I love Frankl furniture and big tikis. Susan and Michael do as well! Not only do they have a Frankl couch and chair set, they also have a Frankl bar! The Crow’s Nest is also home to some very large Tikis carved by Bosko and Gone Tiki. This is just the beginning of what you’ll find in Susan and Michael’s place …
What’s the Tiki scene like where you live?
Michael- Moved here in 2004. We did a Rustin, Tacoma crawl one day … We started at the Harbor Lights … A little place that had a littler bar with an impressive collection of the Jim Beam Ceramic Decanters… We ordered a Mai Tai, and it was served in a proper Tiki lowball glass. Impressive for a restaurant that has dinner specials that start at 3! Then we found the Islander on first street in Seattle … It was “Tiki-Light” but the Bartender had the Grog Log at his side. It was shut down years ago … With assistance of our friends Ed and Susan and the Advent of Tacoma Cabana, We really had a chance to meet the local Tikiphiles … a great group with a great outlook on life … We’ve been to many of their home Tiki bars, and all met up at Tiki Kon in Portland! With the Opening of Devil’s Reef in Tacoma … and the soon-to-open McMinnemans Tiki lounge at the “being refurbished” Elks Club! … Tiki Tacoma is a reality!
What brought you into the ‘Tiki lifestyle’ and how long has it been part of your life?
Susan- Lived in Orange County, California. Had the Beach and Had Disneyland! Went to Disneyland four to five times a year … I was 5 years old when I had my first visit to the Enchanted Tiki Room. We sat next to the Tiki Pole. And when it started talking, I jumped on my Dads’ lap! I was scared but intrigued! … And always had a Dole Whip!
During Eastern Sierra Vacations, we would always spend a day in Reno at the Nugget in Reno … Where Trader Dicks resided (1958 – 2014). I was able to gather several mugs from my parents in the 70s and 80s … I later “acquired” my own first Tiki Bowl from Harvey’s at Lake Tahoe in 1989.
As a child, watching the TV Show MASH with my parents … The Doctors’ tent, called “The Swamp” … was their escape! Wearing Hawaiian Shirts, Straw Hats, parties … and sipping gin from the homemade distillery. They made their own Paradise in the middle of Hell.
Michael- Raised in Palos Verdes, California! Beach and Sun and (at the time) Rural. Our yearly trips to Disneyland tended to revolve around Adventureland! The Tropical Overlay and the Enchanted Tiki Room was something I was drawn to before I was 10. Spent many weekends in San Diego, I always loved seeing Tiki Torches and Palm Trees at Sunset … They always brought a sense of serenity …
What made you decide to build your own Tiki bar? Any story behind the name?
Inspired by Cousin Al’s Tiki Bar in Nevada, and the lacking of Tiki Bars up here. We had a good grasp of the proper mixing of drinks! We had grog logs, Trader Vic’s full Bar Handbook, 26 types of rum! We understood the layering of flavors, and why you used a Jamaican vs. a Dominican Rum. We understood the importance of FRESH juices … the bane of pre-mixes … and loved the search for the hard-to-find ingredients.
Buying Booze was easy in Nevada, but 14 years ago it was very difficult in Washington State (when State Stores still existed … don’t get me started on the cost).
Susan used to get mad when she’d order a $12 “Mai Tai” and receive a vile, sweet, pre-mix concoction. The price of cocktails up in Washington was greatly higher than Nevada … so, we would mix our own cocktails, sit on our outdoor deck, and spend hours and days and months and years coming up with our Layout Plans.
As for the name, Susan always had an affection for Crows. … A prolific bird. Smart, Adaptive, and Entertaining. When we would sit outside discussing the design of the bar … the Crows would sit with us, and add their own input … We came up with lots of names (Klipper, The Cave, etc.) … But the Crow’s Nest Stuck! The top room of our House is now called the Crow’s Nest Observation Lounge.
Can you give a little history of how your bar all came together?
When we moved in, we knew the bottom floor would become our Tiki Room. And had Bamboo Flooring installed.
The room was only lamp lit … So we had recessed lighting installed, and started utilizing colored bulbs.
We started building shelves for our Tiki mugs. Then we acquired a 4-foot bamboo bar from Craig’s List.
Things took off from there… Our first statue was a 6-foot carved Tiki from Bosko. We started hanging art, displaying mugs, and building more shelves.
What really set off the room is when we replaced the 4-foot bar with our 1949 Paul Frankl treasure trove: a six-foot bamboo bar with 3 stools and a bartender stool, 3-piece couch unit, 2 chairs, and an ottoman. In addition, we picked up 2 Wakefield side tables and a corner unit.
We continue to build more shelves, acquire more artwork, statues, furniture, lighting, and of course mugs.
What is your favorite Tiki drink? Why?
Depends on where we’re at, the Bartender, and the Rum Selection!
Michael- Suffering Bastard: The title alone should be enough … Had my first one at Cousin Alan Knepper’s home Tiki bar … it was perfect! The odd balance/imbalance of a drink that mixes gin, bourbon, falernum, ginger beer is a joy! And … I could hand the recipe to a bartender anywhere to make … and in the worst case … it still comes out OK.
Susan– Chief Lapu Lapu: From the Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach, California. Because it’s Lovely Lovely! We named our first real Tiki, Chief Lapu Lapu after that.
For Both of Us: Our Go-To Drink is our version of the Mai Tai and the Royal Hawaiian.
What is your favorite Tiki bar? Not including your own!
So many choices! But based on initial immersion into the scene … Our favorite Home Tiki Bar was Cousin Al Knepper’s in Gardnerville, Nevada! Al took great care and preparation into each drink, the environment was perfect, the music was playing! Always a perfect evening!
Outside of great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect Tiki environment?
Escapism! Good Vibe, Good People, Music, Welcoming Hosts, Serenity … And a nosh!
Do you feel that music has an important role in creating a great Tiki experience? What would be some of your favorite artists and albums?
MUSIC IS CRITICAL!!! And should be mixed up a bit … some calm instrumentals from Martin Denny … and popped with the Hula Girls. We haven’t had a set list … more of a randomized music list of 12 hours … set to random … and it (usually) flows well … An interesting note … We mixed in the steel drum group that played at our wedding, 50’s Cocktail music from Frank and Dean, some Elvis Blue Hawaii, a bit of South Pacific … and a few Grateful Dead songs, though you’d be hard pressed to guess.
What does the future hold for you and your home Tiki bar?
MORE! Filling some space, but NO previously alive puffer fish … and probably more shelves and mugs …
Anything else you would like to add?
It’s painful when friends and relatives hear you like Tiki, and you receive the plastic Tiki-Tacky party decorations … and have to anonymously dump ’em on unsuspecting friends during summer BBQ’s at their houses … “Whose Pink Flamingo Plastic Tiki tray is this????” (But it was funny right?).
Cheers! Michael and Susan.
Thank you Travis for all the cool pictures used for this post!
And here, we could have come by and heckled—uhh—cheered the owners on.
Wow! What a cool interview of you both, and the pics of your place! Amazing! Thanks for sharing! -Kitty & Mr. C 😁
Kitty and Mr. C! If in the area, you’re always invited! And pondering taking that drive South of Albuquerque!!!!!