WE’RE OFF TO FORT LIQUORDALE
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– well, that’s what we call it. The local chamber of commerce would rather we refer to it as Fort Lauderdale. But liquor will indeed loom large in our visit, because we’ll be in town for the city’s annual four-day Tiki blowout, the Hukilau. Hostess Tiki Kiliki always puts on an entertaining event, with live music, Polynesian Pop-themed seminars (including one by your humble Bum) and a Tiki shopping bazaar, climaxed by a spectacular dinner and show at the Mai-Kai.
If for some unfathomable reason one were to read these pages regularly, one would be sick and tired of our constant references to the Mai-Kai. So we’ll confine ourselves here to reiterating that the Mai-Kai is the sole survivor of America’s grand mid-century Tiki supper clubs; its stellar drinks, food, and decor provide an experience unmatched for anyone without a Wayback machine set to 1956. Fill the six romantic dining rooms with hundreds of Hukilau attendees gathered from around the world, all sporting their flashiest vintage Aloha wear, and you’ve got an unforgettable evening (no matter how much you end up drinking).
The Hukilau begins Thursday, June 12. For a complete schedule: