You know you can’t judge a book by its cover. And after that awful bottle of Yellow Daisy (or whatever it was called) Chardonnay, you now know you can’t choose a wine by its label.

Dawn Gomes has found a new way to judge wine: by its number. Her new wine shop, Wine By Numbers, opens today in Waipio. On offer are a whole slew of unusual and hard-to-get wines from small and boutique wineries (you won’t find anything that’s stocked next door at Costco), all of them carrying a numerical rating based on how sweet or dry they are. Gomes tastes every wine she sells and assigns it... Read more »

You’re not the kind to go on about “low tannins” or “earthy nose” when it comes to wine. But you have, once or twice, bought a wine based solely on the Wine Spectator rating.

Next time, choose something you’ve tasted for yourself – and actually like.

There are plenty of chances. Nearly every night of the week a local wine shop is hosting a free tasting. Here’s the rundown, starting tonight:

Tuesdays
Step through the charming courtyard into the wood crate-lined walls of the boutique wine shop... Read more »

You’ve always been a serial monogamist – with drinks made from grapes. Yet suddenly you’ve developed a wandering eye (the warmer weather may have something to do with it) – and you’re now lusting after cold, frothy brews.

Raise a glass to The Wine Stop, which despite its name is a beverage boutique known for a rotating selection of world beers. Join their specialty Beer Club and for just 15 greenbacks a month you’ll receive a sampling of six 12-ounce beers – plus a five percent discount off two or more subsequent six packs.

Owner and sommelier Kim... Read more »

It doesn’t matter if no one else sees them.

Part of the pleasure of sliding into bed is pulling up a duvet cover that perfectly matches your personality and your décor. After all, you worked hard mixing that custom eggplant-hued paint for your walls so that your perfectly mismatched set of Indonesian end tables would pop.

The trouble? You’ve been to Neiman’s and two Liberty House’s (er…Macy’s), but no one buys Calvin Klein anymore and the mass-produced Island-style fabrics are on every auntie’s pune`e.

Instead, sit in bed—that’s... Read more »

You’ve never been an early person—you know, the kind who gets up at five to exercise before work and makes vacation plans a year in advance. But all that rushing around has also made you mistress of the last-minute style solution.

That’s why you know it’s not too late to decorate the tree you only recently bought, and with ornaments so original no one will remember that your living room was bare for most of December.

All it takes is a quick afternoon trip to Haleiwa’s North Shore Glass, an open-air studio where you can watch husband and wife artists Read more »

The fabric of your life shouldn’t be a stained and faded poly-blend. And that’s doubly true if it’s also the fabric of your favorite lanai chaise, where you read the morning paper and wind down with a sunset cocktail.

But when your outdoor furniture has to stand up to a rainy winter and lots of entertaining, standard vinyl seat cushions can leave you flat.

Kahala’s Patti Wager can help bring the comfort of your indoor furniture to your lanai. Wager designs and makes custom cushions and covers that stand up to even the most extreme wear and tear. Call her to... Read more »