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Image: Christa Wittmier

Stay Classy

by Christa Wittmier | Aug 19, 2009
Comes with video

I remember the first time I ever wore heels in Honolulu. My model/actress friend got a VIP invite to Piranha Room and took me as her plus one. “You HAVE to look classy,” she told me and I proceeded to have a little freak out. Before that, pitchers at what was then Magoo’s and darts at Anna Bannana’s was just about the extent of my nightlifing. Walking in the place that night was quite the experience too. We slipped right past the line that was around the corner, actually got hugs from the mean-looking security people, then were immediately banded and escorted upstairs to the VIP area decked out with free food and a smiling Russell Tanoue running over to greet us. My friend had just wrapped filming an episode of “Wild On” on E! and was all the rage at the moment. As her plus one, I felt like a million bucks. You might remember those events that Tanoue used to do at the old Ocean Club. He totally transformed the place and went way over the top on every detail. Then invited all of the models and actors he shoots along with local celebrities, TV personalities and sports heroes. Sitting there in my new shoes and outfit I couldn’t help but admire the careful preparation Tanoue took to make sure all of his guests were properly greeted and situated throughout the night. I found myself wishing I knew him in some capacity to be taken care of the way all those beautiful people were. Since then, I’ve been all across the spectrum as far as dressing up goes. Lately I’ve been slacking, but Saturday night I decided to go for it again. Russell teamed up with nightlife Good Samaritan Kim Koga to throw a party at Bonsai, with proceeds going to the Hawaii Foodbank, and in the grand tradition of Russell Tanoue, the place was completely transformed from the second we walked up to the door. Sapphire, with all the trimmings from the chandeliers to the ice sculpture, to Tanoue’s signature model/actor photoshoot slideshow that was actually making me blush, was exactly what I was expecting to see from the glam photographer. The best part? A smiling Russell coming up to ME to say hello and buy me a drink, and I didn’t even have heels on that night. Well, OK they were like pointy flats. It was sort of what you might call a dream come true.

Later that night I felt very fortunate to have made it to the Nosaj Thing show. I remember seeing the flier and thinking the art was really cool but had no idea who he was. That just means I don’t get out much.

[my-rt.com]
[nosajthing.com]/

Nosaj Thing from 13thWitness™ on Vimeo.

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