Year End Buffet - Wednesday Dec. 11th

The National Club's "Year End Buffet" is this Wednesday (Dec. 11th) at 12:30 pm.

It is a fabulous and festive buffet assembled by Executive Chef James Stewart and a chance to meet with members of your Board of Directors for some holiday cheer. Club President Stephen Lautens will make a few (brief) comments about the highlights of 2013 and what is in store for the Club in 2014.

Reservations are required. Hope to see you there.

National Club Annual Family Holiday Brunch

This Sunday was The National Club's annual holiday brunch - a great start to the season. The buffet was spectacular and every dining room was full.

Almost 300 people attended, including a special guest - Santa!

Santa may have returned to the North Pole, but you can drop by the Club this month to experience some Christmas cheer. 

National Club Annual Directors Dinner

Last Friday was the National Club's annual Directors Dinner which included a visit to the new Rooftop Patio, specially decorated for the occasion.

This is actually the outdoor rooftop furniture temporarily in the indoor rooftop space.

The fireplace is working and does a great job heating the indoor rooftop space.

Director & Membership Committee Chair Craig Smith and his wife

Past President Ed Burns dropped in. Director & House Committee Chair Sean Hoehn is with him.

National Club President Stephen Lautens and his wife Rhea.

National Club General manager & COO Bill Morari and President Stephen Lautens

Board Member Winnie Go, Desiree Torrie (past President Norm Torries' wife)
and Sean Hoehn & wife

Dinner in the Goldwin Smith Room

Rooftop Photos

Here are some photos taken yesterday of the progress on the rooftop patio. The drywall is up in the enclosed pavilion and the decking at the front and back has been installed. Cleared of the construction materials, it is quite a large space. The custom sliding doors that allow it to be opened up into a single large area are now installed as well.

A Visit to the East India Club, London

I was in London, England last weekend and stayed at one of our reciprocal clubs - The East India Club in St. James Square.

St. James Square is the heart of London's "clubland", with the Naval & Military Club (the "In & Out") across the square and half a block north of The Royal Automobile Club and a half dozen others on Pall Mall. It is a block south of Jermyn Street and two from Picadilly and Fortnum & Mason.

The East India was originally home to officers of the East India Company on their trips back to England. The main dining room is decorated with portraits of India's British administrators and military leaders.

The guest rooms are small but comfortable. The double rooms have been recently renovated, but the single rooms with bath are good for the business or single traveller. It is London, after all, and you are not there to stay in the room. Not only that, but you have the entire club as your living room, including a cosy library, an enormous reading room (where you can catch up on your horse & hounds, shooting and estate management magazines) and several lively bars.

The Library

The reading room

London is notorious for its hotel prices, but over a weekend the East India Club charges its reciprocal members just £78 a night, including a massive English breakfast (think kippers & sausage) and free WiFi. Clearly the best bargain in London. Drinks at the bar were a mere £3.20, rivalling our own $5 martini night (although ours are bigger).

Second floor bar. In this room the Prince Regent received news
of Wellington's victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. The
window is the balcony where he first announced it to the crowds.

For a reservation at any of The National Club's 250+ reciprocal clubs around the world, please contact the office.

Best regards,

Stephen

Stephen Lautens
President

Thank You Letter from HRH Princess Anne

Dear Club Members,

I am pleased to share with you a letter I received from the Private Secretary to HRH The Princess Royal following her stay last week at The National Club.

Although for security reasons we did not announce it, Princess Anne and her party stayed in the private overnight rooms at our Club, and we were honoured to host her and the charity ball she attended.

Best regards,

Stephen Lautens
President

Open House and More Rooftop Photos

Last night was the open house for prospective members, where members of the National Club get to show off their club to their colleagues and friends. It was well attended, the food was great and the rooftop patio was a big hit as we get closer to completion.

Thanks to staff and members of the Membership Committee for organizing the event, and for all who attended. If you have a friend who could not attend, you are always free to contact our General Manager or Nancy for a personalized tour.

In the meantime, we have chosen and taken delivery of sample furniture for the rooftop patio (cushion colours will change and the indoor furniture will be different).

Visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne to The National Club

The National Club was host to a very special person and event last week.

The 33rd Signal Regiment Foundation held its gala dinner at The National Club last Wednesday on the 110th anniversary of military communications in Canada. The guest of honour was HRH Princess Anne. For security reasons as well as convenience, the Princess Royal and her party also stayed overnight at The National Club accommodations.

As part of protocol, Club President Stephen Lautens and General Manager Bill Morari were asked to be on hand to greet the Princess on her arrival and departure from the Club.

As you can imagine, preparing for a Royal visit can be very demanding. Construction on the rooftop patio was temporarily halted and all construction materials were cleared from the 4th floor, which also had to be quickly painted following the installation of our new elevator to the roof. The Club staff and our own Laurie Farnum in particular went to extreme lengths to ensure everything at the Club was ready to receive Her Royal Highness.

