vip in the city

Wall Street reunion

Back to work. Despite the generous shots of morning caffeine, about midway through the afternoon I was sorely wishing I had extended my holiday weekend as half the staff in the office had. But then: a surprise call from DH, in town visiting from Boynton Beach, made my day. Would I have time to come out and play after work? Would I?

As soon as was seemly possible, I met DH and GP outside my building. It had been years since I’d seen them both together, and we immediately began chattering away as if no time had passed, and we were just convening over treats in front of DH’s desk.

But time had passed, so there was some catching up to do. GP graciously opened up her home to us for the evening, and our trio made the short stroll to the triangle at Wall Street and Hanover Place. Since I’d last seen her, GP had passed the Bar (congrats!), started a new job and moved into one of those pre-war office conversions that are part of the Financial District’s luxury residential boomlet. Her building had served for over seven decades as the former headquarters for Brown Brothers Harriman, the oldest privately owned bank in the United States. (They’ve since relocated to more modern-looking digs.) In 2004, the 1929 neo-classical building was rechristened as The Crest – a name inspired by the decorative architectural elements over the original entrance. Other building embellishments include ornamental gargoyles and a coin-façade, so good choice of moniker there.

I just love those grand Old New York lobbies. GP took us on a tour of some of the building’s common areas: the second floor mezzanine — presumably at one time lined with bank teller windows — was transformed into a 10,000-square-foot “Great Room” with leather lounge seating, WiFi, billiards tables and flat panel television. The conversion preserved and restored the original marble finishes and column work – and indeed, the interior BBH signage was kept intact. The entire building project cost a reported $50 million, and incorporated other enviable touches like a residential gym and screening room.

M joined us at the apartment soon afterwards, and over bottles(!) of Beaujolais Nouveau, homemade Christmas cookies and grandma slices of the best pizza in the district, we reminisced about old times and toasted to long overdue reunions.