this week in Honolulu: Art & Flea
I am desperate for some new jewelry! I have been downsizing for months, and my style has definitely evolved into “beachy” urban wear (what you get when you cross washington heights and Hawaii?) Good thing Art & Flea is happening this Thursday! (May 23) This month’s theme is Vintage +Flight—and the flyer encourages you to come in costume. That sounds like some GOOD fun!
Art & Flea (5/23 from 5pm-10pm) @ Fresh Cafe (831 Queen St.) 
You should know that I love Hemingway and Grapefruits. My father introduced me to Hemingway when I was 11. I just LOVED that he lived in Cuba, and his understated writing style. I started eating whole grapefruits for lunch once I moved to Hawaii. I love how tart they are—I just peel them like oranges and I eat up. I even started a trend among my coworkers. So recently, I was searching for cocktails to make at a party I am planning, and I stumbled upon the Hemingway Daquiri. I know I mentioned Josh Sullivan and Post Prohibition before—and this drink sounds AMAZING. Not to mention, he combined two things I love.
I am also trying out the FiftyThree Paper App because my sketchbooks are starting to pile up! This is my first illustrated recipe. Enjoy :)
I gave up eating refined sugars a while back. I am not SUPER legalistic about it—sometimes I have sauces that are a bit on the sweet side when I eat out and stuff. However, dessert is usually off limits. At times, I still have a sweet tooth though! My mom was a baker when I was growing up. Later, I followed her footsteps and was a baker after college right before I started teaching. So, lately I have had to find creative ways to satisfy my sweet tooth. They mostly involve fruit but it works!
Yesterday I froze a few pounds of grapes because it’s getting so hot in Hawaii! And all this heat has left me craving a frozen treat. This morning I sneaked in a few after breakfast and it was perfect. So today, frozen grapes=bliss.
(To make your own: First, wash them thoroughly! I even let mine soak for a while. Then, drain them for a few minutes. Next, place them in a plastic container or Ziploc bag overnight. Finally, enjoy this awesome treat!)
this week in Honolulu: Honolulu Night +Market in Kaka’ako
Every third Saturday, I visit the Honolulu Night Market to be INSPIRED. The pop-up shop concept feels light and playful. I really enjoy wandering through the different stands and experiencing what fellow Honolulu folk are creating. I always leave feeling wistful and ready to make some more art. In addition to inspiration, the HNL market offers the BEST LATE NIGHT SHOPPING. If you—like me—are a night owl, you will most definitely enjoy this! There’s also the bangin’ food trucks—my favorite is Momo Burger.
Don’t miss your chance to check it out this month:
Honolulu Night + Market/ Saturday May 18 @ Auhi Street from 6-11pm
I have been missing Washington Heights a lot recently. I am just aching to be by my family, speak more Spanish, and feast on Dominican cuisine. I am not sure when I will be back on the East Coast, so for now, I will reminisce about the small details that make Washington Heights feel oh so close to my heart.
Recently, an upcycling craze has been spreading through my classroom! It started a few months ago when my students researched energy conservation and global warming as part of an energy unit. We watched short documentaries, and researched the devastating effects we are having on the planet. Then, one day my student commented that I drink a lot of Perrier (I gave up soda a while back—but I still need carbonated beverage fix!) Gears started turning (and I did some creative googling) and decided that we would make a Mother’s Day present that was COMPLETELY upcycled. My students were delighted to spray paint the perrier bottles white, blue and yellow, and to add a stripe of chalkboard paint to write a special message for mom. We had so much fun with this project!
For Bottles:
Materials: Newspaper/Tarp/Cardboard, Chalkboard Paint, Gloss Protective Enamel (Spray Paint-we used Krylon) and Chalkboard Spray Paint
- Soak bottles in warm watter to peal off labels.
- Dry bottles thoroughly.
- Lay out tarp or cardboard to spray paint bottles on. Be sure to do this in a well ventilated area. Spray paint the bottles (We did two layers. And allowed them to dry overnight because the school day ended.)
- Tape off the area of the bottle that will be sprayed with chalkboard paint. (We were very meticulous with out taping so that the edges would come out smooth and clean. We also used a paper towel to cover the parts that were spray painted earlier.)
- Spray the area marked off for Chalkboard Paint. (Allow to dry for 2 hours)
Next week I will be posting a tutorial for the Newspaper Flowers.
*Note: The Chalkboard paint was tricky. We learned it’s really important to avoid getting on your hands! It will stain ANYTHING
vivo en inglés. pero siento en español.
