Rating: All-Star

I bought this hat as a birthday gift for my wife after she mentioned wanting something that would actually protect her whole face from the sun.

Rating: All-Star

If you’re looking for a night out with the family that won’t drain your wallet, a USF women’s volleyball game might just be the hidden gem you’ve been missing.

Rating: All-Star

If you’ve got some money saved and you’re thinking about investing, it’s tempting to chase the hot stock everyone’s talking about, or to believe you can outsmart the market with quick trades. That’s how most people lose money. They gamble instead of investing.

Rating: Role Player

We turned a family milestone into a sweet celebration—our daughter finally got her braces off. The reward? A trip to Uji Time, the kind of spot where dessert feels like a victory parade.

Rating: Role Player

On our trip to Berkeley to watch the Cal Women’s volleyball team, we stopped at Mixt for lunch. The salads hit the spot — healthy and fresh, just what my wife and I needed.

Rating: Role Player

We stopped into Sheng Kee for an afternoon treat and ran into an odd house rule right away

Rating: Liability

When El Porteño in the Ferry Building ran out of chicken empanadas (WTF?), we went searching for a backup because our kids love empanadas. We landed at The Epicurean Trader a few stores down, hoping for a save.

Rating: Role Player

Before the ice cream run later that afternoon, we made a quick pit stop at Gott’s for the kids to refuel after swimming on one of those rare hot San Francisco days. Nothing fancy, just a kids’ chicken tenders meal — two pieces, crispy on the outside, tender inside, and enough to keep the hunger at bay before dinner.

Rating: Role Player

Catching a hot day in San Francisco feels like spotting a unicorn — rare, fleeting, and best enjoyed with something cold in hand. We ducked into Gott’s at the Ferry Building for a quick ice cream treat for the kids, and it hit the spot.

Rating: All-Star

Food was good! Our kid scarfed down the chicken pad see ew — and trust me, his first response is usually, “I don’t want that.” But this time, he dove right in and ate without hesitation.

Rating: Role Player

If you want the taste of old-school Hawaiʻi, Keneke’s Grill in Punaluʻu is the real deal. This is not a polished, touristy spot—it’s a down-home, country-style eatery where the food speaks for itself and the atmosphere brings you back to simpler times.

Rating: All-Star

We stopped at KOA Pancake House near the Honolulu airport (HNL) for a family breakfast, and it hit the spot perfectly. This place is old-school local, with friendly service, hearty plates, and the kind of comfort food that feels like home.

Rating: Role Player

We sampled a handful of spots here on our visit, and overall it gave us a good variety of Asian flavors under one roof.

Rating: Role Player

Tried Raising Cane’s at Ala Moana recently, and while the food itself was decent, the overall digital and pickup experience has a long way to go.

Rating: Role Player

I took my son one afternoon and we ended up going “reverse mode” — snuck in to see the otters first to dodge the crowds.

Rating: Role Player

Our family had a good time at Camp Montecito Sequoia Lodge. It’s a unique blend of “luxury camping” and traditional family camp fun. We stayed in a room with a large bed and a bunk bed, perfect for our family of four, and even had our own private bath and shower—a big step up from roughing it.

Rating: All-Star

Most people think getting in shape after 40 means pounding pavement for hours or grinding away on a treadmill. I’ve found the opposite to be true. With a simple 20-minute swim workout—paired with a few minutes of sauna, some walking, and core work—I’ve reached cardio levels that shocked even my doctor.

My daughter had a dentist appointment. I could’ve passed it off to my wife, but something in me said, no, this one’s mine.

Some days are for catching up on rest. Others are for the kind of work that never shows up on a performance review but builds something deeper—family, community, legacy. This weekend was the latter.

Rating: Role-Player

For us, the mess always seemed to collect at the stairway entry. Shoes, backpacks, toys, jackets—it was the first impression of our home and also the most chaotic corner of it.