Crazy Al Evans Archives - The Atomic Grog

January 7, 2026March 5, 2026

Photo and video tour: The 16 most iconic photo spots at the Mai-Kai

You’ve seen them on social media. Grinning guests at South Florida’s historic Mai-Kai restaurant, posing in front of an array of distinctive icons and immersive features that immediately tell you where they are.

The Mai-Kai's volcanic caldera and indoor tiki garden are two of the many one-of-a-kind photo locations spotlighted by Hurricane Hayward. (Atomic Grog photos, April 2025) — The Mai-Kai’s volcanic caldera and indoor tiki garden are two of the many one-of-a-kind photo locations spotlighted by Hurricane Hayward. (Atomic Grog photos, April 2025)

Your first instinct is to be happy for them, to give them a “like” and even a “wish I was there with you!” comment. But it’s also hard to suppress the jealousy. You might wonder: “Why didn’t I think of that photo spot?”

We’re here to help you, as well as the many newbies who may be making their first visit and feel overwhelmed when confronted with the 2.7-acre property filled with dozens of scenic vistas. Take your time and enjoy the moment, of course. But you want to return home with some cool memories of your visit.

That’s why we’ve created this guide to getting those classic shots of you and your friends and family on your next trip to the Mai-Kai. These 16 locations are the ones that scream “Mai-Kai!” with no explanation needed. We could have added a dozen more exotic areas to photograph, both with and without smiling faces in your viewfinder. But we’re sure you’ll discover those on your own.
SEE THE TOP 16: Jump straight to the tour below

Watch the "Mai Kai Photo Safari" episode of Spike's Breezeway Cocktail Hour before, during or after checking out the detailed guide below. (Spike's Breezeway) — Watch the “Mai Kai Photo Safari” episode of Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour before, during or after checking out the detailed guide below. (Spike’s Breezeway)

When we told Matt “Spike” Marble about our plans for this guide, he jumped at the chance to film an exclusive walk-through video of these 16 must-capture images during his visit this summer. We were joined by model Brittany on July 20 for what became the “Mai Kai Photo Safari” episode on his popular YouTube channel, Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour.

You can stream the video below, or better yet click here to watch in a separate window or app before, during or after you take our photo tour below. This story will go into more detail and offer additional tips and photos, both historic and recent.

Our guide to the essential Mai-Kai photos, as documented on Spike's Breezeway Cocktail Hour with model Brittany, includes both classic and new locations. (Photos by Spike Marble, July 2025) — Our guide to the essential Mai-Kai photos, as documented on Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour with model Brittany, includes both classic and new locations. (Photos by Spike Marble, July 2025)

Marble’s visit to the Mai-Kai yielded other videos that have drawn a big audience, including talks with general manager and beverage director Cory Starr and creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller. Here are the direct links to those episodes:
• The Polynesian Casa Bonita: Rescuing the Mai-Kai (with “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller)
• Inside the Mai-Kai’s Cocktail Secrets (with Cory Starr)
• Saving the Lamps of the Mai Kai (with Scott “Flounder” Scheidly)
Keep an eye out for more coming soon, and bookmark the full playlist of all of Spike’s Mai-Kai videos.

A professional photographer, Marble also shot still images of the Mai-Kai during his week-long visit. Some of the more casual shots he posted on social media are included in this story. Click here to see more photos and coverage of Marble’s tour with Allsmiller, and look back at our original story on our video tour of the photo locations.

Plan your next visit
• Answers to frequently asked questions about the Mai-Kai
• Okole Maluna Society 2.0: All the Mai-Kai cocktails ranked
• Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide: Full archive of reviews, ratings, history more

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A post shared by Jim Hayward (@theatomicgrog)

Without further adieu, let’s get on with the tour … Continue reading “Photo and video tour: The 16 most iconic photo spots at the Mai-Kai”

July 30, 2025September 14, 2025

Tiki Oasis celebrates a quarter century as subculture’s preeminent event

Updated Sept. 14

Rewind to the summer of 2001: Sven Kirsten’s The Book of Tiki, the influential bible of what would become known as the Polynesian Pop renaissance, was less than a year old. Beachbum Berry’s Grog Log, which lit the fuse of the Tiki cocktail revival, was barely 3. Tiki Central, which would explode into an online gathering place for enthusiasts from around the world, was a year away from leaving Yahoo to become a stand-alone website. The first modern Tiki bar (Taboo Cove in Las Vegas, designed by Bosko Hrnjak) would not open until September.

