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Tiki Central / California Events

The Coconut Club returns March 6,7 & 8 to the historic Vagabond's House

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Ladies and Gentlemen, a reminder that the upcoming Coconut Club (March 6th, 7th, and 8th) will be convening at the former home of Joe Chastek’s Vagabond’s House in Los Angeles. The tropical nightclub was a huge hit in the 1950s, a “favorite rendezvous of Hollywood Stars and Celebrities,” and a significant piece of Los Angeles’ Tiki history.

The venue has more recently been home to Mariachis at the La Fonda Supper Club, but the discerning eye will note a few vintage “Polynesian” leitmotifs still in existence after more than sixty years. Tiki faces hide in the wall paper, and turning a hidden corner you are confronted with a wall-sized rendition of a tropical paradise.

This historic space, haunted by the Gods of Tiki past, is the perfect location for another convocation of The Coconut Club, L.A.’s only underground Tiki dining and drinking event!

When:
7pm -10pm, March 6th, 7th, and 8th
Where:
Historic Location of Joe Chastek’s Vagabond’s House
2501 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90057
What:
An extensive, sumptuous tasting menu featuring the bold and whimsical offerings of Chef Andy Windak, paired with an armada of tropical libations by mixologists Nathan Hazard and Elana Lepkowski, all presented with style and flair by our ineffable “Tiki Master”, host Darren Herczeg, makes The Coconut Club one of the most exciting events in the LA underground food scene.
Cost:
$170 per person (all-inclusive)

For more information, please visit the site at http://thecoconutclubla.com/

B

im going & hope this doesnt suck! who else is going ??

Has anybody gone to any of these to report back?
Even the new "low" price kinda keeps me from jumping in.

B

On 2015-04-07 12:12, TheClamsCasino wrote:
Has anybody gone to any of these to report back?
Even the new "low" price kinda keeps me from jumping in.

Yes I have , to the one last month. $170 each & to put it bluntly not worth that price.
But their new lowered price does not include tax & 20% tip right?
Ok so pros: tasty drinks & food. Their signature coconut drink is awesome ..
Cons: 5 minuscule sized drinks (room crawl size), iPod playlist playing 80s Bowie China girl, out of the 30+ attendants 3 were dressed hawaiian attire , my bf & I have attended in total 6 tiki oasis/calientes, we practically live at tiki ti, he's a drooling bastard, Weve been into tiki/vintage hawaiiana/polynesia for almost 15 yrs & that event just didn't have a tiki feel to it .. We didnot recognize one person from our tiki outings... I feel the event was more "foodie" inspired , & by the recent trend of "mixology"...
The venue itself had 1 remnant of its tiki past: peeling back tiki-esque wallpaper
We appreciate the respect the purveyors have for tiki but I felt like it wasn't deep from the soul passion they possess (like we have). It was as if someone completely oblivious to the rockabilly scene watches "swingers" for the 1st time & they're now obsessed w/rockabilly & they want to throw a viva Las Vegas type event---- they're still learning & grasping the dizzying world of their latest fascination..
Sorry for the rant; but if someone had explained this to me before attending id be $340 richer .. The funniest thing is we noticed a lot of guests were uber-ing & lyft-ing & me & my bf both didn't feel buzzed/impaired. Those 5 "drinks" are like shots of espresso sized

[ Edited by: belinda 2015-04-07 19:03 ]

not to be a buzz kill on yer review, as I appreciate that.
as my GF and I were wondering how these were.

But Swingers had Swing bands, not Rockabilly.
more jazzy and horn orientated music.

carry on.
Jeff btd

B

On 2015-04-07 19:30, bigtikidude wrote:
not to be a buzz kill on yer review, as I appreciate that.
as my GF and I were wondering how these were.

But Swingers had Swing bands, not Rockabilly.
more jazzy and horn orientated music.

carry on.
Jeff btd

Un-clear analogy... Ok how about this one: I've been a carnivore my whole life but I went to a raw food restaurant yesterday & I think it's so cool I wanna open up my own raw food eatery. Point is I have no gut wrenching passion for raw food , I was just exposed to it, there's a lot to learn... Why would I think I'll succeed at opening up my raw food eatery when I'm a
Novice ??

Thanks, Belinda.
That's pretty much what I feared it would be.

From what I understand the new $99 price does include tax & tip but they don't serve as much food, at least that is what I gathered from their posts and emails.

I was wondering about the drinks though. 5 is the limit? They are super small too?

I will likely attend at some point and post my thoughts. Thank you Belinda for the review.

B

On 2015-04-08 11:35, lunavideogames wrote:
From what I understand the new $99 price does include tax & tip but they don't serve as much food, at least that is what I gathered from their posts and emails.

I was wondering about the drinks though. 5 is the limit? They are super small too?

I will likely attend at some point and post my thoughts. Thank you Belinda for the review.

5 drinks. Our arrival drink could have been limitless at your own risk (ask for a 3rd one if you have no qualms about potentially being judged by the bartender: room crawl etiquette)
The coconut cocktail was amazing & worth $20
The rest are room crawl sized & millers gin was sponsoring in assuming cause the gong hitting host did a trivia where mini bottles were the prize .

F

I was considering doing this in May. Somewhat less enthused about it now, but still open...
Belinda, was there any other content about the history of the Vagabond or the remains of the building you saw? Or was the location just sort of a one-note lure that was quickly forgotten? The dinner was inside it right?

Cheers
:drink:

B

On 2015-04-09 12:05, finky099 wrote:
I was considering doing this in May. Somewhat less enthused about it now, but still open...
Belinda, was there any other content about the history of the Vagabond or the remains of the building you saw? Or was the location just sort of a one-note lure that was quickly forgotten? The dinner was inside it right?

Cheers
:drink:

The only artifact related to the vagabond that was presented was some old faded peeling wallpaper on 2 walls in an upstairs room.
That's it.
This building used to house a mariachi mexican restaurant & while here that was somewhat apparently clear . The situation was not like a haunted bahooka & their fishtanks covered in cobwebs & the former glory was abundantly obvious & felt by everyone ..

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