Welcome...to Forbidden Island

Our first (mainstream) media mention: http://www.alamedadailynews.com - within one week of our announcement. Word has it that Martiki has also been interviewed by a "glossy" Monthly, for an article set to coincide with our opening. Yoohoo!! Tiki is Red-Hot these days !!

On 2006-01-24 10:13, Conga Mike wrote:
Word has it that Martiki has also been interviewed by a "glossy" Monthly, for an article set to coincide with our opening. Yoohoo!! Tiki is Red-Hot these days !!

Yes, when is that Playgirl Spread , "The men of Tiki" going to come out?

A sign I saw last night- A business name-two words- wanna buy a vowel??

_ _ o k _ _ a _ k _ _ l a _ _ .

Such wonderful news!

I'll definately drive up for the opening and pack plenty of Hodad's secret hangover cure for the day(s) after!

I am sooooo jelous!

I'd briefly discussed partnering with the former owner of Guava Beach in San Diego to completely Tikify his baja-style Cantina about seven years ago. We'd taken some baby steps with Grog Logs behind the bar, Tiki mugs for regulars waiting for them on the shelves, discussions with resident MB carvers and a plan to mosaic the gas fireplace on the west wall into a fire-breathing Tiki guardian a la Kahiki, but it all fell apart when my friend embraced an opportunity to become a "porn king" ...(don't ask).

Since I couldn't do it alone I watched sadly as two subsequent owners later the place has become a Red Bull fueled sports bar.

On 2006-01-27 09:46, mrsmiley wrote:
A sign I saw last night- A business name-two words- wanna buy a vowel??

_ r o k _ _ a _ k
_ _ l a _ _ .

[ Edited by: mrsmiley 2006-01-27 15:02 ]

On 2006-01-27 09:46, mrsmiley wrote:
A sign I saw last night- A business name-two words- wanna buy a vowel??

_ _ o k _ _ a _ k _ _ l a _ _ .

Is there an "I"?

Do these letters do it?
b,c,d,e,i,n,s

-Randy

On 2006-01-27 15:22, aquarj wrote:
Do these letters do it?
b,c,d,e,i,n,s

-Randy

YES! How did you know? :wink:

On 2006-01-27 16:45, mrsmiley wrote:

On 2006-01-27 15:22, aquarj wrote:
Do these letters do it?
b,c,d,e,i,n,s

-Randy

YES! How did you know? :wink:

Those Stanford guys are sooooo smart! 8)

Yeah, yeah, I saw the sign. Pretty witty.

Michael & I have our annual fishing trip coming up again. Ahh..nothing like being alone in the great outdoors.

To all the Ohana on MySpace...
We've created a MySpace page for Forbidden Island and I'm wondering if you'd be interested to "sign up as a friend" of Forbidden Island? - so we can start getting some exposure on Google etc.
Here's the link:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=49759244

Thanks again to all for your kind words (and donations)
With 2+ months to go, our mailing list sign ups are already beyond any possible expectations.
Mahalo

be our friend!

On 2006-01-28 11:58, martiki wrote:
Michael & I have our annual fishing trip coming up again. Ahh..nothing like being alone in the great outdoors.

Yeah, and your fishing gear still has the price tags attached!

*...fishing trip coming up again. Ahh..nothing like being alone in the great outdoors.
*

Yeah, but don't try telling that to Ned Beatty.

We shoulda played golf instead:

midnite..oink oink!

But which is Ned and which is Burt?!?

Seriously, now, any updates on WHEN in April? I have to plan two out of town trips in March/April and I am determined not to miss the grand opening!!!

tikivixen

Hey!

When do we get to see some "Behind-The-Scenes" photos of the great new decor?

Can't wait... Can't wait... Can't wait...!!!!!!

I might drop a teaser or two. maybe.

heh

Otherwise, just prepare to be surprised on Thursday! And no more sneak peak visits! This means you, Bill! :wink:

