Bizbash New York / Los Angeles May June 2010

BIZBASH NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES

EVENTS MEETINGS MARKETING STYLE STRATEGY IDEAS

New York & Los Angeles $4.95 MAY/JUNE 2010 BIZBASH.COM

MAY/JUNE 2010

New York Venue Guide Our 2010 Look at New Spaces Plus: 1,643 Places for Events & Meetings

Ideas From Diffa Dining

by Design

Technology Report 9 Tools & Trends Changing How Events Happen Plus: Planners Share Their Dream Gadgets Bright Summer Linens, Entertainment Troupes, Catering Trays & More

People save their ticket stubs from our venues for good reason: to remember something extraordinary.

Imagine what they’ll do with an invitation to your next event. Our world-famous venues are secretly fabulous for intimate gatherings and small parties. Each one of our landmarks has dozens of perfect event spaces of every size to meet your needs and rise above all expectations.

Plan Small, Think Big 212 465 6106 specialevents@thegarden.com | www.thegarden.com/specialevents

99 EAST 52 STREET NEW YORK CITY 212.754.9494 FOURSEASONSRESTAURANT.COM

NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES May/June 2010 © 2010 BizBash Media On the Cover Michael Tavano worked with students from the New York School of Interior Design to create a dramatic table for Diffa’s Dining by Design benefit. Photographed by Emily Gilbert for BizBash FROM THE EDITORS 15 New technology

PHOTOS: BILLY FARRELL/PATRICKMCMULLAN.COM

READERS’ FORUM 17 What’s your dream technology?

Showtime hosted the Nurse Jackie RX Games, a media kickoff and friendly competition between 15 teams of nurses and nursing students, to promote the second-season premiere. Events included a gurney race, a balance beam competition, and rockclimbing. Gotham Hall was transformed into an arena, with bleachers surrounding the games. Star Edie Falco and the rest of the Nurse Jackie cast presented the winning team with their prize. More photos are on BizBash.com.

21 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 37

THE SCOUT A moveable space Unexpected event entertainment For rent: Colorful linens Eye-catching catering trays How do you jazz up a meeting in the conference room?

Veteran meeting planner Marie Botvinick’s new L.A. firm Distinctive takes on step-andrepeats New options for in-office eats Four recently launched New York production firms Brooklyn-based wine tastings; Interactive projections

VENUES 38 Four new Los Angeles venues 40 Off-site options within a short drive from Los Angeles EVENT REPORTS 47 From Los Angeles: Goldenvoice’s Coachella Festival 50 From New York: The International Auto Show 51 From Vancouver: Coca-Cola’s Olympic pavilion 52 From Los Angeles: A doctors group’s last-minute venue change 56 From Paris: Chanel’s ice-filled fashion show 58 From Chicago: Redmoon’s 20th anniversary celebration 60 From New York: AOL’s daylong partner meeting 62 From Los Angeles: The Clash of the Titans premiere; The Annenberg Center’s groundbreaking event 64 From Austin: The South by Southwest music festival 66 From Los Angeles: Perez Hilton’s birthday celebration

68 From New York: New Balance’s shoe launch 70 From Miami: TD Bank’s employee awards dinner 72 From Los Angeles: The California Science Center’s gala 74 From New York: Target’s flowerheavy Liberty of London pop-up 76 From Toronto: The Buy Design benefit 78 From Washington: St. Patrick’s fund-raising auction 80 From Las Vegas: Sprint and Samsung’s events at the C.T.I.A. Wireless Show 82 From Los Angeles: The Academy Awards’ biggest parties 84 From Boston: The fifth annual First Robotics Competition 85 From Tampa: The C.V.B.’s dessert party 87 The New York Venue Report A roundup of the newest spots for business meetings and more 95 Event & Meeting Technology Nine tools and trends to help planners do a better job 98 Not-So-Hidden Messages Branding at Diffa’s Dining

by Design benefit THE DIRECTORY 103 New venues in Los Angeles 105 New York venues TED KRUCKEL 192 Tips for choosing the right music for an event

ON BIZBASH.COM Local sites for Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami/South Florida, New York, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington

bizbash.com may/june 2010 5

ILLUMINATED TABLES FURNITURE DÉCOR LIGHTING

BIZBASH EDITOR IN CHIEF Chad Kaydo MANAGING EDITOR Libby Estell NEWS EDITOR Courtney Thompson STYLE EDITOR Lisa Cericola ASSOCIATE EDITORS Michael O’Connell, Anna Sekula

CHICAGO EDITOR/BUREAU CHIEF Jenny Berg

LOS ANGELES EDITOR/BUREAU CHIEF Alesandra Dubin

MIAMI EDITOR/BUREAU CHIEF D. Channing Muller

TORONTO EDITOR/BUREAU CHIEF Susan O’Neill

ART ART DIRECTOR Joey Bouchard ASSISTANT ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Carolyn Curtis

PHOTO PHOTO EDITOR Alison Whittington ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Jessica Torossian

COPY & RESEARCH ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Claire Hoffman EDITORIAL INTERNS Melanie Barnes, Katherine Levering,

Katherine Puccio CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR AT LARGE Ted Kruckel WRITER AT LARGE, LOS ANGELES Irene Lacher CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Mimi O’Connor, Brendan Spiegel CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meryl Rothstein, Andi Teran LOS ANGELES: Shilpa Gopinath, Rosalba Curiel TORONTO: Amy Lazar, Erin Letson WASHINGTON: Adele Chapin, Walter Nicholls COPY EDITOR Josh Wimmer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Vincent Dillio, Roger Dong, Nick Ferrari, Emily Gilbert, Dan Hallman, John Minchillo, Alice and Chris Ross BOSTON: Aviran Levy, Patrick Piasecki CHICAGO: Mireya Acierto, Tyllie Barbosa, Barry Brecheisen, Eric Craig, Jeremy Lawson, Eddie Quinones LOS ANGELES: Matt Armendariz, BEImages, Jessica Boone, Nadine Froger, Line 8 Photography, Zen Sekizawa, Dale Wilcox MIAMI: Joseph Cancellare & Associates, Alexis Corchado, Matthew Horton, Moris Moreno, Elizabeth Renfrow, Mitchell Zachs TORONTO: Gary Beechey, Jill Kitchener, Henry Lin, Emma McIntyre, Nicki Leigh McKean, George Pimentel WASHINGTON: Tony Brown/Imijination Photo, Stephen Elliot, FotoBriceno, Powers and Crewe EDITORIAL OFFICES 21 West 38th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018 phone: 646.638.3600, fax: 646.638.3601 CHICAGO BUREAU 312.436.2525 LOS ANGELES BUREAU 310.659.9510 MIAMI BUREAU 1450 NE 123 St., North Miami, FL 33161 305.893.8771 TORONTO BUREAU 1 Thorncliff Park Drive, Suite 110, Toronto, ON M4H 1G9 416.425.6380 CONTACT US Editorial Feedback and Ideas: edit@bizbash.com Event Invitations, Press Releases: nyevents@bizbash.com Directory Listings: listings@bizbash.com Subscription Inquiries: 866.456.0517 (toll-free) or 845.267.2170, subscriptions@bizbash.com New Subscriptions: bizbash.com/subscribe Subscription Renewals: bizbash.com/renew Reprints: Dani Rose, The YGS Group 800.494.9051 ext. 125, bizbash@theygsgroup.com BIZBASH MEDIA C.E.O. AND FOUNDER David Adler PRESIDENT Richard Aaron BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jonathan Adler (CHAIRMAN), Richard Aaron, David Adler, Beverly Chell, Martin Maleska, Todd Pietri

Awards Presentations Bar Mitzvahs Bat Mitzvahs Banquets Concerts Conferences Corporate Events Debates Dinners Educational Programs Exhibitions Film and Video Presentations Film Screenings Film and Television Broadcasts Galas Holiday Parties Lectures Live Broadcasts Location Shoots Meetings Multimedia Presentations Music Recitals Parties Live Performances Press Conferences Product Launches Readings Receptions Seminars Symposia Television and Radio Broadcasts Trade Shows Video Conferences Weddings Workshops

Intimate, beautifully designed event space in the heart of midtown Manhattan, TheTimesCenter is the centerpiece of Renzo Piano’s iconic New York Times Building and the perfect place for your next event.

Call 212.556.4300 or visit thetimescenter.com 242 West 41st Street, New York City

BIZBASH SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING Robert Fitzgerald CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER David Micciulla

MARKETING & CIRCULATION

IF YOU CAN MAKE IT HERE, YOU CAN MAKE IT ANYWH E R E. . . IN 15 MINUTES.

MARKETING DIRECTOR Tom Leader PRINT CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Tracey Harilall

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE J.P. Pagán NEW MEDIA COORDINATOR Jamie Hile

EVENTS The New York Helmsley Hotel is the place to meet in the heart of New York. Whether it’s an intimate business setting for an executive board meeting, or a larger space for a conference or banquet, we’re always in a New York frame of mind—providing the perfect venue for every event. Book online or call us today.

SENIOR EVENTS MANAGER Sheryl Olaskowitz

OPERATIONS VICE PRESIDENT, CONTROLLER David Levine STAFF ACCOUNTANT Shahla Nas SENIOR DEVELOPER Wei Zheng

BIZBASH NEW YORK 21 West 38th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018 646.638.3600, fax: 646.638.3601 PUBLISHER Jacqueline Gould ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Lauren Stonecipher ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, NATIONAL VENUE GUIDE/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, BIZBASH BOSTON Andrew Carlin ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Erica Fand ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kristie Hudson

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From the Editors

Flexing New Muscles How new technology is changing your job (and ours).

One of the qualities that has always impressed me about so many event professionals is their unwavering flexibility. Whatever a job requires, they’ll usually do it. Overnight load-ins, earlymorning call times, absurd requests from talent, last-minute changes from executives, ever-shortening lead times—they see it all, and the good ones figure out how to handle it with a smile and their sanity intact. (Hopefully, for their sake, they get paid appropriately for this too, but you know as well as I do it doesn’t always work that way.)

These days, being flexible requires more than responding to wacky requests or finding solutions to travel problems, late deliveries, or unexpected weather. For one thing, planners need to keep finding more efficient ways to work. That requires keeping up with the latest technology developments—an ongoing, time-consuming job. (And you can’t use pipe-and-drape to cover up your lack of knowledge about social media.)

To that end, in this issue we have a quick look at nine technology trends and tools that are changing events and meetings. Associate editor Michael O’Connell spoke to planners and tech experts about how these gadgets and concepts are helping—and, frankly, confusing—people across the industry.

Planning this story, we hoped to make it an easy-to-read primer for folks just discovering these developments, while also looking ahead for more tech-savvy readers wondering what might happen next. As we talked about the iPad in the weeks before it was released, we posited that it could be great for check-in staffers, who could sync their individual lists as people arrived at multiple entry points. Then, within days of the device’s release, Michael covered an AOL event that put its guest list on iPads. (See page 58.) That’s how quickly this industry is changing. Still, I hope you’ll find some new insights on page 107.

Today’s media landscape requires editors to be pretty flexible, too. To that end, in the past few months our editors have been working on our first video reports. This was an obvious fit for the visual, experiential things we cover, but required learning new skills and getting out of our comfort zone.

(Some of us had made a conscious choice to focus on print, or at least off-screen, journalism.) But with a little coaxing (more for some than others), five of us have been heading out with a videographer.

I for one appreciate their willingness to embrace these new tools, and I think you’ll like the results. We quickly found that the people behind the events could tell a better story for readers—er, viewers—so we often get out of the way and let the experts talk. I hope you’ll watch on BizBash. com. And let us know how we can do a better job.

We’re flexible that way. —Chad Kaydo

ON BIZBASH.COM Video reports from...

Courtney Thompson

Lisa Cericola (with Ira Levy)

Michael O’Connell (with Jason Wanderer)

Anna Sekula

and me.

Readers’ Forum

What’s your dream technology?

“In a perfect world, someone would sell tracking devices for executives and talent. In this same world, it would be socially acceptable to place these on your speaker at least two hours before he or she is scheduled to appear at your event!”

“Some sort of handheld gadget that that would be able to draw up floor plans as we do our walkthroughs with clients, and then be able to email them out and print them for staff. This would be so much easier than drawing them out by hand.”

Grace Garrison, manager of marketing and events, IFC, New York

Lynn Hughes, event sales manager, New England Aquarium

“A room scanner that would tell me if all the tables, bars, buffets, etc. are in the right place and if each one has the correct number of chairs and place settings.”

Carol Rosen, owner, Party Designs by Carol, Los Angeles

“Computer software that would allow me to verbalize deadlines and event dates to be automatically added to or deleted from my event calendar.”

PHOTOS: TIMOTHY FIELDING STUDIO (ROSEN), COURTESY OF MELISSA BINGHAM

Anne Schmitz, assistant director of advancement meetings and events, DePaul University, Chicago

“An all-inclusive, portable device that I could use on-site that would allow me to view, edit, and connect all of the planning elements of my event—production schedules, floor plans, decor elevations, staff and volunteer assignments, scripts—with an interactive video stream between me and my team. Maybe an iPad on steroids.”

Melissa Bingham, president, Bingham Marketing & Events, Chicago

“An application for my iPhone that would give me the total square footage and layout of any venue while I was actually in it.”

Jodi Wolf, president, Paulette Wolf Events & Entertainment, Chicago

“Now that 3-D technology is becoming such a hit, it would be great to have a program where we can create a proposal that walks the client through the entire event, 100 percent 3-D.” Brit Bertino, special events director, Power Events, Las Vegas

“Wireless power. There are many ways to run cable for audio and video connectivity, but when you need to power up everyone’s laptop… [being able to] just flip a switch, like we do with wireless Internet, would make things much easier.”

Joe Camilli, sector manager—technology, PSAV, San Francisco

“A robotic Lenny double—but I’m not sure my team would agree.”

Lenny Talarico, director of events, MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas

Compiled by Claire Hoffman

bizbash.com may/june 2010 17

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“I’m excited about My1Voice (my1voice.com, 866.358.6366, $10/month). Clients call in to the business lines that I’ve had for years and the calls are transferred to my cell phone or go right to voicemail, per my programming. Outbound calls can also be made on my cell using the company’s digital calling card, so the number that shows up on caller ID is my business number.”

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“Endurance sports is one of the fastest growing segments—but one of the best-kept secrets—in sports marketing. Competitor Group puts together some really motivating content and great events. It’s exciting to help the endurance sports industry reach the same level as football, baseball, and other sports.”

What Inspires Me Long Island City

South Street Seaport

Planning an event? Try one of our three Water Taxi Beaches. You can even charter a New York Water Taxi to get there from our 11 NYC docks. The food, the music and the views — it doesn’t get any better than this. For more info, call Michael at 212.742.1969 x 212.

Sights. Sand. Fun. Events. watertaxibeach.com

With 3 decks and 2 bars, the ZEPHYR is perfect to give 400 people the event-ride of a lifetime. circlelinedowntown.com 212.742.1969 x 212

“Internations.org is a great way to network, see new venues, and meet global-minded professionals and travelers. I recently attended an Internations meeting at the new W in Hollywood that had 96 attendees representing 35 nationalities. Spending time with people from a multitude of backgrounds and cultures has been instrumental in my success as an event planner.”

Elisa Kotin, hospitality and private events specialist, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE COMPETITOR GROUP (POOL), ELZBIETA PHOTOGRAPHY (BASSAT-RIVERA)

800.538.6544 6913 Valjean Ave. • Van Nuys, CA • 91406

Bouker Pool has been named senior vice president of marketing for the San Diego-based Competitor Group, where he will oversee the development of the Competitor brand as well as its respective event marketing strategies. Pool most recently served as the vice president of sports marketing and events for Rodale Inc.

A MOVEABLE SPACE

The Scout

PHOTOS: BERNHARD FRIESE

This venue may look permanent, but it can be set up and disassembled in about 17 days—anywhere in the continental United States and Canada. Recently debuted by Lexington, Kentucky-based Lundy’s Special Events (859.255.0717, lundyscatering.com), the Arcum Emporium is a modular structure that provides 6,000 to 24,000 square feet of floor space. Designed with German tent manufacturing company Losberger, the Arcum has a curved glass wall, two stories connected by three staircases, colorful overhead lights, and two exterior balconies. Six double doors and four sets of modular stairs can be added to the structure, as well. The base level starts at $24 per square foot; shipping and other architectural details and decor are more. —Lisa Cericola

bizbash.com bizbash.com january/february may/june 2010 21

Entertainment

Through SandStory (615.283.0039, sandstory.com), Richmond, Kentucky-based artist Joe Castillo draws in sand atop a light box, creating constantly changing illustrations that tell a story. The sand drawings, which are created live, are projected onto a large screen and set to music. Themes include hospitality and friendship.

