The Hukilau photo highlights: Friday’s Three Hour Tour Cruise, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, Main Event at Pier 66

Check out images from the third day of festivities during The Hukilau’s 14th annual Tiki weekender in Fort Lauderdale.
Photos by day: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday/Sunday

PHOTOS FROM FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Jump below: Tiki Treasures Bazaar | Main Event

Symposiums: Browse the official photos from Go11 Events of syposiums by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily (Prefab Paradise: A Look Back at Walt Disney’s World’s Original Polynesian Village), Jon Bortles and Tiki Gardener (The Story of Tiki Gardens), Domenic Priore (The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles’ Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier), and Arthur Dong (Chinese American Nightclubs).

Three Hour Tour Cruise with Dawn Wells

Hundreds of villagers eagerly await a special cruise with Dawn Wells, best known as Mary Ann on iconic 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island. (Photo by Go11Events.com)Hundreds of villagers eagerly await a special cruise with Dawn Wells, best known as Mary Ann on iconic 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island. (Photo by Go11Events.com)

The line forms to gain entry to the 170-foot Lady Windridge Yacht at one of the docks at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66. (Jeff Chenault photo)The line forms to gain entry to the 170-foot Lady Windridge Yacht at one of the docks at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66. (Jeff Chenault photo)

Fortifications arrive courtesy of spirits coordinator Dean Hurst (left), and The Hukilau's bar team: George Jenkins (rear left) and Christina Jordan of the Straw Hat Barmen. (Photo by Go11Events.com)Fortifications arrive courtesy of spirits coordinator Dean Hurst (left), and The Hukilau’s bar team: George Jenkins (rear left) and Christina Jordan of the Straw Hat Barmen. (Photo by Go11Events.com)

Dawn Wells appears happy and surprised to see the large turnout of colorful villagers as she arrives with The Hukilau's Christie "Tiki Kiliki" White (left). Many guests were in stylish garb to participate in the Gilligan's Island costume contest. (Jim Masterson photo)Dawn Wells appears happy and surprised to see the large turnout of colorful villagers as she arrives with The Hukilau’s Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White (left). Many guests were in stylish garb to participate in the Gilligan’s Island costume contest. (Jim Masterson photo)

Continue reading “The Hukilau photo highlights: Friday’s Three Hour Tour Cruise, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, Main Event at Pier 66”

The Hukilau photo highlights: Thursday’s Tiki Tower Takeover and Kick-Off Party

Check out images from the second day of festivities during The Hukilau’s 14th annual Tiki weekender in Fort Lauderdale.
Photos by day: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday/Sunday

PHOTOS FROM THURSDAY, JUNE 11

Tiki Tower Takeover in the Pier Top Lounge at Pier 66
(All photos by The Atomic Grog except where noted)
Atomic Grog recap, recipes: Tiki’s top barmen take over the Pier 66 tower

The Hyatt Regency Pier 66 is and its exclusive rotating top-floor lounge are primed and ready for today's events.The Hyatt Regency Pier 66 is and its exclusive rotating top-floor lounge are primed and ready for today’s events.

The 17th-floor lounge offers a panoramic view of Fort Lauderdale BeachThe 17th-floor lounge offers a panoramic view of Fort Lauderdale Beach.

With prep completed, the Tiki Tower Takeover's all-star cast of bar professionals joins The Hukilau's Christie "Tiki Kiliki" White (center) for a group photo. (Photo by Go11Events.com)With prep completed, the Tiki Tower Takeover’s all-star cast of bar professionals joins The Hukilau’s Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White (center) for a group photo. (Photo by Go11Events.com)

The event featured an exclusive gathering of four of the country’s most acclaimed Tiki barmen serving up signature drinks …

Continue reading “The Hukilau photo highlights: Thursday’s Tiki Tower Takeover and Kick-Off Party”

The Hukilau photo highlights: Wednesday’s mermaid show, pre-party at The Mai-Kai

Check out images from the first day of festivities during The Hukilau’s 14th annual Tiki weekender in Fort Lauderdale.
Photos by day: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday/Sunday

PHOTOS FROM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10

Registration opens at Pier 66

The moai were placed in the lobby with care.A moai awaits guests near the registration booth in the Crystal Atrium. (The Hukilau photo)

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Continue reading “The Hukilau photo highlights: Wednesday’s mermaid show, pre-party at The Mai-Kai”

