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.