Post #583778 by GatorRob on Thu, Apr 7, 2011 8:03 AM

Thanks for the compliments guys! That rootball Tiki was carved by our own mega talented carver, Will Anders (wplugger). Will brought him to the South Florida Tiki Carving Jam at Benzart's home in 2008. Here he is kicking back against a tree at that event:

I knew he would be a great fit behind the bar (but barely!), so I couldn't resist bringing him home with me. He shared the backseat with Flounder and kept him company for the 2+ hour drive home. It was fun getting him up there and secured enough so he wouldn't come crashing down on future unsuspecting guests!

You can find Will carving away at his home in Ft Lauderdale. And if you look around the Mai-Kai, you will see LOTS of his handiwork, from concrete-cast outdoor Tikis to the many spears that surround the windows looking in on the Chinese ovens. Sadly, his Suffering Bastard carving that WAS in the outdoor gardens has succumbed to the elements and was recently removed. He also carved the table lamp bases in my bar. Here's a shot he took of them before they left Will's Tiki Emporium (i.e., his driveway):

And in place with shades we fashioned for them:

And finally, here's another rootball Tiki Will carved (not mine, but Will may still have it?):

(Edited for spelling goofs)

[ Edited by: GatorRob 2011-04-07 08:05 ]