DARK and TIKI

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:49:00 +0000

UPDATE:

The page is being revamped and will be re-done soon!

Keep your hats on, we're going into dark waters...

your D&T host:
Carlos Rossi

TRADER SAMS : NEW MUGS!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 May 2012 19:01:00 +0000

Finally the day came when Trader Sam's unveiled their new MUGS!

As a proud patron & regular at the park, I came early (actually missed opening by 15 minutes due to traffic), and finally got my mitts on a Uh O'A Bowl & a Trader Sam's Rum Barrel (which was filled with their Shipwreck'd on the Rocks, which has bourbon.. boo) The crowd was very ecstatic and even at 11:45 am, the place was hopping with patrons. I sat alongside a fellow Disney tiki connoisseur I met last year at the first day of Sam's operation and we were both floored.

As you can see here, this is the UH O'A Bowl. Finely crafted to mirror the bowls they first used when the bar opened. On the 4 corners stand tiki gods with hollow tops to add the cinnamon & nutmeg garnishes that you toss on the open flame. Such a GREAT piece and extremely worth the trip since I love collecting Tiki bowls, they are awfully rare finds. This one also has small straw holes on the sides for your drinking needs but we found it easier to toss em' on the top & be able to maneuver them with better ease.

Of course the crowning touch is the "First Edition" on the bottom of the mug, which to any collector makes things all the better & rare! As far as the manufacturer I totally forgot to ask, it says made in china but I am in fact curious as to who made these & what was the run. Any one know?

Secondly we have the Rum Barrel...

Now this vessel was the hottest piece at the bar, seeing people walking out with close 3 at a time! I purchased 2 because they are more of a practical drinking vessel and remind me of the Bahooka mug that Sven Kirsten made, and definitely close to the Don the Beachcomber barrel and the Smuggler's cove version.

Shown here you can see that the barrel has a cool black glaze on the inside when usually you see just the typical glaze of the exterior. Above you see the cool marking on the base with again the "1st Edition" proudly displayed on the bottom. Such a great barrel and I wish I had 10 of these!!!

Both of these pieces were very lightweight & feel very nice in your hand. I was completely happy to be at the bar during the day and then again in the evening. When I left close to 11, people were still buying them so it seems they have a pretty good stock so far. How long will they last..? Only Sam will telll.

If you're a socal local & tiki lover, get on over and get one while they last!

On an awesome sidenote: I ran into Josh Agle aka SHAG at the park as well! Walking in Adventureland with a Disney employee showing her the Enchanted Tiki Room. It was a very cool moment chatting with him about Disney, the Tiki Ti, and various characters we've run into.. real nice guy!!

Any comments or questions? POST!

Dark & Tiki.. Signing off..

HISTORY: Tahitian Terrace / The Enchanted Tiki Room, Disneyland California

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:22:00 +0000

so here we have a classic attraction that has been keeping adults & children entertained for ALMOST 50 years!! (2013 will be their 50th anniversary!) Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, where the birds sing words & the flowers croon.. ok you know the rest.

This amazing piece of Disney history opened in Summer of 1963 and was the FIRST attraction to feature the amazing spectacle we know today as Audio Animatronics.. Now before we even get into that.. let's discuss what it was BEFORE the birds even were being wired.. The Tahitian Terrace!

Even before that was being figured out, there was a restaurant there from what I've found on the Internet just was called the Cantina? This was all in 1955-1962, known as the Plaza Pavilion & mentioned as the Plaza Lanai [if anyone knows otherwise, please leave a comment!] Thanks to Daveland's website (and borrowing your photos..!)

We can see some amazing images from the Adventureland area where the Jungle Cruise drops you off and you'd be right smack in the middle of the Cantina and then some time later named The Tahitian Terrace!

here we see a great color photo of the soon to be Enchanted Tiki Room still being occupied as the Tahitian Terrace..

here's another great shot of the stage show that you'd get to see while you dined on Polynesian inspired eats! from what I heard the food was excellent, and the shows would dazzle audiences all day & night!

and here you have a video from Walt Disney's After Dark program that was on the Disneyland USA DVD set (Walt Disney Treasures) which was filmed in 1962 most likely for Walt Disney's World of Color. Here you see a good portion of the stage show & crowd and from what I gather they were pretty blown away by these foreign cultures!

here is one of the signs you'd see when you walked up to the restaurant area..

here's a great shot of a family enjoying their food.. speaking of which if you wanna see what kinda food they offered, Daveland & Tiki Central has great photos of their Menu! (link is above & below)

here's an awesome press photo from Disney showing one of their dazzling fire walkers!

