Post #2042 by Kailuageoff on Thu, Jun 6, 2002 2:27 PM

We had the most wonderful time in Portland visiting "The Alibi", Frenchey's retro pad and the fabled Castaway Cove. Many Mahalos to Frenchey, Jen, Maxton and Maggie for meeting us and sharing cool drinks, warm conversation and much hospitality.
The Alibi has to be one of the coolest bars on the planet. Very different (and darker) than the Mai-Kai, but briming with tiki-ness.
The fabulous Castawy Cove at Maxton and Maggie's was an awesome and inspiring site. As Maxton says, "God help you if you decide to build a home tiki bar." I will add, "God help you if you visit Castaway Cove and then decide to build a tiki bar because it will be very, very hard to top it."
On Frenchey's recommendation we visited the Three Monkeys in Portland and the Hawaiian General Store in Seattle - which were great shops -- and bought some pretty cool stuff, including a Sven-tiki mug.
Our final destination for this trip was Vancouver, BC where I was able to see and take a roll of film of the usually-closed Menehune Room(s) of the Waldorf hotel. The tiki bar review pages have a write-up on this place -- which is exactly as James T. described it -- a mind-blowing, time warp of tiki. I'll also tell you they advertised themselves as the home of the original Leetag paitings... and they have lot's of them. As well as huge and beautiful murals by Hopkinson who I think did did the menus for the Matson Steam Ship Company. Wow!!!
Anyway, thanks again to our Portland friends and remember you all have an open invitation to visit us in Florida anytime.