Here are some pictures I took over the course of a recent weekend ~ All great places, all great drinks and for 2 of them I had to drive less than five miles. We’ve got it pretty good.

What was the temperature today 84°? :)

I admit it.

Totally Spoiled.
That's why I live here.

I was at Vics last night. Had a Mai Tai and a great meal. Awesome.

We also have Bahooka and Damons....maybe not the drink caliber, but cool places nonetheless.

We also have Bamboo Ben, Bosko, Shag, Sven, Crazy Al, Squid, Tiki Diablo, Doug Horne, Tiki Farm ... and the list goes on.

Yes...Spolied rotten ! :)

I must say you folks have it good. I'm jealous. The only good Mai Tai within a one hundred and fifty mile radius from my house comes out of my home bar. But out east here we are like the 49'rs of the gold rush in reverse. There's still Tiki gold in them thar hills but it's buried in snow nine months out of the year.:D

There are Tiki lushes and there are Tiki ascetics, you are the latter. It's an "opportunity" to not be distracted from "the work". I for example feel really bad this morning for having been a Tiki lush last night. :)

Spoiled and lucky. Not only do you have an abundance of Tiki bars, all of them have top notch cocktails and mixologists. Last summer when I was in Cali I visited something like 5 Tiki bars inside of a week. Out here in the NYC area we don't even have that many. I'm lucky if I get to Chan's every few months.

Here in Van we pace back & forth on the sidewalk, looking up at the Waldorf with Basset-hound eyes while mentally commanding the owners to re-open the tropical rooms to the public again.
Then we hang out in Funhauser until every last item is scrutinized and then it's to the home-bar for a hand-built Mai Tai.

But I have three weeks coming up so mebbe I'll head on down & try to smuggle a Trader Vic's back over the border.
(If someone could give me an original Tiki Bob's mug to um, bribe the guards with to look the other way I'd appreciate it)

I wish I lived down South because of the art shows, gatherings,tiki magazine release parties and other events that makes it easier to rub elbows with more of the TC Ohana --esp with events like the Nooner that had some of my favorite artists even flying in to hang out.

Living 5/6 hours North of you y'all aint really that far but it can seem to be at times.

Thankfully us Northern Cali kids have tiki bars and great mixologists to imbibe with and less picked over tiki hunting grounds but I really wish we could just cut out the middle part of this state and slam the NorCal and the SoCal parts together!

On 2009-05-16 20:30, Bora Boris wrote:
Here are some pictures I took over the course of a recent weekend ~ All great places, all great drinks and for 2 of them I had to drive less than five miles. We’ve got it pretty good.

What was the temperature today 84°? :)

Yeah, I admit it.

I'm going to add a Mai Tai to this mix from the Beach Club in Santa Monica and later that afternoon, one at LA Trader Vic's.
We're spoiled. Now if Andy would admit he has a Tiki bar, we could add it too. Lets not forget Tonga Hut and Purple Orchid, .
I guess L A Trader Vic's is my new favorite though.

I'm a sucker for good hula.:wink:

I'd like to take this moment to remind all of you very lucky Southern Californians that the Mai-Kai was and still is located in Florida. So I call your [insert many wonderful California tiki places here] and raise you a Mai-Kai.

All in jest... :wink:

And every Tiki Bar in the Southern California area was really rockin' about 8:30 this evening. At about a 5.0 type rockin'. Hope all the tiki mugs made it though.

There is a reason that it costs more to live here.
It's worth it.

also I know that there is Tiki bands in other parts of the world.
But So. Cal. has the best in my Opinion.
Tikiyaki,
Martini Kings,
Exotiki,
Smokin Menahunes,
Hula Girls,
King Kuk and the Freaky Tikis.
etc....
not to mention
40 plus surf bands.

God Damn, why would I want to live anywhere else.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
p.s. I do want to visit Mai Kai someday.
;-/

Hm, makes me want to transfer to USC.

Sadly, for some of us... our weakly tiki experience is searching through junk at Goodwill... and the fading memory of our last three hour tip to an actual tiki bar...

... if it wasn't for TC, our exotica records and our home bars... (tears falling freely) ...we'd be nothing more than "normal". Sad... so very sad...

I was just searching for something, and was reminded of this amazing post, and wanted to use it to remind everyone WHY also we are so lucky to live in Southern California:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=29661&forum=1&vpost=405218

It is simply the cradle of Tiki. Go out and experience it TODAY! :)

First....

http://www3.maikai.com/

Thphphphht!!1...

Second.....

Thphphphht!!!

Third....

Thphphphht...

And

And that is all I have to say about that.