Aug. 6-10 – Tiki Oasis 25th anniversary: Aug 7-10 at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, featuring live entertainment (The Blue Hawaiians, The Bomboras, Lenny Kaye, The Ghastly Ones, The Hula Girls, Martini Kings, The Tikiyaki Orchestra), DJs, seminars and classes (Sven Kirsten, Charles Phoenix, Kevin Lively, Ian Burrell, King Kukulele, Medusirena), artists and vendors, cocktails and room parties, plus much more.
Quick links: Tickets | Daily schedule | Entertainment | Seminars | Marketplace | FAQ
Jump below: History, reimagination of legendary Mai-Kai back bar to be revealed
• Flashback & photos: Tiki Oasis 2023

Relive Tiki Oasis 2025 with photos, video and a room party cocktail
The world’s first (and largest) multi-day event celebrating the Polynesian Pop revival celebrated its 25th anniversary with a bang Aug. 6-10, when it literally took over the sprawling Town and Country Resort in San Diego.
SOCIAL MEDIA RECAP: See firsthand reports, experiences from the event
Bonus cocktail recipe: Jungle Bum from Mcbiff Cocktail Hour at Tiki Oasis 2025

Official Tiki Oasis artwork by Derek Yaniger: The 2005 event was the last in Palm Springs. This year will mark the event's 25th anniversary, and 20th year in San Diego. — Official Tiki Oasis artwork by Derek Yaniger: The 2005 event was the last in Palm Springs. This year will mark the event’s 25th anniversary, and 20th year in San Diego.

Into this pubescent scene burst Tiki Oasis, making its debut as the world’s first all-encompassing event dedicated to celebrating the art, architecture, cocktails, fashion, music, history and overarching aesthetics of the forgotten 20th century pop culture craze that took hold in the 1930s, peaked in the 1950s and ’60s, but never really went away. A new generation, led by a loosely knit clan of California bohemians, was fully immersed in creating a new movement that has lasted well into the 21st century. Tiki Oasis became their playground.

It’s still called the Tiki “revival,” but there seems to be no end in sight. The scene remains joined at the hip with Tiki Oasis, begun humbly by Otto and Baby Doe von Stroheim in Palm Springs. Otto was instrumental in both documenting the golden days and nurturing the nascent movement in his Tiki News fanzine (1995-2001). He also put together the first big Tiki music event (Exoticon ’95) and the genre’s first major art show (21st Century Tiki, 1996), both in Los Angeles.

He was also long notorious for his wild backyard Tiki parties featuring vintage mugs and cocktails, authentic music, and just a touch of anarchy that came naturally for the generation that grew up on punk and other underground subcultures. After he joined forces in 1996 with the creator of the Baby Doe’s Obsessed website, they set their sights on bigger and better events. She produced the first-ever burlesque convention, Tease-O-Rama, in 2001.

Tiki Oasis began as fundraiser for historic hotel

Baby Doe and Otto von Stroheim visit the Mai-Kai and manager Kern Mattei in January 2025. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

The original intent of Tiki Oasis – which made its debut on Aug. 18, 2001 – was altruistic: Raising money and awareness to preserve the vintage Caliente Tropics Resort in Palm Springs. The first year was modest, featuring around 50 guests. But the event grew rapidly over the next four years, selling out the small hotel and precipitating a move to San Diego in 2006. (The hotel has not only survived, it has thrived amid the Tiki revival, serving as the current host venue of the long-running Tiki Caliente and Circa Caliente events.)

