Trader Vic's Lounge in BH - General Tiki

O Ojaitimo Member Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 1317	O Ojaitimo Posted posted on Sat, May 5, 2007 3:42 AM I was filling up with gas on Santa Monica boulevard and heading home when I spotted the guy on top of the temple pointing his horn east. As a child I often wondered what he was doing up there. So I drove in that direction for a few miles found myself standing outside of the closed Trader Vic's. Expected to be confronted after crossing the chain, no one came out to stop me and I took these photos. Then I decided to check out the lounge since I was there anyway. I was initially shocked when I first saw the decor. No floats or tapa, Too many fish baskets,(Why are they all identical?) and a modern feel. There was Chai , Judy and Amy. Several of the long time bartenders were mixing behind the bar. That was a good sign at least. I spoke with Lynda who is the director of public relations for the Beverly Hilton. She had been visiting TC lately to get a sense of our feelings and when I told her who I was, I expected to be thrown out as she had read my posts. Instead she invited me to photograph the lounge and give her my opinion. I took the portrait hallway to the deserted parking lot and entrance. There was the big tiki sitting in the dark, just him and me. For a few minutes I remembered some of the times I had visited him in the past while I stood there in the dark. Sure, I'll miss the old Trader Vic's more than most of you. My mother Ione loved going there for dinner. When she decorated the Trade Wind's restaurant years later, some of the rooms of the Trade Wind's like the Sadie Thompson or the Zanzibar rooms weren't what most of us would consider tiki. The main dining room and tiki temple had that traditional tiki look that I hope they will try for in the Trader Vic's Lounge. The outside lighting reminds me of the movie "The Year of Living Dangerously" In spite of trying not to I found myself liking the space. Thats what I see them doing here and it is a new chapter in Trader Vic's Beverly Hill's. I need to apologise to many of you for some of my angry comments over the past few months. Especially to the Cuban's and the Havana Cuba Polynesio who I hope will forgive me. [ Edited by: Ojaitimo 2007-05-08 15:53 ]

I was filling up with gas on Santa Monica boulevard and heading home when I spotted the guy on top of the temple pointing his horn east. As a child I often wondered what he was doing up there.

So I drove in that direction for a few miles found myself standing outside of the closed Trader Vic's.
Expected to be confronted after crossing the chain, no one came out to stop me and I took these photos.

Then I decided to check out the lounge since I was there anyway.

I was initially shocked when I first saw the decor. No floats or tapa, Too many fish baskets,(Why are they all identical?) and a modern feel.

There was Chai , Judy and Amy. Several of the long time bartenders were mixing behind the bar. That was a good sign at least. I spoke with Lynda who is the director of public relations for the Beverly Hilton. She had been visiting TC lately to get a sense of our feelings and when I told her who I was, I expected to be thrown out as she had read my posts. Instead she invited me to photograph the lounge and give her my opinion.

I took the portrait hallway to the deserted parking lot and entrance. There was the big tiki sitting in the dark, just him and me. For a few minutes I remembered some of the times I had visited him in the past while I stood there in the dark.

Sure, I'll miss the old Trader Vic's more than most of you. My mother Ione loved going there for dinner.
When she decorated the Trade Wind's restaurant years later, some of the rooms of the Trade Wind's like the Sadie Thompson or the Zanzibar rooms weren't what most of us would consider tiki. The main dining room and tiki temple had that traditional tiki look that I hope they will try for in the Trader Vic's Lounge. The outside lighting reminds me of the movie "The Year of Living Dangerously" In spite of trying not to I found myself liking the space.

Thats what I see them doing here and it is a new chapter in Trader Vic's Beverly Hill's.
I need to apologise to many of you for some of my angry comments over the past few months.
Especially to the Cuban's and the Havana Cuba Polynesio who I hope will forgive me.

[ Edited by: Ojaitimo 2007-05-08 15:53 ]

Post #304192 by Ojaitimo on Sat, May 5, 2007 3:42 AM