The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 31

ThoCoufier-Neujs Food news Coming up Want a good fruitcake? Consumer Reports favors the Collin Street Bakery Deluxe Fruitcake. To order call (800) 248-3366. How to reach us You can e-mail us at: or call Features Editor Paul Grzella at (908)707-3149. Whether a singing Christmas tree or a dancing Rockette, the winter wonderland of New York City is a delight during the holidays. Thursday's GET OUT! will offer a sampling of the season's most enjoyable events.

1 1 hU 'A i 7VTN i YT 7 TIN Ji i I i Jk i 1 I A i fl a mat 7r f- vl CataIogs like'ln the tJcN. I JrltXU ftYv Company of Dogs' offer gift 'W Pi' ideas for your A Wk Xm. a I- -J, Top 10 programs Wi, VVwX' A I Dec. 1-Dec. 7 V.

Tr 1. Monday Night Football ABC If I 2. Seinfeld NBC iM I 3. Touched by an Angel CBS yj il i i 4. CBS Sunday Movie CBS If I I Vl NaI I 1 i 5.

60 Minutes CBS A ji PV 6. Dateline NBC Monday NBC t( r)B )( V. 7-Fnends NBC )Y) A I 4) 8. Barbara Walters Special ABC -t. fr I I I 1 9.

The X-Files FOX ts) I 1 10. NFL Monday Showcase ABC 1 CBS NBC ABC FOX II Vyr I 9.2 8.8 9.6 7.1 peopiH Kewarcl t-at. vJL JUL UL JL I I By EDNA ARGUELLO If I Staff Writer i i ii i-'-V 'Candle in the Wind 1997' lyrics to be auctioned. Handwritten lyrics to go on the block The handwritten lyrics to "Candle in the Wind 1997," ELTON son's Christmas tree to figure out this must Christmas tree to figure out this must ou need glance only once at Connie Anderson's be the season to be jolly for mankind and its Buying gifts for Rover, Tabby and Polly f'J lanmy. me new pel ill uie iduuiy is wiazz, aiuo- I fi 1 family.

The new pet in the family is Chazz, an JOHN'S funeral tribute to PRINCESS DIANA, will be sold at auction to benefit a hospital. The lyrics, along with the final typed version, are signed by the creators of the song, ahnsnital version, are four-legged friends. There is an ornament on the tree for every member of the family, including every dog the Chatham family has owned. There also are ornaments for most of the milestones in the life of this 18-month-old Shihtzu. "This year, I went all out because of Chazz," Anderson adds that besides the family's new pride and joy, a granddaughter, she has three "grand dogs." She recently picked up wooden cookie jar tops with painted faces of each dog at Crafters' Boutique in New Providence.

She'll pre 1 says Anderson. "I used up a whole role of film on A Courier-News photos by J.T Greiiick r' i himsolcan send pictures with my Christmas card A Groomer Judy Erholm gives a cocker I fi 5 i.k.. snaniAl hath at Washinntnn Pet SiinnliAfi I says Anderson. "I used up a whole role of film on him so I can send pictures with my Christmas card Couner-News photos by J.T. Greiiick Groomer Judy Erholm gives a cocker spaniel a bath at Washington Pet Supplies I suciauirctouMxnii new uauy.

wr. rr" 1 so everyone can see my new baby." Princess Diana I BERNIE TAUPIN and John. Proceeds from the Feb. 11 sale at Christie's in Los Angeles will be donated to the Children's Hospital there. "Children's Hospital Los Ange- les is close to my heart, as are the lyrics to 'Candle in the said Taupin, who lives in Los Angeles.

"I am amazed and sent the jar tops to each dog on Christmas Day. Like Chazz, Mr. Chester will be right by his human family when the Deremer family opens presents on Christmas Day. The gray-colored cat with one blue eye and one green eye will spend the holiday in the family home in the r. i- x.

v.r i Basking Ridge section of Bernards, wearing a collar to match one of his eye colors. Last year, the 10-year-old received a bird feeder. The cat likes to sit at the window and yT the family wanted to give him something to II in Whitehouse Station. Items like these mouse toys are popular stocking stuffers. ferent to taste, it's best to stick with food made specifically for the digestive system of a pet, says Dr.

Allison Hackett, who practices at the Bound Brook Vetrinarian Clinic. "Definitely no chocolate. They like it but it can be toxic to animals," she says. "We do see a lot of vomiting and diarrhea during the holidays because people want to share some of the meal they're having. I usually recommend sticking with toys as opposed to food treats if you want to do something special." If showing your appreciation means buying a companion a gift, department and specialty stores, local shelters and catalog companies sell fun items.

For $25 you can get your pet, a dressy holiday collar complete with jewel-colored stones from the In the Company of Dogs catalog. The selection available in the PET USA catalog includes Christmas ornaments and a brand new faux leopard coat that sells for $24.97 to $31.47. "A lot of collars and leashes are selling because they're good stocking stuffers," says Heather McDaniel, an assistant manager at The Pet Company store in the Bridgewater Commons mall. "Stockings and bones and toys are selling too. People spend like $50 on their animals." Snouts, ears, bones, paws and other body parts made out of pig hide are selling well at Washington Pet Supplies II in Whitehouse Station, says owner Diane Wilson.

