See private Anvil Club, help the United Way on special night
Situated on a one-way side street of East Dundee is a building that looks as though it would be more at home in the 19th century than the 21st.
Its unassuming exterior -- that of an old blacksmith shop -- does not give any indication of the delights, both culinary and visual, to be found inside.
I am referring, of course, to the Anvil Club, a private dining club that was founded over 50 years ago by 10 prominent Dundee area men who wanted a place where they could relax, and where the food and service would be the very best.
On April 24, the Anvil Club will open its doors to non-members for a United Way Night, a special fundraising event for our own Far Northwest Suburban United Way.
Several years ago the Dundee Township United Way merged with the United Ways of Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village and the Tri-Villages (Bartlett, Streamwood and Hanover Park). This merger resulted in many additional dollars for local not-for profit agencies -- last year alone giving away over $1.5 million to help people in need on the path to self-sufficiency.
There will be a special $45 United Way menu at the club. Choose any item from this menu and the Anvil Club will donate $5 to United Way, plus $1 from every glass of wine and $4 from every bottle of wine.
It will also donate $75 from every new membership fee, which is remarkable as membership was closed for a number of months in 2007 and a limited number of new memberships have just been reopened.
The menu will include a pan-seared portobello mushroom with goat cheese and a choice of lobster bisque or soup du jour. For the main course you can choose among prime rib, salmon, filet mignon, or bone-in pork chop. If you have room left, you can finish with a choice of anything from the dessert tray.
If you are a lover of antiques and history, there is a great deal to see in the various dining rooms. The original forge, with its piano and magnificent bar, is a great spot for a drink.
The Boardroom has a beautiful, huge leaded-glass window that reflects the light from the fireplace across the way.
The Vintage Room has an eclectic mix of memorabilia including: artifacts from an ill-fated Mississippi riverboat, lion carvings from a carousel, and a large round chandelier from a Dundee church
The Normandie Room has not only pictures and memorabilia, but also chairs from the luxury ship S.S. Normandie, which had been weighted to make them stable when the ship rolled at sea. The Who's Who Room got its name from the German oak carvings of owls that look down on diners from the four corners of the room. There are several more rooms, and more paintings and sculptures to discover, and assistant manager Chuck Kolner says he would be glad to give tours.
As this is a private club, there is a dress code. Men are required to wear suits or sports coats; ties are optional. Dresses, dressy skirts or dress pants are appropriate for women. Children ages 10 and older are welcome and should also be dressed appropriately -- no jeans or T-shirts. A children's menu will be available.
To make reservations for this special United Way Night, call (847) 426-7710. The Anvil Club is at 309 Meier St. in East Dundee.