The Week in Tiki (June 1-14, 2015): The Hukilau 2015 latest news and updates

The Week in Tiki The Hukilau rolls into Fort Lauderdale for events Wednesday through Sunday, and we’ll be posting all the important updates here. Also, get news on the sinking of the Rapa Nui Reef in Deerfield Beach, plus we have some quick hits on a new seminar at Trader Vic’s in Atlanta, new bands at Tiki Oasis, and Tiki Kon merchandise. Regular features spotlight the late Tiki carver Barney West, The Molokai lounge at The Mai-Kai, Beachbum Berry’s new website, and surf guitarist Skinny Jimmy Stingray. The rum of the week, Rhum Barbancourt 3 Star, is featured in Beachbum Berry’s Tahitian.
Note: Starting in June 2015, updates are being published twice a month, around the first and third week. But don’t worry: We won’t miss any of the latest news.
* Keep up with The Week in Tiki: Facebook page | RSS feed | See past weeks | Archive
* Weekly features: Artist | Website | Band/music | Tiki bar | Rum | Cocktail | Events

The Hukilau is here! Get the latest updates

The Hukilau

South Florida is being invaded by a colorful swarm of aloha-shirt-wearing, rum-drinking, pleasure-seeking retro culture enthusiasts looking for an unadulterated Tiki experience. That could mean only one thing: The Hukilau is upon us. The East Coast’s largest and most authentic Tiki event hits Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday through Sunday, June 10-14, and this is the place to get the latest updates as well as live coverage. This blog post will be updated with all the latest news and updates, so be sure to check back.

Latest update: Noon Thursday, June 11

A new painting by Shag will debut at the 'Big Eye Spectacular' show in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar
A new painting by Shag will debut at the ‘Big Eye Spectacular’ show in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar.

* The Harold Golen Gallery has announced details of the “Big Eye Spectacular” exhibit that opens Thursday in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar featuring a new painting by Shag created specially for this event. Many more top Pop Surrealist artists will be participating, so be sure to check this out. Each artist created original artwork inspired by the “Big Eye” trend from the 1960s and ’70s, most famously featured in the work of Margaret Keene. The Tiki Treasures Bazaar is open Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also on Saturday, don’t miss the meet and greet at the Golen Gallery space from 1 to 3 with a book signing and autograph session featuring Dawn Wells, Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, Jeff Chenault, and Domenic Priore.

Tiki Tower Takeover
The Tiki Tower Takeover will feature (clockwise from upper left) Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Martin Cate, Paul McGee and Brian Miller mixing up special cocktails in the Pier Top Lounge on Thursday, June 11.

* Those lucky enough to attend Thursday night’s Tiki Tower Takeover will be sampling cocktails from three bars that are among the best in the country. We already knew that, but Tales of the Cocktail made it official in announcing the nominees for the ninth annual Spirited Awards, perhaps the most prestigious and coveted awards program in the spirits industry. From more than 2,000 nominees, a panel of 100 industry experts picked the top 10 for each of 24 award categories. Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco) was nominated for Best American Cocktail Bar, while both Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 (New Orleans) and Lost Lake (Chicago) were nominated for Best New American Cocktail Bar. Click here to see all the Spirited Awards nominees. The final four in each category will be named on Tuesday, June 16, and the winners will be announced at the 13th annual Tales of the Cocktail on Saturday, July 18. Brian Miller (“Tiki Mondays With Miller” New York City), winner of the recent Tiki cocktail showdown at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, will be mixing up drinks in The Hukilau’s exclusive event in the revolving 17th story lounge at Pier 66 along along with Berry, Lost Lake’s Paul McGee, and Smuggler’s Cove owner Martin Cate. Each of the acclaimed barmen will be presenting a special, full-sized and fully garnished drink to guests in this laid-back happy hour. Berry says he’ll be doing a new take on the 151 Swizzle, while Cate is rolling out a drink name he’s been saving for something special, based on the term Admiral Vernon used to describe drunkenness in his 1740 decree that ordered the watering of rum rations and the birth of grog. Meanwhile, Miller promises a “Daiquiri that beat up the Pina Colada and took his lunch money.” McGee is sure to have something just as creative up his sleeve for this one-of-a-kind meeting of the Tiki cocktail minds, so you’ll want to arrive early … and thirsty.

Previous updates as of 4 p.m. Tuesday

Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid and her pod of aquaticats will perform two special shows for The Hukilau
Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid and her pod of aquaticats will perform two special shows for The Hukilau.

The Hukilau: June 10-14, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and The Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Special guest: Dawn Wells. Musical guests and performers: Alika Lyman Group, The Intoxicators, Gold Dust Lounge, Pablus, Slip and the Spinouts, Kinky Waikiki, Skinny Jimmy Stingray, King Kukulele, Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, Lila Starlet, DJ James Brown’s Sweat. Symposium presenters: Arthur Dong, Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, Domenic Priore, Jeff Chenault, Jon Bortles and Tiki Gardener. Guest bartenders: Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Brian Miller, Martin Cate, Paul McGee, Dean Hurst, the Straw Hat Barmen.
TheHukilau.com | Facebook | Twitter
The Atomic Grog’s full event preview:
The Hukilau keeps 20th century Tiki culture alive and thriving in the 21st century

Artwork by Michael Uhlenkott for the official T-shirts and glassware
Artwork by Michael Uhlenkott for the official T-shirts and glassware.

TICKETS: Online sales at TheHukilau.com ended Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, you can buy tickets at the event during registration hours at Pier 66 in the Crystal Atrium entrance, just off the lobby and next to the Tiki Treasures Bazaar. The multi-day passes are sold out, but you can still pick up single-day and event passes for Thursday through Saturday, plus tickets to the symposiums and the Three-Hour Tour Cruise with Dawn Wells of Gilligan Islands fame. Registration hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Continue reading “The Week in Tiki (June 1-14, 2015): The Hukilau 2015 latest news and updates”

Event preview: The Hukilau keeps 20th century Tiki culture alive and thriving in the 21st century

Polynesian Pop enthusiasts from around the world will gather Wednesday through Sunday (June 10-14) in Fort Lauderdale for The Hukilau, the East Coast’s largest and longest-running celebration of all things Tiki. The event reaches new heights in its 14th year at the towering Pier 66 hotel with marquee events that include the country’s top Tiki cocktail barmen and actress Dawn Wells, aka Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island.

The Hukilau 2015

The Hukilau: June 10-14, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and The Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Special guest: Dawn Wells. Musical guests and performers: Alika Lyman Group, The Intoxicators, Gold Dust Lounge, Pablus, Slip and the Spinouts, Kinky Waikiki, Skinny Jimmy Stingray, King Kukulele, Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, Lila Starlet, DJ James Brown’s Sweat. Symposium presenters: Arthur Dong, Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, Domenic Priore, Jeff Chenault, Jon Bortles and Tiki Gardener. Guest bartenders: Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Brian Miller, Martin Cate, Paul McGee, Dean Hurst, the Straw Hat Barmen.
* Buy tickets, get more info at TheHukilau.com
* Latest updates: The Hukilau on Facebook | Twitter
* The Atomic Grog: The Week in Tiki

For a so-called fad that started in the 1930s and peaked in the mid-20th century, Polynesian Pop seems to be doing quite well 15 years into the 21st century. So what makes Tiki culture so enduring, and endearing?

“It’s really all about the escape,” said Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White, an Alabama native who co-founded The Hukilau in 2002 in Atlanta and sagely moved it to Fort Lauderdale and its historic Polynesian palace, The Mai-Kai, in 2003. “Some of us live the lifestyle, but for so many others, they get to dress in island prints, make tropical cocktails and create an instant vacation. Tiki gives all of us a release from the hustle of everyday life.”

* See below: Sponsors and merchandise | Special events | The venues | Symposiums
Bands and performers | Tickets and schedule

Continue reading “Event preview: The Hukilau keeps 20th century Tiki culture alive and thriving in the 21st century”

The Week in Tiki (May 25-31, 2015): The Hukilau ticket updates, Latitude 29 honored, Rapa Nui Reef sinking

The Week in Tiki The Hukilau announces more news as the June 10-14 Tiki weekender approaches, including the sellout of the Tiki Tower Takeover. Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 is named one of the Best Bars in America, plus we have details on the sinking of an Easter Island-styled reef off South Florida. Other news includes keeping alive the memory of Florida’s Tiki Gardens and The Kahiki in Columbus, Ohio. Weekly features spotlight artist Bamboo Ben, leading mug manufacturer Tiki Farm, Surf Rock Radio, and The Wreck Bar on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The rum of the week, Wicked Dolphin Florida Spiced, is featured in Martin Cate’s Henry & John cocktail.
* Keep up with The Week in Tiki: Facebook page | RSS feed | See past weeks | Archive
* Weekly features: Artist | Website | Band/music | Tiki bar | Rum | Cocktail | Events

The Hukilau updates: Tiki Tower Takeover sold out

The Tiki Tower Takeover takes place in the Pier 66 hotel's 17th floor rotating lounge, which was built in 1965 with a space-age design
The Tiki Tower Takeover takes place in the Pier 66 hotel’s 17th floor rotating lounge, which was built in 1965 with a space-age design.

