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Windward Mall Going Upscale

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My oh my, how the face of Windward Mall is changing. I’ve made the comment once or twice that Windward Mall is a financial deathtrap, but it looks like the Mall has a pulse that’s only getting stronger. There’s the addition of several stores and restaurants, but the interior look of the Mall is upscaling similar to that of Uptown Pearlridge. Etched glass lines the second floor railings, cushy seating areas are now available, and everything looks more hip. Here’s a quick peek.

And to revive an old poll, I ask, “What’s your favorite Hawaii shopping mall?

What’s Your Favorite Hawaii Shopping Mall?
Ala Moana. I like to shop with tourists.
Pearlridge. Ewa side represent!
Kahala Mall. Ewa side not represented.
Windward Mall. It is NOT a death trap.
Victoria Ward Area. Hip and modern.
Shopping Mall? On-line shopping is where it’s at.
Swap Meet and Flea Market. The bestest deals.


Free polls from Pollhost.com

Simple Christmas Eve

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With a change in schedules this year, our Christmas Eve was pretty simple and straightforward. During the day, we went to Bellows for fun, sun, and lots of sand.

Dinner for Christmas Eve was none other than Pizza Hut pizza! Activities included playing Frogger and checking out homes decked out with Christmas lights.

A simple but fun Christmas Eve.

Tats Shave Ice for a Hot Day

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tats-signSunday was unreal hot. I mean unreal hot. Luckily Tats shaved ice was in the neighborhood at the right time. For those of you who don’t know about Tats, this is a mobile shaved ice stand built into a real colorful van (sorry, no pictures of the van). Tats is mainly on the Windward side, most of the time in Kaneohe, but when there’s a baseball tournament in Kailua, Tats is usually there.

Their menu.
tats-menu

The shave ice is real fine so it’s sooo good, especially during Sunday’s heat. Here’s my vanilla, lemon lime, li hing mui combo.
tats-shave-ice

greatharvestbread

Great Harvest Bread Kailua Grand Opening

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Just so happened to catch the Grand Opening of the Great Harvest Bread in Kailua in the Enchanted Lakes Shopping Center, right next door to Starbucks. Saw the sign that said Open so we went in.

Quite a few people were coming and going to check it out. Fellow high school alumni run this location and greeted us as we entered (wow, he has a good memory).

Lots of bread on hand. Got a peanut butter chocolate chip loaf. Is it me or are the prices lower? But looking at the loaf, it looks a little smaller. Also this location doesn’t have the full menu like other Great Harvests. Maybe later on, they’ll expand their selections.

Store information (as of 08/2006)

Great Harvest Bread Co.
1020 Keolu Dr.
Suite C-11
Kailua, HI 96734
261-8300
Tues – Sat, 6:30 am – 6:00 pm

cinnamonssign

Brunch at Cinnamon’s

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We made our way out to Kailua this weekend to have breakfast brunch at Cinnamon’s Restaurant. Someone had raved about the pancakes, specifically the Carrot ones, and we had a birthday to celebrate nothing to do so I thought why not.

MSO ordered the Sauteed Mushroom Omelette with homefries Hashbrowns Sauteed with Bacon and, I ordered the Veggie From-Scratch Eggs Benedict with homefries Chicken Cutlet Omelette and a Full Stack of Carrot Pancakes Pumpkin Walnut Pancakes was available for whoever wanted to try or had room to spare. Most thought the Carrot Pancakes Pumpkin Walnut Pancakes were a little overrated good but overall everyone enjoyed didn’t enjoy for their selection.

Service was wasn’t good and I had no a problem with tipping our server with a little more. My only gripe is the parking. What is this metered parking crap?! Can’t people enjoy a nice meal or shopping experience without having to already dish out $1.50 $0.60 for parking? Oh well. It was nice for a change since we hardly ever get out to that area.

Thanks for the template AAG!

Didn’t have the Chocolate Eclair pancakes on special so I went with something different. I shoulda stuck with the tried and true selections. I didn’t care for my chicken cutlet omelette, and MSO didn’t really like her Hashbrowns Sauteed with Bacon aka The Artery Clogger. Our waitress was slow as pouring thick syrup (she must be new).

We did see a high school classmate we haven’t seen since graduation. Sara C. recently moved back to Hawaii after being in Chicago. She has two sons and, her husband opened up Aloha Salad(?) in the Kailua area, next to Lanikai Juice. Will have to check it out.

Coffee Love or Competition?

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Recently, Coffee Bean & Tea had coupons in Midweek promoting their new Kailua store. Pretty good coupons, one for every week of January. Then, in the mail came a Starbucks buy one, get one free coupon for the Kailua location only. Coffee love or competition?

Starbucks rarely has these types of promotions. I think Starbucks is defending its Kailua turf and is trying to crush the Coffee Bean. There are many articles about Starbucks cannibalizing its own sales to retain its coffee stronghold.

And oh yeah, Kailua is getting another Starbucks, less than one mile from pulpconnection central.

Windward Mall Getting Renovated

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Windward Mall is getting a much needed facelift with a $23-million renovation planned for the Summer of 2006. The last renovation was in 1982 when JC Penneys was the hottest place to shop.

Yeah, we know about the opening of Ruby Tuesdays and IHOP and the return of Farrells. A 22,000-square foot bookstore is also planned. Hmm.. not sure about the viability of that one. How about a few more $1 stores for good measure? And how about a coffee place like Starbucks (oops, across the street already), Coffee Bean, or Seattle’s Best?

I’ve called Windward Mall a (financial) deathtrap in the past, but with these improvements, it’ll be a swanky deathtrap instead.

New Year’s Fireworks

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Fireworks on the Windward side was pretty tame last night. Of course, lots of smoke, but I’ve seen worse. Had a few nice aerial shows, but I think that Police helicopter circling around put a stop them.

Tame fireworks

Smoke

Police helicopter

How was the fireworks in your area? I wonder if kazuo fought the commercialism of New Years as well?

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