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Tiki Boyds, Denver, CO, Denver, CO (bar) |
Modern Drunkard
Member
Joined: Jul 19, 2005
Posts: 5
From: Denver, CO
|  Posted: 2005-09-13 10:45 am Permalink
Name:Tiki Boyds, Denver, CO
Type:bar
Street:1150 E. Colfax Ave in the Ramada
City:Denver
State:CO
Zip:80204
country:USA
Phone:303.830.1382
Status:operational
Description:
After a long drought, Denver boasts a Tiki bar again. Designed and assembled by Tiki aficionado Boyd Rice (see Taboo: The Art of Tiki). Not fully together yet, but open for business and well on its way.
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Rum Numb Davey
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 17, 2005
Posts: 204
From: Phoenix, AZ
| Posted: 2005-09-13 11:20 am Permalink
Very good to see you Denver Boys holding aloft the Queen of the West standard on your end!
Between all your saloons and dive bars it was good to see a Polynesian gem pop up in camp. Now, if you just fix fix the Broncos, as they got worked by Miami last week.
Will drop into Boyd's place next time I need a Rocky Mountain High...is Sam Arnold of the Fort still alive?
By the way, loved the last issue...big fan of Kingsley Amis. Like Cyril Ray, not many YANKS know sage and wry wit of professional British drinks philosophers. Not since Oscar Wilde, has there been such an eloquent writer on drink.
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Just finished a bottle of Havana Club Anejo 3 Anos, which was excellantly suited for many rum cocktails!
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3057
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2005-09-13 12:02 pm Permalink
FKR- are there pix or a website for Tiki Boyd's? We'd love to see it.
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Modern Drunkard
Member
Joined: Jul 19, 2005
Posts: 5
From: Denver, CO
| Posted: 2005-09-14 10:18 am Permalink
YOu bet. I'll take some pics this weekend and post them.
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Hakalugi
Site Administrator
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 2918
From: Redondo Beach, CA
| Posted: 2005-09-20 8:44 pm Permalink
A Tiki Bar designed by Boyd Rice? That's great!!! I have been a big fan of Boyd's music going all the way back to his lock groove vinyl recordings with the multiple hand drilled holes. I must admit that if it wasn't for his chapter in the Industrial Culture Handbook I might not be here now! And his articles in MDM are not to be missed!
The next time I'm in Denver I will be sure to drop in.
Thanks!
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LuckyPikiTiki
Member
Joined: Sep 21, 2005
Posts: 2
From: Denver
| Posted: 2005-09-21 12:14 pm Permalink
Tiki Boyd's is an oasis of calm, beauty and happenin' - I oughta know since I live right around the corner and have seen the glorious evolution --- highly recommend, and as it is evolving, come with a little patience.
Welcome to all out-of-towners ---
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naugatiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 02, 2004
Posts: 818
From: Port Angeles, Wa
| Posted: 2005-10-09 4:05 pm Permalink
Looks like they're open for business and have a good eye for detail, I can't wait for the offical Tiki Boyds mug.
http://www.tikiboyds.com/
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roland
Member
Joined: Aug 04, 2005
Posts: 2
From: Roland
| Posted: 2005-10-13 11:58 pm Permalink
[ This Message was edited by: roland 2006-03-12 21:10 ]
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10913
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2005-10-15 12:08 am Permalink
I don't think one can expect Tiki Boyd's to be another Trader Vic's, and write about it like a restaurant reviewer. Yes, if they plan to survive, they gotta be able to compete, but maybe they can, as a low budget dive. From what I have seen on their website, I view it more like Tiki concept art, in a good way.
What would you do if you had no money, no backers, and only a small group of friends with a love for Tiki and no place to go? Make a nice home bar, or, what Boyd apparently did, lend your expertise and objects to a space that is public, to help create SOMETHING like a Tiki Bar.
If the intention is correct, it is better than doing nothing at all, and hopefully it will grow and develop.
Years ago some Denver nightclub owner opened a Tiki "Club" using "borrowed" Bosko art and O.A. stuff, and it bombed, so let's hope this more personal attempt will work.
