Mad Men's Back! I'll Drink to That
Today marks the beginning of the final season of Mad Men. So
sad, but so exciting. It’s 1969, a tumultuous year in American history. So what’s an advertising guy or gal to do?
Drink, of course! Here are my suggestions for where to go if you’re planning to
"party like it's 1969" in some of Don’s, Roger’s or Peggy’s favorite haunts.
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| The cast of "Mad Men" at the Paley Center for Media, New York City |
Trouble’s Trust at
the New York Palace: The appropriately named bar in the New York Palace Hotel
is the modern version of the King Cole Bar. Hidden under the lobby’s grand
staircase, the bar entices with “vintage specialty” cocktails that Betty and Henry
would have enjoyed on a trip into the city.
My guess is that Betty would have chosen The “Queen of Mean” cocktail if
she could have fast-forwarded a few decades, a potent mix of whiskey and gin to
be sipped with a mix of hauteur and vulnerability. Henry, being the politician
that he is, would have no doubt opted for a turn-of-the-century “Bronx
Cocktail.” 455 Madison Ave., 212-888-7000;
Bill’s Food &
Drink: It’s not exactly the original
Bill’s Gay Nineties, but it’s pretty close.
Set in a 19th-century townhouse, Bill’s was once the site of
a Prohibition Era speakeasy. Listen to
the pianist in the downstairs bar while you knock back a Scotch, just steps
away from many of the original Madison Avenue ad agencies. You can finish the evening upstairs with an
oversized ribeye and an aptly named Hanky Panky gin cocktail, a clubby setting
for consummating a business deal (or other kind of tryst). 57 East 54th Street, 212-538-2727.
www.bills54.com.
Monkey Bar: Across the street from Bill’s, the
landmark Hotel Elysée (once known as the “easy lay”) has welcomed guests like
Joe DiMaggio and Marlon Brandon. Step
inside the bar just off the lobby with its iconic monkey mural. You can just picture Roger downing a Manhattan
or two before heading for a room upstairs.
Hotel Elysée, 50 East 54th Street, 212-753-1066. www.elyseehotel.com.
Madison Club
Lounge: The historic lounge in the Roosevelt
Hotel is classic Mad Men with its
mahogany walls, stained glass windows, and leather bar seats. It’s likely Don began and ended his day here
during the time he lived at the hotel, pouring vodka into his orange
juice. 45 East 45th Street,
212-66-19600. www.theroosevelthotel.com.
Bemelman’s Bar: Some
things never go out of style. Live piano
music, enchanting murals of animals by Ludwig Bemelmans of Madeline fame, plus
formally dressed waiters make this an Upper East Side landmark. The perfectly chilled and poured martini
comes in a shaker with enough liquor for a potent drink and a half, and the
banquettes are perfect for cuddling. The
Carlyle Hotel, 35 East 76th Street, 212-744-1500. www.rosewoodhotels/com/en/the-carlyle-new-york
P.J. Clarke’s: Nearly 130 years old, P.J. Clarke’s still
appeals to the after-work drinking and dining set. The neighborhoody bar serves up cold beers,
oysters on the half, and burgers to a crowd of ad execs and locals. It’s the perfect spot for mingling, meeting a
blind date, or celebrating a copywriting success as Peggy did. 9015 Third Ave.,
212-317-1616. www.pjclarkes.com
21 Club: Infamous for its Prohibition-era
speakeasy status, this restaurant has attracted every president since FDR
(except George W. Bush) to dine or imbibe. Come for a martini just like James
Bond in 007 or try a Southside, the rum and mint cocktail invented here. It’s
quiet enough, too, that Ted and Peggy could have shared a drink at the 21 without
having had to escape to an afternoon Roman Polanski movie. 21 W. 52nd St., 212-582-7200; www.21club.com
Campbell Apartment: This
luxurious lounge in Grand Central Terminal will bring you back to another era. The
space, once used as an office for New York financier John Campbell, still
exudes the same sleek, refinement with its low lighting, rich woodwork and
beamed ceiling. Take a seat on the
balcony for extra privacy. We’d
recommend the Prohibition Punch for aptly named Pete Campbell. 15 Vanderbilt Ave., 212-953-0409
The Blue Bar at the
Algonquin: Once the hot spot for the literati, The Blue Bar is filled with
Al Hirschfield’s artwork depicting a variety of Broadway shows. The cozy bar with
its blue upholstery is known for the Algonquin Cocktail, a mix of whisky, dry
vermouth, and pineapple juice. It’s
reputed that the literary ghosts of the likes of Dorothy Parker will even sit
with you to provide inspiration and absorb the black-tie service. The Algonquin
Hotel, 59 W. 44th St., 212-840-6800; www.algonquinhotel.comwww.algonquinhotel.com
Sardi’s: Since
1921, this legendary restaurant with celebrity caricatures adorning its walls
has served as the spot for before or after theater. It’s also a favorite
rendezvous spot for Don Draper and his lady friends. To behave like a true “mad man,” book a table
on Thursdays and Fridays for jazz and cabaret and skip the cocktail: a bottle
of Dom Perignon is more in keeping with the mood. 234 W. 44th St.,
212-221-8440;
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