Barney is back, baby!<\/p>\n
Naah, we\u2019re not talking about the purple dinosaur. \u201cBig Barney,\u201d the monolithic Moai figure, is once again towering in front of the Mai-Kai<\/a>, greeting guests as they enter the Oakland Park restaurant.<\/p>\n Originally carved by artist Barney West, the tiki-fab titan has stood its ground since the mid-1960s<\/a>. Then Hurricane Irma brought it down in 2017. But now \u201cBig Barney II\u201d \u2014 a 25 foot re-creation of the original \u2014 was unveiled Oct. 3<\/a> at the eatery known globally for its tropical menu, cocktails, decor and stage show featuring fire-knife dancing and Oceanian music.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to finally see the new tiki here at the Mai-Kai,\u201d manager\u00a0Kern Mattei told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. \u201cWe\u2019ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time, but seeing it standing here in person is something special. What\u2019s been even more exciting is watching our guests\u2019 reactions. People stop, take pictures, talk about it, and you can see the excitement on their faces. It is already becoming part of the Mai-Kai story.\u201d<\/p>\n Mai-Kai kahunas will be thrilled to learn that the new Barney follows West\u2019s original design, carved from hard foam (instead of wood), then painted and finished by artists \u201cTyphoon Tommy\u201d Allsmiller and Scott \u201cFlounder\u201d Scheidly<\/a>. Big Barney II rejoins the smaller Little Barney carving on the opposite end of the property, which was also recently restored, bringing the duo back together for the first time since the hurricane.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an artist, you always hope your work will mean something to people, and seeing that connection is what makes projects like this so special,\u201d Allsmiller <\/a>said. \u201cThere\u2019s something really satisfying about stepping back and seeing the finished statue in its home, knowing how much work went into bringing him back. Big Barney is more than just a sculpture. He\u2019s a landmark, a piece of South Florida history, and part of what makes the Mai-Kai such a unique place.\u201d<\/p>\n Mai-Kai mavens may also recall that a burst sprinkler pipe<\/a> caused major damage, forcing the formally titled Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show to shutter from 2020 to 2024 for a more than $20 million makeover.<\/p>\n \t\t\t