Post #352076 by Aloha John on Sun, Dec 30, 2007 10:06 PM

OK quick background- Polynesian themed restaurant in San Bernardino- according to Critiki - "Trader Island was likely operating in the '60s, possibly the '50s. By 1970, the site had become Edwin Tan's Chinese Gardens. The location is now Mandarin Garden. "

Well during the final days of Mandarin Garden this last June, the owner, knowing my love for tiki sold me the one Moai volcano bowl they had, and several ceramic clam shell bowls they serve scorpions in.

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=24686&forum=5

There was a tapa outrigger canoe lamp hanging in the bar area. I asked MG owner if I could buy it. He said the new guy (Toro Bravo) had already taken inventory and he couldn't sell it.

So Toro Bravo opens, 2 buildings away from the most well established Mexican restaurant in Berdoo - The Mexico Cafe. We go in, food and service were horrible, but the lamp was still hanging in the bar. I asked the new guy about the lamp and he agreed to my offer but said I'd need to come back after something lease related was finalized in a week or so...well Toro Bravos doors weren't open for very long and I wasn't ever able to get in touch with the guy again.

At least once a week, for the past 5 months we'd drive by it on the way to dinner and waited for some sign of activity. Then last week there was activity, a new sign goes up, Scorpions Sport Bar. Well OK I am not much for sports bars, but hey it's got a scorpion for the logo, and the doors will be unlocked, and anything is better than the building getting demo'd. So it opened on Thursday, and tonight we finally had a chance to go in. Only a few people were there but they were welcoming. As we walked over to the bar, gasp the lamp is not hanging there anymore! I had said we wanted to see what was happening to the place. New guy says - Oh did you guys come when it was Mandarin Garden? I said yes, and then popped the question - Do you know what happened to the old lamp that was hanging right there? He said - get this - oh are you the guy that wanted to buy it? Jason (MG owner) told me not to throw it away and that he knew you'd be back for it. It's in the back if you want it. I couldn't believe it! After all these months I had come to grips with the fact that it may be in the county landfill by now...but no it is mine!! So I went home and got my truck and swung by the atm and brought it home!

There are a couple more souvenirs he is saving for me to pick up next weekend, not as exciting as the bowl or the lamp, but items that are important to me, and important to the history of the building.

So enough blabbing - onto the lamp. It is 6'7" long and 33" wide. I thought it may be from OA but it looks different from the picture of their outrigger tapa lamp in the catalog I saw on TC. I may take it down there on my next trip and ask them if they made it.

Anybody got any advice on repairing those tears? For the most part the tears are just tears, the flaps just need to be closed up. Can I Mod Podge something onto the inside as a patch, that will still let light though?

Pretty cool late Xmas gift eh? I know another local restaurant that MG owner still owns, I will be going by there soon to personally thank him for telling the new guy not to throw it away...

[ Edited by: Aloha John 2008-01-01 21:47 ]