A Lovely Bunch?

I am not saying Terence Hallinan has been ineffectual as a district attorney," comedian Bob Sarlatte confided. "But I heard someone say he couldn't convict the tiger that bit Roy." ... This was all part of the frippery at the fundraiser for Bill Fazio at Original Joe's on Tuesday night. Fazio hopes to unseat Hallinan. About 100 cops, politicos and disenchanted assistant DA's crowded into the back room at O.J.'s, the Jewel of the Tenderloin. They cheered Fazio without restraint when he entered. The gathering garnered nearly $20,000 for the Fazio campaign, which continues to pick up momentum. ... By the way, cigars might soon be encouraged at Original Joe's. No, not the Havana kind. "I just got back from Philadelphia and discovered the feta cigar," reports Marie Duggan, O.J.'s owner. "It's a finger of feta cheese, wrapped in phylo dough, then deep-fried and presented on a Greek salad. I nearly fainted it was so good." Aside from chomping on cigars, Marie checked out the Phillie music scene for ideas for her own jazz & cabaret shows. ...

As Tom Brokaw addressed the 100th anniversary gala for the Commonwealth Club at the St. Francis Tuesday night, he paid special homage to the late Herb Caen. "I always admired Herb Caen from afar," Brokaw told the black tie, brocaded gown crowd. "To this day, as I'm approaching San Francisco by airplane, I still mentally collect items for the Caen column." ... On Monday, St. Francis staffers put on their first-ever employee talent show -- the idea of Hotel Manager Victor Barothy-Langer, who was also the emcee. "Beyond the job titles," observes Barothy-Langer, "events like this inspire understanding and respect for each other." ... Eleven staffers took to the stage, including singers ... a hula performer ... pianists ... a traditional Filipino coconut dancer and an accordionist (of course), who did not play "A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts." Longtime Compass Rose server Robert Kenney sang the plaintive "Que Reste-t-il?" But first-place honors went to the talented Kevin Moore, the garage attendant whose sax playing appears on the KKSF 103.7 Sampler for AIDS Relief. ... A benefit auction tonight for Shanti at the Merchants Exchange Building at 465 California St. from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The theme for the 29th annual awards gala is "To Russia With Love." The guest of honor is the Honorable and Mrs. Victor Nicolaevich Lizun -- the consul general of Russia and his wife. The serenity of the silent auction will be punctuated by the tinkling of champagne glasses, the spurtling of vodka and the unmistakable whoosh of caviar being spread on blinis. ...

Noel Neill, TV's Lois Lane on the Superman series of the 1950s, continues to paint the town red (though that expression might have been banned during her show's heyday). At the Fairmont, superconcierge Tom Wolfe was so excited when he encountered Ms. Neill that he recited the entire intro to the TV program from memory in an impressive stentorian delivery. You'll recall the original voice was that of Bud Collyer, from TV''s "Beat the Clock." I really hope there are no typos in that line ... Today is "Noel Neill (Lois Lane) Day in S.F." as acting mayor and supersupe Fiona Ma will so ordain at Books Inc., 2275 Market St. tonight at 7:30 p.m. ...

Eddie Alley, the 92 year old brother of famed jazz bassist Vernon Alley, and his wife, Dorothy, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at Moose's Tuesday night. Eddie, a world-class drummer, might had been a household name like Gene Krupa or Art Blakey or Buddy Rich but the traveling did not agree with him. In the restaurant, Eddie reminisced a little about his jazz career with Ed and Mary Etta Moose and horn player Waldo Carter, who has phoned Eddie every day for 25 years. "I was really nervous when I met Billie Holiday for a gig," recalled Eddie. "I think she liked me because I was so afraid of her." ... Dorothy Alley grew up in the Fillmore District. She says hers was the only black family on the block in those days when the neighborhood was
almost exclusively Jewish. ...

Saturday's benefit at Somart Gallery for pot guru Ed Rosenthal drew 350 people and raised $15,000 for Green Aid. But the pro-grass gathering was a little disjointed. Ed is calling for a legalization of marijuana across the board. But politicos, such atty. & former S.F. supe Carol Ruth Silver want to make it clear that Ed really means "medical marijuana" only. On the topic of cultivating medical marijuana on city property, Dick Hongisto reminds us, "The County Jail has a 190-acre farm." I don't really see what the all the fuss is about. I mean, if you're in for a kilo, you're in for a pound. ... Texas firebrand Molly Ivins appeared at Kepler's in Menlo Park to promote her new book, "Bushwacked." She told the enthusiastic crowd that she and her co-author Lou Dubose traveled across the country to find an average American but only found "above average Americans." Government is the culprit: "It can screw up a two-car funeral."

John Creighton Murray, the violin virtuoso of the Marina District, s knocking them out in Hong Kong. He's playing the famed Foreign Correspondents Club on the 30th. The club has issued him a visitors membership card with unlimited privileges. John, who is 82, has lined up a gig in Macau and two more concerts at a club called La Boheme on the 28th and on Halloween. "It's scary," says his good friend Bonnie Engel. "John has already slipped his leash." ...

Concerned that KTVU Channel 2 colleagues of Faith Fancher, who died on Sunday after a long bout with cancer, wouldn't be able to get away from their station duties to attend her service, NBC/11's news director, Jim Sanders, offered assistance -- making video tape, equipment, and personnel available -- even sending people over to answer the phones, if necessary. "Compassion takes precedence over competition," explained Sanders. "This sort of decency is almost unheard of," said Mike Sugerman from KPIX & KCBS. "It is exactly what Faith's life was all about."