CLUBBY CENTENARY

“One hundred years is a long time for anything created by mere mortals to live,” said Governor Cuomo, speaking at the National Arts Club at the 100th anniversary luncheon of the Dutch Treat Club. The club’s weekly lunches, full of conviviality and conversation, are likely the secret to its longevity.

“You have become a treasure as well, a classical congregation of creative talents and lovers of creativity,” Mr. Cuomo said of the organization.

The chairman of Whitney Radio, William O’Shaughnessy, introduced the former governor. Mr. Cuomo went on to mention some of the club’s best-known past members, including Isaac Asimov, Lowell Thomas, George Plimpton, and James Montgomery Flagg. Contemporary members of note include Walter Cronkite, Ralph Graves, Roy Rowan, and Nobles Lowe.

“I thank you for the privilege of addressing you on this auspicious occasion despite the fact that I have no credential that would earn me the honor. I am a lawyer and – I admit – an unreformed politician, at a time in our history when it would be hard to boast that either of those professions is considered conspicuously creative.”

In his speech, Mr. Cuomo said America has been the greatest engine of opportunity ever, but pointed out areas where this country could do better.

“Nearly 35 million Americans live in poverty, 11 million of them children at risk of inadequate education, joblessness, and abuse of all kinds. Many of them grow up in neighborhoods surrounded by pimps, prostitutes, drugs, and violence. Some grow up familiar with the sound of gunfire before they’ve ever heard an orchestra play.”

Guests included writer Malachy McCourt; the president of the National Arts Club, O. Aldon James; the chairman of Mentoring USA, Matilda Raffa Cuomo, who is wife of Governor Cuomo; actor Ossie Davis; the president emeritus of Fordham University, Father Joseph O’Hare, and Joseph Montebello of the Litchfield County Squire.

Liz Smith and Mr. Cuomo are the big box-office draws at the Dutch Treat: When they’re the speakers, there is always an overflow crowd.

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FILM FORUM

A panel hosted by the Center for Communications on Wednesday featured film and theater critics from New York (Peter Rainer), Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum), and Newsday (Linda Winer).The event was held at the Kimmel Center at New York University.

The reviewers spoke on the earlier days of their careers. Mr. Rainer said that when he started out, William F. Buckley asked him to write about director John Ford.

Discussion turned to critics whose quote lines seemed manufactured for

billboard play – those who might be called “blurb masters of the junket circuit.” “Who are these people?” Mr. Rainer said, noting he rarely met such types.

Mr. Rainer said he finds it hard to walk out of movies, even bad ones, which he usually sits through hoping there will be some redeeming moments. “I’ve had major critics fall asleep on my shoulder and give it a rave review,” he said, to audience merriment.

Mr. Rainer asked the audience how many of them would go to a movie based on 15 rave quotes “from people you’ve never heard of” in an advertisement. Hardly a hand was raised.

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TAKEN FOR GRANT-ED

Friends gathered at the Friars Club for a party for Marc Eliot’s “Cary Grant: A Biography” (Harmony). Speaking about the heft of the book, comedian Mickey Freeman said some books are hard to put down – but this one is hard to pick up. He joked that the money from the book is going to a good cause – the author is going to finish his basement.

At the event, the magician known as the Amazing Kreskin said he read the Knickerbocker’s mind and learned that Mr. Eliot’s next book will be about Jimmy Stewart.

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KNICK-KNACKS

E.L. Doctorow was among those at the party at the Strand Bookstore for Eric Alterman’s book “When Presidents Lie: A History of Official Deception and Its Consequences” (Viking). Among those seen was a political science editor at Routledge, Robert Tempio, whose colleague Garry Dorrien of Kalamazoo College spoke last night at Union Theological Seminary on his new book “Imperial Designs: Neo-conservatism and the New Pax Americana.” Also present were Matthew Price of Book forum and Hendrik Hertzberg, whose latest book is “Politics: Observations and Arguments, 1966-2004” (The Penguin Press)…University of California at Santa Cruz professor Hugh Raffles will speak “on the language of bees as such” at the New School on November 11…Philip Lopate, New York Sun contributor Jack Newfield, and Luc Sante are among those who will appear at a 100th birthday event to celebrate A.J. Liebling on October 27 at the CUNY Graduate Center…the New York C.S. Lewis Society is slated to celebrate its 35th anniversary with a special lecture by Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J…a memorial for activist David Dellinger is scheduled to take place at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on October 23. Dellinger, who died in May at age 88, was best-known for his involvement in protesting the Democratic National Convention in 1968 in Chicago, Ill…Joe Frazier will be signing copies of a “Garden of Dreams: Madison Square Garden – 125 Years” (Stewart Tabori & Chang) November 9 at 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Rockefeller Center.