It’s official!

My 22-year-old sister Crystal — who holds a degree in biology and probably a high score on some video game in this world — is now licensed to drive.

Beware, drivers! (Kidding!)

She passed her driving test yesterday with just minor infractions for stuff most of us do all the time: using poor judgment when entering an intersection and stopping too close to a crosswalk. (Hey, at least she stopped!)

If her driver’s license photo proves anything, she’s completely thrilled to have passed. Because she wasn’t interested in re-living the experience.

It’s funny. She’s the third person I know in their 20s — fourth, if you count my high school classmate who, at 33, still refuses to get behind the wheel — who doesn’t have a driver’s license. What’s more, they don’t really seem to want one, either.

Which, to me, is so strange.

I couldn’t wait to get my license. I was barely older than 15 when I went down to the DMV and took the driving test. (I failed the first time; long story.) I wanted that license so badly. Because it was more than a license to drive. It was my ticket to independence.

(Of course, I didn’t get a car until I was well into college, so a lot of good it did me!)

So let’s congratulate my stressed-out-over-this-driving-test sister who, thankfully, didn’t emerge from the experience with hives.

Any words of advice to share with this newly anointed driver?

***

On a separate but related (literally!) note: Happy Birthday to my dad, who turns 64 today.

He may be getting older, but he can still arm-wrestle me into the ground!

Most of you already know I’ve joined the Crocs craze, admittedly late.

I was one of those Crocs-bashers, who made fun — still do! — of people who think bright pink plastic clogs go with anything. (They don’t!)

Look who’s wearing Crocs these days!

Just spend some time in Waikiki — where a new retail shop opened recently on Kalakaua Avenue — and you’ll see just how far the trend has gone.

Japanese tourists can’t get enough of these colorful footwear, donning them with sun dresses and golf pants. It’s incredible!

Now, I don’t hate Crocs, not the way people do on the popular I Hate Crocs blog or writer Steve Tuttle does in his rant in Newsweek last week. I just think they’re the kind of footwear you need to consider twice before wearing.

You shouldn’t wear them to a job interview — unless you’re applying to be a deckhand on a sailboat. And you might want to avoid escalators. (Kids are getting these soft shoes caught in the escalator teeth and suffering injuries.)

It’s about one thing, as quoted in a hilarious video parody on YouTube: “I’ve given fashion the finger.”

Here’s the vid!

So if you’ve got ‘em, wear ‘em. Just know not everyone will appreciate your fashion choices.

With the start of the 2008 Summer Olympics only a few days away, I’m beginning to get that China buzz.I’ve never really thought about visiting the world’s most populous country — except, maybe, to walk along the Great Wall of China (which can’t be seen from the moon, by the way). There have always been so many other countries — Italy, France, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland — higher on my list of Places To Visit Before I Die.

But with all this media coverage of China — from news segments to magazine covers — I’m getting something along the lines of “Idol Fever.” Except about China.

NBC, the official network of the Summer Games, is going all-out (again) to promote its coverage, from “Countdown to Beijing” on “Today” to a Web site devoted entirely to the Olympics.Time, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have China- and Olympics-related blogs.

There’s no escaping!

And it’s no wonder.

China, so shrouded in its mysterious history, is something of an enigma for Americans. It’s not a culture most of us aren’t familiar with, a language so foreign and complex it’s daunting. It boasts a long and rich history. It stretches across about 3.7 million square miles. And it’s home to about 1.3 billion people.

It can’t help but be fascinating!

Here are some other interesting facts about China and its role in the upcoming Summer Games:

• China stretches more than 3,100 miles across its mainland territory. For the first half of the 20th century, it was divided into five time zones. But after the Communist takeover in 1949, government leaders decided that China should have just one time zone to promote national unity. So when the opening ceremony kicks off the Beijing Olympics on 8-8-08, it will be 8 p.m. across the country.

• Chinese officials expect 6 million people to visit the panda exhibit at the Beijing Zoo between now and the fall. There’s so much interest in the Olympic mascot that eight more bears are being moved from wildlife reserves in western China to the city.

• In preparation for the games, Chinese officials are encouraging locals to study English. Cab drivers and policemen have been ordered to learn 100 common English phrases, and officials hope that as many as 1.5 million Olympic volunteers will pick up some English. The leader of the effort is motivational speaker Li Yang, who claims to have helped at least 50 million Chinese people through his program “Crazy English.”