as you can see, Disney jumped on the Polynesian crazy from when it came home with our Sailors & Military men. Even such, at this time we were experiencing places such as Donn the Beachcomber, Trader Vic's and of course our beloved Tiki Ti! From what I've gathered on this Polynesian getaway, they paid extra detail to preserve the true essence of a Tiki restaurant. Unlike the bar code of no windows to hide the outside world, Walt made the outside another escapism. When I visit Disneyland it is my escape, you forget about EVERYTHING. So it must've been nice to watch small little Jungle Cruise boats toot by as you're watching some amazing dancing & authentic Hawaiian rituals being done right before your eyes!

here is the message you would read from the inside of the Menu. As you can read here they really wanted the guests to feel at home and away from the troubles of the 'then' modern world. I've been reading numerous posts on Tiki Central (here), and on Micechat (here) , they are amazing! These stories I've been reading have been such a great insight to what happened at this once luxurious attraction that sadly gave way for the new (closed in 1999 for Aladdin's Oasis) and now remains as another greatly missed Disneyland relic. In all fairness they did gain back the cred by building Trader Sam's & Tongaroa Terrace however it is not the same vibe as it was in 63'. I am not complaining at all just saying that things change, trends die, and you end up with what the world goes with..

Ok so in the early inceptions of the Pavilion's dining experience, Walt thinks, wouldn't it amazing if while you're dining there were birds singing all around you?

here is neat video from the Walt Disney Treasures DVD that features some clips from the World of Color show. here we see Walt discussing the magic that goes behind putting on the show narrated by Jose himself! (voiced by the late Wally Boag.)

Originally there was going to be a restaurant / tea room inside of the giant Tiki house but for some reasons I think the plan might have started out that way but then became a full attraction. If you notice inside the house where the fountain is, there is still some storage spaces underneath from where it was going to be a COFFEE station! So the birds got set & the song was written, and VOILA! we have our birds overhead singing one of the best songs ever!

here's another cool video featuring some more Tiki Room enthusiasts. (if you hear a weird ringing during some segments, it's normal you're not going deaf..)

here is a good close up view of Fritz, and you can see the amazing detail on him!

as you can see, I could literally keep going with the great job they did here but I'm sure you can see from the photos & ramblings that it's definitely something you should see yourself!

as for the Tahitian Terrace, in 1999 came that dreaded day..

here is the sad sight that was the closing of the Tahitian Terrace. 1999 and I remember going to Disneyland and knowing it was there but it definitely lacked the same elegance & prestige it once did in it's hey-day but as all good things, they always come to an end.

I'm sure you're bummed to get to the end of my little story but if you want further reading & viewing.. PLEASE visit the links above. I'm so glad they exist so I could borrow their images and direct you all back to their sites so you can see how amazing this attraction really is!

So sorry for the delays & absence..

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:44:00 +0000

so..

I'm sure anyone that comes across my blog thinks I've abandoned it. Well that is certainly NOT true.

I've been seriously swamped with just regular life stuff, separate blogs and such..

But I am HERE and I am going to actually write a long one this time!

so I've been doing LOTS of hunting for vintage Disneyana.. more so the Enchanted Tiki Room & the Haunted Mansion. 2 of my favorite attractions at our beloved park and a must-do anytime I'm there. (which will be tomorrow!)

Recently we did Dapper Day which was an amazing event in the Park. Tons of amazing fellow Disney Disciples dressed in their best whether it be 20's, 30's 40's or modern! Walking around the park, eating popcorn from boxes, sporting caps, ladies with their parasols, ..the works. It was such a great day and event, and of course ending it at the AMAZING Trader Sam's!

..just a couple of park shots I happen to take, and realizing I didn't take THAT many of the patrons!

So that was the most recent, before that we did visit Don the Beachcomber for their Tiki Marketplace which was a nice gathering of local merchants selling their awesome goods. Bamboo Ben was there, Sven Kirsten, local Tiki-Central Forum friends & new faces of course.. Always a pleasure seeing and meeting friends, and do not fret, they have another one in the works! https://www.facebook.com/events/289797167746357/ <= click that for the Facebook event page, and here's some shots from the last one!

just a couple of shots from the Marketplace including Bamboo Ben's table (middle) and Al Evans' table (bottom)

So before that were LOTS of Disneyland treks and I could go on and on about that..

So I'll definitely work on some more vintage bar stories & record releases!

