SCRIBE and Alisa Ross Live in Hawaii

Big shout out to the Lightsleepers who "DON'T SLEEP" & always put together awesome events for everyone to enjoy. Last November, was my first encounter with the Lightsleepers was their pop-up show (ow.ly/8KAhF) at Split Obsession, since then I've been a fan of their work & try my best to attend their events.

Attending art events is one of my guilty pleasures, since I'm able to absorb myself in someone else's passion & see the world through their eyes. But the Lightsleepers take art events to another level since the DJ spinning continuous beats attracts a variety of people.

SCRIBE & Alisa Ross Live in Hawaii was an energetic event which packed In4mation Pearlridge with fans, who patiently waited to purchase artwork & plush toys. The event brought some of Hawaii's young & talented artist out for a fierce Blackbook Battle, where each artist did their best representation of the word, "Rhino" & each participant walked away with a graffiti pen.

The Lightsleepers ended the event with a surprise Chinese Dragon dance & pulled off another amazing event! Thank you Lightsleepers for bringing artists who celebrate their talents to the islands & always being humble.

PS- Thank you Lofa for the postcards!

Here's my favorite photos from Scribe & Alisa Ross:

For more info visit the following:
Twitter: @lightsleepers
Website: www.scribeswalk.com, http://40threads.com & www.lightsleepers.net

For more photos visit my Facebook page: http://ow.ly/8Ktid

For even more coverage, check out darqlabs blog: http://ow.ly/8Ktx7

Upcoming Event: InstaHawaii

Attention Instagram Hawaii fans! Be sure to submit unlimited instagram photos with #InstaHawaii until Wednesday (2/1) & you have a chance to win a Lomography Fish-Eye 35 mm camera & 3 rolls of Lomo 35 mm film!

Official Rules:
1) Sign up for Instagram
2) Tag your best photos with @InstaHawaii
3) Wait for confirmation that your photo has been selected
4) Enjoy the free show

InstaHawaii is a FREE photography art show taking place on Friday (2/10) at Fresh Cafe from 8 PM - 2 AM.
- from 8 - 9 PM enjoy a hosted bar & 8 - 10 PM enjoy a silent auction.

*All proceeds made that night will go towards the Hawai’i Art Alliance to help fund more art programs for children*

For more info visit the following:
Address: 831 Queen Street. Honolulu, HI 96813
Contrast: contrastmagazine.com/blog/?p=11103
Twitter: @InstaHawaii, #InstaHawaii & @HiArtsAlliance
Website: www.instahawaii.wordpress.com

Celebrating New Beginnings

Today was the first time in my adult life, I celebrated Chinese New Year; & I felt giddy as I watched a dragon dance & indulged in gigantic manapuas + I tried delicious pork hash for the first time; I can't believe I've been missing out all these years.

I love how optimistic everyone is about what they hope to accomplish in the upcoming year & how everything feels possible.

2012 has been a year of many firsts & I'm looking forward to the possibilities ahead. I can't wait to see what develops & all of the wonderful people I'll meet along the way.

♥ Sweet Lychee

Willows Restaurant

I'm not the type of girl who goes to fancy restaurants, since I always feel awkward: I laugh too loud, I forget which fork to use & as hard as I try, I always make a mess. However, I'm willing to sacrifice a few hours of feeling out of place, for a hot & juicy prime rib.

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world, when le boyfriend took me to Willows Restaurant for an early birthday dinner. We dressed up for a special date night/birthday dinner & ate like kings; all of the pictures on Yelp, couldn't prepare my stomach for the deliciousness I devoured.

After a long & grueling work week, being able to celebrate my early birthday dinner at Willows Restaurant was the best part of my Aloha Friday; its a lovely place to enjoy someone's company & reconnect over a good meal. I know le boyfriend enjoyed himself because he barely made conversation at dinner, but I'm glad he enjoyed the prime rib as much as I did.

If you're not sure where to celebrate your next big event or wanna make date night with your significant other really special, I highly recommend dining at Willows Restaurant.

Here's photos from my Willows experience:
Sign outside establishment

Heavenly prime rib

Mouth-watering crab legs

Le boyfriend devoured his meal

For more info visit the following:
Address: 901 Hausten Street. Honolulu, HI 96826
Facebook: Willows Restaurant
Phone Number: 808.952.9200
Website: www.willowshawaii.com

Upcoming Event: Sole Searching

Listen up sneakerheads! The Street Society (@STREETSOCIETY) & Made You Look (@schoolofafoolwell) present SOLE SEARCHING, an event to buy, sell or trade sneakers then happening this Sunday (1/29) at The ARTSmith.

SOLE SEARCHING is an event dedicated to building the foundations for strong local networks for the underserved community of sneakerheads.

SOLE SEARCHING takes place at The ArtSmith from 12 - 5 PM & enjoy Pancho Abalos doing live art + DJs spinning hip hop.

*Sell/trade fake sneakers, you'll be removed immediately*

For more info visit the following:
Address: 1109 Maunakea Street #215. Honolulu, HI 96817
Email: SOLExSEARCHING@hotmail.com
Facebook: SOLExSEARCHING, The Street Society & Made You Look
Twitter: @SOLExSEARCHING, @streetsociety & @schoolofafoolwell
Website: www.streetsociety.com &

Early Birthday Present

2012 has been very good to me & I'm excited to celebrate my upcoming birthday.

My simply*awesome sister gave me a custom-made "Lychee" necklace & told me it should be my trademark. Thank you for my favorite early birthday present!

I can't wait to wear my trademark necklace to events & blog about all of my adventures in 2012.

♥ Sweet Lychee

Akihiko Izukura: Life in Colors in Hawaii

Whenever I'm having a bad day, I try my best to surround myself with art. My interest & imagination ignite whenever I'm looking at art because it allows me to look at the world around with through a different perspective.

When I first read about Akihiko Izukura's, "Life in Colors in Hawaii" installation, I knew I had to witness Akihiko's free-flowing designs in person. The pictures on the Honolulu Academy of Arts website, don't do Akihiko's pieces justice, the vibrant colors from each piece hypnotize you & attract you like a moth to a bright light.

My favorite part was how peaceful I felt, being surrounded by art pieces which towered over me & how Akihiko's "Life in Colors in Hawaii" installation reminded me of ballerinas whenever the wind blew. I can't guarantee, you'll have the same experience or appreciation as myself, but I'm sure your day will brighten the tiniest bit.

If you're in the neighborhood & looking for inspiration, be sure to check out Akihiko Izukura's, "Life in Colors In Hawaii" installation , viewable to the public from 01/15 - 02/15/12 at the Academy Art Center.

Here's my favorite pictures from Life in Colors in Hawaii:

For more info visit the following:
Address: 1111 Victoria Street. Honolulu, HI 96814
Facebook: Honolulu Academy of Arts
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/honoluluacademy
Phone: 808.532.8741
Twitter: @honoluluacademy
Website: http://honoluluacademy.org/art/exhibitions/12393-akihiko_izukura_installation

For more photos visit my Facebook page: http://ow.ly/8DTQn

Upcoming Event: An Evening with Johnny Cupcakes

Join Loft in Space on Saturday (1/21) for an Evening with t-shirt entrepreneur Johnny Cupcakes.

Attendees will learn how Johnny Cupcakes turned a a simple idea into a multi-million dollar business using nontraditional methods.

Lecture + Q&A starts at 7 PM followed by a T-shirt pop-up shop + meet & greet. There will be complimentary refreshments, cupcakes, giveaways & more.

An Evening with Johnny Cupcakes is a FREE event that starts at 7 PM & goes until 1 AM.

For more info visit the following:
Address: 831 Queen Street. Honolulu, HI 96813
Email: info@loftinspacehi.com
Facebook: An Evening with Johnny Cupcakes, Loft in Space & Johnny Cupcakes
Tumblr: www.johnnycupcakes.tumblr.com
Twitter: @JohnnyCupcakes & @LOFTINSPACE
Website: www.JohnnyCupcakes.com & www.loftinspacehi.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/JohnnyCupcakes

Upcoming Event: 808SPEAKERBOX Celebratory Party

Please join Riana (@RUDIFIEDmedia) & myself for 808SPEAKERBOX's Celebratory Party at Loft in Space this Thursday (1/12).

Enjoy a special preview of 808SPEAKERBOX's event highlights, the musical sounds of DJ REVISE + kickstarter backers can pick up their prizes. Also we'll be selling 808SPEAKERBOX merchandise: buttons, shirts, posters & stickers.

808SPEAKERBOX Celebratory Party starts at 7 pm & goes until 10 pm.

For more info visit the following:
Email: 808speakerbox@gmail.com
Facebook: 808 Speakerbox & Loft in Space
Twitter: @808SPEAKERBOX & @LOFTINSPACE
Website: www.808speakerbox.wordpress.com & www.loftinspacehi.com

Mahalo Variant Films for 808SPEAKERBOX Highlight Video

Thank you to Variant Films for the amazing highlight video of 808SPEAKERBOX! Your visual illustration captured the essence of Hawaii's hip hop talent.

Here's the highlights of 808SPEAKERBOX:

808 Speakerbox Highlight Video from Variant Films on Vimeo.

808SPEAKERBOX

I can't believe how fast time has flown by, since the first conversation with Riana (@RUDIFIEDmedia) about 808SPEAKERBOX & mind boggling how much time, energy & sanity was involved throughout this entire process. I'm really glad 808SPEAKERBOX finally happened last night at Next Door & Thirtynine Hotel.

I wanted to extend a HUGE thank you to the following: Next Door & Thirtynine Hotel for letting Riana & myself hold 808SPEAKERBOX at your venues, all of our sponsors (Got Rice? Show, Workhouse, Hawaii Photo Rental, Yelp Hawaii, Freelance Clothing, SuperCW, Bad News Rap Dude, CONTRAST, Hawaii Zulu Fresh Cafe & LOFT IN SPACE), all of the DJs, Emcees, Bands & Producers + videographers & photographers.

