Tiki Bar Review #41 Tiki Terrace Des Plaines, IL

Tiki Terrace Des Plaines IL

Sometimes the action isn’t happening in the middle of a city. Instead, sometimes it’s happening in a strip mall far out in a town called Des Plaines.

Tiki Terrace is located in an unassuming shopping center. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but head on in and you’ll find yourself in a full-on Hawaiian luau!

Tiki Terrace Des Plaines IL

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Tiki VIP #28 Christine Benjamin (Tiki Artist)

Christine Benjamin

Remember those “big eyes” paintings?

I do! These were paintings of children with big heads with even bigger eyes and I remember seeing them everywhere when I was kid. The artist’s name was Margaret Keane and her paintings were quite cute.

When I first saw Christine Benjamin’s art, it reminded me of Keane’s paintings, which at the same time reminded me of my childhood! I know I’m not the only one who has been moved this way by Christine’s art. Here is Christine’s story…

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Home Tiki Bar Spotlight #32 The Black Lagoon Room Milwaukee, WI

Katie and Pete in The Black Lagoon Room

The Creature from the Black Lagoon was always my favorite monster. He’s my favorite color (green) and was in 3-D! Katie Monachos and Pete Klockau are on the same page with me. They took the basement of their home in Milwaukee and converted it into a Tiki bar with a nod to the Creature from the Black Lagoon for good measure! Here is their story…

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Tiki VIP #27 Brandon Giraldez – Geeki Tikis and Beeline Creative (Star Wars Tiki Mugs and More!)

Star Wars Geeki Tiki Mugs

Star Wars Tiki mugs!

I couldn’t believe that two of my biggest loves have been merged. I didn’t have to think about which mug I was going to get: I was getting them all! Who thought of this awesome idea? Brandon Giraldez…

Brandon Giraldez

And he isn’t stopping with Star Wars. He’s only just begun…

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Tiki Bar Review #40 Three Dots and a Dash Chicago, IL

Three Dots And A Dash Chicago IL

Imagine if Studio 54 had a Tiki bar…

“Canned Heat” from Jamiroquai is pumping through the speakers at Three Dots and a Dash as I sip my 1944 Mai-Tai. I love Jamiroquai, but as a punk rocker I’ve always considered them to be a “guilty pleasure.” But I digress. My Mai-Tai is top-notch, but am I cool with dance music at a Tiki bar? Let’ see…

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Tiki VIP #26 Brandon Kleyla (The Man Behind Trader Sam’s)

Brandon Kleyla

The man behind the curtain.

I know it’s a Wizard Of Oz reference, but it’s fitting with Brandon Kleyla. He literally was the man behind making both Trader Sam’s locations what they are. Everything you see was hand picked by Brandon. You’d like to think that Walt Disney himself is somehow still pulling the strings making Disney the magical place that it is. Well, sadly old Walt is no longer with us, but his spirit is alive and well with people like Brandon Kleyla. Here is his story… Continue reading “Tiki VIP #26 Brandon Kleyla (The Man Behind Trader Sam’s)”