More Weekly Review Than You Can Shake a Stick at (Friday September 21, 2007)

It's true. I've been a bad boy not producing much fresh content and simply relying on the likes of YouTube, the BBC etc for posting material. Hey, what can I say? It was a fun summer (if not a warm one here in London). Now that autumn's here, I've got all sorts of goofy ideas (especially for October). As for this past week, I finally managed to write a new post for my I ♥ T-Shirts series - this one about a Tee I got while at the Hukilau in Ft Lauderdale. I also ...

- happened upon a really yummy Honolulu Food Blog,

- added a few more pics from my recent trip to the Jersey Shore,
- updated Rapa Nui News,

- interviewed one of my favourite artist, Michael Murphy and ...

- had lunch at one of East London's best caffs.

Have a great weekend,
Tiki Chris

Below is a list of recent posts from four blogs that I administer: ontoLondon, ontoTravel, Rapa Nui News, and Tiki Chris. Each Friday, I hope to provide a weekly review of what I've posted. If a particular blog interests you, keep in mind that I’ve been blogging since well before this past week. You may want to take a look through the archives of any blog that interests you. Thanks.

ontoLondon
http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/

Site feed URL: http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
London Daily Photo: Not a Hot Desk Office
London Daily Photo: Westbourne Grove
Surf's Up, London!
London Daily Photo: Private Club
Staying in London Hotels Shouldn't be a Comedy
London Daily Photo: Beer and Roses
Londonist asks "What’s for Lunch?" Castle Sandwich...
London Daily Photo: Do Not Enter
London Architect/Artist Michael Murphy Interviewed...
London Daily Photo: Pine-oak-eo's
Creativity Gives London a Leading Edge
London Daily Photo: Borough of Hackney


ontoTravel
http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
New Jersey: Bahr's
New Jersey: Moby's
Honolulu Food Blog: Too Cruel!


Rapa Nui News
http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Rapa Nui visitors drawn to moai and natural beauty...
US East Coast canoe trip inspired by what happened...
Rapa Nui "fascinates the human race"
Rapa Nui best for hiking or archaeology
Maori king to meet with representatives of Rapa Nu...
Possible fare includes Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui piece in Condé Nast Traveller
Henry Moore inspired by Rapa Nui art
Local views on New7Wonders
"Ignored nature, cut down all the trees, built 50 ...
Visit to Rapa Nui one of many trips for "Fil-Am la...
New7Wonders list = great itineraries
Trip to Rapa Nui fulfils life long dream
International Conference on Easter Island and the ...
"Collapse" not just in "isolated" Rapa Nui
Moai replica in Kerrville, Texas
Global sailing trip stopped at Rapa Nui
Luxury condo development inspired by moai
Moai to be topic at October meeting in Huntsville,...
Lowbrow moai in Vancouver
Ithaca museum displays Rapa Nui photography
Rapa Nui representative spoke at UN event
Monolithic Pop Culture References #65
Yoo by Philippe Starck features entrance inspired ...
"Bashed, bruised and beautiful" Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui engraving by Duché de Vancy used in langu...
New lodge opening on Rapa Nui
Canadian Nature Club to visit Rapa Nui

Tiki Chris
http://tikichris.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://tikichris.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Not Alotta Week in Review (Friday September 14, 20...
Out of the Frying Pan at Espace Uhoda (Liège, Belg...
Decorate Yourself with These Great Army-Type Dog T...
I ♥ T-Shirts: Hukilau 2007
Blow me Down! It be International Talk Like a Pira...

Quiet Village - Martin Denny on Hawaii Calls

I had no idea this video existed - what a brilliant song! It seems to only get better the more I listen to it.

Blow me Down! It be International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Arrgh! I almost forgot that today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Be makin' sure ye be checkin' out all the piratical postin' that be on this here cap'n's blog!

