Midnite's Global Journey of Spiritual Discovery* - Tiki Travel

M midnite Member 37? 47' N, 122? 26' W Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 1230	M midnite Posted posted on Thu, Aug 21, 2008 2:04 AM Midnite at the No-asis August. Why? These dog days. This lack of a real holiday. It possesses no true monthly purpose. Did we need this month? I never cared for it. If I had the space (which I do not) August would be placed fourth on the midnite "life philosophy" index card: "Red Cars, Blue Cocktails, and Blonde Women...are bad luck." They are, it is. Alas, 8.33% of my year is taken by this red-headed stepchild of a month and I must make do. I travel, I drink...I await September. Traveling and drinking? There is a God. While I see many of my tiki brethren set a course for adventure down San Diego way at Tiki Oasis I must zag to that zig. It is my nature, for I am a contrarian but was not born Cesarean. It's August, let's go to Atlanta. Send your camel to bed. It's time for midnite at the no-asis. Why? Georgia was on my mind. I mean Deep South and not South of the Caucasus. Wrong pew, right church. I was after a Gun Club Punch, nothing more violent than that. I sought one more Trader Vic's to check off my list, a baseball game, and some history. The news lamented a Georgia half way around the world while I watched the goings on from a safe distance in the basement of the Atlanta Georgia Hilton. First, let's talk Atlanta. Mine was only a brief stay before a visit to Florida. Still, it's the capitol of the South so let's check 'er out. Okay, while I waited for Trader Vic's to open I had to occupy my time. There's plenty to do in Atlanta, but a man's got to know his limitations. I know mine. They extend out to about an hour or so in the Atlanta Aquarium and even less time at the Coca-Cola museum or whatever they call the huge product placement extravaganza that sits next to the aforementioned aquarium. I like sea creatures, I drink Coke...but that's about it. Shoulder shrug. I did enjoy my visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and park. My time there was an emotionally moving experience. It was sadly, also a bit, well, sad. I mean over there a ways is like this Sistine Chapel for a sugary drink, hundreds of tourists, and here for MLK? Deeper shoulder shrug. I went and paid my respects. I'm happy I did, it was one of the better parts of my travels. Yet another aspect of my trip to mention was one more check for the Major League Baseball parks list. Turner Field, home of the Braves. Going there while the Olympics were taking place in Beijing was a neat coincidence. Good seat for the game and fine people in the stands. It was Nascar night! The Cubs won. I dug the park as it is nice, but did not do the tomahawk chop for it is lame. Atlanta has a Trader Vic's...lucky me! Oh, what a Trader Vic's it is, too. Circa 1973 or so, and everything I like in a Vic's. It looked, at first glance, much like the London Trader Vic's I love so. In some ways, gasp, it may be even better. No, I am not just talking currency conversions either. Yes, this Vic's is a real keeper. I was told many good things about Atlanta, they held true. It's a gem. I got there about ten minutes after it opened. Hey, I'm a fan, not some dorky fan-boy. It's not as if I waited in the lobby for the place to open. No, I walked around the block a couple times. After ordering my Navy Grog I toured the surroundings some and then took to snapping several candids of said cocktail as is my want. "Yes", I told my bartender, "I'm a bit weird." Without missing a beat he responded by asking if he should check out Tiki Central later to see my efforts. Thus, after I looked around to see who had set him up to that bit of info (no one) I began my new acquaintance with Joel the Bartender. I spent quite a few hours at Vic's and got to talk shop, and baseball, with Joel for a goodly amount of that time. He is a real asset to this Vic's and I was pleased to have him make me many, uh too many?, cocktails. With the great physical space and decor, the many drink specials and promotions, the Thursday night live music with Tongo-hiti, this Vic's is top shelf stuff. I only had two nights but several fine drinks were enjoyed. Joel must receive special credit from me for a superbly mixed Tortuga. That's a tough cocktail to make right, but when it is done well it's one of Vic's best. It goes without saying I would eagerly travel back to Atlanta and especially to this Trader Vic's. Dang, I wish they had a Vic's like this in Frisco. They should. Why yes, the club sandwich search continues. You thought I forgot the sandwich, didn't you? At the Westin Atlanta comes the room service turkey BLT. Ya know, this variation of a club without the third piece of bread is becoming popular. I don't dislike it per se, but I am a purist. It gets good marks, decent, but the French judge takes off some points because, well, he's French. However, during my stay in Florida I took in the club sandwich at a small diner/bagel shop near my brother's home. Oh baby, what a good sandwich it was. Of course, I forgot to take my camera. Bacon at the Jewish deli! Why? Come on, till the evenin' ends, Till the evenin' ends... midnite

Midnite at the No-asis

August. Why?

