5 Things We Love is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.
Confections sweeten Halloween fun
Not everyone is into blood and gore for Halloween. Mummies and monsters can be downright cute and nice to have around when they come in cookie and cupcake form from Liliha Bakery. It’s the one time of year you may find yourself reaching for something other than the bakery’s famous Coco Puffs. The orange-and-black confections help set the table for a family-oriented Halloween party, and unlike other decor, they don’t need to be packed away after midnight. Just eat and your work is done. The cookies are $2.55 each and cupcakes $2.50 each, at the bakery’s original 515 N. Kuakini St. address and the new outpost at 580 N. Nimitz Highway. — Nadine Kam
Glittery ornaments straddle cute and creepy
These glittery Halloween ornaments ($3.95) from Pier 1 Imports are cute and creepy at the same time. Use them to decorate a tree or just hang them around your home or office workspace. The vampire and mummy are my favorites, but you can also find Frankenstein, a witch, a skeleton and other creatures of the night. — Nancy Arcayna
Holy anniversary stamps! USPS celebrates Batman
Several generations of Americans have grown up reading Batman comic books since his debut in 1939. This newly issued "forever" commemorative stamp sheet ($9.80 at post offices) celebrates the Caped Crusader’s 75th anniversary and shows how he has changed over the decades. Four round stamps show the evolution of the iconic Bat Signal since it first appeared in 1942. The back of the sheet has background information about the stamps and Batman. — John Berger
Aloha shirts are a perfect fit for World Series
My mother was a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan who fell in love with them in New York and much later got to see them win two World Series in San Francisco before she died in 2013. My family remains devoted to the "Gigantes," as they’re sometimes called in San Jose, where I grew up. Last year, while I was there helping care for my mother and, later, settling her affairs, my sister gave me a Reyn Spooner Giants-print aloha shirt for Christmas.
Even in the South Bay, early morning temperatures regularly drop into the 30s during the winter months. So I didn’t have much use for an orange-and-black aloha shirt at AT&T Park, where I normally layered myself in a Giants beanie and wool Giants scarf over a Giants starter jacket over a Giants sweatshirt hoodie (and gloves) to watch the Giants play.
But now that I’m happily back home in Hawaii and the Giants are chasing their third World Series since 2010, it’s time to bust out my Giants aloha shirt again.
(Editor’s note: Against Dan’s wishes we are mentioning that Reyn Spooner has created a limited-edition Kansas City Royals shirt specifically for this World Series. The $65 shirts are available at Reyn’s stores in Ala Moana Center and Kahala Mall and online.) — Dan Nakaso
Kitchen tool makes opening jars a snap
Jar Pop (also sold as JarKey) by Brix Design of Denmark makes opening jars a snap. The plastic tool pops the vacuum seal with a gentle lift and doesn’t damage the lid. It’s available from Executive Chef at Ward Warehouse for $6.95 and assorted online retailers. — Linda Curb, Kihei, Maui