I ♥ T-Shirts: Hukilau 2007

Comfortable, practical, and these days the only accessory you need to make a statement, it's hard to imagine a world without the ubiquitous T-shirt. I ♥ T-Shirts takes a subjective approach to this modern fashion phenomenon with each post dealing with a favorite shirt. In this post, I take a look back a fun Tee I picked up at this year's Hukilau in Ft Lauderdale.

Shirt: Hukilau 2007
Designer: Kevin Kidney
Price: $20
Purchased: June 2007 at the Hukilau in Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Status: Still has that "new car" smell

Back in June, I had the good fortune of attending the 2007 Hukilau, "a celebration of midcentury Polynesian Pop splendor at the historic Mai-Kai in Ft Lauderdale, Florida" (click here for more Hukilau posts). Needless to say I had a fantastic time. While there, I also did a little shopping, picking up an official Hukilau T-shirt along with the rest of my plunder.

According to its accompanying tag, this "vintage soft" brown shirt made by Alternative Apparel, is "printed with water based inks to become more uniquely yours after each wash." It features Hukilau logo artist Kevin Kidney's phenomenal artwork. Kidney is perhaps best known for his work with Jody Daily designing more than 200 items to mark the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland. Kidney's Hukilau design is especially neato with its contemporary yet "could have been made decades ago" feel.


The 2007 Hukilau T-shirt is a cool little souvenir that quickly became a prominent standby when I needed something comfortable to wear these past few months, adding some much needed Florida sunshine to a more dreary than usual English summer.

Once home in London, I found that when I wore my Hukilau T-shirt I possessed super Tiki powers! Photography by Emiana © 2007

Interested in contributing a review of a favourite T-shirt or perhaps sending along a sample T to be reviewed? Click here to access my email address. Then, send an email with a brief description of your idea/product along with any relevant online links.

I ♥ T-Shirts is sponsored by Chongolio's Lost-Isle.

Decorate Yourself with These Great Army-Type Dog Tags

Choose the ones which say it best for you and yours (click the ad for a larger version):

Out of the Frying Pan at Espace Uhoda (Liège, Belgium)

Going to be in Liège around October? Here's an interesting exhibition of recent MFAs from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London .

Out of the Frying Pan ...
Mike Ballard (UK)
Marcin Dudek (Poland)
Lia Anna Henning (Germany)
Mark Melvin (UK)

28 September - 3 November 2007















Espace Uhoda
Rue Léon Frédéricq 14
B-4020 Liège
T & F: + 32 (0)4 222 02 60
Mobile: +32 (0)474 79 48 15
info@espaceuhoda.be
http://espaceuhoda.be/

Not Alotta Week in Review (Friday September 14, 2007)

Not a lot to report this week. I pretty much just geeked out on YouTube but did manage to get out and take some nice photos at the opening of James Jessop's "Night of the Demon" exhibition and to post this London Daily Photo of man's best friend. I also started (and haven't yet finished) a series of photos from a recent trip to New Jersey.

Have a great weekend,
Tiki Chris

Below is a list of recent posts from four blogs that I administer: ontoLondon, ontoTravel, Rapa Nui News, and Tiki Chris. Each Friday, I hope to provide a weekly review of what I've posted. If a particular blog interests you, keep in mind that I’ve been blogging since well before this past week. You may want to take a look through the archives of any blog that interests you. Thanks.

ontoLondon
http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/

Site feed URL: http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Photos from James Jessop's "Night of the Demon"
London Daily Photo: East End Job
London Daily Photo: Girls Night Out
3-in-1 Oyster Card - Barclaycard OnePulse
London Daily Photo: Ducks in a Row
Time for Another Zombie Walk? Sure! Why Not?
London Daily Photo: OHH LOVE TO LOVE YA BABY!!!
Londonist asks "What’s for Lunch?" Laxeiro
Rapping about Fire Safety is Hot!
London Daily Photo: Olive Oil
London: World's Most Expensive City for Dining Out...
London Daily Photo: Willow
London Daily Photo: Old Truman Brewery


ontoTravel
http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
New Jersey: Reserved Seating
New Jersey: Late Morning in Rumson
Girlie Men of the Taliban
New Jersey: Relish the Thought
Out of the Frying Pan at Espace Uhoda (Liège, Belg...


