Speaking of crappy private clubs - we check in on Norwood, the "private members club providing a stylish and comfortable meeting, eating and drinking haven in the heart of New York City to a sophisticated and international clientele of influential opinion-formers in the creative arts world." Right. Set to open in the Andrew Norwood House (get it?), the anticipation for this club hasn't been building since New York ran an item about it in April. Hoping to rival the very successful Soho House model, Alan Linn, an ex-manager of a London club, has quietly opened his West 14th Street club. First reports are quite negative, with a Little Birdy telling us. "Went to Norwood on Saturday. Not cool. Lame. Dead Empty." Pow pow pow.
We're cheering for Alan and the entire Norwood team, but we have our doubts about this one. Besides the obvious douchebaggery of private clubs in general and their lack of a full service hotel and pool, this is just a place where the public can't come in and spend money. But it is a place where you can pay a membership fee to sit in a room and chit chat. Who wouldn't want that?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Norwood? Norwood?
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18 comments:
Clarify: the little birdy paid a membership fee and is subsequently complaining? What were they planning on paying for? Isn't the whole point of a prive club to be "exclusive" -- thus, "quiet and dead" is what you are paying for...not loud, crowded, and a fire-hazard like many of the bars/clubs DBTH either promotes, or ostensibly attends socially.
false, anonymouse 611pm. i am that little birdy and i did not pay a membership fee bc i dont need one.
the place was empty, barely any art in sight (thought this was an arts club) drinks were weak, super expensive and no sign of a cocktail menu. I have frequented soho house for years (sans membership bc i dont need one) and they have an extensive cocktail list, nice restaurant, great common area to come and work/hang out during the day/meetings etc.. they have their shit together regardless of whether it is a crap idea to have a private club at least they have a vision.
The Little Birdy that bites you back.
The building and furniture are beautiful; the place is filled with both art and people in the arts; the crowd is interesting; the food is great; the wines and cocktails are there for the choosing but no more expensive than any other restaurant of its kind. I am very happy to have joined and much prefer it to Soho House. Anyway there's room for several private members clubs in this city.
Someone clearly has an axe to grind.
Little Birdy has no teeth. "i did not pay a membership fee bc i dont need one." Again "sans membership bc i dont need one". Well, who the fuck are you then? You are either an invited guest (of a member or the club), or you are a trespassing thief. Either way, you are not representative of any (a) paying member (b) potentially paying member/client, and/or (c) reader of this blog. What you actually sound like is a mooch...that, or an employee of soho house trying to tarnish the competition. Which is it, d-bag?
Yes - which is it?
neither, you just happen to be an idiot. do you think people only go as members to these places?
i think you have not been living here very long, are young or just plain stupid. and i've been reading this blog since inception.
anonymous 611 why dont you bugger off you loser. only a sucker would pay a membership fee.
and i never said soho house was cool, just simply that they had their shit together. and what art besides whats hanging in the lobby. the place is cramped, the furniture is drab and overall its a boring place with no vibe.
go there for all i care, just giving the readers a heads up. wanker.
seriously 611, give the guy a break. he's just trying to be informative. sheesh.
little birdy: why all the anger? did 611 hit a sensitive spot? Perhaps "guilt"...or rather "shame" for not being a member and having to weasel his way into places?
Why would anyone feel guilt or shame about getting into a "members only" club without being a member? I think a member would feel shame that they submitted themselves to paying for a club that really is open to anyone in the know.
Do you feel bad if you get comped at a bar with a cover charge?
case closed 611. bugger off.
DBTH and the Little Birdy have to be the biggest douchebags of them all. Don't you all see how stupid this whole blog is?
Seriously who the hell do you think you are?
Because you "don't need one." You are just sooo cool, Little Birdy. Please.
Anyone who feels the need to write about these escapades is class-less.
I hope they revoke your memberships, losers.
Little Birdy: the fact that you don't share your name and you post under Anonymous shows how little your balls really are.
get over yourselves. if you don't like the blog then simply don't read it.
Actually, even if you don't like this blog, please continue to read it.
been to Norwood maybe 10 times.
the building itself is beautiful when its allowed to show through, as it is in the ground floor bar. my favorite place, though some of the furniture tries too hard.
2nd floor dining room is a beautiful space sadly decorated in poor taste, its not a disaster, but a wasted opportunity - with cheap looking tables, silly pointy back chairs and probably the worst designer mirrors ever to be seen. (many of them). should throw all that out and start over in this room. They doubtless spent a lot of money on these items, but quite frankly would have done far better letting the original room show, and getting a bunch of old tables on ebay, a la Freemans...
upstairs bar has some sort of 'risque' leather theme going on, with an island bar and some weird canopy thing above it - moroccan? medieval? +'sexy' sculptures dotted around. looks like some middle age gay fantasy gone awry. again a wasted opportunity, as its a lovely room, trying to play nightclub.
top floor has decent media room, but should have gone for it like the House, and put in those great screening room seats.
food. not as good as it should be. was too pricey. they eased back on that recently, but really - this is manhattan - wake up and get someone radical in the kitchen! bar food is a good idea, but you know if you are going to offer a lobster roll with potato chips, then toast that roll, and use good kettle chips. not a soggy bun and cheap chips. These details cost nothing and make all the difference!
overall - I don't know who the designer was, or who chose them, or how lauded/'award winning' he/she was, but they screwed it up. The special charm of these places is that they are a privileged opportunity to be in an astonishing beautiful brownstone, and relax in that vibe. I don't want another gay themed leather bar, or designer restaurant, I want to be in an authentic listed brownstone... and soak in that on every floor.
hopefully they will take some action, bite the bullet and throw out the crapola designer stuff, use art instead of mirrors, no puffy wing back chairs, remove carpets wherever possible, and let the house show through...
It all depends on what night ya go. It has gotten much better. Was just there last night and was crowded
Are there any members willing to help a female artist from Manhattan apply for membership? I'd love to actually visit the place too..
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