I meet a lot of college kids—and, actually, some adult journalists—who mistakenly think that a PR person’s life is all glamour and fluff, just meeting people all the time and going to parties. Baby, you’ve been watching too much Lizzie Grubman on MTV, a horrifyingly inaccurate portrayal of day-to-day operations of a PR agency.

The first thing I tell people is: Every day is different, and that’s what makes the job interesting. There are long days, short days, fun days, and the famous “no shi-shi” days. Yes, it can be glamorous, but you have to pay your dues and put in the hard work it takes to get there. If you are the type who physically punches in at 8 and out at 5, and demands to have a balance of “me” time, get a government job. If you are fresh out of school and looking to start at the top, call all the shots, make top dollar, and not have to do much but look pretty, … good luck. (Especially now, since the labor shortage is over. I’m not going to get into that controversial Generation Y rant here just yet.)

OK, so I looked at my schedule and St. Patrick’s Day seems to be a good way to show you what one of my days might look like. As you may know, Aloha Tower Marketplace has a big St. Patrick’s Day celebration every year. There’s free entertainment in the center atrium, and the restaurants like Gordon Biersch and Don Ho’s put on special menu items, like corned beef & cabbage, and other green food. Professional people from downtown tend to come to our place early for a civilized celebration, with seats and bathrooms and food that is served to you. Later in the evening, when the Nuuanu block party shuts down, the police flush a second wave of partiers over to our place for louder revelry.

The following schedule is for March 17 only. I’ve already done the pre-promotion, story pitches, and prop shopping.

4:00 a.m.: Dress in professional clothes, just in case I have to go on camera.

4:30 a.m.: I show up on property to help George Cabral from KHON set up the “live” camera van on the pier. I don’t have to show up till 5:30, but I want to be sure the Harbor Police don’t hassle him, just in case they didn’t get the notification that he’s been cleared by security.

5:30 a.m.: George Cabral shows up and checks for a signal. The ability to catch a signal amidst all the tall buildings is a challenge, but George catches it on the first try. Lori suggests we shoot outside, to allow for more space and to catch the foliage & coconut trees in the background. This is a decision based on experience—she’s found that the kitchen is too narrow to comfortably shoot a live news show. Also, this is much more aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, it starts to drizzle; George assures us that this will not ruin the shots.

6 a.m.: Manolo Morales shows up. I hand him my press release, menus, an entertainment schedule, and some history on corned beef & cabbage, which chef is preparing. I also hand him a green derby to help him look more Irish. Lori Ho, Joe Glarner, David Saccomanno and I brief him on the foods being served, how they are going to cook and serve it, and other quirky behind-the-scenes tidbits he can use on air.

6:10 a.m.: I leave for KHON studio to meet the Celtic Keiki, who are performing at our mall this evening.

6:20 a.m.: Meet the kids and tell them to talk about themselves and get people excited about their performance. Some are an exotic Thai/Irish mix, which their mom calls “Thai-rish.”

6:40 a.m.: Morning producer Robyn Nishi informs us that they are pushing us back to 7:05 instead of 6:45.

7:05: The kids perform. Hug Kathy & Kirk and thank them profusely. Bow to the kids and thank them profusely. I see on TV that Chef Saccomanno is making a delicious looking reuben sandwich for Manolo.

7:15 a.m.: Race back to Gordon Biersch to finish the shoot. George and Manolo have polished off the reuben; there are no traces of it to be found!

8:30 a.m.: I run home to change out of TV clothes and into “event day” clothes so I can run around. I should have brought it with me, but in my sleepy haze I forgot.

The rest of the day, I do regular work: Lease required advertising, sales report, website updates, cleaning up on other filing, cruise ship stuff, sponsorships, and future events. The rest of the staff—who actually plan and execute the events—go around the Marketplace to set up.

2:30 p.m.: KHNL calls to ask if they can park on the pier to do live shots. I call our security desk for clearance. KHNL calls the Harbor Master’s office for clearance.
3 p.m.: KHNL changes their mind and goes to Nuuanu instead. I do a rain dance.

5 p.m.: Gordon Biersch’s entertainment starts.

5:30 p.m.: Bruddah Wade from KINE shows up and gets briefed on his talking points. The go! Girls show up and set up their table. Seniors who have been camped out since 4 p.m. suddenly perk up at the new action going on! It starts to rain and I wonder if KHNL is having a good time.

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.: The show goes on with the Celtic Keiki and the Wild Rovers. At some point, Metro Honolulu People photographer Anjj Lee shows up and starts snapping shots. Our staff is expected to stay near the stage and be alert at all times in case something is needed—batteries for the wireless mic, extra coupons, or a security officer (hey, ya never know), for starters.

8:30 p.m.: We start breaking down the stage but leave the Irish music CD playing.

9 p.m.: Take stuff upstairs. Staff needs to put everything away so there is no trace of it tomorrow morning.

9:30 p.m.: De-brief with Alex.

10 p.m.: Home!

