A New Trader Vic's - open Monday! - General Tiki

A aquarj Tiki Socialite SF bay area, CA Joined: Apr 02, 2002 Posts: 1125	A aquarj Posted posted on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 12:49 PM On 2010-03-27 00:40, Baron von Tiki wrote: So, for me, the new TV's is crushingly mundane. There's no fantasy, elegance, or romance about it at all. I looked at this thread a few times, and had nothing to add that hasn't been said many times here on TC, in various forms with different threads. However, I wanted to laud Baron's comment because he hit the essence of what disappoints me about a place like this. Fantasy, elegance, romance - achieving an atmosphere with that feeling is what makes the difference (for me) between a place that has some of the checkboxes checked (tikis - check, mai tais - check, ...), and a place that truly appeals. And the disappointment is compounded by the fact that it represents a devolutionary step for the TVics brand which historically DOES capture more of the attractive atmosphere. That's why there was a similar reaction here to the Las Vegas TVics, which also had some of the checkboxes checked, but was missing the essence. It was partly reacting to the specific place, and partly a reaction to what almost felt like a threat to a great and amazingly longlasting tradition in the TVics name. For those who relish this idea of having ANY TVics presence, even a little watered down, it's understandable that disappointed comments would feel like raining on their parade. But if you think about the flipside, for those who cherish the "fantasy, elegance, and romance" associated with the TVics name, it should ALSO be understandable that great enthusiasm for this new bar and grill style (which seems to be encouraging devolution of a beloved brand) would also feel like raining on THEIR parade. Much has been said about why that dream isn't realistic anymore, and the obvious fact that we all patronize plenty of places that don't come anywhere close to the dream. But anyway it seems like much of the acrimony isn't necessary if we keep BOTH perspectives in mind as opinions are tossed around here, on the ideal place to express them. -Randy

On 2010-03-27 00:40, Baron von Tiki wrote:
So, for me, the new TV's is crushingly mundane. There's no fantasy, elegance, or romance about it at all.

I looked at this thread a few times, and had nothing to add that hasn't been said many times here on TC, in various forms with different threads.

However, I wanted to laud Baron's comment because he hit the essence of what disappoints me about a place like this. Fantasy, elegance, romance - achieving an atmosphere with that feeling is what makes the difference (for me) between a place that has some of the checkboxes checked (tikis - check, mai tais - check, ...), and a place that truly appeals.

And the disappointment is compounded by the fact that it represents a devolutionary step for the TVics brand which historically DOES capture more of the attractive atmosphere. That's why there was a similar reaction here to the Las Vegas TVics, which also had some of the checkboxes checked, but was missing the essence. It was partly reacting to the specific place, and partly a reaction to what almost felt like a threat to a great and amazingly longlasting tradition in the TVics name.

For those who relish this idea of having ANY TVics presence, even a little watered down, it's understandable that disappointed comments would feel like raining on their parade. But if you think about the flipside, for those who cherish the "fantasy, elegance, and romance" associated with the TVics name, it should ALSO be understandable that great enthusiasm for this new bar and grill style (which seems to be encouraging devolution of a beloved brand) would also feel like raining on THEIR parade. Much has been said about why that dream isn't realistic anymore, and the obvious fact that we all patronize plenty of places that don't come anywhere close to the dream. But anyway it seems like much of the acrimony isn't necessary if we keep BOTH perspectives in mind as opinions are tossed around here, on the ideal place to express them.

-Randy

Post #521205 by aquarj on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 12:49 PM