Trader Vic's Chicago - grand opening party - finally!!! - April 16

Aloha!

Trader Vic's Chicago are holding their long-awaited opening celebration on Thursday, April 16.

The management have decided on an intimate gathering rather than a huge blow-out, and have asked me to invite you all to join us at Vic's next Thursday.

The restaurant and bar will be open for their normal business hours (bar from 4:00pm to midnight, and dinner from 5:00pm to 10:00pm), so arrive early for a seat at the bar, or call now for dinner reservations.

Milwaukee's Bikini Beachcombers (featuring the lovely Melissa dancing the hula) will do several sets of music beginning about 7:00.

The Lounge area (across from the bar), will be a Press and VIP area (mostly owners of other restaurants and bars), but Vic's have asked me to add a few of the Tiki 'ohana to the guest list (basically you'll get some pupus and a free drink). Those interested can email me at [email protected] (do NOT reply to this thread or PM me). First-come, first served until the slots are filled up.

Trader Vic's Chicago
1030 N. State Street
Chicago IL 60610
Phone: 312.642.6500

Also, the general manager has expressed interest in reviving Tabu Tiki Night. Make sure you say hi to him next Thursday, and let him know that you're interested.

...oh, and on my most recent visit, the drinks were fully up to muster (as predicted)!!!

See you there!

Ok, the news is that all of the original slots are filled up; but the BETTER news is that there are now another ten or so newly available openings.

Email me (as above) if you're wanting some grub and a cocktail on the house at next week's party!

Either way...
See you all there -

damn...i saw this post too late...

what about those of us that were invited to the opening months ago when it was first announced ?? ...were we booted from the list in favor of this new list you started??...i assume we are not on it since we recieved no confirmation that we would be prior to this post...can we just show up anyway or is this going to be in a private dining room??....

Dave, you are not too late, it is April 16, six days from now!

I don't know anything about the old list.
All I know is that the management asked me to invite a few of the TC and FOM people to this event, and to manage it in an organized way (hence the first come first serve requests via email).

The event will not be in one of the private rooms in the back, it will be in the Lounge area across from the bar, so really it is all one big space anyway.

The bar and restaurant are open as normal, so anyone can show up.

The only advantage of being on the list is some free pupus and a drink.

Other than that, all of the usual suspects will be invading the bar (and restaurant) that night.

..then i'll probably see you there.....thanks for the info and clearing the confusion....

Bump....

A couple o' slots left for those of you recession victims who want to drink free at Vic's this Thursday.

[ Edited by: tikibars 2009-04-15 21:46 ]

Many mahalos James, and many mahalos to Trader Vic's for a special evening!

It was a pleasure meeting the new investors, and thanks to them we have a new Vic's to get our Mai Tai fix!

The Bikini Beachcombers with The Lovely Melissa provided a nice spark to the lounge, and the pu pus and drinks were the icing on the cake.

A real bummer to lose Pallava, and our loss is LA's gain. You are getting a top notch GM for your new Trader Vic's.

Looking forward to Chicago's future, which again based on the crowd, is a bright one!

Watch for some new Lake Tiki creations at Trader Vic's Chicago in the coming months also!!!

Thanks James, we had a fun time. I'll post a few photos from last night later on.

A very nice evening, indeed!

MAHALO to everyone at Vic's for a very nice evening & thanks to James for coordinating.

Lookin' forward to seeing those new restroom signs, Lake :wink: :D

Erin and Melissa

Mitch, Suffering

me and Mitch

WARNING: food porn ahead

Not pictured: late night hotel room antics, morning after hot tub recovery soak.

Beachcombers tonight at Foundation!

There's just something about your first photo -- the musicians, the dancer, the composition of the photo -- made me think: if we just give it an old look, it's 1950 all over again...

On 2009-04-18 08:07, AllisonV wrote:

This looks fabulous! Beautiful presentation. What is it? I don't remember seeing anything this elaborate at the Dallas TV.

On 2009-04-18 08:07, AllisonV wrote:

Thanks for photographing my dinner.

Now I can remember it forever.

Unlike most of the evening....

Can't wait to check this place next weekend. I hope to meet up with the local Ohana on Friday night (5th).

What a great time!

I spent both Thursday and Friday evenings at the new place on State St. I saw a lot of cool new and old stuff in the decor realm all over the place. The staff was awesome and they seem genuinely psyched about Trader Vics being back and appeciate the history and value of the brand (do you hear me Vegas?). The food and drinks were top notch too. Hans Robert the Exec Sous Chef (and son of Hans the Exec Chef who they stole from Smith & Wolensky) was most gracious and gave my colleagues and I a personally guided tour of the kitchen and the chinese oven area. The wait staff on the floor were helpful and very fun. Adam the Asst Mgr was an awesome host and certainly took care of us along with Octavio and the rest of the boys behind the bar. Overall a great experience each night I was there, we were made to feel welcome in the true spirit of aloha.

Can't wait to get back to Chicago.