In my first blog I talked about Happy Hour – something I didn’t know much about having lived most of my adult life in New York City. While I am sure many happy hours occur in New York, I had never experienced such a thing. In Paradise the HH can begin as early as 3:00 p.m., but most start at 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. and end at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m.
The idea, I think, is to attract people into an establishment with hopes they will stay for dinner. Drinks are very inexpensive and bar snacks are offered at low prices. We go to HH at least once a week here in Paradise. Living in New York, I don’t ever remember getting out of work earlier than 6:30 p.m. and rarely did I meet anyone for drinks, rather for dinner and usually about 7:00 p.m.
When we lived in NY, Doug would call my work about 4:00 p.m. and ask if we could meet for a drink. His favorite place was Bemelman’s Bar in the Carlyle Hotel and it was very convenient to get to for both of us. Just three blocks from the apartment, it was also a regular stop on the Madison Avenue Bus. Doug would get there a bit early and secure a good table close to the piano and hopefully on the banquet. It was very popular, very crowded and very expensive – and wonderful fun. The crowd was handsome and well-mannered and the music terrific – all old standards. And usually we ate enough bar items that we wouldn’t need to have dinner. Most special though was the decor: art deco in style, it had wonderful murals (the picture above)on the walls which depicted Central Park – by Bemelman, the creator of the Madeleine children’s books. It is a treasure of a place you should definitely visit if in New York.
The only time I would meet someone for drinks in New York would be when I would arrange to interview a candidate. Most senior executives don’t want to leave their jobs mid-day, so either a very early breakfast (which is usually a distraction if the candidate’s calendar is full for the day) ; or a drink at the end of the day. I like the drink at the end of the day because the candidate usually doesn’t have a distraction – unless of course, they were taking a train out of the city to get home. I’d sometimes set the meeting for 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. to get a jump the 6:30 crowd. I had a few good places to meet, but, by far, my favorite was Bar Seine in the Plaza Athenee hotel on 64th St. between Madison and Park. Outside of being just a lovely place with great service, the Bar Seine is very small, with comfortable chairs and tables, and draws a sophisticated, refined crowd.
One night I was meeting a candidate whom I thought could be a good prospect for a very senior role. He agreed to the meeting and the place and time – 5:30 p.m. I always arrived early when I had an interview; nothing could be more discourteous than to make a great candidate wait. In addition, when you are in a New York bar at 5:30 p.m. you pretty much know who your candidate is as they enter because the rest of the bar is empty at that time. I had frequented Bar Seine at least once or twice a week for over ten years – and when I return to NY, my favorite waiter still recognizes me!
This particular evening, I sat on the banquet which was along the right side of the room as you walk through the lobby. A small table would separate me from the candidate, but there would be others lining the banquet down the wall. I always tried to get one of the ends, or better yet, sit in the second room, which was always a bit more private. The whole setting gave you the feel of being in a private club – and even thought I could be working, it was enjoyable.
It was a cold evening, and soon after I arrived, another person – a man – came in and sat down on the banquet seat of the table next to me. I was pretty surprised because at 5:30 p.m. there are many tables to choose from. This man walked past me and then came around in between the tables in front of the banquet. I didn’t pay much attention, but I noticed that he did not take his coat off – he was sitting right next to me and nobody else was in the room.
When my candidate arrived I gave a little wave and he quickly sat down on the chair on directly opposite me. He looked a little nervous, so I opened with my usual chit-chat to make him feel comfortable. Yet, he was a bit tense and kept on looking at the person sitting next to me. After a few minutes of the usual talk: did you have any problem getting to the hotel? isn’t it cold outside? etc., he was still kind of antsy. We ordered drinks and started to talk about how he came to work in his current role and his work history. You learn much about a candidate when you listen and don’t speak. I listen for a long time before I start asking questions during an interview.
About 45 minutes into the meeting, the person at the table next to me finished his drink and left. As he walked out of the door, my candidate leaned into the table and said, “I’m so glad that is over; Robert DeNiro never took his eyes off of me and listened to every word you said!” Only in New York. We both laughed and hoped we might be a topic for his next movie!
Today, in Paradise, “meeting for a drink” is very different. First, it is never cold, and I don’t ever have to wear a coat. Second, it is never quiet. Third it is always cheap, and fourth, it is so much fun (and no work)! We have a multitude of places we can go although we frequent one or two regularly. While everything in Paradise is casual, some places are a little more casual than others – but most important is that we have the same people with us each time we go out – our “Circle of Friends”. We love bar pies which is what we usually order in the places we frequent – thin crust and right out of the pizza oven. Every once and awhile we try a new place and one evening we all agreed to go to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. I’ve never been in Ruth’s Chris, so it was a new adventure. They have a good menu for HH – the only problem is you have to wait for a table in the bar!!! The Circle of Friends doesn’t like waiting, so we will probably not return.
Paradise is not lacking for restaurants, oyster bars and watering holes, so there is always some place to go. Of our favorites, Clayton’s is like a fishing village local place where everyone (out of season) knows everyone else – and the owner, his wife, and all the bartenders. Flavio’s is totally different. Different crowd, and in Siesta Village but the bartenders know our names – so does the owner.
At home, our HH starts at 5:00 p.m. sharp. A vodka tonics with a chunky slice of lime, squeezed into the drink before serving is my favorite. Doug make this drink better than anyone I know, and it is always served in a Ralph Lauren “plaid” short glass. But the nicest thing about all of our HHs is that we always toast each other and clink glasses, whether it is just Doug and me or the whole Circle of Friends.
It is just about 5:00p.m. in Paradise, so Cheers, Salude, Prosit, Gan Bei, Pura Vida, Na zdravi, Skaal, Proost, Sante, Okole Malune, L’Chaim, Cin-Cin, Kampai, buk sveikas, Slainte and Zum Wohl!
Till next time,
E
Paradise Found 