Wouldn’t it be nice if you felt like you were in the tropics but without taking the vacation time to actually go there? A quick island getaway vibe is readily available at a tiki bar. Featuring bamboo accents, carved wooden masks, and handmade Polynesian crafts, tiki bars are meant to feel like you’re in a different world (and where your only stress is how many sips are left in your drink).
A tiny tiki escape
Tiki bars were brought to the United States by Don the Beachcomber when the first-ever tiki bar was opened in 1934 in Los Angeles. Around the same time, prohibition was lifted, the US economy suffered through the Great Depressions, and World War II ramped up. Americans had every reason to crave an escape, but few had the resources to do so. Tiki bars, which spread like wildfire across the US, fulfilled that need with an atmosphere of warmth and tranquility.
When World War II ended, tiki bar popularity only increased as US soldiers returned home. You might think they’d associate tiki bars with the South Pacific Islands where they were stationed and prefer to avoid the culture altogether. Instead, many of them found comfort in the pleasant memories from their time spent abroad that tiki bars reminded them of.
In the 1960s, tiki bars faded in popularity due to the Vietnam War and the treatment of indigenous Vietnamese people. Recently, tiki bars have made a bit of a comeback alongside the craft cocktail trend.
Feeling tiki and cheeky
Going to a tiki bar is not the only way to find a little escape from reality from time to time. At Yaymaker Paint Nite events, drinks are flowing every night of the week to help you leave your troubles behind and paint your way to paradise.
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