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Aloha Mike and Marty and the crew at Forbidden Island.
Welcome to my island, Alameda Island, that is. I have been excitedly reading the posts for the last few of weeks and when I drive by the corner of Lincoln and Sherman every night on my way home, I find my tired eyes straining to see some bamboo sticking to the side of the building or a palm fond or anything tropical hanging there. The Forbidden Island Fever is getting to me. I live so close to FI that I could throw my wife's cat from my driveway and almost hit the bar's roof. My bar tab is going to be enormous. I was going to retire to Hawaii, but now I don't have to.
As a Alameda Kamaaina(old timer)I feel it is my duty to give everyone out there good directions to FI. If you plan to drive to the Island of Alameda, it is parallel to Highway 880 in Oakland. If you are coming down 880 South, take the Alameda exit to the Tube(tunnel). If you are driving 880 North, take the Broadway exit,left at Broadway and left into the Tube. If you are coming West on 980, take the Jackson St. exit, turn left at the light and left again at the next light, and veer to the right and then to the left to Broadway. Turn left and left again into the Tube...... Now that everyone is in the Tube, move into the left lane and as you exit the Tube veer to the left. Continue on this street which is Constitution Way for three lights. Now move into the left lane again and at the next light turn to the left. This is Lincoln Avenue. By the way, there is only one speed limit on Alameda Island and it is 25 MPH! Continue on Lincoln Avenue to the next light. This cross street is Sherman Street. Park your car! You're here.
If you are taking transit to Alameda, you're in luck. The AC Transit Bus Number 51 runs down Santa Clara Avenue which is parallel to Lincoln Avenue. Get off the bus at Bay Street and walk along side the Mastick Senior Center on Bay one block to Lincoln Avenue. Turn right and walk one block to Sherman Street. You are there. Return the way you came except your stop will be on the opposite side of Santa Clara Avenue in front of the Mastick Senior Center. The 51 Bus is a cinderella service; at midnite it turns into the 851 Bus and its schedule changes to one bus per hour. The 51 connects with BART at 12Th Street Oakland City Center Station. BART closes at midnite, but the 851 Bus connects with the 800 Express Bus to San Francisco at 12th and Broadway. If you plan to ride the 851 and the 800 Buses, ask the driver for a copy of the ALL NIGHTER Schedule.
Well, I feel better now that every tikiphile can find your way to Forbidden Island.
See you Thursday,
Tikiboy

Very useful indeed Tikiboy. Thanks so much!!

Pictures!

Damn it!!

Thanks Mike,
I just drove past the Forbidden Island and there, hanging above the door, is your new sign. Looks Great! Great Lighting too! Everyone will see it from the intersection.
Three more days,
Tikiboy

Thirsty? Thirstier? Thirstiesterest?

I just bought some booze, and it's not going to drink itself.

Does anyone want to come over Thursday and help?

What time? :drink:

6 pm

[ Edited by: Jungle Trader 2006-04-18 14:40 ]

Tuesday Nite 10PM
When I drove by the Forbidden Island tonight, the sign wasn't shining brightly like last night and there were cars in the parking lot. So,naturally, I thought maybe some exotic polynesian ritual is being performed inside to fortify the Mana or drive out the evil spirits. But after I saw Marty's photos I realised that the only spirits that are being excized are rum bottles from their cases.
On the post I wrote about riding the ALL NIGHTER Bus to FI; there is more info on http://www.actransit.org. Several transit agencies around the Bay are participating in the program which went into service in March of this year.
Okole Maluna
Tikiboy

WHERE ARE THE PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
can I post mine,yet???????????

Awesome place. Thanks Martiki!

I hear there is a new tiki or two in town now. The place is going to knock your black socks off!

[ Edited by: Tiki Diablo 2006-04-19 09:20 ]

Where are the pics?

When is the grand opening?

I need more inspiration.

Robertiki
Portland

On 2006-04-19 09:56, Robertiki wrote:

When is the grand opening?

I need more inspiration.

Robertiki
Portland

The grand Opening is Sat April 22! I know Inky is coming from Vegas for it. What other out of the area folks are coming?

really, what is the address?

On 2006-04-19 10:35, Robertiki wrote:
really, what is the address?

Forbidden Island
1304 Lincoln Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501

http://www.forbiddenislandalameda.com/

Grand opening at 3pm 4-22-06

[ Edited by: mrsmiley 2006-04-19 10:42 ]

Hey,

Conga Mike, drove by last night.It looks great. The signs , glass windows , and entry, very nice. I can't wait to see the inside.

Hopefully ,tomorrow I'll stop by on my way to the show then stop off for one after the show.

To quote the Tiki Goddess, it used to be Lincoln's Address, now it's Will's Address.
Best Tiki Bar EVER. Well, that I've been to. Happy to call it my new home. Congrats Martin and Mike.

UNBELIVABLE!!! The Forbidden Island get the spot right above the top notch. An amazing and totally mesmerizing layout with so much to look at your eye my might popout. Water features, an outside patio, a great jukebox, an excellent selection of drinks, including many from the TC Ohana recipe book, and plenty of good beer too. The dancers were great, the buffet was ono and our hosts were more thatn gracious. The M3, Rebecca, Bamboo Ben, Hanford and Humu, Tiki Diablo and everyone else who hammered a nail or toasted some bamboo really captured and created something special and quite a paradise on the tiny isle of Almeda. I look forward to my next trip out to the Forbidden Island. You can't help but notice the aloha, love and sweat that everybody involved put into making this place a must see destination spot in the Bay Area.
As always it was great to see some old friends and meet some new people. The Ohana Hut premeire was the pineapple in the Mai-Tai for me and I want to thank Stuckie again for bringing the prototype on the road for us all to see and drink out of. One more super big YOU ROCK to The Jab for letting us converge on his little slice of paradise mixing up some tasty cocktails and then also feeding us some of the best fish I have had in a long long while.

Chongolio

What a wonderful transformation!!