The popularity of both Tiki culture and Tiki Oasis exploded during the next 14 years at the Crowne Plaza (formerly the historic Hanalei Hotel), expanding into a five-day event that has defined the concept of “Tiki weekender” for a new generation. The von Stroheims also added new events to their portfolio, including Arizona Tiki Oasis in Scottsdale (2019-present) and Resort-O-Rama in Santa Rosa, Calif. (2023).
• 2014 flashback: 5 questions with Otto von Stroheim

Tiki Oasis spent one year at the expansive Paradise Point Resort during the COVID restrictions of 2020, then moved in 2021 to the Town and Country Resort, where it has remained for five years. The 23-acre property in Mission Valley oozes mid-century style and charm.

The Town and Country Resort provides the perfect setting for a salute to mid-century Tiki culture. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, August 2023)

The event takes over the entire 600+ rooms and nearly 300,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space. Originally built in 1953 as a roadside lodge, the Town and Country has a rich history that was honored during a major renovation in 2019.

Tiki Oasis will honor its legacy, as well as the early days of the revival, with several symposiums this year. On Friday, Aug. 8, at 9:30 a.m., Sven Kirsten will host The Book of Tiki Turns 25, discussing how photographing and collecting the remnants of the lost mid-century culture led him to understand its unique qualities, and how that convinced him of the importance of documenting and preserving it.

The von Stroheims have lined up an array of guest speakers for 25 Years of Tiki Oasis, hosted by David “Dr. Skipper” Marley at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. They promise “rarely seen photos and untold stories from Tiki Oasis’ past, followed by a lively Q&A.”

History, reimagination of legendary Mai-Kai back bar to be revealed

The Atomic Grog's seminar for Tiki Oasis 2025, — The Atomic Grog’s seminar for Tiki Oasis 2025, “Sneak Peek into the Historic Mai-Kai’s Secret Bar,” will explore the mysterious space from the early days of mixologist Mariano Licudine through the reimagination by “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and bar program of Cory Starr. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

In addition to witnessing the historic 25th event, I’m thrilled to be returning to Tiki Oasis to present the seminar Sneak Peek into the Historic Mai-Kai’s Secret Bar with the beloved South Florida restaurant’s creative director (“Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller) and beverage director (Cory Starr) on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 1 p.m.

We’ll reveal details and show exclusive photos of the multimillion-dollar restoration that preceded the November 2024 relaunch after a four-year closing due to extensive damage to the back of house kitchen and bar. Given a clean slate to rebuild, Allsmiller took the former utilitarian space to a new level and made it a showpiece that’s now on the same level as the guest areas, some of which date back to the 1956 opening.

Starr will serve up a reinvigorated classic cocktail from those early days, enhanced by a new rum that’s due to be released in the coming weeks. We’ll also serve samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1, a 100-proof blend sourced from historic stills at the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados and the Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica. Event attendees will be among the first to get a taste of the final product.
Related: Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 coming soon, symposium and tasting planned for Tiki Oasis

Continue reading “Tiki Oasis celebrates a quarter century as subculture’s preeminent event”

January 3, 2021January 16, 2022

Photos: Remembering Dawn Wells at The Hukilau 2015

The recent death of television sitcom icon Dawn Wells, best know as Mary Ann on the 1960s classic Gilligan’s Island, immediately brings back happy memories amid the sadness. Wells died Wednesday morning in Los Angeles at age 82.
See below: Photos of Dawn Wells at The Hukilau

The cause of her death was related to COVID-19, her publicist announced. Tina Louise, the last surviving regular cast member from the 1964-67 series, paid tribute to Wells on Twitter: “I will always remember Dawn’s kindness to me. We shared in creating a cultural landmark that has continued to bring comfort and smiles to people during this difficult time. I hope that people will remember her the way that I do — always with a smile on her face.”

Dawn Wells is greeted at The Hukilau 2015 by emcee King Kukulele and artist/performer Crazy Al Evans. (Credit: The Hukilau)

When remembering Wells, many recall images of the enduring show about castaways stranded on a deserted Pacific island. A few lucky Tikiphiles also cherish the memorable chance to meet the actress in June 2015 at The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale.

Organizer Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White invited Wells to participate in the annual Tiki weekender, designing a special event just for her: A “Three Hour Tour” cruise in a luxury yacht through the Intracoastal Waterway. The Hukilau villagers joined their favorite castaway on June 12, 2015, aboard the Lady Windridge Yacht as it set sail from the Pier 66 Marina at the event’s host hotel.

