Stoo
Well-known member
Tonga Room & HURRICANE BAR!
Plans for a group meet at Forbidden Island in Alameda didn't seem likely because of its location so the idea was scuttled. However...
My 1st full night on this trip was spent at the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar at the 5-star, Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill. (It looked fairly close on a map but my girlfriend & I took a cable car, upon realizing how steep the walk would be!) Arriving a bit early, we went for a quick drink in the hotel's lobby bar before descending into the lower depths to meet up with Inexorable Tash & his wife.
Trying to find the meeting point resulted in some pressing, time-ticking exploration because we were a few minutes late and it was really hidden away, deep in a corner of the lower floors...until, voilà! We arrived (only 6 minutes late).
The entrance area was intriguing enough (with a fake rock formation & red light glow to simulate some kind of volcanic vibe) but when we entered?it was like stepping into a Wonderland. Ship rigging & sails, bamboo railings and thatched roofs adorned the place. Nice lighting & atmosphere. An outrigger canoe hung from the ceiling nearby our table and the band played on a (moving) boat in the pool. Rain fell periodically. Thunder & lightning struck. A veritable "faux" experience. I LOVED it!
Food & beverages were delicious. Us boys drank Zombies while the girls had Mai-Tai. As expected, each serving came topped with those miniature parasols/umbrellas so I remarked how "girly drinks" aren't usually my thing. Then it was pointed out, by Tash's wife, that my glass had a dancing, Polynesian babe moulded into the ceramic so the concoction was clearly meant for men! Ha! The 2nd Zombie came in a tall glass shaped & painted like an Easter Island statue (which I wish could've been a souvenir to take home). Fun, fun, fun.
Our company was good, too! Tash & his wife were delightful and their conversation was always interesting. We had a lot to talk about but time flew by much too quickly.
In true spirit, Tash wore his custom-made Tonga Room T-shirt:
Afterwards, we all took a cable car down Nob Hill, hanging off the sides & talking to the driver. That was a special ride and one I'll never forget. Tash was wearing an Indy fedora & jacket so the moment reminded me of the preview for the "Staff of Kings" video game with Indy fightin' on top of a cable car (which we talked about while hanging off the side of the car).
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A few days later, I managed to hook up with Le Saboteur in Oakland. He took us to a cool, Belgian pub (The Trappist) where we imbibed many beers until it was time for me to take the last BART train back. 'Twas extremely satisfying to finally meet him in person and I'm glad we had the chance for several hours worth of quality time, discussing travels & various 'adventurey' stuff. It wasn't a TIKI night but it was a great & memorable one!
As per Attila's suggestion for Chinatown, I did pay a visit the Li-Po Lounge on my last evening. The place was empty but I ordered a Mai-Tai and talked with the Chinese barman. The drink was VERY tasty (more than the Mai Tai at Tonga) so I ordered another. (Buddha Lounge across the street was packed to the hilt so I didn't go in.)
Did NOT make it to Smuggler's Cove! Next time, boys!
Plans for a group meet at Forbidden Island in Alameda didn't seem likely because of its location so the idea was scuttled. However...
My 1st full night on this trip was spent at the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar at the 5-star, Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill. (It looked fairly close on a map but my girlfriend & I took a cable car, upon realizing how steep the walk would be!) Arriving a bit early, we went for a quick drink in the hotel's lobby bar before descending into the lower depths to meet up with Inexorable Tash & his wife.
Trying to find the meeting point resulted in some pressing, time-ticking exploration because we were a few minutes late and it was really hidden away, deep in a corner of the lower floors...until, voilà! We arrived (only 6 minutes late).
The entrance area was intriguing enough (with a fake rock formation & red light glow to simulate some kind of volcanic vibe) but when we entered?it was like stepping into a Wonderland. Ship rigging & sails, bamboo railings and thatched roofs adorned the place. Nice lighting & atmosphere. An outrigger canoe hung from the ceiling nearby our table and the band played on a (moving) boat in the pool. Rain fell periodically. Thunder & lightning struck. A veritable "faux" experience. I LOVED it!
Food & beverages were delicious. Us boys drank Zombies while the girls had Mai-Tai. As expected, each serving came topped with those miniature parasols/umbrellas so I remarked how "girly drinks" aren't usually my thing. Then it was pointed out, by Tash's wife, that my glass had a dancing, Polynesian babe moulded into the ceramic so the concoction was clearly meant for men! Ha! The 2nd Zombie came in a tall glass shaped & painted like an Easter Island statue (which I wish could've been a souvenir to take home). Fun, fun, fun.
Our company was good, too! Tash & his wife were delightful and their conversation was always interesting. We had a lot to talk about but time flew by much too quickly.
In true spirit, Tash wore his custom-made Tonga Room T-shirt:
Afterwards, we all took a cable car down Nob Hill, hanging off the sides & talking to the driver. That was a special ride and one I'll never forget. Tash was wearing an Indy fedora & jacket so the moment reminded me of the preview for the "Staff of Kings" video game with Indy fightin' on top of a cable car (which we talked about while hanging off the side of the car).
---
A few days later, I managed to hook up with Le Saboteur in Oakland. He took us to a cool, Belgian pub (The Trappist) where we imbibed many beers until it was time for me to take the last BART train back. 'Twas extremely satisfying to finally meet him in person and I'm glad we had the chance for several hours worth of quality time, discussing travels & various 'adventurey' stuff. It wasn't a TIKI night but it was a great & memorable one!
As per Attila's suggestion for Chinatown, I did pay a visit the Li-Po Lounge on my last evening. The place was empty but I ordered a Mai-Tai and talked with the Chinese barman. The drink was VERY tasty (more than the Mai Tai at Tonga) so I ordered another. (Buddha Lounge across the street was packed to the hilt so I didn't go in.)
Did NOT make it to Smuggler's Cove! Next time, boys!
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