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Defunct Polynesian Restaurant in Queens - Any Info? |
Tiki Chris
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1543
From: London
|  Posted: 2004-05-25 4:09 pm Permalink
A long-time resident of Jackson Heights, Queens was at my house this weekend & was intrigued by my collection of mugs, etc.
He said they reminded him of a restaurant he used to go to called "DRAGON SEED." Maybe it was on Roosevelt Avenue?
Does anybody know about or have any pics, artefacts from this place?
Thanks in advance,
Tiki Chris
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 2787
From: Carson, California
| Posted: 2004-05-25 9:17 pm Permalink
Chris,
I've got a matchbook from the Dragon Seed with a nice tiki on the cover. I'll post a photo tomorrow. Here's the info on the matchbook:
DRAGON SEED RESTAURANT. LUAU HUT. 86-02 37TH Ave., Jackson Heights, N.Y. "Exotic Chinese and Polynesian Dining. Cocktail Lounge. Polynesian Drinks and Puu Puu Tray. Chinese Gourmet Dishes. House Dinners."
Sabu
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Tiki Chris
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1543
From: London
| Posted: 2004-05-26 06:08 am Permalink
thanks sabu! can't wait to see the pic!
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 2787
From: Carson, California
| Posted: 2004-05-26 09:45 am Permalink
Here are the photos of the matchbook:
Looks very interesting. I would have liked to have seen the interior, and wonder if they had any marked mugs.
Does anyone else have any memorabilia or memories of this place?
Sabu
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Tiki Chris
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1543
From: London
| Posted: 2004-05-26 10:01 am Permalink
the tiki on the matchbook looks like tikis in nj places like chan's, lee's, lun wah:
i would be very interested in any info about the carvings seen in nj polynesian restaurants (& the artists/manufacturers who created them).
thanks again sabu!
tc
[ This Message was edited by: Tiki Chris on 2004-05-26 10:03 ]
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suburbanpagan
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 02, 2004
Posts: 797
From: southern cal
| Posted: 2004-05-26 10:19 am Permalink
Hey Tiki Chris, have you recieved your candle and soap yet? You should have by now.......I sent it over a week ago. I can't wait to see mine!
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freddiefreelance
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 15, 2003
Posts: 2987
From: San Diego, Ca.
| Posted: 2004-05-26 11:18 am Permalink
What years are we talking about here? My Dad grew up in Jackson Heights, as did his Dad (My Great, Great Gran'father designed & built St. Pascal Babylon Grade School, & had something to do with the church, too), if we're talking any time up to the early '60s I can ask my Dad.
_________________
Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Freelance, Ph.D., Th.D., D.F.S
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 2787
From: Carson, California
| Posted: 2004-05-26 11:49 am Permalink
Chris,
Your right - It definitely looks like the Chinese/Polynesian restaurants in that area had their own style in regards to the painted tiki masks with the big nostrils. Does anyone else know if those painted masks show up in other Chinese restaurants outside of NY/NJ? Does it seem plausible that they all had the same supplier of decor?
Sabu
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Tiki Chris
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1543
From: London
| Posted: 2004-05-26 12:42 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2004-05-26 10:19, suburbanpagan wrote:
Hey Tiki Chris, have you recieved your candle and soap yet? You should have by now.......I sent it over a week ago. I can't wait to see mine!
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nope. strange - that you haven't received mine yet either. oh well ... i'll definitely let you know when they show up!
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10914
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2004-05-26 1:35 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2004-05-26 11:49, Sabu The Coconut Boy wrote:
Does anyone else know if those painted masks show up in other Chinese restaurants outside of NY/NJ? Does it seem plausible that they all had the same supplier of decor?
Sabu
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This place was right around the corner of the last location of Orchids of Hawaii. As I wrote in the threads on several Chinese Tiki joints in "Locating Tiki", and in the "Honululu" thread:
These kind of Tiki masks and poles were standard Orchids of Hawaii issue, offered in their catalogue with tons of other Chinese decor, and made into the early 90s. They got more colorful and cheaper looking as the Tiki devolution of the 80s progressed. I don't know when the Dragon Seed opened, but it seems likely that it was the late 70s or even 80s.
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suburbanpagan
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 02, 2004
Posts: 797
From: southern cal
| Posted: 2004-05-27 12:52 am Permalink
Likewise!
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tumishell
Member
Joined: Jun 08, 2005
Posts: 1 | Posted: 2005-06-08 5:48 pm Permalink
The Dragon Seed was and always will be a Jackson Heights legend. I remember ordering the puupuu platter and the drinks in those over-sized glasses that came in the shape of pineapples, tikis, etc. Always garnished with fruit and a little umbrella. I had my first "drink" there as a teen. The place closed down about 15-20 years ago and the space is now a Colombian chicken place. Funny thing is that there are still 2 tiki carvings at the entrance of the restaurant and I always wonder what people must think as they walk in there. Anyway, I live around the corner from it and it always brings back good memories.
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Tiki Chris
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1543
From: London
| Posted: 2005-06-08 6:39 pm Permalink
wow! what a great first post! welcome to tiki central. hopefully, we can meet up somewhere in the ny/nj area for some tiki fun some time soon.
thanks for the info about dragon seed. don't have a pic of the 2 remaining carvings do you?
mahalo,
tiki chris
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Jamietodd
Member
Joined: Oct 08, 2007
Posts: 1 | Posted: 2007-10-08 4:34 pm Permalink
hey tiki people, i was futzing around the internet and decided to google dragon seed for no reason at all, it was my grandfathers restaurant and stayed in the family for years after his involvement. My grandfather and owner of the restaurant was "jimmy", he was often behind the bar. it was a very famous restaurant, during its hay day i was not around however there are many pictures of the restaurant and the famous people who dined out- there. One pic in particular i remember was my grandfather and to his left was the chief of police,commissioner.. and too his right was the mob. My grandfather was an innovator and althought at one point had more money then a tiki god he died with little as he new how to enjoy his money. thanks for remembering. Jamie Todd Eng when i get a new camera i can post some pics
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donhonyc
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Posts: 1173
From: The Quiet EAST Village
| Posted: 2007-10-08 7:02 pm Permalink
Wow, wish that place was still there. Seems like it was probably cool. Well, there's always the other old Chinese/Tiki place in Queens, King-Yum. Still there.
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