{"id":5536,"date":"2012-12-21T16:59:59","date_gmt":"2012-12-21T21:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=5536"},"modified":"2012-12-31T13:01:24","modified_gmt":"2012-12-31T18:01:24","slug":"the-mai-kai-celebrates-its-56th-birthday-rings-in-2013-with-special-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2012\/12\/21\/the-mai-kai-celebrates-its-56th-birthday-rings-in-2013-with-special-events\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mai-Kai celebrates its 56th birthday, rings in 2013 with special events"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Dec. 28, 1956, the venerable Mai-Kai restaurant opened its doors on a desolate stretch of Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. In the ensuing half-century, the rest of the world has changed radically but you can still be guaranteed a totally immersive South Seas experience in this one-of-a-kind slice of Polynesian paradise.<\/p>\n

\"Ty<\/a>
Ty (left) and Andrew with fellow Mai-Kai Islander Hokulani at a recent catered event. The duo will be performing at the 56th anniversary party on Dec. 28. (Photo courtesy of The Mai-Kai)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This mid-century marvel will celebrate its 56th anniversary next Friday (Dec. 28) with its annual Customer Celebration Party in The Molokai bar starting at 5 p.m. Live music will be provided all night by Ty and Andrew, The Mai-Kai’s house band, playing a mix of island and holiday music on ukuleles, bongos and guitar. <\/p>\n

There will also be an extended happy hour all night in The Molokai. After 7 p.m., just tell your waitress that you’re there for the celebration party in order to receive half-priced drinks and appetizers. This includes most of The Mai-Kai’s legendary tropical cocktails,<\/a> many of which date back to the early days of Tiki mixology in the 1930s. Taste history in a glass all night while you munch on decadent small bites such as Shanghai Chicken and Crab Rangoon. Click here<\/A> to see the menu.
\n* Click here for the Facebook event<\/A><\/p>\n

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Also make sure to get your ticket to be entered in a raffle that will feature hourly drawings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Among the prizes is a signed copy of Classic Dining: Discovering America’s Finest Mid-Century Restaurants<\/I> by Peter Moruzzi. This newly-released coffee-table book features classic cover artwork of The Mai-Kai by Al Kocab, who did many designs for the restaurant in its early years.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A December 1962 ad for The Mai-Kai’s Molokai bar designed by artist Al Kocab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The book, a photo tour of great vintage restaurants across the country, also features 18 pages dedicated to The Mai-Kai, including archival photos and artwork plus new images and text by Sven A. Kirsten, author of The Book of Tiki<\/I> and Tiki Modern<\/I>. You can also pick up a copy of the book in The Mai-Kai gift shop<\/A> along with a vast assortment of Tiki collectibles and Mai-Kai paraphernalia.<\/p>\n

Moruzzi presented a slideshow<\/A> of images and talked about his favorite classic restaurants at a book-signing at The Mai-Kai on Dec. 13. The restaurant’s Tahiti and Samoa rooms were packed with fans, including the mayor of Oakland Park. The book sums up The Mai-Kai’s legacy and enduring appeal:<\/p>\n