Tiki Bar Review #30 Trader Vic’s Emeryville, CA

Posted by Ray on in Tiki Bars

Trader Vic's

And then there were two…

As I write this post, there are only two remaining Trader Vic’s locations in America. One in Atlanta, GA and the other in Emeryville, CA. Back in the ’50s/’60s during the height of Tiki popularity, there were around 25! What happened? Well, tastes changed. But if there is one word to describe a Trader Vic’s restaurant, that word would be HUGE! Imagine trying to maintain a large space with many rooms filled with various Tiki artifacts. It’s a miracle such a place is still around! That’s why visiting Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, CA was a big deal for me. It could all be gone tomorrow…

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Tiki VIP #18 Kelly Merrell (Bartender, Trader Sam’s)

Posted by Ray on in Tiki VIP

Kelly Merrell

When Disneyland opened it’s own Tiki bar, Trader Sam’s, it was a safe assumption that the décor would be dialed-in. Escapism is what Disney does best! But what about the drinks? Thankfully, Trader Sam’s has Kelly Merrell. Kelly was there at the beginning of Trader Sam’s and he brought his cocktail making skills with him. Here is Kelly’s story…

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Home Sweet Tiki Home #1 Wendy And Dan’s Tiki Home Elk Grove, CA

Posted by Ray on in Home Sweet Tiki Home
Wendy and Dan relaxing in the Family Room
Wendy and Dan relaxing in the Family Room

Sometimes the Tiki can’t be contained to just one room. For some people Tiki is truly a lifestyle; the lines between Tiki escapism and real life are forever blurred. Wendy and Dan Cevola’s entire home is Tiki themed. They may have the biggest Tiki collection in the world and there’s even a jungle room! Let’s take a peek into Wendy and Dan’s home or should I say Tiki home…

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Straight Edge Tiki #3 Tacoma Cabana 3/11/2017

Posted by Ray on in Straight Edge Tiki 6 Comments

Ellie with a Brainless Zombie

“I figured it out!”

That’s a text that Tacoma Cabana’s Jason Alexander sent me. He’d been tinkering with some non-alcoholic drink recipes and got down the finishing touches. The challenge was to have the drink be not too sweet and have a bite. Jason teased me with a picture of five of his creations…

Straight Edge Tiki drinks at Tacoma Cabana
Straight Edge Tiki drinks at Tacoma Cabana

I was excited to try these drinks out, so I put together a Straight Edge Tiki Event and invited some friends down to Tacoma Cabana.

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Home Tiki Bar Spotlight #21 The Streamlined Tiki Medford, OR

Posted by Ray on in Home Tiki Bars 2 Comments

The Streamlined Tiki

Home Tiki bars: where should you build one?

Most of the time, someone’s Tiki escape is down in the basement or maybe in the garage. For Sweetie Suz and her husband Dave, it’s in their living room! Why limit your love of Tiki to some spare bedroom when you can show it to everyone who walks through the door? This is the story of the Streamlined Tiki…

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