Oh, wait, you were expecting a party in there somewhere weren’t you? Well, that’s the thing: Our job is to create a party for our guests, make sure everyone knows about it and attends, make sure everything runs smoothly, and then clean up as if it were our house.

A lot of newbies to the industry think that throwing parties means you can also be partying while someone else does the execution and clean up. So much for the glamour, huh?

The "glamour," I guess, comes later. You meet different people at your events; they see you do a good job and they get to know you. There are people I have worked with for decades, and some for just months, and after getting to know each other through working in the trenches, we find time to go to other cool parties, LATER, as you see in this blog. Most of the people you see at these cool parties--Amy Hennessey, Christa Wittmeier, Margaret Murchie, Mei Jeanne Wagner, Braddah Wade, Alan Yamamoto, Alicia Michioka Jones, JR Buenconsejo, Shawn Nakamoto, Chef Chai, Lurline Kawainui, Kelly Kauinana, Nathan Kam, to name a few--are the hardest working people in their business. We got into our roles and jobs for the right reasons: To do a good job, and do whatever it needs to make sure it goes off right.

And THAT, boys, and girls, is how you'll get to meet the coolest people at the coolest parties, maybe with celebrities. Thanks for following me around. Now back to work.

Like so many people in the last couple of weeks, I went to take a look at the new Nordstrom. I wasn’t crazy like my friend Sue, who went on the first day amongst the hordes of women looking for free cosmetics. She actually got injured from the stampede—I’m guessing because many women carry large, heavy bags that swing wildly during Olympic-class shopping events. And that’s just the purses.

I went first thing in the morning with Shawn Nakamoto, a frequent shopping partner when at PRSA conferences. Parking is easy to find at that time. Browsing is easier, too, with more elbow room. We went through the store, out to the new promenade area (both levels), and across to the main mall.

Everyone’s reaction so far is the same, from what I could see and am hearing: While driving, we’re a little confused and disoriented by the new parking lot and traffic patterns. While walking, we are confused and disoriented by the new mall set up between the two areas. I think the walking thing will just take a little getting used to. The driving thing seemed a little dangerous; I was already driving over to the Nordstrom lot before I realized I was in the middle of one of the ramps leading to/from the next level on the outside of the main lot! There aren’t enough signs to warn drivers (or pedestrians crossing the lot).

Nordstrom itself has done everything right for its grand opening, which I find is rare with individual shops and restaurants. The inventory was fully stocked, they ran promotions (at least, with the cosmetics), their staff was trained and ready at every level. There were no "bugs to work out."

We decided to try their Marketplace Café on the first floor. At first, I didn’t want to go because I could see that it was a cafeteria-style line. I tend to dislike these kinds of set-ups because the selections are not always apparent, the counter staff is rushed, and you have to find your own seats in a loud, clanking area. Not at Nordstrom.

They have a brochure-sized paper menu that you can pick up from the hostess before standing in line. You can peruse the "standard" salads, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, special entrees, and kids’ items, with prices and descriptions. There are various items not on the printed menu, like breakfast…and poke. The counter staff is quite friendly and helpful, and you can tell by the periodic "oooo’s" which items are their favorites.

The BEST part about this, though, is that they seat you. After you pay, while you are getting your beverage, a staffer will approach you and help you take your tray. They then seat you according to your party size and what’s available. Brilliant! This prevents parties of two from hogging a booth made for six. You also don’t have to wander the room for a seat or hover menacingly to rush diners at a table you want.

I had the Ginger Panko Crusted Chicken Salad ($11.95) and a cup of Roma Tomato Basil Soup ($3.75). Shawn had the soup, and the Blue Cheese & Pear Salad ($10.50). The soup was lightly creamy. My salad was good, but very filling. This is a good one for famished shoppers, or the husband who is trying to be healthy. Shawn’s salad was lighter but with big taste—we like stinky cheese so that one is ideal.

At the end, we both had the same thought: This is a great place to lunch with mom on a weekend. It’s pleasant, civilized, and there are no anxious diners hovering over your table giving you stink eye!

Remember the 80s, when everyone wanted some kind of Otsuka print on their wall with a black laquer frame? Usually it was a mod looking female. I had Otsuka's interpretation of famed samurai Miyamoto Musashi to remind me to keep his attitude when surviving at work.

A lot of people have moved past that kind of mainstream art into more individualistic pieces to adorn their homes or offices. For those who want to express themselves in eclectic ways, Fine Art Associates may be the answer.

Who would guess that this plain, generic door is the portal to a treasure trove of unique art? Talk about a hidden gem.

Unlike Fishcake, which just opened a couple of months ago, Fine Art Associates has been a well-kept secret for about 20 years. They've got everything--paintings, glass pieces, wood sculpture, acrylic, mixed media, ceramics, etc.--in a variety of shapes and sizes.

You should not just walk in and expect to start browsing, however. Arteest/Consultant Kelly Sueda recommends making an appointment so they can better show you items that may fit your needs and budget. It's not like a regular mass-production art store where you can flip through racks or browse the shelves and walk out with something that day (not ALL the time, anyway). It's often an actual process, where the associates figure out where you're coming from so they can determine where you're going. They aren't going to sell you something for the sake of making a sale; they want their items and collections to pull together and make you whole. It's a long-term project in the making.