Castillo travels worldwide, and prices start at $10,000.

Great Performances From a sand painter to jazz musicians in mutant costumes to dancers who perform with food and paint, these artists offer something unexpected in the way of event entertainment. By LISA CERICOLA Through its Redmoon for Hire program, Chicago-based Redmoon Theatre (312.850.8440, redmoon.org) offers a diverse array of artists who can enliven an event with handcrafted props and costumes.

Options include a trio of performers who act out silent scenes behind illuminated windows. Bookings outside of the Chicago area start at $10,000 for transportation and shipping, plus performance fees.

ON BIZBASH.COM Directories of local and international entertainment providers

22 bizbash.com may/june 2010

During a performance by Orlando-based Drip (517.449.3765, ilove drip.com), dancers incorporate materials like paint, fabric, sand, and food into their routines. The group can choreograph custom shows or perform signature programs like “Wet,” a dance that involves black lights and a rock ’n’ roll soundtrack. Prices start at $10,000 for a 25-minute show.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MASS ENSEMBLE, COURTESY OF SANDSTORY, SEAN WILLIAMS (REDMOON), COURTESY OF DRIP, MICHELLE YAEGER (ARCHEDREAM),

MASS Ensemble (212.343.0956, mass ensemble.com), which stands for “music architecture sound sculpture,” is an international performance group that blends music, dance, and the visual arts. MASS is best known for playing music on custom-made sculptural instruments, like the Earth Harp, which has strings that have run more than 1,000 feet in length, across architectural sites and in nature.

PHOTOS: MICHELLE YAEGER (ARCHEDREAM), COURTESY OF MICHAEL ARTHUR, COURTESY OF BIG NAZO, COURTESY OF NANA PROJECTS, COURTESY O FWHOOP DEE DOO

ArcheDream for Humankind (609.238.9420, adhk. org) is a Philadelphia-based dance-theater company that presents allegorical dramas about subjects like love, war, and peace. Performers wear hand-painted masks and costumes lit by black lights, creating a vivid, surreal effect. Rates start at $6,000

Artist Michael Arthur (michaeld arthur.com) will sketch at events— with his handiwork projected live for attendees. Arthur is the archival artist for New York music venue Joe’s Pub, where he draws performers during sound checks and shows. He has also worked with American Ballet Theatre and the Tribeca Film Festival. Arthur charges a $750 day rate, which includes one or two drawings for limited use on Web sites and in email. Travel costs are additional for events outside of New York.

Based in Providence, Rhode Island, Big Nazo (401.831.9652, bignazo.com) is a performance group of artists who create and wear massive handmade puppets, masks, and costumes. Characters include a lab rat in a sport coat, three-eyed robots, and a variety of mutants. Costumed performers can stroll around a gathering or play live rock and blues as the Big Nazo Band. Custom puppets are also available. Prices range from $500 to $20,000.

Nana Projects (443.919.6980, nanaprojects.com) is a Baltimore-based collective that describes itself as “lanterneers and visual alchemists inventing innovative artwork that draws people together in public spaces.” Their “Magic Lantern Show” is inspired by Victorianera magic lanterns.

Puppeteers tell stories by projecting images made of plastic and acrylic gels onto a screen. Pricing starts at $3,000. Original works cost as much as $40,000.

For events with kids (or fun-loving adults) Kansas City, Missouribased Whoop Dee Doo (816.582.4066, whoop deedoo.tv) is a faux public-access television show inspired by programs like Pee Wee’s Playhouse and The Gong Show. The live performance features an eclectic mix of entertainers such as drag queens, tap dancers, and West African dance troupes— at times, all at once.

Prices start at $3,000 for shows within the U.S.

bizbash.com january/february 2010 23

Carlisle Lamour, $33.50 for a 120-inch round, available throughout the U.S. from BBJ Linen (866.928.5834, bbjlinen.com)

Aquamarine Crinkle Taffeta, $34.95 for a 120-inch round, available in the U.S. and Canada from Cloth Connection (212.585.1284, clothconnection.com)

Les Olivades overlay, $45 for a 90-inch square, available in the U.S. and Canada from Glow Concepts (562.692.1500, glowconcepts.com)

Bande Arlequino, $45 for a 90-inch square, available in the U.S. and Canada from Glow Concepts

Circus Stripe, $35 for a 90-inch square, available in South Florida from Panache, a Classic Party Rentals company (954.971.8484, linenswithpanache.com)

Grass tablecloth, $24 for a 120-inch round, available in the U.S. and Canada from Susan Murray International (866.757.8726, susanmurray.com)

Wild Lime, $35 for a 90-inch square, available in South Florida from Panache, a Classic Party Rentals company

For Rent

The Bright Side

Savannah Floral Print Basic, starting at $26.50, available throughout the Northeast from Party Rental Ltd. (201.727.4700, partyrentalltd.com)

Fuchsia Pintuck, $26.95 for a 120-inch round, available in the U.S. and Canada from Cloth Connection

By LISA CERICOLA 24 bizbash.com january/february 2010

PHOTO: BIZBASH

These 10 tablecloths can add a splash of color to summertime gatherings.

Soho Pink Damask, $29.25 for a 90-inch square, available throughout the U.S. and Canada from Over the Top Inc. (800.582.1031, overthetopinc.com)

Registration Web Development Online Evites Lead Retrieval www.events-registration.com

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New on the Menu

For a spring-themed event, New York’s Canard Inc. (212. 947.2480, canardinc. com) turned an upsidedown cake stand into a birdbath filled with greens and deviled eggs.

TASTEFUL TRAYS With artful plating and eye-catching vessels, these catering trays showed off hors d’ouevres and complemented the decor. By LISA CERICOLA Chicago’s Blue Plate (312.421.6666, blueplatechicago. com) dressed up a plain white tray with woven strips of cucumber to serve herb crepes filled with apricots and brie at a gala at the Art Institute in March.

In New York, Great Performances (212.727.2424, greatperformances.com) served arepas with avocado crema and guava-chipotle pulled chicken on pepper-lined trays at a tasting in March.

At Boston Ballet’s “Black, White, and Brilliant”-themed ball in March, servers passed patterned trays of tapenade-topped white radish boats by Max Ultimate Food (617.427.9799, maxultimatefood.com).

When serving grape lollipops with goat cheese and pistachios at the Black Creativity Gala in Chicago, Sodexo USA (773.753.2583, msichicago.org) gave wheatgrass a fresh look by keeping the roots exposed.

26 bizbash.com may/june 2010

PHOTOS: JOHANNES COURTENS (GREAT PERFORMANCES), COURTESY OF CANARD, CHRISTINE CLOUTIER FOR BIZBASH (MAX ULTIMATE FOOD), ERIC CRAIG FOR BIZBASH (BLUE PLATE), JB SPECTOR/MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY (SODEXO USA), IMAGELINKPHOTO.COM/DENNIS KAU (DESIGN CUISINE)

Washington’s Design Cuisine (703.979.9400, designcuisine.com) served its Provençal potato chips on a bed of salt at a January event celebrating the oneyear anniversary of the Obama inauguration.

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Johnson & Johnson brought masseuses to an employee event to help staffers relax.

Peel-and-Stick Lights

It’s not always feasible to take an important meeting out of the office. However, you can still create an inspiring setting and foster an “off-site” mind-set when you don’t have the budget to go to a hotel or conference center.

“You still want that special experience,” says Joann Lim, an event planner at Oldcastle Glass Engineered Products in Mississauga, Ontario, who incorporates personal touches for attendees. “We design invites. Even if it’s an in-house meeting, everyone gets an invite,” says Lim, who recently planned a national sales meeting at the company’s offices. (In past years, everyone convened at the manufacturer’s site in Los Angeles.) To create the feeling of another location, Lim suggests adding aspects of an off-site meeting, such as a Continental breakfast and notepads at each place around the boardroom table.

To inject an element of fun into a training session held in January at KPMG’s Toronto and Vancouver offices, national director of event management Connie Tinney and her team called on Toronto firm Elephant Entertainment (416.410.0294, elephantentertainment.com) to create RU Game, a videoconference teambuilding activity. At the conclusion of the meeting, employees in both offices participated in a fast-paced game—complete with buzzers, lights, sound effects, and a lighted scoreboard—which combined elements of Jeopardy!, Name That Tune, and Family Feud. “It was a success in both cities. It allowed

the participants to forget they were still in the meeting room, and they just had fun instead,” Tinney says. “When in doubt, just have fun.”

Anja Kaehny, manager of lifestyle communications and corporate social responsibility with Audi America in Miami, suggests adopting a theme to spice up an internal meeting. “Generally, you have unhealthy food and [the format is] very stereotypical with a coffee break in the morning,” she says. Her suggestion: a wellness theme with healthy snacks and an onsite massage therapist instead of a coffee break.

“You could also introduce a [relaxed] dress code,” she adds.

Kaehny also maintains that the menu choice is critical to creating the right atmosphere. “If you’re hosting an information session in the morning and a creative brainstorming session in the afternoon, I think people are really influenced by the kind of food they get, and the stimulation.

When you have a meeting with high-carb food, it doesn’t help people’s creativity,” she says.

In Sarah Hunter’s role as an executive producer for Switch, an Atlanta-based marketing and communications firm, she handles the company’s Coca-Cola account and often plans meetings at the brand’s headquarters. In an effort to keep things fresh, Hunter arranges meetings in the courtyard or cafeteria, rather than the auditorium.

“Finding different locations on campus really changes things up for people,” she says.

—Susan O’Neill

Ask BizBash

28 bizbash.com may/june 2010

GOLF FOR A GOOD CAUSE Teambonding (888.398.8326, teambond ing.com) has added a philanthropic twist to mini golf. The Tin Can Build-Your-Own Mini Golf Course program has participants work together to construct a course out of supplies like TEA MB U I L D I N G tubes, pipes, and lumber, as well as canned goods, which are donated to a local charity (along with the entire course) after the event. The program, which is available worldwide, is about two hours long and requires at least 2,000 square feet of indoor or outdoor space. Prices start at $2,800 for as many as 29 participants. —L.C.

PHOTOS: JENNIFER WARREN (MASSAGE), COURTESY OF INVISILED, COURTESY OF TEAMBONDING

How do you jazz up a meeting in the conference room?

Ideal for trade show booths, bars and tables, or product displays, Invisiled Tape is an adhesive strip of LED lighting from W.A.C. Lighting (516.515.5000, waclighting. com). To use, just cut the product to the desired length and adhere. The company also offers mounting clips L I G HTI N G for added security. The lighting is available in amber, blue, green, red, white, and a rotating palette, and lasts about 50,000 hours. The company also recently released an outdoor version of the product that can withstand rain and other conditions. Retail pricing starts at about $75 per foot for the single-color indoor version. —Lisa Cericola

HOME TO THREE UNIQUE VENUES their distinct styles provide endless options for designing the perfect event.

This high energy, Euro-style nightclub has a 500 person capacity and is laid out to accommodate events of all sizes, from product launches to birthday parties, from fashion shows to bar mitzvahs. Kiss&Fly has the ability to morph the feeling and identity within the club with customizable music and lighting throughout the venue. The 5,000 square foot hotspot will bring excitement and surprise to your party experience.

RdV has mastered the art of luxury with their special events and private dining. The multi-dimensional venue showcases an inviting ambiance for parties as grand as 200 or as intimate as 10. In addition, the space can be used for sit-down dinners for up to 100 while the private dining room seats up to 38. RdV offers menu service from Bagatelle, whose main dining room sits conveniently above the lounge. The private area has AV capabilities that allows event planners and executives to offer everything for a formal dinner or business meeting in one of the most impressive and lavish of settings.

Transport yourself and your guests to the South of France by hosting a party at Bagatelle. Experience simplicity and sophistication at its best at this neighborhood bistro reminiscent of a Provencal cafĂŠ. Bagatelle serves contemporary French cuisine by Executive Chef Nicolas Cantrel and provides classic, elegant service. Bagatelle serves as the perfect backdrop for an intimate party or a larger celebration of up to 200 guests.

PRIVATE PART Y & EVENT PL ANNING FOR BAGATELLE , KISS & FLY AND RDV. 212 . 255.1933 X 10 13THSTREETENTERTAINMENT.COM

Los Angeles Fresh Face

FINE-PRINT PRO Veteran meeting planner Marie Botvinick’s new firm specializes in contract negotiations for corporations and associations. rations and associations. (D’or also does full-service meeting planning, but only for certain clients.) Botvinick regards her longtime partnerships with hoteliers and suppliers as one of her strengths, and she works to make sure contracts are tight and favorable for her clients.

“Some seasoned [internal corporate] planners’ departments have been cut dramatically, so we come in and create fewer things they have to worry about, and try to help them to be more strategic with their plans,” Botvinick says. “What we do is listen to our client’s story of who they are, what they need, what they are trying to accomplish, and work to help them communicate with C-level decision makers to provide [and demonstrate] the R.O.I. that shows that what they’re doing is very business-related.”

There is no fee to the client for

Red velvet cookies from Sweets Truck

site research and contract negotiation services; instead, D’or Solutions receives a placement fee from Marie Botvinick the hotel. Botvinick claims her company’s buying power Biomedical Engineering, California with hotels gives clients a 5 to Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, 20 percent savings over meeting Allergan, Blockbuster, and Lucent group rates.

Technologies.

When one client had a contract “I have worked with [Botvinick] already approved by the company’s for two consecutive conventions. own legal department, Botvinick Her work has been exemplary in advised that she could help improve both cases,” says Ken Deitz, executhe terms. The revised contract tive vice president of the United resulted in favorable additions like Nurses Association of California/ suite upgrades, staff rates, some Union of Health Care Professionals. complimentary guest rooms, parking “In preparing for our convention, she and audiovisual price reductions, did the groundwork to find a site to complimentary Internet access meet our needs. Through a complete for guest rooms, storage, and late and exhaustive search, she narrowed checkout for staff. our search to just three facilities and, D’or’s current and past clients as such, saved me hours of work.” include the U.C.I. Department of —Alesandra Dubin

DESSERT ON WHEELS The Sweets Truck (323.393.6788, thesweets truck.com) is a mobile bakeshop and gourmet coffeehouse. Owner Molly Taylor handpicks the offerings from local purveyors to provide cookies, cupcakes, and nostalgic candy. The truck also serves tea, coffee, and espresso roasted by Jones Coffee in CATE R I NG Pasadena.

Menus can be customized for events. The Sweets Truck gives a portion of its profits to charity, and offers organic milk, sugar, vegan selections, and eco-friendly paper goods and plastics.

—A.D.

30 bizbash.com may/june 2010

Wine With a Side of Fries Tastings are often an easy sell for participants—but throw in In-N-Out Burger, and you might have a slam-dunk. Learn About Wine (310.451.7600, learnaboutwine.com) offers wines paired with the renowned fast food chain’s menu. Tastings can be held at the Learn About Wine space or off site. Classes are limited to 24 (the number of one-ounce pours in a bottle), ACTI V ITY or can be enlarged by the same formula (two bottles for 48 people, three for 72). Off-site locations must be within 15 minutes of an In-N-Out restaurant, or you can arrange for a visit from the catering truck. —A.D.

PHOTOS: STEFANIE BLUE (BOTVINICK), SIX DEGREES/SWEETS TRUCK, COURTESY OF LEARN ABOUT WINE

In her 15 years as a meeting planner, Marie Botvinick has covered a lot of territory. She has been a corporate meeting planner for Price Waterhouse L.L.P. and a senior planner and global director of sales for Meeting Sites Resource, a site selection and contract negotiation company. She earned the Certified Meeting Professional designation in 2004 and became a Certified Meeting Manager in 2008.

In February, Botvinick launched her own company, D’or Solutions (760.231.8423, dorsolutions.com), handing out a stack of new business cards for the first time at Meeting Professionals International’s MeetDifferent conference in Cancún, Mexico.

Based in Oceanside, D’or Solutions specializes in global hotel site research, contract negotiations, and on-site management for corpo-

Idea File

WALK THIS WAY

By LISA CERICOLA

In March, Spec Entertainment (323.545.4200, specentertainment. com) designed and produced QVC’s Academy Awards-related event at the Four Seasons. Guests paused for photos in front of a leafy hedge studded with the shopping channel’s Q logo.

For the February launch of designer Tarina Tarantino’s beauty line, Jes Gordon Proper Fun (212.229.2165, jesgordon.com) dressed up a wall with images of mannequin heads and logos in a frame.

Before Chanel’s runway show during Paris Fashion Week in March, V.I.P.s posed in front of a large sketch of a polar bear.

Drawn by designer Karl Lagerfeld, the bear illustrated the show’s message about global warming and appeared in the invitations and press kits.

