TIKI CULTURE

Happy New Year from Tiki Lounge Talk!

In a few hours it will be 2019, but all I can think of is what it was like on New Year’s Eve in 1948, or 1958.

Imagine how exciting it must have been to see Guy Lombardo live, in person, sweetly swinging in the New Year in New York City.

Or dancing the mambo in Miami to Xavier Cugat and his orchestra.

Picture driving up to the Copacabana in your new Cadillac, complete with Air-Ride and Autronic Eye automatic headlights. You slide across the gold brocade seats in your tuxedo or gown and hand the gold keys to the valet. In minutes you have a martini in your hand as you glide around the room to the sounds of Harry James or Stan Kenton, The Glenn Miller Orchestra led by Tex Beneke, or the sophisticated sounds of Lester Lanin.

At midnight, the champagne corks pop and the lighted ball comes down in Times Square. You kiss your sweetheart as the band plays Auld Lang Syne, then transitions into a Cha-Cha version of Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.

After an hour and four more martinis, you take a cab down to the jazz strip, where you catch John Coltrane jamming with Max Roach and Maynard Ferguson, who dropped by to riff a few solos. Louis Armstrong makes a surprise appearance and everyone goes crazy. This round’s on the house!

Maybe you’re in LA or Fort Lauderdale, so you take a 4-am stroll on the beach, toasting the ocean and the new year. Then it’s to the after-hours club for a night cap, while the local quartet swings until dawn, taking requests for everything from Satin Doll to Drumboogie.

The diner opens at six, and you’re eating eggs and waffles in your tux or gown while trying to remember where you left the car. A pot of black coffee later, you realize it’s at the Copa. Let it stay there for now. The New Year is here, and it’s finally time to finally get some shut eye.

Happy New Year! May 2019 be your best year ever.

-Tiki Chris P, reporting from the big band dance club in my dreams.

Tiki-ish Margarita for Cinco De Mayo

Who says Mexican can’t be Tiki? Well, most people actually. But that doesn’t mean we can’t borrow from Mexico’s most famous cocktail to enjoy this drinking holiday at the Tiki bar.

As they say, any excuse to have a cocktail is a good excuse to have a cocktail.

So let’s make this one easy:

If you’re a Tiki purist, decorate the bar with a few bright cactus plants and roses and don’t read the next sentence.

If you just want to have fun, hit the party store and decorate with a few Mexican items from sombreros to maracas, donkey cut-outs, just go crazy!

Then get out the blender.

Pineapple Coconut Frozen Margarita

(there are easier way to do this, but what’s the fun in that?)

• 1 Fresh Pineapple, cut into chunks and set in freezer for at least an hour)
  2 oz Coco Lopez
  5 oz good quality Silver Tequila (I prefer Patron)
  3 oz Grand Marnier
  ½ oz Coconut Rum
  2 ½ Cups Crushed Ice
  Simple Syrup
  151 Rum
  Limes

Rim glasses in simple syrup, then roll in shredded coconut and set aside.Drop about a cup and a half of pineapple in the blender, add ice, Coco Lopez, Tequila, Grand Marnier, and rum. Blend until smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy.

Pour into glasses, and top with shredded coconut. Very carefully sprinkle about a tablespoon of 151 over the coconut. Set that baby on fire! Garnish with a lime wheel and go to town.

Happy Cinco De Mayo! And try not to burn your Tiki bar down!

-Tiki Chris, reporting from behind the Tiki Bar at Tiki Lounge Talk, Florida

Happy New Year from Tiki Lounge Talk!

Happy Tiki New Year!

Hope you have lots of fun stuff planned for 2017. Here’s a look back to New Year’s from 1957-58 with Guy Lombardo!

International Exotic Cocktail Day is just a Week Away!

Mark your calenders! Get out your best Tiki mug! Friday, October 3rd will mark the third annual International Exotic Cocktail Day!

What is International Exotic Cocktail Day?

