The Gramercy Park Hotel is an unassuming rectangle in the center of Lexington Avenue and in certain ways, it's like any other quadrilateral 5-star lodging in New York City. The decor is classy but understated, and the red carpet and checkered floors, now iconic, are relics of the roaring twenties. The place, while less modern than the four seasons and less phallic than the Trump International Hotel and Tower, has a certain "je ne sais quoi," something magical that keeps guests coming back. In fact, it's played host to so many rock stars, politicians, athletes, and movie stars that it's become somewhat of a cultural landmark, a testament to New York and the "oxymoronic" way in which the city always presses forward but never really changes. With this in mind, we've compiled a list the hotel's most interesting clientele in order to give you a glimpse at its enduring legacy.
The Clash
That's right, the original punks were known to stay at the Gramercy whenever they played in New York. Activist and guitarist Joe Strummer said of the hotel, "It's economically viable to stay here, not like uptown somewhere. That means five nights of hotel rooms ain't no problem. And we like to get some vibe of New York, you know, because we'll put that information onto a record." Whenever they stayed there, they were sure to test the boundaries of the hotel's famous hospitality.
Babe Ruth
When he wasn't ripping homers down the right field line, the Great Bambino was known to frequent the Gramercy's bar throughout his time with the New York Yankees, becoming a regular during the great depression. An autographed picture of the slugger was hung in the bar until it disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1960.
David Bowie
Bowie Photo by Katy Hardman (Unsplash)
David Bowie is the man most responsible for bringing the music industry to the Gramercy. It all began in 1973, when Bowie came to New York to promote The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust. His 100-person crew took over the entire third floor, filling it with copious amounts of cocaine and groupies. Though he was one of the first musicians to party in the Gramercy, he was far from the last.
The Kennedys
When Joe Kennedy became the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, he and his family, including little JFK, stayed at the hotel for a few months while Joe prepared to leave for his post in London. Such was the childhood of our future president.
Humphrey Bogart
Before he hit the silver screen, Humphrey Bogart was quite a successful actor on Broadway. It was during this time, in 1926, that he and his first wife, Helen Menken, got married on the hotel's rooftop terrace. Though the marriage didn't last, Bogart was possibly the hotel's first celebrity guest.
Madonna
Photo by Hahn Lionel-ABACA-Shutterstock
Madonna
Madonna stayed at the hotel before she was famous. She was still working as a hat check girl at a downtown club. Still, one memorable night, she reportedly asked a guest and his wife to have a threesome with her. Whether or not she was joking, or if the story is even true is unconfirmed, as Madonna has never responded to any questions about it.
Edmund Wilson
Edmund Wilson may not be the sexiest name on this list, but his writing, along with his literary criticism helped influence many prominent 20th century writers and thinkers including Upton Sinclair, Sinclair Lewis, John Dos Passos, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. He lived in the hotel throughout the 1940s with novelist Mary McCarthy.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan Photo by Weston M - Unsplash
Bob Dylan, the King of Folk, tried out the Gramercy in the mid-seventies upon hearing rumors about the staff's discretion. He lived there for a few weeks after he separated from his wife, Sara, and spent many evenings in his room, penning lyrics that would later end up on the albumDesire.
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol By Jon Tyson (Unsplash)
Whether or not Andy Warhol ever physically stayed has never been confirmed. That said, the hotel isn't solely famous for its celebrity guests. The Gramercy also maintains a beautiful art collection and Warhol's work has its own room. He lived within his work, his entire life an artistic flourish. In a way, he's spent more time in the Gramercy than the rest of this list combined.
Matt Clibanoff is a writer and editor based in New York City who covers music, politics, sports and pop culture. His editorial work can be found in Inked Magazine, Pop Dust, The Liberty Project, and All Things Go. His fiction has been published in Forth Magazine. -- Find Matt at his website and on Twitter: @mattclibanoff