Memorial to Tavern on the Green, Central Park New York by Feng Shui New York Consultant Carole Provenzale
Another New York City Landmark Institution is gone. I couldn't be sorrier to see it go. It was our own Grace Safrin Indiana : Porter County : Valparaiso 
who emailed me to let me know that Tavern on the Green would be closing. I hadn't heard and knew that Grace and Jeff had some very special memories of their time in New York City, Central Park and Tavern on the Green; it was the spectacular place that Jeff had chosen to propose to her!
Tavern on the Green in New York City had been around for 75 years and was probably one of the Cities best known restaurants. Located right in Central Park at West 67th Street and Central Park West, it had spectacular views of Central Park if you were seated outside and incredible artwork and amazing glass images inside.
Well known for its Tiffany Chandeliers and somewhat "odd" but colorful objects, this historic landmark had become 8 million dollars in debt in just the last few years. It closed its doors for good on New Years Eve, Dec. 31st 2009. Everything from its extensive collections of Stained Glass to all the pots and pans that have served many actors and other lovers of this restaurant are now gone, having been put on the Auction block.
When The Plaza was going co-op, I happened to be in New York City that day on a Feng Shui Consultation. I was heading up to Central Park when I saw a line...and went to investigate. It was the last day they were selling off their beautiful, extensive items from the furniture to The infamous Oak Room dishes and I was able to purchase one of the few remaining items....an old chafing dish. I was delighted to have what I considered to be a "small piece of history."
The Grand Chandelier that graced the entrance of Tavern on the Green went for only $15,000 and the still operating Vintage Wurlitzer Jukebox only $7.000. Most of the items auctioned went well below their estimates. The Name of TAVERN ON THE GREEN is estimated to cost 19 million dollars and is currently in dispute to see if the new owners have the right to take the name as well.
Many of us will miss this spectacular New York City Landmark restaurant. You can catch glimpses of it in many movies filmed there including "It's My Turn" with Michael Douglas and Jill Clayburgh. This New York City Icon will surely be missed.
**All Photos by Laura Cerrano--Feng Shui New York Consultant
http://www.LongIslandFengShui.com
*Carole Provenzale is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and Founder of Feng Shui Long Island providing Feng Shui/Design Consultations on site for all of Long Island including The Hamptons and Queens New York.
http://www.FengShuiManhattan.com
**Laura Cerrano is a Certified Feng Shui Practitioner and Founder of Feng Shui Manhattan New York who provides Feng Shui Consultations for all of New York City (Manhattan), Long Island New York and Queens New York. She also consults through the Tri-State area.
Hi Carole-What a gorgeous building. It is indeed sad to see such a beautiful place close. Love the pics. You captured the place beautifully. Have a great Thursday my friend. <SMILE>
Hi Carole...As long as I can remember Tavern on the Green has been a famous restaurant. I was saddened when I learned of the pending closure. What a reputation this place had.
Kate
Carole,
Certainly a sad day....it looked like a very beautiful place and I'm glad that Laura captured so many lovely photos before it was all dismantled.
You've done a wonderful job with this post and I hope it gets featured! I just flagged it....
Jo
Carole, I heard so many good things about the restaurant, so sad to see it closed for good. But I am glad that I got a chance to see it here on AR because of you. It is very beautiful, it is almost like I was there.
I too was saddened to see another of NYC's landmarks fall due to the lagging economy. Luckily I was able to be a guest there on one spectacular occasion. It truly was a beautiful place.
Hi Carole. I appreciate the tour and the history lesson. As I am not familiar with NYC I now know about this historic restaurant, and I thank you for that. Those Tiffany lamps were fantastic!
Question, when you said since "The Plaza went co-op. . . " did you mean the Plaza Hotel? That no longer exists either?
Carole,
Thanks for the photos ... what a fabulous place that must have been. Sorry to have missed it.
Sue
Amazing hedge triming and artwork throughout, thanks for sharing it with us. Love it!
On our walk in Central Park, we passed by the Tavern, but did not go in. We certainly knew of it's reputation, but assumed we would have another chance to visit...when I read of the closing in the news, I was sad to see such an historic landmark fall victim too...LOVE the peacock stained glass!
MY - what rich history! The proposal spot for Jeff & Grace? How touching... she must have shed a few tears.... the romantic sentimental and sensitive person that she is. The most lasting memorandum will never last forever... two hearts becoming one.
Thanks for your story and beautiful pictures to capture it all with Carole.
Why?
Carole what beautiful photos. Tavern on the Green was such a staple of New York City. Such a tragedy to see it go.
I was so sad to hear that Tavern had also fallen prey to financial woes.
It was as NYC as Dirty Water Hotdogs and Times Square that place :o(
So sad, we always had a Special Treat Dinner in the Crystal Room at Tavern for special occasions. So sad.
Hi Carole...thanks for the story and photos, looks like a cool place, sorry i never had a chance to try the Food:O)
Sharon, I'm so sad about it. We truly lost a piece of NYC forever.
Kate, I hadn't known it was closing until Grace emailed me...how sad.
Jo, Thank you for flagging it, I spent a long time putting the pictures up. It was a beautiful place and I'm sorry when you do get to New York you won't be able to see it.
Rita, It wasn't the best food in town but that's not why you went there. The ambiance was gorgeous and you never knew who would be sitting at the next table :)
Gary, It sure does. It's too bad they can't preserve some things along the way though.
