The boarding house/hotel era, as we learned from the novel, was a relatively short era in women’s history. What did you think of the women who chose to live this way? There’s been a lot of public discussion recently about some women’s desires to return to the tradwife life, and, as you might expect, there have been inexplicable questions about whether or not women’s rights have made women happier. (Spoiler alert: they absolutely have.) Where do you think the women at the Biedermeier fit in in the context of feminist history? What stood out to you from the text about the difficulties and freedoms that come with women living this way? What do they gain from it and what, if anything, do they lose?
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In the summer of 1991 I spend two months living in one of these hotels, the Parkside Evangeline, in Gramercy Park while I was taking some classes nearby. It was extraordinary. The description of the rooms (and the whole place but especially the rooms) is spot on. The residents in the summer of 1991 (it was fully occupied), included many many many elders who had been around since the 60s. These were not women who felt they had been left and forgotten - these were women who were still living rich lives (many retired teachers and secretaries). In this residence they had many "rules" to live by similar to the novel, but there was a lot of freedom as well. Freedom to be exactly as they wanted to be. The elders I encountered during my time there were active and happy - in some ways this living situation was one that allowed them to escape the trappings of mainstream expectations for women. They were not biding their time there till something better came along - they were where they wanted to be. I hope when it closed down in 2008 they found somewheere they felt equally safe and at home.
I haven't started the book yet, but this reminds me of an earlier NYC women's hotel I stayed at by chance in 2012, the Beekman Tower at 3 Mitchell Place (not The Beekman at 123 Nassau Street):
"Built in 1928, the iconic Art Deco style tower designed on the East River was originally known as the Panhellenic Tower. The tower originally served as a clubhouse and residence for professional women affiliated with Greek-letter sororities. In 1932, the tower made accommodations available to men, and in 1934, the building was renamed to The Beekman Tower. The Beekman Tower was named a New York City landmark in 1998."
https://www.thebeekmantowerny.com/contact/about/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beekman_Tower
It was fascinating to reflect on the lives of women who lived there and worked in NYC during the Great Depression.
The bar and restaurant at the top of The Beekman Tower with an open air terrace (currently the Ophelia) was at one time frequented by Frank Sinatra and has the most enchanting views at night. You can of course go there without staying in the hotel.
https://www.thebeekmantowerny.com/ophelia/
It's only a three-star hotel and thus not so expensive by NYC standards. It was a bit run-down when I was there in 2012, and the ancient elevator terrified the friend I was traveling with. It's changed hands and been renovated since I was there, but the photos don't look that different to me. If you want a bit of time travel, I think it would be worth considering staying there or visiting the atmospheric Ophelia.