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Cocktail Culture and the Dearth of Modern Classics
Makara At Large
Live from the hidden heart of Da Nang, Vietnam, Makara at Large serves up spirited free-ranging dispatches on cocktails, cuisine, culture, and community.
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Latest posts
Đà Nẵng’s Lonely Heart: Awakening Culture & Luxury Commerce in Hải Châu District
"Between thought and expression lies a lifetime." ~Lou Reed, Some Kinda Love
MAKARA Beat
(with apologies to Kerouac)
On the Threshold of Paradise
Tiki and the Jade Tile Breezeway
From Arithmetic to Calculus: Classic Cocktails & Tiki Mixology
Simple classic cocktails, such as Negronis and Manhattans, have long been venerated as the apex of cocktail craft.
Everyday Genius: Vietnamese Street Food
In Da Nang, central Vietnam's principal city, a morning bowl of mì quảng—the regionally famous noodle dish with wide rice noodles, subtly spiced sauce, local herbs, and fresh shrimp, chicken, and egg—can be had for just 30K đồng, about $1.15.
Da Nang’s Best Nightlife
“…the night makes all plans vanish, makes all signs ambiguous, obliterates every trace of certainty.” ~Italo Calvino
Not-So-Far-East: The Scarcity of Tiki Bars in Asia
Tiki bars are a distinctly Western invention, but they owe much of their aesthetic and mythos to real and imagined visions of Asia and the South Pacific.
Hai Châu: The Urban Heart of Da Nang
When the majority of travelers think of Da Nang, it’s the beaches that come to mind: long stretches of sand, resort complexes, the predictable rhythm of leisure.
The Hidden Art of Escape: Makara Tiki Speakeasy
When most people think of a tiki bar, they picture something bold and unmistakable—a building shaped like a grass hut or a ship, or decorated with oversized tribal motifs, loudly announcing its presence with neon signs and island music. But the reality of tiki bars—especially the best and most interesting ones—is often quite the opposite. Martin Cate, founder of San Francisco’s legendary…