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Tonga Room SF to be demolished? |
thejab
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 2913
From: Forbidden Island, CA
|  Posted: 2009-02-27 12:53 pm
Yep, the quote in her column was part of my email to the planning department last Friday. I was trying to highlight the uniqueness of the Tonga Room by writing (to quote myself)
Quote:
| I believe that this establishment, which has been in operation as the Tonga Room, has great local, national, and even international historical significance. It is the only remaining original Polynesian restaurant in the Bay Area from the heyday of Polynesian Pop culture (roughly the 1940s through the 1960s). It is the only Polynesian restaurant in the world that has a large pool of water that is made to look like a tropical lagoon, and the only one in the world with a regular simulated rainstorm. Both of these unique features have been a part of the restaurant for over 50 years, making it a one-of-a-kind historical treasure that should be protected. |
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If anyone knows of another existing tiki bar in the world with these features let us know!
More local coverage yesterday:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/18798704/detail.html
Now I'm going to sign the petition!
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princessP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 17, 2004
Posts: 133
From: alameda, ca
| Posted: 2009-02-27 12:57 pm
only 62 people?
I thought you guys had more heart.
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Haole'akamai
Grand Member (4 years) 
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 2120
From: The Polynesian Port of Oakland
| Posted: 2009-02-27 1:07 pm
Here's the link to the petition, so you don't even have to look back a page:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-tonga-room---san-francisco
_________________
"If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
-Catherine Aird
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Mr. Pupu Pants
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 220
From: Edmonds, WA
| Posted: 2009-02-27 1:35 pm
I signed it but--what's with the NARAL propaganda pushed in there with it when you sign/send. That pissed me off.
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dangergirl299
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Feb 18, 2003
Posts: 867
From: Bay Area
| Posted: 2009-02-27 2:31 pm
Here's a recap of people you can contact:
SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DEPARTMENT/COMMISSION
Send an email urging the Planning Dept to not approve the project unless the historic Tonga Room is specifically included in the retention of the historic Hotel building.
Devyani.Jain@sfgov.org
bill.wycko@sfgov.org
Christina Olague, President San Francisco Planning Commission - c_olague@yahoo.com
Ron Miguel, Vice President San Francisco Planning Commission - rm@well.com
Kathrin Moore, Commissioner San Francisco Planning Commission - moorurban@speakeasy.net
Tel: 415-575-9051.
Mail: SF Planning Dept, 16560 Mission St Suite 400, SF, CA 94103-2479
FAIRMONT HOTEL
Send an email urging the Fairmont Hotel to leave the Tonga Room intact in its original location due to its historical and cultural value (and promise to spend your $$ there in the future in support of their business).
Thomas Klein, General Manager - thomas.klein@fairmont.com;
Susan Sagy, Fairmont’s Planning Consultant - ssagy@broadreachcp.com;
Mail: 220 MONTGOMERY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104.
NEWS MEDIA
Contact anyone you know in the Bay Area newspaper or tv news biz about this issue.
SAN FRANCISCO CITY GOVERNMENT
Mayor Gavin Newsom: gavin.newsom@sfgov.org
David.Chiu, Supervisor District 3 and President of Board of Supervisors - david.chiu@sfgov.org;
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dangergirl299
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Feb 18, 2003
Posts: 867
From: Bay Area
| Posted: 2009-03-02 2:48 pm
Many have expressed interest in a TC event at the Tonga Room. How about a monthly event? How about the 4th wed, thurs or friday? Let me know your thoughts...
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Haole'akamai
Grand Member (4 years)
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 2120
From: The Polynesian Port of Oakland
| Posted: 2009-03-02 3:04 pm
Not a Wednesday, since that's already TC night at FI.
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OceaOtica
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Sep 29, 2003
Posts: 727
From: la, home of Tiki Ti
| Posted: 2009-03-02 4:03 pm
Have not checked into this thread because this is saddening news, i hope the efforts to prevent the steam rolling of new development can be stopped. My wife and I have very fond memories of the Tonga Room as they were a central intended destination for our honeymoon
_________________
for the earliest scoop on new Ocea Otica works http://junkhaulersjunk.blogspot.com/
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3004
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2009-03-02 4:51 pm
New website: www.savetonga.com
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Tiki Kaimuki
Grand Member (4 years)
Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 705
From: OAKLAND, baby
| Posted: 2009-03-02 5:53 pm
I just wish they would let me swim in the pool.
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dangergirl299
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Feb 18, 2003
Posts: 867
From: Bay Area
| Posted: 2009-03-03 1:50 pm
Regarding the monthly event, we've had 2 votes against Wednesday, and 1 vote for Saturday. Any other votes?
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tikitonga
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Apr 09, 2002
Posts: 42 | Posted: 2009-03-03 4:47 pm
Weeknights make it tougher for non-locals to swing by. I think a Saturday would be great.
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JenTiki
Grand Member (4 years)
Joined: Jun 16, 2006
Posts: 1695
From: An island in the bay
| Posted: 2009-03-03 4:49 pm
And Saturdays suck for anyone who already commutes into the city five days a week and doesn't care to make it six. You won't be able to please everybody. Just pick a day and go with it. Either people can make it or they can't.
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princessP
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 17, 2004
Posts: 133
From: alameda, ca
| Posted: 2009-03-03 6:16 pm
why don't you guys pick one saturday a month for out of towners and a weekly Thursday or Friday?
You can make everybody happy.
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TabooDan
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Jul 18, 2004
Posts: 503
From: BC, Canada
| Posted: 2009-03-03 7:06 pm
Thanks for the link! It does make it easier!
Over 305 now!
Keep them coming!!!
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