News & Notes from The Lotos Club SEPTEMBER 2008 Louis Auchincloss to Be Honored “Dinner Theater” th Stars Sternhagen at State Dinner on October 7 On Thursday, October 30, the A highlight of the fall season will be shelf of any serious reader of Special Events Committee will the State Dinner for prolific novelist, American fiction” (Jay Parini, present an evening of theater historian and essayist Louis NewYork Observer ). featuring the highly acclaimed Auchincloss on Tuesday, October 7 actress Francis Sternhagen . The (cocktails 6:30 p.m., $125). The Award of Distinction will be author of more than sixty books, Mr. presented to Ms. Sternhagen, whose Auchincloss will receive the Lotos work in theater, film and television Medal of Merit. Reservations will be has earned her the reputation of made only on receipt of the reply being one of the finest actors of our card, and members may invite only day. John Cunningham , who one guest initially. starred opposite Stockard Channing Special guest speakers will include in Six Degrees of Separation and recently appeared at Second Stage in two longtime Lotos members, artist Everett Raymond Kinstler and Some Americans Abroad , will novelist Tom Wolfe . perform opposite Ms. Sternhagen. Two On The Aisle will include short Mr. Auchincloss rose to fame when, comic scenes by Robert Anderson, in 1964, he published The Rector of Romulus Linney, Dorothy Parker, Justin , a Pulitzer Prize nominee, Shell Silverstein and Oscar Wilde on stage in the Library, followed by which was called “[A] certifiable Louis Auchincloss masterpiece …that should sit on the (photo by Gasper Tringale) dinner with the actors in the Ballroom (cocktails, 6 p.m.; performance, 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner; $125) September Lectures Are Diverse: Nominated seven times for a Tony Sports, Supreme Court, Technology award, Francis Sternhagen has The Club ’s event committees have Headliners Award. He has also been received the award twice, for The scheduled a variety of interesting fall a Nieman Fellow at Harvard Good Doctor and The Heiress . Her programs. University. A reporter at some of the long list of Off-Broadway and nation’s most prestigious newspapers, Sports Broadway credits includes Talking Mr. Bissinger also has published his Heads , The Exact Center of the On Tuesday, September 16, H.G. work in Vanity Fair , The New York Universe , The Old Lady Shows Her “Buzz” Bissinger will talk about Times Magazine and Sports “Sports in America: Where do we go Illustrated . He is the author of three (continued on page 6) from here now that we have screwed highly acclaimed non-fiction books it all up?” (cocktails, 6:30 p.m.; $25). and a co-producer and writer for Reminder “NYPD Blue.” Two of his works Mr. Bissinger has been the winner of have also been made into very Fall Opening Cocktail Party on many important awards, including the successful films; one of them, Friday Wednesday, September 3, Pulitzer Prize, the Livingston Award, Night Lights, also served as the inspir- the American Bar Association Silver 6 to 8 p.m. ($30) ation for the NBC television series. Gavel Award, and the National (continued on page 6 ) N E W S A N D N O T E S A Note to Members by Patrick J. Frawley, President Welcome to Labor Day always seems to have a post -Labor Day. An empty August the Club certain effect on people. The day suddenly is transformed into a full Gail Furman (Resident), after Labor Day, one of the most slate of September meetings and child/adolescent psychologist, frequently asked questions is “How events. I counted up the number of New York City. Memberships: was your summer?” The days before entries (perhaps I had too much Princeton Club, Council on Labor Day are considered by many summer downtime on my hands!) Foreign Relations, Human Rights as a countdown to the end of and found that the September First, Women’s Commission summer. Certainly, the opening of calendar records 15 meetings and 9 (International Rescue Committee), the school year contributes to the events – involving literally hundreds Brennan Center for Social Justice. sense that the summer has drawn to a of our members. Proposer: Patricia Greenwald; close. Seconder: Robert M. Morgenthau. As sad as I am to see the summer I, for one, do my best to resist the wind down (I love the beach), that feeling that the summer has ended. feeling is tempered by the knowledge Certainly, the calendar supports my that many interesting events and Lotosians in desire to keep the summer going, good times await as the Lotos season especially in a year when Labor Day heats up through the fall and winter the Spotlight is the earliest it can be. And one has (no pun intended). And if you are at Belinda Pokorny was featured in an to admit