I agree that the Mai Kai is an amazing place, just form pics and stories I have seen/heard.
but having 10 plus places to go, and all the events.
I think I'm in the right place.

going to the same bar over and over would seem to get boring.
but then again.
I have not been to the Mai Kai,
so I will have to just wait and see.
;-/
Jeff(bigtikidude)

On 2009-05-19 11:44, bigtikidude wrote:
going to the same bar over and over would seem to get boring.

Nope...... after nine years of hanging out at the Mai-Kai we still see something new every time we go in to the place.

When you do make it over here for a visit let me know and I'll show you which one is the 'real' shrunken head!

Ooooh! And the Pre-Castro Bacardi Rum bottles!

Ooohh! Also the outrigger canoe that Mrs. Thorton sailed across the lagoon for the wedding ceremony.

OOoh! Also the...... well you'll just have to wait till you get here for that one!

On 2009-05-19 11:44, bigtikidude wrote:

going to the same bar over and over would seem to get boring.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Even if Tiki-Ti was the only bar (let alone tiki) in So Ca, I'd never get bored. There's over 85 different drinks and I've only had 20 of them. Let's say you drank there every Wed-Sat and were cycling through the menu. You'd only experience a Ray's Mistake twice a year. That's a lot of variety !!

JOHN-O

[ Edited by: JOHN-O 2009-05-19 18:49 ]

On 2009-05-17 12:00, leleliz wrote:
...slam the NorCal and the SoCal parts together!

Liz, this sounds like such fun...!

True tho, having hailed from Socal, it was a real blast during Ben & Vicky's Nooner to see old friends, check out surf bands and hang in some of the worlds best tiki bars but I gotta say I really like Norcal as home. We've got 2 Trader Vic's, Forbiddin Island & Tonga Room plus a host of other top notch tiki bars (think TC bar Crawl) awesome surf bands (Mermen, Pyronauts, Aqua Velvets) WAY better surf and this is the homebase of Hanford Lemoore. Need I say more?

Let the slammin' begin...

I dont even think of the BARS as to why Im lucky to live here.

Mine is on availability of raw materials.... when I have projects on Deck, Im glad to have Bensons Imports, Franks Cane & Rush and Oceanic Arts within driving distance to pick up my supplies.

Its pretty nice to bring home a 12 foot bamboo pole in ONE piece.

thankfully we arent talking about mortgages in this SoCal thread.. thats another story.

I'm with ya.
Franks Cane and rush would be enough for me.

Raises hand with no shame yes, Trader Vic's, Damon's, Don the Beachcomber, Bahooka, Tiki Ti, not even counting the great Apartments and Bowling Alleys. But should we want a change of scenery, we can travel a bit south to San Diego or a few hours north to The Bay Area... Choices, choices... The Tiki Gods have blessed us... but I still keep my fingers crossed.

We're Spoiled!?!?!
Trying to make the 100's of events going on down here all year
and seeing the same old rummies
with their same old song and dance
isn't really what i would call "spoiled"..
More like a punishment..
i imagine the burnout rate is a lot faster
Here on the West Coast...

but i could LIVE at the Mai Kai...:)

I may not be able to hit every event but I must say I am very spoiled.

Tikitatt

That’s kind of my point, sure we have lots of great places and lots of events but let’s think about some poor guy in Iowa who has to drive 2 hours to get to Chinese Restaurant for a bad Mai Tai and try not to take our Tiki options for granted. Sure I can complain all day about certain places and things but I am really glad they're here and not just so I can complain about them more.:wink: That’s where the "We’re spoiled" part really comes from.

On 2009-05-17 12:00, leleliz wrote:
cut out the middle part of this state and slam the NorCal and the SoCal parts together!

High speed train!!!!

Plus the porn industry in San Fernando Valley.

On 2009-05-21 10:28, GROG wrote:
Plus the porn industry in San Fernando Valley.

Oh, Sorry GROG I don't consider the San Fernando Valley part of Southern California. Southern California officially starts south of Ventura Blvd. :)

On 2009-05-20 19:45, Monkeyman wrote:
I dont even think of the BARS as to why Im lucky to live here.

Mine is on availability of raw materials.... when I have projects on Deck, Im glad to have Bensons Imports, Franks Cane & Rush and Oceanic Arts within driving distance to pick up my supplies.

Its pretty nice to bring home a 12 foot bamboo pole in ONE piece.

I hear you Derek, but in my case I'm grateful to have AmaZulu within about a 45 minute drive, Culpepper's Nautical in West Palm and Safari Thatch down by the Mai-Kai. These places were all indispensable when it came to supplies for building my room. (A bit of trivia: Safari Thatch is the source of many of the Mai-Kai renovation materials, inside and out.)

Having OA within driving distance would be a dream though.