• There are five colorful Olympic mascots for the Beijing Games, each representing a different Chinese blessing and symbolizing one of five elements of nature: a fish, representing prosperity and the sea; a panda, symbolizing happiness and the forest; a flame for passion and fire; a Tibetan antelope representing health and earth; and a swallow symbolizing good luck and the sky.Source: NBC

But here’s my favorite:The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee recently issued an official guide to cheering:

Step one: Clap twice while shouting, “Olympics!”

Step two: Extend your arms forward, make fists with your thumbs up, and shout, “go!”

Step three: Clap twice while shouting the name of your favored country.

Step four: Extend your arms upwards, fists clenched, while shouting, “go!”

(Or watch this video.)

Can you see why I’ve got the buzz?

I’ve been thinking this blog needs something new, something different.

(And no, I’m not converting it to an all-FUUD blog! Yet!)

So I decided to add, every now and then, a Q&A with someone and call it “CatChat.” (How could I resist?)

Here’s the catch: All these interviews will be done over Skype, a service that allows people to chat, make phone calls and video-conference other members over the Internet for free. IM conversations are so different than those over the phone or in person. So I’m going to take advantage of the technology — and my new Mac — for these interviews.

My first chatter is Tanna Dang (right), co-owner of The Wedding Cafe, located at both Manoa Marketplace and Ward Warehouse.

She’s spearheading a FUN-draiser for eco-conscious nonprofit Kanu Hawaii called “Green is the New Black” on Aug. 12 at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Cost is $25 pre-sale, $30 at the door. Admission includes pupus, drink specials, live and silent auctions, a fashion show and swag bags filled with goodies from local boutiques. (There’s even a cupcake station by Hokulani Bakeshop and a quesadilla bar courtesy of Compadres Bar & Grill.)

So let’s get to know this do-gooder a little more…

CAT: How long have you been running The Wedding Cafe now…?

TANNA: Four years, since 2004.

CAT: With your husband, right? That must be interesting!

TANNA: Yup, my hubby Bryson and I run the show.

CAT: So what’s that like? I mean, most couples can barely cook together let alone run a business together!

TANNA: He’s pretty amazing… he’s easy going and laid back so working together is really fun and enjoyable! OK, that was the corny answer…

CAT: What’s the not-so-corny answer, then?

TANNA: It was pretty tricky working together at first since we just got married and then took over the business. We learned our roles pretty quickly though so we don’t step on each others toes. He’s a whiz in the kitchen, I’m a self-proclaimed know-it-all of weddings. Ha ha! Don’t write that, I’m kidding! I love weddings, he loves food. So we made a decision to be our own bosses in different areas of the cafe so we don’t overstep each other.

CAT: So you don’t mind seeing him every day? That would drive some wives nuts…!

TANNA: He’s extremely easy to work with. He loves talking to people. Brides think he’s great! Seniors who dine at the cafe think he’s great! Grooms think he’s great … We actually don’t “work” together everyday since he’s at one of the cafes and I’m normally at meetings around town or working from home on the computer.

CAT: So what do you think works about your marriage?

TANNA: We understand each others roles, period. Respect and communication is key.

CAT: Since you two run a wedding-related business, you must see a lot of couples. Can you tell, just by meeting them or talking to them, if it’s going to work?

TANNA: Sometimes…. We’re not fortune-tellers, but we work with so many couples that we get certain vibes from couples.

CAT: Any examples…?

TANNA: When couples come to the workshops, we love seeing them come together! The groom is holding the wedding binder, asking questions, rubbing her back and she looks sooooo excited. Those couples are winners! Other times, not AS often, we see couples looking so pissed, frustrated and annoyed with one another. I try to tell jokes but it sometimes, but it’s a tough crowd.

CAT: Ha! I can imagine! Ever worry your business will hurt because of rising divorce rates?

TANNA: Nah! There’s so much love in this world… with tragedy, hardship and economic downturns, there is MORE love. Weddings rock! People never cease to amaze me…

CAT: Speaking of love in this world, you seem to be on a mission to be nice to our planet.

TANNA: We are! we created an organization of smart, savvy, eco-friendly women called Divas Doing Good.

CAT: Where did you get this idea?

TANNA: Looking around at what’s going on in today’s world. So much pain and lack of education. My staff at (The Wedding Cafe) is very young. Listening to them talk and wanting to help nurture and empower them to be the very BEST they can be.