MAHALO!

WINTER!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:24:00 +0000

hey!

so i'm just revamping the site with new features, and I've also been doing a TUMBLR!

http://darkandtiki.tumblr.com

take a peek!

still in business!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:31:00 +0000

sorry I've been dark for a while..

been busy with lots of other blogs/music/etc

so please bear with me while I'm STILL with you guys!

if you wanna hear some of the music I've been doing click here
http://soundcloud.com/carlosrossi

Bars : Trader Sam's is now OPEN!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:47:00 +0000

(WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!)

I have survived the amazingness that IS: Trader Sam's.

Honestly, I went in with very LOW hopes since I'm used to getting let down with 'new' Tiki Bars, but seriously these guys nailed it.

This is the exterior of the stunning (but small) A-Frame that stands outside the famed Disneyland Hotel. Just a stones throw from your hotel can you crawl up this bar and stagger back. Not to mention they serve food from the Tongaroa Terrace next door which was the only let-down. I was expecting a full restaurant but it's nothing more than a cafeteria style food. However, if you're inside of Trader Sam's you can order some of the smaller dishes inside and enjoy them with a cocktail. So that sorta makes up for it!

This is what Tongaroa Terrace looks like from the outside, very intriguing but roughly small inside.

Ok, let's get to Trader Sam's!...

So outside the front door sits so much awesome memorabilia such as this great sign, and some other pieces of decor that came from Disney's Polynesian Resort according to Jason Klepper whom was the FIRST patron inside the bar.

This guy was pretty awesome, ex-skipper and knew just about EVERYTHING about the Jungle Cruise and Disney's Tiki fascination. It was a great pleasure to meet this guy and chat with him during our visit.

So we walk in and THIS is the first thing we see, our amazing Skippers inside the bar! All of these guys were amazing and had the same attitude and humor as the Skippers do on the Jungle Cruise, well at least the GOOD ones. I've had a few boring Skippers in my day and these guys are the best.

..so how were the drinks?? Well I'll tell ya.. Hell I'll even SHOW ya!

Inside this little menu book had the list of snacks and beverages and shot all the parts I liked the most to display for you..

First I'll show you the cocktails I enjoyed..

Here we have the pouring of the 'Hippopoto-Mai Tai' ! This was a very well executed drink since they followed very closely to the Don Beach recipe and a smidge of the Trader Vic's style but completely creating their own. Also another key point was they were using Trader Tiki's Syrups as their main mixers! That alone was a good choice for them as Trader's makes excellent Orgeat, and other classic flavors like Don's Mix and Falernum.

Here is their version of the Painkiller dubbed the 'Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum', which was delicious! a little heavy on the ice but hey it was still good considering it had Pussers, Coco Lopez and the proper mix ratio to give that nice spiced taste with the nutmeg and cinnamon on top. Extremely recommended.

So next up, ..wait actually. I need to show you the snacks..

This was the Kalua Pork flatbread pizza thing, I love making these at home and now they have em at the bar! Very convenient! They were delicious by the way, crispy flatbread, slow roasted pork, and the sauce was delish! It was about 8.99 for this but that's typical for Disney faire.

So here was my 2nd cocktail, the Shrunken Zombie Head! Now this was a zombie that packed a serious punch. With 151 in that mix, it had to be my last drink before venturing into the park for the afternoon. It was really good, and it went down WAY too easy. So this drink could be very deadly for those seeking adventure such as myself..

The final drunk consumed was the Krakatoa Punch and indeed it was the last straw. This guy was very similar to a traditional Tiki Punch and was on the sweeter side but absolutely delicious with the hibiscus grenadine in full force! It also comes with an awesome show as do a few of the drinks on the menu; The Uh O'A!, the Shipwreck on the Rocks, and the Krakatoa Punch. For this drink, you'd see something like this...

As you can see this bar is stocked with surprises, amazing scenery and amazing staff that has love for the part of Disneyland us Tiki folk really really enjoy.

On a scale of DARK & TIKI i'd have to go with an 8 because there is in-fact some darkness in that bar, hence NO windows (true tiki bar), and a great ambiance that has been created there and hopefully will last for years and years.

Mahalo! till the next one!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatalblades/sets/72157626812169414/ = full Flickr set of all the photos I shot that day!

Disneyana Tiki fans take note!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 May 2011 02:29:00 +0000

Yes my friends, this is in fact one of the composites for the upcoming Trader Sam's opening at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim!!!!!!!!!

