Madhatter's Ball Showcase

 Kessler and Co. presents his Dance Showcase at the Pacific Beach
                                                 Hotel

Before the Madhatter's Ball begins...
feeling out the dance floor.

Since Jane and I weren't dancing in this one, we manned the reception desk.

Beautiful big balloons topped by teapots, hats and flowers!

Our instructor, Kessler, and Claire.

And of course, Wolfgang!

"Mad" table decorations.

There's Claire giving Kessler slaps in their tango, "La Rosita"

Taking bows for their foxtrot,"Everything Old is New Again"

Kathy and Kesler do a beautiful Paso Doble, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"

What a night!  There were also free dancing between the
showcase numbers,  a nice buffet, great desserts and bar until midnight.
(Of course, we, being of the older sort, didn't last until the witching hour)

Comfort food

St. Patrick's Day dinner at Side Street Inn!
Corned Beef and Cabbage, Potatoes and Carrots

Their famous fried rice full of Portuguese Sausage,
Bacon, Ham, Calories  and Taste!
More than enough for two.

Lots of Green!
We seem to end up at Side Street Inn for holidays a lot.
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Remember, there is also Tanaka Saimin for local style comfort food.

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And there is Shave Ice.
This stand formerly was Magnolia Cafe's bakery selling cupcakes at Ala Moana SC

Even Penny can sit with us.

My Green tea and yuzu and frozen yogurt special with mochi and azuki beans.  The ultra fine ice was so refreshing.
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Island Brew is the new coffee shop where Gloria Jean's used to be.

The interior is so restful.

Cold press coffee and banana bread.
*****

Finally made it to Pig and the Lady's little branch in Ward Center.

Turmeric Tonic, made with Ginger beer

Heritage Chicken Pho
Missed the basil.   A bit salty, but tasty.

New grill and Easter Egg

My old electric grill conked out so I went to William Sonoma to get a new one.  This All Clad with Auto Sense seemed the easiest to use and clean.
It has a defrost mode too.
It will automatically cook most meats and sandwiches.  There is even a custom mode in which you select your own temperature.
Unlike my old one, the two grill plates are removable and washable.

Automatic rice cooker, grill, and coffee maker.
Advantages of living in this modern world,  although this is open to debate.

I must say, the chicken breasts were well cooked- tender, moist and browned.  All the liquids that would've accumulated in a frying pan dripped down and out into a drip tray.

No underdone areas at all.

While at William Sonoma, I was tempted into buying a Chocolate Easter Egg.  Their Easter displays are so pretty, with pastel colors and cute bunnies, chicks and flowers.

Penny, of course, was the first to investigate.
Then M and I decided we couldn't wait until Easter so we opened it to see what was inside.

Five yellow chocolate chicks.

Wrapping it up-almost last visits to Spaghetti Factory and Kincaids.

Oh, goodbye Spaghetti Factory.  After 38 years at Ward's Warehouse (that long!) they are moving to Aloha Tower marketplace.   Hopefully it'll be as atmospheric as this one is.

The Tapenade appetizer.

Veal Piccata
Love the Mizithra pasta

Chicken Parmigiana

BLT Salad and Meatballs.
Hopefully we can return before they leave.

It is too bad  Ward's Warehouse will be gone.
We enjoyed the local boutiques and relaxed, local atmosphere.

On a brighty note...a camillia from Janie's garden, looking a lot like the bashful rose in the Alice in Wonderland animation film.

Desert Rose.  This has powerful roots that will wrap themselves around rocks.
The ashtray is an Arita Yaki, which I bought from an Arita Yaki specialty shop near our apartment in Akasaska 8-chome.

                                               Farewell, Toake.   Second round!

What better way to say Arrivederci to a friend than drinks and dinner at another restaurant that is leaving Ward's Warehouse!
Kincaid's, leaving at the end of May, will be missed.

Lovely Harbor views.

Is this all?
Their Lavender Cosmopolitan was a bit sweet today, to our disappointment.  The Cosmopolitan is Denise's drink.

Hmm.  Meat eaters, everyone!

Wrap it up to go!  Says Jay!

Utage and Nico's

Utage Okinawan Restaurant.
Lunch with Claire and her friends from Japan.  Attila the husband of her former student, is from Hungary, now making his home in Japan.  We chatted and ate (free Andagi, doughnuts) for three and a half hours.

Big dollop of grated ginger for the Sparerib Soup.

Soki (sparerib) soup.  Healthy and delicious.

                                                    Saying farewell to Toake, a fellow naginata student and friend who is returning to Japan after a long stay in the United States.      Nico's at Pier 38 a great casual place with live                                                   entertainment.

Isao had the Fisherman's Stew and Shrimp Cocktail

The rest of us had Nico's famous Red Wine Braised Shortribs.