Professional. Creative. Affordable.

Your tent choice is one of the most important decisions you will make in planning your event.

It protects you from the elements. It sets the mood.

It’s where all the action takes place. Let us create the perfect environment for your event – anywhere.

Tents • Canopies • Dance Floors • Platforms Sub-Floors • Carpeting • Décor • Lighting Heating • A/C • Power Generation • Permitting Winner of Nine International Awards of Excellence

84 Lenox Avenue | Stamford, CT 06906 203.324.6222 | www.stamfordtent.com

PHOTOS: ANDRÉ MAIER PHOTOGRAPHY (TARINA TARANTINO), COURTESY OF SPEC ENTERTAINMENT, COURTESY OF CHANEL

Here are three distinctive takes on step-and-repeats from recent events.

Meetings

Special Delivery Before a group meets, consider these new options for in-office eats.

NEW YORK Breakfast A fun alternative to bagels, Sigmund Pretzels (29 Ave. B, 646.410.0333, sigmundnyc.com) makes twisted doughy treats in an array of flavors, including cinnamon-raisin, jalapeño-cheddar, Gruyère-paprika, and caramel-pecan. They range from $3 to $3.50 each, or $36 for a dozen. Delivery is available throughout Manhattan.

Sweets Hot Blondies Bakery (212.777.0779, hotblondiesbakery.com) makes bar cookies in classic and untraditional flavors, such as butterscotch-white chocolate, s’mores, and Nutella-hazelnut. Catering starts at $3 each for orders of 50 or fewer. Delivery is available throughout Manhattan. —Lisa Cericola

LOS ANGELES Breakfast The relaxed contemporary American eatery House Café (8114 Beverly Blvd., 323.655.5553, housecafe.com) opened in December, serving food all day. Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and includes steak and eggs, steel-cut oatmeal, omelets, and huevos rancheros.

Sandwiches More than a few Angelenos are glad to see that cult sandwich shop Doughboys Cafe & Bakery (8136 West 3rd St., 323.852.1020, doughboyscafe.com)—which opened in 1992 and closed in 2007—is back. The ownership and management are new, but the menu items, recipes, and food preparation are the same. And Doughboys is now accepting online orders.

Sweets Trés L.A. (5959 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, 323.466.1835, tresla.com) recently introduced its Tres Sweet line of handmade, bite-size desserts. The menu, which includes Mexicanchocolate-and-banana cupcakes with candied chili and foie gras nougats with candied walnuts and bing cherries, works as an addition to passed hors d’oeuvres service, or the firm can provide a full-service dessert bar. Wholesale pricing starts around $1 per piece.—Alesandra Dubin

PHOTOS: JESSICA TOROSSIAN FOR BIZBASH (PRETZELS) , SELIM MATE (HOUSE CAFE), COURTESY OF PRESS, CASEY PINCKARD (TRÉS L.A.)

Sandwiches Press (34 East 23rd St., 212.677.5775, pressny.com) offers hot and cold wraps made with freshly baked dough.

Fillings include chicken with guacamole, crispy onions, and chipotle mayo, and grilled marinated vegetables with pesto. Pricing starts at $75 for three types of sandwiches for eight to 10 people. Delivery is available throughout Manhattan.

New York Fresh Faces

Bright Young Start-Ups The owners of these four recently launched design and production firms have experience planning events at the Beijing Olympics, running concert tours, and working with brands like Martha Stewart and Michael Kors. By LISA CERICOLA Devra Glauberman and Katie Smith

Juliet Totten and Sierra Yaun

Alison Katz Danes

Devra Glauberman and Katie Smith founded MarieMerin Productions (347.852.0830, marie merin.com) in August, offering full-service event production, with a strong interest in charity events.

Smith gained experience in events and promotions at Alloy Media & Marketing, and Glauberman, who worked in the creative department at Michael Kors, handles the creative side. “Trends in fashion often inspire our designs. I like to incorporate the colors from the runways into the fabrics and flowers we use,” Glauberman says.

Recent events include designer Peter Soronen’s first sample sale, a fund-raiser for Ghana on Tap in November, and GetFit, a public event to promote fitness held at the Adidas flagship store in April.

36 bizbash.com may/june 2010

Juliet Totten and Sierra Yaun provide floral and event design for social and corporate clients through Poppies and Posies (646.386.7347, poppiesandposies events.com). Before launching their company, Totten worked in the product design department at Martha Stewart and Yaun planned events for the Learning Annex and the Conference Bureau. With their floral arrangements and event designs, the duo often aim for a vintage-inspired aesthetic with lots of handmade details. “We are not afraid to use color, and we like to use unexpected decorative elements such as moss, fruits, and found objects,” says Yaun. “We recently completed a design that incorporated mushrooms and vintage apothecary jars.”

Joshua Cicerone and Jared Siegel offer event production and creative services through Good Sense & Company (646.256.4633, good senseandcompany.com), which they launched in January 2009.

Cicerone brings experience from seven years at Dalzell Productions, where he was vice president and creative director. Siegel served as production director for several Tribeca Film Festival events and produced concerts for artists including Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z. The partners handle everything from creative direction and production design to script writing and talent handling. “People always come up to us on site, with a million things going on, and say, ‘You look so calm! How is that possible?’ We live and breathe this stuff. When you know what you’re doing, there’s no reason to panic,” says Cicerone. Clients include Mercedes-Benz, Vogue, and Google.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MARIEMERIN PRODUCTIONS, COURTESY OF GOOD SENSE & COMPANY, JESSICA TOROSSIAN FOR BIZBASH (ALI KAT), JONATHAN HöKKLO PHOTOGRAPHY (POPPIES AND POSIES)

Joshua Cicerone and Jared Siegal Ali Kat Productions (917.796.1232, alikatproductions.com) is an event management and marketing firm owned by Alison Katz Danes, the former director of corporate events for NBC Universal, where she orchestrated client programs during the Torino and Beijing Olympics and the NBC, Telemundo, and USA upfront presentations. Whether planning a meeting or product launch, Katz Danes emphasizes sustainability. “I provide solutions to conserve energy, reduce material use, reuse and recycle materials, and work with local businesses to help lower their carbon footprint and stimulate and sustain the local economy,” she says. Since launching in January 2009, Katz Danes has produced the opening of retailer Green Depot’s flagship store and a networking event and luncheon for the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability organization.

Brooklyn Wine Exchange (718.855.9463, brooklynwineexchange.com) is a 1,400-square-foot wine store and education center in Cobble Hill. The store offers more than 1,000 wines, with an ACTIV ITY emphasis on small producers.

A 40-seat classroom is available for private events, including educational tastings led

by New York-based sommeliers, importers, and winemakers, as well as the shop’s staff.

Pricing for classes varies depending on the size of the group. —L.C.

EVENTS HUDSON

BROOKLYN-BASED WINE TASTINGS

TEAM BUILDING

DRIVING RANGE

on the

SUNSET TERRACE

SCAVENGER HUNTS

SAND VOLLEYBALL

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LEVY LIGHTING, COURTESY OF BROOKLYN WINE EXCHANGE

Get out of the office.

Cool Interactive Projections New from Levy Lighting (212.925.4640, levylight ing.com), iShadow creates interactive projections for walls, ceilings, and floors. The effect is created by computer-generated sensors that are triggered by movement, like the wave of a hand. Possibilities include a field of swaying grass, exploding fireworks, or flying corporate logos. All images are completely customizable and can be designed within a week. Levy Lighting LIG HTI NG also used the same technology to create a line of rentable bars with motiontriggered projections, so guests can interact with the graphics—and ON BIZBASH.COM each other—when A video demonstrating they sidle up for a how iShadow works drink. —L.C.

Activity with reception packages starting at $99/person.

Corporate Outings | Customized Team Building Programs Summer Associate Events | Meetings | Client Entertaining Scavenger Hunts | Casino Nights | Game Show Nights 23rd Street & Hudson River Park | 212.336.6777 www.chelseapiers.com/specialevents

New Nightlife in Beverly Hills The high-style Bar210 cocktail lounge and Plush nightclub (9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.887.6060) have opened adjacent to each other in the Beverly Hilton. Tom Ford’s design employs shades of purple and black, as well as textures like velvet, chain, and crocodile. The combined spaces offer 7,000 square feet for groups as large as 400. There are multiple fullservice bars, audiovisual equipment, V.I.P. booths, and tiered seating. An outdoor lounge has a fire pit and an adjacent space that increases the total capacity to 2,000. Nightlife group DNA operates the new venues.

By ALESANDRA DUBIN

Italian Dining at the Four Seasons One of the final pieces of the $33 million renovation of the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is Culina, Modern Italian (300 South Doheny Drive, 310.860.4000). The airy new restaurant has indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a bar and lounge area with an interactive crudo bar the venue bills as the only one of its kind in Los Angeles. The decor includes wine-tasting tables carved from a salvaged 200-year-old magnolia tree, herringbone tile floors, and an earth tone palette. A semiprivate glass-enclosed room holds 10, and a private room holds 40. Half of the restaurant’s 236 seats are on the landscaped patio.

Stylish French Cuisine in Hollywood With the opening of the much-anticipated new W Hollywood Hotel & Residences came the debut of Delphine (6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.461.6590) from the Innovative Dining Group. The restaurant’s classic French menu offers Provençal cooking with Mediterranean influences. Bistro seating, wicker furnishings, silvered antique cabinetry, a marble-topped bar, reproduction subway tiles, barrel wood ceilings, and modern wind turbine-style ceiling fans decorate the indoor-outdoor space.

Upscale Sushi for the Design-Minded After soft opening previews through the holiday and award seasons, Tiger (340 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.274.3200) in Beverly Hills has officially opened. The natural, woody space is available for buyout with a capacity of 100. The sushi restaurant serves what it calls “Post-Asian” cuisine: new dishes that strive for innovation alongside well-known classics. The menu includes traditional sushi rolls, signature rolls, robata, and other hot and cold dishes. Tiger is open for dinner nightly and lunch Monday through Saturday, making it right for a Westside lunch meeting or business entertaining spot.

38 bizbash.com january/february 2010

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF BEVERLY HILTON, TODD VITTI (DELPHINE), COURTESY OF THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL AT BEVERLY HILLS, OSCAR GENEL (TIGER)

Venues

Los Angeles

One City, Three Incredible Locations Unique Spaces, Spectacular Sightlines, Memorable Events

For special event venue information, contact: JILL PRZELENSKI | 310.598.4076 jillprzelenski@livenation.com

VENUES

Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs

Hotel Zoso

Los Angeles Quick Trip Venues

GETAWAY PLANS

Paradise Point Resort & Spa

In Palm Springs Adjoining the Palm Springs Convention Center, the Renaissance Palm Springs (888 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 760.322.6000,marriott.com), formerly a Wyndham, completed a $20 million overhaul, resulting in close to 30,000 square feet of remodeled meeting space, new guest rooms, a new lobby, a new restaurant and lounge, and a fitness center. There are 11 meeting rooms and 15 breakout rooms at the hotel, which has an upscale feel with pops of bright color.

The Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs (285 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760.322.9000, palmsprings.hyatt.com) also recently wrapped a $15 million face-lift to the property, which has clean lines and desert-appropriate bright orange accents. The 197-suite property on Palm Canyon Drive offers views of the city and the San Jacinto Mountains. The renovation spruced up all guest rooms, public spaces, business facilities, dining venues, and pool areas. The hotel has more than 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. There is a shuttle to and from the Palm Springs airport, plus businessfriendly services like smartphone check-in and hotel-wide Wi-Fi.

40 bizbash.com may/june 2010

For a more boutique feel, the Hotel Zoso (150 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760.325.9676, hotelzoso.com) has also completed major renovations for functionality as well as colorful, multitextural design. In addition to new management, the changes include all new landscaping, and the makeover of hotel entrances and the lobby. New restaurant Olivz is Greek- and Mediterranean-inspired with a seasonal rotating menu. Poolside cabanas have surround sound, an on-site fitness center offers yoga and Pilates daily, and an on-site spa offers luxe treatments. There is more than 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. (Bonus for incentive travelers: Zoso is dog friendly.)

standard guest rooms. In a South Pacific motif, redesigned guest rooms have a color scheme of coral, turquoise, celery, and gold, plus glam touches like leopard-patterned rugs. The refurbished meeting facilities include design details like inlaid wood ceilings, natural slate and river stone flooring, mother of pearl and walnut wall paneling, oversize chandeliers, rattan and bamboo accents, and modern art, sculptures, and furnishings.

The vast Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina (1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, 619.291.2900, sheratonsd.com) offers 120,000 square feet of event and meeting space, 1,053 guest rooms, five restaurants and lounges, and three outdoor swimming pools. The property recently announced it had earned the highest rating in California’s In San Diego The lush, meandering Paradise Green Lodging Program, making it the most susPoint Resort & Spa (1404 Vacation Road, San Diego, tainable convention hotel in San Diego and the 858.274.4630, paradisepoint.com) has a new look largest property in Southern California with the after an extensive $20 million update to its 462 distinction. To meet the standard, the property bungalow-style guest rooms and bayfront meeting made improvements like sourcing locally grown, facilities. More than 35,000 square feet of meeting organic, and sustainable ingredients for its food; space was recently redone, as were the drive-up implementing eco-friendly cleaning and laundry guest cottages. Accommodations products; composting off site; and ON BIZBASH.COM an array of green meeting and range from a 5,000-square-foot presiThe latest venue news event practices. dential suite to the 450-square-foot

PHOTOS: DON RIDDLE IMAGES (HYATT), COURTESY OF HOTEL ZOSO, COURTESY OF PARADISE POINT

Taking a meeting or event outside of Los Angeles? These hotels within driving distance have made significant recent upgrades. By ALESANDRA DUBIN

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Surefire Venues to Wake Up a Boring Meeting

Meet Where the Stars Play Make It a Lounge Setting Create a casual, fun atmosphere that will alleviate stress and be conducive to creative ideas and interactive participation.

Contact Lindsay Schwartz, 310.247.2266 themarkforevents.com 9320 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035

Hollywood’s Most Impressive Meeting Space Mere blocks from the world-famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine, this new venue—with its stately limestone façade—looks like it’s been part of the neighborhood for years. As soon as you enter the massive iron gates on a quiet side street, you are transported to a European villa. Italian cypress, magnolia, and olive trees dot the property, along with vintage-looking street lamps.

Taglyan Cultural Complex features 20,000 square feet of modern meeting space. The grand ballroom boosts more than 7,000 square feet of space and is equipped with wireless services and state-of-the-art conferencing equipment. The 3,000-square-foot foyer can serve as either a prefunction networking hotspot or breakout room. Taglyan Cultural Complex accommodates meetings for 25 to 1,200.

Contact 323.978.0005 taglyancomplex.com Taglyan Cultural Complex, 1201 North Vine St., Hollywood, CA 90038

Give your meeting an extra sparkle by converging where the stars come out to play. Home to championship sports teams the L.A. Lakers and the L.A. Kings, and host to the Grammy awards, Emmys, American Idol finals, and more, L.A. Live is a meeting location unlike any other, with more than 20 venues all in one place.

Contact Evelyn Taylor Carrion, 213.763.5441 lalive.com L.A. Live, 800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Hollywood’s Instant Icebreakers The best way to bond with clients or co-workers is to dish about favorite films and TV shows at the Hollywood Museum, amidst 10,000 real showbiz treasures from Transformers 2, Twilight: New Moon, Star Trek, I Love Lucy, Gone With the Wind, Glee, and other productions. The venue features 6,500 square feet of event and meeting space on the fourth floor, plus plasma TVs, breakout rooms, and a screening room.

Contact Donelle Dadigan, 323.464.7776, or Jennifer Smith, 310.395.3958 thehollywoodmuseum.com Hollywood Museum, 1660 North Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028

Make a Splash in Santa Monica Hotel Shangri-La offers event space for meetings from ten to five hundred. From a poolside cabana to a roof top lounge with ocean views, this ocean side location has become the premier event location in Santa Monica. The hotel has hosted premiers, wraps and product launches, celebrity pool parties and fund-raisers, anniversaries, wedding receptions.

Contact 310.394.2791 shangrila-hotel.com Hotel Shangri-La, 1301 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Productive Meetings.

Hollywood Style.

Don’t hold that meeting in a stuffy hotel ballroom. Think outside the box and create meetings with life at Universal Studios Hollywood. And when the day’s work is done, provide your guests with private studio tours or passes to the theme park, and to concerts, movies, nightclubs, and more—all right here.

Contact Nicole Munoz, 818.622.7278 universalhollywoodevents.com Universal Studios Hollywood Special Events, 100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg. 5511-6, Universal City, CA 91608

Bowl Them Over With locations nationwide, including Los Angeles and New York, Lucky Strike Lanes make perfect locations for your next corporate meeting, teambuilding event, or activity.

