Coming this Thursday, September 3rd, The Montauk Club will launch a new “First Thursday” cocktail party series. Each First Thursday of the month, members can enjoy live music, dancing and cocktails in the first floor ballroom.
The Entertainment Committee is pleased to announce that our kick-off event on September 3rd will begin at 6 pm with the sounds of Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra.
Crooner Michael Arenella
Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra is an ensemble steeped in the hot-dance band tradition of the Roaring Twenties. The Dreamland Orchestra is authentic. Arenella transcribes by hand their entire repertoire from period recordings. Their delivery, as well as their instruments, attire, and equipment — are faithfully accurate. Arenella’s strong yet vulnerable baritone lacks pretense or sarcasm. He treasures each lyric, and has faith in the songs he sings.
The orchestra’s presence invokes the vibrations of something unmistakably timeless and when heard from the 120 year old ballroom at the Montauk Club, we trust we can bring back the magic of events that have occurred there for years. While authentic to a “T”, Michael Arenella prefers not to be labeled a recreationalist. He takes an antiquated template and infuses it with the immediacy of the present. Spontaneity is what gave the original music of the era its magic, and it is also the primary ingredient and imprimatur of the Dreamland Orchestra. The marriage of the orchestra’s style and the new renaissance occurring at the Montauk Club should provide for a fantastic evening.
Date: September 3 from 7pm – 11pm
Attire: Cocktail attire requested, vintage attire preferred.
Members & Their Personal Guests Only
Dear Montauk Club Members and Friends,
In observance of the Labor Day holiday, the Montauk Club will be Closed on Sunday 6 September.
Brunch will not be served.
Thursday September 3 First Thursdays Cocktail Party
Dine & Dance to Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. A custom cocktail menu will be crafted for you by swanky lifestyle guru Fredo Ceraso of Loungerati.com. 7 pm – 11 pm.
Wednesday September 16 Homebrew Demonstration and Lecture
Want to learn how to make beer at home? Member Jenny Gage will share her secrets at this special hour long session.
Thursday September 17 Wine Class
Monthly class in wine selection. Third Thursday of each month
Friday September 18 Book Club
Book Club every third friday of the month. This month’s selection is “Buddenbrooks” by Thomas Mann
Thursday September 24 Art Show
Enjoy an exhibition of paintings and photography by member, staff and local artists.
Friday September 25 Edgar Allan Poe Reading
Join us in the Ballroom for selected readings a mere 12 days before the anniversary of his untimely death on October 7, 1849, at age 40. The cause of his death is unknown and has been variously attributed to alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, and other agents. Delve into the mystery at this reading and celebration of the life and works of the famed writer.
Friday October 2 Octoberfest
Continue the tradition that Bavarian King, Max Joseph began in 1810 with the celebration of great beer and great food. Wear your favorite hat, clink giant beer steins and listen to the sounds of Polka Music permeating our grand dining room. Did we mention the beer? …we’ll have plenty on hand for even the greatest chuggers among us!
Our July 16 wine class suffered a bit from summer vacation absenteeism I’m afraid, but I think the vacationers, not the wine class attendees, were the losers. We had three wonderful, but very different white wines from Spain that lived up to every bit of the billing that Andrea gave them in her book. It was quite a refreshing summer respite for us, I must say.
Our first excursion took us to Jerez in Andalusia to taste a Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Extra Dry Light Sherry (no vintage, 15% alcohol). This was a far cry from the “sherry teas” I remember from Sunday afternoons in my freshman college dorm. Those were so sweet and syrupy that, despite the lure of free alcohol, I “moved on” shall we say after a couple of tries. The Tio Pepe, on the other hand, was nice and dry with a crisp, acidic finish. The overwhelming flavor and aroma is that of almonds, even though the color was a very pale yellow. After a bit, the taste of dried apricots came through. Now this is what I’m talking about for a garden party! (more…)
The Entertainment Committee will meet on Thursday August 6th at 7 pm. The Committee is planning their upcoming “First Thursdays” cocktail party events, the Annual Lobster Dinner and the Montauk Club’s 120th Anniversary Party scheduled for this fall.
Have an idea for a member event? The Events Committee would be happy to consider your proposal.
Our Chef Mark Usewicz has posted his new Menu to the website. Peruse the latest selections online before you dine and as always call ahead for reservations, especially on Thursday nights and for Sunday Brunch!
On June 18, we hit the road again, this time transporting ourselves to several regions of Spain.The first stop was the Rioja region, which is a couple of hours NNE of Madrid, where we sampled a 2003 Marqués de Riscal Reserva from Rioja (14% alcohol).Then we headed west to the Toro region along the Rio Duero to try a 2003 Oro by Bodegas Mähler-Besse (13.5% alcohol).The last leg of trip then took us way east to the surroundings of Barcelona for a taste of a 2007 Priorat called Onix (14.5% alcohol).With Spain, like France, we refer to wines by region, so that’s what we’ll do here.
Read what we recorded in our Travel Journal after the jump.
