Aloha Tiki Friends. Sunshine and the ZTL crew have put together a list of some of their favorite web hot spots. Some of these are great resources for anything from music to finding that perfect tropical pottery for your bromeliad. Podcasts, Tiki & Mid Century Mod info and resources, books and plenty of "other." Start by choosing another podcast to try out and then use one of the tiki resource websites to explore your next bar hopping excursion.
Our Favorite Podcasts
The Quiet Village
Marty aka Digitiki helps introduce all of us to the exotica we just don't know the name of. Eventually Marty plays one of those songs you always wanted but just didn't know the artist or group. Great interviews with classic and contemporary tiki all stars. Almost 100 shows filled with classic, modern and nouveau examples of exotica, jazz, bachelor pad and more. Sunshine sends everyone to this podcast for the best in tunes to set the perfect mood in your place of relaxation and escape.
Inside the Desert Oasis Room
Adrian Eustaquio hosts this podcast from his personal tiki bar the Desert Oasis Room as well as travels the country to bring us the best on scene podcasts. Adrian has interviewed many of the most interesting people behind the music, mixology, art and culture of the tiki scene.
Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en
Kelly and her friends take a podcast to a place we dare not go. Video! Each show brings you a new quick and easy cocktail with fun characthers and sometimes great food and appetizers. Solve those social dilemmas such as awkward party guests, emergency preparedness, appetizer recipes that are sure to please, surviving the holidays, and so much more. Our favorite character is cousin Glendora.
Music and Booze with Mo
One of the newer shows on the scene is Music and Booze with Mo. In Just over 2 years the library of interviews has grown quickly. We recommend episode #4, an interview with Jeff Beachbum Berry. This is a great example of what Mo does by talking to people in the mixology community and often doing it from the hot spots they make famous. You are sure to enjoy each and every episode and may find yourself bing listening to all of them.
Exotic Tiki Island
Tiki Brian had an exotica LP collection he just couldn't keep to himself. Luckily for all of us he sends out a thematic podcast choc full of exotic tunes set to stories of mermaids, pirates, waterfalls and all those exotic places we all dream of while a work. This is what happens when a lot of production value go into each podcast episode. A true journey from your headphones.
CocktailNation Podcast
Koop Kooper serves up the greatest sounds in Lounge, Exotica, Space Age Pop and plenty of interviews with artists and other great folks from his Sydney penthouse. If you enjoy a hip swinging time you will always like your visit to the Cocktail Nation.
5 Minutes of Rum
At the Zen Tiki Lounge we know our way around a cocktail. But we wouldn't be the best resource for explaining all the bits and pieces of what make great rum and spirits so great. Listen to 5 Minutes of Rum with Kevin for in depth reviews and tastings of your favorite spirits. There is always a cocktail recipe to go along with the podcast, so don't miss an episode. You do have 5 minutes (ish) for rum, don't you?
Tiki Bar TV
Back in 2005 Tiki Bar TV burst onto the scene at a time that the tiki resurgence was just starting to get underway. This video series is full of cocktails and hijinks. Each episode is kitschy and kool. After five seasons the show ended after just remodeling their bar. Sad. If you have just 3 hours you can binge through all 45 episodes while you sip a few Mai Tais.
Our Favorite Tiki Events
Tiki-Caliente
Probably the hottest of the tiki weekenders, this yearly event takes place in scorching Palm Springs each year. Be sure to bring plenty o' sun block so you can enjoy the pool, cocktails, exotica and good times of Tiki-Caliente. We can speak from personal experience, this is a smaller event but in no way less to do. Get to know your fellow tikiphiles in the true mod style of Palm Springs, California
Circa Caliente
This October event debuted in 2013 and is now a yearly mid century modern shindig in the desert. Originally the event was called Mod-Palm Springs and was hosted by Artist SHAG and party dude Rory Snyder. In 2017 the event was renamed Circa Caliente and Rory Snyder remains our host with the most. Circa is a celebration of all the best things that made the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's so fun. From music and cocktails to vintage clothing and party themes. Circa Caliente is a romp through some of the best of these four crazy decades.
Tiki Oasis
The biggest of the tiki weekenders. Each August in sunny San Diego, California. Is bigger always best? At least once it is. We recommend that everyone try Tiki Oasis at least one year to see the spectacle of 5000 like minded party goers converge on one hotel in warm San Diego. Follow their page on facebook or instagram to find out when the event goes on sale. On ground rooms sell out within seconds while symposiums and wristbands last a little longer.
Hukilau
Fort Lauderdale, Florida serves up the most intimate tiki gathering. Plenty of music, cocktails and excursions. Be sure to visit the world famous Mai Kai for the best in polynesian drinks and entertainment.
Ohana Luau at the Lake
Visit beautiful Lake George, NY in the Adirondacks. If you ever wanted to experience the old time kitsch of a true tiki motor lodge, this is the place. Step back in time and enjoy a great weekend with other tikiphiles.
Tiki Kon
Tiki Kon started in the early revival years, in 2003, with a home bar crawl between friends. It now entertains guests from the Pacific Northwest and across North America and has grown to become an exciting weekend gathering for fans of Tiki bars, vintage travel, fashion, live entertainment, classic cocktails and socializing. The event also features vending, symposiums, cocktail classes, fashion show, luau-style banquet and more. The finale is the Tiki Kon home bar tour—it’s the longest-running bar crawl of its kind!
Our Favorite Tiki Resources
Konakai.com
At one time this site was like the white and yellow pages for all the flotsam and jetsam the internet had to offer the weary tiki traveler. Nowadays the site still has correct links to some of the great stuff that helped us build our own tiki bar and host a podcast. Good luck!
Tiki Central
At one time TC was the place to network with everyone in the tiki and mid century modern community. As more and more tikiphiles have migrated to facebook and instagram there is less of the conversation happening here. But for some idea of what the tiki resurgence was like beginning in 1999, TC is a great place to look up old posts and blogs you may find interesting. Sign up for a free account and take a look.
Beachbum Berry
Everyones favorite umbrella drink mixologist. The Bum carefully and painstakingly researches the lost cocktail recipes of the past so you don't have to. He has authored several oustanding books including "Grog Log" and "Sippin Safari." He is also a pretty cool dude. If you have the chance to see him at a cocktail symposium don't miss the opportunity.
Ooga-Mooga
Need to know what your old tiki mug is selling for? Want to find a rare gem? Or just share your mug collection with others. A great resource to view and participate.
Critiki
Over 1000 tiki bars, Polynesian restaurants and other sites of interest to the midcentury Polynesian Pop enthusiast. Critiki is the best place to find out what other tiki culture enthusiasts think about that one bar you have heard of in who knows where…its been rated. The site is well done and always up to date.