Tiki Cocktail Goddess Calu Cordeira. Photo courtesy of Calu Cordeira.
By Torchy Taboo
Contributing Writer
From Tiki-inspired dance to tattoo arts, this week’s Kool Kat Calu Cordeiro is a well-established and highly sought-after talent in Atlanta’s retro-style nightlife. We talked to her about many things Tiki including the upcoming Rockabilly Luau on Saturday Aug. 4 at the Holiday Inn Northlake (check out our full preview here). To those unfamiliar with Polynesian pop culture, it may seem like more glibly appropriated ethnic flavor – patio torches and grocery store Mai Tai mix. But to a true-blue Tiki lover like Calu, it’s a smoldering yet soul-soothing treat for all the senses. We share a deep adoration for the beauty of these cultures popularized in mainland America in the mid-20th century, so I asked about some of the ways she works to bring to Atlanta the instant vacation that Tiki events offer so easily.
Aloha! Tell our ALTRetro readers, when did you first become a Tiki-phile? What drew you to the genre?
I have always loved all things Tiki. I guess it comes from my mum and step-dad. Trader Vic’s was their fave restaurant. My first Trader Vic’s experience was in London at around 7ish. I was hooked.
I was lucky enough to have cocktails with your mother on one of her visits. It’s clear where you inherited your beauty and charm. You’ve been actively nurturing the Poly-pop scene from behind the bar here in Atlanta for a while; give us the scoop on your current Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesdays?
Mai Tai Tiki nights are something I invented for myself to make my bartending week more pleasurable [and] bring a li’l bit of the beach to ATL bars. I have been doing this for over 10 years and will take it with me wherever I go. It now resides at the Dark Horse Tavern in the Virginia Highlands – Mai Tai Tahitan Tuesdays, 9 p.m.-Drunk.
Photo courtesy of Calu Cordeira.
I’m looking forward to your cocktails pool side this weekend. What are you looking forward to most about the Rockabilly Luau.
I am so excited to bring my drinks to the Rockabilly Luau. I just love making people drunk with my luscious libations. Well, that certainly works out nicely, ha, ha, ha.
You and I have been talking about setting up a cocktail class with the famous Tiki mixologist and author Beachbum Berry in Oct. Are you still game?
I would be honored to take any class pointers from Beachbum Berry, so yes!
I first met the Beach Bum at the world famous Mai-Kai [in Fort Lauderdale, FL], during the Hukilau, the East coast’s big annual Tiki festival. Are you up for a Tiki field trip to South Florida for next years festival and afternoons sipping Mutinies & Rum Barrels in the Molokai Bar?
The Hukilau!.Next year! It’s OOOOn!
You have some gorgeous skin art.
I started getting tattooed at 23 – and just from there went full force.
When did you decide to get on the other side of the machine?
I’m kind of at a stopping point [getting tattooed] except for fun things here and there and getting existing stuff finished, so now I like tattooing others. It’s just another medium of art for me.
What other talents have you that we haven’t seen yet? Are there Tiki mugs and carvings I don’t know about?
I love to paint, carve, sculpt, glue, sew, whatever. I love a challenge .
So what should we look for next from you?
My new love is hot yoga and at some point want to get certified for that – Hottikiyoga – watch out, ha,ha.
So as happy-hour called to us, she on her side of the bar and I on mine, I said Mahalo and settled back with a lovely rum concoction and let that little vacation in a glass wash in like the tide. Hope to see you all by the pool!