N.Y. Contact Amy Arcara, 646.829.0182 L.A. Contact Jennifer Itagaki, 213.542.4886 bowlluckystrike.com Lucky Strike Entertainment, 15260 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 1110, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Enjoy the Flavor of Japanese Hospitality A true fusion of the beauty and elegance of Japan and the comfort and flair of Southern California. Combining the elements of sustainability and technology, the Miyako Hybrid Hotel provides an excellent meetings venue with pleasing Japanese appointments, making it a destination in and of itself.

Contact Sales Department, 213.617.0202 miyakoinn.com Miyako Hybrid Hotel, 328 East 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Meet at the Beach Hotel Erwin’s Larry’s Loft meeting room defies the stodgy, bland tradition of corporate hotel conference centers.

For those planning an important company retreat, you’ll enjoy wireless Internet, catering, access, and 1,000 square feet of gallery-style meeting space. Additional services such as audiovisual equipment simply await your beck and call. With nearby access to LAX and a beautiful rooftop lounge to enjoy cocktails with your group, Hotel Erwin gives you the right balance of energy and relaxation to get the most out of your next meeting in Venice Beach.

Contact Jairo Torres, Director of Sales, 424.214.1021 jdvhotels.com/hotels/losangeles/erwin Hotel Erwin Venice Beach, 1697 Pacific Ave., Venice, CA 90291

Project on the Big Screen!

You can have your meeting theater-style at the Harmony Gold Preview House, at the border of West Hollywood and Hollywood. Project video, Webcasts, logos, or images on our big screen! Break for food and drink in our lobby while your guests mingle in a relaxed atmosphere.

Contact Kate Davolio, 323.436.7204 hgpreviewhouse.com Harmony Gold Preview House, 7655 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046

ADVERTISEMENT

BizBash Launches New Web Site

INSIDE EDGE Boston Advisory Board Meets at Eastern Standard

Danielle Sigel, marketing and guest relations assistant, Eastern Standard; Jane Feigenson, director of corporate events, Clarks Companies; Abby Shoolman, marketing and special events, Eastern Standard; Chad Kaydo, editor in chief, BizBash Media

BizBash’s Boston advisory board met on April 1 at Eastern Standard for a lively discussion on the state of events in greater Boston, and its members were pleased to report that the city’s event scene is strong and vibrant on the social, corporate, and political fronts.

BizBash currently has advisory boards in eight markets and is forming a New York board.

Total Site Redesign Includes Video Event Coverage and UserGenerated Content A totally new Web experience is about to change the way planners use BizBash.com to ďŹ nd information and get ideas. The new site design makes it easier to switch between BizBash’s nine event markets, search the newly designed premium resource listings, and view event videos from BizBash editors. Site users will be buzzing about the new user-generated content area where they can upload event photos, videos, and descriptions. Check out the site and you’ll be addicted faster than you can say, “I love BizBash!â€?

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Bravo Reality Stars Schmooze With Advertisers at Netâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Upfront in Years

After Trade Show, Buyers Head to Product Launch With Marley Family Reggae Concert

After Trade Show, Buyers Head to Product Launch With Marley Family Reggae Concert

U.K. Tourism Kicks Off â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only in Londonâ&#x20AC;? Campaign With Post-Olympics Tea Party

Chanel Paris Show Imports (and Returns!) 240 Tons of Swedish Ice

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EXPO & AWARDS Los Angeles / L.A. Mart / June 9, 2010

Registration Now Open for West Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Largest Event Expo L.A. is aďŹ&#x201A;utter with the news that industry all-stars Mindy Weiss and Steve Kemble will keynote the 2010 L.A. Expo & Awards on June 9, making this a day that will dazzle even the most jaded planners. An impressive array of experts will address the hottest trends and topics in the conference program, while the 3 Register in advance at show ďŹ&#x201A;oor will be a showcase of more bizbashlaexpo.com and experts, fabulous entertainment, and save on rates at the door. exhibits featuring the latest must-haves.

Add the Event Style Awards, a Hall of 3 To exhibit, contact Fame ceremony, and tons of networking, L.A. publisher HoďŹ te and you have BizBashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature mix Huddleston at of expo action that keeps 1,500 planners 310.862.1345 or coming back year after year. hoďŹ te@bizbash.com.

COMING IN THE JULY/AUGUST ISSUE:

Hot Spots for Business Entertaining BizBash editors take a look at the latest restaurants and private rooms appropriate for business entertaining.

Find new venues that will impress even your toughest customer.

Also in this issue: â&#x20AC;˘ Los Angelesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top 100 Events â&#x20AC;˘ Invitations â&#x20AC;˘ Gift Ideas â&#x20AC;˘ Special Meetings Advertorial Section 3 To subscribe, call 646.839.6835 or subscribe online at bizbash.com/subscribe 3 Advertising deadline: June 11, 2010 3 To advertise, contact Robert Fitzgerald at 646.839.6840

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EVENT REPORTS

Wheel of Fortune During the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, Armani Exchange and 944 magazine hosted a “Neon Carnival” that marked the launch of the fashion brand’s Neon sunglasses.

47

Art installations included a large color-changing crane, evocative of oragami. A Ferris wheel supplied festival views.

Goldenvoice has tried to market Coachella as a destination festival, and the diverse crowd traveled from far and wide.

American Express’s tent within the V.I.P. area included a large Twitter wall.

Desert Oasis Goldenvoice’s 11th annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival drew a sold-out crowd in April, with the throng packing the festival grounds and marketers’ weekend parties. Here’s a look inside a few of the biggies.

INDIO, CALIFORNIA

By ALESANDRA DUBIN

Lacoste At the Lacoste party, guests floated in the pool on inflatable crocodiles, apropos of the brand’s logo.

Levi’s beckoned guests like Coachella band members into a suite at the Ace where they could pick up jeans and other gear from the brand.

Levi’s Cotton Jones performed by the Ace Hotel pool on Saturday morning.

PHOTOS: THIS PAGE: DAN ELDRIDGE PHOTOGRAPHY (BUS), BARRY BRECHEISEN/WIRE IMAGE (LACOSTE), BISBASH (ALL OTHERS) OPPOSITE: CASEY RODGERS/AP IMAGES FOR ARMANI EXCHANGE

Coachella Festival

Armani Exchange logos branded a carnival-style game in which guests rolled balls to win prizes like sunglasses.

Armani Exchange & 944

A giant slide beckoned brave guests.

The Hilton sisters were among the riders on the carousel.

A troupe of little people performed in costume during the DJ switches.

Armani Exchange and 944 magazine hosted the Neon Carnival latenight party at a private airport eight miles from the festival grounds.

Sponsor Moose Munch brought a mechanical moose for rides.

Hit & Run screenprinted T-shirts with carnival-appropriate messages on the spot.

ON BIZBASH.COM More photos and details from Coachella

bizbash.com january/february 2010 49

Hyundai hinted at its presentation with a semitransparent LED curtain that surrounded one of its new models.

Best in Show Carmakers at the New York International Auto Show brought out new booths and installations for 2010.

Mini Cooper aimed to illustrate the horse power in its petite vehicle by attaching a giant tow-rope around its front end.

NEW YORK

By MICHAEL Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;CONNELL

Mazda put branded energy drinks in a complimentary vending machine.

Smart car marketed to locals by designing a mock cityscape for its tiny vehicles.

ON BIZBASH.COM A video report with marketers explaining the strategies behind their Auto Show booths

50

PHOTOS: BIZBBASH

The new Lexus booth had TVs playing the short ďŹ lm made for its CT 200h, and dozens of iPhones embedded in the wall allowed guests to play with the new Lexus app.

Pavilion staffers showed guests new and unique ways to recycle.

Coca-Cola placed a 16-foot bottle covered with interactive images of moving carbonation bubbles at the entrance to the pavilion.

Coca-Cola brand ambassadors popped through a wall dedicated to the sponsor’s Olympic history.

A game in the pavilion required guests to don giant polar bear paw gloves.

Ice Pop

Each bottle served at the pavilion was chilled to the corporate standard, four degrees centigrade.

Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola launched a sustainable bottle at the Winter Games.

Coca-Cola opened the doors to its 2010 Olympic pavilion on February 11 in David Lam Park in Vancouver’s LiveCity. The first of the 275,000 guests the Games’ longest continuous sponsor hosted over nearly three weeks were greeted by acrobatic brand ambassadors, games, photo opportunities, and plenty of free bottles of Coke.

And not just any bottles. After announcing plans for the distribution of its fully recyclable PlantBottle—made from renewable, organic material—last year, the company chose Vancouver as the platform to start seeding the new packaging. The focus of much of Coke’s Olympic brand marketing, sustainability messaging ran throughout the 8,600-square-foot space.

—Michael O’Connell

PHOTOS: GRANT HARDER FOR BIZBASH

VANCOUVER

ON BIZBASH.COM More photos and details from promotions at the Vancouver Olympics

51

After a last-minute change, the Lot in West Hollywood served as the setting for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s 25th anniversary gala.

Leona Lewis was among the live performers at the gala.

White seating gave a clean look to the V.I.P. lounge.

The gala was the centerpiece of a weekend of other activities, which also included continuing education sessions at the Sheraton Universal, a welcome reception, and a brunch. About 500 people attended the gala, nearly half of them from out of town.

The production feats included a full award ceremony with a three-course sit-down vegan On its 25th anniversary, a doctors’ dinner menu. (The organization promotes disgroup headed to Malibu and ease prevention through a plant-based diet, plus ended up in West Hollywood. higher ethical standards in animal testing, and all of its events are vegan.) The meal was designed On April 10, the Washington,

by Candle 79, Millennium Restaurant, and Tal LOS ANGELES D.C.-based Physicians Commit- Ronnen, with a dessert menu from Sublime, Vegtee for Responsible Medicine, a group of doctors gie Grill, and Seed Kitchen; all the catering was and laypeople working for compassionate and executed by Global Physicians Committee effective medical practice, research, and health Cuisine. for Responsible promotion, celebrated its 25th anniversary with Honors went Medicine Gala its first West Coast gala. The “Art of Compassion” to Ellen DeGeneres, event took place at the Lot in West Hollywood, Portia deRossi, and Dinner Menu Execution Global Cuisine with a black-tie reception, dinner, silent and live Marilu Henner. In Flowers Wisteria Lane auctions, and a dessert buffet and after-party. addition, a crew led Flower Shop The organization’s special event manager, by producer Mike Lighting Daylight Debbi Miller, tapped Andrea Wyn Schall of A Wyn- Rothman filmed a Linens BBJ Linen Production A Wynning ning Event to produce the gala, and the team live three-camera Event worked for more than a year before a last-minute show that included Rentals Smart Party Rents weather concern forced a venue change from a performances by Sound Audio Tek private estate in Malibu to two sound stages at Leona Lewis and Venue The Lot Video Sweetwater Video the Lot, with just three working days to install Vonda Shepard. Art Production the event. (The 10-day forecast predicted rain and direction came from Video Projection American cold; in the end, the rain missed the event by a Matthew Russell.

Hi Definition day, but the cold snap did hit town.)

—Alesandra Dubin

PHOTOS: TIM CONKLIN FOR DAVID MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Register Now bizbashlaexpo.com Your Event Canvas Is Always Changing From the long-time curators of the innovative and outrageous, you’re invited to attend the BizBash Expo with an open mind— and open canvas. With the ideal environment for networking, dynamic education sessions, keynotes from the best in the business, and a fully loaded show floor, you’ll walk away fired up and ready to create incredible events in the coming year.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS Morning Keynote: Blending The Best Techniques From Corporate, Social, and Charitable Events

A Afternoon Keynote: S Steve Kemble’s Sassiest Secrets S From The Red F C Carpet!

Mindy Weiss

Steve Kemble S

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This Must-Attend Expo Is Unlike Any You’ve Ever Experienced Who should attend the BizBash Expo?

Event and meeting professionals, corporate planners, PR and marketing professionals, and third-party planners ready to gather, learn, and network in one spectacular day.

2010 BIZBASH HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES The BizBash Hall of Fame celebrates professionals who have made major contributions to the events industry’s growth through their vision and leadership.

What sets BizBash Expo apart from the rest?

BizBash Expo is a unique opportunity for planners to be inspired by a show floor loaded with fresh local ideas and the hottest products, to learn from expert speakers how to navigate challenges and excel, and to connect with more than 1,500 West Coast planners.

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OWNER, ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MPISCC AND ISES-LA

OWNER AND PRINCIPAL PLANNER/DESIGNER, MINDY WEISS PARTY CONSULTANTS

EVENT STYLE AWARDS

These invaluable sessions give you access to expert leaders in the event and meeting planning industry who will show you innovative ways to plan and execute stylish and successful events. Full schedule online at bizbashlaexpo.com.

Come applaud the Event Style Award winners for 2010!

Getting Ahead in Business: Straight Talk from Top Female Executives Female business executives share what’s needed to make it in the business. Hear the presenters discuss how to define strategy, manage conflict, and handle difficult situations to put you on the career path to success.

Demystifying RFIs, RFPs, and the Proposal to Win Business

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As a dramatic opening to the show, the enormous white box that covered the stage lifted to reveal the man-made iceberg.

Models in faux fur boots and coats splashed through the pool of water created by the melting ice.

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Cooling Effect

The sculptors, who spent six days shaping the snow ice—also called “snice”—were the team behind the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjä, Sweden, the inspiration for Largerfeld’s backdrop.

Chanel imported (and returned) 240 To prevent the pieces from melting before tons of Swedish ice for its fashion show. the show could take place, the entire set was concealed in a 57,000-square-foot, hermetically If there’s one show during Paris Fashion sealed box with a temperature between -4 and PARIS Week to watch for its theatricality, it’s 0 degrees Celsius. It was this chilly climate and Chanel. The high-profile couturier constructed enormous white structure—in the middle of the a hay-filled barn last October and in 2008 used banks of seating—that guests found at the glassa 66-foot-tall 10-ton jacket as the backdrop of a domed venue on the morning of the event. presentation. On March 9, under the auspices of The box lifted to reveal the dramatic scenery designer Karl Lagerfeld, the French fashion house and start the show. Models clad in shaggy fur put on an arctic-themed production at the Grand coats and fur-trimmed tweeds—all faux to emPalais that employed a custom iceberg as scenery. phasize Lagerfeld’s statement on the melting of Billed as “climate-change chic, Chanel style,” polar ice caps—strolled from the backstage area the show hosted nearly 2,500 guests and was, in hidden inside the icy form onto the watery runpart, a vehicle for Lagerfeld to convey an ecologi- way. And, as with every season, a Lagerfeld sketch cal message about the effects of global warming. tied the overarching theme together: a drawing Given its history of high-budget presentaof a polar bear adorned the invitations, press kits, tions, “eco” at Chanel doesn’t mean economy. and the step-and-repeat.

The event’s production company, Etienne Russo’s After the show, under the license that had Belgian firm Villa Eugenie, flew in 35 ice sculpallowed it to import the massive chunks of snice, tors from around the world to carve 240 tons of Chanel was required to ship it all back to Sweden, frozen snow transported from northern Sweden. which it did, using 15 tractor trailers. —Jim Shi

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CHANEL

we’ve groetdyo! u cove

A backstage area was housed within the central ice structure, with models parading in and out of carved entrances.

A beautiful white sailboat glides

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—THE ROTUNDA AT KINGSBOROUGH / 2001 Oriental Boulevard / Brooklyn, New York 11235— Located on the waterfront campus of Kingsborough Community College.

A Big Birthday Redmoon celebrated its 20th anniversary with singing skeletons and fortune-telling cupcakes.

On March 12, Redmoon’s Spectacle Lunatique doubled as a fund-raiser and 20th-anniversary celebration for the theater, which specializes in surrealist performance art.

“The night was intended to be a wild, raucous birthday party,” said associate artistic director Vanessa Stalling, “and we wanted to make guests feel like it was their birthday as well.”

Artistic director Frank Maugeri said he and the planning crew “designed an evening full of wild and beautiful experiences”—a series of short performances he referred to as “moments”—that involved the work of about 100 artists and a month of rehearsals. As guests turned up at Redmoon Central, the theater’s home base, performers outside the door greeted them with loud choruses of chanted “oohs” and “aahs.” At the same time, a pianist played a short song customized with guests’ names and a spotlight operator illuminated individual arriving guests.

Inside the space, the personal attention continued as performers rushed up to guests to give them foam cupcakes that opened at the top to reveal poems and fortunes written on strips of paper. A crew of Redmoon Theater’s singers dressed as Spectacle Lunatique skeletons serenaded attendees with birthCatering Blackbird, Boka, Carnivale, Coco Pazzo, Eli’s day-related songs, Cheesecake, Entertaining and yet another Company, Guerilla Smiles, team of actors Keefer’s Restaurant, Kim pranced through the and Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels, Mindy’s Hot space, blowing out Chocolate, Pronto Za, imaginary candles Province, Rodan, Swirlz on miniature pastel Cupcakes, Tocco, Urban cakes that they held Belly Decor David Beaupre in their hands.

Furniture Rentals Precision The wareSound and Lighting house space was Invitation Design Kass decked in decor Copeland Invitation Layout Don meant to evoke “a Harder Jr. birthday wonderInvitations, Signage land,” Maugeri said.

Graphic Source Oversize white balLighting Design Lightswitch Chicago loons hung from the Lighting Equipment ceiling, and handDesignlab Chicago, made centerpieces Intelligent Lighting contained toy goldCreations fish capped by party Linens BBJ Linen Rentals AAA Rental, hats. And lest the Tablescapes Party Rentals theme escape any Sound Design Mikhail Fiskel partygoer’s attenSound Equipment Sound tion, a performer Investment Ltd. Valet VIP Valet stationed atop a Video Stoptime341 towering bike inside Productions the main entrance shouted “It’s my birthday,” each time ON BIZBASH.COM the door opened.

More photos from —Jenny Berg this event

Performers put on what Maugeri referred to as a “two-dimensional birthday opera.”

Classical violinists sported rabbit masks as they played for guests in line at one of the bars.

One room housed a bar and a dessert buffet.

On highboy tables, centerpieces incorporated plastic goldfish wearing tiny party hats.

The opera ended with a massive confetti drop.

58 bizbash.com january/february 2010

PHOTOS: BARRY BRECHEISEN FOR BIZBASH

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HGTV host and construction expert Eric Stromer demonstrated furniture staining during a promotion of AOL home blog DIY Life.

For technology blog Switched, AOL brought in a 3D camera and TV so guests could video themselves.

Creative Edge Parties catered a lettuce wrap bar.

Making the Summit A rebranded AOL showcased original content at its daylong partner meeting.

Chef Marcus Samuelsson, who works with AOL food blog KitchenDaily, treated guests to a cooking demonstration.

60 bizbash.com may/june 2010

It’s been a big year for AOL. In December the company spun off from former parent Time Warner and adopted a new logo. So to discuss the online media brand’s evolution and showcase its growing roster of talent and Web sites AOL hosted a summit for clients on April 8.

Produced by the company’s five-person corporate events team—on just two weeks’ notice—the daylong gathering brought together 150 executive partners at Skylight SoHo. Guests had the freedom to stop in throughout the day, but AOL scheduled eight hours of programming for those who could attend the entire event.

The goal of the partner summit was to showcase the company’s growth and influence,

NEW YORK

PHOTOS: PHILLIP ANGERT

Multicolored straws played off AOL’s vibrant logos.

Staffers checked an electronic guest list on an iPad.

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Corporate Affairs Weddings Social Occasions Comedian Richard Lewis performed for guests during the segment devoted to entertainment blog PopEater.

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Guests were invited for the whole day and allowed to come and go as they pleased throughout the event. but as is the burden of all Internet properties, that meant taking the brand ofďŹ&#x201A;ine. Planners aimed to accomplish this with images and literature from AOLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular lifestyle Web sites and by bringing in celebrity contributors for a series of demonstrations and performances.

Chef Marcus Samuelsson of foodie blog KitchenDaily gave a cooking demonstration during lunch. Home improvement expert and DIY Life blogger Eric Stromer showed guests how to stain wood. Later in the evening, after a cocktail reception, comedian Richard Lewis performed before musician Jakob Dylan recorded a set for AOL Music.

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all entertainment though. For a large portion of the afternoon, AOL executives discussed the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans in a conference room where clients AOL Partner Summit could ask questions during a panel disCatering Creative Edge Parties cussion with editors and producers of the Decor Baura New York Gifts In Record Time brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s properties.

Lighting Bentley Meeker There are plans to Lighting & Staging make the summit an Production IEP - Innovative Event Production annual event.

Venue Skylight SoHo â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Michael Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell

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Mythical Features With big movie props, the Clash of the Titans premiere lent ancient Greece a modern twist.

A logo-inset carpet and movie props decorated the arrivals area.

Clash of the Titans owned the box office on its opening weekend.

Ahead of the public debut, the March 31 premiere nodded to the blockbuster’s commercial impact and the theatricality of its 3-D content. Warner Brothers vice president of special events Courtney Saylor— along with Amanda Lamb, Zachary Monge, and Troy Williams—oversaw the event, which began with arrivals in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, produced by 15/40 Productions, and continued with a party produced

by Events in Motion at the Hollywood Roosevelt for about 550 guests.

Props from the film added drama to the tented arrivals area, including a 48-foot scorpion-like “Scorpioch” prop that loomed large in the plot. (Neil Corbould Special Effects designed and built the props for the movie.) After the screening, guests moved to the hotel through a draped entry goarded by two costumed warriors. The lobby area represented Hades’s underworld, with a Medusa head and flames projected around the space. At the center of the room two reflecting pools flanked the center fountain, which was covered by a platform that supported a 10-foot tall

LOS ANGELES

Building Enthusiasm

Scaffolding added to the construction theme.

The Annenberg Center broke ground with a construction-minded event at the historic Beverly Hills Post Office.

The Beverly Hills High School drum line performed.

On March 11, the board of directors of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts hosted a groundbreaking event for the project, which will turn the historic Beverly Hills Post Office into the new venue. Years in the making, the endeavor’s official kickoff brought about 500 community leaders, celebrities, V.I.P.s, and political types to the landmark 1933 building.

The event marked the last time the building was available for public viewing. The post office will be restored and modified, and the mail sorting and postage areas will be reimagined as a studio theater, sculpture garden, café, and gift shop. It will also house the 500-seat Goldsmith Theater.

Annenberg Center executive director Lou Moore tapped J. Ben Bourgeois Productions to produce the event with a theme organizers billed as “construction chic.” The Beverly Hills High School drum line beckoned guests, and characters dressed in theater costumes

LOS ANGELES

A 70-foot crane served as the backdrop at the groundbreaking event for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

62 bizbash.com may/june 2010

PHOTOS: CHIC PHOTOGRAPHY (CLASH OF THE TITANS PARTY), LINE 8 PHOTOGRAPHY (STEP-AND-REPEAT), VINCE BUCCI (ANNENBURG)

Greek mythology inspired the party decor.

Pegasus. Two living statues surprised guests, and flowers filled large Grecian urns on the buffets.

The ballroom represented the temple of Zeus, rendered in all white and opulent decor.

Props and scenic elements from the movie— statues, faux stone pedestals, Corinthian columns— Clash of the Titans decked the space.

Premiere and Party Neoclassical Arrivals and Screening sofas and chaises Design, Event filled low-lit Management, Lighting, lounges, and Production 15/40 Productions cabanas offered Rentals Town & Country raised seating.

Event Rentals The Greek Security Special Event menu included Management Venue Grauman’s Chinese tray-passed mini Theatre lamb gyros and spanakopita Party and a buffet Catering, Venue Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel of dolmadas, DJ DJ Richie Rich tabouli, and Flowers Maggie Jensen chicken Souvlaki, Furniture Rentals Designer plus mini baklava 8 Event Furniture Rental Lighting Freelance and loukoumades Environtology for dessert.

Living Statues Don Polite in McLeod’s Living Statues Public provided Photo Booth Polite in Public a photo booth Production Events in with a backdrop Motion inspired by the Props Green Set Inc. movie and props Rentals Classic Party Rentals Scenic Design Pink like shields and Elephants Inc. swords.

Sound On-Stage Rentals Inc. —Alesandra Dubin

and construction gear posed inside for a lighthearted touch. When the drum corps marched through the building and out to the loading dock, the official program began outside, where the podium was framed by a 70-foot crane that took down a section of wall on Crescent Drive.

Wolfgang Puck catered the event, and Sterling Vintner’s Collection poured its wines.

Matt Construction, Wells Fargo, and Neiman Marcus were also among the sponsors.

Tables were covered in construction materials like orange plastic fencing, and calla lilies sprung from paint cans.

“It’s a groundbreaking, so we didn’t want to be over the top with anything elegant, yet we wanted to set the tone for the theatrics of what was coming Wallis Annenberg when the center Center for the opened,” said Performing Arts Colleen Downs, Groundbreaking the project manager for Catering Wolfgang Puck Catering Ben Bourgeois.

Design, Production J. Ben “We had a lot of Bourgeois Productions fun with it, and Flowers Flaming Flower brought in any Productions Invitations, Printing kind of fun, funky Creative Intelligence Inc. construction Lighting, Sound ShowPro element we could PR Katy Sweet & Associates come up with.”

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Courtney Love closed Spin’s party with a 45-minute set that marked the American reunion of her long-defunct band, Hole.

Familiar sponsors including Levis, IFC, and Spin staged new and expanded activations at the annual South by Southwest music festival in March.

AUSTIN

By MICHAEL O’CONNELL

IFC used its Crossroads House as a party venue and recording studio for original content.

IFC put in a juice bar where guests could charge phones and laptops.

ON BIZBASH.COM More photos and details from SXSW events

64 bizbash.com may/june 2010

The Portland, Oregon-based Ace Hotel chain partnered with the Levi’s/Fader Fort for a V.I.P. lounge.

The Levi’s/Fader Fort brought on new local food vendors, like Hey Cupcake!

IFC set up couches and flatscreen televisions for sponsor Sega’s gaming lounge.

PHOTOS: ERIK VOAKE/SPIN MAGAZINE (SPIN PARTY), MARY SLEDD FOR BIZBASH (ALL OTHERS)

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Perez Hilton attempted to juggle at his birthday party.

Katy Perry rode in on an elephant.

It’s His Party Perez Hilton’s sponsored birthday celebration included carnival acts, Liza Minnelli, and Katy Perry on an elephant.

Known for his polarizing, loveit-or-hate-it blog style, Perez Hilton celebrated his 32nd birthday with a party unlike most other people’s personal bashes. For one thing, the “Carn-Evil Freak & Funk” event on March 27 had an over-the-top carnival theme, with a slightly surrealist bent. For another, it was funded by corporate sponsors like Alizé, Arizona Tea, Lifestyles condoms, and Café Bustelo.

The hands-on blogger worked on the party at the Studios at Paramount with Paramount Special Events, event producer BMF Media Group, and EMC Bowery, which handled PR. About 400 people, including media, celebrities, and personal friends, attended.

Leona Lewis opened the entertainmentpacked party with a set. Eve and Liza Minnelli were also among the performers, with Minelli singing “New York, New York” and other tunes during a 45-minute set. Paula Abdul spoke about learning details of her own life on Hilton’s blog, and then introduced a celebrity-filled birthday video tribute that included Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga. After the video, Katy Perry rode into the venue on an elephant while singing “Happy Birthday” alongside the cake presentation. (Just before midnight, a crew of 20 tore down the step-

LOS ANGELES

and-repeat wall in 10 minutes, allowing Perry and the elephant to arrive through the doors.) The crowd danced into the night, with Lindsay Lohan spinning as guest DJ. Hilton has celebrated his birthday with similar corporate-sponsored blowouts for the past four years. The companies Perez Hilton’s “Carnsupply product as Evil Freak & Funk” well as sponsorship 32nd Birthday Party money. This year, Alizé offered a flipB-roll In the Moe book photo station Backline Urban Audio Bar Staff 200 Proof as well as its beverBartenders ages, and Arizona Cake Great American offered its teas and a Cookies branded dunk tank.

Catering Fatburger Circus Performers American Lifestyle presented Acrobats its condoms in the Cotton Candy and SnoCone form of a circus Machines AAA Rents performer dressed DJ DJ Mia Moretti Face Painting Elizabeth all in condoms. “All Peterson the sponsors are Furniture Rentals ecstatic,” said EMC Bolthouse Vox Events Bowery’s Ben Russo.

Lighting Ultimate Lighting Little People Tiny Russo said it’s Entertainment gotten easier to PR EMC Bowery wrangle sponsors Printing Chamo Design as Hilton’s reputaStudios Production BMF Media tion has grown. At Group the same time, his Production Rentals events have also Line 204 gotten larger, and Rentals Classic Party Rentals require more sponSound Sound Factory sorship contribuSystems tions.

Venue The Studios at —Alesandra Dubin Paramount

PHOTOS: FAYE SADOU/WENN

The event had a carnival theme.

*Cannot be combined with any other offer and does not apply to labor, delivery fees, or sale items.

The final part of the event gave editors quick statistical rundowns from New Balance execs in the venue’s penthouse.

Representatives from Brooklyn wine shop Picada y Vino led the editors through a tasting of organic wines.

New Balance covered the venue’s front door in grassy advertisements for the brand.

PHOTOS: GUSTAVO CAMPOS

Sneak Peek

the likes of Self, Shape, and Elle, work their way up the venue over the course of a couple of hours, with lavish activities along the way.

First up were head, foot, and shoulder masFor its shoe launch, New Balance sages beside the home’s indoor pool, courtesy of pampered editors in a SoHo mansion.

Spa Chicks On the Go. With sparkling water and Champagne in hand, guests then headed up a Impressing a New York editor can half flight of stairs to the library, where Sue Philips NEW YORK be a tedious task in a city where of Scenterprises Ltd. led a custom-perfume-makwriters are wooed daily, but New Balance took up ing session that allowed each editor to create a the challenge April 8 at the media launch of its scent. Next was organic wine tasting on the main toning sneaker line, held in a five-story mansion floor, followed by a tasting of Vosges chocolates. on Lafayette Street in SoHo. Designed to help The tours ended in the airy penthouse living wearers burn extra calories and activate more room, where editors cozied up on an oversize muscles, the shoes are New Balance’s entry into leather couch to learn about the sneaker techthe wellness sector of footwear and apparel, a nology from New Balance brand ambassadors. debut that was marked with a pampering day for Displayed on beds of faux grass throughout the some 60 editors. room, the Rock&Tone and TrueBalance sneak“We have never hosted anything of this caliers were passed around and inspected. After an ber to introduce a product before,” said Bostonintimate Q&A session, each editor picked the style based New Balance PR head Lauren Burns, who and color of shoe that would be sent to them the worked with MKG to produce the event. “Howev- following week. er, this event was an introduction not only to the While the day’s perks left the editors relaxed collections of toning shoes, but an introduction to and happy, the event venue seemed to inspire the New Balance Wellness overall, so we had to make most talk. Secured by booking agent Empire Locait memorable.” tion Company, the 12,000-square-foot New Balance House of Dubbed the “House of Indulhome—a former transformer station Indulgence gence,” the event was “centered at 214 Lafayette Street—is available around the idea that being for events. “We were looking for Audiovisual Production, healthy and active is an indulsomething that was extremely over Decor, Lighting, Production MKG gence for the mind, body, and the top in terms of layout,” Burns Catering Creative Edge soul,” said Burns. To illustrate that said. “We wanted to select a space Parties idea, producers had batches of that would accurately portray ‘indulPR Dan Klores beauty and fitness editors from gence.’” —Courtney Thompson Communications

F R O M T H E C R E ATO R S O F C A P I TA L E

E S PAC E O F F E R S I T S C L I E N T S A C L E A N , M O D E R N C A N VA S O N W H I C H T O C R E AT E A N U N PA R A L L E L E D E V E N T E X P E R I E N C E .

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Barton G. used tall glass vases filled with clear stones and topped with braided tree branches as centerpieces on the dinner tables.

DWP Inc. covered the house seats of the concert hall with graduated platforms to create the dining area.

70 bizbash.com may/june 2010

Bank on It The dance floor covering the concert hall’s stage was emblazoned with the “Wow!” logo.

The TD Bank employee awards dinner quadrupled in size and served meals over concert hall seats.

TD Bank hosted its C.E.O. Wow! Leadership Awards dinner, part of the company’s incentive program, on March 15 in the Knight Concert Hall of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Following the merger of TD Banknorth and Commerce Banks, the number of employees honored at the newly named TD Bank awards dinner quadrupled, resulting in more than 425 attendees, compared to 100 in 2009.

“Last year [the dinner] was all about decor and the one large amoeba table [which sat all attendees], and this year it was all about how we were going to present the awards,” said TD Bank’s Philadelphia-based vice president of event management, Jennifer Savica, who added that the Barton G.’s 2009 event had 50 honorees and this year had salad course 200. “The challenge was, ‘What do we do to make consisted these people feel how the 50 felt last year?’” of a mini Savica had guests enter through the back of the Caesar salad, concert hall, where posters showed details from the a mozzarella, feeder events honorees attended before reaching tomato, and the awards dinner. The cocktail reception took place basil stack, and on the stage of the concert hall, where large pillars a tiny chopped listed the names of all honorees. Dinner took place salad. at tables on a platform covering the house seats.

