The End of the Oak Room, Boston

[Hemingway Jones]

http://stuffboston.com/daily/archive/2011/03/28/bye-bye-oak-room.aspx

This is an article about the Oak Room and Oak Bar in the Fairmont Copley Hotel that is expected to close soon. It was originally opened the same year as the Titanic sank. It's a very sympathetic article to old Boston and how the world is giving way to the new realities of mass marketing and mass appeal.

 

[rue]

That's the saddest thing I've read in a long time.

 

[scotrace]

I'd better make a dash to Boston. I want to drink with you there before it's gone, Hem.

 

[Feraud]

Sad news. I hope to make it back before they close.

 

[subject101]

Who can blame them? The oldsters who appreciate the Oak Room’s quaint atmosphere, food and service are aging, dying. Anthony Bourdain has flat-out called this kind of place obsolete, doomed. I suspect he’s right: even exalted, expensive Boston restaurants like L’Espalier and Menton don’t dare insist that their customers dress for dinner. The result is that you get to pay $200 to $300 a head for an extraordinary meal while seated next to patrons in jeans, ball caps, hoodies, and sweatpants.

Well, I guess the owner didn't reject any customer in his/her leopard panties as long as they are willing to drop 300 for dinner.

It happens all over the world, not only in Boston. These are the times we live in.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Well, Anthony Bourdain says it's "obsolete and doomed," so I guess the ultimate arbiter of gastronomic culture has spoken.

In a just world, Mr. Bourdain's liver would be eaten by a group of fatuous, self-satisfied, foul-mouthed ducks.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I'd better make a dash to Boston. I want to drink with you there before it's gone, Hem.

I would love to toast with you there. It is one of my favorite spots in the entire world. Just my luck that it is going away. I would love to share that with you.

 

[rue]

I agree wholeheartedly Lizzie.


I fear for the other Oak Room and bar in the Plaza NY.

 

[Tomasso]

I fear for the other Oak Room and bar in the Plaza NY.

IIRC, their survival (along with the Palm Court) was written into the redevelopment agreement with the city. Still, they were allowed to freshen up the Bar just enough that it just doesn't look right anymore. They also messed with the lighting.

Before:

After:

Those low back chairs are not conducive to an extended stay.

 

[rue]

Are you freakin' kidding me?? I sat in those leather chairs every time I went to NY. How depressing. (sigh)

 

[magnolia76]

Us Bostonians should plan a get together there, a toast to goodbye.

 

[kyboots]

I enjoyed drinking there one night many years ago. John

 

[Mr Vim]

I never visited either bar, what a shame. Oh well, change is inevitable... except from vending machines.

 

[1961MJS]

I never visited either bar, what a shame. Oh well, change is inevitable... except from vending machines.

Jeez Mr. Vim, is that on a t-shirt???? If sure deserves to be on one.

Later

 

[kyboots]

I like that too!------John

 

[Hemingway Jones]

In case anyone is following this, the Oak Room is gone, gutted and soon to be a trendy nightspot. It's original furnishings that date back to the year the Titanic was launched are all gone.

 

[lframe]

*sigh*

 

[rue]

^ Exactly

 

[Mr Vim]

That is very disheartening to hear. Why do people today have no sense of style or elegance?

 

[scotrace]

In case anyone is following this, the Oak Room is gone, gutted and soon to be a trendy nightspot. It's original furnishings that date back to the year the Titanic was launched are all gone.

Who ended up with them? Was there an auction?

There are still bits of the mahogany appointments from Luchow's in NYC floating around; it closed in the early 80's, after a hundred year run.