KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Light up the night and your drinks with Litecubes, lights in the shape of ice cubes.
Drop a few of these in your drink, no matter the alcohol content, and you're sure to see the light. Your drink gets lit
before you doBy Ruby Mata-Viti
rmataviti@starbulletin.comNothing too deep, though, unless you're looking at the bottom of your glass seeing Litecubes, plastic lights in the shape of ice cubes that are sure to brighten any gathering.
"They work much the same way as Halloween glow sticks," said David Warren of Litecubes in San Diego, "except they're battery-powered; you control the glow time."
The cubes were invented by photographer Carl VanderSchuit, who was in search of a novelty way to light up a Halloween tableau. They're made of FDA-approved plastic and contain nontoxic refreezable gel.
The lithium battery allows up to three hours of continuous light, with a total lifetime of 12 hours because the batteries can't be replaced.
Litecubes come in six colors, including red, white and blue, perfect for the punchbowl at your Fourth of July party.
Rounding out the spectrum are green, yellow and orange. Other uses shown on the company's Web site at Litecube.com: Plop them into a party pool, use them in a glass vase of flowers, float a few in a clear shallow bowl as a centerpiece or simply place them on the table.
They're hand-washable (no dishwashers) and can be frozen, just like the real thing. Place one or two with real ice cubes for a splash of color and more cooling power.
Instructions say to tap firmly on one side to turn the cube on, and tap the other to turn off, though it took us several SLAMS to get one turned on. They retail from $14 for four cubes to about $22 for two sets, and can be purchased through the Web site. If you don't have Internet access, call distributors such as Solutions, 800-342-9988; Five Star Advantage, 661-294-7704; or Ship the Web, 800-388-8493.
They also can be bought in bulk through wedding planners or caterers, said Warren, "but no one in Hawaii carries them so far."
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