Before the purchase was completed, she said she was planning to make an “eight figure” investment in restoration. Another one of what used to be the Algonquin Club’s preexisting features that heavily influenced Fulk’s creative direction? The late 19th- and early 20th-century classic American paintings that he inherited with the building.
An inside peek at a members-only private club in Boston
We’ve been very lucky that we can give back, and my husband and I are big believers in trying to make a difference. I’ve been very involved in nonprofits my whole career. I did consulting from the beginning, and then there were about 15 years when I wasn’t working, and I was on nonprofit boards and very, very involved as a volunteer. To me, that’s important because I want to understand what’s happening.
Events
The Hideaway, which can be found behind a hidden door in another lounge dubbed the Living Room, offers a cocktail cart and member-selected vinyl collection. The ‘Quin officially opened Wednesday. While the outside of the building remains relatively unchanged, the post-renovation interior of the 56,000-square-foot structure is now a gleaming, highly Instagrammable, Architectural Digest-worthy stunner.
MEMBERSHIP
From the exterior, the ‘Quin House looks like one of many other imposing edifices that dot Boston’s patrician Commonwealth Avenue. Members (memberships are by invitation or referral only, with annual dues on a sliding scale) are greeted by lithe hostesses in chic dresses. To the right is Café Q, an all-day casual dining venue that is not only family-friendly but also laptop-friendly—unlike many private city clubs, members are encouraged to use The ‘Quin House as a workspace and business facility. There’s a state-of-the-art fitness center in the basement, alongside a louche nightclub named Scottie’s, and 8 ultra-luxurious hotel rooms on the upper floors. In between, there’s a stunning, grand salon-like living room and three more bars, including a cavernous sports pub that screams “Game Day” alongside more intimate spaces, including the Hideaway, a cozy lounge accessed by a secret door and styled as an homage to Frank Sinatra.
Arts
Where chance encounters can lead to meaningful connections. We just had Julian Schnabel here yesterday. He’s one of my favorite artists, and we’ve now developed a friendship over the years because we’ve gotten to know him, and that adds a whole other layer to it.
For Sale: A Homey Painted Lady Inn and Burger Bar on Cape Cod
To that end, they started the Quin Impact Fund, which has already donated $500,000 throughout the pandemic to help 10 organizations such as Camp Harbor View, Greater Boston Food Bank, Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation, and the Boston Resiliency Fund. They also are hoping to create volunteer opportunities for members. Up to this point, most members have been recruited or sent invites to join. A nomination by an existing member is the established path to apply for membership.
Here’s How the Elite Will Eat and Drink in Boston’s Exclusive New Social Club
The philanthropist, Harvard graduate, and longtime Bostonian—who's turned the quiet old world of private clubs on its head—talks real estate, high-end style, and Julian Schnabel. The 'Quin House is a place for varied interesting and interested individuals to meet, it’s a place where chance encounters can lead to meaningful connections – and we design our rooms to encourage those connections. Mingle in a chic and sophisticated atmosphere; furnished with an eye towards crafting welcoming spaces where Boston’s best and brightest minds, bon vivants, leaders and risings stars alike will naturally cross paths with one another – and make lifelong connections. But the Algonquin, the place the Globe claimed was “undoubtedly one of the finest clubhouses in America” in 1888, lost its luster as time passed. It took 98 years until the club allowed women to join, and few rushed to become members at the time. As the cachet of the club diminished, the grand building that houses it, designed by McKim, Mead, and White, the same architects behind the Boston Public Library, had also fallen into decline.
A few to note include the signature space, Bondo, which serves modern Japanese cuisine with a New England twist; Café Q offers European all-day dining; The Pub is a classic-American gastropub; and the Terrace is a two-story indoor-outdoor space. There are several other bars and lounges for members to enjoy as well. Unlike Boston’s social clubs of the past, the ‘Quin is looking to shake the old fashioned & often exclusionary atmosphere and instead bring in people from all backgrounds and interests. There is also a philanthropic arm, The ‘Quin Impact Fund, which will support local groups.
