Mermaid Lounge

Big rainstorm today. It was nice to sit on the porch and listen to it. 

Last Day of Summer Vacation

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Been warm and very dry lately but we got some nice rain overnight and it cooled things down a bit. Today sunny, dry, and about 73 degrees for a high. Another perfect cigar day. This one's a La Gloria Cubana. 

Made my signature tiki cocktail, the Joey's Orange Speedo. Delicious as always.

Listened to some Martin Denny which added to the tiki atmosphere. I have a great playlist I've put together made up of songs from the album pictured above and also the record shown below. Both are from Capitol Records. 

When a playlist or album ends, Apple Music will continue to play songs in the same genre. Some of the selections Apple picked when my Martin Denny playlist ended are from the albums shown above. Three of the four acts I've never heard of before. 

Today is my last full day of summer vacation so I'm grateful I got such a lovely day to sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather. 

, 

The Mermaid Lounge

Wednesday, August 19, 2021

Dale and I really haven't spent much time on the porch this year. In fact, today is the first I've set more than just a few things out in the Mermaid Lounge this season. 

We sat on the porch all the time last summer so I'm not sure why it took until the middle of August this year. Whatever the reason it was just good to be back out there. 

I mixed up a Joey's Orange Speedo and put it in my favorite tiki mug which I dug out of the basement today. It's not my favorite tiki mug to look at but it's my favorite tiki mug to hold. It fits just perfectly in my hand. I got the mug for free a year or so ago with the purchase of a bottle of Plantation rum. 

We listened to my summer tiki playlist I made last year.

Which contains one of Dale's favorite Polynesian pop songs.  

Hawaiian Music

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Some more great tunes selected by Apple Music during my cigar session:

Cigar Time

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Not a bad day for a cigar...

...despite the heat.

While doing some rum tasting I listened to Hawaiian songs Apple Music selected for me. Shown above is Plantation Rum. Music selections included the following:

Joey's Orange Speedo - My Signature Tiki Cocktail

We had Warren over recently. He loves my signature tiki cocktail, the Joey's Orange Speedo. This signature tiki cocktail has evolved a bit over the  past however-many years. Following is the most recent iteration of the recipe. 

Joey's Orange Speedo

3 ounces Plantation Rum

1 1/2 ounces Orange Curaçao 

1/2 ounce Falernum

1/2 ounce Orgeat

3 ounces Grapefruit Juice*

Ingredients may be combined in a lowball glass and then stirred or combined in a cocktail shaker, shaken on ice, and then poured into a lowball glass. 

Add ice cubes and top off with Club Soda.

*Note: Drink may also be made with orange juice or an orange/pineapple blend. 

Tiki Evening

Monday, August 16, 2021 

Experimented with the Joey’s Orange Speedo, my signature tiki cocktail. I used a pineapple/orange juice blend which gave it much more of a yellowish tinge. 

Listened to some music including Arthur Lyman...

...a group called Hawaii Calls Orchestra & Chorus which I just discovered today...

...and also some Gene Rains in the car with Dale on the way to Kowalski’s in order to get dinner makings. 

Also had a chance to look at The Art of Tiki which has some wonderful low brow and tiki art. 

For dinner Dale made chicken thighs and vegetables accompanied by a pasta salad from Kowalski's. We watched Star Trek: The Next Generation on tv. 

Glass Floats

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Noel took me to lunch at Heather’s on Chicago Avenue. Hit the second hand shops afterward. I found the glass floats pictured above. They’re perfect in the Mermaid Lounge.

Celebrating A Birthday

I had a birthday recently and Mom and Dale and I  celebrated by heading to Psycho Suzi’s to sit on their glorious patio.

For my first drink I had the Paralyzed Politician. I believe it used to go by the Paralyzed Polynesian. Here’s how it was describe on the menu:

I didn’t get it in the mug (I already have it) but here’s how it looked in a regular glass:

Quite tasty. Dale and Mom had beer. 

In the above photo you can see Mom and Dale in the lower right quadrant. Dale was a little pissy that they didn’t have table service so I went and ordered the food from the bar which is where I took the picture from while waiting in line. Dale got a hamburger and Mom and I shared a Hawaiian pizza. We also had some appetizers (tater tots and calamari). It was a gorgeous evening to sit on the patio overlooking the Mississippi River.

For my second cocktail I got the Psychotic Suzi Shipwreck (see above) which I believe used to go by the Psychotic Suzi. 

I did not get the drink in the collectible mug (I already have it). However, the presentation was still quite lovely in a regular glass (see above). 

Dale cheered up especially once we got a little food in him and a good time was had by all. 

Especially me.

The Big Kahuna Bash 2021 - The Black Lagoon Room

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Stopped by The Black Lagoon Room's booth outside (above picture is from their Instagram page).

Picked up a couple of cool pins and a swizzle stick. The pin attached to the black background glows in the dark!

Lakewood Tiki Crafts was back this year (above photo from their Instagram page). I bought from them last year and it would've been cool to get something from them again this year but I felt like I'd already overspent my limit on the Shag tiki mug. Hopefully they'll be back in 2022.