Post #40139 by tikivixen on Fri, Jun 20, 2003 4:27 AM

I passed through Modesto last week and would very much advocate a stop there!

I wouldn't call the neighborhood along McHenry (where Minnie's, The Tiki and the Tropics are all located) totally safe but it's not creepy or horrible either. I've been there several times and never had a problem.

All three places are that rarest of gems: genuine, old-school Tiki. Minnie's and The Tiki survive to some extent through putting up with the business of vapid, noisy, 20-something Valley spawn; but they are nonetheless original, atmospheric and genuinely cool establishments. Where, of course, you can get very potent and palatable tiki drinks.

Ah, Modesto...tikiwise, sometimes being stagnant and backward has advantages, from, you know, a historical preservationist perspective 8D.

And Minnie's even has decent (not great...but decent) Chinese food. The deep-fried asparagus was actually really tasty.

The Tiki is the darkest damn bar I've ever been in, and that's a good thing. It does mean the pics below are a little murky, but I love that creepy mask object on the wall.

I really have a soft spot in my heart for the Tropics, too. It's the shabby country cousin to our oh-so-spiffy Caliente Tropics, but in some ways I like it better; it's so original. (And if you want REALLY original, try the Tropics in Indio...but I wouldn't recommend staying there, no...its one advantage is that unlike Palm Springs and Modesto it still possesses the gorgeous, original 60's "Tropics" neon sign; if I can find my picture I will post it.)

Anyway, the Modesto Tropics' Tikis rock, and don't miss the original Tiki sign by the swimming pool, and the Tiki in the office. I so wish I could buy the whole enclave and restore the Polynesian restaurant that apparently once inhabited the building next to The Tiki. Imagine....eat at the restaurant, get sloshed at the bar, and crash at the hotel. All within fifty yards of each other! Sound familiar?

On my last visit I talked with the new managers of the Tropics. They told me the owner is an old guy who loves the place and won't change it. That made me happy. By their own admission, it helps them stay open to cater to welfare moms, alcoholics, disabled people, whatever--ya know, they get the monthly stipend and check into a hotel for a few days. But when I was there last, there was a posse of happy kids playing in the pool, the sun was shining, and what the heck.

It hasn't been torn down and replaced with a "Comfort Inn."

We had an amusing conversational exchange when I explained why I was taking pictures of the tikis: "tikis? oh, those statue things in th' parkin' lot? Wow--people like those? They think we're cool? You mean it? We're in a GUIDEBOOK!? REALLY??!!"

I would so love to get a gang of TCers together, reserve a big block of rooms at the Tropics, and have a Modesto party night. We could take over The Tiki, if there were enough of us.

I love these old places. I believe in putting my money where my mouth is and supporting them. Just my 2 coconuts and all that...

Pictures:

At Minnie's, you never know who might be looking in the window: