Mrs. Rockefeller, like her son, wished to have as normal a life as possible. Though she lived uptown in relative isolation, cloistered by the Rockefeller fortune and the watch of her controlling husband, she was intrigued by Edith's world. Having heard all about the rage for speakeasies, she yearned to see one of these places firsthand but had not dared….

As she became a regular visitor to the Downtown Gallery, Mrs. Rockefeller discovered that West 13th Street was far better known as a destination for drinkers than for art lovers. One day she mustered her courage and asked Edith if she might visit one of these places. Edith often entertained clients at speakeasies, but with Mrs. Rockefeller she wasn't so sure. She was concerned that Mrs. Rockefeller might feel compelled to tell her husband if they went to a speakeasy and that Mr. Rockefeller would then feel obligated to notify the police and have the place closed down. These raids happened regularly, and the owners and the customers were all tossed in jail. But Mrs. Rockefeller promised to keep their visit a secret. "She was just bursting to see how the other half lived," Edith said.