Results tagged “tradervics”

One of our very favorite pop culturists, for more than a decade Nathan Rabin has been head writer for The Onion A.V. Club. He's equally at home writing about Epic Movie or western swing, and you don't want to be on the receiving end of his wicked sarcasm when it's time to mete out a takedown.

A party is always a great excuse to get out the punchbowl, and an Oscar party calls for sparking wine. By the end of the evening at least few people will feel like celebrating; and well before the end of the evening the rest of us will feel like drinking. For many years the Weinstein brothers held their Oscar party at the Beverly Hills Trader Vic's. That particular location is not quite the same, alas, but we have a tiki punch recipe straight from the Trader's cookbook that we've made before and loved. We've modified it, boosting its star power. Francis Coppola named his sparkling wine, Sofia Blanc de Blancs, after his daughter. It's light, crisp and refreshing. In other words: perfect for punch. In Chicago it's available at Sam's, Binny's, Cost Plus, and elsewhere. None of the Coppola clan are nominated this year, but surely they'd approve.

As if we ever needed another excuse to go to Trader Vic's, they've given us a new one. On February 13 and 14 they're offering a special Valentine's Day package. For $50 each you and your sugar-nums will be treated to an ultraromantic dinner, including a pupu-style appetizer plate meant for sharing, choice of main course entrée (go with the tenderloin, trust us) and dessert. The ladies get a red rose while the men get a souvenir Trader Vic's cocktail glass. Same-sex couples presumably get to choose! The package also includes two glasses of champagne or two Mai Tais. Better make your reservations soon by calling (312) 642-6500.

          

Yeah, we've blathered on and on about it. And now it's here! Rather than run off at the mouth again, here are some snaps of the new space. It's fantastic. With the crappy economy and snow piled up everywhere, doesn't an excursion to the tropics sound heavenly? They're open daily at 4 (but will be closed Christmas Day, alas).

        

A bar not dominated by flat-panel televisions and loud music. A sedate tropical environment which instantly transports you away from the outside world the moment you enter. Inventive, generous cocktails served without a drop of pretension. Trader Vic's is special to us.

The website for the new Chicago Trader Vic's at 1030 N. State is live. And while there's not much on it yet, you can sign up for their newsletter and also peruse the cocktail menu. Well, perhaps you should limit your perusal unless you have a drool cup handy. Because just reading names like Menehune Juice, Doctor Funk Son and Hot Rum Cow has already kicked our salivary glands into action.

• More Graham Elliot feedback, this time from Erin Shea, who's settling in nicely at FohBoh.com (Full disclosure: Shea was part of the dinner party that accompanied this writer in his review of Graham Elliot that ran on Monday).
• Rob's our resident Tiki God here and forwarded to our attention news that Trader Vic's looks to be re-opening at 1030 N. State in October. Moreover, many of the decorations and flair that made the Palmer House Trader Vic's such a kitschy place will be at the new location.
• The Beer Drinker's Light Beer is doing some serious promotion in Wrigleyville tomorrow with their 10-seater Dutch Beer Bike (pictured, above). The bike will be making stops the Irish Oak (3511 N. Clark), the Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison), Casey Moran's (3660 N. Clark) and the Mystic Celt (3443 N. Southport) throughout the afternoon.

We'll still have to wait awhile for Chicago's new Trader Vic's, but in the meanwhile Tiki Terrace has now reopened for business and is ready to hula. And we mean that literally: the Hanalei Revue, every Saturday night, and the Ports of Paradise review on Fridays both feature plenty of dancing and other island-style entertainment.

We've written before about the sad demise of the Chicago Trader Vic's, how it was unceremoniously booted from the Palmer House after the hotel's new owners took over. And we've also sighed about the fact that the reopening of a new Trader Vic's, which was originally supposed to happen in 2006, has still not materialized. Well, we now have some proof that it's finally happening.