A Tiki bar without any Tikis?
That’s correct. If you look around Lost Lake, there is not a Tiki to be found! Is this important? Let’s find out…
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Author: Ray
Sven Kirsten: The Man Who Wrote The Book Of Tiki
You don’t realize how small the Tiki subculture is until you start looking at how little there is written about the subject. I can count the number of books written about Tiki culture on one hand and most of these books were written by Sven Kirsten.
Sven wrote The Book Of Tiki and it’s the blueprint on what Tiki was, what Tiki is, and what Tiki should be. Sven’s The Book Of Tiki, Tiki Modern, and Tiki Pop are all standard reading if you want to learn about Tiki. Continue reading to learn about the man himself…
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The Starella Sisters!
If there’s anything I miss, it’s the glitz and glamour of the good old days. Imagine going back in time and seeing a full production with a big band, singers, and last but not least, dancers!
The Starella Sisters are here to bring you a glimmer of that glorious past. I’ll let Sanjna Starella take it from here…
Home Tiki Bar Spotlight #30 Mai Tiki Bar Indianapolis, IN
The Tiki scene in Indianapolis is alive and well in Bob Cripe’s basement. Hidden downstairs in Bob’s home is the Mai Tiki Bar and it’s truly impressive. Bob has been in construction for over twenty years and his skills are shown in the craftsmanship of this hidden Tiki escape. I’ll let Bob tell you his story…
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West Winds Motel Mount Vernon, WA
You sometimes forget that there was a time before highways…
I drove Route 66 from Chicago to L.A. (just like the song) and it was bittersweet to see all these cool stores, gas stations, and restaurants that where left behind. Once the new freeway was built, traffic wasn’t going to pass by again.
It was around the ’60s when freeways started to crisscross America. When it comes to searching for cool Mid-Century establishments, you have to go where cars used to travel. Tiki was at its height in popularity in the ’50s and ’60s so it didn’t surprise me to learn that a cool Tiki motel was located on the main road that used to go right through the center of Mount Vernon, Washington.
Tiki VIP #25 Rebecca Cate (Smuggler’s Cove)
Tiki history is being made right now as I type this!
It’s exciting to be riding the third wave of Tiki and when people write about the history of Polynesian Pop twenty years down the road, another name will be added to the list along with Gantt and Bergeron. That name is Cate.
Martin and Rebecca Cate are behind the quintessential Tiki bar: Smuggler’s Cove located in San Francisco. They are writing the new rules on how Tiki should be and the proof is in the success of any bar the Cates have been involved with. This list includes Hale Pele in Portland and False Idol in San Diego. The Cates wrote the book Smuggler’s Cove and it’s the Alpha and Omega of Tiki. It talks about the history of Tiki, what’s going on now, and where Tiki is going. I don’t think I have tell you that this book is required reading for all Tikiphiles! Rebecca Cate is the woman behind all this Tiki awesomeness and here is her story…
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Tiki Bar Review #38 Foundation Milwaukee, WI
You would never think that one of the coolest Tiki bars in America hides in a house on this unassuming street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin…
But there is! It’s called Foundation and I call it incredible!
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Home Tiki Bar Spotlight #29 The Enchanted Tiki Lounge Conroe, Texas
The Enchanted Tiki Lounge, not to be confused with the Enchanted Tiki Room, is located in Conroe, Texas. It’s not a coincidence. Brain Martin’s inspiration comes from Disneyland’s most famous air-conditioned attraction. To call the Enchanted Tiki Lounge “just a bar” would be a crime. This place is off the charts! Here is Brian’s story…
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Tiki Week at The Burgundian 2017 Seattle, WA
Seattle doesn’t have many Tiki bars, but there are some bars in the city that host Tiki nights. Tuesday is Tiki night at the Diller Room and Essex, both which I highly recommend.
The Burgundian took things one step further by hosting a Tiki Week!
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Tiki With Ray Episode 1: Yacht Rock, Jimmy Buffett and Tiki
Hey Gang! I started a video show where I invite friends over to my Tiki bar to talk about all things Tiki!
On this first episode, Christina and Tom join me as we discuss yacht rock, the ’70s, Jimmy Buffett, and Tiki. Click below to watch the episode…
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