I've been a Disney fan as much as any, but now.. I might not even enter the park. The proposed the new restaurant is now also the motif for the hotel as they are trying to redo the style. It's pretty exciting pending since I would've never thought the Disney camp would say, hmmm let's re-do the resort... hmm HOW ABOUT TIKI?!

According to one of my sources at the beloved Tiki Central Forums has posted that the Hotel is trying to keep this as classic as possible. So think classic Trader Vic's, The Luau, The Tikis, Don the Beachcomber, ..you know, all the big name classics. At first I read a thread saying they were looking for a "Jimmy Buffet" style entertainer, but apparently that has been cleared up and they're not going to have entertainment as of YET. You can definitely bet that I'll be begging for a DJ gig in the upcoming future!

So going back to this amazing place.

So here's an idea of what the place is gonna look like. HUGE a-frame building, lots of outdoor as well as indoor seating. Kind of reminds me of the Bali Ha'i in San Diego and hopefully the drinks & food will be just as good! I just read the new menu on their blog today:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/whats-on-the-menu-at-new-disneyland-hotel-restaurants-opening-may-25/

...sounds amazing to say the least.

The more info I get, the sooner I'll post!

MUSIC: The Kilimanjaro Dark Jazz Ensemble

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:47:00 +0000

as this blog as progressed, have touched base on a lot of new music acts that have not NECESSARILY been directly associated with Tiki, however they fuel my dark corner where my bar sits. When guests arrive and I'm making drinks, I plan my playlists very well. This is a new release by a 'collective' called the Kilimanjaro Dark Jazz Ensemble.

From their site: "The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble (TKDE) formed in 2000 as a project to compose new music for existing silent movies. Jason Köhnen and Gideon Kiers, both graduates of the Utrecht School of Arts, combined their audio and visual skills to reinterpret classic movies by F.W. Murnau (Nosferatu) and F. Langs (Metropolis)." With this in mind, you will see that this group creates some amazing atmospheres that are definitely along the lines of early Exotica, whereas the sounds and background noises create a haunting atmosphere. Hey, remember.. This is DARK&TIKI talking..

I've been following this group for only 2 years and their releases have been in constant rotation & on various mixes I've made for friends. Creating a more 'Lynch-ian' type of feel but definitely dabbling into primitive percusions, giving it that Arthur Lyman vibe. In some cases adding vocals like on this new release ''From the Stairwell", the track "All is One'' gives a bit of a lounge feel as the song progresses into it's murky feel. Others give a more sultry, lounge feeling, but always coming back to what I completely love about this band.

Again from their site: :"Live TKDE fuse analog and digital as much as possible. Combining traditional instrumentations (comprising cello, trombone, violin, beats, guitar, bass and vocals) with existing and/or self-developed software, continuously blending and mutating, creating an organic and electronic performance, supported by visuals which add to and interact with the frequencies of said instruments."

The sounds created on this record are purely organic fused with modern technology and ultimately giving it a modern feel.

If you're interested in purchasing, I'm sure it's on iTunes, or otherwise go visit the band's site: http://www.tkde.net/tkdenet/tkde.html where I'm sure there will be plenty of more information. Thanks for listening & enjoy the music!

Tiki Ti 50th Anniversary coming UP!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:24:00 +0000

so, last year I did a little story on my favorite bar in Los Angeles, The Tiki Ti..
..and now it gives me great pleasure to give a little blurb on the BIG celebration coming up in April!! The Tiki Ti turns 50!!!!

if you want a small piece of background, check out the video below..

I've been steadily coming to the Tiki Ti for sometime now, and I honestly haven't had a better Tiki drink elsewhere. Mike sr., Mike jr., and Mark put a lot of love into their drinks and they always have been the nicest people ever. Not once have I felt the typical Los Angeles bar vibe in here. It's the one place you can go to and rub elbows with different sorts of people and everyone is having fun. No one is acting rude, and if they do, they never stay long enough to spread their negativity around the bar.

When I come here, I feel like family and I can't get over the fact that this bar has been dishing out the best cocktails since 1961! Before the Enchanted Tiki Room even, (which opened in 1963), and this place deserves every ounce of cred there is. The drinks are still made the same way, same ingredients, same love, same location, and the same decor!

You must come and experience this for yourself, and if you can.. COME IN APRIL!

this is the new Tiki Ti mug made my the good people at Tiki Farm! I can't wait to get my hands on one of these babies and have my favorite bar's mug at my use ALL THE TIME!

not to mention new merchandise like Jackets, Fez Hats and lots more!

