BarView
Tiki Lounge
By Kate Serpa
Photos by Philip Johnson
You may think of May as a ‘meh’ month. Only boring people get bored, Modesto! Here are some May holidays you can use as an occasion to drink (extra points if you make up your own themed cocktail): National Hoagie Day, Save the Rhino Day, Clean Your Room Day, No Socks Day followed by Lost Sock Memorial Day, Learn about Composting Day, photographer Philip Johnson’s birthday, National Tap Dance Day, National Escargot Day, Fatigue Syndrome day, Lumpy Rug Day, Waiter and Waitress Day, Mother’s Day, Sun Screen Day, Beverage Day, Bird Day, Twilight Zone Day, International Tuba Day, Oyster Day, Eat What You Want Day, and — ah, yes, and Cinco de Mayo, which is a relatively low-key holiday in honor of the Mexican Army’s fight for their freedom against the French during the 1862 Franco-American War. Cinco de Mayo is a relatively calm, quiet holiday, and is privately celebrated with sober reverence. You know I am totally messing with you.
Last Cinco de Mayo I was asked by a real-life French Canadian, amid the downtown live music, drinking, dancing, and horse riding, if this sort of thing was an ‘usual Saturday night’ kind of thing in Modesto. The answer was no, but it should be yes. There’s nothing like a man in a sombrero on a horse downtown late at night to make you question your sobriety. Cinco de Mayo is pretty much the only night of the entire year I’m willing to make it a tequila-only night, because I’m white as hell and that stuff brings out the crazy.
I am not a ‘shot girl’ very often, but somehow I always end up doing shots at the Tiki. This is likely because Tiki is an incredibly fun place to do shots. Actually, Tiki is a fun place for almost damn near anything — birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, days of observance, etc, etc. Phil talked me out of doing a tequila shot article because he knows me and knows I would have likely ended up loosing one of my shoes; so instead we decided to do a Mexican flag-themed set up, with a tequila shot in the middle for good measure. The lovely Michael LeRoy of the Tiki was so kind as to pour up some delicious red (vodka cran), white (Patron Silver), and green (apple martini) drinks that came together as a perfect Friday afternoon arrangement. Notable Tiki characteristics include an almost-always packed dance floor, live DJ Thursday through Saturday, indoor fire pit, smoke-friendly back patio, a sizable vodka selection, and attractive bartenders.
My only complaint about Tiki is that damn black light at the entrance which always reminds me that I don’t lint-roll my jacket as well as I should.
So celebrate May in style, ModestoView readers. Nearly every day is a damn holiday during that month so you have no excuse. I highly recommend heading over to Tiki for a flag-themed lineup of cocktails. The red and green cocktails can also be applied to Star Wars Day (you know, the light saber colors?) just in case you head over to Tiki on the 4th instead. Happy May, Modesto, and May the Fourth be with you.
Tiki Lounge Tuesday-Wednesday: Karaoke 9-2 Thursday: College Night Thursday & Saturday: DJ Invisible Friday: DJ Liquid 932 McHenry Ave., Modesto, CA www.facebook.com/TikiModesto<http://www.facebook.com/TikiModesto> www.tikimodesto.com<http://www.tikimodesto.com/>
