Oh it’s fun having friends who move in a higher social altitude than you. My good drinking partner Lousy Latte is such a fellow. It was a call in the middle of the night that drew alarm, but the invitation promised Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker.
How could I refuse? Besides it would be bad form to decline canapés with the world’s most famous cigar handler.
The event was the 75th Anniversary of Esquire magazine and was to be held at Gotham Hall.
The venue was a classic backdrop for stylish men on the make flanked by delicate fillies fussing enthusiastically over their attire.
When inspecting the Tree house wardrobe I spotted my “off the peg” Ben Sherman suit perfect counterpoint to the Bruno Magli shoes, Paul Stuart suits, Charles Tywhitt shirts and Thomas Pink ties I had to contend with.
How could I refuse? Besides it would be bad form to decline canapés with the world’s most famous cigar handler.
The event was the 75th Anniversary of Esquire magazine and was to be held at Gotham Hall.
The venue was a classic backdrop for stylish men on the make flanked by delicate fillies fussing enthusiastically over their attire.
When inspecting the Tree house wardrobe I spotted my “off the peg” Ben Sherman suit perfect counterpoint to the Bruno Magli shoes, Paul Stuart suits, Charles Tywhitt shirts and Thomas Pink ties I had to contend with.
Kick off was at 7.30pm and the walk down from CP headquarters stirred a marvelous appetite for unabashed revelry. True to form Lousy Latte had ditched his Blackberry for the latest IPhone clearly preferring Madison Ave over Wall Street.
“I’m just trying it out” he beamed showing off photographs of his son.
Inside I felt I was in a Roman Coliseum in Flavian times. With its circular design and majestic classic pillars I thought togas rather than pin stripes.
Once the first Hendricks Martini was captured we mingled among the Magazine set while the edgy downtown girl played sensible beats on her Power Mac.
I was introduced to a gallerist whose name I completely forgot but which could not be said for his appearance. He reminded me of Dave Stewart from the band The Eurthymics.
For what it’s worth you can not under any circumstances wear tan shoes with a black pin stripe suit. I was tempted to call security.
“I’m just trying it out” he beamed showing off photographs of his son.
Inside I felt I was in a Roman Coliseum in Flavian times. With its circular design and majestic classic pillars I thought togas rather than pin stripes.
Once the first Hendricks Martini was captured we mingled among the Magazine set while the edgy downtown girl played sensible beats on her Power Mac.
I was introduced to a gallerist whose name I completely forgot but which could not be said for his appearance. He reminded me of Dave Stewart from the band The Eurthymics.
For what it’s worth you can not under any circumstances wear tan shoes with a black pin stripe suit. I was tempted to call security.
He was perfectly pleasant and had apparently something to do with tonight’s art design.
I did wonder however how this term Gallerist came about. What’s wrong with Art dealer?
Then my Martini mind wandered into an imagined reply.
“Oh we represent the Artist and their nurturing… it’s just not transaction you know, anyway Art dealer could be mistaken for Drug dealer or Arms dealer.
Then my Martini mind wandered into an imagined reply.
“Oh we represent the Artist and their nurturing… it’s just not transaction you know, anyway Art dealer could be mistaken for Drug dealer or Arms dealer.
We are on the right side of the law..” and it was then that I awoke to an empty glass which had to be filled.
Coming back from the bar with my liquid purchases I spotted Charlie Rose looking slightly disheveled and in need of some sleep. Naturally he was surrounded by women and God knows who wanting to be on his show. I think the magic password with Charlie is cabernet...That should secure you a place at the round table.
Lousy Latte and I were later joined by Doug Biro a former Record executive turn filmmaker whose work included Dave Mathews, Herbie Hancock and Ian McEwan.
He was here to see Bill Clinton.
Doug, you guessed it..had an IPhone, so when the conversation sagged I was in a Mexican stand off, each one trying to show off the marvels of Steve Jobs clairvoyance.
Coming back from the bar with my liquid purchases I spotted Charlie Rose looking slightly disheveled and in need of some sleep. Naturally he was surrounded by women and God knows who wanting to be on his show. I think the magic password with Charlie is cabernet...That should secure you a place at the round table.
