{"id":17607,"date":"2019-02-13T22:14:11","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T03:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=17607"},"modified":"2022-12-13T22:41:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T03:41:19","slug":"event-preview-inuhele-celebrates-atlantas-meteoric-rise-as-tiki-destination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2019\/02\/13\/event-preview-inuhele-celebrates-atlantas-meteoric-rise-as-tiki-destination\/","title":{"rendered":"Inuhele celebrates Atlanta’s meteoric rise as Tiki destination"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated Feb. 17<\/em><\/p>\n

What city best exemplifies the recent explosive growth of Tiki bars and Polynesian Pop culture? A strong argument could be made for Atlanta, which has been blessed with at least three new exotic cocktail destinations since 2015. Now, in just its second year, the Tiki weekender known as Inuhele has greatly expanded to include three days of bar-hopping, panels, vendors, bands, demos and more geared to the area’s burgeoning scene.<\/p>\n

Feb. 15-17 – Inuhele: Atlanta’s Tiki Weekend<\/a><\/strong>
\nSee below:<\/strong> Bonus cocktail recipe – Makani Pahili<\/a>
\n* Previous story: Iron TikiTender goes on tour at Inuhele<\/a>
\n\"Inuhele:<\/a>
\n* Facebook event<\/a> | Get tickets<\/a>
\nThe Tiki Times: <\/strong> See all the upcoming events<\/a><\/p>\n

Tiki in Atlanta<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>
Tim “Swanky” Glasner, who will be presenting a symposium at Inuhele 2019, was one of the co-creators of The Hukilau in Atlanta in 2002.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The vibrant multicultural city has long had a connection with modern Tiki and its surrounding subcultures. After all, the Atlanta Hilton hosts the country’s longest operating Trader Vic’s location<\/a>, circa 1976. The Hukilau started there in 2002<\/a> before moving to Fort Lauderdale the next year. Atlanta is home to talented lowbrow artists such as Derek Yaniger<\/a> and Jonathan M. Chaffin of Horror in Clay<\/a>. And there’s a longtime instrumental surf scene celebrated at the annual Southern Surf StompFest,<\/a> along with a history of events (such as the late, great Drive Invasion<\/a>) spotlighting other retro music styles.<\/p>\n

But things really got interesting when the Tiki and craft cocktail revivals merged, creating a hot trend among bartenders and owners worldwide. Atlanta caught the bug, resulting in the opening of The S.O.S.<\/a> in Decatur, just northeast of Atlanta, in 2015. In 2018, the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta saw the opening of Tiki Iniki<\/a>, the first stateside franchise location of the concept created by Todd and Michele Rundgren in Hawaii. And while not truly traditional, Match Bamboo Lounge offers spirited aloha in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\"Derek<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the city’s Tiki underground organized on Facebook in The Atlanta Tiki Revival Society<\/a> group. And the area’s home bars (such as the Enchanted Treehouse High on the Hooch<\/a>, Mon-a’ Roa Lanai<\/a>, and The Kingfish Lounge<\/a>) received high ratings and worldwide recognition on the Critiki website.<\/p>\n

Just in time for Inuhele 2019, the city will get its newest full-blown exotic cocktail locale when the ambitious, three-story Tiki Tango<\/a> opens in the former Lava Lounge space in Midtown (grand opening set for Friday, Feb. 15). The opening will indeed be grand. As part of the festivities, there will be an attempt to set a record for the world\u2019s largest Mai Tai with a 55-gallon cocktail.
\nPress coverage:<\/strong> Say ‘aloha’ to Tiki Tango, Midtown\u2019s new three-story Tiki bar<\/a>
\n* First Look: Tiki Tango brings Tiki drinks and food to Midtown<\/a>
\n* Atlanta Eats: Polynesian vibes and specialty cocktails<\/a><\/p>\n

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Out here at @tikitangoatl celebrating the world\u2019s largest Mai Tai! ??<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Inuhele<\/a> (@inuhele) on