Between each of the dinner’s three courses, the lighting changed to spotlight award presenters standing at various points around After guests sat the first tier of the balcony. The for dinner, a bank TD Bank’s C.E.O. Wow! segment ended with the company’s representative Leadership Awards C.E.O., Bharat Masranii, standing on welcomed them Catering, Decor, Linens, the stage as the names of all 200 from the balcony Rentals Barton G. honorees flashed on the screens opposite the stage.

Entertainment Javi Productions around the venue.

Production DWP Inc. The night wrapped up with Transportation USA guests returning to the stage for a Transportation Service dance party before buses transVenue Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing ported them back to their hotel, the Arts of Miami-Dade Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & County Club. —D. Channing Muller

MIAMI

PHOTOS: MATT HORTON/ARTIST GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIZBASH

Four columns on each side of the two bars held the names of the 1,200 nominees; the 211 award recipients’ names appeared in bold.

Wales_NY:VENUE04_SoCal_02-09

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NEW YORK

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BEST EVENTS VENUES

77

Seashells filled the bottom of towering centerpieces by C.J. Matsumoto.

Guests dined under the “enchanted kelp forest” tent at the California Science Center’s annual ball.

the escalators on their way in, describing all the evening’s features and activities during the ride to the cocktail area, where Border Grill & Ciudad catered. A troupe of South Pacific dancers led guests from cocktails through the exhibit to the dinner tent, done in an underwater motif, complete with overhead California Science light fixtures that The California Science Center feted its Center Grand Opening mimicked jellyfish.

“Ecosystems” exhibit with a gala that Gala for “Ecosystems” “This year we included a tiki bar and a dinner tent.

Art Installation Blakeney especially enjoyed Sanford Fine Art the challenge of Audiovisual Production Longtime guests of the transforming an Creative Technology LOS ANGELES California Science Center’s enormous tent into Bar Services Bar One Complete Beverage Discovery Ball this year found an even more elabo- an intimate underCatering rate gala on March 20. Organizers, led by vice pres- water environment Carpeting Primo XL ident of food and event services Christina Sion, worthy of a lovely Catering (Dinner) put together an event to serve as the grand open- dinner party. And Kensington Caterers Catering (Cocktails) Border ing of the museum’s new wing and “Ecosystems” we had the most Grill & Ciudad Catering exhibit, which included a decked-out party tent fun creating our Catering (Crew) Tulsa Rib and a look inspired by various global terrains. (The ‘Good Time Tiki Bar’ Company event will return next year to its long-running by scouting the best Decor Airstar America Decor, Fabrication Rrivre Discovery Ball name.) props and customWorks Inc. Sion said the goal for the gala was to izing what we could DJ Tina T retain last year’s budget and include the new not find,” Sion Entertainment Vibrant tent—far from a simple task. The museum said. “For our field Production Management Flowers C.J. Matsumoto seated 730 guests, down from 740 last year, but station-style guest & Sons because the minimum table price jumped from registration, we sent Lighting Brite Ideas $5,000 to $10,000, the gross revenue goal also an email to all of Parking Classic Parking increased—to more than $1 million. our staff asking for Plant Rentals Jackson Shrub Supply Inc. “ ‘Ecosystems,’ our new wing that will double everyone to donate Printed Materials I Five the Science Center’s exhibit square footage, was props. We received Design our inspiration for this year’s gala,” said Sion. great items including Printing Automation “We tried to bring to life various exhibits within kayaks, mosquito Printing Company Projections Bart Kresa the new wing throughout the event, from our and camo netting, Rentals Classic Party field station registration area to our cocktails Coleman stoves, Rentals, Wildflower Linen, with vignettes that mimicked three of the new and sleeping bags. It Oceanic Arts Extreme Zone exhibits.” was more fun than Staging Special Event Contractors A signature of Sion’s work at the annual gala, prop shopping, and Venue California Science thoughtful details abounded—starting with a cheaper too.”

Center safari-style guide who accompanied guests up —Alesandra Dubin

Guests had a chance to check out the new exhibit.

During the cocktail portion, the “Polar Zone” included a glacial-looking ice sculpture, white lounge furniture, and an icy painted backdrop.

The “Sonoran Desert” portion of the cocktail area mimicked a rocky, brush-filled landscape.

72 bizbash.com may/june 2010

PHOTOS: NADINE FROGER PHOTOGRAPHY

Environmental Design

Chargers evoked seashells, and Kensington Caterers served a menu that included seafood.

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Among guests’ after-dinner options was dancing and cocktails in a tikitheme room complete with flower leis, towering palm trees, and mai tais.

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The center stage included a wave sculpture

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Clear Chiavari chairs and blue linens lent the dinner an oceanic feel.

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Moving projections of flowers shone on large white props, including an oversize shirt.

English Garden Target filled its Liberty of London pop-up with 12,000 flowers.

Using a medium it seems to have down pat, Target’s promotional pop-up previewed its Liberty of London line in an empty space opposite Bryant Park. To highlight the 300-item collection—Target’s first collaboration that spans fashion and accessories as well as home and garden products—event producer David Stark drew directly from the whimsical ad campaign photographed by Tim Walker and, with an oversize tea cup and a veritable garden of flowers, the result looked a little like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland.

Key to the collection and its campaign was the fanciful floral motif bedecking summer dresses, ceramic bowls, baby clothes, and com-

NEW YORK

Target staffers handed out flowers to shoppers waiting outside the store.

74 bizbash.com may/june 2010

forter sets, and it was those prints that prompted Stark to fill the 5,000-square-foot site on Sixth Avenue with some 12,000 flowers, forming a lush, fragrant indoor garden. Tulips and hyacinths lined the tops of shelves, hydrangeas surrounded mannequins in vignettes, daffodils stood in mugs and planters, and hedges lined the cash register.

Larger-than-life props—a tea cup, an umbrella, a shirt—provided playful surfaces for the projection of more flowery patterns, and enlarged prints from the collection decorated the scrims hanging overhead.

Ahead of the collection’s debut in Target stores on March 14, Liberty of London for the shop opened on Target Pop-Up March 10 and was forced to close a day early, on March 12, after record-breaking sales and more than 11,000 visitors wiped out its inventory.

—Anna Sekula

Catering Yum Yum Chefs Design, Production David Stark Design and Production Draping Drape Kings Lighting Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging PR LaForce & Stevens

PHOTOS: JESSICA TOROSSIAN FOR BIZBASH (FLOWERS), COURTESY OF DAVID STARK (ALL OTHERS)

Umbrellas featured prominently in the decor, including one display that simulated rain with strands of reflective pieces.

To complement the line’s floral patterns, David Stark filled the pop-up with live flowers.

Leafy foliage and a hedgerow lined the cash register area.

The Liberty of London line was the first Target collection to span home and apparel categories.

The preview took over an empty retail space at the corner of 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

A bake sale included raisin-butter tarts, cupcakes, vanilla frosted cookies, and homemade biscotti.

’30s Somethings The Buy Design benefit adopted a Depression-era theme, complete with a bake sale and badminton.

Event organizers displayed silent auction items on three long tables in an area designed to feel like a mess hall.

Picnic tables, kites, and lawn games like badminton and croquet set the scene for Windfall’s seventh annual Buy Design benefit, a 1930s post-Depression-inspired party held April 17 at the Fermenting Cellar. Windfall Clothing Service event manager Kelly Carmichael worked with an event committee, headed by co-chairs Andrew Sardone and Tralee Pearce, to create the feel of a country fair for the fund-raiser, dubbed the Spring Social.

“The idea came from the economy. The ’30s was this era where you had to make do with what you had, and that’s the mentality we’re in now,” Sardone said. “I think the message really connected with the sponsors and the guests. It’s a head space people can get into. It feels wholesome, it feels honest, and it Guests, many of whom dressed in feels authentic.” ’30s-inspired attire, played croquet The event committee used red, white, and blue on a lawn donated by Design Turf. fabric to divide the Distillery District venue into two spaces. The main room included a lawn with badminton and croquet games, a tented stage, a parquet dance floor, picnic tables, concession stands where guests could find hamburgers and French fries, a bar where servers offered a signature cocktail called the Lemon Vodka Sidecar, and a Beauty Balloon Buster game that gave attendees the chance to win prizes.

The second area featured a hair and makeup area staffed by stylists from Green Beauty, a bake sale, a candy stand courtesy of Allan Candy, and a mess-hallstyle silent auction.

Fashion File’s Adrian Mainella hosted the benefit, DJ Andrew Karis spun tunes, singer Alex Pangman performed, and Jay Mandarino led the live auction.

Guests also had the chance to bid on a series of boater hats designed by five of the city’s top style editors, who each partnered with a local milliner.

As in the past, organizers promoted the event, which drew 500 guests, through social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. The comAttendees played badminton Windfall Clothing mittee also distributed promotional throughout the evening.

Service’s Buy Design materials (bearing images from a Spring Social photo shoot held at Ward’s Island last fall) at LG Fashion Week. “We had Audiovisual Production, Lighting 5th Element a team of volunteers go down. They Events got all dolled up. Green Beauty did Catering, Staffing Encore all the hair and makeup for the girls, Food With Elegance and H&M dressed them. They handed Flowers Petals Rentals Chair-man Mills out a couple of thousand postcards Venue The Fermenting promoting Buy Design,” Carmichael Cellar said. —Susan O’Neill

For $20, attendees had the opportunity to pop a balloon with a dart to win a prize at the Beauty Balloon Buster game.

Guests could satisfy their sweet tooth at a candy stand with treats from Allan Candy.

76 bizbash.com may/june 2010

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PHOTOS: GARY BEECHEY/BDS STUDIOS FOR BIZBASH

TORONTO

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INSIDE EDGE

New York’s Fourth Wall Events handled the decor and event details.

Toronto-based fashion designer Rosemarie Umetsu’s red-carpet collection was on display.

Toronto Passion Fashion Interaction

Event spa appointments were booked quickly.

PHOTOS: JULIA ROBERTS

Tourism Toronto teamed up with their elite hotel partners on March 25 at New York City’s la.venue for the Passion Fashion Interaction showcase. The indulgent event pampered New York planners Toronto-style, with spa treatments, delectable treats, and Niagara ice wines. Guests also got a look at fashions inspired by the Canadian city from Torontonian designer Rosemarie Umetsu’s red-carpet collection.

Julie Holmen, director of corporate sales for Tourism Toronto, said: “Our goal was to generate more business opportunities for our luxury hotel partners, and the event surpassed our expectations.” Fourth Wall Events produced the event, which showed off Toronto as a cosmopolitan city that inspires imagination, creativity, and luxury.

Plan your next meeting in Toronto. Find out more at www.seetorontonow.com, or contact Holmen at 416.203.3833.

Spa Chicks on the Go gave mini manicures, hand massages, and neck-and-shoulder massages.

School Spirit St. Patrick’s fund-raising auction got sporty with referees, pompoms, and pennants decorating the gymnasium.

More than 470 guests dressed in jerseys, cheerleading uniforms, and other athletic apparel gathered at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School on March 6 for the school’s sports-themed benefit for its financial aid program.

The 36th annual auction’s venue—the school gym—was a natural fit for this year’s “Game On” theme.

“It’s a wide, open space with no restrictions,” said André Wells, owner of Events by André Wells and the parent of a St. Patrick’s student, who volunteered to produce the dinner. Wells added that although the venue had its challenges (vendors were limited in when and where they could park their trucks on school property), the gym is bigger than some of the city’s hotel ballrooms.

The auction’s inspiration always relates to the values of the school, and this year’s sports theme was no exception, according to St. Patrick’s assistant head of development Carrie Ahlborn, who worked with associate director of development Cathy Albo to coordinate the event. “We have a strong athletics department and this is a way to celebrate that,” Ahlborn said. “By having the theme it allows people to relax and not have to buy a new dress.”

The silent auction “pep rally” in the school’s main building kicked off the evening, as parents and alumni bid on auction items and sampled Main Event Caterers’ tailgate-inspired foods, like corn dogs and nachos.

At 8:30 p.m., a drum major led guests across the street for the “big game” sit-down dinner in the gym, where Wells had covered the floors with Astroturf and taped off lines to resemble a playing field. Green-and-white striped linens and sculptures of sports-related items (think footballs, sneakers, and hot dogs) by commercial sculptor A.J. Strasser topped the tables, while pompoms and crepe paper lined the walls. Rounding out the look: a popcorn bar and servers in referee uniforms.

The school sold 344 tickets at $150 for the cocktail reception and dinner, and 133 tickets at $50 for the reception only. The rest of the funds raised came from online, silent, and live auction items, most of which were donated St. Patrick’s Episcopal by parents and ranged Day School “Game On” from home-cooked Auction meals to stays at Audiovisual Production, beach homes. Political Lighting John Farr Lighting commentator Tucker Design Carlson, another St. Catering Main Event Caterers Patrick’s parent, volunDecor A Vista Events, AJ teered as auctioneer for Strasser Productions L.L.C. the live auction, which Flowers Volanni defied D.C. norms by Production Events by André Wells lasting till nearly 2 a.m.

Rentals Party Rental Ltd. —Adele Chapin

In addition to the green-and-white tablecloths and orange cones lining the stage, on-theme touches included gobos of the school seal and projected images of student athletes.

Homecoming essentials like crepe paper in St. Patrick’s school colors, pompoms, and tissue paper flowers livened up the stairway leading to the gym.

A striped awning gave the bar in the school gym—manned by a bartender clad in a referee uniform—a sporty look.

St. Patrick’s parent and political commentator Tucker Carlson volunteered as the evening’s auctioneer.

Pennants served as paddles for the evening’s live auction.

A concession stand selling St. Patrick’s-branded stadium blankets and pennants stood outside the gym’s entrance, next to a display of decorative trophies and a popcorn stand.

78 bizbash.com january/february 2010

PHOTOS: STEPHEN ELLIOT/MUD PRODUCTIONS FOR BIZBASH

WASHINGTON

New York / The Javits Center / October 27, 2010

Your Event Canvas Is Always Changing Join us for a singularly inspirational and creatively productive day celebrating the “art of the events” at the BizBash New York Expo. Longtime curators of the innovative and outrageous, BizBash feeds all your needs with a unique perspective on trends and all things fresh and new for meetings and events.

Find Out More at bizbash.com/newyork/tradeshow BIZBASH NEW YORK EVENT STYLE AWARDS

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INTRODUCING OUR KEYNOTE

Chat Rooms At the C.T.I.A. Wireless Show, Sprint and Samsung used high-tech tricks at their events in the convention center.

Sprint’s C.T.I.A. event popped in yellow and white.

The International C.T.I.A. Wireless show took over the Las Vegas Convention Center for three days of business, networking, and events from March 23 to 25. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the show draws tens of thousands of attendees annually, occupies more than 300,000 square feet of exhibit space, hosts more than 1,000 exhibitors, and attracts more than 1,100 press and analysts from all over the world. To that end, big brands staged splashy product presentations.

Sprint launched the first 4G phone in the convention center’s north hall for 300 C.T.I.A. Wireless Show guests, who entered through a Kabuki Samsung drop curtain that revealed the event Additional Staging, Box and a hologram of the new phone.

Fabrication, Carpet A&D The production, for which the Sprint Scenery Inc. strategic events team worked with Catering Aramark Fresh Wata, included Lucite floating Internet Service, Greeters Smart City art chairs from France.

Labor, Power, Printer, Video highboys constructed with Tables Freeman projectors in their bases displayed Lead Retrieval ITN video of the phone on the tabletops.

International Inc. Lead Stage Hand, Camera Guests could work from blog pods, Operators Desert relax at charging stations, or visit bufEntertainment of Las fets for snacks like tuna tartare cones.

Vegas Over at Samsung, the goal was Linens, Greeters Victoria’s Event Productions to create a multimedia event that Muslin Rose Brand organically expressed the lifestyle Design, Production, Video afforded by the new Galaxy S phone.

Production Barkley Kalpak Samsung agency Cheil Worldwide Associates Inc. Rehearsal Space Farrington tapped New York-based Barkley Kalpak Entertainment & Associates to put together a high-tech Productions event for about 350 to 400 people on Scenery Fabric, Hardware March 23 at the convention center. The Dazian Security Marshall Robinson event had just a three-week lead time, & Associates not to mention a complicated working Tetra Columns Atomic clock that involved players on Seoul, Rental New York, and Las Vegas time.

Venue Las Vegas Convention Center The group employed a 98- by 35Video Production Paul foot screen with imagery that worked Girolamo Inc., D’Strict with real-life props and actors for an Video, Staging, Sound, immersive 3-D experience.

