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I am told that my mother was catered in the hospital by ‘21’ – so I started early in 1967. Later – I remember sitting on two phone books, then 1 then 0 to be able to sit the table and see the plate! My only regret is that I can no longer sing Dixie at Christmas!
George Brokaw
And the love affair with 21 continues!
Dickson and I started our CIA 45th reunion week in NYC with a lavish Park Avenue party with lots of our old friends, then lunch with Jacques Pepin at the French Culinary Institute, followed by a Bacchanalian feast at ‘21’ with artist and friend of ‘21’, LeRoy Neiman and his wife Janet, friends from Oklahoma City, of course, Robert Dickson, and a surprise visitor from Oklahoma City bearing a 6 liter 1985 Chateau Haut Brion; we closed the restaurant with lingering memories of another great pairing of friends, food, wine, and now my friends at ‘21’.
Chef John Bennett
For me, the ‘21’ Club means safe harbor, great food and good company. As an adventurous little girl I enjoyed running away from my babysitter-du-jour at top speeds on a regular basis near ‘21’'s engaging entrance.
My father decided something had to be done. He took me to ‘21’ Club and made a point of marking out the jockeys, giving me his club number to memorize and telling me to see Mr. Dinan if I ever got lost. He would make sure I was fed, Shirley-Templed and sent home.
Many years later, my homing pigeon sensor still goes up just in time to arrange drinks or dinner with friends and the world's business leaders.
Camilla Webster
Our memories and love for “21”
Reminiscing about our “21” visits brings a rush of happy memories. They all started while Patrick and I were dating some 43 years ago. Our first recollection started with cocktails and dinner and a date that was so special! Cocktails took place in the beautiful lounge which has always had a homey atmosphere. We were surrounded by the sculpture and sketches of the old West by Remington. The staff was friendly, caring and warm in their greetings each time we visited. We felt so comfortable there that when we became engaged in 1967 we celebrated at “21”, with the champagne flowing! The night before our wedding at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we held our rehearsal dinner upstairs in one of the private rooms. Since our marriage, it has officially become our “family restaurant” where we have feted our four children’s outstanding life events their communion, confirmations, graduations, engagements and weddings saw them following in our footsteps in the enjoyment we shared in all their special moments. These all took place at our favorite spot in New York.
Christmas Eve dinners before midnight Mass still is part of the Egan tradition. Christmas carols sung and lovely dinners digested prepare us well to enjoy the beauty of Christmas Eve at church. What better place to be in than amongst our friends who work all year to uphold the fine “21” tradition? But it doesn’t end with Christmas, as the hours of such enjoyment never end during the year. The whole key lies in the fact that “21” has become a second home with an extended family that we hold great affection for.
A stop at “21” after the Philharmonic or Opera is a favorite as well as the elegant wine dinners which are so carefully planned and served. We also have enjoyed the elegance of the wine cellar dinners for special birthdays that we have had. We are indeed, a “21” couple that continues to enjoy being at home in the brownstone houses which always holds a cheery welcome when we visit!
Pauline and Patrick Egan
Purchase of ‘21’ Club by Orient-Express Hotels
Back in June of 1995 I was contacted by the New York investment banking firm of Furman Selz who said that the owner of ‘21’ Club, Marshall Cogan, had decided to sell the property and they felt Orient-Express Hotels would be the ideal buyer.
Marshall Cogan was a delightful New Yorker who had suffered some difficulty in his auto body manufacturing business so had decided to sell off some of his other activities like ‘21’ Club, which he had acquired in 1986, to compensate.
Discussions continued through the summer and on August 14th I met with Cogan and the Furman Selz people in Cogan’s office in Manhattan and agreed to buy ‘21’ for $23 million. Marshall claimed that he had a higher offer from Las Vegas interests but preferred to sell to us. I was very pleased with the deal because it gave Orient-Express Hotels a prestigious presence in New York City.
This iconic business became part of Orient-Express Hotels once a new liquor license was granted on November 29 1995.
James B. Sherwood, Founder and Director of Orient-Express Hotels |
