Saturday, December 6, 2008

Kaimuki Christmas Parade

We've gone to the Kaimuki Christmas Parade the last two years. The first year was the best. We got there early, took pictures with Santa (which we used for our Christmas card), watched the parade and enjoyed refreshments on the Chaminade Campus. Last year, I was six months pregnant, we got there late, and the post-parade festivities were cancelled because the heavy rains the week before prevented their setup. This year we almost missed it. I drive on Waialae Avenue practically every day and didn't see any signage announcing the parade. In fact, if we weren't on our way back from Costco on a very unusual midweek run, we would have missed it altogether.

This year we got a spot on the corner of 9th and Waialae in front of Wild Ginger and across the street from Town. It started with the decorated fire engine.


The mayor was in the parade:


Schools from the Kaimuki Area
Our friend and her daughter are in the last St. Patrick pic there.


A "lightly decorated" truck


Palolo pigs... what's that all about? Is that a school?


Some furry, four-legged marchers


Marines for Toys for Tots


An electric vehicle


I think the sign said this was the Grand Marshal of the Parade


I think these kids had sweeter rides than the Grand Marshal


The Baton people were festive, but the little girls looked like they were pooped by the time they got to us.


The Ghosts of Kaimuki. Just kidding. I had the camera on the night setting, but they were moving too fast for it, so they look like ghosts.



Beauty Queens


Girl Scouts


And other colorful characters


There was Santa Claus at the end, but my baby got fussy and wanted to be fed, so I had to relinquish my photographer duties.

We enjoyed the parade. Thank you to the Kaimuki schools and businesses that participated. A couple of suggestions for next year, though... 
1.  Advertise better. Put banners alond the fences of all the schools along the parade route.  Or  better yet, have all the participants of the parade promote it at their place of business. 
2.  Start the parade with a band or a loud sound system on the first vehicle so we can hear the beginning of the parade before it gets to us.  It's like saying "Let's get this party started!"
3.  Groups should wear a uniform or a group t-shirt... or at the very least, be color-coordinated. I know they are volunteers and can't be asked to buy a shirt and give their time, but it sure helps to know who is in what group in a parade.
4.  Remind us to bring a toy for the Toys for Tots truck.  Let us give back too!

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Dim Sum at Happy Day

Some pregnant women crave chocolate, some crave pickles and ice cream. I craved dim sum. I've given birth two times over since then and the dim sum obsession remains. Fortunately, I live five minutes away from Happy Day on Waialae Ave.

Happy Day is a good, reliable, clean Chinese restaurant. (I only mention this because I've been to many a questionably clean Chinese restaurant that are good some days and inedible on others). It's a place that you won't be embarrassed to bring your guests. I've never been a pork chop fan, but their Salt & Pepper Porkchop is absolutely ono. They also make a finger-lickin'-good Black Bean Crab. But that is another blog...

It's amazing how much dim sum gets served in a single day at Happy Day. It's a fairly large restaurant, but it's not uncommon to see every table filled during lunch. Our perennial favorites include Half Moon ($2.68), Shrimp and Spinach ($2.68), Scallop Dumpling ($2.68), Mochi Rice (in leaf) ($3.25), Baked Char Siu Bao ($2.68), Taro Gok (deep fried taro with yummy pork filling) ($2.68), Pan-Fried Turnip Cake ($2.68), and Gin Dui ($2.68).


Siu Mai (aka Pork Hash). Has shrimp inside.


Shrimp and Spinach.


Shrimp Dumpling


Scallop Dumpling


Half Moon has Chinese parsley in it, which is a wonderful twist on the standard


Baked Char Siu Bao is sticky on the outside and has just enough dough to keep the pork inside. Meat in every bite.

PAKE TIP 1: Get 25% off your dim sum 8:00-11:30 AM if you do Take Out. Perfect for scoring brownie points with your co-workers. A discount and no need tip. What more could you ask for?

PAKE TIP 2: Happy Day also has dinner specials where you can try the Salt & Pepper Porkchop and Black Bean Crab (among others). Dinner for four is $63, for six is $84.

Happy Day Chinese Seafood Restaurant
3553 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
ph 808.738.8666

Hours: 7 days a week 8am - 1030pm

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