Folks,

This series, taking place on Sat. Nov. 21, Sat. Jan. 16 and Sat. Feb. 20, will explore some of Chicagoland's many faux-Polynesian hideaways serving tiki drinks in a tropical atmosphere.

Join us Saturday, November 21 for Stage One of the Tour de Tiki: South Side. Meet at Boulevard Bikes, 2535 N. Kedzie in Logan Square, at 6 pm, departing at 6:15. Ride ten miles southwest to Hoe China Tea, 4020 W. 55th St., near Midway Airport, for “the Best Chinese Food in Illinois” and tropical drinks in the shadow of a five-foot-tall tiki statue.

Catch the El home from the nearby Pulaski Orange Line stop, or if you’re up for more adventure, ride seven miles east along Garfield Boulevard to Hyde Park and the Cove, 1750 E. 55th, a (mildly) nautically-themed dive bar. After that we’ll stop nearby at the former location of the defunct Ciral’s House of Tiki, 1612 E. 53rd, featured in the Gene Hackman movie The Package.

From there we’ll ride nine miles up the Lakefront Trail to slightly swanky but still cool Trader Vic’s, 1050 N. State, the new location of the legendary tiki bar chain, in the heart of the Gold Coast’s “Viagra Triangle” nightlife district.

Cheers,

John Greenfield