Photo: Katrina Valcourt basalt As much as I love going out to eat, I’m put off by how many menu items I can prepare at home. That’s why lately my favorite has been Basalt. Activated charcoal may not be as popular as it was a few years ago, but the Waikīkī restaurant inside Duke’s Lane Market & Eatery continues to serve up its classic black charcoal milk pancakes, topped with strawberry guava sauce, berries, powdered sugar and whipped cream. I appreciate that they are not as sweet as a typical stack and provide balance with a savory second course. Plus,…
Author: kissnearme
Tis the season for Rudolf, red wine and winter rooftop bars in London. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean rooftop bars can’t adapt to winter: many of them are transforming with heated roofs, cozy blankets, fires and of course, festive cocktails prepared to warm you up from the inside out. Even though I wasn’t born for this season, these rooftop bars help make it shine. So whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, here are 11 of my favorite and best winter rooftop bars in London. Packaged and ready with tinsel, Christmas trees and DJs. You just have to…
(Sponsored) Start building your dream home with this free seminar. Photo: Courtesy of Graham Builders MMost homeowners may never experience the home building process in their lifetime, so there’s no knowing exactly where to start. If you want to live in your current home long-term or need to accommodate extended family who are moving in, renovating or expanding your home may be on the table. Since 1996, Graham Builders has hosted free home building seminars that have put over 8,000 homeowners on the path to building their forever home. This information-packed, no-pressure seminar is an ideal platform to start your…
Rooftop pools hit different in Dubai. It’s not often I am utterly speechless when I walk out to a rooftop, having been to hundreds, but Dubai really has been keeping a big secret! And it makes a huge splash with some of the worlds most spectacular rooftop pools. These really are otherworldly experiences that put everything into perspective. Need to escape reality – these infinity phenomenal pools will do it! I last visited Dubai eight years ago, and the influx of sky-high swimming experiences alone made it worth a return trip. Some will require raiding your piggy bank, but are…
What’s open and closed on Presidents Day in Honolulu Your guide to which city services will be available or suspended in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 16, 2026. Services available There will be emergency ambulance service, medical examiner, firefighters, first aid and police. TheBus will run on schedule on Saturday. visit thebus.org for information on routes and timetables. Skyline will operate on a normal schedule from 4 am…
Rooftop bars, restaurants and swimming pools have a different impact in Dubai. From skyscrapers to sunsets plunging into the sea. Celebrate with craft cocktails and clinking glasses against the iconic Burj Khalifa. Dubai is an unmissable destination for rooftop addicts! Having sipped at hundreds of rooftop bars around the world, I love when a city’s skyline can still take my breath away. This city was practically made for rooftop enthusiasts, so it’s no surprise that these dizzying locations seem otherworldly. Cloud 22 Rooftop Pool View If you are here for the full list of my favorites Dubai Rooftop Bars and…
“You should take a picture of that sign,” my dad said, so I did. Photo: Andrea Lee OOn my first visit to Daji Spicy Pavilion 黔香阁, a girl at the next table is introducing her friends to “food from my hometown”. That would be Guizhou, a mountainous province in southwest China, the sour and spicy food is different from the bad spice of Sichuan. Daji opened in Chinatown Cultural Plaza last year, but I never got around to it until my dad, our team’s unofficial Chinese food authority, suggested we go for lunch. Now, it just might be my new…
What to do in a day in Reims, the Champagne capital of France? I think it might be obvious… 🍾 But Reims isn’t only about the bubbles (though, let’s be honest, it mostly is). There are historic sites to see, art to absorb and history to inhale, all just a short train journey from Paris. As a self-confessed champagne lover but no connoisseur, I have no idea how it took me this long to visit. So, if you’re considering it, then this guide covers what to see, what to drink, where to stay and how to squeeze the best of…
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808 Rin the Year of the Horse at the 50th Anniversary Chinatown Festival & Parade presented by American Savings Bank. Festivities include a parade, live shows on three stages, cultural performances, food vendors, local pop-ups and keiki bounce houses, providing a Valentine’s Day outing the whole family can enjoy. Formerly called the Chinatown Night Parade and Festival, the Golden Year Celebration is organized by Chinatown 808, a volunteer group known for organizing signature events that highlight O’ahu’s unique Chinese culture and heritage, as well as the Chinatown Historic District. Click on the information you want to…
Prague, famed for its cheap beer, the historic Charles Bridge, and the world’s oldest working astronomical clock. But I’ll be honest, it wasn’t high on my travel list. That all changed when I had a big golden birthday and one of my wishes was to dance to a DJ who just happened to be playing in Prague, at a rooftop nightclub. And so, we were off to Prague. The more I learned about this gorgeous Gothic city, the more excited I became. And the fact that it’s known as the “Golden City” sealed the anticipation. I could suddenly see why…