Rapa Nui News
http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #64


Tiki Chris
http://tikichris.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://tikichris.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Pretty Cool Week in Review (Friday September 7, 20...
Barry White Conducts the Love Unlimited Orchestra
Mimes for Jesus?
Releasing the Beast within
This Ain't No Picnic - the Minutemen!

This Ain't No Picnic - the Minutemen!

Whenever I get asked what kind of music I listen to, I always come up with an "I dunno. Everything," which is true. Anyway, Double Nickels on the Dime is a damn fine album, especially with the song "This Ain't No Picnic" as one of the tracks.

Releasing the Beast within

Even creepier than Mimes for Jesus? Furries!

Mimes for Jesus?

Just when I thought life had lost its "umph" ... Mimes for Jesus!

Barry White Conducts the Love Unlimited Orchestra

I wish I had an orange suit to wear while conducting my orchestra.

Pretty Cool Week in Review (Friday September 7, 2007)

Hey everybody. This has been a pretty cool week in Tiki Chris Land. Here's this week's wrap up.

I posted some pics from my adventures in that hotbed of culture known as South Pittsburgh, Tennessee. I also posted a link to a Juxtapoz photo essay of a recent Brooklyn outing with street artist extraordinaire Dan Witz. Thanks to Dan for showing me around and letting me hang while you pulled some brilliant pranks!

Over at ontoTravel, my old buddy Jon Dowda provided a stellar instalment of Expat Perspective, in which he recounts a bus ride from Durango to Ciudad Juárez. It's a really good read and is accompanied by some fascinating photos that Jon took during the trip.

And ... I finally got around to updating Rapa Nui News. Hopefully, I'll be able to work on it a bit more this weekend.

Thanks to everybody who left comments this week! It's nice to know you're enjoying the blogs.

Have a great weekend,
Tiki Chris

Below is a list of recent posts from four blogs that I administer: ontoLondon, ontoTravel, Rapa Nui News, and Tiki Chris. Each Friday, I hope to provide a weekly review of what I've posted. If a particular blog interests you, keep in mind that I’ve been blogging since well before this past week. You may want to take a look through the archives of any blog that interests you. Thanks.

ontoLondon
http://ontolondon.blogspot.com
Site feed URL: http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
London Daily Photo: Walking on Water
It's Tube Strike Time Again
London Daily Photo: Fresh and Wild
Here We (Don't) Go Again: TUBE STRIKE Update
London Daily Photo: Local
Francis Bacon's 'rent cheque' to be cashed
Faster Eurostar with New Service to St Pancras
Londonist asks "What’s for Lunch?" Meson Los Barri...
London Daily Photo: Fag Butts
TUBE STRIKE Update
London's Religious Ghettos
London Daily Photo: Brick Lane
London Graffiti Artist Tek33 Interviewed
TUBE STRIKE Ended/Commuter Chaos Continues
More TUBE STRIKE Madness to Come?
London Daily Photo: Chandelier at Canela
Another TUBE STRIKE Looming?
London Daily Photo: Keepin' Your Head above Water...


ontoTravel
http://www.ontotravel.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Air Travel on the Rise in China
Expat Perspective: Jon in Monterrey - "Don't Buy t...
The State of Foreign Tourism in Japan
New Jersey: Secret Spot
New Jersey: Reeds


