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Feb. 23, 2004, 8:00PM TV reporter hits high noteBy KEN HOFFMANCopyright 2004 Houston Chronicle We've known Eileen Faxas as a straight-arrow consumer reporter on Channel 11 News for years. But Friday night, her first love takes center stage for the first time. Faxas will perform songs from her debut CD, Dance Cry Swing, at downtown's Bongo's nightclub, 818 Travis. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. "I've been singing and writing songs all my life," Faxas said. "Music is a gift from God. Songs fall into your lap like little blessings. I feel it's my responsibility to put these songs out there." Faxas wrote all 10 songs on Dance Cry Swing. Five are in English, five in Spanish. "The songs are very emotional and from within," Faxas said. "I'm not an 18-year-old girl writing about a boy she has a crush on. One song is about my grandmother, who passed away recently from cancer. She meant the world to me. Her message was so positive, to enjoy life despite whatever pain and troubles get in your way. "The songs are are uplifting. The music is very Cuban, very salsa, very tropical." If this CD were a drink, it would have an umbrella in it. Dance Cry Swing is available at local record stores. You also can purchase it online at www.eileenfaxas.com.
Today's trivia: What foreign city gets the most U.S. visitors each year?
What's left of 950 TalkRadio host Chris Baker (he recently lost 10 pounds via liposuction on Channel 2 News) is headed to Washington this week for Radio and Records' national awards event. Baker is nominated for Best Local Talk Show Host. Ken Charles, who runs the whole boatload of Clear Channel stations in Houston, is up for Best News-Talk Program Director. Charles won this honor last year.
Where are they now: former Oldies 107.5 morning man Mike McCarthy? "In a little over three months I will graduate from Houston Community College as a registered nurse. As Jerry Garcia said, what a long, strange trip it's been," McCarthy said.
Where are they now: Dan Lue, the muscle-bound Houston accountant who became a contestant on Survivor last year? "I'm taking acting classes at the famed Beverly Hills Playhouse, where George Clooney, Jim Carrey and Jenna Elfman studied. I'm also one of the top private trainers at the Sports Club. It's in the heart of Beverly Hills, just off Rodeo Drive," Lue said. In other words, Lue is done as an accountant.
Maybe I should become an accountant. A few months ago, I got a $100 gift certificate for a seafood restaurant. There's one problem with gift certificates, though. You can use them only one time. If you order, say, only $50 worth of food, you're out the other $50. That's dumb. You should never leave food or money on the table. Friday night I took four people (two adults, two kids) and my gift certificate to dinner. I tried to keep a running total in my head, but I lost track when someone ordered an extra crabcake. The goal, of course, was to get close to $100 without going over. You know, like on The Price is Right. When the waitress presented the bill, I had her read it out loud. "It's $99.80." I asked, "Do you have a gumball machine?"
Trivia answer: Tijuana, Mexico, where an average Saturday night makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans look like a dentist's waiting room. Listen to Ken Hoffman on The Pat Gray Show, 8 a.m. Wednesdays on KPRC Radio (950 AM). |
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