Laurent's B-day @ The LOFT

It's our favorite Frenchmen's B-day tonight -- come out to the LOFT and wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=73509715459

Royal Hawaiian Gala

Tonight is probably one of the biggest events Honolulu has seen in a while -- the Royal Hawaiian is having it's grand re-opening party. The Pink Palace really is a landmark in Waikiki and tonight will mark the beginning of it's second infamous journey.

Considering tickets are $350 per person, I will not be going, but I look forward to hearing about from friends that are attending.

To learn more, or if you have some extra cash lying around and want to attend, check out:
http://royalhawaiiangala.com/

UFC 96 Tonight!

Tonight is UFC 96 -- Rampage Jackson vs. Keith Jardine -- and you KNOW Ryan and I will be watching the whole damn thing. Rooting for Jackson obviously -- if he wins, he is one step closer to getting his belt back (can you believe I am into this stuff?!)

Anyhow, we are going to The Shack Waikiki at 5pm (7pm PT) to watch the fights. It's a $5 cover, and there are tons of TVs and they even have good food -- meet us there!!

Sofa-Ridden

After everything I promoted and raved about for tonight, I am parked on the sofa sneezing every 3 seconds. So, I am drinking wine, took a Tylenol Cold, and we just rented Tropic Thunder -- big night....

Keep America Meeting

Anyone who knows me knows what I do for a living -- mainly because it typically consumes my entire life and no one ever gets to see me, or when they talk to me, I am always working. Well, this year has been very atypical for me -- I have no events, I am always home and I am actually in the office everyday.

For those of you that don't know me well, I am a Corporate Event Planner, which basically means that I plan big parties for Fortune 500 companies when they come to Hawaii. As we all know, the economy isn't doing so well, and my industry is suffering terribly. This industry has gotten a really bad reputation over the past few months, with AIG and Wells Fargo being in the news. We do understand that it seems really frivolous to send people away on these trips while we are in "these times" but we also don't think that America has not gotten the whole story, the "other side" of the story. So, before you bash this industry, please be informed first.

When these trips do not happen, it is not only hurting the employees who have earned it, it is also crippling the entire tourism industry, which is the FOURTH biggest industry in our nation. This effects hotels, restaurants, airlines, activity vendors -- the list goes on and on. It is not solely about companies going on vacation -- this trips help keep our economy afloat and keep thousands and thousands of people employed all over the world.

If you want to learn more, and you want to help us, PLEASE visit:
www.keepamericameeting.com

And if you agree and want to help, please sign the petition!

Jimmy Buffet

I was lucky enough to be invited to grand opening of the new Margaritaville in Waikiki last week, with a private concert by Jimmy Buffet. He was accompanied for most of the night by Jake Shimabukuro, who is amazing by the way, which was a cool combo on the stage.

But check out this video, Jimmy called up Henry Kapono for "Margaritaville" -- very cool to say the least.

Also, check out the new venue next time you make it into Waikiki -- great new "touristy" spot with great food (surprisingly!).

Place I want to check out: The Counter

Everyone on the island is talking about The Counter, the new burger joint at The Kahala Mall next to Whole Foods, and I must get there this weekend.

I guess the deal is that it is basically like "build your own burger" -- kinda like a salad bar. I don't know because I haven't been yet, but I will definitely report back after I go this weekend. What I DO know is this: the beef is Angus hormone-free, and there are 10 different cheeses, 29 toppings and 18 sauces to choose from, which equates to roughly 300,000 different possible combinations (once you add in all the different types of breads, and sizes/types of patties available). I am so there.

www.thecounterburger.com

Rejected

My contact didn't come thru for me for the All-American Rejects show. Probably for the best -- I would have been the only person over 15 yrs old there.

Firebird Photography

First Friday is upon us once again, so that means lots of cool shit going on downtown.

