Tiki Kiki

I owe my appreciation for a great cocktail to Chicago winters.

During the depths of a particularly harsh Midwestern winter, I found the fabled Three Dots and a Dash tucked into an unassuming River North alley.

The theatricality of tiki bars has a rich history of illustrated menus.

Vivid depictions of complex drinks in whimsical mugs or slender glassware, decked with just enough (or, far too much?) garnish to delight patrons.

To share this cocktail artform with friends, I began hosting a series of parties.

The term “kiki” originates from the Black and Latin LGBTQ+ drag subculture of the ‘80s and ‘90s as a way to describe social gatherings characterized by laughter, connection, and celebration. What a great way to describe these events! Illustrating an invite for each Tiki Kiki, their infamy and thematic flair grew with each new iteration.