I've been gone for TOO long!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:03:00 +0000

obviously, you must think i'm a total hermit, and just can't finish my blogs.

..well you're wrong! I've been slowly recovering from most recently, a birthday week (thank you), and lots of DJing and various projects.

not to mention, I've been doing my own personal research on many things DARK & TIKI.

I promise I'm going to start doing this more often, and please leave me your comments!!

too much HIATUS!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:49:00 +0000

hello my humble DARK&TIKI followers.

I've been aimlessly trying to stay on top of this blog, but honestly, I get so tied with other projects that it seems like I have abandoned this page!

well, I HAVEN'T!

I got some stuff coming up soon! Amazing trip to San Diego + Dinner & Drinks at the Bali Ha`i!

COMING SOON!

FILM: Tikis in Movies!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:07:00 +0000

As a regular poster on Tiki Central's forums, I noticed today someone was looking for Tiki Movies.

This is a question I've been asking myself since recently diving into the subculture head-first. I've seen a couple of movies with their varied references. Most of them always an Elvis movie, but there has been a few notable movies in my Dark & Tiki view of things..

First off, let me again remind you, I'm looking for more darker + weird movies with Tiki references along with the latter.. (for a good background soundtrack, I suggest putting on Deadbolt's 'Zulu Death Mask' or 'Tiki Man' record..

Ok, let the LIST begin!

From Hell It Came (1957) Taking place in the South Seas, this movie is a B-... well more like a D-Movie. Definitely something not to be taken WAY too seriously. Killer Tree as the Villain makes for a good laugh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-QV9CL-p_Y : trailer
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) Although not necessarily taking place in the South Seas or Polynesia, this movie does speak the Tiki talk with it's scenery and natives. Always has home in the Tropaholic's movie closet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM1o1xe5FGE
Voodoo Woman (1957) An African setting does this movie justice to land a place in my list. However, there isn't much of Tiki in this, just awesome Jungle scenes + cheesy special effects. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akBy5Mpvbis
Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968) I am pretty partial to this movie because it IS actually watchable. Zombies on an Island! I'm already signed in, and plenty of crazed natives to keep it lively! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6PSHZN8CKY
Brides of Blood (1968) aka "Danger on Tiki Island" a TOTAL grindhouse flick from the late 60's, and has the weirdest monster in it! It's kinda good in certain parts but has it's moments where it tends to DRAG. Lots of Tiki stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXtBth75aTw&ob=av1e (whole movie!)
Island of Lost Souls (1933) (based from 'The Island of Dr. Moreau')Early Thirties movie with a small role from Dracula himself, Bela Lugosi. Obviously before this 'Ed Wood Years', Bela was making weird Sci-Fi horror films to pay his rent. Based in the south seas, and lots of weird mutant people! VERY TIKI! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJajdX0dNZM (chapter 1 of the full movie!)
I Eat Your Skin (1964) Ok, this one's pretty campy and weird. Originally released on a double bill with "I drink your Blood", This movie combines Mad Scientists, Voodoo, and Zombies. Not too much in the Tiki dept. but a good campy horror film for the aficionado. http://www.archive.org/details/IEatYourSkin1970 (full movie)
Mothra (1961) Ah, MOTHRA! This movie does hold a great Tiki oriented scene. Apparently the almighty Mothra comes to us from an island in the Pacific surrounded by Tikis! AWESOME! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBJQ3nNuQ34
Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster (1966) small Tiki role once again in this Japanese flick. When we see our friend Mothra appear, it's once again from the South Seas Island he was first brought to us from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khm4gNlyzT4&feature=related
She Demons (1958) Mutant Women! Island Natives! Scantily Clad Dance Scenes? Sounds like a Grindhouse flick to me! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w82Uhk2v5Y4
The Blue Gardenia (1953) Ok, enough with the HORROR movies! Here's a Film Noir flick that only has one cool Polynesian Restaurant scene, but it's fun to watch them sit in BIG wicker chairs, and order "polynes... poyynynesss.. south sea pile drivers.." watch the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5lw3KmERX4
Psycho Beach Party (2000) and now almost 50 years later, we got PBP, and this movie was hilarious! It's half horror, half beach blanket bingo, and half noir, ALL fun. There's a lot of 60s surfing, and the real Tiki stuff comes at the end when they have a huge Luau and have Los Straitjackets as their band! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA_G2Ts8xmo
TIKI (2006) Ok, in my opinion, this movie was preeeeetty campy. I mean, this is really hard to watch. It's AMUSING if you're not gonna watch it seriously and laugh at it. But I mean, It's THAT kinda movie! Killer Tiki doll running around.. do the math. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT0BquU1GRE

This is a very short list I'm sure, but I'm working on finding new movies to add to this! Hope it helps satisfy the crave for Dark & Tiki in your Movies!

