Tiki Eyeball - Aku Tiki Inn - May 18-20th

Kick off the summer right with Kustom Kars and Tiki Bars!

This is the first event of the season for Wizzard Road Shows and the first Tiki Eyeball event. It promises to be a great weekender in the heartland of America. Great bands, vendors, rods and fun. I am bringing a motley crew of carvers together to show their skilz and spread the gospel of tiki to the masses. Expect a great room party with me and Basement Kahuna mixing up the cocktails. Lake Surfer is haulin his big and lovely sculptures down and throwin it down artic north style.

More details to come. I can't wait to explore this very out of the way, vintage tiki establishment, AND the Tiki Truck Stop!

Swank Blather- Talkin' atcha

[ Edited by: Swanky 2007-01-26 06:35 ]

Swanky, there is NOTHING at the Tiki Truck Stop to see. At all. Their cool vintage sign was removed a few years ago, and that was that.

Too bad about their choice of weekend for this - it conflicts with the bigger event in relatively nearby Green Bay. Hope that doesn't hurt attendance. Sucks that all the greasers will have to choose between a RAB festival and a car show!

You'll love the Aku Tiki Room.
In a lot of ways it reminds me of your own 'local' Tiki temple, the Omni Hut.

Me?
I have to miss both events - I'll be in Germany (I know, I am just trying to imitate Sven, missing out on summer Tiki events because I am in Germany).

Yeah, I was told the Tiki Truck Stop is just a name. I didn't realize it was the same weekend as Green Bay.

Call ahead and tell the Peru Police Departmant that we'll need two jail cells for that evening...

Are any TCers going to the Green Bay event...I was planning to head over (just 90 miles)
for the rockabilly and 50s music fest (and the car show of course). If you need info check
the website for Oneida casino...and hit the link for music events.

Yo, BK...FreddieBalls may be hittin this as well as KreepyTiki....U may wanna tellem to reserve 3 cells...Maholla Back, Brah!!

They'd better have my Hennessey and chilled Cristal and deli trays up in that cell waiting for me, too. I'll put in for two more, Freddy.

Hell Yeah, BK..ALSO, make sure they have my FRESH shrimp cocktail on hand..along with my Grey Goose. OoooooH, we gonna have some FuuuuuuN.

Anybody have any more info on this, i.e., exactly where it's being held, places to stay, etc? The website doesn't seem to have been updated beyond the initial flyer.

TT

i agree....we need more updates please...

Not sure when the site will be updated. The main event is at the Econolodge Peru Hotel, Peru, Illinois. Friday is the Poker Run to the Aku Tiki for dinner. Bands are being booked and updates soon.

[ Edited by: swanky 2007-04-03 16:00 ]

I'll be in Greenbay, and I think MattFinkwill be too.
Coolio
Pea

Talked to Wizzzz tonight. The host hotel has changed for the better so we have indoor vendor space and a bar with area for bands. Java is helping out with the pin-up contest. We are working on a bus to take folks to and from the AKu TIki so you don't have to worry about driving at all. We are also working on a Mystery Drink ceremony raffle at the Aku Tiki. Java and I will be DJing throughout the weekend and at the Aku Tiki. Tiki carving demos by Basement Kahuna and Lake Surfer as well as those guys selling their cool stuff.

I have suffered through trying to get the local bars to make a tropical drink menu for the weekend, so I am going to either help them with a Mai Tai that is simple and easy for them, or, I may be able to get back there and mix drinks myself along with Basement Kahuna. We'll see if that's legal.

Ramping up as we get closer. Should be a fun time and a diverse group. Once we get closer, we'll take a head count and coordinate a nice hospitality room for the ohana.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, the Aku TIki is using this event to celebrate their 40th anniversary! This is a great chance to make it to this classic tii bar!

[ Edited by: swanky 2007-04-03 18:02 ]

Host Hotel and location of the car show and bands, etc.

PERU INN
1840 MAY ROAD (INTERSTATE 80 & ROUTE 251)
PERU, IL
815-224-2500
815-224-3693 (FAX)

Java of Java's Bachelor Pad is organizing the Pin Up contest at the Tiki Eyeball. You can get all the information at the Yahoo group, or at his site.

