Post #579385 by Mongoloid on Tue, Mar 8, 2011 10:57 AM

Took the train (Blue Line to the Red Line) from Long Beach this past Saturday down to Union Station hung out at Olvera Street and got some Mexican supplies for the upcoming Tiki Oasis 11. We had an all day unlimited train pass so we decided to stop off at The Staples Center Station and walk over to L.A. Live and go to Trader Vics for some mai tais. Traveling by train is the best way to have a designated driver. We literally can walk out our front door walk 15 minutes take 1 bus to the train station and an hour later can be at Trader Vics, sitting on a bar stool. So we arrived at about 2:30 p.m. and went and sat at the bar and there were 5 other people saddled up. There was a couple sharing the barrell that looks like a horse troff with 2 long straws, which made me smile with admiration. While 3 other people with their eyes half opened laughed and ordered another round. I was among the people depicted on the side of the anniversary mug and was ready to join them. Then i saw that the Kings game was on the tv at the bar and the game being shown was being played at the Staples Center right next door. It was the 3rd Period, so i quickly asked my wife how many periods in a hockey game?? She said 3. I was like ok we are basiclly in a timebomb because once that game lets out we are going to be joined by 100 or so of our closest friends. We ordered our drinks and i asked the bartender if the green tiki mug was available (they were out of it last time i was there) and he said yes, so i told him i would take one. He served us a round of mai tais when i noticed that Guns and Roses was playing in the background. I thought to myself. Really? So i asked the bartender if they ever played Hawaiian or Exotica music in the bar and he informed me that its up to whichever Manager is working that shift. One of the guys sitting with the group of 3 said we need some rap in here (sarcastically) I said ya Funky Cold Medina is the ultimate tiki bar music. The mai tai was refreshing and we had a good conversation with the bartender and we shared our experiences at other various tiki bars. The bright light from the huge windows facing the patio on Olympic Blvd kinda changes the game when it comes to the dimly lit classic tiki bar, but so did the GnR. Regardless we tried to preoccupy ourselves with studying the decor and attending to the drink at(in)hand. For our next mai tai the bartender offered to make us the original mai tai recipe version and we quickly agreed. Halfway through that mai tai the time bomb exploded and the bitter defeated Kings fans and Canuck fans infiltrated the bar area chanting and heckling each other and the whole ambiance turned into a rowdy sports bar. We finished that mai tai and decided to hele, even though the guy that sat next to us wearing his Kings jersey seemed like a nice guy and offered to buy us a round if we stayed. So that was our experience. It is was it is and for better or for worse this is only a possible scenario when you go. I will be back for sure, but next time im gonna check the Staples Center schedule (not that im anti sports or sports fans) just would prefer my tiki bars to be a little less testosterone filled. I will also be nicely requesting some less agro music. Or i will just have to roll with it and accept the fact that its located in a trendy part of L.A. and as much as i would like to I can't convert the world into tikiphiles.