On 2009-05-21 10:02, suzanne wrote:

On 2009-05-17 12:00, leleliz wrote:
cut out the middle part of this state and slam the NorCal and the SoCal parts together!

High speed train!!!!

Only problem with the High Speed train, if they ever do it,
you will have to drive to Palmdale/Lancaster Area, and then it will only go as far North as Gilroy, and then you have to take a bus over to bay area.

sounds like a big hassle, seems planes are still the best bet.
or just sac up and drive it,
7 hours average. less if you drive like a maniac.
:wink:

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Not singling anyone out here. Surely opening myself up to attack here... ahem...
I really don't see the point of this thread other than to brag about living in So. Cal. Nothing really new/informational being presented. I just feel it is kind of sad to be all "Look at us we're special aren't we, cuz, bcuz of where we live." Patting yourself on the back for this seems a bit lame... Look at us we live in Cali, aren't you jealous.... Um okay....

On 2009-05-22 09:16, Sneakytiki wrote:
Not singling anyone out here. Surely opening myself up to attack here... ahem...
I really don't see the point of this thread other than to brag about living in So. Cal. Nothing really new/informational being presented. I just feel it is kind of sad to be all "Look at us we're special aren't we, cuz, bcuz of where we live." Patting yourself on the back for this seems a bit lame... Look at us we live in Cali, aren't you jealous.... Um okay....

I'm going to say "Nope" to all that. (No attack though.)

We admit that we're lucky. Boris isn't bragging. We've got it good here as far as the TIPSY factor goes. We've got great bars and restaurants, great apartments, great shopping and The Enchanted Tiki Room. And yet we still manage to find plenty to piss and moan about. "I drove by that amazingly cool place every day of my entire life and never took a picture. And now it's gone. Wah!!! Blan blah blah, etc. etc." I think the spirit of this thread is to remind other Southern California folks how lucky we are and to not take all of this for granted. Maybe we could cry a little less about everything and simply enjoy and try to preserve what we do have. Oh, and stay focused on tiki.

Also, since when were we allowed to complain about non-informational threads again. :wink:

On 2009-05-22 09:34, Tiki-Kate wrote:

On 2009-05-22 09:16, Sneakytiki wrote:
Not singling anyone out here. Surely opening myself up to attack here... ahem...
I really don't see the point of this thread other than to brag about living in So. Cal. Nothing really new/informational being presented. I just feel it is kind of sad to be all "Look at us we're special aren't we, cuz, bcuz of where we live." Patting yourself on the back for this seems a bit lame... Look at us we live in Cali, aren't you jealous.... Um okay....

I'm going to say "Nope" to all that. (No attack though.)

We admit that we're lucky. Boris isn't bragging. We've got it good here as far as the TIPSY factor goes. We've got great bars and restaurants, great apartments, great shopping and The Enchanted Tiki Room. And yet we still manage to find plenty to piss and moan about. "I drove by that amazingly cool place every day of my entire life and never took a picture. And now it's gone. Wah!!! Blan blah blah, etc. etc." I think the spirit of this thread is to remind other Southern California folks how lucky we are and to not take all of this for granted. Maybe we could cry a little less about everything and simply enjoy and try to preserve what we do have. Oh, and stay focused on tiki.

Also, since when were we allowed to complain about non-informational threads again. :wink:

Well put.

I'm just bragging.

You're right sneaky, Boris was being a real A-hole(Love ya Bor-Bor) posting a thread with a title like that. This should be in BILGE, or the title should be changed to sound less boastful.

Houses cost too much out here, nobody knows how to drive, the traffic is horrible, California is in big time debt and wants to tax the crap out of us, our cops suck, our crime sucks, we're in a drought and need to conserve water, our electricity bill costs more than most people's mortgages in other states, we have the most illegal aliens than any other state, and the list goes on.

But we've got a buttload of tiki establishments, home bars,tiki artists, mug makers, tiki authors compared to any other states. So, if that's the criteria for basing how lucky we are, then we're lucky as hell.

Double post

[ Edited by: GROG 2009-05-22 12:52 ]

Grog....you can say that again....oh...you already did.

Yes...compensation for that other stuff is Amazing weather...hot girls everywhere, and LOTS of Tiki.

If we only had the home prices of a place like Iowa.....

Southern California is cool but it aint Hawaii!!

Oh Yeah! And we definitely don't have anything nearly as cool as the Mai Kai!! Don't get me wrong I love it here...but I am not rubbing anything in. We wish you all were here!!!

I'll admit it. Spoiled :D

On 2009-05-22 12:56, The Sperm Whale wrote:
Southern California is cool but it aint Hawaii!!

No it isn't. But when you can't go to paradise, you bring paradise to you.