CAT: Anything in particular that you want to do?

TANNA: I’ll be the first to admit that I always want to help, donate, support… but often don’t know how. I would love to sit on more boards, but am afraid of not getting taken seriously since I’m young. I don’t want my girls to feel that same way. I want them to be bold.

CAT: So what do you hope happens with Divas Doing Good?

TANNA: My greatest hope is that young women (or women in general) will be empowered by each other! We’ll learn how to make this world a better place by making personal changes and supporting one another to do good. I would love to live in a place where women can chat over a lychee iced tea and set goals togetherr. For instance, I’d say, “I’m going to carpool at least once a week” and share my commitment with a friend who will share with her friend, and so on. Basically, sharing the knowledge we all possess.

CAT: So… the million-dollar question… what do YOU do to save our planet?

TANNA: Ha! I always carry a resuable tote when I go shopping so I say no thanks to plastic bags. I don’t buy bottled water anymore; instead, I carry my super cute Divas Doing Good water bottle (it’s seriously soooo cute!), I carpool at least 3 times a week, I walk a LOT more than I used to, I reuse as much paper as I can when printing, and we’ve switched over almost completely to online billing so we save on paper mail. But above all, I share my commitments with people on a daily basis. Not to PREACH, but to spread the good words.

CAT: Could you get Bryson to use one of those reusable totes?

TANNA: He has a more manly tote he uses when he goes to the farmers market. It’s plain-colored and not as CUTE. He also likes to reuse those brown kraft handle bags and throws everything in it like it’s a purse!

CAT: Hmm. A purse. I bet he wouldn’t want that in print!

TANNA: Yeah, guess not. OK, maybe “backpack” instead.

***

To learn more about Kanu Hawaii or to pitch in your support, visit www.kanuhawaii.org.

It’s a common complaint from my single friends:

There’s no place for people our age to meet other people our age.

We’re not in college — best meeting place for adults, hands down — anymore. We’re over clubs. And that idea we can meet people in line at the grocery store? Yeah, who’s done that?

So here’s some good news for my single friends: Harbor Court Bistro, which occupies the third floor restaurant and bar area of Harbor Court in downtown, is opening today.

I got a sneak peek at the new spot — a venture of Elizabeth Hata Watanabe, owner of The O Lounge — on Friday. And I was thrilled — OK, relieved — that this new spot has the same cool vibe as Palomino, which had a 10-year run in the same space from 1997 to 2007.

Inside the bar area on Friday. It was packed!

And I missed Palomino. (Cassis Restaurant and Wine Bar, which operated there for 10 months, was too expensive and, well, French.) It was comfortable, not pretentious, with good pupus and cocktails. And that’s how Harbor Court Bistro felt, at least on Friday.

The best part was much of the wait staff and bartenders from Palomino — which I thought was a very adult place to meet people — came back.

Two bartenders from Palomino who came back.

Not sure if the bistro will host live music, but the band was a hit on Friday. People actually got up and danced.

Friday’s event was star-studded, at least by Honolulu standards. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was there — and occasionally dancing. TV anchors including Diane Ako, Malika Dudley and Jill Kuramoto really upped the cute factor. And several lawmakers — who probably wouldn’t want to be named here — were also in attendance, sans alcoholic drinks.

The restaurant wasn’t serving its full menu — which Watanabe calls “eclectic international” — but here’s what we did have:

The restaurant offers five different pizzas: Hawaiian, Greek, Four Cheese, Chicken Alfredo and Classic Meat Combo. We sampled the latter ($11), which came with pepperoni, Italian sausage and sterling silver beef. Great with beer!

One of its signature pupus is the seasoned soybeans with furikake and mochi crunch. According to the menu, this is only served on the bar side.

We enjoyed the sauteed button mushrooms ($8), which came steaming hot and topped with garlic pepper butter and Parmesan cheese.

We tried the chicken quesadilla with peppers, goat cheese and a fruit salsa. I thought the flavors went well together, but it was a bit dry.

Another pupu favorite: steak fries with a really unusual banana ketchup. Yep, banana. It’s weird at first, but it starts to grow on you.

So if you’re looking for adult conversations without the distractions of go-go girls dancing on bar tables, check out the Harbor Court Bistro. At least you’ll feel like a grown-up among other grown-ups!