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 美国吃喝玩乐系列：LIVING IT UP: THE ELITE PRIVATE CLUBS（转帖） |
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美国吃喝玩乐系列：LIVING IT UP: THE ELITE PRIVATE CLUBS（转帖） -- 安普若 - (11960 Byte) 2010-1-18 周一, 04:03 (3814 reads) |
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作者：安普若 在 海归茶馆 发贴, 来自【海归网】 http://www.haiguinet.com
Fine Living Top 10: Private Clubs
By James Raiswell
Travel Specialist
https://www.askmen.com/fine_living/travel/12_travel_tips.html
Private gentlemen’s clubs have, in many respects, prided themselves on maintaining the traditions that were established more than a century ago when the clubs first came to prominence in England. In those days, gentlemen retired to plush surroundings for drinks and cigars or to play billiards and enjoy a meal away from the pressures of work. Admission was restricted to society's economic elite, and women and minorities were generally explicitly forbidden entry.
Today, the private gentlemen’s club still caters to the social elite, but membership restrictions have been relaxed. Some clubs still find ways to restrict entry by “less desirable elements,” but by and large, women and minorities are permitted access to what was once a white man’s domain.
But before we embark on a worldwide tour of 10 of the best private clubs, let’s first debunk one misnomer: A gentlemen’s club doesn’t feature any topless waitresses or dancers; it’s not a strip club. This is an unfortunate bastardization of the term by American and Japanese businesses.
Number 1
American Club
Hong Kong, China
Ex-colonial Hong Kong may seem like a bizarre place to enjoy American influence, but that was indeed the idea behind the creation of the city’s American Club, a club that stands alone in high quality.
Established on July 6, 1925, the club grew out of a small gathering of Americans who met to socialize and exchange business views in Hong Kong. Today, it is 2,400 members strong, and features a combination of services and facilities that make it Hong Kong's preeminent social club. It is dedicated to providing a gathering place for social, recreational and business activities in a uniquely American atmosphere.
Club facilities include both town and country locations, a unique distinction among member-owned clubs in Hong Kong. The Harbor Bar is a sophisticated lounge where members can relax after work or warm up before dinner as they look out over the Victoria Harbour. Shun Fung is the club’s signature Chinese restaurant -- regarded as one of Hong Kong’s best -- while The Clipper is one of the most elegant restaurants in town.
In addition to the clubhouse facilities, the club also has race boxes at Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses.
Number 2
The Tanglin Club
Singapore
The Tanglin Club was founded in 1865 and bills itself as a "home away from home" for its membership base of about 6,000.
The main clubhouse is located near the center of Singapore. It’s surrounded by lush greenery that is reminiscent of the grace and charm of the past, and provides a calm respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. To say that the Tanglin Club is well-served is an understatement. Facilities at the club include three restaurants, five bars, several function rooms, a cinema/theater, two libraries, and extensive sports and recreation facilities that include two swimming pools, a gymnasium, a billiards room, and tennis and squash courts.
The Churchill Room is the club's fine-dining area, which is respected worldwide for its high standards and cuisine prepared by award-winning chefs. A resident band plays a wide selection of jazz, old-time favorites, classic ballroom music, and contemporary tunes. The Churchill Room also plays host to the club's highly anticipated social events, such as the annual Tanglin Ball, the Christmas party and the dinner-theater shows.
The Tanglin also features a tavern decorated in the style of a traditional British pub, with a complete stand-up bar and a wide range of wines, beer on tap and spirits.
Number 3
The Royal Bachelors' Club
Göteborg, Sweden
Göteborg’s Royal Bachelors' Club was founded in 1769 by a group of 20 bachelors, mostly of English or Scottish descent. Their intent was to establish a place where they could "use and enjoy club billiards, (have) meetings for its own pleasure and (be) free from the interference of other persons."
The club was appointed as a royal club by Sweden’s King Gustav III, and has grown in prestige since. Indeed, most kings and many princes have been honorary members of the club.
Today, the club aims to provide gentlemanly society with attractive surroundings. It hosts two formal meetings a year, as well as a regular schedule of club evenings, theme dinners, ladies' nights, excursions, golf tournaments, bridge and billiards tournaments, shooting and hunting, and concert evenings.
From America to Europe; now it’s time to hit Asia…
Number 4
Club Baur au Lac
Zurich, Switzerland
By far the newest club on this list, Club Baur au Lac is anything but a modern-influenced facility. It opened in 1970, and is regarded as a highly distinguished institution in Zurich.
Members and guests enjoy excellent culinary delights and traditional dishes from the in-house restaurant, and a fine selection of wines from the renowned wine cellars. Perfect service and discretion make this an ideal venue for business meetings and social gatherings with friends. The club’s three salons allow for the hosting of private functions, and the classic English Bar is an ideal place to relax with its exclusive choice of fine cigars and a wide range of international magazines and newspapers.
Club Baur au Lac is located in a classically built villa enclosed in stunning gardens. The equally beautiful interior, designed by Parisian architect Henri Samuel, offers a relaxing escape for the 450 international members.
