La Mariana, Bishop Museum, and Baldwin’s Sweet Shop

Today Rob and I headed out to have lunch at the La Mariana Sailing Club, which is one of my favorite things. It is this charming old school spot, tucked way back in a corner in a heavily industrial area. You drive past metal buildings and chain link fences, then suddenly there’s a wall of trees in front of you, through which you can catch bright glimpses of a bay.  Walk through the trees and the sailing club awaits. It is decorated in high tiki from the 40s or 50s and is a place of rattan and breezes.

There is nothing pretentious about the menu or the service, and the decorating is in earnest, not an ironic hipster nod. I adore it.

After that we went to the Bishop Museum. I hadn’t been there before and was astounded by the building.  The exhibits were also quite lovely and remind one that the native culture of Hawaii is a living one.  Also reminded me that the U.S. illegally annexed Hawaii which is easy to forget, living on the mainland.

I also got an idea for a novel, which I’ll have to poke at for a bit to see if it’s viable.

From there we went to Baldwin’s Sweet Shop for shave ice. I got lychee and green tea.  We picked up some crack seed while there which I’ve learned to like — some of them — while married to Rob.  He talked story with one of the owners who could tell that he wasn’t a tourist despite the fact that he’s been away for so long.

Then we came home and I napped.

A very satisfying day.

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2 thoughts on “La Mariana, Bishop Museum, and Baldwin’s Sweet Shop”

  1. Lychee shave ice is so good. Thanks for this post, especially appreciated on this snowy portland day. Breezy palm trees…ahh

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