**LEAVE ME SOME COMMENTS IF I FORGOT SOME MOVIES!**

BAR / GROG : Bahooka!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:08:00 +0000

ah, the almighty BAHOOKA! Since I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, I remember seeing this legendary BEAST at the corner of Rosemead and Lower Azuza Rd in the city of Rosemead. See back when I was a kid, I never ever set foot in here.. Why? Oh because it ALWAYS looked closed! Plus my parents weren't much drinkers and the place just looked a big drafty bar. I had friends that went to Rosemead High School which is literally across the street that always tried to go in there and have people buy them drinks. I think they were ALWAYS unsuccessful..

Anyway, finally later in life I arrive at the famous Bahooka and sit down..

...as you can see, we DOVE right into a Bowl, and get pretty buzzed off ONE. The thing with Bahooka is I've only been there a handful of times, but it seems that the effort involved in making their tropical drinks is pretty much, ALOT of booze, and some fruit juices. Nothing that tasted like it was from scratch but definitely some stuck out more than others. The food was mediocre at best and pretty much tasted like something you'd eat at some family restaurant. Ribs were pretty good, but nothing too amazing, still it's a good meal. It's mainly that you go to Bahooka for their drinks anyway!

Apparently the Bahooka dates back quite a bit. I want to estimate it was in the 70's that it was in the city of West Covina, and then closed to be relocated to the city of Rosemead. If you visit the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosemead-CA/Bahooka/29044716932?v=wall) you'll see people's posts and stories of their experiences at the bar from early on to recent. It's interesting to see a bar such as the Bahooka has survived so many years in this small town, tucked away, and most never have even heard of it! Frankly, I think if you live in California and are a Tiki enthusiast, you MUST go down there and visit. It's got a million aquariums inside, tons of drinks, lots of food, and the only downside is, they're only open till 10pm.

Being inside this bar, is COMPLETELY surreal. It does NOT have any windows, (per Tiki bar rules) and inside it's ALWAYS dark. It feels like you're out at sea and the captain has collected way too many lamps, fish and other weird things from years past. It's also very large and houses probably in the vicinity of about 150 souls at once. The last time I went was for their 40th's anniversary mug party , having had Sven Kirsten design their mug and threw a big party to commemorate it! Lots of fun that night, and got completely obliterated when I ordered one of their 'secret' drinks. Ask for a Grenade, and if you're feeling bold, have them 'Pull the Pin'.

Enjoy!

DARKandTIKI tumblr!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:54:00 +0000

In case you didn't know, I have a DARKandTIKI tumblr that I update very frequently!

If you're following my Twitter (@DARKandTIKI) you'll see I have joined the feeds and will post TONS of stuff. Apologies if it's a bit much but I try to get those pictures out there for your visual amusement!

MUCH thanks to http://www.arkivatropika.com/ for existing and having SO many amazing pages of Vintage Polynesian Pop / Tiki stuff! This website has gems upon gems of old menus, matchbooks, brochures, .. you name it!

So I've been cheating and using tons of their stuff (hope they don't mind) to make flyers for my DJ gig that I do twice a month at the Black Boar Bar in Eagle Rock!

It's called ALOHA from HELL! and I spin alot of 60's garage, surf, and the likes and it's a pretty rompy night! If you're ever out in the East end of town, come on down and have a drink!

Untill the next post!

...still here!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:31:00 +0000

hello readers,

I've been on and off of my stories but again, it is strikingly hard to keep updated in the world of Tiki!

I've been trying to work in some stories but it seems that the best ones are just of my adventures!

So here's a wrap up of what's been shakin'!

Last weekend I was out in the Desert, Joshua Tree to be exact, for a friend's festival which was a lot of fun, but Sunday we got to roll into Palm Springs for some sun and not TOO much R & R. A lot of Mid Century finds!

TIKI OASIS!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:58:00 +0000

BE PREPARED TO HEAR A FULL REPORT!!!

EVENTS: The Exotica Tour in August!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:26:00 +0000

hey!

just a quick FYI that amazing instrumental band The Exotics are planning a small tour of the west coast in August!

if you're planning on possibly missing Tiki Oasis (which you shouldn't), these gigs might suit your fancy! I plan on checking out the Trader Vic's gig, and enjoying a tasty dinner before hand!

