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Kaaren "Ballroom Dancer" D.'s Profile

Photo of Kaaren D.

Photo of Kaaren D.
Photo of Kaaren D.
Photo of Kaaren D.
Photo of Kaaren D.
Photo of Kaaren D.
Photo of Kaaren D.

"Doing It With Flash"

profile votes icon Review votes:
403 Useful, 98 Funny, and 368 Cool

Location

Newbury Park, CA

Yelping Since

May 2007

Things I Love

www.twitter.com

Find Me In

http://www.kaarendougl...

My Hometown

Denver, CO

My Blog Or Website

http://www.douglasmark...

When I'm Not Yelping...

it's all about getting the word out.

Why You Should Read My Reviews

I search out Veg dining options everywhere I can.

My Second Favorite Website

http://www.linkedin.co...

The Last Great Book I Read

Getting Things Done

My First Concert

Stevie Wonder

My Favorite Movie

Sliding Doors

My Last Meal On Earth

Exotic cheese, fruit and a nice Pinot Noir.

Don't Tell Anyone Else But...

I love adventure films, like National Treasure and The Librarian.

Most Recent Discovery

HBO Miniseries:  John Adams

Current Crush

John Hannah

Recent Reviews

514 Reviews

Filter by: Location   Category
74-5616 Alapa St Ste 1A
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
(808) 334-0815

Kona Thrift Store  

4 star rating
 11/20/2009   First to Review
When you enter the thrift shop, you know you are in a different place.  You are greeted with uplifting Christian music, and the merchandise is wall to wall, but sorted well.  For example, blouses were presented by color, which I appreciated.  They also have books, vhs tapes, some music cds, and odds and end.

Chien, the owner, is very friendly, and sees her mission to make life better for others.  Just visiting with her can put a great spin on your day.

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79-7407 Mamalahoa Hwy
Kealakekua, HI 96750
(808) 322-3203

Showcase Gallery  

Category: Art Galleries

5 star rating
 11/20/2009   First to Review
Just 10 minutes south of Keauhou on Hwy 11, Showcase Gallery features local art, crafts, beautiful koa wood furniture, and accessories like fine pens made from koa wood.  Emily, the owner told me her husband makes the pens and the furniture.  It is gorgeous.  They also have amazing photos of the lava fields, and a standout photo of a honu in the sea.

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75 5744 Alii Dr
Hawaii, HI 96740
(808) 329-6857

Limited Editions Hawaii  

Category: Women's Clothing

4 star rating
 11/20/2009  
I had a very different experience than the person who reviewed this before.  I was looking for a top and instead found a pareo-style dress that I love.  Penny, the sales clerk, was friendly and helpful, and made my experience special.  I have no problem with their prices.  It said right on my reciept, all sales final, and it is my job to shop before I buy.

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75-5799 Alii Dr
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
(808) 329-0092

U-TOP-IT  

Categories: Creperies, Hawaiian

5 star rating
 Update - 11/20/2009  
When it comes to good food that is less expensive than a lot of places in Kona, I have to vote for U-Top-It.  I went back, and this time made a meal from grilled veggies and veg egg rolls with mango salsa.  I wasn't disappointed.

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1 Previous Review: Hide »

  • 4 star rating
    8/23/2009

    My friend and I went here because we had a coupon...ok, wanted to save a little money.  I got the taro crepe, because it was the specialty, and it was fine.  The service was prompt and attentive.  I would definitely go back for more.

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Keauhou Shopping Center
Keauhou, HI 96740
(808) 327-0000

Clint Sloan & Alex Gupton Studio and Gallery  

Category: Art Galleries

4 star rating
 11/20/2009   First to Review
Walking down Ali'i Drive near the Lava Java Coffee, I saw the gallery, and went in to find Alex working in his studio.  He was making a mosaic turtle to put on the bottom of someone's pool.  What a great idea!  He had some mosaic hangings on the walls, and his work is beautiful.  He and his partner, Clint Sloan have another gallery in the Keauhou Shopping Center, but you may be able to find someone in the Ali"i Drive gallery more readily,.

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Keauhou
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
(808) 322-0808

Just Ukes  

5 star rating
 11/20/2009   First to Review
Just Ukes is a little south of Kona on Mamalahoa Hwy in Old Kainaliu Town.  I happened to park in front of the store, and had to go in to see what they had.  I was greeted by a Anne, the owner, and her beautiful border collie Kirby.  He was totally mellow, checking me out.

The store sells a large variety of ukeleles, including imported Portugese handcrafted pieces in the $400 range.  But she also has the "practical" less expensive versions that the school kids get, as well as something I had not seen before:  pineapple ukes.  Anne told me the uke that most of us recognize was introduced by the Portugese.  Prior to that the native Hawaiians made a pineapple shaped instrument.  

Be sure to go in and say hi, if you are in the neighborhood.

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75-5770 Ali'i Dr
Hawaii, HI 96740
(808) 329-2970

Blue Water Fantasies  

Category: Jewelry

4 star rating
 Update - 11/20/2009  
Just had a chance to revisit this store, and found Linda, the owner, and her assistant Avia very helpful.  I learned a lot about the turtles, known as Honu.  Linda has beautiful jewelry made in the islands in 14carat gold for very reasonable prices.  She also has stones of various types found on the islands, like the Rhyolite from the oldest volcanoes on the Big Island in the Kohala Mountains.  Beautiful greenish stone sprinkled inside with tiny geodes.  If you buy a gift, they will include a little note giving more information about the stone or item.  If you get a chance to go by, tell them you read about Blue Water Fantasies on Yelp!

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1 Previous Review: Hide »

  • 3 star rating
    8/23/2009 First to Review

    Blue Water Fantasies sits out in the open in a little mall building adjacent to the Wyland Art Galerie.  The owner has her wares sitting very casually on tables.  In addition to different pieces of jewelry, she also has unadorned stones, and different types of figurines, like the donkey that carts the coffee off the hills near Kona.  I found some fun treasures.

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78-6831 Ali'i Dr, Ste C120
Hawaii, HI 96740
(808) 324-0492

In the Tropics  

Category: Jewelry

5 star rating
 Update - 11/20/2009 2 photos  
Robert's store remains a treasure.  While a lot of the shops in the center have gone, the value and assortment of lovely island momentos remains a must see.  When i was recently there, I heard three ladies ooing and ahing over several gorgeous gold pendants.  One remarked it was the one thing she wanted to take home as a souvenir of their trip:  a gold dolphin with inlaid opal on a heavy gold chain.  When you are in Kona, make the trip down the road a little way to tell Robert hello, and let him great you in the Aloha way.

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1 Previous Review: Hide »

  • 4 star rating
    8/7/2009 First to Review

    The additional information on this store is:  Jewelry of the Pacific, and it fits to a T.  Robert Stewart was very helpful when my friend and I wandered into his store in Keauhou Market Place.  He has a wide assortment of sterling silver, white, rose and yellow gold jewelry, including some very interesting and unusual pieces.  My eye was drawn to the silver slippers on the sterling chains, and my companion couldn't resist a very unusual silver pendant with a precious stone on the front of it.  She would have liked to get one of the pearl bracelets, but that remained a little beyond the budget for this trip.  If you want a nice assortment of very Hawaiian jewelry, stop in.

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21821 Ventura Blvd
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(818) 887-6473

Henry's Farmers Market  

Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Woodland Hills

4 star rating
 11/11/2009  
I found this store purely by chance, as I was meeting a business associate for coffee at the nearby Coffee Bean & Tea.  Just popped in to get a few things, like Flaxseed and Quorn cutlets (great substitute for frozen chicken filets).  I splurged and got a pumpkin muffine that was only $1 (compare to the coffee stores) and it was yummy.  I thought their prices were fine compared to Whole Foods, which would be a comparable store.

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1567 Spinnaker Dr Ste 203
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 658-7678

Mail Buoy the  

5 star rating
 11/8/2009   First to Review
What a find in the harbor.  Mary Hernandez and her friend Trish are the ladies responsible for yummy coffee and fun handmade art treasures.  Trish makes little collages using "beach glass."  She filled us in on how difficult it is to find these little treasures, especially the blue and green ones, that decorate her beach inspired art.  Mary makes the window treatments using shells.  But we especially liked the artful pottery, decorated with pelicans and turtles.  Trish told us the pottery porcupines require 90 toothpicks to complete the look, so you can imagine how long it took the artist to make those 90 holes in the surface!

In addition to the clever little arty decorations, Mail Buoy Cafe also provides internet access.  If you go by, be sure to tell them you learned about them on Yelp.

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53 Compliments

  • Good Writer

    In the Tropics seems like an fascinating place.  Maybe someday I'll get to… More »

  • You're Cool

    Enjoyed your review of Henry's.  Farmers Markets are great.

  • You're Cool

    One of these just opened right by me - thanks for review  - I will have to… More »

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