[concierge] hold the pink elephants: jack nargil of the hay-adams

1.02.2009 | Wouldn’t this be cute? When the Obamas check into the Hay-Adams this weekend, one of the girls asks one of their parents, "What’s a concierge?" And they’re so busy multitasking in the lobby that they brush off their inquisitive daughter and tell her that they’ll explain the concept later. And when they’re up in their room, after they’ve marveled at the view and fluffed their pillows, they Google the word "concierge." Remember, this is a family that practices thorough research. And there on How Stuff Works is none other than Jack Nargil, the concierge at the Hay-Adams! Here, he explains all about being "part Merlin, part Houdini," which is how Les Cles d’Or describes the full service concept. (This is where we cue "Ain’t No River Wide Enough.") And Nargil is quoted thus:

No matter how strange the request, concierges rarely turn down a client or guest. "We always say that if we can't get you a white elephant, perhaps we can get you a pink elephant," says Nargil. "The word 'no' really doesn't exist. It's a word concierges rebel against."

I’ve been trying to come up with a clever line about a pink donkey, get it, the Republicans are the elephants, the Democrats are the donkeys, but I’m drawing a blank. Anyway, Nargil’s a registered Democrat, so this experience should be one of the highlights of his career.

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