Post #622901 by chiwito on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 8:37 PM

A few months back I bought a six foot tiki at Forbidden Island's parking lot sale, partly because it was a cool piece with a nice history [it was created during a live carving demonstration at FI], and partly because I was working my way through all the rums in the place Not on the Kill Devil list and the day of the sale I had a couple of 151s [note to self: overproof and shopping are not always compatible]. It is a coolaceous piece, however, and I didn't regret the purchase. What I do regret, though, is the fact that because I didn't have a way to get it home I left it in the back yard of FI, behind the Ku bar, and neglected it for several months. When my handyman and I finally went to pick it up it was gone. I don't know whether it was taken by someone who thought it was abandoned and available for the taking or by someone who knew that he was stealing it. I suspect that it was somewhere in between; the taker probably pretty much knew that it belonged to someone and was not available but anesthetized his conscience by convincing himself it was salvage. At any rate, it seems likely that someone who frequents FI ehough to know it was there and likes tiki enough to go to the effort of hauling it away probably has it displayed at his house where it is likely to be seen by tiki folks. It is about six feet tall and roughly carved from a very light colored wood. Its most distinguishing feature should be [if the weather didn't wear it away] the autograph of former bartender and master of cocktails Susan Eggett. I had intended to get the sigs of various of my favorite FI people. However, I approached it with my usual lack of proactive effort, and then a couple of the staff including the other master bartender and manager suddenly disappeared. And then of course so did my tiki. So if anyone happens to see a carving meeting the above descrition, it would be greatly appreciated if you could arrange with the possessor to return it to the rightful owner. Such appreciation would be expressed by a moderate cash reward and an immoderate liquid reward. Thank you.