Visit Tulsa: The Outsiders House Museum

If you've ever watched the 80s classic The Outsiders, the coming-of-age story of a group of adolescents and the socio-economic challenges they faced, then you'll want to visit The Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa, where the movie was actually filmed.

This film, which catapulted the careers of then-unknown actors (such as Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, and Tom Cruise) is beloved my many, and a visit to The Outsiders House Museum is a fantastic tribute to the film.

Having been saved from demolition, the property was not in the best of shape, but the current owners rebuilt and restored what they could, going great lengths to not only preserve what they could of the original home, but also secure the original props from the movie.  

We ended up booking a private tour, where we got to hear some really great tidbits about the history of the movie and the filming, as well as interesting information about the actors and the props.   Many of the actors have been and continue to visit the museum!

Hundreds of original props as well as memorabilia can be found all throughout the home.  

Throughout The Outsiders House are images of the movie that correspond to the different rooms in the home.  

The owners are very welcoming, allowing people to touch props and take photos so you can recreate popular scenes from the movie.

The owners are well-versed in everything The Outsiders, having watched the movie many times over, capturing individual clips to hunt down as much as they can from the original film, whether it be clothing or appliances.  

They have done a fantastic job, and a visit to The Outsiders House Museum was truly a step back in time, making me want to watch the movie all over again.

The Outsiders House Museum

731 N St Louis Ave

Tulsa, OK 74106
 

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Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya Launches NEW-dle Seasonal Dishes Available

In need of a broth of fresh air? Dive into Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya’s newest seasonal dishes: Chasu Lover Tonkotsu Ramen and Crispy Shrimp Wontons. These dishes are currently available for a limited time at the ramen eatery’s Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center, and Kapolei Marketplace locations through the end of June. 

"At Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya it’s important for us to keep things fresh and exciting for our customers,” said Tina Wang, owner of Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya. “With spring officially in full swing, we want to provide new options that will excite our guests and allow them to experience Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya in a fresh, new way.”

The Chashu Lover Tonkotsu Ramen ($23.99) includes a rich tonkotsu shoyu broth that’s simmered for over 12 hours. It’s served with thick Japanese noodles and topped with a generous amount of shoyu pork chashu, shio pork chashu, bean sprouts, and green onions. The Crispy Shrimp Wontons ($7.99) are a great pairing and feature shrimp and pork, tossed in a sweet chili sauce. 

Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya’s menu features a wide selection of fresh and gourmet dishes, and includes the option to build your own ramen or pick from their authentic Japanese creations which include the Wonton Chicken – a chicken broth, wonton, spinach, green onion, fried onion, and half egg served with thin noodles – or their popular vegan options including the Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen – a vegan broth, green onions, spicy bean sprouts, spinach, atsuage tofu, crispy onions with garlic and chili oil served with kale noodles. 

If noodles aren’t your thing, Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya also offers a variety of Rice Bowls like their Beef Sukiyaki Don or Karaage Don as well as Tokyo Curry Bowls including a Pork Katsu with Curry and Pork Gyoza with Curry. And to start off any meal, you’ll want to check out their selection of izakaya options which range from Tempura Brussel Sprouts and Fried Oysters to Seaweed Salad.

Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya currently operates four locations in Hawaii at Ala Moana Center, Kapolei Marketplace, Pearlridge Center and Town Center of Mililani. For more information on Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya, visit www.tanakaramen.com. Also be sure to follow Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at @tanakaramenhawaii and Twitter at @tanakaramenhi to stay up to date on the latest information on special giveaways, promotions and much more.

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FUSION CAFÉ + WINE ADDS ADDITIONAL BLISS TO ITS HAPPY HOURS WITH AN EXPANDED EVENING MENU

Fusion Café + Wine is elated to announce an expanded menu for its evening service, making its happy hour sessions from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., from Thursdays through Saturdays, even more delightful. Patrons will delight in thoughtfully conceived bites presented by Rian Lee, Fusion Cafe + Wine’s chef consultant.

As of May 2, a revamped menu of shareable plates will be available, including baked Brie tartlets with fig jam and Marcona almonds ($10); bao sliders with char siu sausage with hoisin ($15); crispy grilled octopus with a salad of watercress, Kamuela tomatoes, and pickled onions ($25); fresh pappardelle pasta with jamon Serrano, wild mushrooms, and white wine verjus ($25); fried saganaki cheese with honey, dried apricots, and almonds ($15), among others. These dishes augment the initial menu of burrata salad, Fusion salad of beets and citrus with creamy truffle dressing, and charcuterie and cheese boards offered by the cafe and Champagne bar. Timed with the release of this extensive happy hour menu is the installation of the wine bar, a cruvinet-style system offering a selection of red, white, and rose wines starting at $11 per glass. Glasses and bottles of wines and Champagne continue to be available, as are Porto cocktails.

“With an elaborated lineup of menu items and drinks, we now offer exquisite flavors to kick off your morning with our pastries and coffee, sustain you throughout the day with our salads and sandwiches, and help you unwind with tapas and wine,” announces proprietor April Whiting-Haraguchi. “We want Fusion Wine + Cafe to be people’s go-to spot in Kaimuki any time of the day.”

Fusion Café + Wine is located at 3457 Waialae Avenue, below Plantoem on Waialae Avenue, between 9th and 10th Avenues. The cafe is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from February 3, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday, closed Sunday. A few parking stalls are available in the parking structure immediately above the cafe and wine bar, with street metered parking conveniently located nearby. Complimentary wifi is available for paying customers.  For more information, visit the website at https://fusion-cafe.com/, or call (808) 675-6091. 

