Tiki Time: Exotical

As much nostalgia as I have for the places that have, after years of return visits, become part of our wacky tacky repertoire, there is something so exciting about discovering and putting a "new" landmark on our map!  In fact, my favorite part about writing this blog is getting suggestions of cool places to visit from wacky tacky aficionados.  I love getting a tip, gassing up the wacky wagon, and hitting the road to explore!  When our pal told us about Exotical in Downey, CA, we could hardly wait to go on a tiki adventure.

It was just at the very end of last year, thanks to some good friends, that we found a gem among the greater Los Angeles landscape, the city of Downey.  You might have read our blog posts about the City of Downey's Rose Parade float and our grub session at Bob's Big Boy Broiler, but we just knew that we hadn't exhausted all of the fun that Downey had to offer.  In fact, just down the road from Bob's is Downey's answer to crystal blue waters of the tropics - Exotical Hawaiian Apparel (est. 1964).

Family owned and operated since day one, Exotical offers a bounty of Hawaiian shirts, MuuMuus, cabana sets, hats, leis, and plenty more Polynesian goods and apparel for the kanes and wahines in your life.  Beautiful music whisks patrons away to islands as they peruse rack upon rack of flowered shirts.  

We thought she couldn't get any taller!

A selection of children's cabana sets

If the canned music isn't enough, there is a whole shelf of ukuleles, an inherited collection of the owner, that can be tested out.  He said that he didn't have the patience to learn the instrument himself, but he loved hearing others play.  It didn't take Mary but a few moments to tune one up and start to strum.

You can see that she test drove more than one model.

And then continued her musical tour of the islands on the drums

Unsatisfied by instruments alone, here she is trying her
hand at poi balls.  Out of fear, I took this photo from
a distance.

The neatest part about Exotical is that there is dead stock Hawaiian clothing mixed among the new offerings.  When the owner saw us picking out some of the vintage stuff, he offered to take us to the storage room out back to look through some additional racks of clothing; we didn't have to think twice.  Of course, on the short walk back there, visions of Shaheen danced in our heads.  Well, there was a Shaheen...

...but it was a 70's/80's style that just wasn't quite
what we were looking for

Back inside the store, there was still so much to see.  Our favorite part of the decor was the dressing rooms.  The women's dressing rooms were styled after the architecture of Polynesian longhouses and each booth was upholstered in an animal print!  Exotical is such a luau for the eyes, that I forgot to get any pictures of me; don't be too downhearted.

The men's dressing room was not as inspired, but had
cool wall paper and a neat tiki lamp.

Because we are the closest point to Hawaii on the mainland, there is so much of the island lifestyle present in Southern California; sometimes, I think we're just "Waikiki East."  

I'm aware of the childishness, but when I see all these leis, I can't help but
think of a million "lei" jokes/puns.  I'll just stick with the Wayne's World
classic, "Come on you wanna lei me"...

One of my favorite representations of the island is my nephew.  Born on Oahu to my sister and my islander bra-in-law, with a middle name like Pomaika'i O'Kalani, there is no doubting his heritage.  We didn't buy much at Exotical during our visit, but we couldn't resist picking up a little something for our favorite "hapa haole."  

The living embodiment of the Hula Boy doll above, no?

Is it wrong to be jealous of a two year old?  He is everything I will never be - perpetually tan, curly of hair, and just so dang cute!!!  It seemed weird walking up to the checkout with a pink set, but this kid is the only person in our family who could pull it off.  Honestly, he would look cute in a paper sack!  On second thought, maybe I should have saved my money and just put him in a paper sack.

The "little grass shack" check stand

So, if you wanna go back to your little grass shack, but you can't afford the fare to Kealakekua, be sure to stop into Exotical to get your island fix.

Call me indecisive, but I really found it hard to pick a version of "My Little Grass Shack."

So here is Arthur Godfrey, Teresa Brewer, and The Andrews Sisters all singing the same tune.

Exotical

8136 Firestone Blvd.

Downey, CA

(562)869-0575

www.goexotical.com

Cheers & Aloha!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Bob's Big Boy Broiler

Bob's Big Boy Broiler - Downey, CA

In the heart of Downey, CA now stands a monument to true "California Cuisine," namely, Bob's Big Boy Broiler.  Bob's "Big Boy" hamburger was the creation of Glendale's own Bob Wian in 1936.  After changing hands a few times over the years, the Big Boy corporate headquarters are now located in Michigan.  Bob's Big Boy restaurants are franchised, but the owners of the Downey location have done it right by acknowledging the history of the chain and the history of it's location - including all of the brilliant neon!

The BBB Broiler originally opened in 1958 as Harvey's Broiler.  In the 60's, the restaurant was sold and became the original Johnie's Broiler (subsequent Johnie Jr.'s opened around Southern California).

Harvey's Broiler
Compare this late 50's view of "The Broiler" to the new image at the
end of the post; they truly did a thorough and thoughtful restoration.
(Source)

Johnie's Broiler
In a nod to the restaurant's past, BBB has saved the Johnie
from the sign and has it displayed at the entrance to the parking lot.
(Source)

For decades, the iconic broiler signage heralded both savory and sweet delights for drivers on Firestone Boulevard.  In sadder days, the building languished as a car dealership and eventually, was partially demolished by an unscrupulous landowner before preservationists and concerned citizens intervened to save the landmark.  Fortunately, the BBB corporation stepped up and did a faithful recreation/expansion of the original building.  We're happy because the finishes are attractive, comfortable, and steer away from the ubiquitous red/white or magenta/aqua color combinations that plagued "retro" diners for so many years.