My friend (and co-worker) Cheyne, of Firebird Photography, is displaying his Vintage Fashion Photos at the LOFT tonight from 6-8pm.
www.myspace.com/loft808
www.firebirdphoto.com

Please come out and support our downtown community!

All-American Rejects @ Pipeline

So, the Rejects are in town this weekend and I am really trying to go to the show tonight at Pipeline. Can we start by saying that in 6 years of living here, I have NEVER been to Pipeline Cafe. Is that possible?

There is actually a funny story about me and Rejects. Back in my NYC days, when I worked at the celebrity entertainment firm, my boss was "THE guy" for indie bands and for making all the grungy-garage bands famous (Interpol, Motion City Soundtrack, etc). Well, the All-American Rejects CD came into the office, and we played it on my little boom box like we did with all the CD's. All the girls in the office LOVED it, and needless to say, they got a record deal. Now, I am not claiming repsonsibility for their fame or anything, but I would like to think that maybe, just maybe, I had a little something to do with it?!

Anyhow, my good friend Kanani from Rhema Sound is working his magic and hopefully getting me 2 passes for tonight, sweeeet!

For those of you that want to go, tickets are $29 at the door -- 7-10pm at Pipeline Cafe -- Friday and Saturday night. Here is more info on the show and how to get tickets:
http://www.allamericanrejects.com/events/honolulu-hi

Subphonix

Hey all -- Making a correction on the Subphonix post I had earlier.

Subphonix happens EVERY First Friday at Mercury Bar. On this particular First Friday, they are featuring Circuit & Wizard, from LA. Mercury Bar is located at 1154 Fort Street (that little dark alley between Beretania and Hotel, before you hit the Tattoo Shop and JJ's).



Thanks to Gin for the real info ;)

YAY Targe....

No, I didn't for the "T" at the end of the word on the title. It's meant to sound fab or French or whatever you call it when you are trying to make an ordinary word sound more fabulous than it really is. We FINALLY got a Target (2 stores actually) in Hawaii and we are really, really, really, really, really, really excited about it.

You know what I love the most? I get their flyer in the mail today, and they are showing all the things on sale. And next to an ad for a bedside lamp, is a package of shredded cheese. And then next to an ad for light bulbs, is an ad for some handsoap. Like WTF? But this is why love Target, because they got everything! One-stop shop. And it's CHEAP!

So, needless to say, I will be hiking out to Kapolei to go to Target (for those of you don't live here -- if you live in town, you do NOT head out to the Windward side of the island. But I will be now.....).

Long live Targe!
(how do I get that little accent thing above the "e"?! )

I Stole Betsey!

I just got these shoes last night, and I am SO EXCITED! They are listed online for $190.00, and I payed $16. Yes, that was not a typo -- I payed $16!!

They were at Macy's for $175, marked down to $105. Then they were 50% off of that, and then I had like a $30 gift certificate or something close to that.

Aren't they great?!

David Barton -- please come to Hawaii!!

David Barton is not my friend that I am begging to come to visit me in Hawaii. I don't even know David Barton. David Barton doesn't know me. But I REALLY REALLY want him to come to Hawaii. Why do you ask? Maybe because David Barton is like the coolest place on the planet. OK, that is stretching it, considering that it is a fucking gym, but it is a REALLY COOL fucking gym. And we need that here, we really do.

He just put his newest creation (yes, I said creation) into the Gansevoort in Miami, and I am really hoping that HNL is next. I highly doubt it, considering there isn't even one in LA yet. But hey, who knows? Maybe we will get lucky?

http://www.davidbartongym.com/

Tap Project Hawaii

This one needs no explanation:

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=55033269642&h=xhFV6&u=vErVS

Shoutout for Subphonix

Hey all -- shout out for my friends of friends. Subphonix, from LA, will be playing at Mercury Bar this Friday night from 10pm-2am.

Check out the invite on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1441839555#/event.php?eid=53963118403&ref=nf

The Hills does Hawaii

The Hills whores were here at the end of February. Ummm, beer bottles are illegal on our beaches, and sorry the weather was shit for ya!