So are coats which many people buy to put on their dogs after they've been look out at, says owner Jennifer Deremer. groomed for the holidays in the basement of the Hunterdon County shop. The McFadden family of Bernardsville recently purchased a tree topper bearing the face of a German shepherd at a Summit pet store. The topper resembles the family pets, Bernie, a 14-month-old shepherd mix and Orlean, an 11-year-old retired Seeing Eye dog the family adopted two months ago. "And they'll get presents.

We have so many friends that are into dogs and horses too so when we come together for the holidays we exchange presents for our pets too," says Brian McFadden. "They give you a lot more love than you can ever give back." Buddy, a 97-pound golden retriever, gets treated like royalty at Christmas, says owner, Donna Durando. The dog will travel with the family, which this year includes the Durando's 1-month-old daughter, to Christmas Eve dinner in Long Island. Durando, a hairdresser, will groom the dog by then. "He opens everybody's presents," says the New Providence resident referring to her 20-month-old.

Meow, who Durando says is very social and comes out from wherever he is to greet people when they visit, is too old to make the journey. But once the family's back home, Meow will get a stocking full of goodies that hangs from the home's staircase. "They're like family," says Durando. "We're loyal to them because they're loyal to us." "It may sound dumb but he gets his own stocking and a special meal prepared just for him rather than just a can of something," says Deremer. "He loves fresh chopped liver as an appetizer and will generally eat a lasagna roll with something like cottage cheese because that's what he can digest.

He gets a little tiny bit of garlic and chopped tomato." The cat will eat before the family sits down to enjoy their holiday meal. "This astounded by what this song has achieved." John sang the reworked version of the 1973 hit at Diana's funeral Sept. 6. The song has sold a record 35 million copies. JFK spouse mobbed at opera JOHN F.

KENNEDY JR. and his wife, CAROLYN KENNEDY, were mobbed by reporters and onlookers at the opening of the opera season at La Scala in Milan, Italy. The couple barely reached its seats by the time the curtain rose Sunday. Outside, animal rights activists and flag-waving city policemen on strike demonstrated. La Scala's opening night is a major social event and is used by a variety of protesters to grab the spotlight.

way he full and done and can rest in the living room while we eat," says Deremer. "It wouldn't be Christ I mas without him." For the animal lover, a pet is a special member of the family and the holidays are a time to share and show your appreciation for their company. If you're inclined to give your pet something dif- In the Company of Dogs photo Hand-painted ornaments are nice for the Christmas tree. Today Old pros key in revival of 'The Sunshine Boys' Caregiver Group Meeting, 7 p.m., Somerset County Annex, 614 First Raritan. Meeting will address questions caregivers ask for help from family and friends in a time of crisis.

Held by the Friends and Relatives of the Elderly, (FARE.) (908) 234-2220. Holiday Boutique, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Meyersville Grange, Mey-ersville. Featuring antiques and handcrafted items. (908) 769-0472.

Gratella Gallery, The Forre-stal at Princeton Hotel and Conference Center, 100 College Road East, Princetoa "The Scenic Route," a collection of paintings by Robert Sakson, through Jaa 2. (609) 452-7800. shine Boys' signature piece, "The Doctor Will See You Now." It is a bit of Simon-concocted vaudeville, complete with buxom nurse and mildly saucy one-liners that wouldn't shock a 10-year-old today. The other cast members basically are straight men for the antics of both Klugman and Randall. Matthew Arkin plays Willie's long-suffering nephew and put-upon agent.

He manages to make a favorable impression even though he must act in a state of permanent exasperation. But then the evening belongs to its two stars. They shine and so does "The Sunshine Boys." Willie. If Willie is crotchety, Al is mournful, and Randall arrives with the saddest pair of eyes this side of a basset hound. It is a joy to watch them toss Simon's funnies back and forth as if they were playing table tennis.

These guys are in championship form. Much of the play is an entertaining discourse on what is funny. Some things just naturally are, according to Willie. You can hear Simon the canny comedy writer expounding his theories on writing comedy through the expert verbal skills and timing of Klugman and Randall. The second act opens with the Sun dy stuff.

He has carefully constructed the comedy so that it builds as if it were a vaudeville sketch. The story is simple yet effective. Willie Clark and Al Lewis, known on stage as the Sunshine Boys, were in show business together for 43 years. A spat 11 years ago split up the act. Now the boys are wanted for a television special on the history of comedy.

But will they reunite? Simon machine guns the laughs the minute the curtain rises on Willie's shabby apartment hotel room. It helps that the performer is played by Jack Klugman, a man whose craggy, crotchety demeanor and even craggier voice are perfect for By MICHAEL KUCHWARA Associated Press NEW YORK Vaudeville isn't dead. It is alive and well on the stage of Broadway's Lyceum Theater where a revival of "The Sunshine Boys" opened Monday. The 1972 Neil Simon comedy is in the hands of a couple of old pros Jack Klugman and Tony Randall two gents who know how to get a laugh. And there are plenty of them in this affectionate salute to a peculiar form of show business that now seems as rarefied as haiku and just as difficult to pull off.

Simon's play is remarkably stur 1 1 File photo Tony Randall, left, and Jack Klugman are together again..