Guests were invited to dress in their favorite Gilligan’s Island garb, with Wells selecting the costume contest winners. They also enjoyed an open bar featuring craft Tiki cocktails and food, luxuries not afforded the passengers on the ill-fated S.S. Minnow. Wells later participated in an autograph session and mingled with attendees of The Hukilau throughout the weekend at both the Pier 66 hotel and The Mai-Kai restaurant.

A vintage photo of Dawn Wells during the ‘Gilligan’s Island’ heyday in the 1960s.

The Hollywood Reporter quoted Wells as saying the “values and principles” of Mary Ann mirrored her own and are timeless: “I know this because the core of Mary Ann is really me. I mean, I built her from scratch … if you play a character long enough on stage or screen, I think your true self shows through.”

Wells appeared in more than 150 TV shows, seven movies and six dozen stage plays. She was a producer, author, spokesperson, journalist, motivational speaker, and teacher. She also founded and participated in many charity organizations. Donations in her name can be made to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn.; the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum; and The Shambala Preserve outside Los Angeles.

Continue reading “Photos: Remembering Dawn Wells at The Hukilau 2015”

March 20, 2020April 21, 2023

Support Tiki bars: Visit their online stores, buy merchandise

Support Tiki bars: Visit their online stores, buy the latest merchandise

Updated Nov. 29, 2022

The coronavirus pandemic is not yet in our rear-view mirror, but we’re happy to report that most establishments on this list have been back in operation for quite some time now. While “new normal” continues to be a way of life for everyone in the bar business, we’re happy to see many favorites again operating with an eye on a successful future.

We’ll continue to update this list periodically, concentrating on some key bars and restaurants that are still in transition periods. For the rest, we’ll leave most of the past news and updates documented below as a sobering reminder of what could happen again if we’re not diligent.

There’s never any guarantee of a fruitful future, so we encourage everyone to continue to patronize the online stores linked below and show your support in any way possible. This resource was created to throw a lifeline to struggling businesses in a trying time. Some would argue that’s the new normal.

Original story:

Check the following list for links to many of the Tiki bars and restaurants across the country with merchandise and gift cards for sale online. Below that are links to crowd-sourced fundraisers for employees along with other organizations working to aid bar and restaurant workers. It’s sad, but we’ve also compiled a list of bars that have announced permanent closings.

We also urge you to also support the artists and merchants who are key parts of the industry, designing and producing many of the products listed below. You can find links to our favorites in the right rail of this blog post. You can also support them at events that have recently returned around the world.

SUPPORT TIKI BARS ONLINE

The following establishments are offering online ordering. If you find any broken links, please let us know and we’ll update. Also, please send us any additions to this list via email or as a message on our social media pages (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram).

Aku Aku, Orlando – This small and inviting mid-mod Tiki oasis near downtown has an online shop featuring gift cards, T-shirts, stickers and mugs. Artist Doug Horne signed his newest mug release, Invisible Man, on Jan. 22, 2022. It quickly sold out, but more were released in early March. Follow the Aku Aku pages onInstagram and Facebook for updates.

Archipelago, Washington, D.C. – The online merch shop for this island-themed neo-Tiki hotspot features a small but well designed assortment of glassware, including snifters and Mai Tai glasses along with a signature mug from Tiki Farm. Gift cards are also available. After operating outdoor patio seating for months, the bar closed in late December 2020 for a winter siesta. Takeout service resumed in February 2021, followed by patio seating. In mid-June 2021, Archipelago resumed indoor seating after 452 days.

The new Sneaky Tiki mug, designed for Sarasota's Bahi Hut by RoboTiki. — The new Sneaky Tiki mug, designed for Sarasota’s Bahi Hut by RoboTiki.

Bahi Hut, Sarasota – This historic (est. 1954) but underappreciated Tiki landmark has shirts, pins and mugs available in its online shop. Recognized as the oldest Tiki bar in Florida, Bahi Hut is also site of the annual Tiki Fever event, with version 2.5 held Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, 2021. The bar reopened in October 2020 with both indoor and outdoor seating. In January 2021, a collector’s edition Tiki Fever mug featuring both Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid and The Disasternauts was released. The mug was designed by RoboTiki crafted by Eekum Bookum.

Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, New Orleans – The bar and restaurant owned and operated by author and Tiki revival pioneer Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and his wife Annene Kaye is well represented in the BeachbumBerry.com store, including syrups and barware. While you’re there, pick up the Bum’s books so you can make the hundreds of tropical classics at home. Latitude 29 reopened in September 2021 after closing in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Before the storm, Latitude 29 had been open consistently since October 2020 in the wake of the pandemic. An exciting new mug release commemorated Spookilau 2021, when Oakwash produced 150 limited-edition Cursed Coconut mugs. Beachbum Berry’s Sippin’ Santa also returned again for another winter holiday season. The bar closed after ringing in 2022 but returned on Jan. 6. Before you visit, reserve a seat via Latitude29Nola.com.

Continue reading “Support Tiki bars: Visit their online stores, buy merchandise”

January 22, 2020September 13, 2021

Photos: 10 highlights from The Hukilau 2019 in Fort Lauderdale

NOTE: The Hukilau 2020 was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. A series of online events was held in its place. The 2019 recap below was posted before the pandemic. The Hukilau is returning to a live format in September 2021.

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The Hukilau’s 2020 entertainment lineup will be announced on Feb. 3, when event tickets and passes go on sale for the 19th annual Tiki weekender June 3-7 in Fort Lauderdale. While The Mai-Kai remains the nerve center of the Polynesian Pop celebration for the 18th straight year, most of the festivities will be centered at the B Ocean Resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

After five years as host hotel, the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina closed for a years-long refurbishment and re-imagining on the day after The Hukilau 2019. To give you a preview of what you can expect during the whirlwind weekend, following is a look back at last year’s festivities. While this Top 10 list is nowhere near complete in capturing the diversity of activities that encompassed the five-day bash, it offers a snapshot of some of the more memorable moments.

See below: Bonus cocktail recipes from the Rum Island Pool Parties
Passion Fruit West Indies (Pagan Idol) | Playboy (Tiki Underground)

The Hukilau 2019 was held June 5-9 at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina, B Ocean Resort and The Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Featuring Tikiyaki Orchestra, Tikiyaki 5-0, Surfer Joe, The Volcanics, The Hula Girls, The Intoxicators, Gold Dust Lounge, Skinny Jimmy Stingray, The Swingin’ Palms, Slowey and the Boats, King Kukulele, Brother Cleve, Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, Ian “Rum Ambassador” Burrell, and 25 top Tiki bars and bartenders from around the world.
* TheHukilau.com | Facebook: Page and Group | Instagram
Previous recap: The Hukilau 2019 photos and video from social media

Mahalo to the venues, the organizers, all the participants and (especially) all the villagers who attended. Special thanks to those who provided photos for use below. Here’s a sampling of what we enjoyed, in no particular order …

Continue reading “Photos: 10 highlights from The Hukilau 2019 in Fort Lauderdale”

June 2, 2019January 23, 2020

The Hukilau 2019 latest news and updates

Updated Jan. 23, 2020

Photos: 10 highlights from The Hukilau 2019 in Fort Lauderdale NEW

Take a look back at the five days of festivities at Pier Sixty-Six and The Mai-Kai with dozens of photos and many memorable moments, plus two bonus cocktail recipes.

The Hukilau 2019 rewind: Photos and video from social media

>>>> SOCIAL POSTS FROM THE ATOMIC GROG AND VILLAGERS

The Hukilau 2019: Women of Tiki take over the tower

Thursday, June 6, was tropical cocktail heaven during the opening festivities of The Hukilau at Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale. The signature Tiki Tower Takeover cocktail party included eight of the world’s top female Tiki bartenders. Between sampling all the delicious drinks, hanging out with friends and enjoying the gorgeous views from the 17th-floor Pier Top Lounge, we managed to snap a few photos. Coming soon, a blog recap featuring more photos plus cocktail reviews and ratings.
>>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK PHOTO GALLERY

MORE RECAPS COMING SOON

Continue reading “The Hukilau 2019 latest news and updates”

January 17, 2018February 8, 2018

The Hukilau 2018 tickets on sale now: More bands, more bars, more Tiki!

