mad men

Don Drapers New York

BY ROLANDO PUJOL rpujol@am-ny.com

Want to roll like Don Draper and his Mad Men colleagues? There are still plenty of places in New York from Dons 1960s heyday that have that old-school elegance and swagger.

powering, it didnt sit well with Sterlings stomach. This Guastavino-tiled institution dates to 1913.

5. The Oak Bar

Plaza Hotel, Central Park South, 212-759-3000 This is such a Draperesque place to get a drink its even where Cary Grants Roger Thornhill was kidnapped in North by Northwest. There are few places that are more storied and glamorous than The Oak Bar.

1. El Faro
823 Greenwich St., 212-9298210 This Spanish restaurant has been tucked in the far West Village since 1927, so it was already vintage when Don was at the height of his powers. We can easily see him taking a date there now that hes a swinging bachelor living in the hood.

him to get his threads than at Paul Stuart? This bastion of sophisticated menswear was then and now on Madison Avenue, a quick jaunt from the office.

3. Hilton New York

1335 Sixth Ave., 212-5867000 Swanky hotel lobbies and bars have played pivotal roles in the show. This Sixth Avenue tower, built in 1963, would be a perfect haunt for Don, wholl be working down the street at the TimeLife Building.

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2. Paul Stuart
Madison Avenue and 45th Street, 212-682-0320 The suit makes the man, or is it the other way around? Wed say the latter in Dons case, but where better for

6. P.J. Clarkes
915 Third Ave., 212317-1616 The Mad Men crew partied here. In the 1960s, this mecca to burger and brew already had been around for eight decades, and its still going strong.

(PHOTOS: ANDREW HINDERAKER)

4. The O Oyster Bar B

G Grand C Central T Termina 212nal, 490 490-6650 For arguments sake, well say this is where Don took Roger for a boozeand-oyster lunch that was so over-

7. Sherry Netherland
781 Fifth Ave., 212-3552800 For Mad Men and their extramarital shenanigans, only the citys finest hotels will do. These plush palaces are happily still around, though you neednt cheat on your partner to enjoy them.

72 W. 36th St., 212-9473636 Show creator Matt Weiner mentions midtown standby Keens Steakhouse (nee Chophouse), and the venue snagged a role in Season 3.

9. Paul Mol
1031 Lexington Ave., 212988-9176 This Upper East Side barbershop dating from 1913 is name-dropped by Pete

Campbell, and it remains a refined sanctuary.

10. Sardis
234 W. 44th St., 212-2218440

8. Keens Steakhouse

Sardis is the real Theater District deal, with wall after wall of celebrity caricatures, and more old-school character than youll know what to do with.

THE DESIGN GUY

Dan Bishop is the creative mind behind Mad Mens period interiors, and his work is essential al to the experience. Part of the why it works, Bishop said, is that he avoids cutting-edge, contemporary sets. Its not about mid-century showrooms because most people had a mix of furnishings and accessories. It would be cheap and easy to stuff a room with Eames chairs.

How he handles an interior: After discussions with [the shows creator] Matt [Weiner], and then whatw ever words there are on paper to h guide us, you get help an impression of what k kind of character he is, w what kind of neighborh hood hes in, what kind o of mood hes in. ... Its d driven essentially by cha character concerns but then a our ability to create also a mood by shaping a space and lighting a space.

Tell us a bit about Trudy and Petes stylish apartment: We were trying to communicate that they were younger, that they were modern, and they were essentially up to date, even though their stuff is essentially from the 50s. But we pretty much established their set in the first season, which was 1960. And so they live in a postwar apartment building and all that delicate Danish Modern stuff goes well with the diminutive proportions of the room. On the pressure to get it right

from blogs and press: I dont read the blogs. I dont read the press. I do this job because I like designing, and if I like it, then Im happy if it suits the show right. A set hes proud of: My favorite set last season was a tiny little scene in a barbershop [right] with Don and Roger, which was a built set. In the end it ended up looking fantastic, both in a

period sense and in sculptural, atmospheric and color senses.

[ROLANDO PUJOL)

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