[In 2011] I visited my mom for a couple of days and while with her I went through some of her old photo albums. Whenever I do, I find something that had previously escaped my attention. This time, I came across this bit of memorabilia from a different age (below left, click to enlarge):
The Hotel Astor stood at 44th Street and Broadway, a stunning example of Beaux-Art architecture that was demolished in 1967 to make room for a 50-story office tower. It was walking distance from the Milk Barn, the coffee shop where my mother worked as a waitress. Many of her customers were “garmentos” (as those who work the rag trade are now called) who would on occasion give her gifts of belts (she had a tiny waist) and monogrammed hankies. I love imagining my mother stopping in at the Astor Bar for a post-work cocktail. Did she? She won’t say. But it was quite the place, made even more famous by Cole Porter’s “Well Did You Evah/What a Swell Party.” There are many great versions of the song (I like Debbie Harry and Iggy Pop’s subversive take here. Listen for raunchy lyrics that Porter would have loved) but you really can’t beat Der Bingle and Ole Blue Eyes in High Society as rivals for Grace Kelly, who is betrothed to another.
from the archive; first posted on February 14, 2011.
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Author: The Best American Poetry
