FASHION AND MODE

Archive for June 8th, 2010

One of the few restaurants in the country to be immortalized in a Sinatra song, the Pump Room in Chicago is now a hot spot once again. The Pump Room was one of the first quality restaurants to open in Chicago after the end of Prohibition, and soon became a Windy City icon. In addition to Sinatra (who sang the praises of the place in the classic song Chicago), the place was a favorite hangout of a lot of famous people including Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Ronald Reagan, Bette Davis and numerous others. The Pump Room, named after a spa in Bath, England, remained open long after the giants that once graced its premises had left. Unfortunately, time took its toll on the legendary establishment, and its culinary fare was soon surpassed by the fine dining scene exploding in Chicago and characterized by uber-chef Charlie Trotter.

The Pump Room opened in’38 under the ownership and management of Ernie Blyfield. Blyfield’s inspiration for the name and ambiance of his restaurant was an 18th Century London pub frequented by celebrities and nobility, including Queen Anne. The ‘Pump Room’ moniker came from the hot drinks ‘pumped’ into the cocktails of its customers.

The Chicago Pump Room was a smashing success from the time it opened. It’s most desired table reserved for ‘A list’ celebrities was Booth #1, which for a time may have been the most sought after table at any dining establishment in the country. Booth #1 at various times hosted Frank Sinatra and his associates, Bogart and Bacall, Judy Garland and daughter Liza Minnelli, John Barrymore and countless others.

Blyfield died in’50, but the Pump Room remained a Chicago hot spot and hosted a new era of superstars including Mel Brooks, Beverly Sills, Paul Newman, Robert Redford. More recently, Michael J. Fox, Eddie Murphy and Mick Jagger have made appearances. A funny story involves former Genesis drummer Phil Collins, who was refused entry for not wearing a jacket. The incident was commemorated in the title of his next solo album No Jacket Required which has since sold over– million copies worldwide and launched Collins into solo superstardom. Following its release, the Pump Room sent Collins an apology”and an appropriate jacket so that the incident wouldnt be repeated.

The Pump Room was purchased by a large restaurant management group in the late’90′s. They spent a lot of money to renovate the facility, overhaul the menu and hire a top flight chef. While the Pump Room’s golden era trade mark flaming food served on a sword was a tragedy of city fire codes, the menu is now on par with any in the city serving a sophisticated interpretation of classic American cuisine. In addition to the revamped cuisine, the Pump Room upgraded its wine offering and expanded the bar area.

Current Executive Chef Nick Sutton has continued the restaurant’s tradition of excellence. The big draw of the Pump Room, however, remains the amazing sense of history that the dining room offers. The realization that a who’s who of civilized American culture from Bogart and Clark Gable to Sinatra and Jackie Gleason broke bread in the room is a pretty amazing vibe. The good news is that the Pump Room again offers the quality of food and service worthy of such icons, and is a victory for culinary excellence amid the national infestation of mediocre chain restaurants.

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When initially purchasing equipment to satisfy an office’s needs, take into consideration what the services offered are. Will everyday people be clients or are other professionals catered to? Frequently, meetings are more successful when both the worker and customer feel at ease. Laypeople are accustom to respectable, library-like surroundings. Corporate executives tend to interact in environments that display refined tastes. Considering who the clients are, in general, can be beneficial when picking out permanent items.

Professional interior decorators can be hired to help with the chore of stocking a business with usable seating arrangements as well as wall hangings. The decorator will be able to color-coordinate all building spaces to give a good impression to clients. Employees tend to perform better when they know they work in a clean, respectable place.

Magazines are also excellent sources for getting ideas. Copying the overall look of a magazine picture is easily accomplished. There are countless stores that sell practical workspace items. The exact manufacturer may not be represented in all stores, though similar alternatives can usually be easily acquired.

Most all offices are concerned with the cost involved when undertaking a decorating project. Frequently costs are adjusted to a lower rate when multiple items are purchased. It is ideal when function and visual appeal can be merged into one product. This is generally the case in today’s market, it simply depends on personal tastes and the look desired.

Size is of little importance when decorating offices. File cabinets and bookcases can be found in different sizes to fit any size space. There are suppliers who specialize in professional equipment for the workplace. These suppliers tend to be a big help to many.

Now and then company agents will prefer to incorporate artwork that reflects the type of work performed or services offered. Occasionally independent artists will be enlisted to design the artwork to specifications. If there is no need to have a logo up on the wall, there are a myriad of options available. Craft stores and home improvement stores generally carry artistic works of various sizes. Private home owners as well as licensed corporations are able to make use of these stores.

Office furniture tends to be just as important as the business at hand. Organization is key to success in an environment where there are many files and client’s helped. It is not unheard of for potential employees, partners, or customers to leave a building before a meeting even takes place based on looks alone. People are visual beings. Therefore, it is entirely possible to miss out on opportunities if the chosen area is not appealing.