Vancouver gets serious about Waldorf, Jan. 22

The Heritage Vancouver Society today invites the public to an event
celebrating the architectural and cultural tradition of the Tiki / Polynesian lounge in
Vancouver. This unique event will be held on January 22, 2003 at the Waldorf Hotel.
The site of the event, the Waldorf Hotel, is now Vancouver’s last Tiki room. The lounge was constructed in 1955 and today features full-height palm trees, bamboo furniture and midnight blue domed ceilings with twinkling lights creating the illusion of the Pacific night sky. According to Donald Luxton, the keynote presenter of the event, “this lounge is an important historical landmark in Vancouver, representative of the post-World War
II era where palm trees and Mai Tais were all the rage.”
This evening will offer Vancouverites a rare glimpse at Vancouver’s last Tiki room,
which is not normally open to the public. Renowned Tiki expert Donald Luxton will
offer a riotous exploration of the Tiki movement, its place in our cultural history, and its ongoing revival. Stay around for drinks a socializing after the talk and tour. Scott Barrett, President of the Heritage Vancouver Society notes that “this event should attract those
interested not only in unique local architecture and history, but those curious about how people used to spend their Saturday nights, as well as others who just need an escape from the winter blues.”

Members $5, Non-members $10
The Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
7:00pm, Wednesday January 22, 2003
Tiki Talk at 7:30
For further information:
Scott Barrett, President
604.551.0613
http://www.heritagevancouver.org

On 2003-01-19 13:14, emspace wrote:
The Heritage Vancouver Society today invites the public to an event...Renowned Tiki expert Donald Luxton will offer a riotous exploration of the Tiki movement, its place in our cultural history, and its ongoing revival.

Great to hear that Vancouver has an Architectural Conservancy. But who is Donald Luxton? Don't remember him from Tiki News, or from "Mai Tai". To me, John Trivisonno (publisher of Mai Tai) was always THE Canadian Tiki expert (AND Tikifish, off course:))

I'm going to follow up on this, maybe with a few pics if that's appropriate, and I'll try to get a word in with Mr. Luxton - but I think maybe he's probably a high mucky-muck with Heritage Vancouver rather than a Tiki guy in particular...?

aloha,
em

Dang - didn't make it. I wimped out big-time. I recently had a really serious sciatic attack (got a herniated L5-S1 disk) and it flared up badly last night, plus seriously inclement weather, PLUS couldn't score transport. So I wimped.

Howevah...I will at some near future date grab my bro (fellow Hawaii- and Tiki-phile) with both analog and digital photo equipment and get permission to invade and take many pics, and I'll likely make a nice little site and post the URL in the General area. Least I can do...

The thing with the Waldorf is, it's in a seriously run-down neighborhood. What would really work is if someone ripped the rooms out entirely and rebuilt them in a more savory locale. Till then, the Polynesian Room will remain obscure, dark, and strictly special-events-only.

aloha,
em

Darn emspace!...you missed me doing Martin Denny's "Quiet Village" up there at the mike. Maybe next time

[ Edited by: fartsatune on 2003-01-24 01:54 ]

I caught it. Nice work. What's the story with the Prince George Outrigger? How come The Hawaiian Village in New West was'nt mentioned? Drinks in Tiki mugs, hula floor show. To bad they were shut down for serving minors.

Next time FOR SURE! I may even don a suit and try to infiltrate a Blue Lizard event...

Tiki in New West? Damn, must have been before I emigrated from Edmonton. Poo.

aloha,
emspace.