I’m Freaky for Tiki 2: PURPLE ORCHID

In wanting to talk about my favorite tiki places, I WISH I was better organized (or had at least PLANNED to do this down the road, so I could share more important information about the places I want to talk about–like yummy drink names and whether or not they sell tiki mugs). I also wish I took better pictures. GRR. Alas, I’m going to have to wing it…at least on this first one.

The Purple Orchid in El Segunda, California, is—while not my favorite tiki bar in the world, it is—one of my favorites. I discovered this place a few years ago while staying near LAX (probably for one of the has-been celebrity shows I’m known to frequent. Ha. Soooo lame…). It’s kind of a dive bar—but what a great dive bar. I loved it as soon as I walked in the door.

There’s even a small cage filled with shrunken heads. Zowie!

The neon figure is the symbol/god for The Purple Orchid.

My favorite cocktail there has something with “monkey” in the name. Or maybe, “banana”? I don’t think it’s “Planet of the Apes.  I think it’s the “Curious George”, but it could be the “Frozen Banana”. Anyway, there is a little plastic monkey hanging on the side of it.

Here is another of the tiki mugs I got there on a separate visit. It’s the bar’s own tiki god/symbol guy.

Here is my friend, Christa Polkinhorn holding up the drink menu. She’s probably had every drink on the menu by now at least a dozen times.

Really cool modern tiki ads for other events/places adorn the bar and are actually lacquered onto the top of it.

Here are Christa and I in the booth. Christa is holding up her then latest novel. Notice the empty glasses in front of Christa? Wink. Wink.

Christa wears her Bat glasses and holds yet another cocktail in her hand, while admiring the stylish lederhosen-wearing unicorn Christmas ornament in front of her.

(This post originally published 9/26/17 HERE.)