Tiki Archaeology: Moon Islander, South Titusville, Florida - General Tiki

T TikiTomD Grand Member (6 years) Flagler Beach, FL Joined: Sep 20, 2009 Posts: 700	T TikiTomD Posted posted on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 11:56 AM From Carol, the former Moon Islander waitress and bar tender, comes the following anecdote: the Moon Islander's owner held strong beliefs regarding spirits and, in this context, I'm not referring to ethanol, the spirit of the drink. So when Uncle Louie, the elder Asian caretaker who lived above the restaurant, became seriously ill, the owner requested that he move out so that, in the event of his passing, bad fortune (death) would not become a resident at the Moon Islander. Carol stated that the owner was quite a nice person, so this was not reflective of a lack of compassion. Uncle Louie, sharing the same culture, no doubt understood perfectly. Several posts ago, you saw a picture post card of the Moon Islander, allowing you to visualize what once was. Now, I'll share a digital photo of what is: a contemporary, upscale row of riverfront patio homes, previously described in words by Moonman. Alas, there is no remaining classic Polynesian restaurant/bar in Titusville, Florida. We do have local motels and other establishments with "tiki bars", a local entrepreneur of the Neon Tiki Tribe (children's action hero products) and a semi-tropical setting with dreamy Indian River Lagoon vistas. You can also order Mai Tais at many of the local establishments, and they will serve you something that at least vaguely resembles a Mai Tai. The best of these in my experience is at Paul's Smokehouse, right on the lagoon about a block south of the old Moon Islander site. They serve a colorful, strong drink that, after several, will evoke an illusion of Bali Ha'i as you gaze across the water, though it's really just the VAB at Kennedy Space Center. But drink purists would blanch even at this Mai Tai, as it contains Grenadine. Titusville is not without its tiki spirit. Where necessary, we just create our own tiki environs. Here's a portion of mine: BTW, the tikis in the photo are creations of Ed Volonnino of Ed's Heads in Melbourne, Florida. And it's great that, even in Titusville, we can travel a short distance to the Tiki Central Forum and connect with others of the tiki spirit around the globe. Here's a few more of the actual Moon Islander drink recipes and prices from Carol's bar tender index cards, including the Mai Tai ($3.10), Papette Treasure ($2.50), Scorpion ($3.25), Zombie ($3.25) and Yellow Bird ($3.10):

From Carol, the former Moon Islander waitress and bar tender, comes the following anecdote: the Moon Islander's owner held strong beliefs regarding spirits and, in this context, I'm not referring to ethanol, the spirit of the drink. So when Uncle Louie, the elder Asian caretaker who lived above the restaurant, became seriously ill, the owner requested that he move out so that, in the event of his passing, bad fortune (death) would not become a resident at the Moon Islander. Carol stated that the owner was quite a nice person, so this was not reflective of a lack of compassion. Uncle Louie, sharing the same culture, no doubt understood perfectly.

Several posts ago, you saw a picture post card of the Moon Islander, allowing you to visualize what once was. Now, I'll share a digital photo of what is: a contemporary, upscale row of riverfront patio homes, previously described in words by Moonman.

Alas, there is no remaining classic Polynesian restaurant/bar in Titusville, Florida. We do have local motels and other establishments with "tiki bars", a local entrepreneur of the Neon Tiki Tribe (children's action hero products) and a semi-tropical setting with dreamy Indian River Lagoon vistas. You can also order Mai Tais at many of the local establishments, and they will serve you something that at least vaguely resembles a Mai Tai. The best of these in my experience is at Paul's Smokehouse, right on the lagoon about a block south of the old Moon Islander site. They serve a colorful, strong drink that, after several, will evoke an illusion of Bali Ha'i as you gaze across the water, though it's really just the VAB at Kennedy Space Center. But drink purists would blanch even at this Mai Tai, as it contains Grenadine.

Titusville is not without its tiki spirit. Where necessary, we just create our own tiki environs. Here's a portion of mine:

BTW, the tikis in the photo are creations of Ed Volonnino of Ed's Heads in Melbourne, Florida.

And it's great that, even in Titusville, we can travel a short distance to the Tiki Central Forum and connect with others of the tiki spirit around the globe.

Here's a few more of the actual Moon Islander drink recipes and prices from Carol's bar tender index cards, including the Mai Tai ($3.10), Papette Treasure ($2.50), Scorpion ($3.25), Zombie ($3.25) and Yellow Bird ($3.10):

Post #488554 by TikiTomD on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 11:56 AM