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Wood Craft
Chanel's Joyce Okano Reed and Tia Gaurani were in Paris last week to view Chanel's spring/summer collection. Joyce sent me Joyce, Tia view
Paris fashionsan email saying they were enjoying the strong dollar and called the new collection exceptional and spirited. Honolulu will see it at the French Festival gala next Saturday. The festival began today and runs through Nov. 5. Joyce said Parisian artist Natalie LeCroc will sketch women's handbags at Chanel's Ala Moana boutique during the fest and do personality readings based on the contents of the bag. Chanel is showing its cruise collection Wednesday afternoon in the Waikiki store ... The festival gala will be in Hilton's Tapa Ballroom. Besides haute couture collections by Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano of Dior, collections by Celine and Thiery Mugler will be shown during the gala. Neiman Marcus is presenting Mugler. The Honolulu Symphony and Cirque Eloize will perform. There will be a silent auction. Tickets are priced at $300, $500 and $1,000. ...
Food and stylish attire
In celebration of the festival, the Halekulani is offering a series of gourmet culinary workshops today through Wednesday. Working with La Mer chef Yves Garnier is chef Joel Garault of Le Vistamar Monte Carlo in Monte Carlo's Hermitage Hotel. Call the Halekulani for more info ... Neiman Marcus highlights the French Fest today through Nov. 5 with French designer trunk shows, gourmet food and wine tastings, complimentary makeovers from French cosmetic lines by Frederic Fekkai, among others, and a French menu in the Mariposa. Call Neiman for details ... Hermes has crafted a ring and a tote bag just for Hawaii for the festival, according to Waikiki store manager Kathy Sakamoto. Red, white and blue coral is on the silver ring. The orange canvas tote bag comes in three sizes ...Holiday fashions from Blu Marine, Ethel's and Boutique Sharon will be on view at a Nov. 9 show at the Kahala Mandarin's Plumeria Cafe ... Happy Birthday to Emme Tomimbang, whose special day was yesterday, and to Carole Kai and Vicki Borges, wife of singer Jimmy, who mark their birthdays today. Cherye Pierce celebrated Thursday ... Alfred Vollenweider had a champagne reception at his Alfred's restaurant Sunday so guests could view the paintings of Ed Furuiki. Music was by Kina Fernandes and Doug Tolentino. The exhibit continues through Nov. 19 ...
ONWARD: Former Star-Bulletin staffer Ann Marie Swan, now working for the Denver Rocky Mountain News, was in town last week. When her paper's photo editor, Steve Dykes, gave her a "Howzit" greeting, she wondered if he had Hawaii ties. She learned Dykes grew up in Kailua and attended Hawaii Prep on the Big Isle. He moved to Denver in 1995 and was part of the team that won this year's Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography for coverage of the Columbine High shootings. It wasn't Dykes' first Pulitzer. He was on the L.A. Times staff that won for coverage of the L.A. riots and the Northridge earthquake ...
Vintners find paradise
Wine lovers should head over to Restaurant Row Nov. 7 for Vintners in Paradise 2000, a progressive wine tasting. More than 150 wines, plus food, will be offered by Baci, Ruth's Chris, Sansei and Sunset Grill. Seems like a pretty good deal for $45. Get a designated driver. Chambers & Chambers and Fujioka's wine merchants are sponsors. Call 732-7733 ...
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.
E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com