These dog days. This lack of a real holiday. It possesses no true monthly purpose. Did we need this month? I never cared for it. If I had the space (which I do not) August would be placed fourth on the midnite "life philosophy" index card: "Red Cars, Blue Cocktails, and Blonde Women...are bad luck." They are, it is. Alas, 8.33% of my year is taken by this red-headed stepchild of a month and I must make do. I travel, I drink...I await September.

Traveling and drinking? There is a God. While I see many of my tiki brethren set a course for adventure down San Diego way at Tiki Oasis I must zag to that zig. It is my nature, for I am a contrarian but was not born Cesarean. It's August, let's go to Atlanta. Send your camel to bed. It's time for midnite at the no-asis.

Why?

Georgia was on my mind. I mean Deep South and not South of the Caucasus. Wrong pew, right church. I was after a Gun Club Punch, nothing more violent than that. I sought one more Trader Vic's to check off my list, a baseball game, and some history. The news lamented a Georgia half way around the world while I watched the goings on from a safe distance in the basement of the Atlanta Georgia Hilton.

First, let's talk Atlanta. Mine was only a brief stay before a visit to Florida. Still, it's the capitol of the South so let's check 'er out. Okay, while I waited for Trader Vic's to open I had to occupy my time. There's plenty to do in Atlanta, but a man's got to know his limitations. I know mine. They extend out to about an hour or so in the Atlanta Aquarium and even less time at the Coca-Cola museum or whatever they call the huge product placement extravaganza that sits next to the aforementioned aquarium. I like sea creatures, I drink Coke...but that's about it. Shoulder shrug.

I did enjoy my visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and park. My time there was an emotionally moving experience. It was sadly, also a bit, well, sad. I mean over there a ways is like this Sistine Chapel for a sugary drink, hundreds of tourists, and here for MLK? Deeper shoulder shrug. I went and paid my respects. I'm happy I did, it was one of the better parts of my travels.

Yet another aspect of my trip to mention was one more check for the Major League Baseball parks list. Turner Field, home of the Braves. Going there while the Olympics were taking place in Beijing was a neat coincidence. Good seat for the game and fine people in the stands. It was Nascar night! The Cubs won. I dug the park as it is nice, but did not do the tomahawk chop for it is lame.

Atlanta has a Trader Vic's...lucky me! Oh, what a Trader Vic's it is, too. Circa 1973 or so, and everything I like in a Vic's. It looked, at first glance, much like the London Trader Vic's I love so. In some ways, gasp, it may be even better. No, I am not just talking currency conversions either. Yes, this Vic's is a real keeper. I was told many good things about Atlanta, they held true. It's a gem.

I got there about ten minutes after it opened. Hey, I'm a fan, not some dorky fan-boy. It's not as if I waited in the lobby for the place to open. No, I walked around the block a couple times. After ordering my Navy Grog I toured the surroundings some and then took to snapping several candids of said cocktail as is my want. "Yes", I told my bartender, "I'm a bit weird." Without missing a beat he responded by asking if he should check out Tiki Central later to see my efforts. Thus, after I looked around to see who had set him up to that bit of info (no one) I began my new acquaintance with Joel the Bartender.

I spent quite a few hours at Vic's and got to talk shop, and baseball, with Joel for a goodly amount of that time. He is a real asset to this Vic's and I was pleased to have him make me many, uh too many?, cocktails. With the great physical space and decor, the many drink specials and promotions, the Thursday night live music with Tongo-hiti, this Vic's is top shelf stuff.

I only had two nights but several fine drinks were enjoyed. Joel must receive special credit from me for a superbly mixed Tortuga. That's a tough cocktail to make right, but when it is done well it's one of Vic's best. It goes without saying I would eagerly travel back to Atlanta and especially to this Trader Vic's. Dang, I wish they had a Vic's like this in Frisco. They should.

Why yes, the club sandwich search continues. You thought I forgot the sandwich, didn't you? At the Westin Atlanta comes the room service turkey BLT. Ya know, this variation of a club without the third piece of bread is becoming popular. I don't dislike it per se, but I am a purist. It gets good marks, decent, but the French judge takes off some points because, well, he's French. However, during my stay in Florida I took in the club sandwich at a small diner/bagel shop near my brother's home. Oh baby, what a good sandwich it was. Of course, I forgot to take my camera. Bacon at the Jewish deli!

Why?

Come on, till the evenin' ends,
Till the evenin' ends...

midnite

Post #402770 by midnite on Thu, Aug 21, 2008 2:04 AM