It’s less than two weeks until The Hukilau, the East Coast’s largest and most authentic Tiki event, hits Fort Lauderale for its June 10-14 gathering, and tickets to many events are selling fast. The first to sell out is the Tiki Tower Takeover, the much-anticipated event featuring the country’s most celebrated Tiki bar owners and drink masters hosting a special cocktail party in the famous Pier 66 revolving lounge 17 floors above Fort Lauderdale Beach. Several hundred lucky attendees will be treated to new signature cocktails from Paul McGee (Lost Lake, Chicago), Martin Cate (Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco), Jeff “Beachbum” Berry (Latitude 29, New Orleans), and Brian Miller (Tiki Mondays With Miller, New York City). Click here for more on the guest bartenders.

Tickets remain for The Hukilau’s other signature event, the “Three Hour Tour” cruise with Dawn Wells, better known as Mary Ann on the classic TV show Gilligan’s Island. Guests will join everyone’s favorite castaway on Friday, June 12, aboard the Lady Windridge Yacht for a tour of the waterways of Fort Lauderdale. There will be an open bar featuring craft Tiki cocktails and food, plus a costume contest with a $100 grand prize. Wells will help select the best Gilligan’s Island-themed costume. Tickets are $99 for attendees with a wristband, $149 without a wristband. The five-day Big Kahuna pass is sold out, but you can still order four-, three-, and single-day passes, plus tickets to six expert symposiums and Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid’s two special swim shows at the B Ocean Resort. Some of these may not last long, so act now.
* Buy tickets now

Continue reading “The Week in Tiki (May 25-31, 2015): The Hukilau ticket updates, Latitude 29 honored, Rapa Nui Reef sinking”

The Week in Tiki (May 18-25, 2015): New Beachbum Berry barware, The Hukilau 2015 merchandise now on sale

The Week in Tiki Cocktail Kingdom has joined forces with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry for the release this week of some cool vintage Tiki cocktail gear. The Hukilau’s official mug and pendant are now on sale as the June 10-14 event announces a new rum sponsor and updated entertainment schedule. Other news includes a special cocktail event at The Mai-Kai, the reopening of the Tiki-Ti, a historic unveiling at the Caliente Tropics hotel during Tiki Caliente, plus new Shag artwork at a Palm Springs party and New York City exhibit. Weekly features spotlight artist Mookie Sato, the Southern Surf Stomp! blog, instro icons Los Straitjackets, and Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge in Minneapolis. The rum of the week, Wicked Dolphin Silver, is featured in the Piña Colada.
* Keep up with The Week in Tiki: Facebook page | RSS feed | See past weeks | Archive
* Weekly features: Artist | Website | Band/music | Tiki bar | Rum | Cocktail | Events

Cocktail Kingdom launches new line of Beachbum Berry Tiki barware

New from Beachbum Berry and Cocktail Kingdom: Pearl Diver Glass, Skull Bar Spoon, and Swizzle Cup
New from Beachbum Berry and Cocktail Kingdom: Pearl Diver Glass, Skull Bar Spoon, and Swizzle Cup. (From CocktailKingdom.com)

Just in time to jazz up your summer cocktail creations, premium barware company Cocktail Kingdom has teamed up with Tiki’s leading tropical drink historian, Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, for a new collection of vintage barware. The Swizzle Cup, Pearl Diver Glass, and Skull Bar Spoon join the Navy Grog Cone Kit (released in 2013) as worthy additions to any bar, Tiki or otherwise.

As with all of Cocktail Kingdom’s retro-inspired items, much care was taken to recreate the original, classic items. The combination of Berry’s meticulous research and the dedication of Cocktail Kingdom, which is owned by cocktail history enthusiast Greg Boehm, results in the best possible products. The publishing arm of Cocktail Kingdom also released Berry’s sixth book, Potions of the Caribbean: 500 Years of Tropical Drinks and the People Behind Them, in late 2013. In November 2014, the author became a Tiki bar proprietor with the opening of his first exotic lounge and restaurant, Latitude 29 in New Orleans.

From a mid-century Don the Beachcomber menu
From a mid-century Don the Beachcomber menu.

