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| This saxophone lamp sets the tone for the whole store. Kona Lighting is an amazing resource for vintage fittings, antique shades, and in-house creations of the most fascinating variety. |
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| A sputnik-style lamp with Christmas bulbs |
Waffle Fest is the annual celebration held by the family at Kona Lighting in Stanton, CA. Kona Lighting is the perfect place for interesting, antique/vintage, hard-to-find, or custom lighting fixtures any day of the year; New Year's Day, however, it is a wonderland of waffles. Waffles are the order of the day and there is absolutely no questioning that fact with just a brief glimpse through the store.
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| An intergalactic, waffle starburst! |
We've only been in attendance for two years and already it appears that there is an effort by the WF masterminds to outdo themselves with every new year - especially when it comes to the unbelievable waffle-themed party favors (last year we were treated to WF gliders with rubber band launchers).
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| This year, the party favor was a waffle bolo tie with hand-whittled sausage finials. Each piece is hand made and painted! |
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| Cast resin Waffle Fest nightlights pay homage to the Von Dutch flying eyeball. I am prone to hyperbole, but this is absolute GENIUS!!! |
Besides the waffles and custom omelette bar and lighting and party favors, there is more - a band!!! The Riff Raff Swing Band is the WF house band and plays the finest in gypsy jazz and swing.
This year the band saw us dancing and singing along and ended up having us sing a few tunes. I guess they didn't realize that once they gave up the microphone, they would never get it back (waffles with a large side order of HAM)! We sang and sang (even when the words weren't exactly right) and sang some more and eventually got the whole crowd to join in on Gershwin's "Summertime."
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| Mary and Paul (who rectified our crimes against harmony) showing off their waffle bolo ties. Mary is also wearing the mini-waffle earrings she picked up at last year's WF. Everybody was astonished to see them because they were made out of real, edible, mini waffles but somehow her pair managed to survive! |
At one point during the waffle making merriment, our friend Kevin (our access point into WF) was heard saying, "I'm saving room for a pancake." A PANCAKE?!?!?!!! As you can imagine, the music screeched to a halt and several women fainted dead away right where they stood. Instead of being escorted off of the premises by Waffle Fest security, Kevin was whisked away for a brief waffle indoctrination session and set on the straight-and-narrow path to waffle glory.
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| I don't know if it is possible for me to love this tabletop tableau any more than I already do - miniatures, a poodle with a waffle beret, Bob's Big Boy. Love is Waffle Fest! |
Our new year's wish is that the jig will most definitely not be up (stay down?) any time soon; if we can stave off the knowledge that we are Waffle Fest infidels* who somehow managed to horn our way in on the fun, we will definitely have a "Happy New Year" for many years to come.
Kona Lighting
8372 Katella Ave
Stanton, CA
(714)828-0910
*I'm including Kona Lighting's information for your lighting/decorating interests. Please keep in mind that Waffle Fest is, as far as I know, not really open to the general public. If I could invite you all, I would.
However, you ARE INVITED to our unofficial, wacky tacky Huell Howser memorial to be held on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 2:00pm at Philippe's in downtown Los Angeles. We'll meet there for food, fun, prizes, and sharing our best memories of our pal, Huell. This is an informal gathering of wacky tacky and Huell Howser fans and is a totally unsponsored event.
Philippe the Original
1001 Alameda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Cheers!
Mr. Tiny