Rapa Nui News
http://www.rapanuinews.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Moai-inspired topiary in Essex, England
Theme park in Shenzhen has "Easter Island" replica
Royal Caribbean to visit Rapa Nui
Critique of New7Wonders
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #63
Learn about highly advanced civilizations
Poet likens moai to loneliness
CLIA Cruise Lines to visit Rapa Nui as part of UNE...
Princess Cruises has extended voyages to Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui among new gap year destinations
Ocean "carve-up" to benefit Rapa Nui?
Lonely Planet one of best guides to Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui lunch event
Rapa Nui's mysteries
Kiwa hirsuta mention
Ancient Rapanui: "lab" island civilization
Rapanui part of ma'ohi culture
Costner's Rapa Nui was "homo-erotic fallacy"
Tucson, Arizona artist painted miniature golf moai...
Rapa Nui "classic example" of environmental collap...
Collapse by Jared Diamond reviewed
Recounting a global tour, Rapa Nui included
Travel article about Rapa Nui
Around the world tour on private jet to include Ra...
Iowans visit Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui's environmental problems to happen in Haw...
Rapa Nui visit all about the moais
"Monolithic" Pop Culture References #64


Tiki Chris
http://www.tikichris.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://tikichris.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Tiki Chris Update (Friday August 31, 2007)
Photos from the Blu, Ericailcane Exhibition at Laz...
What could be better than Momma's deviled eggs?
Firework City: South Pittsburgh, Tennessee
Dan Witz in Williamsburg (Photos for Juxtapoz)

Dan Witz in Williamsburg (Photos for Juxtapoz)

While I was offline during the last couple of weeks in August, I managed to squeeze a trip to Brooklyn into my schedule for a day out with one of my favorite artists, Dan Witz. Make sure to check out the complete Juxtapoz post!

Dan Witz in Williamsburg
by Chris Osburn
Juxtapoz
Tuesday, 04 September 2007










The first graffiti that Dan Witz remembers being aware of as a child are those World War Two era "Kilroy Was Here" drawings. Still amazed by the idea that simply drawing a horizontal line can "magically create space and become the top of a wall," Dan has adapted the "Kilroy" design to suit his own urban prankster needs. By updating the basic "Kilroy" concept, Dan creates provocative, and often hilarious, street art.

Click here for complete story and plenty of photos.

Firework City: South Pittsburgh, Tennessee

One of the most visually stunning places for me as a child was the small town of South Pittsburgh, Tennessee. Located off Interstate 24 about 20 miles west of Chattanooga en route to Nashville, the town is perhaps best known for its garish and massive Tennessee Alabama Fireworks World mega-shop, a just-off-the-exit pitstop for refueling, refreshments, beer, bottle rockets and pretty much any kind of firework imaginable. At night especially, TAFW and its competitors beckon weary travelers with the faux neon glow of thousands upon thousands of tiny light bulbs arranged into letters advertising their wares. Local folks call South Pittsburgh the "Las Vegas of the South". TAFW also sells souvenirs, stuff like "Life's a Gas: The Ultimate Fart Book", and other stupid non-essentials such as "hillbilly" cookbooks and, sadly, rows of racially insensitive trinkets.




As a kid, I would get so excited when I knew we were to drive by this monstrosity and beg my parents to stop. Usually, Dad worked it out so that a stop would serve as some sort of reward (or bribe) for good behaviour. Of course, he loved shopping for fireworks as much as I did and probably enjoyed shooting them even more so.



On a recent visit to Tennessee, I made a brief trip to South Pittsburgh with my camera. Unfortunately, I could only manage to get there during the day, thus, no pics of the spectacle of lights. However, I was able to stray from the roadside attractions and roam around a bit downtown, the official home of the National Cornbread Festival. The downtown, a few miles from the I-24 exit, might as well be a world away. Snuggled up to the side of a mountain, it's a sleepy, and rather attractive, little town hearkening back to a supposedly simpler time. Still, evidence of a citywide fascination for all things explosive (wrestling, firearms) was easily spotted.

Photography by Tiki Chris © 2007

What could be better than Momma's deviled eggs?

Momma's Deviled Eggs
Photography by Tiki Chris © 2007

Photos from the Blu, Ericailcane Exhibition at Lazarides Gallery

Click here for photos from the opening of SUPER FLUO, a collaborative exhibition at London's Lazarides Gallery of artwork by Italy's "modern day street insurrectionists" Ericailcane and Blu.