Beautiful signs abound!

The California landscape surrounding the restaurant is
beautiful but clearly, they need to do some weeding.

One of the early BBB uniforms.
In my opinion, the atmosphere could only be helped
 by having the wait staff wear these again.

I love those cantilevered, button-tufted barstools
almost as much as I love terrazzo floors! 

Cool light fixtures

Mr. Tiny is still on his crummy diet, so you'll have to be satisfied
 with a picture of Mary attacking her monster burger!

In terms of the food,  Mary thought it was better than the Burbank location.  The soda fountain treats must've been delicious because EVERY table in the whole joint ordered a brownie, fudge sundae (with the one exception ordering a banana split)!

BBB did a great job at restoring the broiler
building and maintaining the period details.
Heck, even the litter outside is old-timey! 

Our Downey adventure didn't begin or end with Bob's, we decided to drive throught the surrounding neighborhoods and check out more of what Downey had to offer.  After our New Year's experience, with the people and the parade float of Downey, it should not have come as any surprise that I liked what I saw.

I would never have guessed that my dream house would be found in Downey.
My favorite houses have always been ones that look like a child's drawing
of a house.  And while I have absolutely no political aspirations whatsoever,
 I dream of living in a white house.  True, the landscaping could stand a little
 revision and a walk up to the front door, but the basic symmetry, quaint
charm, and green roof really send me. 

We also caught a glimpse of this mid-century modern house that was painted
the most golden of goldenrod hues.  The garden was a beautiful mix of
tropicals and succulents.

In our travels we came across some sweet civic art in the City of Paramount.
I am a sucker for primary colors, but the undulating form of skewered pennants
 is what really sold me.

Bob's Big Boy Broiler

7447 Firestone Blvd

Downey, CA

(562)928-2627

www.bigboy.com

Bob's Big Boy Broiler on Facebook

Oops,  I almost forgot to include our Big Boy!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Moses Supposes His Toeses are Anthuriums: "Enchanted Paradise" The Downey Rose Float

One of only five parade floats left in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade that is still self-built (not designed/built/created by a professional float company), the City of Downey's entry into this year's Rose Parade was entitled "Enchanted Paradise."  We were fortunate enough to be invited to the top secret location in Downey, CA to see the float as a veritable army of local volunteers glued, seeded, and flowered the float in preparation for its January 2 debut.  As you know, tiki culture is a big slice of the wacky tacky pie, so we couldn't wait to see what the citizens of Downey had designed; "pure tropical splendor" is the only way to describe this offering to the tiki gods.

An artist's rendering of the float
(Source)

Every float begins as a scale model.
Along the sides of the float-staging area are models of previous float designs.

Design and fabrication of the float began in February of last year. 

The City of Downey Rose Float should really be called
The People of Downey Rose Float as no public funds are
allocated for the entry.  Every bloomin' bloom is placed by
the hands of volunteers and all monies are funded by
private donations and fundraisers.

Mary & Merle
Merle has been deeply involved in the city's parade entry for
 the last 12 years and has been the official float driver for the last eight.
The Downey float has the furthest to travel just to get to the parade route.
At no more than five miles per hour, the trek to Pasadena takes about six hours. 

Our tour guide explaining the process of applying
pulverized peas and orchids to metal frames.

Dried, crushed peas are adhered directly to the metal frames.
Orchids are hand-glued to clear, drinking straws and then
 slipped onto the arms of these "palm fronds."

A hall full of Downey residents preparing for the big day.

This picture shows the volcano portion of the float.
Its hydraulic hinges allowed the volcano to be lowered
for clearance under freeway overpasses.

Giant orchids

It was all starting to feel a bit like
Alice in Wonderland.

The smoking tiki god waiting to be dressed in bark and seeds.

Another tiki god in a state of semi-dress.
This figure was animated and played the drum during the parade.

Detail of the thatched-roof structure that shaded some of the riders.

This was but a small fraction of the bowers of flowers that were waiting
to find homes  on Enchanted Paradise.

Just a few specimens of flora waiting to be applied to the float.

I don't know about other Southern California residents, but at our house, we always watch the KTLA coverage of the parade.  There is nothing like the passive-aggressive banter of longtime commentators, Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards.  My favorite quote of the parade was when Bob said to Stephanie "There is no end to your limitations."  But I was actually a bit disappointed in KTLA's coverage.  I was so emotionally invested in the Downey Rose Float and I thought they skimmed over it a little too quickly.  Viewers didn't even get a glimpse of the working water slide!  Here are a few screen grabs of the float.

We were happy that the Downey Rose Float did win The Founders' Award for the Most Beautiful Float designed and decorated by local volunteers.  Was it a little bit wicked of us to gloat in the fact that the biggest, longest, heaviest, and probably most expensive float in the parade featuring surfing dogs went over like a lead balloon in front of the KTLA cameras - wacky tacky roots for floats that are a little less corporate and little more homespun!

Our pre-parade tour guide, Charles Phoenix, Ambassador of Americana, aboard the Downey Rose Float.
(Photo by San Buena Ventura - Conservancy via Charles Phoenix Facebook page)

My official,  Downey Rose Float Association commemorative pin

I have never spent much time in the City of Downey.  I knew that it was home to the oldest standing McDonald's.  I knew that The Carpenters got their start there.  I knew that Porto's Bakery had recently opened a new location there.  What I didn't know was how proud I would be of the people of Downey and their float after our brief interlude.  wacky tacky is predicated on the principle of community and a "do-it-yourself" work ethic.  As Bob Eubanks said, "Downey always comes through, don't they."  They sure do, Bob; they sure do.


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny