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I am a fan of all things tropical. Regular blog readers know that I can get fairly passionate about palm trees and sultry mornings sipping iced coffee near the sea. There’s a tropical subculture that I find fascinating – they call it “tiki culture.” Here in Fort Lauderdale, the best example of the tiki culture is our famous Mai-Kai restaurant. It’s been an institution for a half century and is still going strong. If you’re a local in need of a one-night vacation, or a visitor who wants a memorable evening, the Mai-Kai is the place to go. The potent exotic drinks, dimly lit romantic atmosphere and Polynesian dancers quickly make you feel as if you’ve traveled to somewhere far away, welcoming and very soothing.
But this weekend, the tiki culture comes to town in a big way. The Hukilau is North America’s biggest tiki convention. Running through Sunday, this is the sixth annual edition of an event that celebrates everything about the world of tiki. That means tiki totems and Aloha shirts. That means South Pacific drums and cocktails with coconut milk. That means relaxation and fun.
You can learn about the history of tiki culture, which includes a discussion of Polynesia – the inspiration for tiki. You can listen to tiki comedy, believe it or not. You can hear about Disney’s use of tiki culture. You can take in a tiki fashion show and even watch live mermaid performances. Does this sound like a wacky, totally interesting weekend or what? Most events are taking place at the Mai-Kai or at the convention hotel, the Sheraton Yankee Clipper. Ticket prices are very reasonable, just $5 for a one-day pass or $60 for an all-access pass. There’s a lot more to find out about Hukilau at the official website: www.thehukilau.com. Or you can call 954-243-7709. I plan to head to this event sometime over the weekend for sure. I mean, come on – a mermaid show at the Yankee Clipper’s Wreck Bar? This place has underwater windows looking directly into the pool for that Jacques Cousteau kind of view. It’s great anytime, but with mermaids? Who could pass that up? Not me.
But this weekend, the tiki culture comes to town in a big way. The Hukilau is North America’s biggest tiki convention. Running through Sunday, this is the sixth annual edition of an event that celebrates everything about the world of tiki. That means tiki totems and Aloha shirts. That means South Pacific drums and cocktails with coconut milk. That means relaxation and fun.
You can learn about the history of tiki culture, which includes a discussion of Polynesia – the inspiration for tiki. You can listen to tiki comedy, believe it or not. You can hear about Disney’s use of tiki culture. You can take in a tiki fashion show and even watch live mermaid performances. Does this sound like a wacky, totally interesting weekend or what? Most events are taking place at the Mai-Kai or at the convention hotel, the Sheraton Yankee Clipper. Ticket prices are very reasonable, just $5 for a one-day pass or $60 for an all-access pass. There’s a lot more to find out about Hukilau at the official website: www.thehukilau.com. Or you can call 954-243-7709. I plan to head to this event sometime over the weekend for sure. I mean, come on – a mermaid show at the Yankee Clipper’s Wreck Bar? This place has underwater windows looking directly into the pool for that Jacques Cousteau kind of view. It’s great anytime, but with mermaids? Who could pass that up? Not me.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 11:31 PM
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