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Feature - My Favorite Places |
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My Favorite Places
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Written by Administrator
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CX111 REX
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:
2 strong parts Landini seasoning
2 dashes Rigoberto and Santos culinary spice
1 part exquisite Michel Gauthier design
1 large dose of mystique
2 pinches of "Taboo of Smoking"
1 lot of abundant service
1 huge portion of "Location, Location, Location
Mix all ingredients together, place in "Members Only" pan and smoke to perfection. Serve with pride.
Having spent some twenty years living in the heart of the charming, seaport town of Old Town Alexandria, I have seen many, many changes occur...most all of them for the better. Closely watching the rebirth of an historic 18th Century village, filled with Federalist homes and warehouses given new life is something of which many read, but never experience. For almost thirty years, the sole constant and anchor of this phoenix rising has been an Italian ristorante, known simply as "Landini's". For much of my 20 years, I affectionately referred to Landini's as either "my dining room" or "The Club". When visiting with those from nearby or afar, either term was easily recognized as our destination to meet.
Nestled in the midst of the first block of King Street, just off the Potomac, my "dining room" originally consisted of a large dining area and "The Bar"...a room with massive stone walls and floors with pole and beam construction supporting the upper floors. The kitchen was smaller than one finds in most contemporary homes, yet from here, hundreds of individually, hand-crafted meals were produced nightly. Specials of fresh lamb, veal, seafood, steaks and handmade pasta became the order of the day, and a large following ensued. And then, the upstairs room began filling, then the building adjacent to the west was purchased for another "non smoking" dining room, exquisite wine and piano bar above and the kitchen was replaced with an ultra modern gem to service them all. The transition into the new areas was seamless and authentic in decor. Through all this expansion, it could have reasonably been assumed the quality would begin to diminish, but this just did not happen...at all.
Through savvy business acumen, the Landinis acquired the building adjacent to the east-this one down King Street-where they decided a wonderful space in the upper floors of these ancient warehouse could be opened into a blank canvas to devise something very special. It was then when Franco and Noe Landini began conceiving a project that could transform this special area into a highly unique private club setting. Virginia had adopted the total non-smoking approach for all restaurants; however, a caveat in the law allowed for private clubs to continue smoking with proper ventilation and air circulation. The restaurant had long been friendly to cigar and smoking aficionados, and a new, PRIVATE area to continue doing so would prove to be quite a guest service to many. This space was carefully laid out by renowned architect Michel Gauthier to provide a number of cozy, private alcoves and superb amenities...and memberships were sold. So became the genesis of CXIII REX, a crafty moniker of the location's address at 113 King Street.
Access to the club is gained either through an obscure, unmarked door on King or through the dining room where an elevator awaits members and their guests only. Once you disembark the elevator, you see the delightful fusion of warm, rustic warehouse, resplendent with original brick exterior walls, vintage plank wood floors and that wonderful pole and beam construction converging with the sleek, contemporary look of the elegant furnishings, magnificent Murano crystal chandelier with Swarovski pendants, purchased in Tuscany, suspended from the apex of the ceiling and an abundance of highly creative lighting throughout. While it sounds incongruous, these two styles converge in harmony, like hand in glove.
The walls are adorned with art moderne, living in conjunction with a number of exotic animal species from the private collection of one of Rex’s members. There is also a special shadow box containing the signed jersey of longtime Landini friend, Hall of Famer, Sonny Jurgensen. In the back of the main area is a spacious bar that sports an expansive, mirrored, majestic back bar that makes this room appear even more airy. Framing the top of the bar are a series of six incredible, large lanterns, inspired from copper screens used in the bar of Landini's dangling from the ceiling, putting off a warm glow of comfort. Across the way are cozy seating groupings of exquisite, walnut barrel-style club chairs with supple black leather seats and backs.
Just off the bar and up a few steps is an area with an identity all its own where you will find their astonishing walk-in humidor, with exterior walls crafted from translucent material that is totally wild! Along one wall is an artwork of members' private cigar and wine lockers that open at the request of the member's card swiped along the wall - very high tech. The humidor is stocked with a superb array of specialty cigars by the Old Virginia Tobacco Company. A popular selection is the Landini private blend, crafted by Rocky Patel. It is said Franco and Noe went through many, many blends before settling on the one that would carry their namesake. These fellows really love their cigars.
Across a small walkway is the glass-enclosed wine room where Rex stores a wide variety of fine wines, many of Italian heritage and favorites of the proprietors. There are a number of additional seating areas in this sector and the floors above, each with their own style, many utilizing the concept of the stylish barrel chairs, framed in leathers of purple, green and cordovan. You will also find luxurious couches, spacious chairs and settees in a variety of leather and fine coverings. On the upper floor, overlooking the bar area, the "wall" is a series of stainless cables that serve as the divider, but offer unobstructed views of the activities below. Sprinkled about are a number of flat screens available for news and sporting events. Of course, the club has dining available from the full complement of delights provided in the restaurant by long-time chefs Rigoberto and Santos Ramos.
Frankly, the design and use of multiple themes and concepts is truly unique and quite handsome in all aspects of the details. CXIII Rex has more than lived up to the hype produced during the building of the facility. It has an extremely warm and cozy feeling, something difficult to achieve in a large area. One of the members described Rex in these terms: "Franco and Noe Landini have taken raw, unusable, 2nd floor space above and next to their acclaimed restaurant, and transformed it into a private club unique to not only Alexandria, but most Metropolitan areas".
This club is private, by membership only, and most of the initial memberships have been taken. Should one have interest in finding out more about CXIII Rex, you may speak with Franco, Noe, Sophia or one of the current members. Great pride is taken to respect the privacy of the members - something in which I firmly believe also. This is a phenomenal club, and it most certainly reflects that gracious "Landini style" many have come to know all these years. As they say "Membership has its privileges!" |
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