Lousy Latte and I were later joined by Doug Biro a former Record executive turn filmmaker whose work included Dave Mathews, Herbie Hancock and Ian McEwan.
He was here to see Bill Clinton.
Doug, you guessed it..had an IPhone, so when the conversation sagged I was in a Mexican stand off, each one trying to show off the marvels of Steve Jobs clairvoyance.
Honestly I felt I was in the texting Olympics.
By now I had gone in search of much needed food. The balance between fluids and solids were hugely uneven and if I was to focus our former intern seducer I needed to be at my best,
or at least vertical.
With my first plate of food came the first speech by Kevin O'Malley the publisher who looked stealth in his navy blue suit; however I can’t remember much other than it must have been a moral booster considering the downturn in ad revenue.
Next was David Granger the editor in chief who looked like a better dressed Phil Collins yet again I couldn’t remember bugger all about what he said. But he did use cue cards which I thought was a little Jeopardy.
When Bill Clinton arrived at the microphone an enormous cheer filled the room affirming his celebrity status. Looking fit and healthy and grinning from ear to ear he commented that being at Gotham Hall made him feel like Batman. Clearly Esquire had spent most of the evening’s budget on the Clinton aura and the seven minutes worth didn’t disappoint.
First he thanked the former speakers for all their efforts, and then he thanked Esquire for including his wife in the 75 most influential people.
He spoke of a future of shared values and America’s slip in the world in comparison to China, citing better infrastructure and quicker internet speed. The 21st century provided huge challenges, and are we equipped to deal with them?
Insecurity and climate change was mentioned and the need too have a more allies than adversaries. And in closing he made the analogy of the USA basketball team winning the gold medal as a team in Beijing.
By now I had gone in search of much needed food. The balance between fluids and solids were hugely uneven and if I was to focus our former intern seducer I needed to be at my best,
or at least vertical.
With my first plate of food came the first speech by Kevin O'Malley the publisher who looked stealth in his navy blue suit; however I can’t remember much other than it must have been a moral booster considering the downturn in ad revenue.
Next was David Granger the editor in chief who looked like a better dressed Phil Collins yet again I couldn’t remember bugger all about what he said. But he did use cue cards which I thought was a little Jeopardy.
When Bill Clinton arrived at the microphone an enormous cheer filled the room affirming his celebrity status. Looking fit and healthy and grinning from ear to ear he commented that being at Gotham Hall made him feel like Batman. Clearly Esquire had spent most of the evening’s budget on the Clinton aura and the seven minutes worth didn’t disappoint.
First he thanked the former speakers for all their efforts, and then he thanked Esquire for including his wife in the 75 most influential people.
He spoke of a future of shared values and America’s slip in the world in comparison to China, citing better infrastructure and quicker internet speed. The 21st century provided huge challenges, and are we equipped to deal with them?
Insecurity and climate change was mentioned and the need too have a more allies than adversaries. And in closing he made the analogy of the USA basketball team winning the gold medal as a team in Beijing.
Leron James was a celebrity guest, but was MIA. It wasn’t like he could hide!
It was vintage Clinton, no cue cards, no script, just effortless delivery. Then he disappeared just like Batman.
We turned back to our drinks and pondered on the dollar minute ratio. Did he do it for free or donate his fee to his charity?
On exiting the hall Leron James appeared with his friends sizing up the room looking like a banker.
Outside in the street, the conversation turned from congratulations to where on earth do we drink next? Wisely we fought off those tempting impulses and bid farewell.
I strolled home back to the Tree house and I couldn’t help think that Clinton still had the magic, but it was ghost like.
A new generation had arrived and he was a reluctant to give it up.
It was vintage Clinton, no cue cards, no script, just effortless delivery. Then he disappeared just like Batman.
We turned back to our drinks and pondered on the dollar minute ratio. Did he do it for free or donate his fee to his charity?
On exiting the hall Leron James appeared with his friends sizing up the room looking like a banker.
Outside in the street, the conversation turned from congratulations to where on earth do we drink next? Wisely we fought off those tempting impulses and bid farewell.
I strolled home back to the Tree house and I couldn’t help think that Clinton still had the magic, but it was ghost like.
A new generation had arrived and he was a reluctant to give it up.
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