D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A New York fable. Now in its ninetieth year, if you can believe it—it started out as Jack (Kriendler) and Charlie’s (Berns) “21” club. When they first opened for business (it was a speakeasy) in 1931, there were two huge Vanderbilt mansions at the end of the block next door— Willie K and Alva’s—the aforementioned Virginia Fair’s in-laws, and William H’s twin mansions, which took up the west side of Fifth from 51st to 52nd Street. The club, often known as “Jack and Charlie’s,” has been converted from some family’s brownstone. In those first days of business, there were still a lot of horses in use in the city (pulling the
milk delivery wagons, for example), and Fifth Avenue was two-way, with traffic-light posts manually operated in the middle of the road. Still just as snappy today, and reeking of the old-time collegial, “21’s” original secret door where they hid the booze from the Feds in the cellar is still there. The place is the closest most of us (including John O’Hara) ever got to what we imagine was the club-like atmosphere at Yale. Back in the days of Boola Boola. Back at the table. Both of my guests had read all of Proust. I know this is not a matter of interest to everybody, but for those of us who have always felt daunted by Proust
and have tried and (so far) not succeeded, it is practically a jaw-dropper. Turns out that Duane has her Master’s in literature, and it was Raul’s major at Harvard. I sat there dazzled by their knowledge and literacy. That, the Dover Sole (grilled), the Stoli on the rocks (with a twist), it was a perfect way to keep warm on a cold winter’s Friday evening in New York. And lastly, but really first: On a Thursday night at Doubles, the private club in the Sherry-Netherland, Catherine Slavonia and Andre Boissier hosted a reception to celebrate the engagement of their goddaughter, Alexandra Peterson, daughter of
Paige Peterson and David Peterson (and sister of Peter Cary Peterson, the actor) to William Cart, son of Sarah and Ben Cart. The couple started dating nine years ago at the Millbrook School. Alexandra is chief of staff at G2 Investment Group. She graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in international relations, political science, and Latin American studies. William is an actor. He studied at the British American Drama Academy and graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles. He also works at Prudential Douglas Elliman in New York City. Best wishes and congratulations.
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