Inside the Pink Taco

I have always been fascinated with the Pink Taco location on Sunset Boulevard, which sits next to my home-away-from-home, the Chateau Marmont. At one time, it was known as The Players, a supper club I wish I had been able to experience in person. You can read more about that 1940s incarnation at my previous post.



As for the history of Pink Taco itself, I visited their website. Below is the edited version:



Devoted to damn good tacos. Mexican cuisine has captured the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts around the world. One restaurant that has embraced the flavors and vibrancy of Mexican culture is Pink Taco. What started as a small-scale venture with a cheeky name has blossomed into a renowned restaurant chain. Pink Taco was founded in 1999 by Harry Morton in Las Vegas, NV, opening its first location within Hard Rock Hotel & Cafe. Inspired by the vibrant street food culture of Mexico, Harry envisioned creating a restaurant that offered a unique dining experience. In its early years, Pink Taco operated as a single location in Sin City. The restaurant quickly gained popularity, attracting locals, celebrities and tourists alike with its inviting ambiance, lively music, and delectable Mexican fare. Pink Taco prided itself on adopting a casual, fun-loving atmosphere that mirrored the vibrant energy of Mexican street markets. 

Below is a shot from my first visit to the Las Vegas (ala “Sin City”) location with my friend Illica, circa February 2003:

 

“Cheeky name” is right. If you haven’t figured it out, I’ll let you visit Google to see what it’s slang for.



Above: from my recent visit with Melissa, aka “The Colonel.”



I’ve always wanted to explore the restaurant to see if there are any architectural remnants from The Players days, but have never done so until my visit a few months ago.



This time, I had my camera AND the restaurant was devoid of guests, which made my snooping/shooting less nerve-wracking. I love the archways and REALLY love this door, which has an old school feel about it. Original? Who knows.



I do love the decor of the PT. Vibrant AND creepy!



At the Pink Taco, it’s Día de los Muertos every day!



I asked the hostess if I can snoop around upstairs. Not only did she say yes, she took me around herself. I doubt that her mother was even alive at the time of The Players, but that was ok. I didn’t care.



I can’t say I got a 1940s vibe, walking through the halls and going into each dining/drinking area (and there are many).



I did ask her if she had heard about the alleged underground tunnel that connected The Players to the Chateau Marmont and she said “yes.”



She’d never seen it personally, but heard that it existed at one time.



While it was disappointing to see virtually nothing left from The Players, it was still satisfying to have checked it out anyway. One less thing on my bucket list. As for Willis, he can’t get enough of this place. He loves to walk by it as he knows there will always be broken chips on the floor to sample!



See more Sunset Boulevard Pink Taco photos at my main website.

Changes on Sunset

A new photo in my vintage collection has allowed me to give a wider range of the changes that have occurred over the years by the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. First image is from the early 1950s and shows The Players Club. By 1979, it was replaced by the Imperial Gardens Japanese Restaurant.



Any of you seen the George C. Scott film "Hardcore"? It's one of those that's so bad it's good. Well...maybe not good. Good is a very strong word for a movie that bad.



The other billboard on Sunset shows the new album by Ted Nugent, Weekend Warriors, which was released September 1978.



This shot that I took personally back in January 2011 shows yet another location change, this time Miyagi's, which was a popular restaurant/nightclub. Unfortunately, my collection is still missing a shot of when this location was the infamous Roxbury.



And a recent shot of how the Pink Taco has overtaken this small piece of Sunset Strip real estate. The food here is so bad it's...



More Chateau Marmont photos at my main website.

Chilling at the Chateau

My favorite place to get away from it all is The Chateau Marmont. No surprise to my faithful readers. Willis and I packed our bags for a little R&R and headed up to the beautiful hotel on Sunset Boulevard.



Willis has been there enough that he knows where he's going once we arrive. Run up the stairs to the lobby…



and then up two more flights for Room 34.



Couldn't think of a better space to just breathe.



Willis loves the comfortable furniture.



The roses in the room were gorgeous, too.



Willis wasn't too thrilled about them; he would have rather had a biscuit.



He does like the cashmere blanket on the bed, though. Mercifully, he did not chew it up. That would have cost me a small fortune.



View from the room during the daytime…



and how Sunset Boulevard looks at night…or was it early morning? Hell, I can't remember.



Taking Willis for a walk in the unseasonable stifling heat, we encountered this vintage Thunderbird.





Get a load of those fins!



Willis didn't care; he missed the air conditioning.



The pool area is very zen.



LOVE this moroccan light fixture.



Willis rested while I did my laps.



And then he positioned himself between my legs when I was done.



It was a very good weekend. Just what the doctor ordered. If only the doctor covered it, too.

More Chateau Marmont at my main website.

Evolution on Sunset

The Chateau Marmont at 8221 Sunset Boulevard is a true rarity in Hollywood. Other than its initially brief period as an apartment building before the Great Depression forced it to become a hotel, this landmark has kept the same name and function since 1929. Just down the street at 8225, the same cannot be said for the Chateau's neighbor, which was a private residence, then a restaurant and club in the 1940s called The Players:



which was followed by The Imperial Gardens in 1953 and then the notorious Roxbury in 1989. After the Roxbury faded away in 1997, Miyagi's Club/Restaurant took over. I managed to photograph it myself in 2011 before it was changed into...



The Pink Taco!



Speaking of change, note that since the previous May 2014 photo a gigantic guitar has been added to the exterior decor:



This particular one in a series of Sunset Boulevard guitars celebrates the Viper Room. Why it is in front of the Pink Taco and not the Viper Room itself is a mystery to me.



Whatever the reason, it doesn't interfere from the visual splendor of the kitsch that one's eyes can enjoy inside:



The same cannot be said for my stomach which is still churning from my recent lunch there.

See more Daveland Pink Taco photos at my main website.

Christy Does Southern California, Pt. 4

The next morning, I walked down Sunset Boulevard to get Christy for our visit to Griffith Park. Along the way, I snapped a few of the Standard Hotel.



Christy showed me what was waiting for her when she returned home the night before…well, she showed me the personalized-with-chocolate empty plate!



Had to capture another original art deco detail at the Sunset Tower.



The Parking Gods looked down upon us favorably, and we were able to secure a parking spot in the Observatory Parking lot. Christy got a great view of the Hollywood Sign.



Yup…it was sunny!



The Observatory was open for business:



I love the clean lines which are so indicative of art deco:



Two homages to the James Dean film "Rebel without a Cause" which was filmed here at the Observatory. First, Christy and Doug reenact the famous knife fight ("You calling me chicken?"). Willis was ready to step in.



"I've got the bullets!"



Jimmy's mouth gasped at the talent exhibited.



Willis wasn't interested in the photos or the Observatory, but he sure loved the sunshine and rolling around on the front lawn.



We still had a bit of time before we moved rooms at the Chateau, so we stopped at the Barnsdall Art Park to see the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Hollyhock house on Olive Hill.



The steps up to the house made me think of the Laurel and Hardy movie "The Music Box."



How to frame a view, Frank Lloyd Wright style:





Unfortunately, the home was closed for tours since it was a Sunday. This was all I got to see through the glass window.



Willis enjoyed touring the property.



Next, it was time to eat. Christy paid her first visit to the Pink Taco on Sunset Boulevard, which was formerly Preston Sturges' club The Players.



A strawberry margarita in a pineapple? Count me in.



Willis got nothing, and he wasn't happy. He was ready to go back to the Chateau.



The rest of the story coming soon!

See more Daveland Griffith Observatory photos on my main website.