He and I will be DJing throughout the event, and in particular, at the Aku Tiki to set the right Exotica mood.

Thanks Swanky for the plug. Here's all the info...

Attention all midwest pin-up girls! Java's Bachelor Pad, home of the JBP Cheesecake Contest and co-producer of Mondo Lounge Atomic Frolic, is hosting a LIVE pin-up contest during the Tiki Eyeball hot rod show in Peru, Illinois, May 18-20.

We are looking for pin-up girls to come out for the weekend and compete for the title of Miss Tiki Eyeball. Events include a camera club pin-up photo op for all the girls on Saturday afternoon.

The Tiki Eyeball show will be held at The Peru Inn, 1840 May Road, Peru, Illinois; and The Aku-Tiki Room 2314 Hwy 34, Kewanee, Illinois.

The winner of Miss Tiki Eyeball will win a collection of great prizes from Bowlingshirt.com/ Sports Pin-ups/ CruisinUSA.com, Retro-A-Go-Go!, ProLighters.com, Pasties by Gothfox, and a full page color pin-up in Wizzz Magazine, just to name a few! The winner will also go on to compete at the end of the summer for the grand prize including a cover shot on Wizzz Magazine!

If you want to compete for the title of Miss Tiki Eyeball, sign up now at the Wizzard Roadshows Pinups Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WizzardRoadshowsPinups/ (Registration is required.) All the official rules are posted there. Deadline for entry is May 4th!

Keep Swinging!
Java
http://www.javasbachelorpad.com/

Just got word that the tiki party bus from the Peru Motel to the Aku Tiki is a go! Forget about driving. Just get on the bus, socialize with the ohana and arrive at the vintage 1967 tiki bar! No maps, no worries!

Now, we will be looking into the possibility of putting entertainment on the bus and mixing a batch of warm up Mai Tai's for the trip so we all arrive in the right "mood".

It just keeps getting better and better...

Details are being added to the website.

On 2007-04-06 10:32, Swanky wrote:
Just got word that the tiki party bus from the Peru Motel to the Aku Tiki is a go! Forget about driving. Just get on the bus, socialize with the ohana and arrive at the vintage 1967 tiki bar! No maps, no worries!

Good news Swanky. Given the distance, and the cocktailing, I think this is definitely the way to do it!

One of the sponsors paid for the bus. I mean, literally bought a bus. Working on another sponsor to do the paint job and the pinstippers will do their magic. It's gonna be a big green monster tiki bus from, well, I don't know where. But it'll be fun and inexpensive.

let me know if you want any donations for a raffle...i have a few items around i'd be willing to contribute to the cause.

Thanks Tipsy. I'll look into how we'll handle that. There may already be a raffle for the registered car folks. This should be for ticket holders. I might just add a puffer fish lamp to the mix myself. You make some very cool stuff. Much appreciated.

The Tiki Party bus has been painted. The pinstrippers get it next! Oh, and did I mention the price for the bus trip to and from the Aku Tiki? No? FREE! Your $25 registration fee gets you a goody bag with an event t-shirt and lots of other cool stuff, by itself worth $25, and the weekend's entertainment, and puts you in the drawing for free goodies and on the bus. T'will be fun!

To answer a question I received via PM for everyone:

Please mention you are booking the hotel for the Eyeball when you contact the hotel. You should get a reduced rate of $46 per night.

..i was also told that you remember to mention it to the clerk when you check in so you get the new rate for the event...

Here's yet another reason to come out to the Tiki Eyeball. Kay O'Hara, one of the best pin-up models out there today, will be joining us in Peru and helping out with the Miss Tiki Eyeball pin-up contest. Talk about a blonde bombshell! You can see more of this gal at my site, Java's Bachelor Pad: http://www.javasbachelorpad.com/kayohara.html

See you there!

Those folks planning to attend, drop me a PM. We can get the tiki peeps organized.

This weekend!

Basement Kahuna and I will be chopping logs live and in person. I've got a 5 foot chunk that will be a tiki before the weekend is over!

I'm also kicking off a summer of vending at this event with all new goodies for 2007!

Stop by, talk story and pick up something new for your little slice of paradise!

See you this weekend!

