{"id":29255,"date":"2023-09-23T15:41:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T19:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=29255"},"modified":"2024-01-04T22:20:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T03:20:02","slug":"outside-the-mai-kai-artistic-flourishes-set-stage-for-reimagination-early-2024-reopening-summer-2023-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2023\/09\/23\/outside-the-mai-kai-artistic-flourishes-set-stage-for-reimagination-early-2024-reopening-summer-2023-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Outside The Mai-Kai: Artistic flourishes set stage for reimagination, early 2024 reopening (summer 2023 recap)"},"content":{"rendered":"

As summer came to a close, The Mai-Kai started the final phase of its multimillion-dollar renovation with a reimagination of the parking lot. The project will take at least three months, pushing the timeframe of the reopening into early 2024.<\/p>\n

In preparation, the artists and craftsmen have shifted from inside to outside under the porte-coch\u00e8re, where a flurry of work is being completed before the pavement is torn up to make way for a new outdoor bar, seating area and redirected driveway.<\/p>\n

SEE BELOW: <\/strong> Porte-coch\u00e8re photos<\/a> | Parking lot project starts<\/a> | Updated reopening timeframe<\/a> | Beam extensions restored<\/a> | New AC units installed<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Historic<\/a>
Historic fiberglass panels are restored and fully lit under The Mai-Kai’s porte-coch\u00e8re on Sept. 21 as work begins on the reimagination of the parking lot. All the trees are being preserved. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile work continues on the indoor guest areas, infrastructure and a new back-of-house kitchen and bar, outlined in our related story. We hope to bring you up to speed on what’s been going on at the historic South Florida restaurant<\/a> over the past few weeks, followed by an extensive summer recap.
\nRELATED: <\/strong> Inside The Mai-Kai: Detailed restoration advances amid total infrastructure overhaul (summer 2023 recap)<\/a>
\nMORE COVERAGE:<\/strong> News, photos of The Mai-Kai refurbishment<\/a><\/p>\n

Most of the recent activity has been out front under the porte-coch\u00e8re, where we recently found manager Kern Mattei with creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller<\/a> and his fellow artists hard at work restoring artwork, finishing refurbished beams, and adding creative new touches to the historic thatched A-frame structure that serves as the entryway to the restaurant.<\/p>\n

Previous coverage<\/strong>
\n* The Mai-Kai and The Atomic Grog at Tiki Oasis<\/a>
\n* The Mai-Kai renovations, May-June 2023: Historic restaurant’s new infrastructure begins to take shape<\/a>
\n* Meticulous attention to detail is hallmark of The Mai-Kai restoration project (May-June 2023 update)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"On<\/a>
On Sept. 7, the first restored panels were installed above The Mai-Kai entrance with working lights for the first time in decades. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While not rushing the comprehensive restoration, Mattei said, the crew is making a concerted effort to get as much done as possible before the massive parking lot project kicks into full gear. “This is a big project out here,” Mattei said on Sept. 7, pointing out all the work. New lights were just installed that day.<\/p>\n

Allsmiller and artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly<\/a> are making the most of this time, nearing the completion of restoring the lighted upper panels above the front doors. The stylized fiberglass pieces date back to the late 1950s, when the original Molokai bar<\/a> replaced what was an outdoor waiting area. The entire facade was reconfigured and new entry doors added.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tim “Swanky” Glazner<\/a>, author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant<\/em><\/a>, shared a photo from around 1960 that shows the panels in their original state:<\/p>\n

\"Panels<\/a>
Panels above The Mai-Kai entrance doors can be seen in a vintage photo, circa 1960. (Photo from the Bob Van Dorpe archives and Tim “Swanky” Glazner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The restoration job was not easy. The lights have not worked since Hurricane Wilma slammed South Florida in 2005 and did considerable damage to the porte-coch\u00e8re. That’s the same storm that knocked the nearby Bora Bora building off its foundation. That structure, located just north of the porte-coch\u00e8re, was removed in April<\/a> to make way for the new entryway.<\/p>\n

The storm is also likely responsible for the loss of several panels. But thanks to photos provided by historian Glazner, Allsmiller and Scheidly were able to create replicas of the lost pieces. To keep the restoration as authentic as possible, they re-created the panels out of fiberglass salvaged from a service doorway outside The Molokai that had been around for just as long and had also turned yellow with age.<\/p>\n

