Spring Break 2019 Tiki Tour: Frankie's Tiki Room Part 1

Thursday, April 4, 2019

After a number of days in Phoenix Dale and I planned an overnight get-away to Las Vegas. 

Dale amazes me with his ability to get around large and unfamiliar places, especially at nighttime. We made it to Frankie's Tiki Room without much effort and were about to begin our adventure in the world of Vegas tiki. 

Spring Break 2019 Tiki Tour: Hula's Modern Tiki - My Critiki Review

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

"Overall very pleasant experience. Service was friendly and excellent. Food fantastic and drinks good."

"Much more contemporary vibe and very light inside. I prefer more traditional tiki decor and atmosphere than this place offers."

"However, it's hard to fault the place for this as the name of the establishment is Hula's MODERN tiki. In the end what all comes down to for me is would I go again? The answer? A resounding YES!!"

Spring Break 2019 Tiki Tour: Hula's Modern Tiki - Good Food and Drink

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Dale and I are in Phoenix for spring break this year. We're staying with Dianne and John along with John's daughter Sarah and her husband Tim. We're also getting to spend lots of time with Brenda and Irv who are now fully settled nearby. 

I'm always up for visiting a tiki bar and Dianne recommended we try a place called Hula's Modern Tiki. Excellent choice. The food and drinks were fantastic. 

Sarah and Tim, Dale and I, neighbors Kirk and Theresa, all accompanied John and Dianne to Hula's Modern Tiki for dinner and drinks tonight. Sarah and Theresa were jazzed to try the Scorpion Bowl which is a shared drink and a tiki cocktail classic. 

I agreed to help out and Dale, not a mixed drink fan, was willing to give it a try.

John was eager to try it too but needed a little help as the straw wasn't quite long enough to reach him.

I think he liked it. 

I also tried out Hula's version of the Zombie. Quite good. 

Dick Dale

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Dick Dale died on March 16, 2019. As I became more interested in surf music over the last few years he was one of the first artists I came across. 

From Wikipedia: "Richard Anthony Monsour, known professionally as Dick Dale, was an American rock guitarist. He was a pioneer of surf music, drawing on Middle Eastern music scales and experimenting with reverberation. Dale is known as 'The King of Surf Guitar,' which was also the title of his second studio album."

Rest in peace.

Fourth Psycho Suzi's Visit for 2019 - Short Stop

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Union meeting after school today so I made a stop at Suzi's. 

Didn't have a whole lot of time so I started with my favorite, the Psychotic Suzi. 

For my second I had the Coconaut which, as always, was very smooth.

Didn't order any pizza as that's what we were having at the union hall.

Lucky Cricket 2 for 2019 - Drinks and Mugs

Saturday, March 16, 2019

I started the evening with a Jet Pilot which the menu describes as: "Strong and bracing. Rums, falernum, cinnamon, grapefruit, lime, and bitters." Brandon started out with a Cherry Zinger which the menu describes as: "Frozen. Bright and refreshing. Local vodka with cherry, almond, lime, and secret bitters." It came in the Derek Yaniger  designed Kava Kava Man tiki mug pictured above. I ordered it as my second drink. I found it to be somewhat tangy which was nice as drinks of this nature in the tiki world can sometimes be over-sweet. So far I've had good luck with Lucky Cricket's tiki drinks!

The website describes the mug as follows Kava Kava Man tiki mug as follows: "Derek's take on the Kava Kava Man will bring a whimsical splash of FUN to your tiki mug collection. Featuring a stylized famished Kava Kava Man perched on a bed of lava rocks with a grimacing expression, he's seen better days. Dig the "Siamese Birdmen" on the reverse! Measuring 8" in height and has a 17 fluid ounce capacity."

Lucky Cricket offers mugs for sale and I found the one shown above to be so irresistible that I bought it and made it mine. This particular mug is called The Mystic by Joe Vitale. Lucky Cricket's website says, "The primary influence for 'The Mystic' was Joe Vitale's 2002 'I Dream of Tiki' mug. What you see here is a beautifully stylized tiki and in a wonderful glaze to boot! This design has a unique, creative vibe as well. The Mystic is 8" tall and has a 20 oz. capacity." I love it. 

Lucky Cricket 2 for 2019 -Dinner with Friends

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Dale and I and Brandon and Becky (friends from church) met up at Lucky Cricket for dinner. We'd been before for lunch. They'd been before for drinks but not for food. The joint was really jumpin' compared to the small noontime crowd last time Dale and I were there. This time the four of us ordered a ton of food and shared it which was a lot of fun and very tasty. 

We ordered eggs rolls, shrimp toast rolls, Peking chicken, Shanghai fried chicken and waffle, long beans, and soup. It was all fantastic. For dessert we ordered a soft serve swirl of raspberry and green tea.