Craig, It was only in the last two years that they accumulated that much debt. What a shame.
Bruce, The Plaza hotel is no longer...it is all co-ops now. Very expensive co-ops. The moved The Oak Room to another part of the hotel and it's not the same :( You can still go to Sunday brunch there.
Sue, It was just gorgeous. I'm sorry you missed it as well, the artistry took your breath away.
Diane, Some people don't know about the Animals in the back. They are also works of art!
Cheryl, I know, I never thought it would close either. I'm sorry I wasn't there for the auction.
Diane, When I had written about The Tavern on the Green once before Grace told me Jeff had proposed to her in there. She'd asked me for pictures when she heard it was closing so I did this post mostly for her and I'll email her any photos she'd like.
Missy, Too much debt. It was very expensive and I guess in this economy people stopped going.
Debra, Wouldn't it have been nice to preserve just a little piece of it somehow? It was a NYC institution.
Sheldon, Sad is right. Even on the days I didn't go in I'd wander through as far as I could but at night it was dazzling with all the lights.
Fred, Honestly, the food wasn't that great. It was just ok. It was the ambiance that you went for!
Wow Carole, a great bunch of photographs and the last time I was there I was with John Robert Powers Modeling Agency back in 1982 and I remember a beer cost around 5 dollars. To this day I always tell the story about how expensive a beer was at "Tavern on the Green"
Sorry to see it go and you have found yourself a feature atone of my favorite photography groups .........
EXPRESS WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AT ACTIVERAIN
VB ;o)
Carole - I'm stunned. I had no idea that Tavern on the Green had closed its doors. Another landmark gone. Nice story.
Carole - the picture with all the reflections in glass is absolutely stunning it certainly captures the uniqueness of the structure.
This is truly sad. One landmark after another is slowly disappearing. The Plaza going co-op was bad enough.
Hi Carole, I can't believe this. I saw this on the news last week and they were going over some of the items they are selling. I want one of those beautiful Tiffany lamps! I'm sure those are gone. I'm glad you were able to snag a piece of history! :)
Robert, Thank you!! What a nice surprise. I don't know how long ago you were there but the price of beer had certainly gone UP--I believe it was $8 when I last had one there! Knowing I paid that much for it made it taste even better :)
Susan, I was stunned when I heard it as well. A new restaurant will open there but the name is in dispute.
Kathy, It was almost a by-gone era. Very over the top and just beautiful. I am really going to miss it.
Jane, I know....I never thought the Plaza would change. There are very rare occasions I would stay in NYC for a night or even a weekend and I usually chose the Waldorf but have stayed at the Plaza. What elegance.
Jackie, I would have grabbed the old Wurlitzer (and figured out how to pay it off later!). My juke is from the 1970's and I love it but you don't see the records drop...and it isn't from Tavern on the Green!
wow Carole - I did not know about the auction - I would have sent some of my sister-in-laws relatives from long island to get me a memoribila keepsake piece - I will always cherish the memories of that special place and central park and New York....these are awesome photos that Laura took please thanks her and thank you as well - i've bookmarked this post for sentimental reasons :)
thanks kindly for sharing
Sincerely,
Grace
p.s. now could you tell me the name of the Italian family style restaurant a few nights after we visited tavern on the green - it's on Broadway (Theatre District) across from where Phantom of the Opera was playing in 1996 - we ate there also but the name escapes me? our waiter took a photo of us that night we had a window seat but it was dark out :(
Hi Carole... Somehow the words "landmark institution" do not begin to cover Tavern on the Green to me. It was an integral part of NYC's DNA and will be greatly missed!
Such a shame to see another Ladmark go under, the economic condition certainly changed the landscape. Grace and Jeff will always have those fond memories as well as photos to look back on.
Carole
So sad when great places that have brought many wonderful and happy memories closes.
Carole - I am having a hard time believing that Tavern on the Green will be gone for good! It is steeped in too much rich history, and good will to have its doors closed long!
Grace, I love the other picture! It's Sardi's....full of caricatures and some REALLY good food! (If you happen to know an actor, they have separate menus to order from :)! I didn't know about the auction either; what a shame the new owner didn't purchase some of the beautiful items.
Steve, I know, it's difficult to put into words what a wonderful place that was. I will miss just passing it....
Jennifer, I know they have wonderful memories.....I keep trying to get them to come back and revisit. It's a different New York then it was in 1996 I believe.
Tom, It will be missed by SO many people. I'm so glad I've eaten there and wish I still had those night time shots where they lit up Central Park!
Myrl, It remains to see what it will be called but with the decor change it will never be the same. It is a shame.
Your very welcome Carole and 8 dollars for a beer now days doesn't seem like a lot!
Hi Carole - Yes Sardi's - seperate menu eh? can you just "act" like your an actor/actress to see one of these special menu's lol
Thanks for jogging my memory
Sincerely,
Grace
Robert, It's not...but you can't have just one. They give you those free, very salty peanuts along with it!
Grace, No, you really have to KNOW someone. I do love that place, though.
Was able to go there many years ago and have fond memories of the place.
Another restaurant that I did not get a chance to try. Very sad!
Even I have heard of Tavern on the Green. What a shame that they had to fail so miserably in the past couple of years. It just goes to show you that nothing is a sure thing.
I've heard of Tavern on the Green but have never been there. I enjoyed your photos and the commentary and am sorry that another landmark is gone.