The Smithsonian Channel’s “Aerial America” is like a history lesson set to Muzak. With swooping bird’s-eye views of the cityscapes, natural wonders and landmarks of our great nation, and a quiet narration that accompanies the beautiful visuals, it’s a show that edifies in a most aesthetically pleasing manner. Did you know, for instance, that architect Frank Lloyd Wright hailed from Wisconsin and built his own mansion, which he named Taliesin, in his home state? His mistress and two children were murdered there by a disgruntled employee, who also torched the place. Wright rebuilt Taliesin twice, and today it serves as a museum. All this, delivered during an episode on Wisconsin.
Watch new episodes of “Aerial America” at 5 p.m. Sundays. — Joleen Oshiro
Keep bagged items fresh with colorful grippy tubes
Slip a Gripstic onto a bag and it holds on tight. What’s in the bag stays fresh and stays put, no matter how much you shake it up.
The colorful tubes seal by way of a yellow rod that slips through the crease in a folded-over bag. The bag ends up clamped within the tube — no leaks, no spills. Gripstics far outperform bag clips and they’re skinny, so they fit in a utensil drawer. They come in cheerful colors, too.
Gripstics are sold locally by ACS Hawaii, which sells Hydro Flasks in a shop inside Don Quijote in Waipahu, at acshawaiistore.com and other websites. ACS also makes occasional appearances at Sam’s Club. Retail price is $22 for a set of 12 assorted sizes, from 4-3/4 inches to 13-1/2 inches. — Betty Shimabukuro
Happy Wahine purses combine function, style
Happy Wahine in Ward Warehouse makes shopping for purses fun. The company designs its own bags and they are both stylish and practical, with well thought-out compartments. The variety of colors is particularly delightful. Best of all, given that picking a new purse can be a long process, at least for me, the staff is both helpful and patient. This faux leather bag was $79. See more styles at happywahine.com; call 430-8908. — Stephanie Kendrick
Stave off sun’s rays under sturdy everyday hat
After decades of sun abuse I finally got the memo. So I went shopping for a hat, nothing too dramatic, that I could wear while driving, running errands, strolling to my favorite lunch spot and for all those other occasions when you might not realize your face is exposed to damaging rays. Billabong’s casual but stylish Midday Freeing Hat with 3-inch brim is exactly what I was looking for. Made of sturdy 100 percent acrylic, with braided faux suede band, I can stuff it in my bag knowing it will keep its shape. I found my hat for about $28 at HSR (Honolulu Surf Room) at Kahala Mall, or check us.billabong.com. — Christie Wilson
Charger adds more outlets, USB ports
Electrical outlets are a prized commodity in our multiple-mobile-device family. When we lose the USB power adapter for any one of our cables, it’s always a headache to find a charging source in a household that’s already fully plugged in. The Prime High Capacity 2-Port USB Charger does well in a pinch, not only turning two power outlets into three but adding a pair of 3.1-AMP USB 3.0 ports to quickly charge a cellphone or small tablet. Color-changing status lights make it easy to tell when a device is fully charged (and double as a nightlight), and a docking shelf adds a convenient place to store your device while powering up. Pick one up for $12.99 at Lowe’s Iwilei. — Jason Genegabus
