 |
Tonga Hut, North Hollywood, CA (bar) |
KreepyTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2007
Posts: 193 |  Posted: 2008-09-07 02:21 am Permalink
Aloha!
I just went to the TH this past Friday night where I finally met the other owner -- Jeremy -- a terrific chap who treated me to one of the only really good Blue Hawaiian's I've ever had; and properly garnished, too! (Maybe it's that dash of cream that makes the difference?)
Anyway, I'm happy to report that their OTHER fountain is now up and running at last!
This is the one --
-- though the greenery is currently absent. But various nice rocks are in place and I suggested, along with the needed foliage, that both a flourescent blacklight fixture be added above to complement some waterproof pond lighting shining up on the statue from below. And Jeremy loved the idea, so that may be happening soon, along with a possible blacklight mural to be painted on the (currently bamboo-covered) wall behind the statue.
But water now bubbles merrily from the stone tiki's mouth and runs into the (now water-tight!) basin below. So come and CHECK IT OUT! And while you're at it, take a look at the lovely cocktail menus Suzy Mosher created for them. Drinks haven't looked so tempting since the days of the vintage menus!
Lastly, Jeremy also really dug my idea of installing little pond-fogger misting units in each of the basins of the Tonga's main multi-tiered fountain behind the bar. Because, as lovely as that fountain is, the water cascades SO perfectly and placidly from one level to the next that Jeremy has sometimes been accused of having installed some sort of lucite SCULPTURE there instead of having real water! 
But, with the addition of the foggers, they should get a nicely rolling cascade of mist that will follow the water from one level to the next and give the patrons something a bit more kinetic to stare at while they get happily plastered, not to mention enhancing the tropical atmosphere that much more!
I also suggested a bit more Oceanic Arts style bric a brac here and there -- some dried starfish to go in the netting they already have on one wall, some float-lights and/or tapa/seashell lamps, and perhaps a glowing puffer-lamp or two. And Jeremy was lovin' all of that as well, as he's a dude who has come to really appreciate the full spectrum of tiki.
So I think we can all look forward to continuing developments that will keep Tonga Hut going from strength to strength!
Cheers & Mahalos!  
Castaway Clemens
|
TikiMango
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Posts: 798
From: Satellite Beach, FL
| Posted: 2009-01-08 6:10 pm Permalink
I know this is short notice, but I'm going to the Tonga Hut tonight. Perhaps I'll see some TC'ers there.
_________________
Pupule Tiki!
|
hiltiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 10, 2004
Posts: 2775
From: Reseda, calif.
| Posted: 2009-08-17 8:03 pm Permalink
I just got back from Tonga Hut. I have been going there for the last ten years or so and I have to say it keeps on getting better and better. I like going there in the early afternoon when it is quiet. I had a Voodoo Juice that was out of this world and the bartender had just gotten the ingredients to make the Hibiscus Hula Cocktail, I tried one of those as well, a little too sweet for me but very good tasting. I have to say I feel real lucky to have Tonga Hut so close to my house, it is the perfect tiki bar. It is old, authentic, it has great music, it it is full of locals old and young, it has tropical drinks, it is dark, the TV shows old time movies and no sound, there are lots of tikis and artwork everywhere to enjoy and best of all, it doesn't pretend to be tiki because it is a real tiki bar from the 50's.....
|
hiltiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 10, 2004
Posts: 2775
From: Reseda, calif.
| Posted: 2009-09-08 7:31 pm Permalink
[ This Message was edited by: hiltiki 2009-09-08 19:32 ]
|
Hiphipahula
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2376
From: The Valley! Female, leo,fav color pink.
| Posted: 2009-09-28 10:13 pm Permalink
More on the Grog log "Tonga Hut Elite"
We are ready to go at the Tonga Hut here is what you need to do to get started.
I will be featuring a Cocktail every Saturday & Sunday(unless noted) from 4-8pm at the Tonga Hut. Come in and fill out your "Tonga Hut Elite" Grog Log entry form. We will keep it at the Tonga Hut behind the bar in a note book and will be keeping count. You may try the "featured" drink that week of course BUT, you may come into the Tonga Hut anytime Sunday-Thursday 4pm-last call and Friday & Saturday 4pm-8pm and try any drink in the Grog Log have it credited to your "Elite" list (some exceptions see entry form for details). There are almost 90 drinks so let's see who gets done first.
We started last Sat. 9/26/09 In the lead is Iokona Ki'i (Jason) with 4 cocktails down 80 something to go! Tonga Tom right behind!
Good Luck everyone!!
_________________
hiphipahula.com/
|
Iokona Ki'i
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 14, 2008
Posts: 815
From: SoCal
| Posted: 2009-09-29 7:02 pm Permalink
Here are some velvets that I recently painted for Tonga Hut.
Colors way off.
Mahalo Jeremy and MP!
_________________
Velvets by J. Sallin
   
www.jasonsallin.com
[ This Message was edited by: Iokona Ki'i 2009-10-25 18:25 ]
|
Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3935
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-09-29 7:11 pm Permalink
Iokona Ki'i
Those look great. My favorite is the palm leaf umbrella girl.