When I was a teenager, Becks put out an ad with the tagline “Vives en ingles. Pero sientes en español.” (You live in English. But you feel in Spanish.) Underneath that tagline the ad also said “Así eres.” (That’s the way you are.) This was some amazing advertising! This ad captured the essence of growing up in Washington Heights, and being exposed to both Dominican and American culture. Now that I live in Hawaii, Washington Heights is 5,000 miles away—I feel really far from home but I carry it with me every where I go.
Today, I stumbled upon this gentleman who is a local Hawaiian guy who makes Latin food. My heart skipped a beat because it made me realize how much I am missing this. And so I decided that in this next season, I will be exploring the Dominican cuisine that I love, and diving into Latin American art/culture/music. I plan on crafting meals inspired by those made by my grandmother, mother, and aunties. Ultimately, I really do feel in Spanish, and I want that to seep out in the coming months. I can feel that good things are on the horizon. I love you for reading this little blog. <3 Take care.
Raspberry Cane
I CAN’T stop listening to this album! I have read a lot of interviews, and I love that Trevor Powers channels his anxiety into making such great music! I also really enjoy his sound and the way it’s dreamy AND it’s noisy—that intersection gets me every time. I love playing his album on my long drives to and from work because they make them feel epic and cinematic. I hope that you enjoy it too. (My favorites include: Mute, Pelican Man, & Dropla)
I stumbled upon this idea on Apartment Therapy, and it inspired me to paint the wooden chairs I’ve been collecting the same color. I think there might be room for them in my new home, and they might be used as dining table chairs. I am excited to see how they turn out once my vacation starts in a few weeks! (I am not excited about sanding all those backs though..)
joy is happening!
There are only 12 more days left of school! Goodness, where did the time go? I am in denial. Lately, I have just been exploiting the joy capacity in each of my days. And my students have been a delight! I am content because they are creative and willing to give into any crazy idea I propose. This week: I decided we would upcycle Perrier bottles by spray painting them to make vases for Mother’s Day. Then, my assistant came up with this idea of newspaper flowers. Currently, we are on an upcycling kick because we have been learning a lot about sustainability and global warming—and the kids have suddenly become ambassadors for the planet!
My students blow my mind each day. They are strong communicators and great at collaborating. All their creative energy is making my days cheerful and bright. I just feel so honored and blessed to be able to experience it all. Outside of the interactions with my student, my job makes me feel anxious and uncertain. Teaching has always been like this bipolar boyfriend that has intense highs and extreme lows. For the next 12 days, I plan on LIVING FOR those highs. (Soon enough, the extreme lows will be a distant memory.)
Stay tuned for detailed posts about the fun crafts happening in my classroom this month! I hope you are staying inspired wherever you are. Take Care <3
this week in Honolulu: HawaiiSlam First Thursday
I haven’t been to slam is so long! I am looking forward to hearing people pour their soul out and I am ready to be dazzled through wordplay and syntax. Last month, I missed the Slam Team competition—I kind of like summer because they seem more low key and experimental. I always leave slam feeling enthusiastic and motivated to keep calm and keep going. There’s something really beautiful about the sense of community fostered at Poetry Slams.
HawaiiSlam First Thursday/ Thurs. May 2 @ 8:30 pm at Fresh Cafe (831 Queen St).
Cost is $3 before 8:30PM and $5 after. Get there early and grab a sandwich from Fresh (so good :)
this week in Honolulu: Eat the Street & ARTafterDARK
The last Friday of the month is BUSY! I always try my best to make it to both of these events but sometimes it’s tough (especially if I invite folks to come along.) I am very excited about Eat the Street this month because the theme is bacon—how can that go wrong? I love street food, and the atmosphere at Eat the Street—it’s crowded and there’s great opportunities for people watching and bumping into people you haven’t seen in a while.
I am committed to make it to ARTafterDARK too. I love museums. I majored in History of Art in college, and I would spent HOURS ogling paintings, sketching, and just reflecting in museums. Art After Dark satisfies that part of me but it’s so much more grown up! There’s dancing, live music, cocktails, and art (of course.) I love wandering through those courtyards with a drink in hand and taking in whatever exhibit is going on.
Might be tough to make it to both, but definitely worth it!
Eat the Street/ Friday, April 26 4-9 PM @ 555 South Street in Kaka’ako
ARTafterDARK/ Friday, April 26 6-9 PM @ Honolulu Museum of Art
