Central Park will be a little darker. The mood will be a little more somber. Especially after tonight, New Year's Eve when the famed Tavern on the Green will serve it's last supper and close its doors and turn off its lights. Forever. A piece of my childhood will be gone. Forever.
Just three years ago the restaurant was serving more than 700,000 meals annually, bringing in more than $38 million in revenue. The restaurant (and really so much more) which sits at the edge of Central Park on the West Side, animated by twinkling lights and fake topiary animals, is preparing for New Year's Eve, when it will serve its last meal.
But the meals served was not enough, nor were the millions it earned. The restaurant could not keep the landmark restaurant out of bankruptcy. The restaurant is $8 million debt and in order to pay it off Tavern on the Green will auction off its Baccarat and Waterford chandeliers, Tiffany stained glass, a mural depicting Central Park as well as numerous opulent (gaudy even?) decor that has bewitched visitors for decades.
The restaurant's name itself is even up for grabs. It is said that another restauranteur will be taking over the 27,000 square feet of space currently owned by the city. If the name is auctioned off will the new eatery be able to reopen as Tavern on the Green?
Tavern on The Green first opened its doors in 1934 during the Great Depression. Once a sheepfold for sheep grazing Sheep Meadow, former NY Commissioner of Parks Robert Moses renovated the park and added the restaurant. It has attracted diners from around the world since. It is said that the ever elegant Grace Kelly dined there regularly. The restaurant appeared in numerous films including Edward Scissorhands, Wall Street, and Ghostbusters.
The Restaurant was owned by Walter LeRoy who also owned the famed Russian Tea Room, also in Manhattan. After his passing in 2001 The Russian Tea Room closed down. His daughter, inexperienced, was unable to keep the restaurant in operations. Her inexperience, it seems, has also led to the demise of yet another New York Landmark.
Would you like to own a little piece of history? A little piece of Americana? The following items will all be sold (and many many more) at auction.
These amazing chandeliers are all for sale. I do think my dining room ceiling to be a bit too low... perhaps one would fit in our front entryway! 
Yes! Every house should have a brass elk! 
The famed Tiffany lamps will all find new homes... 
as will this faux topiary elephant! Perfect for any Republican who has a sense of humor,
loves whimsy and has a black thumb!
The Tiffany mural is a bit too much for my personality, 
but one can never have too many white wrought iron chairs on their veranda!
Should you find the items at auction more than your purse strings will allow, perhaps you can still get seating for their Last Supper...
NEW YEARS GALA MENU 2009
HUDSON VALLEY DUCK FOIE GRAS AND PISTACHIO TERRINE
TOASTED BRIOCHE, APRICOT ICE WINE SYRUP
OXTAIL CONSOMMÉ
PEDRO XIMENÉZ SHERRY, DICED ROOT VEGETABLES
...
TATAKI BLUE FIN TUNA SALAD
CARAMEL SOY, SEAWEED SALAD, KYURI CUCUMBER
MAINE SCALLOP SALAD
CRÈME FRAÎCHE FINES HERBS DRESSING, BABY ARUGULA
...
BAKED AMERICAN RED SNAPPER
CAULIFLOWER PURÉE, CHAMPAGNE CAVIAR SAUCE
CHILEAN SEA BASS
ARTICHOKE LEMON RISOTTO, BLACK TRUFFLE SAUCE
...
ROAST LOIN OF VENISON
QUINCE PURÉE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CHESTNUT COGNAC SAUCE
RACK OF COLORADO LAMB
SLOW BAKED VEGETABLE GRATIN,WHITE TRUFFLE WHITE CORN POLENTA, LAMB JUS
...
ROBIOLLA, PIAVE AND FOURME D’ AMBERT CHEESE PLATTER
...