The skull-topped barspoon is not based on any particular vintage item, but rather was inspired by pirate history and headhunter lore. You could put it to good use mixing a floater of 151 rum into a Shrunken Skull [See recipes] or other ominous concoction. It joins Cocktail Kingdom’s extensive selection of premium barspoons.

The arrival of the new glassware will likely be toasted at home and commercial Tiki bars across the land, where these rare items have been sought-after for years. The Swizzle Cup is made of lightweight stainless steel to the same specifications of the heavier metal versions that were popularized in the 1940s and 1950s. Newer versions of the sleek and stylish cups are used in a select number of the world’s top Tiki bars, such as The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale, but the more common variety found on eBay just don’t measure up to the original. The new cup should allow for many more cocktail enthusiasts to enjoy a perfect 151 Swizzle, the deadly drink most commonly featured in the steel vessel to keep its contents ice cold. [See classic, Mai-Kai recipes]

Continue reading “The Week in Tiki (May 18-25, 2015): New Beachbum Berry barware, The Hukilau 2015 merchandise now on sale”

The Week in Tiki (May 11-17, 2015): Robert Drasnin, master of exotica, dead at 87

The Week in Tiki Sad news this week with the passing of Robert Drasnin, the exotica pioneer who composed the seminal Voodoo album. Other news includes special cocktail flights at The Mai-Kai, Tiki Kon’s Iron Tikitender competition, and Angry Birds fly the coop to a tropical paradise. Weekly features spotlight artist Miss Fluff, the Retro Roadmap website, El Capitan & the Band with No Name, and Tiki bar Forbidden Island in Alameda. The rums of the week, Gubba Silver and Gold, are featured in Trader Vic’s Molokai Mike cocktail.
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* Weekly features: Artist | Website | Band/music | Tiki bar | Rum | Cocktail | Events

Exotica legend Robert Drasnin dies at 87

robert-drasnin

Robert Drasnin, one of the last greats of the mid-century exotica music scene and a prolific composer of TV scores, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, at age 87. Drasnin is perhaps best known for his seminal Voodoo albums released nearly 50 years apart.

Voodoo, which came out in 1959, was a touchstone of the mid-century exotica genre. After a new generation of listeners discovered Drasnin’s music in the early 21st century, he amazingly released a follow-up, Voodoo II, in 2007. A composer and performer (sax, clarinet, flute), Drasnin is considered to be one of exotica’s early masters, along with Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman. His songs, such as Chant of the Moon, evoke an almost otherworldly vibe that transcends time and place.

When the Tiki revival brought a new generation of fans to Drasnin’s music, he embraced the attention. He performed at The Hukilau in 2005 and 2007
[Watch: Video1 | Video2] and at Tiki Oasis in 2008 [Watch: Video1 | Video2]. After his 2005 performance at The Hukilau, which included a 16-piece orchestra performing Voodoo for the first time since 1959, he was inspired to write and release Voodoo II.

Voodoo by Robert Drasnin

The outpouring from fans on Facebook was immediate:

“He was so wonderful, talented, selfless and a great friend,” said The Hukilau’s co-founder and organizer, Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White. “I’ll miss him and knowing he’s a part of this world. I’m glad The Hukilau made you smile … one of the greats.”

Vocalist Alice Berry, who sang with Drasnin and his orchestra during his revival shows, posted that it was “hard to express how meaningful it was for me to get to be Robert Drasnin’s vocalist. He lived 87 amazing years, filled with music and love ’til the end – which came all too soon yesterday.”

Continue reading “The Week in Tiki (May 11-17, 2015): Robert Drasnin, master of exotica, dead at 87”

The Week in Tiki (April 6-12, 2015): Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows open, Miami Rum Festival coming up

The Week in TikiThis week’s top news is the grand opening of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, plus the latest on Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and Cocktail Week. Also noted are The Hukilau’s 2015 mug, and the death of Polynesian performer Ernie Menehune. Weekly features spotlight artist Thor, website The Floating Rum Shack, exotica pioneer Martin Denny, and Tucson’s Kon Tiki. The rum of the week, Flor de Caña white, is featured in the Pieces of Eight cocktail.
* Keep up with The Week in Tiki: Facebook page | RSS feed | See past weeks | Archive
* Weekly features: Artist | Website | Band/music | Tiki bar | Rum | Cocktail | Events

Disney World celebrates grand opening of reimagined Polynesian Village

A dancer performs during a celebration of the grand opening of Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows on March 31, 2015
A dancer performs during a celebration of the grand opening of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows on March 31, 2015. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

Disney’s Polynesian Village, one of the Orlando resort’s original flagship hotels, has unveiled an expansive two-year renovation designed to lure visitors with lavish new rooms, refreshed lobby and pools, and an interactive Tiki-themed lounge.