Subscribe to ATLRetro
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Aug. 6-12, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Aug 9th, 2012
@ 9:55 am:
[...] Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Aug. 20-26, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Aug 22nd, 2012
@ 1:29 pm:
[...] Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern tonight. Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. Crosstown Allstars rock the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance the night away at Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits. The Serenaders [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Sept. 3-9, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Sep 5th, 2012
@ 4:57 pm:
[...] Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern tonight. Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. Burning Time rock the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance the night away at Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Oct. 1-7, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Oct 3rd, 2012
@ 12:32 am:
[...] Jr brings back grunge at Variety Playhouse. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, October 8-14, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Oct 8th, 2012
@ 10:00 pm:
[...] survival? Come to FoxTale Book Shoppe for A RARE TITANIC FAMILY book signing at 6 p.m. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, October 15-21, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Oct 17th, 2012
@ 4:00 pm:
[...] second, THE CHILDREN WERE WATCHING (1961), examines school desegregation in New Orleans. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Oct. 22-28, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Oct 24th, 2012
@ 9:37 pm:
[...] Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab your horn and head over to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. J.T. Speed rocks the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack or you can blues it down with Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers at Northside Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Nov. 5-11, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Nov 6th, 2012
@ 10:46 pm:
[...] Tavern. Directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Nov. 12-19, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Nov 13th, 2012
@ 11:39 pm:
[...] Donen and Gene Kelly and starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Nov. 19-25, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Nov 19th, 2012
@ 9:30 pm:
[...] Scott, play at 6:30 p.m. Slim Chickens rustle their feathers at The Five Spot at 10 p.m. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Nov 26th, 2012
@ 7:33 pm:
[...] they play favorites from The Rat Pack, classic soul and great American songbook standards. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Dec. 3-9, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Dec 5th, 2012
@ 7:22 pm:
[...] they play favorites from The Rat Pack, classic soul and great American songbook standards. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Dec. 10-16, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Dec 10th, 2012
@ 7:38 pm:
[...] they play favorites from The Rat Pack, classic soul and great American songbook standards. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Dec. 17-23, 2012 « ATLRetro
on Dec 17th, 2012
@ 9:56 pm:
[...] they play favorites from The Rat Pack, classic soul and great American songbook standards. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Jan. 7-13, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Jan 8th, 2013
@ 11:14 am:
[...] Peck as “Atticus Finch”, Mary Badham as “Scout” and Robert Duvall as “Boo Radley”. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Jan. 14-20, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Jan 16th, 2013
@ 7:16 pm:
[...] legendary filmmaker, Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta: Jan 21-27, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Jan 21st, 2013
@ 10:56 pm:
[...] Tavern. Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, and Thomas Mitchell. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Feb. 4-10, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Feb 5th, 2013
@ 9:40 pm:
[...] SADDLES (1974) is this week’s retro cinema classic film at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Feb. 11-17, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Feb 13th, 2013
@ 12:16 am:
[...] a second week as the retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, Feb. 25-March 3, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Feb 26th, 2013
@ 1:38 pm:
[...] and Grace Kelly, is this week’s retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, March 4-10, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Mar 5th, 2013
@ 2:19 pm:
[...] FEVER (1977) is this week’s retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, March 18-24, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Mar 18th, 2013
@ 12:22 am:
[...] O’Hara, is this week’s retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, April 8-14, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Apr 9th, 2013
@ 7:28 pm:
[...] SUNSET BOULEVARD, this week’s retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, April 15-21, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Apr 17th, 2013
@ 4:14 pm:
[...] in 3D, in digital 3D, this week’s retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, April 22-28, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Apr 23rd, 2013
@ 12:58 am:
[...] BRAVO (1959), this week’s retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, April 29-May 5, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Apr 30th, 2013
@ 11:30 am:
[...] of Charles Burnett’s incredible Watts-lensed slice-of-life drama, Killer of Sheep (1977). Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, May 6-12, 2012 « ATLRetro
on May 6th, 2013
@ 11:13 am:
[...] PREFER BLONDES (1953), Northlake Festival Movie Tavern’s retro cinema classic this week. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, May 13-19, 2013 « ATLRetro
on May 13th, 2013
@ 7:22 pm:
[...] in BYE BYE BIRDIE (1963), Northlake Festival Movie Tavern’s retro cinema classic this week. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, May 20-26 2013 « ATLRetro
on May 21st, 2013
@ 1:31 am:
[...] Debbie Reynolds in Northlake Festival Movie Tavern’s retro cinema classic this week. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, May 27-June 2, 2013 « ATLRetro
on May 28th, 2013
@ 1:13 am:
[...] and Olivia Newton-John movie GREASE (1978) as the retro cinema classic this week! Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations during Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, June 3-9, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Jun 4th, 2013
@ 1:25 am:
[...] first in its June retro cinema classic series’ of Classic Summer Blockbusters! Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations during Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse [...]
This Week in Retro Atlanta, June 17-23, 2013 « ATLRetro
on Jun 19th, 2013
@ 12:58 am:
[...] its June retro cinema classic series of Classic Summer Blockbusters continues! Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations during Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse [...]