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1. I don’t understand the MoviePass business model, but I don’t have to. All I need to know is this: I pay $9.95 per month for my subscription and it lets me go to movies for free, as many as one a day at theaters all over the country. Considering that $9.95 doesn’t even equal one standard adult ticket, I don’t see how the company isn’t already bankrupt — and it has been experiencing some financial trauma — but that’s not my problem.
Subscribe through moviepass.com. You’ll need to download an app to your smartphone and carry a card that the company sends you. Book your ticket through the app, then show your card at the box office to get your ticket. You have to be near the theater to book and you can only see a given movie once (so you can’t see “Ant-Man and the Wasp” 12 times).
Important to note: The service has just added Peak Pricing, which means for certain movies at certain times (for example, blockbusters on opening weekend) an extra fee of $2 to $6 is added.
I plan to use my pass as often as I can, avoiding those peaks, until either the price goes way up or the company goes down.
— Betty Shimabukuro, Star-Advertiser
2. When it comes to skin care, I adore products that multitask. The Honey Love from Leahlani Skincare does triple duty as a cleanser, exfoliator and face mask, and it smells good enough to eat.
Made in small batches on Kauai, Honey Love contains raw Hawaiian honey, macqui berry, hibiscus, noni fruit and microdermabrasion crystals to gently remove dead skin cells and promote cellular turnover. I do feel as though it leaves my skin with a glow.
My favorite way to use it is as a mask. I leave it on for five to 10 minutes, then remove it with a warm, damp washcloth.
At $52 for about 4 ounces it may seem pricey, but it’s cheaper than a spa date. The product lasts a long time and I like supporting a local business that happens to give me better results than most of the mainstream brands I’ve tried.
Visit leahlaniskincare.com to shop online or see a list of local stores that carry Leahlani Skincare products.
— Karen Iwamoto, Star-Advertiser
3. Summer is here and so are the watermelons. It’s hard to resist getting the biggest one at the store, but when I get that basketball-sized melon home I have a hard time finding a knife to accommodate its diameter.
I tried my bread knife, but found it hard to cut evenly through the rind, so I ended up with two uneven halves. Then I found the KAI watermelon knife at Williams Sonoma, where I work a second job, and decided to give it a try since it was only $19.95.
The 11-inch high-carbon stainless-steel blade and the sharp 16-degree cutting angle make it easy to cut through tough rinds. The knife also comes with a plastic sheath so you can take it with you on picnics or to family gatherings. Available at Williams Sonoma at Ala Moana Center or online at williams-sonoma.com.
— Chris Sykes, Star-Advertiser
4. Be prepared for some odd looks from passers-by when they catch you playing games on the back of your phone. But I barely even notice the quizzical glances when I’m playing the dozens of ’80s-inspired games preloaded on Everything Tech Gear’s Game Boy-reminiscent Retro Video Game Phone Case.
The old-school fun includes tiling together Tetris-like blocks and bouncing around a character that almost looks like Mario on a pixelated black-and-white LCD screen.
The case runs off its own (included) battery so it still works when my iPhone is running low on juice. It’s on sale for $24.99 for a limited time (regular price $34.99) at EverythingTechGear.com.
— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser
5. The Clash exploded on the London music scene in 1976, just as punk rock was taking off. Media buzz about The Clash being “the only band that matters” turned out to have originated with the group’s record label, but the music they created in the years that followed made them one of the most influential acts of their time.
Rock media journalist Martin Popoff takes a thorough look at the group’s eight-year career, and the songs on all six CBS Records studio albums, with “The Clash” (Voyageur Press, $30; QuartoKnows.com).
Popoff goes through all 103 songs in order and in great detail. Sidebars hold information on album art, outside influences, political issues and trivia. For instance, although the lyrics of the group’s 1982 pop chart hit, “Rock the Casbah,” mention an Arab king banning rock music, the song was inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran — which is not an Arab nation and does not have a king.
Veteran Clash fans can assess Popoff’s commentary while listening to their favorite album. Anyone just now discovering The Clash will find Popoff’s book a great introduction — and good reason to start exploring the group’s recordings. Available where books are sold.
— John Berger, Star-Advertiser
Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. The information presented represents the authors’ opinions and experiences; your results may vary. Tell us what you are loving this week by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.
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