Home for the Holidays

I am posting an article that I wrote about 5 years ago, when I was going home for the holidays (which was also my first time going back home since I had moved to Hawaii...). Since I just booked my trip home for the holidays this year, this seemed like the perfect time to post this....

When I first moved to Hawaii, one of my main concerns was what I was going to do over the holidays. It sure wouldn't feel like Christmas-time with the temperatures lingering somewhere around 85 degrees. With no signs of frost or snow, except for the artificial crap that Neiman Marcus has on display at my neighborhood mall, would I really be able to get into the holiday spirit? And it sure wouldn't feel like Christmas without any of my family members by my side. As the holiday season approached, I started to get a little uneasy. How the hell can I spend the holidays in Hawaii? How the hell can I spend the holidays in the heat? And how the hell can I not see my family on Christmas Eve? So, with a little help from the powers that be (that is mommy and sissy's bank accounts), I managed to weasel myself a round-trip ticket home for the holiday season.

Now that my trip back home is secured, I am already stressing -- as only the holiday season can make one do.

My first and major problem with returning to the "mainland" is that I have zero warm clothes here with me. The heaviest article of clothing I have here is a jean jacket and that just ain't going to cut it when I step out of Newark Airport unto sub-zero temperatures. Zero warm clothing plus sub-zero temps, equals hypothermia. On top of the cold itself, my blood has thinned out since I have been here. Although it is cold to begin with, it is going to feel even colder to me, even though I grew up eating snow as a child for fun. When it drops to 70 degrees here at night, I bundle myself up in a fleece blanket while watching The O.C.. I am hardly kidding (about the blanket OR about my obsession with that show). Due to the winter shock I am bound to experience, I felt compelled to go online last week and order a Burberry scarf so I would have one winter-like article to wear when I emerge from the plane (ok fine, I didn't NEED it per se, but it was a good excuse to buy it right?). For a 10-day trip home, I have to buy all new winter gear, which I am obviously not going to bring back to Hawaii with me. They will sit up in my parents' attic and rot in those plastic storage bins along with all my other winter clothes that I threw up there prior to my move. Then next year, when I come home again for the holidays, I will conveniently forget that I have winter clothes stashed away and I will buy all new clothes just like I am doing right now. What a vicious cycle!

The clothing issue can always be solved by raiding friends' closets. However, the other issue I am stressing over cannot be solved by simply borrowing from other people. Under the most normal circumstances, the holiday season is stressful enough with having to fit in everything on the agenda. Going here, going there, stopping by here, shopping for this person and that person. I am home for a mere 10 days, in which I need to accomplish the following: See every single person I know on the East Coast, attend five family functions in South Jersey, party like a rock star in New York City and do all my Christmas shopping. Should I look into cloning myself now or later?

Aside from not looking forward to the Eskimo-like temperatures and the time constraints that will be forced upon me, I cannot begin to explain how excited I am to come to NYC. I miss the city so much (and my friends too), but with being so far removed from it all for 6 months, I am a little weary about how I am going to react to it all. My fear is that I am going to realize how much I really miss New York. The excitement, the places to go, seeing everyone I spent the last 3 years with, running all around, the hustle and bustle, the food, the culture, all in all -- "the city". Will my trip to New York burden me with sadness and make me less-than-thrilled about returning to Hawaii (I HIGHLY doubt this will be the case with the wind chill factor slapping me on my tanned cheeks). But nonetheless, the thought has crossed my mind. And with nothing but free time on my hands to spend with loved ones, will I realize that I don't want to be so far away from them? (However, they DO say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I believe such is the case -- and not only for significant others). Although these are simply plausible and hypothetical situations, these are the types of things I have been pondering while basking in the sun (do I know how to rub it in or what?).

