Post #442358 by KreepyTiki on Wed, Mar 25, 2009 3:35 AM

I just returned from an interesting visit to the Caliente Tropics (among other places in Palm Springs, such as Haleiwa Joe's which is now "Ocean's 111").

And here's what's up...

It seems that not only is the Reef Bar no more -- the nifty interior has already been gutted -- but the A-frame building that houses it is also being readied for a complete architectural overhaul.

In other words, farewell poly-pop influence and hello trendy modernist re-do!

Sigh...

Well, here's what the building STILL looks like:

And here's what it's GOING to look like:

Well, I spoke to the manager, Ashley, about the renovation process and asked her if anything besides the restaurant and bar was being changed and she wasn't sure. So I can only HOPE that a complete re-do (i.e. "de-tikification") of the entire resort would simply be too EXPENSIVE a proposition to contemplate, let alone realize. Which means, hopefully, that the beautiful and imposingly grand entryway A-frame and the lovely lobby interior, let alone all the wonderful tikis dotted throughout the resort grounds, will be left more or less as is. (Hopefully MORE!)

And as to the new restaurant/bar interior decor?... Well, Ashley gave me a hint by showing me one of the new light fixtures which was cylindrical, white, and with little round pieces of glass of varying sizes set into it, through which the light would shine. And it looked very Mid-Century Modern, which gave me some glimmer of hope.

But what chance do you think there is that the new bar interior will have any hint of tiki? Precious little I'll wager.

Oh well, we mustn't stand in the way of "progress", right, folks?

Cheers :drink: :tiki: