With New York behind us and just a scintillating luncheon at the Angler’s Club of New York yesterday. And what a place the revered club proved to be: a positive oasis of learned angling calm sandwiched in the helter-skelter of high rise Wall street bustle – that actually, was clearly not so “bustly” due to the extraordinary events unfurling in Washington and the inauguration speech being made by Barak Obama.
The club though, was just amazing. Pliesners’ (my favorite angling painter – American) on the wall, and my heros of the vice around the walls and in cabinets -Marinaro, Dettes, Wulffe, my true hero Chauncy Lively who I still consider the founder of modern fly tying…so many great men. It was really an honor and a rare privilege to gaze at all the pivotal forces and influential men of North American Fly fishing.
But New York! New York…what a place…what a sense of vibrance and energy and individuality. I was gripped and enthralled by the place; from the neo-French eatery Balthazar, to the snow swirled and near obscured wide avenues. 5th Avenue in the snow is just, a defining site. The place is just grand: alive: energetic. Staying at the Warwick was also a thrill – the place where the Beatles stayed when in town- is one of those individual hotels that is the epitome of style, service and panache. All in all, this was a great day or two – and historic, too. You could almost sense the new found hope and aspiration…and sense of reality, coming from the people with the change of presidency. Fascinating times.