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LIFE IS A PICNIC WITH ARTIZEN BY MW’S ONE-DAY BACKYARD BBQ - MAY 4

 

Chef Wade Ueoka and Chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka are offering an amazing Backyard BBQ menu at Artizen by MW on May 4, from 11am to 7pm (dine-in, take-out, pre-order, or walk-in):

The menu:

· Truffle Sukiyaki Burger ($20)
· Bacon Cheeseburger ($16)
· “Mixed Plate Sandwich” ($18) – chicken karaage, spicy pork, kalbi, and mac salad in a sandwich
· Artizen Chili Dog ($15) – Kukui sausage, cheese, onions, jalapenos
· Soft Shell Crab and Lobster Roll ($28) – crispy soft shell crab, wasabi lobster salad, cucumber namasu
· Backyard BBQ Plate ($35) – smoked BBQ ribs, smoked brisket, Kukui sausage, coleslaw, cornbread, Ho Farms long beans

Sides include:
· Potato Macaroni Salad ($6)
· Crinkle Cut Fries ($6)
· Pickled Onion and Peppers ($6)

Desserts include:
· Valrhona Triple Chocolate Cookie Ice Cream Sundae ($10)
· “Dulcey Caramel Cuts” ($18) – Japanese whiskey ice cream, butterscotch sauce
· Makaha Mango “Ice Cake” ($8)
· Root Beer Float ($8)

For more information or to pre-order, visit the website at www.artizenbymw.com or call (808) 524-0499.

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BIG ISLAND CANDIES CHARGES FORWARD WITH A FASHIONABLE COLLABORATION FEAT. LOCAL LIFESTYLE BRAND FIGHTING EEL

Big Island Candies is excited to announce a collaboration with locally-owned and operated lifestyle brand Fighting Eel, just in time for Mother’s Day.  Releasing online and in Big Island Candies retail stores on May 3, the fashionable collaboration will showcase a long box donning popular Hawaii lifestyle brand Fighting Eel’s iconic black and white fish design.  In addition, matching scarves produced by Fighting Eel in three different colorways are to be released, doubling as elegant wraps for the gift boxes. 

The 8.4-ounce “Big Island Candies x Fighting Eel” Long Box features an assortment of confections including one dark chocolate covered macadamia nut brownie, three milk chocolate macadamia nut toffees, four macadamia nut shortbreads, four milk chocolate dipped macadamia nut shortbreads, and four chocolate chip macadamia nut shortbreads.  The box retails for $23.00 at the Ala Moana Center store, and $22.00 at the Hilo Flagship Store and Factory and online.  The 100% silk scarves printed in purple, a deeper mulberry-hued “very berry,” and a royal “blue Hawaii” each measure 35” by 36” in size.  The scarves are available for $64 each at both Big Island Candies retail stores in Hilo and Honolulu as well as online.  Limited quantities of scarves are being produced, so they are anticipated to be highly coveted fashion accessories.

 

“I absolutely love the couture fashion by Fighting Eel and purchased a number of the brand’s lifestyle items expressing a refined local style,” discloses Sherrie Holi, President and Chief Operating Officer at Big Island Candies. “After meeting with Lan and hearing about her journey from the company’s inception, I have a deeper appreciation and respect of the brand.  I am honored that they agreed to be our next collaborative partner and especially love that Fighting Eel is a women-run company owned and operated in Hawaii.”

 

“I believe collaboration is the essence of creativity and innovation,” explains Lan Chung, Founder and Designer of Fighting Eel.  “Partnering with Big Island Candies allows us to merge fashion and flavor, bringing our iconic fish print to life in both delectable treats and versatile accessories.  It's about creating pieces that are beautiful, and functional, such as our multifunctional silk scarf that can be used in so many different ways.”

 

Big Island Candies has two retail outlets in Hawaii.  The Hilo flagship store and factory is located at 585 Hinano Street, while the Ala Moana store is on the street level of Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., near the Center Court.  For store hours, please call the Hilo flagship store and factory at (808) 935-8890 or the Ala Moana store at (808) 946-9213.  

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Visit Big Island: Countryside Cafe

Countryside Cafe is a great breakfast option near Hilo.  Located in Kea‘au, this eatery offers a nice variety of all-day options sure to satisfy (fun fact: they have a Wai‘anae location, which I visited 8 years ago!).

Corned Beef Hash Loco Moco

I had the Corned Beef Hash Loco Moco with Fried Rice.

It was very tasty and filling.  The corned beef hash patty was nice and crispy, just the way I like it, and they smothered it with gravy.

My friend liked the burger and appreciated that it was housemade.

Mushroom & Onion Burger

Service was warm and friendly, and some of the best I've experienced anywhere. 

I highly recommend Countryside Cafe as a breakfast option near Hilo! 

Countryside Cafe
16-586 Old Volcano Road

Keaau, HI 96749

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Da Big Kahuna’s Pizza

Sumo Special

Da Big Kahuna’s Pizza first opened its doors in 1994, but has remained locally owned and is now centrally located at the Airport Trade Center. Da Big Kahuna makes their own dough every day which ensures their pan pizzas, sandwiches, and not to be missed garlic cheese balls are especially fresh and delicious.

I’ve been a fan of Big Kahuna’s since their Mapunapuna days and love that their pizzas come in a small personal size as well as regular. My favorite pizza is the Sumo Special Pizza topped with pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, bacon, Portuguese sausage, kalua pork, onions, fresh mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, and black olives. I favor barbeque so I also love the Paniolo Beef Brisket Sandwich. No matter what you order, make sure to try the garlic cheese balls that are baked in butter and garlic and topped with five cheeses. For their complete menu, visit here. 

Garlic Cheese Balls

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