See you there!

DRINKS!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:27:00 +0000

so i'm running a little tally, and curious to see how many people are ACTUALLY reading my blog,

But tell me kindred spirits.. What are some of your favorite Tiki drinks & where to do you get them?

Ready

Set

GOOOOOOOOOOO!

EVENT: Tiki Ti Rum Punch!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:35:00 +0000

once again, and 3 TIMES is a charm, the Tiki Ti brings us back to their Rum Punch! I missed the first one by hours, I got to the 2nd one right at 4pm, and this week (tomorrow), I'll be there front and center properly.

Let me tell you about the Rum punch...

It was HEAVEN, especially on such a hot day, ..those of you in LA can vouch that last week was a scorcher and not so much this week for whatever reasons.

Ok but the punch tasted like taking a bite of a peach, or an apricot.. or some kind of amazing fruit and you barely taste the booze. Good or Bad? Well, I had about 4 of em and really felt the buzz after the first 2 really.

CMON out tomorrow!!

My MUGS!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:46:00 +0000

just thought id share my small, but GROWING collection of TIKI mugs!

Here's my Flickr page with a set of my mugs!

take a look! request to be friends on there if you have an account!

OR there's always Ooga-Mooga's website as well!

This week I SWEAR im doing a new podcast!

EVENTS: quite a few on the horizon!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:58:00 +0000

hello my dark & tiki aficionados..

I've been pretty busy lately working on the site, and getting some new things up. I've just been SLACKING on telling you!

So the newest events that are on the horizon is the ever so popular Tiki Oasis!
Aug. 19th-22nd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort in San Diego, the Tiki Oasis proves to be the superior tiki weekend on the West Coast.

There will be LOTS to do, and I suggest you book a room if you plan on going. The main hotel has been sold out for some time now, but the surrounding ones are still open..

If you need more info, just visit Tiki Oasis' website for all the info you need.

Also coming up..

Tonight for starters.. the Tiki-Ti in Hollywood is having a $5 Rum Punch day! From 4 till they run out, they'll be selling their super secret and classic Tiki Rum Punch from a huge container that is being made, probably as we speak..

I imagine this will go QUICK but you need to come down early if you want a taste..

Tiki Oasis in August..

Then there's Mondo Lounge III : Palm Springs Weekend! This was a recent find for me, and I'm absolutely excited for this. A full weekend for all those who love: "Mid Century Modernism, Las Vegas, Hollywood glamour, lounge culture, Rat Pack shennanigans, Martinis, cocktails, vintage fashion, space age, atomic age, exotica (ala Les Baxter, Esquivel), the fox trot, Eames era style, 1950s, 1960s style, Bachelor Pad, minks and black tie, Sean Connery era James Bond, sterophonic sound, nightclub acts ala the Hot Box Girls and the GoldDiggers" as stated on the event page.

I've recently become converted to the PROPER world of mid-century modernism and it's amazing interiors. You have companies like IKEA that are completely ruining that image, and when you see a proper Eames home you suddenly realize what a beauty it is.

So the other one I got waiting for is the Tiki Farm Exhibit at the La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Feliz. That will be another great gathering of the Tiki-Philes and will occur on Oct. 19th I believe? will run for about a week or so.. So come out for that!!

MUSIC: Deadbolt

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:50:00 +0000

Veering into the surf category.. We have San Diego's finest; Deadbolt.

The FIRST time I heard Deadbolt, I was playing guitar in a band called the Deadlines, and we had met up with our labels' A&R guy. He was shocked that we hadn't heard any of their records. At the time they had released 'Voodoo Trucker' a year prior, but I got stuck on the previous release 'Zulu Death Mask'. This is STILL my favorite album they've released and I can't ever get sick of it. From start to finish, it's just full of so much dread and slow paced, reverb drenched, terrifying surf songs. This record has the undertones of a Arthur Lyman or a Martin Denny record.. if he had been lost in the jungles, picked up a machete, and started carving up the locals. Okay, I know that's kinda horrible sounding, but it's definitely a very DARK vibe in these records.

Their first record was actually a split 7" with Rocket from the Crypt which is surprising because they're both pretty different sounding bands but both kin residents to San Diego. This release was pressed in 1000 increments and is probably very HARD to find. The following releases were Shrunken Head (93') and Tiki Man (94') were pretty amazing records as well. Alot of farfisa, alot of macabre subject matter, and the ever tradermark spoken vocals by Mr. Harley Davidson..

