The patio at Hula’s Modern Tiki on Seventh Street. Lei from p 19 picks. Keep in mind that seminars can sell out; all of our recommendations had tickets available at press time. • Agave Spirits in Tropical Cocktails: Join mixologist Adam Rains for a lesson in Agave Spirits 101, a discussion of the how and why of tequila in tiki, and examples of agave spirits in classic tiki drinks. (1:30 p.m. Friday, $50) • Arizona Tiki Oasis 2022 Bartender Battle: Come watch some of the best bartenders in Arizona compete in a cocktail throw-down. Sample some of the best, most innovative tropical cocktails while you cheer on your bartending champion. (2 p.m. Saturday, $40) • Conscious Tropical: A conversation on how to celebrate tropical culture without appropriating it. The focus will be on how to be an ally, the three main regions in Oceania (Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia), iconog- raphy, and how to diversify your feed. (3 p.m. Saturday, free) • Desert Soiree Art Show: Tiki-themed works by almost two dozen artists. (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, free) • From Voodoo to Vampires: Collector Pam Ashlund will discuss the long, sordid, and fascinating history of swizzle sticks. (11 a.m. Saturday, $15) • Rudi Gernreich — Beyond the Topless Bathing Suit: Whether or not you caught last year’s fascinating exhibit of the work of groundbreaking fashion designer Rudi Gernreich at Phoenix Art Museum, you shouldn’t miss this lecture about the style icon by collector and curator Audrey Moorehead. (2 p.m. Friday, $15) • Saving Neon — The Struggle to Keep Its Glow Alive: Jay Mark will explore the history of neon, from the discovery of the fifth most abundant gas in the universe, to its emergence as a powerful and colorful advertising tool, and from its near demise to a renais- sance of this once-dying art. (10 a.m. Saturday, $15) 20 Tom Carlson Get your tiki fix anytime at these metro Phoenix bars. | BY JENNIFER GOLDBERG A rizona Tiki Oasis is only held one weekend a year, but you can get your fill of tropical decor and fruity beverages all year round at these local bars. Bikini Lounge 1502 Grand Avenue 602-252-0472 instagram.com/thebikinilounge New bars open in Phoenix on a weekly basis, but we’ll never stop making the trip down to Grand Avenue to visit Bikini Lounge, which turns a distinguished 75 years old this year. Bikini Lounge definitely qual- ifies as a bit of a dive these days, but what it lacks in polish or refinement, it more than makes up for in character. Tiki touches include Tom Cooper murals (most iconically, the topless woman above the bar), a bamboo- walled back patio, and even a tiki-themed bike rack. Cocktails of the tropical and non-tropical variety are good and strong, but remember to bring some folding money — Bikini Lounge is and always has been a cash-only establishment. Drunk Munk 7133 East Stetson Drive, #1, Scottsdale 480-699-8454 thedrunkmunk.com In the space formerly occupied by iconic eatery Cowboy Ciao, Drunk Munk is a lighthearted take on tiki culture. The bar is anchored by a sizable Easter Island statue, and the menu is full of Asian- and Polynesian-inspired food and drinks. We’re partial to bites like the Bottle Rockets, egg roll-wrapped wads of cream cheese, shrimp, scallions, and garlic. The drinks are strong, tasty, and come served in cute, kitschy vessels shaped like cats, Buddhas, and tiki gods. Pro tip: If you want to see what Drunk Munk is all about, show up during happy hour, when appetizers and sushi rolls are half-price and a number of drink specials are in effect. Electric Bat Arcade 25 West Southern Avenue, Tempe 480-967-4777 electricbatarcade.com The tiki bar inside pinball joint Electric Bat Arcade (which is inside Yucca Tap Room) is more of a nook than a bar, but we still love bellying up to that corner of the space. Tiki torches and raffia trim decorate the little bar, which serves up pop-culture and pinball-themed tiki drinks like the Bela Colada, a pina colada made with mezcal and smoke, the Mai Tai My Darling, and the rum-based Dracula’s Punch. You can get your drink served in a ceramic tiki mug (which you can take home for an additional fee), but we like the plastic, glow-in-the-dark Electric Bat Arcade cups that are super-cool and free to keep. Hula’s Modern Tiki (and Captain’s Cabin) 5114 North Seventh Street 602-265-8454 hulasmoderntiki.com Local chain Hula’s Modern Tiki has earned its reputation for solid island- themed food and drinks in a sleek, contemporary setting. The drink menu has all the classic tiki drinks like mai tais and hurricanes, plus Hula’s creations like the Tropical Itch (light rum, overproof rum, dark rum, Jim Beam, triple sec, passion fruit, cranberry, orange and pineapple juices, served with a plastic backscratcher) and the Pink Bikini Martini (vodka with pineapple, sweet and sour, watermelon liqueur, triple sec). The drinks help wash down Polynesian-inspired dishes like Hawaiian ceviche and crispy coconut shrimp rolls. Hula’s also has locations in Old Town Scottsdale and High Street in north Phoenix, but only the midtown location has the Captain’s Cabin, a semi-hidden concept in the same building that’s designed to look like a room on an old-timey ship. UnderTow 3626 East Indian School Road, #100 undertowphx.com The gold standard for local tiki bars, UnderTow is an intoxicating mix of enchanting ambiance and inventive cocktails. Nestled underneath the Century Grand in Arcadia, UnderTow is designed to look like the cargo hold of a 19th-century ship. The drink menu reads like an adventure novel, and the descriptions of cocktails like Mysteries of the Cape, Treacherous Seas, and Old Fashioned Voo Doo are just as exciting as a naval battle. Make sure you have a reservation before you go, and be advised that you’ve only got 90 minutes to enjoy the underground magic of the bar. And on a final note, we’re looking forward to the debut of a second UnderTow — the Gilbert location is set to open later this year. APRIL 28TH– MAY 4TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
