Minamoto Kitchoan Fukubukuro Unveiled
What’s in that $50 Fukubukuro bag from Minamoto Kitchoan?
I don’t shop there very often, but it looks like a haul of goodies was inside. Thanks to Jason for the pics and enduring Fukubukuro.
ala moana
Folli Follie Fukubukuro
A $200-price range Fukubukuro pack from Folli Follie ends up being this blinged out watch.
Estimated retail cost is roughly $400+.
Minamoto Kitchoan Fukubukuro
Fighting the Fukubukuro crowds at Minamoto Kitchoan at Ala Moana leads to getting one of these bags. Priced at $50 but contains $100 worth of goodies. To be unveiled later today…
Fukubukuro at Ala Moana
…is packed! I guess partying until the new year doesn’t stop avid shoppers looking for a bargain.
An anonymous pulpy texter sent me this image of the Fukubukuro crowds at Ala Moana. Not sure what store they’re waiting for, Lupicia for tea deals?
Here’s a partial pic of the Fukubukuro participating stores.
Here’s the full list.
Kicks at Bloomingdales
So the froyo at Bloomingdales was good with some service issues, but what about the kicks collection at Bloomies? Not bad, not bad at all. Besides the usual array of cross trainers, there were some interesting pieces to admire.
The pinnacle had to be the classic Air Max 95 in neon. I didn’t check, but these have to be the July retro OG.
These 574 Outside In look cool.
But I prefer these 710 Outdoors instead.
These 1550 REVlite have a Roshe toebox look to them.
In the children’s section, there were a few kicks. I liked this New Balance 574 Fresh Foams.
So the lesson here is don’t discount Bloomingdales for some interesting kicks pickups.
Froyo from Forty Carrots
Went to Forty Carrots in Bloomingdales to try out their frozen yogurt. The froyo was good, especially the strawberry, but there’s a few kinks in service that need to be worked out. We wanted to split a large size between kids which was said not to be a problem by the cashier. They’d even split it for us. Great! Then another employee makes the froyo… in a single cup. I guess he didn’t hear or understand what was just discussed. The cashier apologizes but then several employees congregate to discuss something assumedly with our large froyo split into smaller sizes.
After some confusion, our large is finally split. Sadly, the original large in single cup wasn’t offered up as an apology. The workers took it to the kitchen to dump or to eat. Not sure. What I am sure about is if they gave us this “mistake,” I’d have positively glowing remarks to make about Forty Carrots in Bloomingdales. Instead, I’m telling people the froyo is good. Here’s my Yelp review.
Oh, the also sell water in boxes, not plastic bottles.
And their food inspection placard is very nicely framed.
Starbucks Ala Moana Now Tolerable with Mobile Order
Wow, what a profound effect the new Starbucks Mobile Order & Pay has, especially while cruising at Ala Moana. Gone are the days of waiting in the long lines at Starbucks.
Right after finding parking, you can mobile order and pay for your drink and pick it up, bypassing those infuriating lines. It’s so simple! Now I have to decide if getting a free refill is worth the wait in line…
Ala Moana Updates
While the new Ala Moana wing with Bloomingdales is set to open in November, the rest of the mall is getting a facelift as well. Check out some of the changes I witnessed over the weekend.
The new lighting on the pillars, under the covered walkway, and the torch-shaped lampposts in the “islands.”
Here’s a closer look at the tiled pillar with cool lighting.
The koi and other water ponds have seating that matches the wooden motif of the “new” Ala Moana. The koi aren’t back yet.
Hold up. What’s going on in this picture?
Give up? The faithful wooden stairs are gone.
Signs of Hawaii: Temporarily Out of Order
If you shopped Macy’s at Ala Moana during the holidays, you probably ran into this sign located on one of the upper floor exits.
What’s that? You can’t read that sign printed on 8.5×11 paper using a small font? You were one of those who approached the doors, straining to read the sign from afar. Only to see this.
I guess Macy’s has no way of printing something that doesn’t follow the template of their sale signs?
If You Don’t Enter, You Can’t Win
That’s a simple lesson in life, but it’s so true. If you don’t enter, you can’t win. In the case of this raffle at Foot Locker Ala Moana aka the House of Hoops, you need to enter in order to get a chance at purchasing the upcoming Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue. Yes, these Carolina-colorway kicks are in high demand so the raffle figures out who can give Nike and Foot Locker $150-200 for these vintage kicks.
Since I happened to be there, you know I had to enter just because.
If you entered the raffle but weren’t chosen, there’s some nice Adidas Fluxes you can buy for consolation.
I wonder if these tall Asian ballers entered the raffle?
I Must Be Slipping
I pretty much don’t have pictures from Black Friday at Ala Moana. Maybe it’s because I didn’t have any caffeine coursing through my veins not wanting to wait in this ridiculously long line at Starbucks Macy’s.
I Braved the Arashi Blast
No, I didn’t go to the Arashi Blast in Hawaii concerts this past weekend, but I did brave the second best place, Ala Moana Center. You couldn’t escape Arashi while walking the mall, especially the Shirokiya end. Here’s front and center of Shirokiya.
Across the way at LeSportsac.
By the koi ponds. Many tourists were taking pictures here.
Arashi was multilevel as well.
Wait, another Arashi banner?!? Excuse me as I now had to take a selfie.
Even those kiosks selling magic skirts wanted to capitalize on the Arashi spending, welcoming guests.
I am a little bummed I couldn’t find the glorious Arashi hooded towels at a discounted price. It was so hot at Ala Moana, the protection from the hooded towel would have been welcomed.