Post #106871 by donhonyc on Sat, Aug 7, 2004 12:23 PM

On 2002-07-05 12:45, jukeboy56 wrote:
Sorry about your disappointment, Tommy. But let's be realistic here. Do you, or anybody on this board think that a 1950's tiki lounge, or rat-pack sleaze lounge, that was truly authentic in every detail could bring in enough business to stay open? Sure, it would be great as a museum of tiki, or a place to film the occasional movie scene, or a super clubhouse for the Tiki Central tribe. But, it wouldn't stay open more than a month.

I disagree! Last time I checked, which was very recently, both the Mai Kai AND Trader Vic's Atlanta (and I'm sure the other locations) stay true to maintaining the so-called 'pure' Tiki environment by playing the music, etc. that provide an alternative to the tired crap we hear everyday. And you know what? Business was just fine. In fact on my last visit to Vic's I was there on Thursday-Mai Tai night and I saw plenty of 20something/Paris Hilton generation type people streaming in. I was surprised yes, but happy to see that. No rap music, no MTV, none of that. Vic's Atlanta does have a TV on one end of the bar, but it is so unobtrusive, you hardly know it's there.

There are so many posts on this thread, I think I would need to book a vacation to read them all, but Tommy you're a cynical guy and I say Cheers to that my friend!! I'm with you all the way. I think people confuse cynicism with what should really be called accurate criticism, especially when it comes to commenting on the current state of Pop Culture. I have yet to go to Taboo Cove, but it sounds to me like they're doing what most people do in these circumstances....playing it safe. They are too scared to branch out and try something new (or in this case old) and different. That's why we have a billion radio stations in this country that just suck. That's why we have a world where Brittany Spears can fool a large audience into thinking she has talent, and make her a filthy rich millionaress. The music industry is dying, and I can totally see why.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. I'm grateful that I got to grow-up in arguably the last era of 'analog' pop culture (late 70s/very early 80s). Before MTV and all this other smelly rotten garbage we deal with these days. I don't know what the hell these kids are thinking now. They all seem to want to follow Paris Hilton and all that materialistic nonsense. Why would a generation of young people want to follow that. Today's Paris Hilton is tomorrow's shriveled up Zsa Zsa Gabor. I thought youth was about rebellion, NOT conforming to the material world. Besides if you ask me Paris Hilton looks like a Stork that lost it 's way to the aviary. Why in the hell do people think she's hot?

I don't think this is about getting older and being in you're thirties either. The generation gap is not the same today as it was in the 60s when the WWII generation was scratching it's head while observing the hippie/youth culture. Today if you are 30 years old or older you've seen enough alternative and wierd stuff to not be baffled by what young people are doing....except when they look like they are turning into a generation of Don Johnsons.

Richard Hell coined the term "Blank Generation" to define the people of the punk era. Well if they were 'blank', maybe a good label for the current crowd of youth could be "The REALLY Blank Generation".

Knowhaddimean?

[ Edited by: donhonyc on 2004-08-07 12:48 ]