Many of the artists they feature have lived in Hawaii; some are emerging artists on the mainland. If you are looking for something in particular, they can (practically) scour the earth to find it.

I didn't find anything on this day, mostly because I was so blown away that I couldn't really think straight. But I plan to go back to check it out. Their showroom is constantly moving inventory, so these photos only captured what I saw on one specific day. My path to fabulousness is getting clearer!

Fine Art Associates
1020 Auahi Street, Building 4
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
For appointments, call 591-2489 or email info@FineArtAssociates.com
www.fineartassociates.com

I know, I'm supposed to blog about where to find art for the home. That can wait till Monday. It's been kind of a crazy week, not to mention I found myself flat on my back with muscle spasms. So, take a quick break to see what's been going on in the area:

1. Christa Wittmeier from KQMQ on Amana Street invited a bunch of us to a benefit for Heart Gallery Hawaii, an organization for foster care. The theme was 70s, so we tried our best, but the VERY best was KQMQ's new DJ, Chris Hughes. Despite my repeated protests, he insisted on showing us his vast expanse of bare chest.

2. Anyone watch the Travel Channel when they showed Anthony Bourdain and his adventures in Hawaii? Love him or not, the show was great exposure for Hawaii and some things it has to offer, albeit off the beaten path. (See, Michael, I DID blog about it.)

3. I got a note from Senator Carol Fukunaga, who oversees our area, asking if I was going to Michael Zhang's new store's grand opening. Whaaat? Turns out, he has a new store, Blue Hawaii Lifestyle, opening in the new promenade area connecting Nordstrom to the rest of Ala Moana. So I dropped $40 to go to that preview event on Thursday just to see our buddy from the Honolulu Marathon Clinic (OK and the rest of the stores).

Looking ahead to this weekend, I tried to get a seat at the big Sub-Zero Wolf event, in which the 2007 Tom & Warren Matsuda Scholarship Culinary Competition student finalists will do a cooking demo. All proceeds will go towards the scholarship funds for Adina Guest, Justin Nip, and Ayumu Matsutaka to help further their education and culinary careers. I waited too long...and the seats are sold out! Oh, well, I'm glad it sold out since that means they will be maximizing the events for their education. Maybe next year!

OK signing off....time to rest my back. See you next week.

All right, so I went to Cathy Lee’s RSVP Style workshop last week to learn how to find my own style when remodeling a home. I’m sold! I’m hooked! I’m going to take my condo to another level of fabulousness!

Cathy says to shop with focus. To be honest, though, I find that half the fun is the actual browsing, especially when there are REALLY cool new places to look now—all in my area! For now, I’m saving myself for a big shopping trip to CS Wo with Cathy next Saturday, but I still want to see & feel everything in my area, and share my ideas with her…and you. So I'll tell you more about where I went this week.

My first stop was at Fishcake, a new home furnishings store on Kamani Street that opened around December/January. I love that it’s new. More than that, I love that it’s got unique stuff. “Once you buy a piece here, that’s IT!” exclaimed interior designer Michelle Uchiyama, excitedly wrapping up an eclectic lamp that I sort of coveted. That is the good and bad part about this store: They buy just one of each piece, many of which are exclusive lines to Hawaii. If you hesitate, and someone snaps up an item you were looking at, say goodbye forever; but if you are the swift and decisive buyer, then exclusive fabulousness is all yours.

The experience alone is worth the trip. When you step into Fishcake, you feel like you’ve just stepped into an uber-chic SoHo store, with the beautiful pieces softening the urban, industrial shell. Most likely, you’ll be greeted by Kea, showroom manager Betty Lee’s Chihuahua/Terrier.

Kea takes a break after a long day of selling furniture.

Kea counsels Michelle Uchiyama on her latest Fishcake purchase.

They carry some lines that have not been seen before in Hawaii: Most notable (to me, at least) is the Meridiani furniture line—sofas, chairs, and beds named after famous people. There’s the Thurman Bed, named for Uma; the Liu Lounger, for Lucy; and the Bogart Chaise, for Humphrey. These are all lower to the ground in keeping with contemporary Italian style. Ask Betty about the other exclusive lines…or ask owners Maura Fujihira or Barbara Chu.

Furniture, and the signature Fishcake mural.

The one question everyone has, of course, is: Why would you name a store Fishcake? The partners had once considered the old Kibun Red and White fishcake factory around the corner from the showroom's current location. That deal didn’t go through, but they still kept referring to the location as “Fishcake,” so the name stuck. An eclectic name for an eclectic store! Makes perfect sense.

Vignettes throughout the store make you feel like you're walking through a gallery.

I didn't buy anything yet, but not because I wasn't attracted to anything. I know my hesitation may cost me a unique item for my place, but I also know that Fishcake's inventory is constantly refreshed, so there will be more to see and touch every time I go back.

Coming next: Art for every taste

Fishcake
307-C Kamani Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
593-1231
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Closed Monday