-Dave

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2007-05-15 21:35 ]

I can't wait to see you and everybody else and meet some new fiends like Tipsy. Weather looks perfect. Tiki bus is painted crazy ass green and will be pinstripped like a mofo too. Should be all kinds of fun. No telling what we can cram in my car to sell at this event. Get it there before Hukilau. First picks!

Anyone know what time things get going Friday?

TT

On 2007-05-17 11:06, Tonga Trader wrote:
Anyone know what time things get going Friday?

TT

I have not heard what time things are officially getting started on Friday. I did hear that the Tiki bus is leaving for the Aku at around 6p Friday eve(from the hotel in Peru).

The wahine and I hope to be pulling into the hotel in Peru around 3-3:30 Friday...

drinks before the bus ride? :wink:

we should be there about the same time, maybe a bit earlier...depends on what we're finding at the antique barns along the way....drinks sound good.

New poster, long time tikier. My brother and I were at Exotica 2005 and I have been to a few of the Wednesday evening events at the now defunct Trader Vics in Chicago - those were a lot of fun. Anyway, my brother and I will be attending and would love to hook up with you. We really want to catch the bus but probably won't make it on time. Maybe we will see you at the Aku Tiki. If this weekend is anthing like the ad promises it should be pretty wild. Hope to see you there.

Packed up and ready to.....

Hit the road!

A weekend of tiki in the Heartland. :)

I think we were the first ones to escape. Here's some early shots of today's action.

TT

My favorite picture of the half-weekend...

BK doing it up Peru, IL style... Jagermeister in the Impala :lol:

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2007-05-20 12:49 ]

Anybody have any pictures of the Aku Tiki Room? Would love to see all the fun I missed out on. Kinda interested in checking out some pics of that Tiki party bus too!

[ Edited by: voodootiki 2007-05-21 09:34 ]

No bus.

Never made it.

8 of us caravaned it to the Aku.

Mellow Friday night... I did take a bunch of photos... I'll get some up here when I get a sec.

Swanky's Noa Noa drink rocked.... rum, rum rum!

drink and drink menus.....

swanky coping a feel from what is probably the largest puffer fish lamp on record......

Here's a pic of the Aku Tiki...

Way nice... The only bigger Witco fountain I've seen was at the Hawaiian Inn. More later.

[ Edited by: Swanky 2007-05-21 19:12 ]

On 2007-05-20 12:48, Lake Surfer wrote:
My favorite picture of the half-weekend...

BK doing it up Peru, IL style... Jagermeister in the Impala :lol:

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2007-05-20 12:49 ]

...That is argueably the most rock star photo that has ever been taken of me...

On 2007-05-22 02:03, Basement Kahuna wrote:
...That is argueably the most rock star photo that has ever been taken of me...

Yes, but you have Swanky in the back seat with you instead of Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan.

BK.... ever get your rock star jacket back?

Uploaded some more photos...

Dinner at the Aku on Friday night

BK talks shop with one of our bartenders

Talking tiki

Made a bit of progress during the demo

Carver/pinstriper Kevin Moore doing some torch work on his tiki

Me chopping away

BK's detail work

My set up

That's the coolest thing I've seen in many moons!!

Torching with a car.

Arrrrrsome!!!!!!!!

On 2007-05-22 10:03, RevBambooBen wrote:
That's the coolest thing I've seen in many moons!!

Torching with a car.

Arrrrrsome!!!!!!!!

It was way cool! I have video. Once I get it edited together and ready, I'll post it.

I dunno BK, I think the one with you and 4-5 girls lying around on that bed at the Bahia Cabana is pretty Mick Jagger-y.
This one is good though. You look hash-high.

Just wanted to say thanks to all the carvers at the show. I felt like a cartoonist in a fine arts gallery with all the tallented guys there. Even though I used a chainsaw and a Cadillac, the bunch from this forum were real cool and a lot of fun. We had a great time and look forward to seeing you at more events soon.
Kevin

Another Clevelander?!?
Hey, there are a few of us here.

My eternal quest is for memorabilia of the Bali Hai in Canton.
Find that and I will pay you in rum and coconuts galore.

Yes I will shamelessly hijack a thread to find things from there.

The CaddiBurn was epic... or as Al would say "all time."