April 1 was the grand opening of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, the latest Disney Vacation Club (DVC) addition to the sprawling Disney World property. The 360 deluxe studio rooms are being added to the 39-acre resort’s 11 existing South Seas themed longhouse buildings, while the 20 bungalows were built over the water on Seven Seas Lagoon with scenic views of the Magic Kingdom.

Disney held a media preview event on March 31, with tours of all the new additions as well as a grand-opening ceremony that included a torch-lighting and traditional fire-dancing by a performer from the resort’s Spirit of Aloha dinner show. Ken Potrock, the executive who oversees Disney Vacation Club, called the Polynesian “the third jewel in our monorail crown,” joining the nearby villas at the Grand Floridian and Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort.

The new Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort are furnished in mid-century modern style
The new Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are furnished in mid-century modern style. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, March 31, 2015)

The Bora Bora Bungalows are the most spectacular addition, providing a unique and luxurious experience for guests. With two bedrooms, two baths and full kitchen, these freestanding huts inspired by traditional Polynesian structures sleep up to eight guests. Despite the stylistic similarities, these are not primitive accommodations. Disney’s bungalows include three giant flat-screen TVs, a TV embedded in the master bathroom’s mirror, a surround-sound entertainment system featuring invisible speakers in the wall, a washer and dryer, and many artistic touches that harken back to the history of Disney and the Polynesian Village.

Continue reading “The Week in Tiki (April 6-12, 2015): Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows open, Miami Rum Festival coming up”

The Week in Tiki (March 9, 2015): Historic bars compete, Vintage Tiki Weekend announced, Rum Fest at The Mai-Kai

The Week in TikiNews this week includes a historic bars contest that features four famous Tiki establishments, plus a sneak peak at The Hukilau’s 2015 event mug. We preview a party at the Tonga Hut, ticket sales for Tiki Kon, and Dapper Day at Disney World. A new event joins the Tiki calendar: Vintage Tiki Weekend at the historic Caribbean Motel in Wildwood, N.J. Also announced was a swap in Dole Whip locations at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, plus the Miami Rum Festival’s annual pilgrimage to The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. Our weekly features spotlight artist Crazy Al Evans, TheTikiChick.com, classic exotica artist Gene Rains, and acclaimed Tiki bar Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco. The rum of the week, Plantation Jamaican, is featured in the Red Tide cocktail.
* Keep up with The Week in Tiki: Facebook page | RSS feed | See past weeks | Archive
* Weekly features: Artist | Website | Band/music | Tiki bar | Rum | Cocktail | Events

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS (March 9-15, 2015)

Historic Bars Tournament features four classic Tiki establishments

Every year, there are more and more alternatives to college basketball’s bracket mania known as March Madness. Simply match up a long list of anything in multiples of four, and see who makes the Sweet 16 and Final Four. This year, fans of Tiki and its classic watering holes can vote for their favorites during The Big Tap: 2015 Historic Bars Tournament.

A vintage photo of The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale
A vintage photo of The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. (From Facebook)

The tourney, which kicked off Monday (March 9), is being run by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has lined up 32 historic bars and matched them up in brackets. Among those in the competition are four historic Tiki temples: The Mai-Kai (Fort Lauderdale), Bali Hai (San Diego), La Mariana (Honolulu), and the Tonga Room (San Francisco). The Mai-Kai, a South Florida institution, was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places.
* Previous Atomic Grog coverage

The four are among the oldest Tiki establishments in the country. The Tonga Room opened in 1945, La Mariana and Bali Hai in 1955, and The Mai-Kai in 1956. Make your vote count in this single-elimination tournament. The voting period for each round ends at 8 a.m. Eastern time on Fridays (March 13, 20, 27 and April 3). There will be prizes for the bars that advance to the Sweet 16 and beyond. Besides the Tiki bars, there are dive bars, sports bars, and many historic watering holes that date back as far as 1733.

The entries were culled from the Historic Bars series, which started last June on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s blog, PreservationNation. These were determined through the site’s own research, plus public submissions from Facebook and Twitter followers. They then narrowed it down to 32 for the bracket.

Continue reading “The Week in Tiki (March 9, 2015): Historic bars compete, Vintage Tiki Weekend announced, Rum Fest at The Mai-Kai”