Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en Does California!

We've just returned from 10 fabulous days in California, where we taught a symposium at Tiki Oasis, in San Diego!  It was called "How to Throw a Mid-Century Tiki Patio Party" and we were thrilled at the turnout and all the nice people we met!  Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend:


Albie's Beef Inn, a great mid-century steakhouse in San Diego.


The Deadhead Rum trailer, which had a great tiki bar inside!

After Tiki Oasis we drove up to the Bay Area, where we visited many tiki establishments, saw lots of friends and shot the next "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" episode at the fantastic Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, in Alameda!




They were really great to us and we so appreciate it!  The episode will be online September 3!

We also got a chance to check out the Tonga Room, which feels like you stepped into a 1930s film:




The amazing Smuggler's Cove, which is both tiki AND nautical, and where owner Martin Cate gave us the "tiki nerd tour."



And of course the famed Trader Vic's Emeryville, where we had a terrific lunch and cocktails:





We owe huge thank yous to Tiki Oasis, the many fabulous friends who showed up on school nights to visit with us at various establishments along the way, Forbidden Island, Will Viharo, for putting us in touch with Forbidden Island, Smuggler's Cove, both Jennifers, and our friends Steve and Greg, who were such great hosts in SF (along with their fab canines, Buddy and Wendy)!  We miss you all already!










4 comments:

  1. My wife and I first visited Trader Vic's in 1968. It was in San Francisco located at the end of Cosmo Place, 20 Cosmo Place. The dinner was a gift from my wife to be, dads,' attorney. We had many more visits after that. We have also visited several other Trader Vic's including the one located in Waikiki. We still have the Trader Vic's Salt and Pepper shakers that we borrowed on our very first visit.

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    1. Paul's parents went to the Trader Vic's in New York City to celebrate their engagement in 1963. It's definitely a special place! :-)

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  2. It was great meeting you on a school night at The Tonga Room. I also enjoyed having dinner with you at Albie's. I hope to see you next year!

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    1. We had a great time hanging out with you! We really hope to do it again next year!

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