While that was the last time Aunt Cary came to Oregon, it was not the last time I saw her. Fortunately she gained some stability and moved back to New York City where she had been living before her breakdown landed her with her parents in Chicago. She took up residence in the Barbizon Hotel, recently featured in the book just published by Paulina Bren, shown above. It was seeing this book title that actually sent me first to buy the book and then to begin to remember my life with Aunt Cary.
From 1965 through June of 1969 I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a three hour bus ride away from Manhattan. I went there numerous times, staying with either friends or relatives in suburban New York City. On one of those visits I arranged to meet Aunt Cary outside The Barbizon. I am sorry that I never got a peek inside, but the book has given me a good sense of why she may have lived there. While she worked on and off, I believe that my grandparents helped support her financially. They would have felt reassured that she was living in an all female, doorman guarded, building in a respectable part of the City.
She was delighted to see me and insisted we must go to the place “where business men took their paramours in the afternoon.” We walked perhaps twenty minutes over to The Russian Tea Room. I remember being awestruck by the over the top decorations and kept looking for any furtive looking men in suits. It was great fun, though I doubt we spotted any.
I bid her goodbye and went back uptown to friends.
Saved By Words 
It is nice that you were able to see her again. I am sure it was very different as an adult.
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I felt more adult than I really was because of how she treated me.
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That makes perfect sense.
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I would like to have gone to the Russian Tea Room with Cary. I am smitten.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wonderful memories during a special time in your life. I’m glad they included your Aunt Cary.
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I agree.
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There were lots of famous ladies who stayed at The Barbizon!
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I am enjoying the book about the place very much. Just finished the section on Grace Kelly. Apparently her dreamy look was due to severe near sightedness!
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It is surprising how many people would rather struggle to see than wear glasses in years gone by (myself included) Mind you, the choices were pretty awful then, especially for children.
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I spent years squinting and having people get irritated that I seemed to ignore them.
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I saw the outside of the Russian Tea Room, but I don’t remember ever eating there. How special that you were there with Aunt Cary!
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She had a way of finding fun. Another post today in the similar vein.
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Good that you saw your aunt again
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What a special memory to share with your aunt. You must have thought her quite worldly.
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I knew that she was a true Manhattan woman.
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This brings back so many similar memories. I knew of the Barbizon. I was your age, visiting NYC. I had a college interview (I was in college in D.C.) and did the bravest thing I had ever done. I rode the train into Grand Central Station, and walked from there to Central Park and Greenwich Village and back. This was HUGE for me, the sheltered southern girl. My English teacher in college told me I absolutely must go to the Rainbow Room to have lunch and see the city from high above. So, I arrived at the Rainbow Room… only to be turned away because it was men only. While the attendant was kind, everyone stared. Surely they thought I was a hooker. Dickens would have said it was the worst times and the best of times. It was. I wish I had been with your aunt that day.
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I remember taking the bus into Port Authority at that age and being terrified by the crowd outside. My uncle had told me not to go outside, but of course I had anyway!
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I know what you mean!
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