There was no shortage of tiki-themed events in Orange County on Saturday. For those who hovered about the Garden Grove area, there was the Original Tiki Marketplace; and for those who gravitated towards Santa Ana, there was first the Tiki Island Expo, a marketplace with live music at Original Mike’s, and then Escape to Tiki […]
Tiki
Santa Ana to Be Hit with a Perfect Storm of Tiki Events
Escape is in the air! This Saturday, fans of tiki culture can sail the mystical seas to two very colorful events in Santa Ana. During the day, Original Mike’s restaurant will host the Tiki Island Expo, an event that will feature live music, food, drinks, and an extensive assortment of vendors selling tiki-centric wares. Then, […]
Eat and Drink This Now! 320 Main’s Tiki Throwdown
We’re probably years away from robotic bartenders, but if any place could pull it off, it would probably be a tiki bar. Imagine thatched roofs, tiki mugs and a team of Westworld-like Don the Beachcomber robots blending tropical juices and rums, stopping periodically to oil up the joints of a Trader Sam’s Kelly Merrell animatronic […]
Don the Beachcomber Officially Closes April 15
It’s finally time to say aloha to Don the Beachcomber. After a two year fight to keep the historic building that once housed the legendary Sam’s Seafood and the home of tiki culture in OC for the last 10 years, owner Delia Wu Snyder just announced that the restaurant and lounge is officially closing Sunday, […]
The Best Tiki Albums To Get You In The Mood For Tiki Oasis
Swingers, light your tiki torches! On the eve of this year’s epic Tiki Oasis festival, in San Diego, we thought it would be prudent to kindle the beacon fire with a little Tiki 101 list. For our selections, we will be focusing on the nittiest and grittiest albums of primeval tiki atmosphere, spanning a period […]
The Mysterious Monsters and Music of Tiki Oasis 2016
One of the unfortunate realities of covering an event outside of Orange County, such as Tiki Oasis, is the limitation of one’s experience. The event’s website suggests that “Tiki Oasis is best experienced if you attend the full weekend of events,” and while this statement behooves the marketing of any multi-day event, after experiencing a […]