Quickly, I'll Explain that Deadbolt has had MANY members through their 20 years of existence. Founding members Harley Davidson, and R.A. MacClean, with current members, Gary 'Third Degree' Burns, and drummer Tank Johnson. Previous personnel has included; Les Vegas, Les Vegas, The Phantom, Badtime Charlie, Clay 'Moore' Mines, The Coroner, Coffin Boy, Moose Cutter, The Voodellas, and in some cases vocals from Diana Death.

Ok, back to releases.. after those first 2 full lengths, the released 'Tijuana Hit Squad' in 96 which is another favorite of mine. All themed around mexican, mafia, and spanish hit men themes, the band delivers a pretty amazing record that has some memorable tracks. One in particular called 'The Interview', is a 2 and a half minute instrumental featuring the band 'interrogating' a suspect and basically torturing him in some pretty awful ways. From getting slapped, to electrocuted, to burned, to drilled, and finally table sawed.. It's pretty fun to listen to...

So after that record there was ZDM, as noted above, then 'Voodoo Trucker' (99'), Hobo Babylon (02'), Haight Street Hippie Massacre: The best of.. (03'), I Should Have Killed You (05) some live records and the recent release, Voodoo Moonshine (2010). So, 12 releases a handful of singles, and Deadbolt continues to influence countless bands.

If you have the means to ever catch Deadbolt live, it's definitely a MUST. Their live show includes plenty of shit talking, jokes, power tools, in some cases aqua net, drinking, and of course Harley rearranging songs. I just caught them earlier this month in downtown and it was their anniversary gig / record release and it was AMAZING.

a 10 day HIATUS

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:06:00 +0000

not to fear, I haven't given up. I have been hard at work building a new podcast, and some new discussions to bring up in this blog of mine..

a little recap on what I've been up to,

Mid Century Modern furniture hunting! I moved into a new place fairly recently and I've been redecorating everything to suit our Mid Century building and give it more vintage interior to match the exterior!
DRINKS. I just picked up Beachbum Berry's Remixed book, so I've been learning a TON of new drinks. I learned 2 new details. 1) you must make your own fruit juice. No questions asked. ESPECIALLY lime + lemon juices. 2) certain alcohols make a WORLD of difference when making Tropical drinks.
TV! Of course being the dark + sinister person I am, there is the cult of True Blood and now I am TRYING to catch up with Mad Men. If you're of the vintage noir persuasion I highly suggest you get into this show.
BARS. As much as I love my beloved Tiki Ti, I need to venture out and abroad to bring you more exciting new bars if you're NEW to all of this. Next on the list is the Purple Orchid. I need to get out there and check out that little slice of heaven in El Segundo.

That's a fairly quick roundup of everything and hopefully today I'll have time to make a new MUSIC write up on the scariest band in the world.. DEADBOLT!

EVENT: Bahooka's in Rosemead unveil new Mug!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:54:00 +0000

It's time for an event! I've been waiting for this mug for quite a while now.. Since at LEAST March or so.. When I was told by my favorite server 'Chico' that the Bahooka would be featuring a new mug since their prior mug from back in 2007 for their 40th anniversary!

I've been pushing this event for a while now to my friends on Facebook and now more recently to the Tiki Central Forum people which I'm glad to be mixing with!

So here's what I've gathered via Tiki Farm;

"The world famous “Bahooka Family Restaurant” will be premiering their brand new Tiki Farm manufactured Tiki mug on Saturday, June 19^th! There will be drink specials and friends galore (and of course the ribs… you’ve gotta love the Bahooka ribs). Tiki Farm and the Bahooka just inked the event so we don’t have any fancy posters or things like that yet, but we do have something special for you! Here it is…

The Bahooka Tiki mug is the first collaboration in a series between my long time friend Sven Kirsten and your pals here at Tiki Farm! It seems that Sven’s getting a lot of play in this email (read on… you’ll see:). With the design you see below, Sven wanted to have a more modest emphasis on the “Tiki” and pay more attention to nautical elements. You see folks, if you’ve never been to the Bahooka, they’ve got 109 fresh water aquariums (and 1 brand new salt water aquarium)! There will be drink specials going on all night (“buy the drink at “X” price and keep the mug”). We hope to see you there!"

Need I say more??

Bahooka Mug Facebook Event page!

Go to my facebook event page and RSVP so I can try to meet some new DARK & TIKI friends!