Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en Does California!

We've just returned from 10 fabulous days in California, where we taught a symposium at Tiki Oasis, in San Diego!  It was called "How to Throw a Mid-Century Tiki Patio Party" and we were thrilled at the turnout and all the nice people we met!  Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend:

Albie's Beef Inn, a great mid-century steakhouse in San Diego.

The Deadhead Rum trailer, which had a great tiki bar inside!

After Tiki Oasis we drove up to the Bay Area, where we visited many tiki establishments, saw lots of friends and shot the next "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" episode at the fantastic Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, in Alameda!

They were really great to us and we so appreciate it!  The episode will be online September 3!

We also got a chance to check out the Tonga Room, which feels like you stepped into a 1930s film:

The amazing Smuggler's Cove, which is both tiki AND nautical, and where owner Martin Cate gave us the "tiki nerd tour."

And of course the famed Trader Vic's Emeryville, where we had a terrific lunch and cocktails:

We owe huge thank yous to Tiki Oasis, the many fabulous friends who showed up on school nights to visit with us at various establishments along the way, Forbidden Island, Will Viharo, for putting us in touch with Forbidden Island, Smuggler's Cove, both Jennifers, and our friends Steve and Greg, who were such great hosts in SF (along with their fab canines, Buddy and Wendy)!  We miss you all already!

Getting ready

I can't believe we're leaving for Tiki Oasis in three days!  I've got a lot to do before then, although my suitcase (45 pounds at its last weigh in) has already left.  We will be paying for an extra bag.  We're taking everything but the kitsch-en sink!

In other news, check out our new console hi-fi -- a street find yesterday!

I'm very excited!  It even comes with the schematic and manual, so that Paul can fix it if it doesn't work!  (We haven't tried yet because the cord was cut off.)

New "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" episode online tomorrow morning, if we don't drop dead first!

the tally so far

The checked bag is at 38 pounds.  That's without toiletries, one pair of shoes that I have to take, hair curlers and most kitchen items.  The carry on is crammed with printouts, a tiki and swizzle sticks.  More printouts are yet to come.  Paper weighs a ton, particularly when you have 250 copies of everything.  Still hoping NOT to have to ship anything, but when Paul wants to take a 35 pound sound system (the things we do for showbiz), I get skeptical.

packing progress

I'm starting to get things near suitcases, if not actually in them.  I keep adding to my symposium, which means adding stuff to take...

Packing

I just pulled out my suitcases, so that I can begin trying to figure out how much I can realistically pack and carry myself to Tiki Oasis and how much I'm going to have to ship ahead.  Oh, boy, this is going to be tougher than I thought.  First of all, my poor, falling apart (I admit it was cheap) suitcase is heavy even with nothing in it.  When I cram it with clothes, shoes, hair curlers, jewelry, recipe cards, kitchen items, decor, swizzle sticks and sundry other items it will no doubt weigh more than me.  I'm trying to overlook the fact that several of the seams are a little worn.  I'm hoping NOT to have to resort to duct tape, but better that than having to jump onto the luggage carousel to collect my belongings. 

As for the carry on, I hope the small suitcase I have will pass the size test.  I need every bit of this space and more.

I'm glad I have a week to work this out.  Or at least to fret.