-Marie Josselin, Philippe Padovani, Russell Siu, Roy Yamaguchi, Gordon Hopkins and Amy Ferguson-Ota are teaming with eight Oregon pinot noir winemakers to create a special dinner to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society Feb. 24 at the Hawaii Prince; $80 per ...
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.