Tabu! Tiki Kon 2011

Tiki Kon Tabu started out on Friday July 15th at The Matador for drinks. Not really sure why it started there since it's not exactly tiki. I don't even think it's kitch. Nor do they serve tiki drinks. But, they do have a photo booth and we of course got pictures in it!


Next we moved over to Ella Street Club where the Surf Weasels, Wavesauce and Guantanamo Bay Watch performed. Again, no tiki drinks to be found. Ella Street Club is also very small and very hot. I don't know what it was, but we just weren't feeling Friday night's event. We know many other people were feeling the same way about Friday night. You can't win them all, right? But, we did think the hula hoop dancers with light-up hula hoops were fun!

Light up hula hoops!

Saturday's events started off with a private event at one of our favortie bars, Thatch. While there we got to catch up with our friend, Elicia, who was down from Seattle for the event. We then boarded a bus to The Original to see the Mods and Gods exhibit. Since we had already seen the exhibit earlier in the month, we took this as the perfect opportunity to get some food in us.  We love The Original and when at a drinking event, you need to take every opportunity you have to really eat. We were suppose to go to another place after The Original, but it didn't pan out, so we just did a drive-by of the new Trader Vic's instead.

It was just a little bit early in the day for so many to already look so drunk...
Photo by Justin DuPre

The nice thing about having some time between Saturday's events meant getting to have a little rest and time for an outfit change! I mean, who are we kidding; it's all about the clothes! And hair! And shoes!


This year's Tiki Kon was held at the Kenton Masonic Lodge. It was a bit out of the way for many who were attending, especially considering it was a drinking heavy event. The Mason Lodge also had some interesting rules, like not being able to drink where the band was playing. And having to use this own bartenders. Which made for some off tasting tiki drinks. I know the bartenders thought they were being nice pour the drinks heavy, but us tikiphiles know it messes with the delicate balance of a perfectly flavored tiki beverage.

Tabu Tiki Kon 2011
Photo from personal collection

Kimmy and Drew with the great new tiki designed by Noel.
Photo by Elroy Art

Of course, Noel did a fabulous job on the decorations he does every year.We can't wait to have him do a few pieces for our own home tiki bar. The best piece was the HUGE tiki he did that was set up in the ballroom. Especially, if you looked to see what he had under his skirt!

Noel's Tiki
Photo from personal collection

What's under his skirt, Deb?
Photo from personal collection

Well, HELLO!
Photo from personal collection

There were some new vendors at Tiki Kon this year, as well as some from previous years. The food they had at the event was really yummy. The drunken noodles and guava strawberry cake were both very tasty. We actually didn't know that there was going to even be food there. It was a nice surprise.


There was a long line for drinks all night long. As well as many, enjoying the great food.
Photo by Elroy Art

Its not the I'm not happy, its that I'm chewing.
Photo by Elroy Art


Sneaky Tiki and the Lava Lounge Orchestra entertained us throughout the night with their exotic sounds and laid-back music style. Sadly, we didn't get to enjoy them as much as we would have liked since we couldn't bring drinks or food into the ballroom where they were playing.

The Lava Lounge Orchestra
Photo from personal collection

We got a little tired of the long drink line and a bunch of us popped across the street to the Kenton Club for a bit. They have tasty Bloody Mary's there and many of us indulge in a round. We didn't stay long though to not miss anything at Tiki Kon and also all the hard work our friends put into the event.

Having drinks at Kenton Club.
Photo taken by a friend of Annie

Good thing we got back to the event when we did! Hula dancers had arrived and full on hula was going down. Everyone enjoyed seeing all the different types of Polynesian Islands dances, before the night came to an end.

Got Hula?
Photo from personal collection

The last day of Tiki Kon 2011 started off with an all-you-can-eat brunch at the Alibi. The Alibi doesn't normally do brunch, but they do a big production for Tiki Kon every year. They do a good job with the food and the ambiance is perfect. It was a great morning with friends topped off with festive swag bags filled with items by The Hana Shirt Company, Trader Vic's Portland and B.G. Reynolds Syrups.

Brunch at the Alibi.
Photo by Koifish Communications

Next we boarded a bus for the 9th Annual Original Home Tiki Bar Tour. Our first stop was the newly located, Bamboo Craftsman, where we toured the grounds while enjoying drinks made by Blair Reynolds. You know, Bamboo Craftsman could be a great location to do a bigger part of the Tiki Kon party. The Saturday night event could be great there!

Don't hate us because we are ridiculously cute together!
Photo from personal collection

All aboard the tiki bus!
Photo by Koifish Communications

Lining up for drinks.
Photo from personal collection

Drew in the bamboo gazebo.
Photo from personal collection

Kimmy & Dana
Photo from personal collection

After Bamboo Craftsman, we re-boarded the bus and headed for an old home tiki bar favorite. Many new additions, such as a surfboard bar had been added to the tiki bar beach shack that was already there. Again, we were treated to more drinks made by Blair that we sipped while exploring the grounds.

Photo from personal collection

Out by the pond.
Photo by Koifish Communications

Loved these lights! May need to get some for our yard.
Photo by KoiFish Communications

Blair making up drinks.
Photo from personal collection

Photo from personal collection

Oh, the voodoo that you do!
Photo from personal collection

New surfboard bar.
Photo from personal collection

By this time, it was really getting cold and everyone was ready to get back on the bus to crank up the heater.  Yes, in July! Its been a cold summer in Portland this year.


Our last stop of the home bar tour was Munktiki Manor. Munktiki is the father and son dynamic duo of Paul and Miles Nielsen, who make fantastic ceramic tiki mugs and other oddities. We were lucky enough to have them re-locate to Portland last year and even have them move into our neighborhood. In fact, many people thought we bought the house that Paul and his wife, Deb bought. We did look at the house, but are so happy that they are the ones who bought it and we have become such good friends with them.


Once we arrived at Munktiki Manor, we were happy to see that many of our friends who did not make it to Tiki Kon this year were waiting at the house for us all to get there.  Even my daughter, Amanda, who had gone over early to help Paul and Deb set up was there.Even better, the sun finally came out!

Cannonball!
Photo from personal collection

Drew and his commitment to being able to ride the floateys was really the main attraction of the party!
Photo from personal collection

Photo from personal collection

Until next year, Tiki Kon!
Photo from personal collection

Thanks to Craig, Heather, Noel, Kim, Blair, Sarah, Joe, Dana and all the tiki home bar owners for another fantastic Tiki Kon! We hope to make it, again next year. If we aren't gone for our wedding or honeymoon, that is.