DC
|
Iokona Ki'i
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 14, 2008
Posts: 815
From: SoCal
| Posted: 2009-09-30 09:50 am Permalink
Mahalo DC! It was great working with Tonga Hut
on these. Might be putting a few more in there.
_________________
Velvets by J. Sallin
|
TorchGuy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 24, 2008
Posts: 200
From: Renton, WA
| Posted: 2009-10-01 05:15 am Permalink
Looks great, and getting better. That fountain behind the bar is staggering. Extremely cool. So that has green lights below, and red and white in the ceiling cut-outs above? I second the notion of ultrasound foggers,. but be sure they're plain ones (which ARE available online, if you look). The more common ones have color-changing LEDs on top, which would totally spoil the look in here. Definitely don't want any light *in* the bowls.
Though I don't know if it'd look good in the bowl fountain, and might not in the tiki either, it's not difficult to make water in fountains react to UV (black light) - and I don't mean the yellow or green hi-liter trick, which looks more Halloween-y. It MIGHT look neat in the bowl fountain if the blacklight tube was placed below, alongside the green up-lights, so it affects only the falling water. Take "tonic water", let it go flat (any carbonation will consolidate in the pump and airlock it) and use it instead; the sulphate of quinine in it will fluoresce bright blue but, when the UV source is off, the water is still clear.
I'll be in LA for one day, in a few weeks, and I'm not sure where to go to get my tiki on. I definitely want to get a mug I can keep, eat something with my booze, and have a good Polynesian cocktail that a more seasoned tiki-phile would really enjoy - no sticky-sweet faux Mai Tais or anything-tinis. Sadly, what with all the chugging around the place I'll be doing (trying to show my very tiki-unknowing parents some stuff in LA, not that I know the area much better than they do) visiting San Pedro, Glendale and a few other areas, I'll have to be selective...
|
Hiphipahula
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2376
From: The Valley! Female, leo,fav color pink.
| Posted: 2009-10-05 5:31 pm Permalink
Be immortalized in Tonga Hut History forever!
Tonga Hut will be featuring a Cocktail every Saturday & Sunday(unless noted) from 4-8pm at the Tonga Hut. Come in and fill out your "Tonga Hut Elite" Grog Log entry form. We will keep it at the Tonga Hut behind the bar in a note book and will be keeping count. You may try the "featured" drink that week of course BUT, you may come into the Tonga Hut anytime Sunday-Thursday 4pm-last call and Friday & Saturday 4pm-8pm and try any drink in the Grog Log have it credited to your "Elite" list (some exceptions see entry form for details). There are almost 90 drinks so let's see who gets done first. A Tiki placard will be hung in the bar and on it will be the names of those who have bought and tried every drink in the Grog Log! Be immortalized in Tonga Hut History forever!
_________________
hiphipahula.com/
|
Trader Tom
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Jan 26, 2006
Posts: 744
From: Hillsboro, OR
| Posted: 2009-10-19 1:14 pm Permalink
Wow! The list is a little intimidating. I've started my journey, though.
With Kelly as my faithful Sherpa, there's no mountain of ice I can't climb.
Thus far, I've had a Mai Tai, Colonel Beach's Plantation Punch, Pieces of Eight, Shark's Tooth, Sidewinder's Fang, Spindrift, Suffering Bastard, and a Tahitian.
Ordered a pizza too, and ate it at the bar! Mama's Pizza, if I remember correctly. Very tasty.
Long live the list!!!
|
TikiG
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Posts: 1519
From: Palmdale, California
| Posted: 2009-10-19 1:23 pm Permalink
I, like Trader Tom before me, have started the Grog Log challenge at the Tonga Hut last Friday (10/16/09).
Thanks, Kelly for the cocktails and the company for the short time I was at the bar.
Til next time, Cheers!
_________________
TikiG
tiki since '67!
|
Hiphipahula
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2376
From: The Valley! Female, leo,fav color pink.
| Posted: 2009-10-23 6:23 pm Permalink
We are will on our way with the Grog Loggin' for sure!Kirby will have to get us that placard done soon! Tom had the best time by far last Sunday! lol... Yes it was Big Mama's pizza ha.... what fun we had HipHiPaHulA!!
_________________
hiphipahula.com/
|
Hiphipahula
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2376
From: The Valley! Female, leo,fav color pink.
| Posted: 2009-10-25 04:45 am Permalink
I am bartending Today Sun. Oct. 25 so come on down 4-8pm Happy Hour and lets not enjoy Sun. Football together! Let us enjoy Tiki Cocktails and party instead. Handcrafted Original Tiki Cocktail specials. See you at the Tonga Hut! 12808 Victory Bl. No. Hollywood, Ca.
_________________
hiphipahula.com/
|
Hiphipahula
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2376
From: The Valley! Female, leo,fav color pink.
| Posted: 2009-10-29 02:27 am Permalink
I am bartending Today Thurs, Sat & Sunday this week. Oct. 29 so come on down 4-8pm Happy Hour Handcrafted Original Tiki Cocktail specials. See you at the Tonga Hut! 12808 Victory Bl. No. Hollywood, Ca.
_________________
hiphipahula.com/
|
|