Dining at The 'Quin
Here's How the Elite Will Eat and Drink in Boston's Exclusive New Social Club - Boston magazine
Here's How the Elite Will Eat and Drink in Boston's Exclusive New Social Club.
Posted: Fri, 09 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Famed designer, Ken Fulk, who also happened to have designed another prolific new space, Contessa at the nearby Newbury, led the design efforts for the ‘Quin. Indicative details such as the fireplaces, marble columns, hand-carved furniture pieces and chandeliers, have been meticulously restored to give the new space the same gravitas as the original. Fulk’s vision of the ‘Quin was brought to life through elements of Art Deco, Arts & Crafts and Midcentury Modernism styles, but don’t worry there is still plenty of grandeur. There are lounges scattered throughout the club as well, many of which offer beverages and small bites. At the ultra-exclusive Founders Room, access is only granted to founding members of the Algonquin Club.
We’ll stop with the design-related compliments here before this story turns into a repeat of the 1888 Boston Daily Globe-Algonquin Club lovefest. The club, she said, is not just about wine tastings, dinners, dancing, erudite talks, and cocktails, although all of those activities will occur. She’s optimistic that philanthropic relationships will be formed.
After its London location became wildly popular in the 1990s, founder Nick Jones began expanding and now operates more than 27 social clubs worldwide, with seven more locations slated to open over the next two years. It remains the only "socially elite" old-guard Boston club with a purpose-built clubhouse.[6] The Harvard Club, for example, built its Commonwealth Avenue clubhouse in 1912–1913. Formerly known as The Algonquin Club, the storied building at 217 Commonwealth Ave. was purchased two years ago by business power couple Sandy and Paul Edgerley, and given a top-to-bottom makeover by interior designer Ken Fulk, who recently designed Contessa on Newbury Street. The club’s six floors encompass design elements ranging from Art Deco to Midcentury Modernism, and show off an extensive art collection, a fitness and wellness center, eight guest rooms, and plenty of space for wine tastings, exclusive screenings, business meetings, and performances. Menus are created by Jean-Paul Lourdes, an internationally acclaimed chef who has helmed kitchens in France, London, Japan, and New York.
There are a total of six chefs for the club’s four restaurants. Of the eight bars, one is cheekily named the Dive Bar. It’s named as such because the art depicts people diving. With the exception of the grand staircase and the reading room, Sandra Edgerley said, the building has been “reimagined rather than remodeled.” The reimagining, courtesy of celebrity designer and private club owner Ken Fulk, is nothing short of wondrous. Think of a high-end hotel with a museum-worthy art collection, four restaurants, eight bars, a 2,200-pound chandelier adorned with 2,500 crystals, a speakeasy, a secret room for listening to records, and a gym.
But, let’s not forget what the ‘Quin is about, and it’s that posh building on Commonwealth Ave. where elbows will be rubbed between leaders, innovators, creators, and rising stars. In the beautiful space with private meeting rooms, bars, a very Parisian atrium, and an event space where a member could have a small wedding. The idea is that it’s an all-day hangout. It’s a third space to fill the gap between the office and home, which also happens to have a cocktail cart that will come to your table in the reading room, which has gold-leaf wallpaper.
Fulk turned to curator Kate Chertavian to find incredible works and ultimately build a collection that would include everyone from Andy Warhol to Picasso, Rodin, and Kehinde Wiley. Amount, in dollars, the ’Quin’s philanthropic arm, the ’Quin Impact Fund, has given so far to more than 47 organizations. Number of artworks in the ’Quin’s permanent collection, which includes pieces by Picasso and Andy Warhol. Number of martinis poured every month at the club.
Well, the ’Quin House and hospitality were it for me. That was kind of the dream that I wanted to try. I don’t know what would be interesting to do next. Maybe there’s a next chapter for me. Ultimately, it comes from our last name.
She and her husband are also adamant that the club’s membership will be a diverse mix of ages, genders, races, and incomes. She said a quarter of the club’s members will be under 35. One of my favorite cities is Vienna because my mom was from there, and when I was growing up, I used to visit my grandparents there, so when I go back, it always feels a little bit like home.
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