Hello, Friends!
Welcome to Resident Modernist, the site formerly known as Adventures in Tiki.
Resident Modernist is a brand new blog that includes more things that tie into my love of modernism, food and history. I figured it was time to branch out a bit!
I apologize the blog has been a bit sparse this year. The whole virus/quarantine thing keeps me from going out, so I whether or not I write largely depends on how inspired I am. This year has been kind of tough, as far as that’s concerned.
What’s up with the name change?
I nearly tore my hair out coming up with a new identity for this blog. Because I wanted to write about other things in addition to Tiki, it became an ordeal to find a name that encompassed all of it. Eventually, I realized I didn’t need to do that. I chose two words I thought defined me pretty well.
When I go out and find cool things to see and do, I like to pick what locals do. It’s the residents who know where the treasures are within their communities. I enjoy being shown around when I travel, and I enjoyed showing others around when I lived in Texas.
And anyone who knows me knows I’m a champion of modern design, living, and art, and the word modernist describes me to a T.
What about the Tiki stuff?
There will still be lots of Tiki in my new blog. Come on, I just moved to southern California, which was ground zero for Polynesian Pop!
If you’d like to keep up with my new adventures, please subscribe to my blog. I have locked down my personal social media profiles and don’t usually accept friend requests from strangers, so if you’re on Facebook, you can follow me there. I hope you enjoy the new blog!
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Featured
Culture Over Cocktails: Going to the Heart of Tiki
A few thoughts on how cocktails have come to overshadow the true meaning of Tiki and the things that make it so special
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FeaturedNope, Tiki is not Canceled.
Why I’m More Optimistic About Tiki than Ever
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Featured
Why I Miss Tiki Central
Why Tiki Facebook groups are no replacement for Tiki Central, and why I’d love for Tiki Central to make a comeback and save us all.
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FeaturedHelping Tiki Bars Survive the Pandemic
With no end to the pandemic in sight, many of our beloved Tiki bars are struggling mightily just to stay alive. Learn a bit about what they’re going through and ways you can help them weather the storm.
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Featured20 Years of The Book of Tiki – Reflections With Author Sven Kirsten (Part 1)
This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Book of Tiki, the first book entirely dedicated to Polynesian Pop and its different facets throughout the mid-20th century. I sat down with author Sven Kirsten to ask a few questions and gain some insights about the book and about his experiences as an urban archaeologist.
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FeaturedTiki & the Cultural Appropriation Debate: Pt. 2
This follow-up to my last article elaborates on a few points I made and answers a few questions I was asked afterward. While I don’t support erasing Tiki and its history as a part of mid-century Americana, I do support a balanced approach to discussing it in today’s social context.
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FeaturedTiki And The Cultural Appropriation Debate
Wherever Tiki goes, an argument on cultural appropriation follows. But there are deeper questions I’d love to ask that I feel merit some consideration. This post examines Tiki’s definition, how I feel about it as a POC, and some of the unintended consequences of scrubbing our society of all references to it.
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FeaturedAlexander Girard at the Palm Springs Art Museum
I recently visited the Alexander Girard exhibit at the Palm Springs Art Museum, which runs through March 1st. Alexander Girard is one of my absolute favorite modern artists, so I thought I’d share some of my top exhibit highlights – check them out!
Resident Modernist 