Updated Feb. 8, 2018
The Hukilau gave its loyal fans a New Year’s treat by announcing an expanded lineup for the East Coast’s largest Tiki-themed event, giving its regular “villagers” early access and discounts on tickets. The general public can now join the party at the 17th annual mash-up of Polynesian Pop and cocktail culture.

UPDATE: The Hukilau 2018 symposiums to include Disney imagineer, Tiki on TV

The Hukilau: June 6-10, 2018, at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina and The Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.
* TheHukilau.com | Facebook: Page and Group | Twitter | Instagram
Quick links: Tickets | Book hotel | Schedule | Bands, bars, VIPs
Previous story: Rum Renaissance Festival moves next door to The Hukilau, creating ultimate rum and Tiki weekend
See below: Bonus cocktail recipes
* Three Dots and a Dash from Three Dots and a Dash
* Nu Nui Nui from Daniele Dalla Pola of the Nu Lounge

Here are the highlights of the announcement, sent via email and posted on the official website. I also spoke directly with the event’s owner and co-organizer, Richard Oneslager, to get all the scoop on 2018. NEW: As of Feb. 8, this preview is now updated with the late January announcement.

Party like it’s 2009: Los Straitjackets (left) will headline The Hukilau for a second time, while The Intoxicators will make their 13th appearance at the Tiki party in Fort Lauderdale. (Photos from The Hukilau 2009)

PREVIEW: The Hukilau 2018 highlights

* MUSIC: More headlining bands. The 2018 event will include some of the world’s top surf and exotica bands, including Los Straitjackets, The Madeira, Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica Quintet and The Martian Denny Orchestra. Villagers will also be thrilled to see the return of The Intoxicators, who missed 2017 after 12 straight appearances. Other performers include The Exotics, Black Flamingos, Czarna Wolgastar, The Royal Pacifics, Skinny Jimmy Stingray, and The Hukilau’s one and only emcee during its previous 16 years, the ubiquitous King Kukulele. Look for more bands to be announced, along with special guest DJs. Bands will perform on all five days in various venues. [More details below]

* BARS: 12 Tiki pop-ups. Seven of last year’s 10 acclaimed bar teams are returning, joined by five new Tiki-themed pop-ups from around the world setting up shop all over Pier 66 at special events, tastings, and classes. Due to popular demand, a second afternoon pool party with complimentary cocktails has been added to the schedule. Back for more more rum and cocktails are bartenders from Dirty Dick (Paris), Flask & Cannon (Jacksonville), Hidden Harbor (Pittsburgh), Nu Lounge Bar (Italy), Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago), Pagan Idol (San Francisco), and S.O.S. Tiki Bar (Atlanta). Coming on board for 2018 are Death Or Glory (Delray Beach), Foundation Bar (Milwaukee), Frankie’s Tiki Room (Las Vegas), Tonga Hut (Los Angeles), and Trailer Happiness (London). [More details below]

Rum ambassador Ian Burrell presents a symposium at The Hukilau 2017 (Atomic Grog photo). He’ll be joined in 2018 by cocktail pioneer and influential musician/DJ Brother Cleve (Photo by Audrey Harrer).

* INDUSTRY VIPS: Cocktail influencer makes debut. Boston’s Brother Cleve will bring his vast knowledge of cocktails and music to The Hukilau for the first time. This prime mover of the craft cocktail scene in the 1990s and former member of the groundbreaking band Combustible Edison will present a symposium, make a special DJ appearance, and also have his own bar in the Tiki Tower Takeover event. In addition, rum ambassador Ian Burrell returns from London for a second straight year to host a symposium, two cocktail classes and a special rum tasting. [More details below]

* TIKI TOWER TAKEOVER: Signature cocktail party expands, returns for Round 4. Held on Thursday night in the hotel’s revolving Pier Top Lounge, the fourth edition of one of Tiki’s most exclusive events is likely to sell out just as fast as the previous three. Tickets are limited to passholders, so act now. The lineup will grow from four to five pop-ups (featuring six different bar teams), including returning participants Three Dots and a Dash and Daniele Dalla Pola of Nu Lounge Bar. Scotty Schuder of Dirty Dick also returns, teaming up with Pagan Idol for a special two-bar mash-up. The final two pop-ups will feature the craft cocktail stylings of Brother Cleve and the crew from the U.K.’s Trailer Happiness. [More details below]

* MERCHANDISE: Works of top Tiki artists on display. The official artists for The Hukilau 2018 are Joe Vitale and Donella Vitale, whose work can already been seen on the website and promo artwork. The couple is based in Orlando, where they both work for Disney in addition to being among the most recognizable artists of the Tiki revival. Fun fact: The Vitales are among a select few who have attended The Hukilau all 16 years, along with emcee King Kukulele and co-founder Tim “Swanky” Glazner. Villagers will get first shot at the event merchandise, including the 17th annual mug produced by Eekum Bookum. There will also be special items for some villagers, including a South Seas passholder pendant by Crazy Al Evans.

Bar teams from Pittsburgh’s Hidden Harbor (left) and Atlanta’s S.O.S. Tiki Bar will return for this year’s expanded Rum Island Pool Party at The Hukilau 2018. (Atomic Grog photos)

* ENHANCEMENTS: Feedback from villagers. The Hukilau listened to its attendees and will implement quite a few changes: Extended hours and a second pool party on Saturday (in addition to Friday) including live music, more bars and bands (see above), a “Villager’s Lounge” tent to “meet and hang with old friends and new,” a party featuring all exotica music, and more food trucks.

* MORE SPECIAL EVENTS: Symposiums, Medusirena Marina swimshows. Symposiums, craft workshops, Okole Maluna cocktail classes, hula lessons, plus more new additions were announced in late January. These include three swimshows featuring Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid in her home at the nearby Wreck Bar in the B Ocean Resort, plus symposiums on Disney’s Trader Sam’s Tiki bar concept and the heyday of Tiki on television. Craft workshops will feature a trio of noted Tiki artists, while cocktail classes will include bartenders and experts from across the country.
UPDATE: The Hukilau 2018 symposiums to include Disney imagineer, Tiki on TV

Continue reading “The Hukilau 2018 tickets on sale now: More bands, more bars, more Tiki!”

September 27, 2017October 2, 2017

The Tiki Times – September 2017 Events Calendar: Texas goes Tiki, Deep South surf rock, rum fests from coast to coast

The Tiki Times: Archive of past events, monthly recaps
Social media: Follow our Facebook page for updates | Pinterest

SEPTEMBER 2017 TIKI EVENTS CALENDAR
Spotlight events: Texas Tiki Week (Sept 11-17)
Southern Surf StompFest (Sept. 15-17)
Ongoing events | Upcoming events

Sept. 3 – Dragon Con: The Art of the Tiki, a special panel during the 30th annual sci-fi and comic convention in Atlanta. Guests discover how the primitive past of Polynesia influenced pop culture for generations. Moderated by Michael Gordon (Tiki Zombie comics) and featuring artists Shag, Derek Yaniger, Robert Jimenez and Jonathan Chaffin (Horror In Clay mugs).

The Art of the Tiki panel at Dragon Con (from left): Robert Jimenez, Jonathan Chaffin, Shag, Derek Yaniger, and Michael Gordon

Sept. 8-9 – California Rum Festival in San Francisco showcasing rums from large, micro and boutique distilleries. The Rum Lab hosts the third annual brand showcase at the SOMArts Cultural Center with industry VIPs such as Roberto Serralles (Don Q Rum, Puerto Rico), Richard Seale (Foursquare Distillery, Barbados), and Bryan Davis (Lost Spirits Distillery, Los Angeles) presenting seminars.

Sept. 9 – Dapper Day Autumn Outing at Disneyland Paris.

Sept. 9 – The Original Tiki Market Place End of Summer Extravaganza in Garden Grove, Calif. Featuring vendors, live Hawaiian entertainment, food, friends, and more at the Garden Grove Elks Lodge.