I am so glad this is right up the street. I am going taste everything on the drink menu!!

You guys did a great job!!

Whoa.

There had seemed to be a lot of buzz about Forbidden Island all around town -- and not just from tikiphiles. I had a feeling that last night's Grand Opening would be well-attended, but there just isn't any way to know how something is going to be received until it's out there.

They had to start a line at the door before 6pm. Just a few hours later, the line snaked all the way to the end of the block, maybe even around the corner, and the line remained pretty hefty right up until the end of the evening. I heard of people waiting an hour to get in. Despite the long wait, I only heard and overheard enthusiastically positive comments about everything -- especially the decor and the drinks.

It's going to be very interesting to see what Forbidden Island is like in the weeks to come, but I am just absolutely thrilled, and hopeful that Forbidden Island is going to prove that it's worth the effort to go the extra mile when creating a tiki bar -- the key is giving attention to every detail, and doing it well from soup to nuts. You don't have to pander to the lowest common denominator to have a successful tiki bar -- anybody can appreciate quality.

Bravo, and congratulations!

More pictures please for us poor saps on the other side of the country!

After visiting the Mai-Kai for the first time a few years ago I decided when I retire in 20 or 30 years I will move to Florida. Now I think I'll stay in Alameda as long as Forbidden Island is around, or until my liver gives out.

I arrived last night just before 9pm to be told, "Sorry, we're full."
WOW, Who'd a thunk?!? Well I'm disapointed that I didn't get to experience the Forbidden Island but I'm glad to see that the opening was such a success. Congratulations to Martin and the Crew at Forbidden Island!
I guess I'll have to wait a week or so to get my Sidewinder's fang.
Aloha,
:tiki:

How I spent my weekend:

drink tally:
Neptune's Garden
China Clipper (2)
Forbidden Island
Coronado Luau Special
Hawaii Kai Treasure (holding in photo)
Krakatoa
Sidewinder's Fang
Coconut Kallaloo
Zombie
Monkeypod
The Combover
Saturn
Captain's Grog
Navy Grog
Pirate Grog

Not a bad drink yet! Personal favorites so far: China Clipper, Monkeypod, Krakatoa.

Good thing they're closed tonight!

Whew! What a weekend- I'm finally coming up for air after one hell of a good time. Ten thousand Mahalos to everyone who made it out for TC night, the grand opening, and last night as well. Or those of you who made all of the above! Are some of you still over there right now? You have to shower once in a while. God knows I do.

I'm really touched by the distances you all travelled to make it out, and I'm sorry that some of you had to wait outside for quite a while. (Royale, we'll get you in for a Fang- sorry about that!) But we can only hold so many, and it's a good thing we were being careful, as we had a visit from Alameda's finest. (SOP, apparently)

A very special thanks to everyone who gave a hand with bussing tables, crowd control, and more. The ohana feeling is alive and well at FI.

See everyone soon- if we haven't met yet, be sure to introduce yourself and say hi!

All the very, very best to everyone here-

martiki

On 2006-04-24 14:45, martiki wrote:
(Royale, we'll get you in for a Fang- sorry about that!) But we can only hold so many, and it's a good thing we were being careful, as we had a visit from Alameda's finest. martiki

It seems the average wait to get in after 6pm was 45mins to an hour!!! Has Alameda ever experienced that long (and that even coming) a line?!?!

I can't wait for Karaoke Wednesdays!!! Wait, Martiki-you don't have a karaoke machine!?!? WE don't need no STINKIN' MACHINE!! :)

I must say that Forbidden Island is the hippest and most beautiful establishment on the Island. Based on very positive feedback from patrons, I expect that it's presence is much appreciated. There's nothing like it on the island -- or elsewhere for that matter. Did I mention that Alameda is an ISLAND? Yes, it's an ISLAND. Surrounded on all sides by water, so yes, it's an ISLAND. Ohhh, my allergy medicine is going to my head. Too much fun this weekend. :lol:

On 2006-04-24 14:45, martiki wrote:

Are some of you still over there right now?

On 2006-04-24 17:08, martiki wrote:

On 2006-04-24 14:45, martiki wrote:

Are some of you still over there right now?

I'M sleepy! :)

ps-that is a nice ZAZZ pin I am wearing!

Mr. Smiley is the most thirstiesterest of
all!
Have a nice Tiki Day!
If you like it,it is ZAZZ! If you don't, give it a RAZZ.

[ Edited by: mrsmiley 2006-04-24 17:51 ]

On 2006-04-24 14:45, martiki wrote:
Are some of you still over there right now?

Yep.

the forbidden island is soooo beautiful; everyone involved should be awful proud! you can tell that it truly is a labor of love because of it's cool ohana vibe! i had a great time, the drinks were all incredible and super tasty!!!

russell and hubert really loved all the tunes on the juke box...

best of luck, and i can't wait to come back!

Before:

After!:

Before:

Photo by Conga Mike

After:

Photo by Humuhumu