APPLE TARTE TATIN
VANILLA ANGLAISE, CRÈME FRAÎCHE
HAZELNUT NAPOLEON
MILK CHOCOLATE SAUCE
And should you be privvy to the First Seating in the Crystal Room, this will be your menu
NEW YEARS MENU FIRST SEATING 2009
CRYSTAL ROOM
$129 PER PERSON
(INCLUDES CHAMPAGNE TOAST AND CHOICE OF ONE APPETIZER,
ENTRÉE, DESSERT AND CHEESE COURSE)
APPETIZER
HUDSON VALLEY DUCK FOIE GRAS AND PISTACHIO TERRINE
TOASTED BRIOCHE, APRICOT ICE WINE SYRUP
OXTAIL CONSOMMÉ
PEDRO XIMENÉZ SHERRY, DICED ROOT VEGETABLES
TATAKI BLUE FIN TUNA SALAD
CARAMEL SOY, SEAWEED SALAD, KYURI CUCUMBER
MAINE SCALLOP SALAD
CRÈME FRAÎCHE FINES HERBS DRESSING, BABY ARUGULA
LOBSTER BISQUE
TARRAGON CRÈME FRAÎCHE, LOBSTER CHUNKS
ENTRÉE
BAKED AMERICAN RED SNAPPER
CAULIFLOWER PURÉE, CHAMPAGNE CAVIAR SAUCE
CHILEAN SEA BASS
ARTICHOKE LEMON RISOTTO, BLACK TRUFFLE SAUCE
ROAST LOIN OF VENISON
QUINCE PURÉE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CHESTNUT COGNAC SAUCE
RACK OF COLORADO LAMB
SLOW BAKED VEGETABLE GRATIN,WHITE TRUFFLE WHITE CORN POLENTA, LAMB JUS
GRILLED FILET MIGNON
FINGERLING POTATOES, SAUTÉED SPINACH, FRIZZLED ONIONS, RED WINE SAUCE
CHEESE COURSE
ROBIOLLA, PIAVE AND FOURME D’ AMBERT CHEESE PLATTER
DESSERT
MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE
VALRHONA CHOCOLATE SAUCE
PEAR HONEY NUT CAKE
CRÈME FRAÎCHE
Otherwise, all else will dine on
NEW YEARS MENU
FIRST SEATING 2009
$109 PER PERSON
(INCLUDES CHAMPAGNE TOAST AND CHOICE OF ONE
APPETIZER, ENTRÉE AND DESSERT)
APPETIZER
HUDSON VALLEY DUCK FOIE GRAS AND PISTACHIO TERRINE TOASTED BRIOCHE, APRICOT ICE WINE SYRUP OXTAIL CONSOMMÉ PEDRO XIMENÉZ SHERRY, DICED ROOT VEGETABLES TATAKI BLUE FIN TUNA SALAD CARAMEL SOY, SEAWEED SALAD, KYURI CUCUMBER MAINE SCALLOP SALAD CRÈME FRAÎCHE FINES HERBS DRESSING, BABY ARUGULA LOBSTER BISQUE TARRAGON CRÈME FRAÎCHE, LOBSTER CHUNKS
ENTRÉE
BAKED AMERICAN RED SNAPPER CAULIFLOWER PURÉE, CHAMPAGNE CAVIAR SAUCE CHILEAN SEA BASS ARTICHOKE LEMON RISOTTO, BLACK TRUFFLE SAUCE ROAST LOIN OF VENISON QUINCE PURÉE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CHESTNUT COGNAC SAUCE RACK OF COLORADO LAMB SLOW BAKED VEGETABLE GRATIN,WHITE TRUFFLE WHITE CORN POLENTA, LAMB JUS GRILLED FILET MIGNON FINGERLING POTATOES, SAUTÉED SPINACH, FRIZZLED ONIONS, RED WINE SAUCE
DESSERT
ROBIOLLA, PIAVE AND FOURME D’ AMBERT CHEESE PLATTER
MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE VALRHONA CHOCOLATE SAUCE
PEAR HONEY NUT CAKE CRÈME FRAÎCHE
Now, if I may say so, 8.888% sales tax and 20% gratuity aside, a meal, a memory and a piece of history for that price isn't so hard to swallow!
Image courtesy Martha Stewart
