Aloha, My Friend,

“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer! Now, Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, On Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

About a half a dozen years back I was sitting in the airport lounge in Honolulu awaiting my cattle flight back to Seattle and to Sweet Laine for Christmas. It is possibly the longest flight over just water that one can take so I was never able to see a reason to claim a window seat. With that in mind, I was usually one of the last to board, but always behind me were the “non-rev” passengers, employees of the airlines or family members flying for free. On this warm Hawaiian December day, while I waited, the crowd thinned out to just a uniformed pilot in transit sitting across from me and a family – mom, dad & 3 young toddlers scampering about and a tyke on momma’s lap. A little girl about 6 years old was trying to remember the names of Santa’s reindeers and was struggling as she asked her father for help. He wasn’t much help, and, as if to save him from further embarrassment, the pilot leaned forward and politely offered to recite the roster and he did so with the rhythm and order of a father who had read the poem each year as a Christmas Eve ritual to his own children. When pilot was through the mother whispered excitedly to the lad on her lap, “That pilot has to know all of the reindeer’s names in case he is flying and sees them in the sky on Christmas.”

That is one of my precious moments in eavesdropping. And Laine wonders why I listen in on other people’s conversations.  

I just noticed that December 5th is titled, “Pardon Someone Day.”

Long ago I decided that when I die I want two things to take place, besides free drinks for all. First is that someone read aloud one of my favorite quotes to the few gathered. This one is from H. L. Mencken – “If, after I depart this vale, you should ever remember me and have thoughts to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink at a homely girl.”

The second thing that I would like to transpire is that after 49 days have passed someone would mail a postcard to all of my friends so that they can read in my own handwriting, “Everything is beautiful. Wish you were here, Love, Bill.”

So, what indeed is happening at BALI HI?

Free is always a good way to start. At our Midtown location at 1123 Thomasville Rd between Whataburger and Waterworks we are giving away goodies with your purchases – Free shell leis with any purchase, a recyclable cloth bag with purchases above $25, a beautiful Hawaiian calendar for purchases over $50 and a great, multi-pocketed Peace-Love Aloha tote bag for purchases above $100.

All the more reason to do all of your Christmas shopping at BALI HI.

These precious baubles can only be had at the Midtown Design Center at 1123 Thomasville Rd. (salmon colored building), downstairs from Textures and Lucy and Leo’s Cupcakery. There is ample parking in back on the Gadsden St. side or you may take the stairs inside after you treat yourself to some tasty cup cakes!

You will find Bill holding court at Midtown on 1st Friday, 12/4 when we are open until 9 PM. We are featuring some beautiful Hawaiian art including a new Tiki carver Elaine met during her last visit to the islands. You will also find many local artists with some absolutely amazing prices. As always, our lamps will brighten the holidays and make a very unique gift.

Please join us when the Midtown Design Center celebrates the inimitable Patty Maney’s Birthday on Thursday, 12/10. We will be open until 9 PM for your shopping and partying pleasure and, as always with Patty, it is for a good cause too!

BALI-HI TRADING COMPANY is happy to announce our 3rd year at the Railroad Square Art Park. We are very pleased to be sharing a new location with The Other Side Vintage at 607 McDonnell Drive.

In keeping with our tradition, we will be offering a special sale on our fabulous Aloha Shirts on Mon. 12/7 – Sun. 12/13.

Also, if you mention to the checkout person that you saw this notice, you will be given some free Balinese incense.

And, Hot & Special, BALI HI is now located on the internet. I feel that the ice has melted and the flood of all that BALI HI has to offer is now at your tender fingertips. Please check us out at www.balihi.us and if you have any suggestions on how to make the site better please email me and let me now. I’ll throw in a free lei for you.

 You don’t get an offer like that from the big box stores, now do you?

 As always, thanks for supporting Locally Owned Businesses.

 Best Wishes & Happy Holidays to you and everyone you love.

Elaine & Bill Grace
BALI HI Trading Company

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In Midtown at – 1123 Thomasville Rd
In Railroad Square at – 607 McDonnell Dr
And on the web at – www.balihi.us
850/ 766-7175

Aloha, My Friend,

November is finally here, and it is fuller than a funny car stuffed with clowns.

And, just this week my godson and his Marine unit pulled out of Afghanistan and should be in Okinawa by now. Thanks for the Service. Now it is R & R time – For you and your parents.

So, what’s happening at BALI HI, you ask?

Now, you remember that we are in two locations, right?

We are in a new location in Railroad Square. Just as you are entering the park there is a long stretch of green space on your left and then, rising up on the loading dock is a colorful warehouse, the home of BALI HI and The Other Side Vintage, a marriage made in Heaven and currently honeymooning in Paradise. – 607 McDonnell Dr.

Our shop in Midtown is amazing, and I have never lied to you. Elaine has fixed it up so it has the look and feel of an upscale Rodeo Drive with our low, low, Crazy Laine prices. – 1123 Thomasville Rd – Located in the salmon colored building between Waterworks and Whataburger. We are in the back where all of the ample parking is.

First, and sadly, we will be holding a memorial tribute for our dear friend, Gianna Mitchell, who died over the Halloween weekend in a tragic auto accident in Hawaii. She was so beautiful, so talented and so young. She was a truly wonderful person with a very impressive artistic talent. We are awestruck how energetically she was able to capture the wetness and the churning power of an ocean wave through the eyes of a surfer and rebirth it in acrylic. Gianna was born here in Tallahassee just 31 years ago, graduated from FSU and was all set to enter law school after a summer vacation in Hawaii, which lasted 9 years.

This First Friday friends and admirers will gather at the Midtown location from around 6pm until 9pm to share memories – Talk Story as is the colloquialism from her adopted state of Hawaii. Music will be performed by a fellow artist, Mershell Sherman and his didgeridoo band, DidjaVou. Please come on out and celebrate Gianna’s life.

And at Railroad Square will be a First Friday celebration of another sort – we will have three bands –

6-7: Midnight Matinee -

7-8: Elito – Solo Acoustic Latin Music

8-9: The Covers – As the name implies – R&B/R&R cover band. Some of the members were members of the Tallahassee Swing Band.

And the hits just keep on coming like late night AM radio show. Later in the month, on Saturday, November 14th, the South East Regional Yoyo competition will be held in Railroad Square. It will be a fun day of Walking The Dog and Rockin’ The Cradle. You don’t need a Yomega Brain to enjoy this sport. By the way, Tallahassee’s own General Lafayette was a big fan of the Yoyo, as was Baron Munchausen.

On Friday, November 20, Railroad Square will have it first Farmer’s Market with plenty of fresh, locally grown vegetables and other great goodies. Just in time for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Aloha, My Friend,

Come on down to either or, better yet, both locations from 6pm until around 9pm and enjoy the beautiful evening with 3,000 of your closest new friends.