NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB

I worked here in 1959 parking cars and after a year, when Charlie D'Onofrio, my boss, discovered I was Jewish, he fired me -- directly telling me that it was the reason! He said, "Are you Joosh?" When I said yes, he told me I was fired and then said, "Hey, it ain't me, I love you Joooz. But da membahs, they would go nuts if they new a Joo was woikin' here!"

But as "Sentamental Guy" said, the food was incredible. The staff got to eat lobster thermidor, steaks, incredible meals. Down in the basement where the kitchens were. I saw fights between chefs and cooks. There were lots of kitchen and wait staff from Normandy and all over Europe.

I really enjoyed working there and parking the fancy cars of the wealthy members. We roomed way up in the attic where there were lots of rooms for the help. Lots of Catholic members and priests and monsignors who often got drunk as skunks and we had to drive them home.

I wore a green uniform. Did my college homework in between parking cars. Worked from 4pm thru midnight or 1AM. Then had to get up and get to an 8am college class!

The hourly wage sucked badly but the tips were great.

I worked at the New York Athletic Club as a Bus Boy, Waiter and then a Kitchen Steward from the summers of 1966 through 1972. Back then the general manager was Mr. John Capiletti and downtown manager was Mr. Parker ... Then the food was excellent. Fresh live lobsters, prime rib, new york cut steaks, lamb, saucier dishes of lobster newburg, chicken a la king, beef stroganoff, etc.. At that time the club had its own baker, broiler cook, salad man, sandwitch man and saucier. I remember a shore dinner consisted of Crakers with tabasco sauce, Steam Clams with clam broth, butter and huckleberry sauce, Salad, French Fries, Broiled Lobster with butter dish, Apple Pie and Coffee The plates required for the shore dinner were salad plate, large soup bowl for the steamed clams and 2 small cups for sauces, dinner plate for the lobster with monkey dish for butter, monkey dish for french fries and salad plate for the apple pie which had to be carried up one flight of stairs. You get the idea. I was young then ( 18 thru 22) and had FOND MEMORIES there. Loved the people that I worked with. Ocasionally, in the evenings, we partied at a European Bar called "Christina's". All they had was beer, wine and sandwiches but the atmosphere more than made up for the limited menu. A middle aged Jamacan lady owned and ran the place. The most delightful and charming person you would ever want to know. I recall there being an old juke box there that played 5 songs for a quarter. Christina would not have it replaced for that reason. About five years ago I found a photo of Mr. Parker, Mr. Capeletti, the cabana manager Joe, myself and co workers taken at the Athletic Club buried in a book... Big surprise. As far as the food back then, it was excellent quality and prepared extremely well. Sure the city club was better organized and modern. But that should not take away Shore Road's NYAC