Photography by Tiki Chris © 2007
for Juxtapoz
Friday, 30 August 2007

Tiki Chris Update (Friday August 31, 2007)

Howdy folks. I'm back from a brief visit to the States. In the days to come, I'll be posting plenty about my jaunt through America (Georgia, Tennessee, New York and New Jersey). Until then, check out this post about some London graffiti that I stumbled upon in Brooklyn.

Before my trip, I managed to write the next in my I ♥ T-Shirts series, this one about a very fun shirt by Tiki Racer. Also, Paul Insect was kind enough to share his homage to Elvis with us, and Chris Mavergames provided his latest in ontoTravel's Expat Perspective. More fab reader contributed content came by way of photographer Anna Krsikova who submitted another great shot to ontoLondon's Daily Photos.

Apologies to the fans of Rapa Nui News for not updating it in a more timely manner as of late. Expect some fresh content by early next week.

Have a great weekend,
Tiki Chris

Below is a list of recent posts from four blogs that I administer: ontoLondon, ontoTravel, Rapa Nui News, and Tiki Chris. Each Friday, I hope to provide a weekly review of what I've posted. If a particular blog interests you, keep in mind that I’ve been blogging since well before this past week. You may want to take a look through the archives of any blog that interests you. Thanks.

ontoLondon
http://ontolondon.blogspot.com
Site feed URL: http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
London Daily Photo: DIY Window Washing
London Daily Photo: Mates
Date Farmers at the Leonard Street Gallery in Lond...
London Daily Photo: Loiterer
London Design Festival 2007
London Daily Photo: Mega-Sale
Londonist asks "What’s for Lunch?" Pogo Café
Free Beer Money from Saatchi & Saatchi
London Daily Photo: Tandoori King Business Lunch
Golden Age of Restaurants for London?
Roc Roc Radio - Kid Acne
Night of the Demon at Sartorial Contemporary Art
London Daily Photo: Rusty
London Daily Photo: Untitled
London Daily Photo: Afternoon Nap
London Daily Photo: Cat & Mutton
London Daily Photo: Holborn
Free bike route maps cover 4,000km across London
London Daily Photo: Concrete Jungle
Londonist asks "What’s for Lunch?" Bosphorus Kebab...
London No Longer a Top 10 Destination for US Vaca...
London Daily Photo: Cat Nap
Where to Stick Those Free London Papers
London Daily Photo: Hunting
London Daily Photo: Alarmed & Erected
London Daily Photo: Hanbury St
Zombie Walk in London: World Record Attempt
London Daily Photo: Old Truman Brewery
London Daily Photo: Jelly Coconuts
Londonist asks "What’s for Lunch?" Gourmet Burger ...
London Daily Photo: Legs
London Daily Photo: The World Famous
London Daily Photo: Columbia Road Flower Market
London Daily Photo: Columbia Road Flower Market


ontoTravel
http://www.ontotravel.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://ontotravel.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Havana, Cuba: "Cocktail Culture"
Expat Perspective: Chris in Freiburg - "One of the...


Rapa Nui News
http://www.rapanuinews.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://rapanuinews.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes for book club ...
Make your own Moai at the Woodbury Public Library
New7Wonders not including Rapa Nui


Tiki Chris
http://www.tikichris.blogspot.com/
Site feed URL: http://tikichris.blogspot.com/atom.xml
This week's posts:
A Week in London in Review (Friday August 10, 2007...
Spidey Meets the Yeti
I ♥ T-Shirts: Tiki Racer
Cyclops & Sweet Toof in Paris
Tiki Magazine Summer 2007 Issue Now Out!
Elvis: 30 Years Dead (Paul Insect)
Zombie Walk in London: World Record Attempt
Offline
Online
Dscreet in Brooklyn ...

Dscreet in Brooklyn ...

... Williamsburg to be exact. I happened up this piece by London graf artist, Dscreet, while strollin' down that hipster highway otherwise known as Bedford Street. Looks good.


See more of my pics of this piece over at Flickr.

Online

Okay. I'm back.

