WineWineOldOld and LadyLady BugsBY OM INAN BugsBYTT OMFF INAN The Penn Club is one of the newest “old” clubs in The Penn Club’s New York City. Founded in 1886 at a dinner at Del- 13-story clubhouse monico’s, it was the first local Penn alumni group out- contains elegant side of Philadelphia. For the first 98 years of its history dining rooms and the Penn Club led a gypsy existence. Members focused banquet space to on an annual banquet and the presentation of the Ben- accomodate the jamin Franklin Cup (named after the founder of Penn), club’s over 7,000 which didn’t leave much energy for rallying support for members. a permanent home. All photos courtesy Over the years, the Penn Club of New York served of the Penn Club alumni, faculty, and students from a variety of facilities that were rented, leased, and shared with other clubs. Even without a clubhouse to call its own, the Penn Club remained true to its mission. The advertisement for a Penn Club banquet in 1915 www.club-mgmt.com Club Management / June 2005 1 included the following statement of purpose: “The best interests of our University demand it shall have in the great city of New York a club, which will equal in dignity, character, equipment, and service the clubs of other great universi- ties. Apart from any questions of sentiment and affection for our Alma Mater, the establishment of such a club will give to each of its members a rallying center, a home, furnishing all the accommodations of a first class hotel to those so- journing in New York, with such surroundings that no one will ever feel that he is stranger in a strange land.” Finally, in 1989, a building at 30 The Penn Club of New York doesn’t have a sign over the entrance reading, “Through these doors walk a lot of really smart people who like to have fun,” but it ought to. West 44th St. was purchased by the university, which owns the build- Professor ing with the club as tenant. Con- David Eisenhower, struction of the clubhouse kicked grandson of the off on April 16, 1992. More than late President 7,000 alumni and friends joined as Dwight Eisenhower, charter members by June 15, 1994, addressed Penn Club the day The Penn Club officially members at a sold out event opened its doors. The club held a after receiving gala celebration in 2004, to cele- the annual brate the success of the new club- Provost’s Award for house. It included the recovery of Excellence in University the Benjamin Franklin Cup, which Teaching in 2003. had languished in the attic of the widow of the cup’s last recipient for half a century. The 13-story clubhouse in- cludes banquet space, meeting 2 Club Management / June 2005 www.club-mgmt.com rooms, dining rooms, overnight the clubhouse opened, works with yeast and grapes that indicated guest rooms, a library, fitness cen- his staff to not only make the club that the containers had been used ter, spa, and business center. The “homey” for local and visiting for fermenting wine. His research overnight guest rooms boast Penn members, but to give them plenty includes seminal work establishing tradition while providing both pri- of reasons to keep coming back. the earliest origins of wine some vacy and comfort. The foyers and The management, staff, and com- 6,000 years ago. In 2003, Dr. Mc- rooms on the five guest floors fea- mittees of the Penn Club do this Govern published the book Ancient ture mahogany furniture, brass fit- with an eclectic mixture of ban- Wine: The Search for the Origins of tings, and fine fabrics. Each floor quets and events that almost al- Viniculture. encompasses a different theme at ways manage to combine “brainy” Maureen Lolonis represents the Penn. The ninth floor salutes cam- and “fun.” latest generation of a family that pus student activities, while the In February, for example, the pioneered organic winemaking. eighth floor honors Penn firsts, club offered as its monthly wine The Lolonis wine dynasty was such as the first African-American dinner a program featuring the founded in Redwood Valley, CA woman to earn a Ph.D. The sev- whimsical duo of wine historian in 1914 by Greek immigrant enth floor is a tribute to the accom- Dr. Patrick McGovern and the fire- George Lolonis. In the 1950s, George’s son Nick became a pio- neer in organic viniculture. To keep pests away, beneficial preda- tors (ladybugs) were released in the vineyards. Today, over five million ladybugs are released in The staff/member/university the vineyards every June, July, and August. In addition, cover crops collaboration were employed to aid in keeping pests from the vines and in return- ing nutrients to the soil. at the In 1982, after many years of sell- ing grapes to other wineries, and Penn Club with an enviable reputation for outstanding grapes, sons Petros produces a variety and Ulysses established Lolonis Winery, putting a Greek family name on an American wine label of events that for the first time. The Penn Club coupled this ap- is somewhat petizing presentation with a “Steak House” menu that included: mind-boggling. Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail Cocktail Sauce with Brandy Lolonis Fume Blanc Redwood Valley 2003 Pan Seared Crabcake Baby Greens and remoulade beurre blanc plishments of Penn alumni in poli- ball organic winemaker Maureen Lolonis Chardonnay Estate 2002 tics and government. The sixth Lolonis. Chargrilled Sliced Steak floor honors the numerous Penn Dr. McGovern presented in- Traditional Steak house sides students, alumni, and coaches who sights into the origins of wine in Lolonis Cabernet Sauvignon, have participated in the Olympic culture gained in almost 25 years of Winegrowers Reserve 2001 Games, and the fifth floor recog- work since earning his doctorate at Buttersweet Chocolate Mousse nizes the achievements of Penn Penn in Asian and Middle Eastern with carmelized pineapple alumni in various professions. Studies: Near Eastern archeology Lolonis Eugenia, Botrytis Chardonnay 1997 Vintage Penn and languages. He has been a pio- Today’s Penn Club of New neer in bio-molecular archeology — The dinner was a sellout. “Wine York prides itself on being “a the intersection of science down to dinners at the Penn Club normally home away from home in New the DNA level with the humanities. attract between 60 and 65 people. York City” for Penn Alums and The best illustration of this dis- That’s a full dining room in terms faculty and their families and cipline has been the study of food of the level of service we want to guests. Peter Homberg, CCM, who and wine in ancient cultures. Mc- provide,” GM Homberg said. has been general manager of the Govern has actually taken ancient Calendar of Events “new” Penn club since a year after pottery vessels and found traces of Coming up with programming www.club-mgmt.com Club Management / June 2005 3 that meets the social, intellectual, and culinary expectations of Penn Club members is a collaborative ef- fort. “It’s a matter of constant brain- storming among staff, members, and the university,” Homberg said. “The university has an outreach of- fice in the club. They know people at the university and how to get them here. It’s a very unique rela- tionship. Our members also have a lot of contacts in the community, which allows us to bring in famous authors and other public figures.” The staff/member/university collaboration at the Penn Club pro- duces a variety of events that is somewhat mind-boggling. Here’s a sampling: Special Events David Eisenhower The namesake for Camp David, Professor David Eisenhower is the grandson of the late President Dwight David Eisenhower and son-in-law of the late President Richard M. Nixon. Professor Eisen- hower, winner of The University of Today’s Penn Club is a home away from home for Penn Alums and faculty and Pennsylvania’s annual Provost’s their families and guests. Award for Excellence in University Career Placement 411 Penn Club has hosted a panel dis- Teaching in 2003, addressed Penn Experts were brought in to re- cussion featuring the “next genera- Club members at a sold-out event. view members’ résumés and pro- tion” of hedge fund leaders. Madeleine Albright vide mock interviews. Real Estate Panel Penn Club members met the Getting Yourself Published High-profile real estate gurus first foreign-born U.S. Ambassador With a “real-life” literary agent come together to discuss their ca- to the United Nations and first at the lectern, members and guests reer paths and choices they made to female Secretary of State, Made- learned both how to find an outlet get to where they are today. Mem- leine Albright, at this exclusive for their literary efforts and what it bers get to ask questions and net- breakfast. She discussed her posi- takes to be a full-time author. work with some of the top leaders tion as the highest-ranking woman Women’s Health — 35 and Be- in the real estate industry. in American history and the cur- yond Gourmet Gallery rent state of world affairs. Members Extremely informative for every Masahur Morimoto — Iron Chef were lining out the door of the woman who wants to know what (formerly of Nobu). Penn Club awaiting her to auto- happens to her body after 35. Star of the Food Network’s Iron graph copies of her book, Madame Strategies to prevent the onslaught Chef, he performed live at the Penn Secretary: A Memoir. of menopause and osteoporosis Club with Stephen Starr, one of Joseph E.