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Molokai Mike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 26, 2003
Posts: 505
From: the birthplace of the Mai Tai
| Posted: 2005-10-15 11:59 am Permalink
The fact that Denver finally has a Tiki bar is a cause for celebration in itself. I agree with Bigbro, that one should not expect every little Tiki bar to be on the scale of Trader Vics, with Pu pu platters and waiters etc. Most bars are not even licenced to serve food. Sure, things did seem a little disjointed, but hell, they've only been open for a couple months - give them a chance !!
Secondly, the fact that they've taken a former sports bar (in the Ramada Inn) and gave it a Tiki make-over is a bold move, especially on a street that has a bunch of bars !! One less Sports bar and one more Tiki Bar in Denver - I'll drink to that !!
I was in Denver this last weekend and thought I'd check it out. I didn't know what to expect, having heard some negative things about Boyd and the neighborhood. On the way, we got lost and I called the number on the website. "Is this Tiki Boyds ?" I asked. They replied "No, East Coast Restaurant" I all but gave up at this point. Finally arrived at the Ramada, amid a rain storm. Walking through the lobby, I immediately noticed the tell tale signs of a bamboo entrance. The strained, scratchy vinyl sounds of "We're going to the Hukilau" eminated as I walked in, and I was happy!! We sat at the bar, ordered crinks as introduced ourselves as being from the Bay Area. Almost immedialtely, we were approached by the GM, Aaron Specht who toured us aroung the place and explained the work in progress, that included a recently opened "private booth" area, which is killer. He also explained that the controversial Boyd, a well know and respected figure in the Denver underground, was called on to undertake the decor, but he does not have a financial or managerial stake in the bar at all.
Downside... The bar really needs a cocktail menu. Also the tables and chairs (overstock from the restaurant next door) seem out of place, as do the sports TV sets.
Upside...Exotica vinyl played on that old relic - the turntable. Awesome Black Velvet paintings, cool light fixtures and Tiki masks. The decor needs to come together, which I'm sure it will. (When we opened Conga Lounge, it took us a full year before we had the bar looking the way we had intended)
I'm sure these guys will be rocking a few months from now. Give them a chance - they definitely deserve it. Good luck Aaron. Here's hoping Tiki Boyds will revive Tiki in Denver - long live Tiki Boyds!!
The Oasis in the Ramada
I especially liked the velvets and the lights
Myself with the MG/partner Aaron Specht (left)
[ This Message was edited by: Conga Mike 2005-11-11 14:01 ]
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Humuhumu
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 3536
From: San Francisco
| Posted: 2005-10-15 12:12 pm Permalink
Hey Conga Mike - I fixed the formatting of the [img] tags, but it looks like the location of the images on your server isn't right, and I can't fix that, I'm afraid!
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Critiki - Ooga-Mooga - Humu Kon Tiki
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Humuhumu
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 3536
From: San Francisco
| Posted: 2005-10-17 4:08 pm Permalink
Conga Mike emailed me his pictures, and I've added them to his post.
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MrBaliHai
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 01, 2002
Posts: 788 | Posted: 2005-10-30 3:08 pm Permalink
I spent a very pleasant evening at Tiki Boyd's last night, chatting with Mr. Rice about a wide range of topics, both tiki and Fortean, and sampling the excellent drinks. I'm very impressed at how much they've gotten right in the short time they've been open.
They have drink menus now (although I couldn't read them because the lights were so low... ), and Boyd assured me that they are looking for ways to tikify the shabby barstools and tables, along with building a new waterfall similar to the one that graced the original lounge. The music was wonderful, and the place was quite busy by the time I left.
My only suggestion was that they add a few cocktails that are a bit less fruity than their current offerings, since I prefer drinks with multiple rums, lime juice, and just a smidge of syrup or liqueur, but that's just my personal taste.
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Weblog: Eye of the Goof
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tiki-el
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Oct 15, 2005
Posts: 67
From: just out side Boulder
| Posted: 2005-10-31 4:03 pm Permalink
I think that place is great. I'll be a regular there.
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RockstarDenver
Member
Joined: Nov 13, 2005
Posts: 1 | Posted: 2005-11-13 01:34 am Permalink
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[ This Message was edited by: RockstarDenver 2005-11-13 13:37 ]
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