Post #229759 by mbonga on Mon, May 1, 2006 11:32 AM

A friend of mine sent me this text from this Sunday's (4-30-06) newspaper from San Diego, California:

All for tikis

and tikis for all

The Magic of Tiki – Tiki Oasis 6,” a convention of tiki-freakies, starts Thursday and continues through Sunday at the Red Lion Hanalei Hotel in Mission Valley.

There are a number of events for the tiki-mad, including a tiki marketplace 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Over 40 vendors will be selling tiki-related products: T-shirts, mugs, fine art, barware, vintage clothing and tikis “larger than life-size.”

Admission to the market is free, but vendors are asking for cash only. Parking at the hotel is $10.

For an up-close look at some of San Diego's top tiki turf, there will be a bike tour Thursday and a double-decker bus tour Friday. For tour times and reservations, call Where You
Want To Be Tours at (619) 917-6037. For more information, log on to http://www.wheretours.com.

Tikis have been traced to many people and countries over hundreds of years, but are most often connected to the Polynesian culture. Tikis are associated with good luck and protection against evil spirits.

Darlynne Menkin, co-owner of Where You Want To Be Tours with her husband, Marc, said, “The tiki culture nowadays is really amazing. There's a huge cult that follows the tiki and
Polynesian lifestyle.”

There will also be live entertainment, dinners at the Hanalei and the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island Drive, and other events. Check out the event Web site at http://www.tikioasis.com for complete dates, times and locations, and to make reservations.

CATHY LUBENSKI

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-05-02 00:50 ]