Lighting Equipment PRG Las Vegas “It was almost as if we put someWalkie Talkies Bear body into a beautifully stylized comic Communications book,” said Barkley Kalpak vice presiWave Wall Pink Inc. dent of business development Andre Sprint Shahrdar. “As the images changed, Catering Aramark we had performers operating in the Draping Quest Drape Los foreground or downstage. All of that Angeles, Just For Show Inc. technology made for a very organic Hologram 360 Brand Vision feel, but it wasn’t about the technolLighting MIG Phone Charging Stations ogy of the phone—it was about the George Fern Company experience with it. It was a very lifeDesign, Furniture Rentals, style approach, a beautiful rendering Production Fresh Wata of video and live action.”

Venue Las Vegas Convention Center —Alesandra Dubin

Contemporary furniture from Fresh Wata gave Sprint’s event a streamlined look.

Aramark provided modern buffets for Sprint.

Samsung launched the new Galaxy S at C.T.I.A. with a 98-footlong screen.

A car prop was part of Samsung’s seamless multimedia presentation.

PHOTOS: MATTMAYFIELD.COM (SPRINT), OSCAR EINZIG PHOTOGRAPHY (SAMSUNG)

LAS VEGAS

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Governors Ball The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ opulent ball for 1,500 guests took to the Hollywood & Highland Center’s grand ballroom with a theme based on the Art Deco design style called Streamline Moderne. Chairman Jeffrey Kurland, a costume designer, created period outfits for the staff. Governors Ball veteran Cheryl Cecchetto and the Sequoia Productions team again produced the event.

Going for Gold Appropriate for Hollywood’s biggest night, the Academy Awards inspired some of the flashiest, largest-scale parties of the year.

LOS ANGELES

Vanity Fair The magazine’s Oscar party returned to West Hollywood’s Sunset Tower Hotel, where the year’s big winners like Sandra Bullock mingled with an A-list crowd of nearly 700. Organizers of the two-part event took over the venue’s Tower Bar and constructed a wood dance floor atop the adjacent rooftop pool. And early group of 100—including Hilary Swank, Jon Hamm, and Jerry Seinfeld—sat for dinner while the awards were broadcast on flat-screen televisions.

82 bizbash.com may/june 2010

PHOTOS: LINE 8 PHOTOGRAPHY (GOVERNORS BALL), CHRIS POLK/VF1/GETTY IMAGES (BULLOCK), JEFF VESPA/VF1/GETTY IMAGES (SEINFELD)

By ALESANDRA DUBIN

OK Magazine For OK magazine’s pre-Oscar event at Beso, overseen by director of events and partnerships Lisa Campione, producer Precision Event Group created a custom 12-foot-tall illuminated wall with 18 OK covers from around the globe. Keri Hilson performed at the party for about 350 guests. Vox Entertainment handled the lighting, sound, and red carpet, Classic Party Rentals the tenting, and the venue provided the catering.

PHOTOS: DALE WILCOX (OK), AMANDA EDWARDS/WIREIMAGE (JONES), COURTESY OF SPEC ENTERTAINMENT (QVC), YOSHI MORIMOTO (ELTON JOHN)

Elton John The 18th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party, presented by Chopard, Jo and Raffy Manoukian, and Neuro Drinks, was held at the Pacific Design Center. The format again hinged on the live Oscar telecast, but the decor got a bright new look. Grace Jones performed in place of the usual emerging talent. Foundation executive director Scott Campbell oversaw the event, tapping Virginia Fout of V Productions to produce it. Antony Todd handled the design.

QVC The TV retailer took over the Wetherly Garden at the Four Seasons for a party celebrating red carpet style. SPEC Entertainment designed and produced the event, where QVC conducted its first simultaneous live broadcast from a major event. The gilded decor included an entrance bridge, seating areas, planters with uplit palms, an ivy-faced bar, a stage with a Swarovski crystal wall, and a multitude of Q logos. Lexington handled the scenic construction and Bernard Link Theatrical designed the lighting.

ON BIZBASH.COM More photos and stories from Oscar events

bizbash.com may/june 2010 83

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Grand Party

About 200 local community and business leaders joined the 24 R.N.C. representatives at the party, which followed dinner at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Local guests arrived early The Tampa C.V.B. hosted a dessert party to cheer for the committee along the red carpeted for the 2012 R.N.C. selection committee. entrance when they arrived.

Williams staged the event on the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tampa Bay and Company, the area con- terrace, which has views of the downtown skyline.

TAMPA vention and visitors bureau, hosted the Early in the event, Pyrotecnico presented a sixMise En Place served red, 2012 Republican National Conventionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chairman, minute ďŹ reworks display over the Hillsborough white, and blue gelato from site selection committee, and other key ďŹ gures River, with the skyline and the University of Tampa the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gelato shop. in the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s city-choosing process on March 29, as a backdrop. during the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s threeMise En Place, the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-house caterer, Pyrotecnico produced a sixday visit to the area. The served a bevy of desserts, including trufďŹ&#x201A;es, gelato The terrace provides minute ďŹ reworks show.

C.V.B. threw a late-night from the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-house cafĂŠ, and madedirect views of the ďŹ nale dessert party at the to-order bananas foster. The highlight was a red, downtown and University Tampa Museum of Art, white, and blue elephant cake. The company also of Tampa skyline. one of four events during served dessert drinks such as cappuccino milk the visit. shakes and espresso martinis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had breakfast, This is the third lunch, and dinner events time Tampa has been R.N.C. Site Selection Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Latefor three days, and I considered for the Night Dessert Party wanted to do something R.N.C.; the city lost Audiovisual Production, separate from dinner, at bids in 2004 and Sound AVI-SPL night, when it was really 2008. The estimated Catering Mise En Place dark and we could do ďŹ re- cost for hosting the DJ Dorene Collierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Event works, so it made sense event would be nearly Show Productions Lighting Bay Stage Lighting to go into a separate $50 million, raised venue for dessert,â&#x20AC;? said through private dona- Decor, Design, Flowers, Linens ConceptBait Susan Williams, director tions, not tax dollars.

Rentals Grand Events of of services and special A decision is expected Florida L.L.C. events for Tampa Bay and in May. Venue Tampa Museum of Art Company. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;D. Channing Muller

PHOTOS: AVIRAN LEVY FOR BIZBASH

Robo Shop

explained: “Our customers have a very grave concern about the pipeline of engineers coming into their Encouraging careers in science and companies. If our customers engineering, big-name sponsors under- are concerned, then PTC is wrote the First Robotics Competition. concerned. One of the things that’s appealing about First The Boston chapter of For Inspirais that we can work with BOSTON tion and Recognition of Science and our customers to solve this Technology (First) hosted its fifth annual regional problem.” robotics competition at the Agganis Arena from In terms of return on March 26 to 27, when some 1,500 area students investment, sponsorship competed in a Iron Man-like competition—for dollars don’t bring in the traditional results. “We robots, that is. measure the success by the number of teams Launched in 1989 in New Hampshire, First adopting our software to create their robots,” aims to promote STEM—science, technology, enSaitz said, adding that the company’s clients ingineering, and mathematics—to students around clude Motorola, Boeing, and Airbus. “This year 400 the world, encouraging kids to eventually enter teams registered to use Windchill, which is up these fields as adults. The First Robotics Competi- significantly from last year. The soft metric—the tion arm of the nonprofit today comprises 1,809 greater value, however—is the way we’re changteams or 45,225 high school students ing the dynamics of our relationFirst Robotics Regional who are able to compete thanks to ships with our customers.”

Competition sponsorship dollars from NASA, BosFriday’s events consisted of ton University, PTC, Chevron, General Lighting, Rigging ALPS/ qualification matches where the Advanced Lighting & Electric, EMC Corporation, and many teams’ robots competed on a 50Production Services Inc. others. by 24-foot carpeted field loaded Production Show Ready But what is the upside for comwith obstacles such as bumps Events panies that invest in what is essenon the ground and platforms the Technical Direction Sargent Production Services tially a high school science project? robots had to hang from. Saturday Venue Agganis Arena at Software company PTC’s senior vice was elimination day, with all the Boston University president of solutions marketing teams broken into brackets to lead Video AVFX Inc. and communications, Robin Saitz to the eventual winner. “It’s our

On Friday, Dr. Hugh Herr of the MIT Media Lab and new startup iWalk described his work developing robotic prosthetic ankles.

In between matches, students fixed their robots.

own version of March Madness,” said Mikell Taylor, president of the Boston First Regional planning committee.

Three teams from the region headed to the F.R.C. championship in Atlanta in April. In total, 45 regional competitions took place this spring, in cities like Washington, Orlando, Chicago, and Las Vegas. —Courtney Thompson

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The New York Venue Report In many ways, New York is a study in contrasts. The city is defined by historic buildings, but its ever-changing landscape of restaurants, hotels, concert halls, and museums gets most of the attention. Our annual guide looks at new construction as well as a recent rash of renovations to some of the city’s iconic venues. Edited by ANNA SEKULA

COMING UP FOR AIR Redesigned by De-Spec and Pentasia Designs, the rooftop at the Kimberly Hotel is scheduled to open in June as a lounge called Upstairs. With heated flooring and retractable glass ceilings and walls, the 4,000-square-foot spot is available year-round and serves small plates from the hotel’s in-house restaurant. The entire space holds 225 for receptions; smaller gatherings can use the 40-person enclosed penthouse room or the 30-person semiprivate patio. (145 East 50th St., 212.702.1685)

ON BIZBASH.COM The latest venue news, plus our comprehensive directory

bizbash.com may/june 2010 87

The New York Venue Report

Good Units

Gansevoort Park

SoHi

ROOM TO RENT City hotels are expanding their offerings beyond the standard conference areas and ballrooms to include chic, brandable spaces.

In February, the Hudson Hotel (353 West 57th St., 212.554.6136) debuted its newest event venue, a basement space dubbed Good Units, which quickly became the hotspot for Fashion Week shows and parties. Designed by Robert McKinley, the 7,000-square-foot site was once a Y.M.C.A. gym and now features bleachers, concrete floors, and graffiti-covered walls.

Another unconventional space, Liberty Hall, on the lower level of the Ace Hotel (20 West 29th

88 bizbash.com may/june 2010

St., 646.214.5764), is as bohemian in style as the rest of the property. Mismatched furniture sits on polished concrete floors in the 3,000-square-foot venue, which can be divided into three rooms and used for concerts, receptions, and meetings.

Liberty Hall has its own entrance and can host as many as 200 people.

Just a couple blocks away, the 292-room Eventi (851 Ave. of the Americas, 212.564.4567), scheduled to open in May, is the latest addition to the Kimpton Hotels portfolio and includes a significant amount of real estate devoted to events. In addition to areas for business groups, the hotel has a 2,976-square-foot terrace, an adjacent 22-seat screening room, and a street-level plaza equipped with a 22-foot screen.

Also built with events in mind, the Trump SoHo hotel (246 Spring St., 212.842.5500) opened in April with an array of gathering space. Among them is SoHi, a 1,700-square-foot penthouse that sits atop the 46-story tower and offers views of the Hudson River from its lofty perch. Designed

by Handel Architects, the intimate room has floor-to-ceiling windows, and seats 90 or holds 150 for receptions.

Expected in June, the Gansevoort Park (420 Park Ave. South, 212.730.0892) is the 249-room Park Avenue sister to the meatpacking district’s Hotel Gansevoort. Like its crosstown sibling, the hotel’s main event space will be a 13,000-squarefoot trilevel rooftop complex complete with an indoor-outdoor pool area and lounges.

HOTELS

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ACE HOTEL (LIBERTY HALL), SOPHIA VOURDOUKIS (GOOD UNITS), RENDERING COURTESY O FTRUMP SOHO (SOHI), COURTESY OF GANSEVOORT HOTEL GROUP

Liberty Hall

Hilton New York

PHOTOS: SONHEIM PHOTOGRAPHY (GRAND HYATT), COURTESY OF HILTON NEW YORK, ANDREW BRICKNELL (SCHERMERHORN), BLANCE WILLIAMSON (LINCOLN CENTER)

Grand Hyatt New York

Schermerhorn Galleries

New Takes on Old Sites New York has hundreds of storied spots, some of which received face-lifts to make them better suited for modern events.

In the row of historic brick structures on Fulton Street, the South Street Seaport Museum (12 Fulton St., 212.260.1636), which opened in 1967, earlier this year made available its Schermerhorn Galleries, a series of interconnected rooms on its fifth floor. Sporting original details such hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, ceiling beams, and even graffiti, the three front spaces measure about 1,000 square feet and seat 80 or hold as

many as 250 for receptions. A larger rear gallery measures around 1,500 square feet.

Built in 1929, the Paradise Theater (2403 Grand Concourse, Bronx, 718.220.1952) is a surviving example of architect John Eberson’s opulent and palatial movie house designs. Although the designated Bronx landmark was vacant for two years, new owners resurrected the site and reopened it last fall as a place for live music, events, and community gatherings. Some 3,769 seats face the proscenium stage at this baroque hall, and a lounge on the second floor can be used for private functions.

With a reputation for its traditional ballrooms, the 37-year-old Hilton New York (1335 Ave. of the Americas, 212.586.7000) in mid-December

unveiled new looks for its Mercury and Trianon venues. The hotel’s $1 million investment went into upgraded wall coverings, carpeting, fixtures, and furnishings, overseen by Champalimaud Design. California-based company MoodSpace also provided an addition to one of the reception areas with an installation of lighting and artwork.

Another sizable property to give its event space a face-lift was the Grand Hyatt New York (109 East 42nd St., 212.883.1234), which reopened the Empire Ballroom in March after a $12 million overhaul. Measuring 18,000 square feet, the modernized site now has LED lighting in its grand Italian marble foyer, glass chandeliers with the ability to pinspot individual tables in the ballroom, and a retractable stage.

A NEW GATHERING SPACE AT LINCOLN CENTER Originally the Colonial Music Hall, the David Rubenstein Atrium was redesigned as a new public space for Lincoln Center and reopened at the end of last year. Devised as a community gathering area, the site features two 21-foot-tall vertical gardens, a floorto-ceiling fountain, and a 97-foot art installation by Dutch textile artisan Claudy Jongsta. Available for events, the LEED-certified 5,700-square-foot atrium also offers a 44-foot-long media wall, theatrical lighting and audio, portable staging equipment, and a capacity of 250 for receptions. (61 West 62nd St., 212.875.5264)

bizbash.com may/june 2010 89

The New York Venue Report

Empire Room

Covet

LIQUID ASSETS For an after-work sip, a quick bite, or an evening of entertaining, these new cocktail lounges are comfortable options.

upholstered in cow hide print, and rough-hewn wood give it the feel of a Swiss ski lodge. With a capacity of 250, the space serves a selection of mixed drinks, including some made using hibiscus bitters, strawberries cooked in Aperol, and black cardamom essence. Upstairs, the 66-seat eatery offers Pacific Rim and Mediterranean-influenced An Art Deco Den Once a post office, the Empire Room sits inside the Empire State Building dishes. (137 East 55th St., 212.223.1802) and sports an interior designed to blend in Detail-Oriented Digs The meatpacking with the architectural style of its surroundings. district’s latest eatery isn’t a sleek spot with fancy New in late March, the upscale watering hole is furnishings, but rather a place filled with lavishly decorated in embossed leathers, repurposed furniture and decor sourced from marble, glass-topped tables, silver leaf, and macassar ebony wood. The menu includes classic junkyards, Ebay, Etsy, and Craigslist. The Collective comprises five areas, each with its own assortcocktails like the Waldorf and Ramos gin fizz and a short list of nibbles. Spanning 3,500 square feet, ment of seating and design elements, including walls made from Legos, columns festooned the Empire Room offers 150 seats. (350 Fifth Ave., with deflated balloons, and tables made from car 212.643.5400) hoods. The menu for the 200-seat spot is eclectic too, with dishes like chicken and waffles, Maine A Midtown Hideaway Tucked below lobster salad, and Hong Kong-style ribs. (1 Little a street-level restaurant, Covet is an intimate West 12th St., 212.255.9717) spot where bear-skin throw pillows, ottomans

BARS

A Flexible Conference Facility in Times Square In January, the New York Society of Security Analysts moved to a new space in Times Square and is now offering it up for meetings and presentations. The main room, which can be split into three sections, seats 195 in a classroom setup. There are also two smaller conference rooms available; one seats 10, the other four.

