Fri. July 9

Our favorite DJ, keyboardist-mixologist and former Del Fuego, Brother Cleve checks in: "We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave (as Kid Creole & The Coconuts sang many years ago)," he e-mails, "and what better way to deal with it than to revel in the tropicanality of it all! So to that end, I'd say the time is right to launch a new weekly tiki party, one that will feature exotic and tropical music and drinks and vibe - even though, sadly, the nearest palm tree is still about 1000 miles away."
It's sort of like our version of "California Dreaming." Sort of.
"Some long time friends of mine from the bar and nightclub business have opened a new spot in the Kendall Square complex called Think Tank," Cleve continues, "a self styled "bistro-theque" which functions as a restaurant, bar, lounge and dance club in the late nights. It's located across from the Blue Room and in the lower level beneath The Friendly Toast. We'll be launching "Freaky Tiki Fridays" as an afterwork affair to start off your weekend, especially for all you beachcombers that won't be able to get out of the city each weekend. Music starts at 5:30."

"Think Tank already features a number of tropical cocktails (owner Vincent Conte was bar manager at Pho Republique in its final years), and in addition each week we'll also feature a drink or 2 culled from the books by BeachBum Berry (grab his latest, Beach Bum Berry Remixed at Boston Shaker or your fave bookseller), the gentleman whose cocktail archeology unearthed the "lost" original recipes of the original mixologists such as  Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic. We'll also have party favors and other surprises in store. And be sure to come prepared to sample Think Tank's globally-influenced cuisine, including many Asian dishes that will feel like you've gone to the Kowloon, but without the indigestion."

1 Kendall Sq, 300 Bldg (lower level), Cambridge 617-500-3031 www.thinktankcambridge.com