It's like South Beach in Baltimore. I love it! This is very cool and affordable.

We need to keep this a secret for as long as possible. We don't need the Ed Hardy, Affliction, stripper crowd to find out about this. I went yesterday for the first time and it was great. Nice crowd and a beautiful day in general.

I promise i won't tell anyone. Sounds like a nice place to forget what city you're in.
Any word on how the burgers are?

All secrets get out eventually. Love that you posted about this Friday... I've been looking at it from Fells for weeks and thinking it was Little Havana. I went this morning and loved it, followed it up with a good brunch, and intend to be back!

didn''t we warn you Sessa!!!! Stop telling people about this place. Go check out other bars in the area. I walked by Corks tonight and they had their sign up for their lounge. The Tiki Barge sucks I say, just joking!!!

We had crabs at Noble's next to Cork's- grabbed our bathing suits and jumped in the pool over at the Tiki Bar and loved it! Please don't tell anyone else- if you do I'm going to by a 49.99 kiddie pool, a batery operated blender,some strawberies from the farmer's market, a bottle of Myer's and find your house and set up there Sessa.

Sam,why don't you worry about finding me,instead of a nice new and cool hangout.!!!

This is best thing that's happened to the Southside! Thanks, Bud Craven, for your genius and hard work. @Paulettew There were some Ed Hardy, Affliction sightings on Saturday. But that won't keep me away. Genius. Pure genius!

Homer! I miss you, buddy. I was told you're dead, though. That makes me sad.

@Tif -- Bring it! I'll get the inflatable palm trees and Bob Marley CDs.

This brings to mind- after 10 years of living in Baltimore, I had never been to Hampden. Some friends decided to take me on a our. As soon as I say "this looks like any normal neighborhood"-- we come upon a woman who looked in her sixties but may have been in her 40's sun bathing in a bikini in a kiddie pool in her row home front yard with a Natty Boh in one hand and a cigarette dangling out her mouth as she reclined. That's the life.

@Tif -- Hilarious. Have you ever read some of the Overheards/Say Whats on Sugar Freak's blog? They also run in B.

http://sugarfreak.typepad.com/mobtownshank/overheard/

Oh, you know it's fun when people are attempting synchronized swimming at 2:30 on a Monday afternoon!

A couple of girlfriends and myself decided to try out the new and exciting tiki barge yesterday afternoon. It was everything we expected and more! The staff was welcoming and attentive, while the patrons were exactly what I was hoping for( no stripper sightings or guido's). We really enjoyed ourselves. We plan to make the tiki barge our new hot spot on mondays from here until the end of summer.

Kristen, if you're going to shill for the place, at least post a picture of you and your girlfriends in bikinis

What puzzles me is, the place doesn't need any shilling. Maybe she was authentic. My brain hurts.

That wasn't shilling, it sounds pretty legit to me. I just wish everybody would go to the Merritt Pool and leave the Tiki Barge a lone.

Sam, I went to the Merritt Pool the other day and had a great time, hot and beautiful people there. The food was out of this world, especially for a pool bar. The bartenders were great. My friends and I had such a great time there, it is the new hot spot in Baltimore.

That's shilling.

@sam -- your photo guy was there yesterday, but he didn't ask for my permission to post my photo. maybe i'm hampden ugly (my margarita and cigarette were alongside the pool) but how rude!!!

@anon;) -- that particular merrit pool doesn't exist. if it did, i'd be a member ;-)

I`m not surprised at the success.Bud Craven strikes again; Bud is was of the most daring and creative people I know! Can`t wait to check it out.