Offline

The Tiki Chris blogs are on hiatus while I go have some non-blog fun. See you in a couple of weeks!


Need something to read? Check out ...

5 Good Reasons
a sampler of things
Arkiva Tropika
Art of the State Blog - London
Barefoot Bloggin'
Before Chrome
BlasFamous
Chive Talk
cookiewonton
El Blog Diablogico
Emiana
Eye of the Goof
Great British Pubs
Hanford LeMoore
hooked
Hotels by City - London
Humu Kon Tiki
Jablog
jeansnow.net
johnny dollar's vault
Junkyard Clubhouse
Kahuna Kawentzmann News
Miles' Thing
On the Road Travel
Plep
Positive Ape Index
Ribble Valley Pubs
Skull-a-Day
Slice
South Pacific Travel Blog
Swanky's Blather
Tiki Magazine
Tiki Talk
Tikiblog
Virani le Beachcomber
Wooster Collective
World of Kane

Zombie Walk in London: World Record Attempt

This would have to happen while I'm out of town. Oh well:

Zombie Walk World Record Attempt!
Monday 27th August
Odeon
Leicester Square
London

Click here for more info.


Photography courtesy of jkprime's Flickr photostream.

Elvis: 30 Years Dead (Paul Insect)

Paul Insect celebrates the 30th anniversary of the King's passing:
























Image by Paul Insect © 2007

Tiki Magazine Summer 2007 Issue Now Out!

The Summer 2007 issue of Tiki Magazine, featuring some very cool cover art by Von Franco, is now available for purchase.

In it are my reports and photos from this year's Tiki Art Show in Amsterdam, the London Luau and the Hukilau (co-written with Jonpaul Balak) as well as a piece about a visit to the old Trader Vic's (now El Polinesio) in Havana, Cuba for my Polynesian Planet series.

Of course, there are plenty more great photos and articles in the issue for quality Tiki reading!
























Click here to subscribe to Tiki Magazine.

Cyclops & Sweet Toof in Paris

These guys have too much fun! Check out this Before Chrome photo-blog post from Cyclops and Sweet Toof's recent trip to Paris. Nice work!

les frigos
Before Chrome
August 8th, 2007 at 10:03 am











Click here for complete post.

I ♥ T-Shirts: Tiki Racer

Comfortable, practical, and these days the only accessory you need to make a statement, it's hard to imagine a world without the ubiquitous T-shirt. I ♥ T-Shirts takes a subjective approach to this modern fashion phenomenon with each post dealing with a favorite shirt.

Shirt: Tiki Racer
Designer: Tiki Racer
Price: £24.80
Purchased: Gift from artist
Status: I wear it once every couple of weeks

With last month's Artist Profile of Tiki Racer, I thought it a perfect opportunity to write about a Tee that I truly love and often wear: the official Tiki Racer T-shirt! This sturdy black 215 gram combed cotton shirt fits well - and to be all cotton has shrunk very little in the several months that I've owned it. I love the vinyl cut design of the little helmeted Tiki dude holding a steering wheel. And using the Tiki's eyes as racing goggles is a very clever idea. The strip of mysterious Tiki Racer icons on the back of the shirt is cool as well. I especially like the cute, wonky skull.

To be honest, I usually place this T-shirt at the bottom of any stack of clean shirts because I'm so apt to choose it over most of the others. That trick usually works ... until I start rummaging around for something to keep the hum-drum ordinariness of daily life in check. Then, this Tee races right back to the top of the heap!

Click here to visit the Tiki Racer Gift Shop and get your own official Tiki Racer T-shirt!
























Interested in contributing a review of a favourite T-shirt or perhaps sending along a sample Tee to be reviewed? Click here to access my email address. Then, send an email with a brief description of your idea/product along with any relevant online links.

I ♥ T-Shirts is sponsored by Chongolio's Lost-Isle.

Spidey Meets the Yeti

On so many levels, this clip from the classic Electric Company TV show is brilliant, if only because we get to see Morgan Freeman not being typecasted as a "magical negro".