On the complete other hand though, with all the above in question, I have also come to the conclusion that I could potentially realize that I love my life in Hawaii and that I can't wait to get back. I am sure that I will be missing that warm island sun and my very spacious apartment. I will definitely miss my boyfriend since we are not spending the holidays together this year. The city just MAY be too overwhelming for me after I have learned how to slow down a little and not always be in such a damn rush. OK, I haven't fully become laid-back, I doubt that even a place like Hawaii can make me not crazy, but I have definitely taken it down a notch in relation to the spazz that I once was while living in the heart of Manhattan.

This trip home might be just what I need -- not only will it allow me to spend this special time of year with the people that mean the most to me (minus my boyfriend who will be in Maui), I think that it will also help put a lot of things into perspective and help me to appreciate what I have right now -- an apartment with a view of the Pacific, a fabulous job as an event planner and an amazing, loving relationship. And after all, isn't that what the holidays are all about?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
JAMIE

The Hills hits Hawaii

Audrina from The Hills was in town shooting Into the Blue 2. I hear she went back to the mainland to celebrate her bday, but I assume she'll be back. I must say, she looks pretty damn good!

Sightings

1. Carlos Santana having dinner at Sansei in Kapalua, Maui on Tuesday night. He was there with a male friend. Left the waitress, my good friend Heather, $30 tip on an $80 bill -- not bad!

2. Mick Fleetwood at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua Wednesday night playing with his local band, Island Rumours (which also consists of the well-known local performers Willie K. and Eric Gilliom, formerly of Barefoot Natives).

Check them out:
http://www.islandrumours.com/irbvid1contact.html

Soak it Up!

For my Honolulu dwellers -- there is a new party going on every Saturday, during the day -- 12noon til 7pm at the Wyland Waikiki. Pool, sun, music -- what else do you need??

See you there!

Nobu turns 1!

Last night was the 1 year anniversary party for Nobu Waikiki -- good times. Nobu himself made an appearance and even rocked a neck full of lei's. The crowd was really good -- food and drinks flowed in the back area (for free!).

Daniel Dae Kim from "Lost" was there with his wife, as well as some other "Who's Who" of Honolulu people.

Overall, night was really great -- felt good to be at an "NYC-type" event -- it's been a while ;)

Back in the Game!

Wow, it's been a REALLY CRAZY 6 months -- but I am officially done my busy season at work and I am vowing to start posting again. I know, I know -- I have said this before but I am committed now..........

Posts to come..........

MINI!!!

I am just OBSESSED with my new car, so for those of you that know me but don't live near me to see it in person, here is my new car!!!

Unified

OK, this is SO MEAN and I am going straight to hell but whatever. Madonna really needs to take her daughter in for some waxing treatments.....

Someone should tell her. You think she reads my blog?

MisMatch

Why do people think that mismatched bikinis look good? They DON'T MATCH -- it's not cool!

Facebook Virgin

I was on the phone with Ryan the other day and I said, "Hey babe, what you doing?"

He replies, "Updating my Facebook profile." I almost fell off my chair.

Just like that, he stated it just as simply as that. Like he could have said, "eating a burger" -- now THAT would have been believeable. But Facebook?! What the hell is Facebook?! What the hell is this Facebook thing?!

Now let's be honest I am a virgin of very few things and Facebook is one of them. So, the very next day, I went and popped my own Facebook cherry.

I gotta say, as a Myspace devotee, I am a little skeptical. A LOT skeptical. But nonetheless, I have created my profile and I am going to give it a chance......

Bored in Maui

I know I haven't posted in a REALY long time...in fact, everyone has probably stopped coming to this site, so I am not sure who is going to read this? But now, for the first time all year, I have A LOT of time on my hands! And guess what? I hate it and and I am BORED AS ALL HELL!!

I am house-sitting in Maui for the owner in my company. I know, rough right? But the truth is, is that I am all alone, Ryan doesn't get here until Wednesday and I am just really fucking bored!

I know, you don't feel bad for me....