that some of the nicest days the Club at the Fall Opening Cocktail article in The Scarsdale Inquirer/The of the summer, and in fact of the Party, and in the days immediately Westchester News , which noted her entire year, happen after Labor Day. following, don’t forget to ask “How role as an artistic docent at the is your summer?” Katonah Museum of Art. Lotos is not any different than our larger society. We view Labor Day Three important sculptures from the as an end to the summer. We will Boca Raton, Florida, collection of gather on September 3 rd , for what we Mimi S. Livingston will be exhibited call the Fall Opening Cocktail Party. at the opening of the new Museum of And, yes, we will ask each other Art and Design in New York City. “How was your summer?” But at Also on display will be examples from Lotos, there is something different. her “Contemporary Jewelry as Sculpture.” That question is not tinged with a th degree of sadness that something is 5 East 66 Street New York, NY 10065 The flagship program of the Melvin over, but rather is asked with an Stecher and Norman Horowitz (212) 737-7100 excitement over things about to Foundation, The New York Piano (212) 737-9188 (fax) begin. Even though fall is a few Competition, is going global. Due to weeks away, the name of the party www.lotosclub.org the great success the competition has gives away our mood – it is an experienced, it now carries the name News & Notes The New York International Piano opening cocktail party. For us, the quiet of the Club’s summer is in fact Executive Editor Competition. Outstanding young over, and our clubhouse is once Stephenie Ralston pianists worldwide can now apply as again filled with the sounds of the contestants to this highly appraised varied activities of our active and Design Editor NYIPC. engaged membership. Sharon Situ Presently, the Foundation offers prize winners, finalists, and previous I was recently looking at the Club’s Contributing Editors August calendar of events in News contestants more than thirty-five Nancy Johnson opportunities to be heard in concert, and Notes , and turned over to look at Margaret Diggory with appearances in New York City, September. It was really a visual Buffalo, Ossining, White Plains and representation of the change pre- and Washington, DC. Page Two The Lotos Club N E W S A N D N O T E S •Summer Projects General Manager’s Comments Art restoration (see list below) by John J. McGrath • A ladies room created in The Grill Room The Club will kick off its 138 th season on need to be carefully monitored in the • Employee restroom renovated Wednesday, September 3 rd with the Fall future. • Window replacement (eleven) Opening Cocktail Party . Longtime The effect of the constitutional limit of • Wine storage cooler installed members may remember that this event 400 resident members on the Club’s • actually was an opening, as the Club Simplex Fire System upgraded operation is a perennial topic. Should • traditionally closed during the month of Guest elevator, cables re-shackled the membership be increased in order to • August and re-opened after Labor Day. Air conditioning cooling tower spread the expenses over a broader base? In 1982, a decision to keep the Club’s replaced Should fees continue to be increased to bedrooms and dining room open • Clubhouse security system fund operating increases? Should throughout the entire summer was made upgraded expenses be reduced, resulting in a by then Club President Silas Mountsier • Kitchen freezer replaced decrease in member services? III. In recent years, additional Club • Ballroom and third floor pantry Ultimately, the membership will have to events have been scheduled during the doors restored determine the best long-term strategy to months of July and August. To the • Room 507, bathroom renovated follow. surprise of some people, many members • New carpet installed in bedrooms do remain in the City. This past summer, One alternative to these options is to 403, 404 and 509 • the Club hosted three cocktail parties – increase members’ use of the Club, Clubhouse rugs cleaned, repaired, each attracting more than 100 guests; the especially for private events. In addition as needed, and fiber-sealed Lotos by the Sea reception, with a record to hosting their own events, members • Sheer curtains replaced audience of 103; a “sold out” cabaret may sponsor events hosted by their • Draperies cleaned featuring Karen Akers ; a Sake Tasting friends and colleagues. To begin this • Grand staircase, handrail fabric Dinner , which turned out to be a big hit, procedure, a member simply needs to replaced despite our initial skepticism; and three inform the private dining staff of his/her • Upholstery and grand staircase well-attended film nights.