NMD BAPE Denied
Tried for the Adidas NMD and BAPE collaboration but was denied (as expected). Adidas had a mechanism in place to randomly allow visitors to the online sale page, kinda effective.
International Market Place Striving for Perfection
Hold up. Let’s reconsider the essence of perfection. It’s not one static state but rather a continued journey upon which the International Market Place is on. You remember my almost perfect night at the Market Place, only marred by an exorbitant parking fee? Well, that has since been rectified and soon enough fixed for the better.
After that night, the missus wrote an email to the management of the International Marketplace with similar sentiments of my blogged version. Within 24 hours, there was a response from the General Manager himself. His response was refreshingly truthful and sincere. Yes, he apologized for our situation and shared that he had received similar complaints during their short time open. It seems their parking rates mimic the pricing structure of neighboring establishments, but this model doesn’t really fit the shopping and dining experience offered by the International Market Place. Recognizing this discrepancy, a new parking fee is being rolled out this week.
More so, the GM offered to reimburse us the difference between the current and upcoming parking rates which would equate to $6. Even better, he’s providing us with complimentary valet services (until the end of 2016). Of course, none of this is absolutely necessary to respond to a complaint. But the fact that the staff and management of the International Market Place did respond quickly and courteously to satiate a complaint says a lot. While the International Market Place may not yet have achieved perfection, they are striving for perfection.
Almost a Perfect Night at International Market Place
Update 11/21/2016: Wow, that was fast. Read how the International Market Place is striving for perfection.
Almost. So close to the pinnacle of perfection was our first night at the renovated International Market Place in Waikiki. In the end, this ruined perfection.
Yes, yes, we should have known better. This is Waikiki afterall, and the rates are posted. But let’s rewind to the start of our evening that started at 4:37pm on Saturday. We had 5:30 dinner reservations at STRIPSTEAK to take advantage of Restaurant Week deals, but we got there early to check out the Market Place and for me to visit the just-opened Flight 23.
This addendum to Foot Action had some previously sold out Jordans like the AJ1 Reverse Shattered Backboard and the Banned 1. Though not for me, I did pick up the Banned.
So yes, the night was off to a great start. There were quick stops to Clarks and Banana Republic where another $140+ was spent. Within 45 minutes of arriving at the Market Place, nearly $300 was spent then it was dinnertime.
The steak and lobster special did not disappoint, and the attentive service at STRIPSTEAK was at its finest.
Even when one sole sushi rolled off the serving platter when brought to our table, a whole new order arrived shortly thereafter. Wow, just wow.
Great food with friends made the time go by, and after dinner, we strolled around to see the other stores. I will say that in all the stores we visited, the vibe of all the various employees simply felt “alive.” I’m not sure how else to describe it, but everyone exuded their own personality making you want to support their business.
Even though we had just finished dinner not an hour before, we came across Kona Coffee Purveyors featuring b. patisserie. They too had Restaurant Week specials in the form of kouign amann sundaes with either matcha, vanilla, or apple pumpkin which you can see, our group ordered one of each.
The other b. patisserie goodies did not go unnoticed as our take home box indicates.
Needless to say, we were dropping bucks at this point. Yet, even with all this patronage, the end of our night was met with a $28 parking bill, validated down to $14. A blemish to an otherwise perfect night at the International Market Place. Fourteen dollars is reasonable you say? Maybe… but couldn’t there be additional price breaks, especially after spending a sum of money at the location? Spending time to spend the money kinda goes hand in hand, so why not reward the business with additional parking validation?
When asked or talking story about the International Market Place, you know the cost of parking will be my primary point brought up, not the assortment of stores, the attentive, personable service, nor the great food. Almost perfection.
Flight 23 Takes Off in Hawaii
Flight 23 by Footaction officially took flight on Friday, November 18, 2016 with its grand opening in the International Market Place.
Technically, this storefront is not really a retail store. It’s an Air Jordan-focused addon to the adjacent Footaction. The workers roam between the two stores, and all purchases are made at Footaction. But still a Flight 23 in Hawaii brings with it the Air Jordan line such as the Banned AJ1 that sold out online in minutes.
