These pictures are from our second visit to the Chicago Trader Vics (our first was over Exotica '03).

It has Tikis, waterfalls, caves, honu, iguanas, an erupting volcano and yes, even more Tikis :) As if this wasn't enough- add in FL's own strange pink flamingo paddleboats and you've got an evening to giggle over for weeks. We were not the only ones with cameras that day.

Explorations of Gorda Springs, Big Sur (where we even found Tiki Farm mugs at the Phoenix shop at Nepenthe! http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/phoenix/index-p.htm Lunch at Nepenthe, while not Tiki, is NOT to be missed, if you're ever in Big Sur!) and Monterey. Here you'll also find a pictures from our visit to Unga Bunga's home bar- "Unga Bunga's Bungalo"! After our time in Monterey, we took Unga Bunga's advise and found glass floats at "Little Baja" pottery. Then, followed our local guide's suggestion and spent an early afternoon exploring Bamboo Giant's (http://www.bamboogiant.com/) bamboo gardens! Finally, be sure to check out Shecky's visit home to the Munktiki studio in Monterey over in the "Where's Shecky #60?" Gallery.

Our California (Mostly) Coastal Crawl has continued northward. Here you'll find the gems of the L.A. area- Tiki-Ti, Bahooka, and Sam's Seafood.

Update- Alas, the Pacific is not more. It too has passed on into the deep jungle mists. Fortunately, many of the recipes and drinks should live on at Cheng's- Cheng's Oriental Restaurant Route 7 - Regal Center 20921 Davenport Drive, Sterling, VA 20165 Original album description- If Vera's White Sands is our local Maryland authentic 'vintage' Tiki, The Pacific in VA is our 'local' neo-Tiki. Despite its brick exterior, an exotic oasis awaits! Unfortunately, our lousy cell phone camera fails to capture the gist of it. These from a recent trip with our friend.

We didn't have much luck finding Tikis in the redwoods. Once you pass the Hukilau Island Grill and Bar in Sacramento it's a LONG haul to Portland, OR for your next serious dose of Tiki. BUT just when all hope was lost, standing there, amidst carved bears and eagles at a carver's lot in Orick was a happy Tiki greeting weary travelers and sending them off on happy trails. Thus ended the northern most edge of the CA (mostly) Coastal Tiki Crawl '05. Then again, he may just be the first sign of things to come for those headed south! All a matter of perspective really.

The Wildwoods in New Jersey are perhaps the east coast's best surviving examples of Googie architecture. That said, though, they are already GREATLY diminished from even just a couple years back. More than 70 of the hotels were already gone before we made this trip. Sadly some of the best examples of the Tiki achitectural style were already gone- the Kona Kai and the Tahitian. I only have four words for anyone interested in understaning midcentury commercial architecture- "GO NOW! Don't wait!"

A Happy find on I-Drive. Don't let its neon restaurant-along-the-strip exterior fool you- inside is a lamp collection to go gaa gaa over!