Post #665689 by LoriLovesTiki on Thu, Jan 31, 2013 3:58 PM

I realized that I owed nui 'umi 'umi and others who gave me good advice about SF an update. My apologies! Truth be told, it was kind of a disappointing trip in terms of tiki for me hence my hesitation to post. But it wasn't all sad.

We arrived in SF much later than we were supposed to and my husband didn't want to cab it that night (after 11pm on Halloween, 1pm EST for us)so I didn't get to the Tonga(:::SOB::::), Smugglers Cove, nada. ::::insert big sad face:::::

The next day we did the blitzkrieg SF day, Alcatraz, Fishermans Wharf for lunch walking all around and then we "saw" a very fogged in Golden Gate Bridge as we left SF on the way (eventually) to Big Sur to meet up with my brother. Then my darling husband made it up to me and took me to Trader Vic's Emerville where I bought a TON of swag - coconut mugs, mai-tai glass, a Hawaiian shirt for him etc. The manager gave me a drink menu and a ton of swizzles, coasters and napkins. We ate appetizers and had a couple of drinks. Then it gets better (and worse) when we visit Forbidden Island! I was in heaven! Thanks to a mug swap I actually had their current brown mug so before we left I purchased a blue knot mug, which the bartender gave me in a box and gave me a Zombie in one of their bamboo mugs "for the road!" Double bonus. I wasn't driving. But you do the math, a couple of drinks at TV's, 2 at FI and a really strong one in the car and I don't remember most of our drive to Big Sur. But it was SOOOOOO worth it. My first 2 real tiki bars and tons of swag!!!

However, when we got home I opened my blue mug to find it was a green bowl! I was so disappointed. But the story has a happy ending. I emailed Forbidden Island and Tony let me buy the mug I thought I bought and shipped it to me in NJ. And I kept the bowl. (hee-hee)

Mahalo to those who gave their advice and to anyone who read this far, bless you. Someday I hope to get back to SF and go to the bars in the city that I missed!