House of Roosevelt

Three of my audit colleagues have been in Shanghai this past week, conducting an audit of Anti-Corruption Due Diligence at the affiliate. I could not be luckier that the team ended up being 3 great people, including one of my best friends Gretchen! This was her 2nd tour of Shanghai, as she came to visit in April after an audit in South Korea.  I enjoyed spending time with the team in the evenings over the week and had a chance to take them out and about a little bit in Shanghai.

On Saturday evening, the CFO organized a night out for the team and a few other financial people from the affiliate.  Steffanie, Darren, Darren's boss in town from Indy, the audit team and I joined Richard and his wife at the House of Roosevelt.  This place might have the best location in the city.  It sits at the north part of the Bund, on the curve of the river, with amazing views of both Pudong and the Bund.  Looking out over this amazing skyline, Gretchen, Joe, and I all took a deep breath and reflected on how lucky we are - just 3 years into our career and seeing the world in fashion!

The House of Roosevelt is actually owned by the Roosevelts. Originally, the 1920 building was built for Jardine Matheson, one of the seminal colonial British trading firms. Among many, many other things, they were in the opium business.  Now the building has passed into the hands of seminal American power family, the Roosevelts. They are Presidents and tycoons, and instead of opium, they're trading a milder (and more legal) intoxicant: wine. The House of Roosevelt is a staggering, granite-faced investment to sell a bit of grape juice - claiming the biggest wine cellar in Shanghai.

We enjoyed a drink on the 9th floor terrace, then dinner on the 8th floor with views of the skyline.  I couldn't be more grateful for a clear night with amazing views, great conversation and company, and yummy food.  It was a really fun night!

Gretch and I at House of Roosevelt

Looking out toward the Bund

Pudong Skyline