You get to lace up your Jordans on these plush chairs.
But if you wanted variety, go to the connecting Footaction for other kicks.
Both areas featured some hard-to-find kicks, so it’s no wonder I saw many shoppers carrying Footaction bags. This place will definitely be a place to watch for new Nike and Jordan drops.
Holiday Gift Guide 2016: SweetTango Apples
Yes, fruit is on the Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide for 2016 in the form of the SweeTango apple. Yes, SweeTango. A funny name and an artifical origin but a very yummy gift for fans of fruit.
A hybrid of a Zester and Honeycrisp apple, the SweeTango is super crisp and crunchy. On the inside, the fruit has color semblences of a peach or nectarine with hues of pink radiating outwards from the core. Tastes tangy like a Granny Smith but then a sweetness settles in.
Check out your grocer’s apple selection and look for the most expensive apples, and you probably found the SweeTango.
More Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide 2016.
NES Classic Edition and Walmart.com
Available in limited quantities at Walmart.com, the NES Classic vanished in seconds. I had one in my cart but got several errors when attempting to check out. Of course, when I did manage to checkout, I got another error saying the item was not in stock (even though I had still one in my cart).
I guess that high demand wreaks havoc on them servers.
Holiday Gift Guide 2016: Adidas UltraBoost Uncaged Parley
This gift is for the environmentally-minded shoehead. That someone loves shoes yet also yearns to protect the oceans of our earth. If you know that person, then this is the gift to give. It is the Adidas UltraBoost Uncaged Parley that’s constructed from plastic dumped into the ocean but recycled into thread constructing this gorgeous pair of sneakers.
Starting on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, about 700 pairs will go on sale with an eventual target of 1 million shoes made from recycled plastics collected from the seas. Even at an estimated price of $222, this expense is reasonable given the standard cost of $180 for the UltraBoost line.
Sign up to be notified of the Parley release and be sure to pay with Apple Pay to get free express shipping.
More Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide 2016.
Inspired by the Supermoon
Early Monday morning, I awoke and walked outside to catch a glimpse of the largest supermoon in recent history. As the clouds cleared, the sight of this lunar phenonmenon cleared away any sleepiness, and inspired, I took this picture.
I call it “Bright Moon and Two Lights,” and here it is.
I’m hoping for a better showing tonight…
Supermoon Shopping on a Sunday Night
I blame the impending supermoon for this assortment of purchases.
A surprise twin pack of overgrips in random colors.
A replacement grip.
A replacement watch band at 18mm.
From Brave Sword to ArcSaber
I’ve given up trying to find the Victor Brave Sword 12 badminton racket in Hawaii. While discontinued, the BS12 can be found online but then again, there are replicas out there so buying online is fraught with fraud.
After more research and more importantly, not wanting to pay for a fake, I figured I go with a low cost racket. That’d be a better bet financially and skill-wise, and I really doubt there would be too much concern for fakes on a cheaper racker. The ArcSaber 002 seems like a good fit especially after reading a review from the Badminton Coach.
But then I spotted the Badminton Coach’s review of the ArcSaber 003 which he rated higher even though the racket itself is cheaper than the 002. While both models are no longer in production, you can still easily find the ArcSaber 002 on Amazon but not the 003.
Holiday Gift Guide 2016: SIFTE Sunglasses
Sunglass Initiative For Tomorrow’s Eyes. That’s SIFTE and purchasing a pair of SIFTE sunglasses is also donating to charities such as the American Foundation for the Blind, Helping Hands for the Blind, and the Foundation Fighting Blindness. And at $15, these make for afforadable gifts of giving (and sun protection).
SIFTEs are available in black or white (pre-order for now).
More Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide 2016.
Holiday Gift Guide 2016: NES Classic
Of course the 2016 edition of the Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide kicks off with none other than the NES Classic game console. If you’re reading this then you know it’s already too late to get one of these childhood memories with initial inventory selling out in minutes. Online or at retail locations, these things didn’t last long.
But there is hope with Nintendo reassuring fans that inventory will be replenished over the weeks to come. But if you did manage to get one, it would, no doubt, be a memorable gift for old schoool gamers.
More Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide 2016.