\""Typhoon<\/a>
“Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller (left) and Scott “Flounder” Scheidly repaint the fiberglass panels that hang above the front entrance to The Mai-Kai in early September. (Photos by Kern Mattei)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was also extensive man-made damage. Before Wilma hit, the panels were altered when triangular holes were cut and pieces of the artwork removed, apparently to allow access to the lights behind. Allsmiller and Scheidly patched the holes seamlessly, restoring the artwork and panels to their original state.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 7, the first of the panels was reinstalled with some of the lights in test phase. By Sept. 21, all of the lights were working and the panels had their first night test. All that’s left is some trimming and fine-tuning.<\/p>\n

Scheidly said he’s “really excited” about the finished panels, adding: “I think it’s going to look amazing.” He noted that in recent photos, “you can barely see them and they just look like painted wood.”<\/p>\n

\"Artist
Artist Jeff Kozan of Vatican Tattoo pitches in and helps The Mai-Kai restoration team paint beams with a special wood-grain finish on Sept. 7. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was previously difficult to stand and admire the panels as traffic passed through the porte-coch\u00e8re and guests hurried into the restaurant. With the area reconfigured into outdoor seating, they will be much more impactful. “I’m excited to get them up to see how they look. I think it’s going to be fantastic and well-received,” Scheidly said.<\/p>\n

The panels received an extensive refurbishment, not just a touch-up. “We took them completely apart and painted the insides because they were all dirty,” Allsmiller said. “The other issue was all the diamonds were cut out, so we glassed them all back in, and made new ones for the ones that were missing.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, two other South Florida artists have joined Allsmiller and Scheidly under the porte-coch\u00e8re. Jeff Kozan<\/a>, owner of Vatican Tattoo in Delray Beach, returned to lend a hand with painting work. [See his previous work restoring damaged tapa]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"South
South Florida artist Conrad Teheiura Itchener adds putty to the metal beams under The Mai-Kai’s porte-coch\u00e8re on Sept. 14, creating a forest of faux bamboo. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kozan helped add a wood-grain finish to the main beams, then returned to assist with detail work on new artwork.<\/p>\n

After wrapping up his work creating new panels and trim for the interior, Conrad Teheiura Itchener joined the gang outside to add a faux bamboo finish to the metal poles that crisscross the porte-coch\u00e8re. Allsmiller borrowed this technique from the theme park world, where he spent 13 years as a Thea Award-winning scenic artist for Universal and Disney.<\/p>\n

Working high on a scissor lift, Itchener used epoxy putty to transform the framework into what will look like intersecting bamboo poles. They will be finished with rope for a fully realistic look. “All the intersections are getting rope-wrapped,” Allsmiller said. “We’ll probably use some kind of synthetic that looks good and lasts longer.”<\/p>\n

\"Creative<\/a>
Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller shows off the artwork that will adorn the main wooden beams under the porte-coch\u00e8re on Sept. 14. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Itchener, a former musician in The Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue<\/a>, spent the summer making exact copies of damaged panels and trim for the gift shop and women’s restroom.
\nRELATED: <\/strong> More photos, details on Itchener’s work creating molds, new decorative panels<\/a><\/p>\n

Allsmiller’s transformation of the porte-coch\u00e8re will also include new artwork on the beams. He showed off a test on Sept. 14, and by the following week the crew was fully immersed in layering the Marquesan-style designs.<\/p>\n

The beams are being restored to include hidden lighting, similar to the original design. New LED lights will sit behind a panel that runs parallel to the beam. The original lighting was destroyed in a hurricane and never replaced. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"Work
Work continues under The Mai-Kai’s porte-coch\u00e8re on Sept. 21. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LATEST NEWS:<\/strong> In the photo above, Allsmiller (left) and Mattei can be seen conferring under the porte-coch\u00e8re on Sept. 21 while Itchener continues his work on the faux bamboo and Kozan touches up Allsmiller’s new artwork being added to the beams.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned for a reveal of the porte-coch\u00e8re when the lighting and artwork are complete. Follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and Twitter<\/a> for breaking news.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Jim Hayward (@theatomicgrog)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n