1. With the only significance differences between hardcover books and their paperback equivalents these days being the binding and price, holding out for the paperback edition can be worth the wait. That’s certainly true of the newly released paperback “Motown: The Sound of Young America” (Thames & Hudson) by music writer Adam White. It’s a beautifully illustrated, 400-page book that documents the history of the iconic record label, the lives of the artists who recorded for it, and the era that produced them.
White shows that the meteoric rise of Motown from obscure regional record label to internationally embraced icon of African American culture came out of the productive working relationship between Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., and Barney Ales, the Caucasian American veteran of the mainstream American record industry Gordy hired to bridge the traditional barrier between “black” record labels and “white” radio. The story of their partnership is a fascinating look at the business side of the record industry. The photographs — more than 1,000 in all — are gorgeous. The 9-by-11-inch paperback is $39.95 at stores and online outlets where books are sold. — John Berger, Star-Advertiser
2. Marvin Gaye first hit the Billboard Hot 100 with a song he co-wrote, “Stubborn Kind of Fellow,” in 1962. He followed it with a string of hits that included “Pride and Joy,” “Can I Get a Witness,” and all those romantic duets with Tammi Terrell. Gaye successfully changed his sound with his million-selling remake of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” in 1968, focused on current events with “What’s Going On” in 1971, and earned a reputation as a sex icon with “Let’s Get It On” in 1973. And that’s only touching the surface of Gaye’s repertoire.
Forty-five years after his death, the U.S. Postal Service is honoring Gaye with a limited-edition Music Icon stamp sheet. The stamp shows Gaye in the mid-1970s when he was at the top of his career as recording artist, songwriter and record producer.
As with all Postal Service Forever stamps, the Gaye stamps will always be good for 1 ounce of first-class postage no matter how much postal rates rise in the future. A sheet of 16 costs $8.80 at usps.com or at your neighborhood post office. — John Berger, Star-Advertiser
3. I’m obsessed with eyebrows.
So when my cousin came home with fluffy “ombre brows” that replaced her barely-there arches, I began researching the latest techniques on Instagram and Pinterest. (Ombre is a technique in which the front of the brow is lighter with a more natural density and gradually gets darker toward the ends.)
There are countless photos and videos on social media on microblading and microshading. Both use a hand-held tool to tattoo semi-permanent pigment under the skin either using hairlike strokes or tiny pinpoint dots to shape the “perfect brows.”
After several months, I decided to take a leap of faith with Alana Wallace at Studio Masami. The end result was better than I imagined. In fact, it was life-changing for my morning routine. The shape never gets distorted when the hairs grow out and I don’t ever need to pencil in the sparse areas. I no longer need my monthly brow waxing. The procedure runs about $400 for one session and lasts two to three years. For appointments, go to studiomasami.com or call 202-2259. — Kristen Consillio, Star-Advertiser
4. Uncle Bobo’s, a cozy, friendly barbecue spot across the street from Swanzy Beach Park, has become a Kaaawa institution, adored for its house-made breads and baked goods and slow-cooked smoked meats. The beach-side haven is now also selling its own barbecue and teriyaki sauces, $8.95; along with a tasty papaya seed dressing, $5.95. The sauces incorporate the tastes and talents of Bobo’s owners Robert and Keiko Joyce, who favor local and natural ingredients. Apple and pineapple juices sweeten the teriyaki sauce; the barbecue sauce is deepened with the flavor of coffee. Get them online or at the shop, 51-480 Kamehameha Highway. Uncle Bobo’s is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Go to unclebobos.com or call 237-1000. — Elizabeth Kieszkowski, Star-Advertiser
5. I live a drive-thru kind of life these days. Gone are the days of long, leisurely dinners with friends, replaced by quick meal stops on the way home from baseball practice or on the way to a school meeting. Burgers and fries get old in a hurry, but the drive-thru window at Panda Express keeps things interesting. We usually hit the Valkenburgh or King street locations, but Moanalua Shopping Center also has a drive-thru Panda. Now if only I could get Italian food without unbuckling the kids from the back seat, I’d be all set.
— Donica Kaneshiro, Pearl City
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 creilly@staradvertiser.com.