Also a big mahalo to everyone who supported 808SPEAKERBOX in any capacity, whether you promoted the event (via Facebook, Twitter or word-of-mouth), wrote a blog post, donated to our kickstarter, attended mini events leading up 808SPEAKERBOX &/or attended 808SPEAKERBOX.

I felt really bad, I wasn't able to help as much as I wanted with things leading up to the event, since I JUST got a full-time job & I wasn't able to stay the entire event (since I had work at my other job the next day) but looking through @808SPEAKERBOX's Twitter feed it looks like the event was a huge success.

♥ Sweet Lychee

PS- If you missed 808SPEAKERBOX, don't worry there's still a chance for you to celebrate. 808SPEAKERBOX will have a mini celebration event on Thursday (1/12) at LOFT IN SPACE, its also where those who donated to our Kickstarter fundraiser can pick up their prizes.

Here's my favorite photos from the event:

For more info visit the following:
Email: 808speakerbox@gmail.com
Facebook: 808 Speakerbox
Twitter: @808SPEAKERBOX
Website: www.808speakerbox.wordpress.com

For more photos visit my Facebook page: http://ow.ly/8moWC

For even more coverage visit the following:
Shift 2 via Nonstop Honolulu : http://ow.ly/8mogQ
Party Pics via Nonstop Honolulu: http://ow.ly/8moZz

APEX x LOFT IN SPACE presents "TRILOGY: A Street Culture Event"

Freelance Clothing brings you APEX x LOFT IN SPACE presents "TRILOGY: A Street Culture Event" on
Saturday (1/14) at Loft in Space (the warehouse behind Fresh Cafe).

Enjoy the following:
- Battles: BBOY/BGIRL, All Style, Emcee & Black Book.

- Competitions: Fixie Bike, Car Hop & Lowrider Bike + live art & local vendor shopping.

TRILOGY starts at 5 pm & goes until 10 pm. Pre-sale tickets: $14 (first 100 pre-sales will get a FREE gift pack). $15 cover at the door & $7 for kids age 8 & under (school ID is required).

For more info visit the following:
Address: 831 Queen Street. Honolulu, HI 96813
Facebook: APEX x LOFT IN SPACE presents "TRILOGY: A Street Culture Event", Freelance Clothing, Loft in Space & FreshCafe Hawaii
Twitter: @freelanceww, @LOFTINSPACE & @freshcafehi
Website: www.freelanceclothingworldwide.com, www.loftinspacehi.com & www.freshcafehi.com

808SPEAKERBOX Open Invitation

Please join RUDIFIED media & myself this Saturday (1/7/12) at Next Door & Thirtynine Hotel to showcase & celebrate some of Hawaii's hip hop talent. We're excited to FINALLY celebrate 808SPEAKERBOX with the community & enjoy all of our hardwork!

Here's an open invitation to 808SPEAKERBOX:

808 Speakerbox Saturday 01/07/12 at Next Door and ThirtyNineHotel from Variant Films on Vimeo.

For more info visit the following:
Address: 39 Hotel - 39 North Hotel Street. Honolulu, HI &
Next Door - 43 North Hotel Street. Honolulu, HI
Email: 808speakerbox@gmail.com
Facebook: 808 SPEAKERBOX, 808 SPEAKERBOX 808 SPEAKERBOX 808 SPEAKERBOX, Nextdoor Hnl, Thirtynine Hotel
Twitter: @808SPEAKERBOX, @39hotel & @nextdoorhnl
Website: www.808speakerbox.wordpress.com www.thirtyninehotel.com, www.nextdoorHNL.com

11 Favorite Blog Moments of 2011

My mini hiatus from blogging is officially over!

Blogging has become such a huge part of me (especially throughout 2011) & with each passing day of my (very) mini hiatus, it was almost impossible to not to blog after SUPERCW (@supercw) named my blog "BEST BLOG of 2011." <--- (Christa that made my year! :)

I'm looking forward to 2012 & blogging about my adventures!

♥ Sweet Lychee

Here's my 11 Favorite Blog Moments of 2011:

FEBRUARY: POW WOW HAWAII 2011

Flying Lotus at Next Coast

MARCH: Short Circuit Robot Party at Art & Flea

JUNE: Sweet Lychee Productions' 1st Blog Bday Party

Red Bull BPM Party

AUGUST: Article written about 808SPEAKERBOX in Honolulu Weekly

Ill Hill Society "Rap Better" EP Release Party

JULY: Party Rock Bacardi Pool Party

DECEMBER : 808SPEAKERBOX reaches Kickstarter goal

Patrick Martinez "Reel Tawlk" Exhibition

SUPERCW naming Sweet Lychee Productions BEST BLOG of 2011!