It’s a day to celebrate the pleasure of enjoying an Exotic Cocktail at your favorite Tiki Bar, on the lanai, by the pool, in your living room or on the front lawn. It’s a day to imbibe in your favorite mixes with friends and family. It’s a day to remember the people who started it all and the people who keep the traditions alive today! Started by Tiki Chris of Tiki Lounge Talk, International Exotic Cocktail Day is really just a great excuse to have a fun time with your friends, while enjoying one of the simple pleasures of life: Tiki Cocktails.

The Official International Exotic Cocktail Tiki Group in Facebook has been growing and growing with hundreds of people, like you, who are ready to spend a few hours drinking great Tiki cocktails with their friends and families. Click here to join!

The Spirit of Tiki

You don’t have to go anywhere to enjoy this day. I mean, if you’ve got a cool Tiki bar near by, then go! If not, you can turn your own home into a Tiki Palace for the night. Click below for a list of Tiki Drink Recipes, and ideas on how to build your own Tiki Bar.

Tiki Cocktail Recipes

Build Your Own Tiki Bar Cheap

How To Host A Quicky Luau Party

At the Tiki Bar…

This year Tiki Chris & Wahini Colleen will be celebrating at The Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale, enjoying the Cutback Surf Band in the lounge. Come by and say hi, I’ll be the guy wearing the Hawaiian shirt 😉

-Tiki Chris reporting from the Rum Storage Room at Tiki Lounge Talk

GREAT NEWS! The Hukilau will live on past 2014!

A few months ago it was announced that The Hukilau in Florida would be saying its final aloha. Well, we just received a press release from Christie “Tiki Kaliki” White announcing that it’s been saved! The release reads:

 Dear Villagers of The Hukilau – please hear this call to action,

As you are aware, we have announced that The Hukilau 2014, our 13th year together, will be The Final Aloha. While the Final Aloha was a very difficult decision to make, it was necessary by a series of factors at that time. I’m relieved and thankful that we may be able to overcome them.

I’m happy to announce due to recent events that The Hukilau will continue!! I wanted to be very transparent so that you all could know that this as soon as possible. I know how much all of you save and must pull all the stops to be able to travel each year and spend your hard earned vacation dollars during The Hukilau weekender. It’s very important to me that all of you know this could not have been possible prior to meeting with the 2 people that are looking at coming aboard. 6 months ago I could see no way that I could continue the event due to the enormity of the project and the demands of responsibility plus my full time job commitment.

The tremendous outpouring of support, emails, offers and interest in saving The Hukilau since making the Final Aloha announcement has been overwhelming. When I take a step back and see all the lives that this event has impacted over the years, how many relationships have been forged, how many historic moments in our culture have been shared between us, it was clear to me that I didn’t want to end the event – I just could no longer do it alone.

The Mai-Kai is in complete support of The Hukilau and are equally excited of the event continuing!!!! Of course, the Mai-Kai remains as my most treasured place on the planet – their future preservation and history are of the upmost importance to myself and my team.

If some of you feel as though you’d like to cancel this year I completely understand given that The Hukilau will have a life far beyond the 2014 event. I’m thankful that we’ve been given the opportunity to tell you now so that you can let me know if you’d rather make it another year. Please contact me directly so that I can take care of your cancelation personally. You can email me at christie@thehukilau.com

We will announce the dates of The Hukilau 2015 at this years event in June and will give those that registered for the Final Aloha the first opportunity to pre-register for 2015 – we thank you!!! This announcement will be followed by a future press release announcing my awesome partners in the event moving forward.

Mahalo for buying tickets, sharing your enthusiasm of the event, inviting your friends, attending year after year or for the first time – it paid off and a few people have stepped forward to help save us!!!

Please raise a glass in your home Tiki bar, at your local Tiki bar or whatever paradise you prefer and toast tonight – LONG LIVE THE HUKILAU!!!!

Well, since we live only a few miles from The Mai Kai and Fort Lauderdale Beach where this fantabulous event takes place, you can imagine how happy I am that it’s been saved. See you all in June!

-Tiki Chris P