Mermaid Lounge

The Mermaid Lounge opened up AGAIN yesterday afternoon. It's my first week back at work so I was looking to indulge in a little escapist fun, just like many mid-century Americans did years ago. The word indulge may be a little strong as my drinks were rather weak rum and Cokes, but the tiki mugs in the lounge, music of Arthur Lyman playing, and the reading of Sven Kirsten's The Book of Tiki, all helped add to the recreational  atmosphere.

Mermaid Lounge

The Mermaid Lounge opened again tonight for another rum and Coke.

Mermaid Lounge

The mermaid lounge opened yesterday afternoon for one cocktail. One of the tiki mugs has rum and Coke in it...

Eat Street Social - Mai Tai

This past Wednesday Dale and I went out for dinner at a place called Eat Street Social. Dale's been before but it was my first time. I've been reading up on Mai Tai's lately and was quite in the mood for one as it's been feeling rather tropical weather-wise. The bartender mixed me up an incredible one. The fresh mint leaves tickled my nostrils as I sipped the drink. It was most awesome. 

Eat Street Social - Tiki Bar

Just after getting my Mai Tai, I noticed what looked to be the roof of a thatched hut in a room next to the main dining space. I asked our server what it was and she told me it's a tiki room called The Torpedo Room that they use for small events that they hold but also rent it out for private parties. Good to know. I had a chance to peek inside and get a few pictures. They've done a pretty good job decor-wise.

Tiki Oasis 2016 - Party On Monster Island

Tiki Oasis began yesterday with the theme Party On Monster Island. Not sure what monsters and tiki culture have to do with each other? Here's what their web site says:

"How do Monsters and Tiki go together? From rubber Godzillas tearing apart the South Seas to surfin, Go Go dancing Frankenstein and Wolfman, creatures have always been lurking in paradise. This year Tiki Oasis celebrates our monster brethren from King Kong (1933), Godzilla and Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) to the famous monsters of Hollywood (1932-1950s)."

"Like lovers of Polynesian Pop, many of the classic monsters we know share the Modern Primitive ethos. Some were discovered in mysterious, exotic, tropical lands but others originated in urban areas and frolicked with average humans."

"While Godzilla loved to visit major metropolis' like Tokyo he lives on and originates from Monster Island."

"The original king of the jungle King Kong was a modern primitive and could be seen cavorting on major architectural landmarks when he wasn't picking up on chicks in his hometown. Even the Creature from the Black Lagoon left the Amazon and visited the U.S. The classic city monsters made famous in films (The Mummy, Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman, The Invisible Man) later got hip to the times and joined the beach/dance party scene. Not only did monsters leave their remote islands and come to the beaches, the Hollywood monster crowd there their own shindig."

Seems like a stretch to me me, but, hey, tiki culture something of a  stretch itself, so, sure, why not?

The Ultra Lounge - Mondo Exotica

Mondo Exotica - the first volume in the Ultra Lounge series. Released in 1996, the album contains selections from the Capitol Records back catalogue which were recorded between 1952 and 1967. To those not familiar with the exotica genre, the music can sometimes seem strange. Odd, to the uninitiated, sounding animal calls and warbly high pitched voices pop up quite a bit...

Don the Beachcomber Quote

Donn Beach is the man credited as creator of the tropical drink genre out of which came the mai tai, often considered to be the premier cocktail in this specific subgroup of libations. Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron, a contemporary and rival of Beach's, also takes credit for inventing the mai tai. 

Welcome to Joe's Tiki Hideaway

Welcome to Joe's Tiki Hideaway. I hope you enjoy your visit.

To me, tiki culture represents something far yet near. Something imagined yet real. Something I can help create.

Tiki culture employs all the senses. There is polynesian style food and drink to taste and smell,  music to hear, objects to see and feel.  

There is an entire world of tiki out there to experience.