Books

Tiki Road Trip: A Guide to Tiki Culture in North America

Average customer rating:

Worth the Upgrade
Great book to include in all your retro vacation planning
Nice book, needs updating
Scattershot but worthwhile
Tiki magic - such a fun day following this guide....

Tiki Road Trip: A Guide to Tiki Culture in North America
James Teitelbaum
Manufacturer: Santa Monica Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1891661302

Book Description

This complete guide to Tiki culture in North America and abroad lists, describes, and reviews every known Tiki bar, Polynesian restaurant, and other site of interest to fans of "Polynesian Pop." From Tiki godfathers such as Edgar Leeteg and Don the Beachcomber to contemporary Tiki artists like Shag and Bosko, this resource covers all things Tiki in prose that is witty, entertaining, and essential for anyone who has ever stepped up to a bar, glanced up at the pufferfish hanging from the ceiling, and ordered a Singapore Sling. In addition to the exhaustive listings, recipes for classic cocktails, a glossary of Tiki terms, and resources for buying Tiki goods and artifacts are also included. Reminiscences of famous points of interest that have closed are provided for the completist, for historical perspective, and for those seeking information on the current status of a favorite Tiki site.

Customer Reviews:

Worth the Upgrade.......2007-06-27

So you already have a no doubt well-worn copy of the first edition of "TRT" and you're wondering if it's worth buying this new one?

Yes. Get it.

Sure, you've got the expected updates to the fast-changing world of tiki, along with more of the tell-it-like-it-is reviews that were the first edition's trademark.

But Teitelbaum has also expanded the historical information about locations that are no longer with us. And there seem to be more photos and other "urban archaeological" tidbits sprinkled throughout, giving it more of the flavor of Sven Kirsten's "Book of Tiki". These are welcome improvements, and it makes this edition just as suited for armchair reading as it is for actual trip planning.

Maps, perhaps one at the beginning of each state's section, would've been nice. Many of these tiki spots are in the suburbs, which can make it difficult to tell what's near the particular city you're visiting if you're not familiar with the names of the surrounding towns. But that's not enough of a quibble to detract from a solid, five-star rating.

Great book to include in all your retro vacation planning.......2005-10-17

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have used the reviews while on several different trips, to Las Vegas, San Diego, and in Southern California. A lot of this info could not be found elsewhere!

A word of advice to lucky purchasers of this book however--do double check, call ahead, and make sure your destination still exists! I have made several blunders as well assuming that a place was open for lunch when many are nightspots only.

That said, a great guide (and check out the inside of the Hanalei/Red Lion Hotel in San Diego--the bartenders make a mean scorpion in a nifty souvenier bowl!!)

Nice book, needs updating.......2005-09-14

In the ever changing world of Tiki land, you need an up to date reference. Please update this great book with a new edition!!

Scattershot but worthwhile.......2003-09-13

Tiki Road Trip is an excellent, if somewhat scattershot guide of Tiki bars, restaurants, and other Polynesian-themed facilities. Teitelbaum provides names, addresses, reviews and in some cases, photos to help you plan your next driving trip.

The author's reviews vary from cursory to pretty detailed. His emphasis is on the "Tikiness" of each place, based on decor, atmosphere, and food/drink. I didn't always agree with his "TiPSY" rating of some places, primarily because his emphasis seems to be primarily on Tiki decorations. I felt that Teitelbaum did not give enough weight to rarer architectural features (e.g. lava rock construction, A-framed roofs, etc.) in calculating his TiPSY scores. However, he states in the beginning that TiPSYness ratings are subjective, so any criticism described here is very minor.

This book isn't so much a road trip guide, as it is a compendium of Tiki joints past and present. While some places are alive and well, Teitelbaum includes places that are closed - in some cases for many years. Some of the Tiki spots documented are long forgotten, and the only testament that they even existed is a mug or matchbook. Also the addresses or, in some cases, cities of some of the spots listed are not provided.

A few improvements would help with subsequent editions of this guide. An index would be useful. Tables listing Tiki joints by TiPSYness, category, etc. would also be beneficial. Another recommendation is the inclusion of maps, at least at the state level. Finally, color photos are a must. Teitelbaum includes some outstanding pictures, unfortunately all in black and white.

While this book could be a bit better, it is still a must have for Tiki buffs.

Tiki magic - such a fun day following this guide...........2003-07-22

If you love tiki's and what to know where they are in your area, or are traveling, get this book. We visited the Kon-Tiki bar in Tuscon for lunch while on vacation after reading about it here - the tiki atmosphere was awesome. Our waitress Cathy showed us a good time and let us take pictures of the fabulous Tiki's. The author said their waitress did not know much about the history of the bar, but Cathy did, and we chatted for several hours. Get this book....and go enjoy tiki hunting.

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