Thursday, April 9, 2015

What a GRAND Grand Opening!

Sat., Feb. 28: It poured! All day! 

Despite the rainy weather, it was an incredible launch party! So much happened that day--live music, Tiki carving, killer Mai Tais and that guy from the latest Tim Burton movie...

Under a drizzling gray sky, I couldn't stop smiling all the way to the shop that morning. I knew it was going to be a good day! 

We have the nicest neighbors, for one thing. Mia from Ready Set Yo, located in the shopping center across the street, provided a complimentary coffee bar for our guests.

My sister, who drove across the state just for our Grand Opening, arrived with a BIG SURPRISE...MY MOM! 

Harpist John McColley set up under a sparking chandelier on the Patina Maison side. Beautiful music and a perfect setting!

A crazy dude with a chainsaw turned this...












...into this! Thanks for the shop-warming present, SurfSoulTiki Jeff Chouinard!



Since we couldn't set up our afternoon entertainment outside, we just moved a few things around and Voila'! House band...IN THE HOUSE!


We served bubbly & nibbles at the sales counter...and once the afternoon band cranked up (a rockin' 3-piece version of UNRB playing an energetic mix of ska, jazz and rock covers), the Mai Tai Bar got cranking too...We emptied a lot of rum bottles and I spanked a lot of mint!



At the end of the day, a tall mysterious gentleman came in and asked if I still had a particular chalkware statue of a jungle girl. Since she had been tucked away, waiting for a little touch-up, I immediately knew who HE was! 

His assistant had come in the day before, scouting random pieces for her boss, who happened to be the SET DECORATOR on the latest TIM BURTON movie, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, which had been filming in our area. The assistant spotted my exotic little gal hiding in the corner and took some photos of potential decor options.

So--He came in to claim her...and many other cool pieces (including a vintage rattan lamp & table, some antique books...) that I hope show up in the final version when it comes out next spring! This is the only pic I could find of my sweet Jungle Girl (above) and a tiny rickshaw that had just come into the shop a few days earlier. If they don't end up on the cutting room floor, maybe that will be Roadside Attraction's little connection to Hollywood!

Anyway--We just want to say a gigantic THANKS to everyone who came out in the rain to make our Grand Opening the best event EVER!!!

Mahalo & Cheers!
The Tipsy Gypsy & Tiki Dave

UPCOMING EVENTS: 
Sippin' Saturday, April 11--sample a recipe from one of Beachbum Berry's tiki cocktail books and get 20% off cocktail goods & gadgets, vintage glassware, etc...



3rd Thursday, April 16, 6-8 p.m.: Roadside Attraction + Patina Maison will be open till 8 p.m. for Sunset Shopping, refreshments, PLUS a Meet & Greet with MYSTERY AUTHOR Carol Perry, celebrating the release of her 2nd WITCH CITY installment, Tails, You Lose. (Our buddy shops, Julie's Cottage & Emporium 2, will also be open late on 3rd Thursdays. Stop by and visit them too, located at 13128 Indian Rocks Rd, across from Anona Methodist.)




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