By Margie M. Palmer
Any native East Coaster can tell you that the San Diego jazz scene has been lagging; these types of clubs are a staple for those who grew up in places like Philadelphia, New York or Boston.
But now, thanks to the launch of Sacha’s Supper Club at the historic Lafayette Hotel in North Park, those who are wanting to satisfy their Big Band fix finally have a place to do so.
Sacha’s Supper Club is a monthly dining, dancing, social and musical experience that takes place the second Thursday of each month. It revisits the elegance of a bygone era in an intimate historical setting; those who’ve attended agree it’s an evening away and a step back in time, to a sensual place where mystery and romance linger long after the music ends.
Its creator, Sacha Boutros, said her love affair with jazz began as a child, when her grandmother gave her a record player.
“I started collecting old records from thrift stores,” Boutros said. “I was introduced to all the jazz greats and when I was a bit older I wound up hearing someone sing at this little jazz club — she sounded just like Billie Holiday and I thought to myself, ‘Hey, I sing that in the shower. I can do that!’ I became a singer overnight. I wanted to the female Frank Sinatra.”
Boutros has since gone from gigging at local clubs and U.S. festivals to touring the world and back; she’s also received Grammy nods for best jazz and Latin jazz album in 2008 and 2013. Yet despite her global success, she’s always dreamed of having her own club.
“I’d proposed the idea of doing a supper club to the Grand Del Mar but they turned the idea down, saying that no one on the West Coast listens to jazz. They didn’t think anyone would come,” she said.
“A few months later I was sitting at the Lafayette with a friend who told me that I needed to do this soon and how he felt that hotel would be the perfect place. He pointed out we were sitting in the middle of San Diego history. I decided to set up a meeting with the people from the Lafayette and boom, that’s how it happened.”
The historic hotel has been around since 1946, Boutros pointed out, noting that people like Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra had been through its doors. Movie stars Lana Turner and Ava Gardner had parties there, she said.
“It was a destination spot, and I felt it was a great place to not only start a supper club, but to promote the hotel’s history and to bring back old San Diego,” she said.
Each Sacha’s Supper Club event has its staples; attendees can expect to see the room decorated with palm trees and guests are seated at small tables, which help facilitate conversation and allow people the chance to meet one another while they dine and socialize. Servers are dressed in bow ties and suspenders; a cigarette girl can be seen making her rounds throughout the night.
Another favorite staple is the dance show that’s performed by award-winning dancer and dance instructor Joel Plys, Boutros said. Plys performs with the Hang 10 Hoppers, a locally-based touring group that specializes in dances from the 1920s to 1950s.
“The group does a specially choreographed show every time we have a supper club,” she said.
Attendees agree that Sacha’s Supper Club is a step back in time. North County resident George Riebau, who went to events at the Lafayette Hotel with his sister back in the late 1940s, said the supper club reminds him of days long passed.
“I used to go there after I married my wife. She was a woman who loved to dance,” Riebau said. “I enjoy the supper club and I’ve taken both of my daughters, my son and daughter-in-law there.”
Hillcrest resident Jessica Drew attended the October event and said she liked being able to step back in time for a few hours. The dancers were her favorite part of the night because they really got people up and onto the dance floor. “And Sacha, that girl can sing,” Drew said.
The next Sacha’s Supper Club will take place on Thursday, Nov. 19. This month’s theme will be the Orange Party, 100 years of Sinatra featuring Barry Allen Cohen’s Big Daddy Orchestra. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased online at sachassupperclub.com. Attendees are encouraged to dress to impress.
Boutros said that anyone who has been thinking about coming out but who may be on the fence should jump. “You never know what fun is waiting for you until you’re there.”
—Margie M. Palmer is a San Diego-based freelance writer who has been racking up bylines in a myriad of news publications for the past 10 years. You can reach her at [email protected].