Sticking with Old World tradition, membership is restricted to gentlemen only.
Number 5
Harvard Club of Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
It’s impossible to create a list that mentions Yale without including Harvard.
The Harvard Club of Boston was founded in 1908 by alumni, and membership mushroomed to nearly 1,200 within a year. The following year, the Harvard Club began a tradition in the form of a scholarship program; at the time, the program gave out five grants of $200 each to local high-school students attending Harvard. That tradition continues to this day, and in 2005, the club awarded more than $260,000 in scholarship funds to promising young men and women.
The club itself is less stodgy than others on this list. It’s a place where you’ll run into former Harvard classmates or bring the family to enjoy some of the facilities and a fine dining experience. You can also learn about wines, travel, books, and ballroom dancing. The Harvard Club also regularly hosts concerts, lectures and dinners that honor the Harvard athletic teams.
The Harvard Club's original mission to "encourage the social, intellectual and athletic interests of its members, promote the welfare of Harvard University, assist worthy students with financial aid, and foster the Harvard spirit in all Harvard men and women" is as viable today as it was in 1908.
Number 6
The Yale Club of New York City
New York, New York
Manhattan’s Yale Club, located across the street from Grand Central Terminal in midtown Manhattan, embodies the best traditions of the Ivy League. The house rules are strict: Dress codes must be abided by, business meetings and discussions are discouraged, and the use of electronic devices is limited. This gentlemen’s club was once the domain of Yale men only, but today the club hosts a membership of both male and female alumni, faculty and full-time graduate students.
The clubhouse itself spans 22 floors and features a grill room, a tap room, a dining room on the roof, a terrace, bars, banquet rooms, guest rooms, a library, an athletic center, and a barber shop, among other amenities. The Main Lounge, a massive room with extravagant ceilings and walls lined with fireplaces and portraits of five Yale-educated presidents, is the lively center of the clubhouse.
Number 7
Tasmanian Club
Hobart, Australia
Hobart’s Tasmanian Club is another of Australia’s colonial imports, dating back to 1861, and its foundations are rooted in the very best that tradition has to offer.
Club members can enjoy some of the best cuisine in Hobart, with fine dining for small and large groups, and business lunches available as well. The club also features a reading room with daily newspapers and periodical magazines, as well as a members' bar with an extensive list of wines and spirits.
Club membership is both distinguished and diverse, but members are expected to adhere to a strict standard of dress.
Number 8
The Australian Club
Melbourne, Australia
The Australian Club, founded in 1878, is among the oldest gentlemen's clubs in the southern hemisphere. Originally, it was a venue for businessmen to lodge and socialize, but today it is a destination for members who are looking to escape the strain of modern life and relax in an inviting and friendly atmosphere.
Tradition is still very much en vogue at the Australian Club. All the original architecture is intact and showcases the club's Victorian inspirations. Club members are welcome to invite both male and female guests to enjoy the special surroundings, fine cuisine and attentive service.
Number 9
The Commonwealth Club
London, England
Another of London’s famous 19th-century gentlemen’s clubs is the Commonwealth Club. As the name suggests, this is the private members' club of the Royal Commonwealth Society, a charity that donates its profits to educating children in Commonwealth countries. Membership is limited to members of the Royal Commonwealth Society, but apart from this, it is fairly liberal as far as dress codes (ties are not mandatory) and guests (children are allowed to visit) are concerned.
In January 2006, the club was extensively renovated and redesigned to shed the stuffy and smoky 19th-century image. It is now bright, modern and energetic with elements of contemporary design.
Club facilities include a secure members-only lounge and bar, showers and dining facilities. The club also features the only suspended glass dining room in London. The food is prepared by award-winning Head Chef Mark Page; he presents unique Commonwealth-inspired and international dishes, which are complemented by an extensive range of carefully selected wines.
The club hosts many social events, including themed cultural events, wine tastings, and music and opera evenings. Members have access to other private clubs, and may enter the public-affairs program on Commonwealth and international issues.
To the land Down Under and over to New York…
Number 10
The Athenaeum
London, England
The Athenaeum in London’s Pall Mall district is one of the world’s most recognized gentlemen’s clubs. It was founded in 1823 for persons of scientific, literary or artistic accomplishment and their patrons. It was and is a meeting place for men who enjoy the life of the mind.
Club facilities include a dining room, a smoking room, a billiards room, and a suite of bedrooms. Two of the Athenaeum’s most notable features are the club’s clock, which has two sevens and no eight, and its library, which features 80,000 titles.
In the early days, most members were men of wealth and status, but the club also admitted those of intellectual achievement and influence. Membership criteria have since been broadened; they now extend to persons of attainment or promise in any field of an intellectual or artistic nature and of substantial value to the community -- and, since 2002, women. Today’s Athenaeum members include professionals concerned with science, engineering and medicine, as well as lawyers, writers, artists, clergymen, civil servants, and academics of all disciplines.
作者：安普若 在 海归茶馆 发贴, 来自【海归网】 http://www.haiguinet.com
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