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Meijide-Gentry sells
her new purse to
Mersberg at lunch

Nora Meijide-Gentry, just back from a trip to Argentina with daughter, Candes, had lunch Saturday at Neiman's Expresso Bar on the ground floor with Joey Caldarone. Nora was carrying a new, good-sized soft leather bag from Argentina which she plans to market here. She described it as "light golden brown, printed with autumn flowers and roses." When Elaine Mersberg, seated at the next table, heard Nora say she planned to sell them, her ears perked up. She asked to look at the bag, viewed herself with it in front of a full-length mirror, said it was "different and beautiful," and that she wanted one. Nora sold the bag to Elaine on the spot, after dumping her personal belongings into a Neiman shopping bag ...

Besides his singing and acting, Joey is the featured artist at Diamond Head Grill in the W Hotel. He is happy to report that two large paintings were sold the first day his art was installed. Joey is lending his support to Natalie Parker and her Young Artists Helping Young Artists benefit at Compadres tonight, 5 to 8 p.m. He's not only singing as part of the entertainment lineup, he's also donating one of his paintings. Entry is $25 and all proceeds will go to Rehab Hospital ...

After George Takei of "Star Trek" fame told UH-Manoa graduates Sunday to boldly go where no one has gone before, he made the trip to Shanghai Bistro in Discovery Bay to have lunch with UH VIPs and UH Foundation supporters such as David McClain, Donna Vuchinich, Doris Ching, Gulab and Indru Watumull and Kitty and Roland Lagareta ...

Mayor thanks Star-Bulletin, MidWeek officials

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and the Honolulu Centennial Commission invited Star-Bulletin and Midweek brass to a dinner at Kai Aug. 9. The hosts wanted to say thanks for the papers' sponsorship of the Centennial's opening event at the Waikiki Shell July 1. Besides the mayor and his wife, Gail, attending the dinner were: Dennis and Marjorie Francis, Dave and Fiona Kennedy, Jan Hori, Centennial co-chairs Rod Wright and Linda Wong, Centennial publicist Mona Wood with Max Sword, and Danny Kaleikini ... Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers opens the Symphony Pops season Sept. 2 and 3 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. ...

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