Post #760806 by Veronica! on Mon, Mar 14, 2016 10:36 AM

Serendipitous moment. Friend of a friend of a friend met former Mai-Khi barmaid.

West Allis (pronounced "Stallis") is blue collar suburb of Milwaukee (pronounced "Muh wok ee") which grew around Allis-Chalmers, manufacturing agricultural, construction, mining machinery. Factory closing devastating to local economy as thousands unemployed. I have heard baby boomer generation children did not apply themselves in high school because they thought they would work in union with the grandfather and the father for the tractors and diesel shovels happily ever after.

Mai-Khi street level typical workingman's bar. The piranha was a dark grey colour, approximately 20" / 50cm length X 10" / 25cm height. Did not remember piranha's name.

Second bar upstairs was for the tiki. Typically open weekends or private party. "Pillow room" separated from main hall by bamboo and bead curtains for lounging while sipping flaming bowl drinks with long straws. She recalled orange aku bowl (scorpion bowl) for five to six people with six different rums, the heavy clear tiki glass as pictured in preceding comment for the mai tais, and tiki mugs.

With closing of Mai Khi, became Bobblehedz, now defunct. https://www.facebook.com/Bobblehedz-127825113938514/ I do not get to Stallis very often except for summer Saturday morning farmer market for vegetables. Self-described as sports bar although I classify one rung up ladder from shot-and-a-beer joint. More pool and darts than cribbage and sheeps head.