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McFadden's
More high fives are extended in one evening than the NBA exchanges in an
entire season. WE use enough ice cubes in one week to form a respectable
glacier off the Alaskan coast. More beer is poured during St. Patrick's
week than the soft rain on the Dingle Peninsula during the wet season.
Steaks and spuds are abundant. The mouth-watering scent of fresh fish
and hearty soups permeate the dining room. Innovative entrees are
introduced. Single malt Irish whisky gently winks at you across the bar,
begging to visit your palate. Music caresses the air with lively
affection. Smiles, oh those ever present smiles, are incandescent as you
come through the door. Welcome to McFadden's at forty-two and two!
McFadden's Saloon has become a Gotham landmark in a quarter of a century
by mixing a spectacular blend of New Yorkers with visitors from truly
every arc on the globe.
Cuomos and Careys, Kennedys and Koches all vociferously champion their
positions with Hamills and Breslims. Rush Limbaugh dines with Pulitzer
prize winning columnist Mike McAlary in 1988. An eager, bright-eyed
Chris Mullins, fresh out of St. John's, chats with his first
ambassador-this one is bedecked in a white flowing robe-he represents
Senegal in the United Nations.
The literary world always favored McFadden's. The brothers McCourt and
Nelson DeMille, Bobby Drury and Mark Kriegel reflecting on the elusive
journey toward the best seller list. The Daily News building across the
street sent over Lupica and Madden, Rush and Molloy. Bill Gallo's
cartoons are inspected with reverence by rivals from the Post. Murray
Weiss and Richard Johnson are grilling sources at the corner of the bar
while competitors seethe at the loss of a lurid story.
Athletes are in and out-icons of the glory days like Jimmy V. and the
Mick-many flashing World Series rings and Super Bowl rings while
stockbrokers and accountants timidly sport their Wharton rings. A
waiting line forms outside-the Big East is in town.
Darryl Hannah and John Kennedy Jr. watch the Rangers skate to a Stanley
Cup. Paul Newman promotes a new NASCAR entry for Molson beer. Young
alumni groups from Vassar to Iona to Notre Dame to Trinity College in
Dublin toast and brag at their reunions. Pfizer hails the promotion of
the sales "hot shots" in the back room. Fantasy football
players pick their teams as models from Elite pick on celery and carrot
sticks. The wait staff glides through the dining room like swans on a
tranquil lake. The music is far from ordinary. There's a Celtic lilt in
the mahogany room. Yeah, you're at McFadden's!
Steve McFadden
March 2004
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