12 January 2012

A Club With Style

The New York Athletic Club

I belonged to a club in Chicago which enjoyed reciprocity with the New York Athletic Club. The access to other clubs can easily be worth membership in a local club alone. Especially if you travel a lot. The NYAC offered clean rooms at a decent price and was loaded with character.


N.Y.A.C - Home of the lottery dinner

On the one hand, it could take hours to get through dinner. Forgetful waiters, lost entrees, missing drinks. On the other, you might never receive a bill for that dinner. You just never knew with the NYAC. One morning after a swim, I sat alone in their massive steam room. I was taking off my trunks when a woman walked in. She looked the other way as I tugged my trunks back up. You just never knew...


Jr Suite - far left two windows on top floor

There was a junior suite I always asked for on the top floor. The first night there, I came into my room from dinner but couldn't find the light switch. The door slowly closed but an open window offered light in the dark room. I slowly moved to the window and could see an apartment building across the street.


The building across the street

I watched as a man in an art filled living room sat on an ugly sectional watching his big screen television. I could just make out his bald head and saw he was smoking a cigar and watching David Letterman. Without turning on a light, I moved to my television and turned it on. I found the Letterman show, tuned the picture dark and left the sound on.



I took a beer from the mini-bar, turned the desk chair towards the window, sat down and watched Letterman from across the street. He wasn't always there and once I had to sit through Leno, but the NYAC always made feel like a real New Yorker.

13 comments:

SUM said...

Why did the woman in the steam room "look the other way"? You Americans and your sensibilities.

M.Lane said...

One of my very favorite places. Next time I'm in town I'll have to try the steam room.

ML
mlanesepic.blogspot.com

tintin said...

SUM- Nothing to see most likely. Shrinkage.

Caroline said...

That is also my junior suite at the NYAC. And THE goal is a pied-à-terre in that very same apartment building. I know I'll never be a real New Yorker, but I am of use to our friends from the UES who are currently staying with us in the sunny southwest. I surely appreciate that glimpse into my NY.

Ben said...

Saw Fred Rogers in the locker room there many years ago. He was indeed putting on blue Keds.

Brohammas said...

Must admit, this did not go the direction I expected. I'm glad for that.

Nicely done.

tintin said...

Brohammas- What direction was that? Just to confirm, the mini bar didn't have any ginger ale.

GSV JR said...

This made my butthole pucker a little bit.

Anonymous said...

sucks they were forced by NYC to admit women.

Anonymous said...

If Don Draper was a member, it had to be alright.

NYC kid in CHI said...

Met with a classmate of my father's who worked at BankAmerica, in the NYAC tap room, a month after I graduated from college to talk about job opportunities.

And I had a friend of a friend by the name of Leon whose family lived in the apartment building across the street, so I've been there too. Last I heard Leon's whole family was indicted for art fraud and counterfeiting, haven't spoken to him since.

Patsy said...

My father had his bachelor party at the NYAC. A lady in a neigboring building poured a bucket of water on them, while they were standing around outside. guess they were a little loud......

M.Lane said...

And now, after surviving a [no doubt] series of recounts and blackballs, I am a member there. Last summer my 18 yr old son and I walked out onto the roof bar in the midst of a perfect evening [after dinner at Le Veau D'or] and as I sipped by very old Oban and he looked out over Central Park I said....."not bad for a provincial lawyer eh?" and he looked at me and said "no Dad...not bad at all".

ML