Post #277983 by Block 16 Lounge on Wed, Jan 10, 2007 11:37 AM

Aloha!

I just signed up and am excited to be a member of the Tiki Central community.

If all goes well, by early spring, a longtime dream will finally come true: For six years I have entertained visions of a home tiki bar with a Las Vegas theme. Now, after two marriages, a couple houses and several jobs, I'm ready to create the Block 16 Lounge (which will be a full-fledged tiki bar with nothing but old-school Vegas decor to complement all the bamboo and thatched grass, hence the name, which alludes to in the area of Las Vegas where the saloons, casinos and brothels were originally located in 1905).

I have spent months collecting hours and hours of exotica and lounge music and have been collecting vintage Vegas memorabilia for years. I've set up a poker table and craps table, and I'm polishing up on my bartending skills as well.

If any of you have been to Hala Kahiki in River Grove, Ill. (the best tiki bar out there), imagine Dean Martin sipping martinis in the lounge area and listening to everyone from Peggy Lee to Yma Sumac...except that it's my basement...and Dean's hitting 21 in the Big Casino...but nevermind all that.

I've got a full, partially finished basement and have begun the initial preparations (cleaning, installing the pipes for a wet bar, etc.), but I'm looking for advice on style, decor, proper home bar etiquette, whatever. I figured that if anyone can help, it's you guys and girls.

Mahalo!