The gala dinner was attended by a number of important guests, including the current Lieutenant Governor The Hon. David Onley and former Lieutenant Governor The Hon. Hillary Weston.

As you can expect, Chef James Stewart's dinner was exceptional (bison tenderloin and an incredible butter tart dessert), and I am told that the Princess, who rarely eats at public events, enjoyed it greatly.

On her departure Thursday morning for her next event, Her Royal Highness spoke with President Lautens and General Manager Morari and expressed her thanks and delight at the Club, its accommodations and hospitality, and asked that her thanks be passed on to our staff.

The place setting for the gala dinner at The National Club

Former Lt-Governor The Hon. Hillary Weston and Galen Weston greet HRH Princess Anne

Lieutenant Governor David Onley and his wife greet HRH Princess Anne

The Hon. Hillary Weston and Galen Weston with evening organizer Col. Justin Fogerty

Karen Gilmour greets Princess Anne

Past President Ed Burns and family with Princess Anne

Guests had the opportunity to chat with HRH

Club President Stephen Lautens with HRH Princess Anne

National Club General Manager & COO Bill Morari with Gen. Michel Maisonneuve (ret.)

The Main Dining Room set up for dinner

Getting Closer - Rooftop Construction

Our members love to see the progress on the rooftop patio construction, especially as we are in the final weeks. To get a sense of how fast things are moving, have a look at the two photos below of the new elevator installation on the 4th floor:

Finishes are now going up and the furniture has been ordered. Remember - a third of the rooftop is enclosed and open year-round, so you don't have to wait for summer to start enjoying it.

 

Prospective Members Open House - Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Dear Members and Prospective members,

On Wednesday, October 30th The National Club will be holding its annual Prospective Member Open House and Cocktail Reception from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Members are encouraged to bring friends and colleagues they feel could enjoy the many benefits of Club membership, including our historic building, great food and service, exciting new rooftop addition, 47,000 bottle wine cellar, and the chance to meet other professionals and business executives.

Don't know a National Club member but interested in joining? No problem. Contact the Club and we'll arrange a personal invitation to come, mingle and look around. Chances are you'll meet someone you know who is already a member.

The Prospective Member Open House and Cocktail Reception starts at 5:00 pm and is of course without charge. Tours are available of everything from the wine cellar to the new and almost finished rooftop patio.

Please RSVP today and come see what you have been missing.

I hope to see you there,

Stephen

Stephen Lautens
President

PS - There has never been a better time to join since for a limited time there is an incentive package for both new members and their sponsors.

The Cinephile Society - "Theatre of Blood" starring the fabulous Vincent Price

Friends of the National Club Cinephile Society,

It's Halloween but your kids are grown, or you've moved to a condo, or you're looking for something a bit out of the ordinary to do. Why not spend Halloween at the National Club? The Cinephile Society will present a horror-themed evening of spooky fun. Come and enjoy a blood-red signature cocktail (Bloody Caesars for $5!) and a wonderful dinner, and see "Theatre of Blood" starring the fabulous Vincent Price in one of his classic over-the-top movie roles.

In the movie, Price plays a vengeful Shakespearian actor who blames the theatre critics when he doesn't win a prestigious acting award. He plans their murders to look like scenes from Shakespearian tragedies.

Our emcee Thom Ernst has invited two well-known Toronto theatre critics to speak to the potentially life-threatening aspects of their profession. We are delighted to welcome Richard Ouzounian from the Toronto Star, and J. Kelly Nestruck from the Globe and Mail.

Come in costume if you can (but it's not mandatory). Costumes should relate to a Shakepearian character, or to a character from your favourite horror film.

This fun evening can be yours for just $43.50 + HST if you call the National Club front desk (416-364-3247) or e-mail frontdesk@thenationalclub.com to reserve your seats. Do it right now while you're thinking about it! The mayhem begins at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 31.

[Cue creepy music and sinister laughter] Bwaa-haa-haaa. See you at the movies!

Warm regards,

Karen Gilmour (in Shakespearian costume) and Ann Echlin (in Hitchcock-related costume) for the National Club Cinephile Society

Psst.... Those attending the Halloween event will get a sneak preview of the exciting plans for our next event, scheduled for February 26, 2014!

A Week Later - Cabinetry Going In

I was just up on the rooftop with Past President Ed Burns, and what a difference a week makes. Since last week the elevator mechanicals have been installed and bar cabinetry and drywall are going in.

We also now have access through the back stairwell to the rooftop and about half the outside teak decking has been installed.

I'll keep you posted as we near completion.

All the best,

Stephen

Stephen Lautens
President, National Club

Rooftop Patio Progress - More Photos!

Here is how the construction on the rooftop patio looked yesterday (Oct. 8th) ~

The glass is in on both skylights.

Glass doors are in at the front of the year-round pavillion

The view south

The elevator door is now through to the 4th floor hallway