My Favorite Shot from Jenny and Chuck’s Wedding
Of all my photos taken from Jenny and Chuck’s wedding, this is my favorite of father and daughter walking down the aisle of the Ko`olau Range.
Remember the event and #meetthehalvorsons via Storify.
Life
My Yelp Review Criteria for Shave Ice
I’m simplifying my Yelp review criteria for shave ice places. I’m rating them based on two main questions:
- Would I go/eat there again?
- Is the shave ice too hard or too much to eat?
Really simple right? Sure flavor and consistency of the ice counts, but that factors into point #1. Then again, so does parking, seating, and cost.
For point #2, I view shave ice as a treat, not a heavy meal. So if it’s so dense, so huge, or so overwhelming, I’m rating it down.
Because I settled on these two points, I changed my recent Yelp review for Aloha Crepes & Snow Flakes, going down a notch from 4 to 3 stars. Don’t get me wrong, Aloha Crepes & Snow Flakes is a solid choice. But I doubt I’ll go back on my own choice. I’m more of a traditional shave ice fan, not the snow ice type.
The #4 mango and passion fruit combo we got was so large, three of us easily split it. I can’t imagine eating all of it myself, so that’s a negative for reason #2.
Sorry, Aloha Crepes & Snow Flakes, but I gotta set and stick with my rules.
Themify Notes
Notes after working with Themify themes.
- Create page to contain one or more sections.
- Can apply a background image to a section (not a page).
- Have the page blank and hide the title text, include the section with background image to make full width background image (oh and be out of editing mode).
Great Customer Service from Strong Like Bull Magnets
Now that’s great customer service by Spoke Design, makers of Strong Like Bull magnets. After Kickstarting this project, I was so pleased with the resulting product that I ordered more (in the new colors).
Anyways, there was an order mixup that was resolved. But besides the fast resolution and apology, I’m getting additional magnets! Yep, that’s delighting your customers right there. I can overlook a delayed order when there’s even more goodness that’s being delivered.
So if you want great magnets (seriously, these stick to anything) and exceptional customer service, you need to check out Strong Like Bull.
Welcome Granny and Saxy
Welcome Granny and “Saxy” to our LEGO family. Opened up two more packs of LEGO Minifigures Series 11 and got the elusive Grandma and the Blue Brothers-looking Saxophone Player.
The only minifig left from Series 11 that I want is the Welder. I have a few more unopened packs, and I really hope the Welder is in one of them. Otherwise, I’ll have to pass since I’m done hunting for any more Series 11 LEGO.
Wait, Mocha Java Cafe Is Still at Windward Mall?
Wait, what? Last I knew it, Mocha Java Cafe in Windward Mall was done for. It’s space was vacated as the new Starbucks location opened up across the way.
But while checking out the future space of the Hokulani Bake Shop, I noticed this sign. The logo looked familiar but the name, MJ Cafe, just sounded so different. Then it finally dawned upon me that MJ wasn’t someone’s name, it stood for Mocha Java. MJ Cafe moved a few doors down, closer to Sports Authority in a much larger space, and they’ve been there for sometime.
So that brings up the obvious question – why didn’t they keep the recognized name of Mocha Java Cafe? Was there a business falling out or an independent branching out. Whatever the case may be, I mistakenly thought Mocha Java Cafe had vacated Windward Mall. I was wrong.
That’s 3 Stars
That’s three Starbucks rewards stars right there in that bag.
For a limited time and if your account received the promotion, any purchase of a Starbucks breakfast sandwich yielded you three rewards stars. Not a bad tradeoff, $3-4 for breakfast and extra stars earned. Unfortunately, the promotion ended on October 15, 2013.
What about the breakfast sandwiches? Well, they’re okay. Nothing great, and they do remind me of breakfast from McDonalds. There’s not a whole lot of new breakfast combinations out there you know. An egg, sausage, and English muffin combination is pretty similar wherever you go. Anyways, two sandwiches and six stars later, I’m glad this promotion has ended.
Pure Deliciousness Coming to Windward Mall
So Fun Factory is coming to Windward Mall and right down the way, Hokulani Bake Shop is setting up shop. Remember the corner spot of Gloria Jeans née Scrambled née Mocha Java Cafe?
Yup, it’s getting remade into a spot of pure deliciousness in a scant few weeks. Come beginning of November, the Windward side can enjoy plenty of cupcakes from this longtime local favorite. Just in time for the holidays!
Soon More Fun at Windward Mall
Windward Mall is maximizing its family friendly strategy by continuing to add stores aimed at kids. Joining the mall’s community will be Fun Factory.
The factory of fun is opening on the floor level next to the kids play area. It’ll be in the space vacated by Koolau Pets.
Ono Grinds from the Weekend
Simple. Just some of the ono grinds I partook over the weekend.
My first visit to a Lawson’s Station. Heck, I didn’t even know there was a location right next to Ala Moana in the Pacific Guardian Tower across from Walgreens and Walmart. A small but interesting place. I had to pick up some food while there. The daily special was a $6 bowl of curry. Not bad, both in price and quantity.
Because both @abaggy and @melissa808 shamed me about not dining at Goma Tei, I had to make another lunch stop there. This time, to avoid the lines, I went early and to the Ward location. This tan tan ramen with ban ban ji chicken was served quickly and flavorfully.
If you ever ask for a partial pitcher of Pepsi and a partial pitcher of fruit punch, be sure to make it clear that you want these partials in different pitchers, not combined in one pitcher. Otherwise, you’ll end up with this reddish brown, sweet concoction that’s actually pretty good.
Now pair this sweet mix-up with a King Arthur’s supreme pizza from Round Table.
Breakfast at YogurStory was an experimental pick. Instead of going with my usual choices, I went with a Smoked Salmon Benedict.
I already posted my picture (and Yelp review) of the Coffee Monster masterpiece from Ice Forest.
Yup, lots of onos this weekend. Gotta hit up You Are Your Own Gym extra hard this week.
Yelped Ice Forest
Over the weekend, I had my first exposure to Ice Forest in Downtown. From what I understand, this place is related to Ice Garden in Aiea and has a similar style.
Read my Yelp review for the details of my visit. But to summarize, I loved the flavors but not the hugeness of the creations. There’s just so much – too much in my opinion. At $7+ for my massive Coffee Monster, I think you have to be more selective of getting yourself an Ice Forest treat. Four stars, but I’d be down with smaller sizes and cheaper costs.
Pier 1 at Ward No More
That didn’t take long. Less than a month after seeing the moving sale signs at Pier 1 at Ward, the location is now closed.
I still haven’t looked into where this Pier 1 store moved to. The ones in Pearl City and Kailua are still there, and the official Pier 1 imports web site only lists these two stores for Hawaii.
Update 11-03-2013: The new Ward location is open down the street.