 |
An open letter to Tiki Central from Martin/Martiki |
croe67
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: 1011
From: Land of Cheese & Beer
|  Posted: 2009-02-17 11:04 pm Permalink
SO SAD to hear of this news upon my arrival at Forbidden Island TONIGHT - of all nights!! I guess my timing SUCKS, as tonight (of all nights....) I decided to take an extra-long layover at SFO to hang at FI..... & I can say that I truly missed Martin tonite at FI 
A heartfelt thanks for all of the wonderful things you did at FI - you are truly the heart & soul of the place & we will all miss you tremendously. It really wasn't the same without you. I very much look forward to seeing you in the future & wish you absolutely ALL THE BEST!!!!!
MAHALO for everything, Martin!
|
Tangaroa-Ru
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 376
From: Surf's Up, Los Angeles!
| Posted: 2009-02-17 11:06 pm Permalink
Martin, with Forbidden Island, you created such a wonderful Tiki bar and ambiance. The kind of place a person wants to go back to over and over. You have made the Tiki community a better place, and have set a high standard for anyone dreaming of opening their own bar. Thank you! Please keep us all posted on whatever you're doing next.
|
Unga Bunga
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 06, 2003
Posts: 5734
From: CaliTikifornia
| Posted: 2009-02-17 11:30 pm Permalink
Forbidden Island (Martin) on Eye on the Bay
|
leleliz
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Sep 02, 2008
Posts: 1981
From: NorCal
| Posted: 2009-02-17 11:42 pm Permalink
When one door shuts a window opens - or some such saying is appropriate 
I am sure you will do great things post FI but I thank you for what you gave to make it as amazing of a place as it is.
Good thoughts for good things down the road!
|
Tikitastic
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 266
From: Los Gatos, CA USA
| Posted: 2009-02-18 03:20 am Permalink
Wow...Wow...Wow!! Such a shock! Thanks Martin for all the great times, superior cocktails and incredible hospitality at Forbidden Island over the years!!! What you did with Forbidden Island made me do things I thought I would never do, such as:
- Choosing a neighborhood bar that is located 45 miles each way from my house
- Driving to that bar approx. once a week for a couple of years.
- Drinking 97 different rums to complete the Kill Devil list in just over 6 weeks.
- Spending 3 New Year's Eve's at said bar
- Having my living room built out by Bamboo Ben to give me the same feel as Forbidden Island
- Building my personal rum collection from 3 bottles of rum to nearly 90 different rums.
- Deciding that it was a good idea to hold a rum tasting in the NorCal Ohana suite at Tiki Oasis with
over 40 people sharing 30 bottles of rum.....and then most of the people passing out and missing Friday
night at Tiki Oasis
- Hauling my team from work, who does not get tiki, 30 minutes north for our annual holiday party at
Forbidden Island...3 years in a row
- Standing in line for 4-5 hours for a tiki mug!
- Buying a professional-grade breathalyzer so I could be sure that I was ready to make the journey home
after a night at Forbidden Island
- Trying to always keep fresh limes and fresh mint at my house....it does make such a difference!
One of my favorite memories of you at Forbidden Island...the burning Ohana Hut!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsStcn7jbaM
Thanks Martin for the fun times and Best of Luck with your next endeavor!
_________________
|
Selector Lopaka
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 204
From: Jet City
| Posted: 2009-02-18 05:56 am Permalink
Mahalo Martiki for being there to help bring the necessary authenticity to us! I raise my mug to you, and know your mixologist magic will never die. Okole Maluna!
_________________
|
monet2u
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 09, 2006
Posts: 115
From: SF, CA
| Posted: 2009-02-18 06:50 am Permalink
You'll be missed! I also hope this is NOT the last we see of the great Martin and his mad mixing skills! I'm certain this wasn't an easy decision, thanks for letting us know. Best wishes!
edited to include an important missing word.
[ This Message was edited by: monet2u 2009-02-23 14:58 ]
|
bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10561
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-02-18 07:26 am Permalink
Martin, to see that I will never see you in "your element" (like F.I. was) pains me. But a man with your talents and knowledge should be snapped up by any mixology-conscious establishment worth its limes, presto.
|
TikiG
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Posts: 1519
From: Palmdale, California
| Posted: 2009-02-18 07:46 am Permalink
Martin -
It pains me too not to have seen you in your element as Big Bro states above.
Thankfully I did get to meet you last year at the informal Tiki-Ti gathering a day or two before Tiki Oasis. I remember talking to you briefly about what makes a successful tiki bar tick (passion)
You have that in spades, man.
But wait a minute! Today there is talk of reopening a certain legendary establishment in So. Cal..it just screams for your presence..
|
Iniquitiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 63 | Posted: 2009-02-18 09:03 am Permalink
Who is this "Martin" and what could he have possibly done to garner such lauding proclamations?
Hey, Cate...does this mean more or fewer "Ron Moments"?
Respectfully and left wanting,
A Gentleman from Petaluma
|
stuckieshaft
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 177 | Posted: 2009-02-18 09:48 am Permalink
Very sad news indeed.
For myself, an out of towner and one who wasnt hip as to when Martin's shifts were, it was always exciting making the trip up with the chance thought, "I hope Martin's working tonight". Unfortunatley it seemed I usually chose his off days. Here's for his next endeavour on meeting up on his on days.
|
bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8255
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2009-02-18 10:22 am Permalink
Martin,
Wow big news. I'm kinda sad Now.
but Happy that I did go there 4 times, and 2 while you were there.
and 2 of those were this past weekend, good seeing you man,
thanks for everything.
good luck in the Future with whatever you pursue.
Hey Come to So. Cal. OC area. we need a great tiki bar down here.
Aloha.
Mike,
I will continue to go to FI when I come to Nor. Cal. for surf shows.
and It saddens me deeply that I missed Meshugga Beach Party by 1 week.
Mahalo and Cheers to both of you.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
|
dogbytes
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 2240
From: seattle, wa
| Posted: 2009-02-18 12:00 pm Permalink
i, like Stuckie, have always been missed Martin at FI ~ so it was extra special, when we ran into each other at a tiny restaurant on Lombard Street last December! talked about cocktails (ha, and i dont drink!), tiki and restaurants over our breakfasts ~
Martin will be somewhere behind a bar soon, i hope ~ hey, how about Vessel in Seattle?
|
Kālai Waʻa
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 64
From: Alameda Estuary
| Posted: 2009-02-18 12:24 pm Permalink
Here's an idea, let's build one of these for Martin, and he can run booze-cruises up and down the Estuary... or compete with the ferry to SF!
|
Little fragrant Tiare
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 12, 2007
Posts: 181 | Posted: 2009-02-18 1:01 pm Permalink
Whatever you decide to do Martin i know it will be something awesome and i wish you all the best and good luck!
T
|