Sept. 9 – Don’s Tiki Makeke “End of Summer Beachcomber Roundup” at Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, Calif. More than 50 vendors selling their wares, plus authentic Polynesian music and hula dancers, live bands, food and drinks, plus more.

********************* SPOTLIGHT EVENT *********************
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Sept 11-17 – Texas Tiki Week, a celebration of Tiki cocktails and culture in Austin hosted by the local chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild. Launched in 2012, the gathering brings together bars, restaurants and brands for an exotic mix of educational, social and philanthropic events. While Texas Tiki Week is centered in Austin, there are satellite events in other cities across the state.
* Press coverage: Austin’s turning into a tropical paradise for Texas Tiki Week

Continue reading “The Tiki Times – September 2017 Events Calendar: Texas goes Tiki, Deep South surf rock, rum fests from coast to coast”

May 9, 2017June 28, 2017

The Tiki Times – May 2017 Events Calendar: Tiki Caliente and lots more summer kickoff parties

From the ashes of the Week in Tiki (and, later, the Month in Tiki) rises The Tiki Times. Still ambitious, but more practical, this monthly guide to what’s going on across the world of Tiki culture will hopefully be a definitive resource of where to find special events that touch on topics of interest to many Tikiphiles. You’ll find all the major Tiki festivals, plus smaller gatherings along with events that scratch our itch for rum and cocktails, surf and rockabilly music, mid-century modern design, even Disney. And don’t forget authentic Polynesian culture, the well from which Tiki springs. The biggest will get extended coverage as “spotlight events.”
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MAY 2017 TIKI EVENTS CALENDAR
Spotlight event: Tiki Caliente (May 18-21)
Ongoing events | Upcoming events

May 6 – Dapper Day Spring Soiree at Disneyland Paris.

May 7 – Hawaiian Bazaar & Brunch at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Calif. A showcase of vendors plus tasty food and drinks at the landmark restaurant.

May 9 – Dirty Dick Takeover at Porco Lounge & Tiki Room in Cleveland featuring Plantation rums and cocktails by Scotty Schuder from the famous Tiki bar in Paris.

May 13 – Shag print signing at TikiCat in Kansas City featuring the acclaimed artist Josh Agle. He’ll be signing prints of the new painting he did for the recently-opened Tiki bar.

May 13 – Tiki Trader San Diego at Bali Hai. A new event at the historic restaurant featuring more than 40 vendors, music, drinks, fun and food.

********************* SPOTLIGHT EVENT *********************
***********************************************************

May 18-21 – Tiki Caliente returns to Palm Springs, Calif., for its ninth gathering with the theme “Beyond the Reef.” Featuring live music, seminars, room and pool parties, art shows, vendors and more at the historic Caliente Tropics resort.

Tiki Caliente highlights

* An always creative event mug (available only at the event) that pays tribute to Tiki history, crafted by Doug Horne and Eekum Bookum. This year it’s the Menehune Mug, which honors the United Airlines mascot from the 1970s. There’s also a special Handpainted Event Mug Art Show in the lobby of the Caliente Tropics, where more than 20 artists will be taking blank event mugs and painting them in their own unique styles. Artists include Sam Gambino, Doug Horne, Tiki Tony, Big Toe, Christine Benjamin, Bamboo Ben, Thor, John Mulder, Dawn Frasier, Matt Reese, Woody Miller, Crazy Al Evans, Dave Warsaw, Michael Fleming, Eric October, plus more.

* Symposiums and special events featuring some of the West Coast’s top Tiki movers and shakers. This year, guests can enjoy “Shag: Amongst the Tikis,” a unique opportunity to join artist Josh Agle as he talks about the influence of Tiki art and culture on his paintings, his childhood in Hawaii and his young adult years chasing vanishing Tiki bars before they went extinct. Shag will also show images of his art, his own Tiki collection and historic photos of Waikiki in the late 1960s. Bartender Kelly Merrell from Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland will present “The No-Rum Tiki Symposium” on both Friday and Saturday, delving into the history of exotic cocktails that use whiskey, gin, scotch, tequila and a few other surprises.

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Tag: Crazy Al Evans

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