Membership is not required to rent the site, and the society offers Webcasting, audio conferencing, teleconferencing and taping, as well as on-site audiovisual support staff. (1540 Broadway, Suite 1010, 646.871.3429)

90 bizbash.com may/june 2010

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF COVET, COURTESY OF HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS (EMPIRE ROOM), COURETSY OF THE COLLECTIVE, COURTESY OF NYSSA

The Collective

BOROUGH HAUL

PHOTOS: MIKE MCCARTHY (KENMARE), DANIEL KRIEGER (PULINO’S), COURTESY OF ABC KITCHEN, DANIEL AUBRY (SETAI)

Like its burgeoning restaurant scene, Brooklyn’s cultural venues continue to evolve.

Among the many cultural projects in the works, the $70 million rehabilitation of Loew’s Kings Theater (1025-1035 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn) is one of the biggest.

Once restored, the French Renaissancestyle building, the largest indoor theater in Brooklyn, will operate as a place for concerts, plays, and events. The projected opening date is 2014.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, 718.636.4198) embarked on an ambitious expansion project in January 2009. In the works are a 263-seat theater—in a building designed

by H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture and named for Richard B. Fisher—a second cinematic complex with three screens and a gallery for exhibitions, and an upgrade to the existing Harvey Theater.

Also designed by architect Hugh Hardy is the new 299-seat home of the Theater for a New Audience (264 Ashland Place, Brooklyn; 212.229.2819), expected to begin construction at the end of this year.

The 30,000-square-foot facility is a key component of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s effort to create a new cultural district that also includes the renovation of the Strand Theater and a public plaza.

ON BIZBASH.COM

Kenmare

ABC Kitchen

Pulino’s Bar & Pizzeria

Brooklyn event guides with more local venues and vendors

Seasonal Spread A Group-Friendly Downtown Spa Hidden inside the financial district’s swanky Setai Wall Street residential building, the Setai Spa is a 12,000-square-foot retreat open to groups. Accented with Brazilian walnut, Italian glass tiles, and leather wall panels, this spot has 10 rooms for treatments, as well as a tea lounge and a Jacuzzi. (40 Broad St., 3rd Floor, 212.363.5418)

In line with the trend toward casual, market-driven eateries, some notable names debuted their latest in March.

Pulino’s Bar & Pizzeria With an empire that includes some of the city’s most popular restaurants, Keith McNally added to his foodie following with the opening of this Bowery eatery.

Joining the restaurateur in this venture is San Francisco transplant Nate Appleman, who dishes up pizza and other Italian fare in a 110-seat space decorated with white tiled walls, exposed brick, and vintage light fixtures. (282 Bowery, 212.226.1966)

ABC Kitchen In the ABC Carpet & Home space that previously housed Lucy Latin Kitchen, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Phil Suarez created this farm-to-table joint. Artfully furnished with reclaimed pieces, including salvaged wood tables, handcrafted bread baskets, and etched mirrors, ABC Kitchen offers 150 seats. (35 East 18th St., 212.475.5829) Kenmare Beatrice Inn creator Paul Sevigny, Little Owl chef Joey Campanaro, and Rose Bar partner and creative director Nur Khan joined forces to open this 100-seat newcomer to Little Italy. Stucco walls, bronze palm leaves, and comfy banquettes complement Campanaro’s MediterraneanAmerican menu. (98 Kenmare St., 212.274.9898) bizbash.com may/june 2010 91

The New York Venue Report

Loft 676

Fill in the Blanks Ampersand Studios Open for events and photo shoots since late March, this 5,200square-foot ground-floor site shares a building with Skylight West. With drive-in accessibility and 15-foot ceilings, Ampersand Studios offers polished concrete floors, and a basement production area. It seats 510 people for a runway presentation or 250 with dancing and holds 400 for receptions. (500 West 36th St., 646.873.4999)

1,750-square-foot space offers an on-site kitchen, sound system, and projector, and partners with vendors such as Verterra and vegan caterer People’s Pantry. (394 Broadway, 5th Floor, 917.267.9264)

Loft 676 Measuring 3,200 square feet, this unadorned site has 12-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls, and hardwood floors. On the border of NoHo and Greenwich Village, the fourth-floor venue has adjustable track lighting, an on-site kitchen, and freight elevator access for load-in. Loft 676 holds about 225 for receptions or seats 150 for dinner. (676 Broadway, 646.596.8676)

RAW SPACES

Ampersand Studios

SalonEco For those looking to host events with an environmentally sound bent, Green Spaces, an organization that supports ecologically minded entrepreneurs, opened its TriBeCa loft for events in early April. Outfitted with a rotating exhibition of sustainable artwork and vintage furniture, the

Studio Square Next to Kaufman Astoria Studios and just one block from the Museum of the Moving Image, Studio Square is a newly renovated building with a 12,500-square-foot loft.

Designed as a flexible site for corporate functions, live music performances, and promotional events, the venue seats 500 or holds 1,000 for receptions and also offers a 3,000-square-foot terrace that can seat 200. (35-33 36th St., Queens, 718.383.1001)

A NEW SIDE TO THE WHITNEY Although its biggest project is the planned satellite location by the High Line, the Whitney Museum of American Art announced in January a change to its Madison Avenue home. In a long-term partnership with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, the Upper East Side institution will offer a new café in the lowerlevel gallery and sculpture court, where most events take place.

Designed by the Rockwell Group, the eatery will open in the fall after a renovation. (945 Madison Ave., 212.606.0388)

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PHOTOS: BENOIT GRANDMOUGIN (LOFT 676), JEFFREY VOCK (STUDIO SQUARE), PAUL WITTE (AMPERSAND STUDIOS), MATT CARASELLA (WHITNEY)

Studio Square

Bare studios and clutter-free lofts can provide a clean canvas for events that need a place to brand as their own.

OPEN ROADS

RENDERINGS: COURTESY OF STRIKE HOLDINGS (BOWLMOR), DILLER, SCOFIDIO AND RENFRO (PATINA GROUP), SGM PHOTOGRAPHY (PROVACATEUR)

After rolling out last May, the car-free areas on Broadway are now permanent and can be used for public gatherings and promotions. With no single agency handling the booking, here’s how to use…

Times Square The Times Square Alliance still handles events at Duffy Square, but the Street Activity Permit Office oversees the use of the pedestrian plazas running from 42nd to 44th Street and Military Island.

All information—including applications, rules, and the new fee scale introduced last June—is available on the agency’s Web site at nyc.gov/sapo.

A rendering of the unnamed Patina Group restaurant

Herald Square Currently, the 34th Street Partnership will coordinate the use of the areas adjacent to Herald and Greeley Squares. More information, like what to submit with a proposal, is available on the organization’s Web site, 34thStreet. org, and inquiries can be made via email to events@urbanmgt.com.

Madison Square Park The Flatiron 23rd Street Partnership handles the programming for the plazas in the Flatiron district from 22nd to 25th streets, along the western edge of the park. Planners should send requests directly to the Street Activity Permit Office.

A rendering of Bowlmor Times Square

COMING SOON As the pace of construction in the city picks up, some of the biggest and most anticipated venues of 2010 have yet to arrive.

A New Exhibition Pavilion The longawaited expansion of New York’s only convention center is on track and scheduled for completion in July. When finished, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s new facility will provide 80,000 square feet linked to the existing structure via a 30-footwide corridor. Tentatively dubbed Javits Center North, the pavilion will also include loading docks, a plaza, and hang-points on a 20- by 20-foot grid.

(655 West 34th St., 212.216.2186)

An Expansive Bowling Alley This fall,

A Purple Playhouse At the foot of the Hotel Gansevoort, Provocateur is a $4 million club from Michael Satsky and Brian Gefter.

Encompassing 7,000 square feet and divided into two distinct areas, the venue’s look was inspired by European dollhouses and Madonna’s 1985 Virgin Tour and includes lace details, ornate furniture, and a purple palette.

Provocateur is designed for events and can hold 550 guests. (18 Ninth Ave., 212.929.9036)

Strike Holdings will open its largest Bowlmor Lanes location yet, a mammoth 90,000-squarefoot facility inside the former New York Times building on West 44th Street. Expected to open in October, Bowlmor Times Square will be a 50-lane multilevel venue. In addition to lane-side lounges, there will be two spaces available for events: the 1,000-square-foot TriBeCa Loft and the 2,500-square-foot SoHo Loft. (West 44th St., 212.352.9207)

A Restaurant for the Culture Crowd Part of Lincoln Center’s campus renovation, a new Patina Group establishment is slated to open in the fall with chef Jonathan Benno, chef de cuisine at Thomas Keller’s Per Se, helming the kitchen.

Designed by architectural firm Diller Scofidio & Renfro as a glass-enclosed structure with a sloping roof, the as-yet-unnamed restaurant will offer a terrace, an upscale area, and a private room.

(West 65th St., 866.972.8462)

A Showy Hotel for SoHo Following in the footsteps of the Standard, the Mondrian is another West Coast property set to make its first appearance in New York. Operated by Morgans Hotel Group, this 270-room hotel will have a modern interior by Benjamin NoriegaOrtiz, as well as an outdoor bar and a restaurant from former Top Chef contestant Sam Talbot.

The Mondrian SoHo is scheduled to open in the third quarter of this year. (150 Lafayette St., 800.697.1791) A Sleek Chophouse for Bryant Park The One Group, parent of the STK steak houses in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, is planning to open a second New York outpost in the fall. The 9,000-square-foot location inside the Bryant Parkadjacent Grace Building is dubbed STK Midtown and will offer a seasonal menu from executive chef Todd Mark Miller, as well as 3,000 square feet of outdoor dining space and takeout kiosk STKout.

(1114 Ave. of the Americas, 646.624.2400)

bizbash.com may/june 2010 93

SPECIAL REPORT

EVENT & MEETING TECHNOLOGY 9 tools and trends to help planners do a better job right now.

By MICHAEL O’CONNELL, Illustrations by HAL LEE As constant advances in technology are changing the way we communicate and do business, they’re also providing event professionals with new ways to boost attendance, keep guests engaged, save money, simplify planning, or just look really cool. To help you get up to speed, here is a look at the most recent and relevant developments that could help improve your performance and results.

GIVING IN TO TWITTER Last year saw event planners everywhere drink the Twitter Kool-Aid. And if you weren’t among them, you probably heard plenty about its potential as a professional asset. Now, after Twitter reached more than 100 million users earlier this year, marketers are looking even more closely at the long-term value of 140-character musings.

“One of the best uses of Twitter is for meetings and events,” says Jessica Levin, a technology enthusiast and New Jersey-based event marketer at Seven Degrees Communications. “It’s the quickest and easiest way for people to connect, promote, share content, and provide commentary on the event itself.”

Twitter is just a bare-bones channel of communication Signing on and taking a few moments a day to contribute to the conversations that matter to you—whether for promotion or feedback—is all it takes.

Communities of users following topics relevant to you are now

firmly in place: The #eventprofs hashtag gets hundreds of posts per day, and industry experts and media outlets have growing followings. (Certainly you follow @BizBash_News, right?)

The big allure for many event professionals is that it’s all just as valuable on site.

Guests’ tweets can be used to get real-time feedback about a party or meeting, showcased on monitors to encourage others to contribute to the conversation, or used to simulcast a conference for people who couldn’t make it to the physical event.

The April announcement of promoted tweets, a way for the Web site to generate revenue, could also work to some users’ benefit. Under the new model, paid tweets will see higher placement in search engines. Paying for tweets about an event could earn you more traffic and followers.

GOOGLE WAVE One of the latest free applications offered

by Google could change the way you work with other people. An amalgam of email, instant messaging, wikis, and social networking, Google Wave is a collaborative computing platform that works on any computer with an Internet connection, and you probably already know someone who’s used it to plan a meeting or event.

“If meeting planners are to truly adopt technology and digitize their business, they must stop using email as their communication form for planning meetings,” says Washington-based event and technology consultant Corbin Ball. “You never know if you’ve got the current version of a document. That leads to real problems, and Google Wave provides an opportunity for changing that paradigm.”

Owner of Corbin Ball Associates, Ball was among the first to tout Wave’s potential for the event industry. Planners, like anyone, can use the program as a singular destination for the early stages of a project, and add photos, maps, contact information, and text as necessary. And because the program keeps a record of the evolution of the document, nothing can ever be permanently deleted. You can invite as many individuals as you like to contribute, and each collaborator’s additions are automatically attributed. A polling function even allows users to vote on all the variables—from the date of a meeting to the menu options from a caterer.

Google Wave is still in preview mode right now—you have to be invited to use it—but Google plans to launch it publicly later this year.

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TRANSPARENT REGISTRATION Getting attendees out of town—or out of their offices—for a conference can be tough. Before committing, many people want to know who else is coming. Along with speakers, sponsors, and programming, the names and number of peers who register can be the biggest selling point. So why do so many events not tell potential attendees who else will be there?

“People want to go to conferences to see each other, whether it’s people they already know, peers they want to meet, or connections they only happen to know online,” says Robert Swanwick, a Maryland event consultant and founder of Speaker Interactive and Twebevent.

Some registration vendors are already making this happen. Cvent, Certain, and EventBrite are some of the event management programs that will include lists of people who’ve already signed up as part of online registration.

The producers behind April’s Chirp conference in San Francisco, an official summit of Twitter developers, published a continually updating list of attendees with EventBrite, and even included links to their Twitter pages and Web sites.

“Ideally, registration like this will show you the connections you have to other registrants on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook,” Swanwick says. “If you see that you already have connections to 20 people, that’s a pretty powerful impetus.”

It’s also a great way to advertise an event. Including links for attendees to tweet or post to Facebook about an event can get a conference seen by their friends and followers.

ONLINE COMMUNITIES Tapping into Web-based communities has been a top priority for marketers since Facebook began to dominate Internet usage. Now, more brands and events are setting up niche social networks, and companies such as Crowdvine, Pathable, and Zerista are helping clients build custom communities around projects as small as internal conferences and as large as festivals.

Experts advise carefully measuring expectations before creating your own social network.

“What people need to focus on is creating a longer-term community around their audience,” Swanwick says. “These communities take a long time to plan, set up, and feed; then they tend to fizzle out pretty quickly.

If you want to incorporate social networking in a business, you have to do it year-round.”

Swanwick thinks bigger and more like-minded audiences are the most likely to stay active in their communities. Associations, trade shows, and large companies, in particular, should focus on permanent social integration into their Web sites, so each event motivates the

audience to return to the same place.

But communities don’t have to be expensive custom buildouts. Creating groups within existing social networks can work if you’re willing to do the legwork of encouraging dialogue. “If you don’t have the money to make your own, doing something within the parameters of Facebook or LinkedIn is always an alternative,” Ball says.

“You don’t have the control and you can’t manage the data the same, but people can network just as well.”

Likewise, the most basic, short-term approach to creating a community is to encourage attendees to use a hashtag when tweeting about an event, like #Tribeca during the Tribeca Film Festival or # FNO09 for last year’s Fashion’s Night Out retail promotion.

Experts advise planners not to get hung up on making a social network for a onetime gathering. “The event should be a catalyst to energize the community,” Swanwick says. “Post things they like and keep them interested and interacting, but don’t get hung up on making it about the one moment.”

CONVENIENT VIDEOCONFERENCING For videoconferences, high-end telepresence technology has a clear edge on Web cams.

Unfortunately, the leap between these two methods of visual communication comes with a hardware and service price tag that starts at around $300,000.

But you don’t have to buy the technology to use it. Leading telepresence provider Cisco has

expanded partnerships with Marriott and Starwood hotels in the last year to offer videoconferencing suites at low hourly rates. Groups of as many as 20 can gather in specially designed conference rooms that sync with colleagues in affiliated hotels in the U.S. or in international outposts.

By the end of the year, Marriott plans to have the technology in 25 hotels and Starwood in 10, in cities like New York, Washington, and San Francisco. Packages vary, depending on the size of the meeting.

AUDIENCE RESPONSE TECHNOLOGY’S MOVE TO MOBILE Instead of placing handheld devices on every seat at a conference, lots of planners now rely on attendees to bring tools of their own. Textin audience response has been commonplace for years, but the sudden ubiquity of Twitter has prompted many to start relying on that EventHive, a startup from a college student, culls audience tweets and combines them with polling technology to create an audience response experience that works for anyone who’s got a laptop or a Web-enabled phone. Partici-

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pants don’t even have to download anything, merely go to the event’s designated site.

Twitter-based A.R.T. is happening more and more, but most think it will just complement the existing market. “I do think we’re going toward handheld devices,” Ball says, “but there’ll always be competition. Not everyone has a Web-enabled phone yet. Those [planners] who are serious about their audience polling will continue to use their own tools.”

One such tool Ball sees people being drawn

to in the next year is the IML Connector, which comes out this September. The small handheld comes with a fullcolor screen, realtime interpretation tools, microphone, QWERTY keyboard, and portable PA system. It also looks a lot like a smartphone.

EVENT APPS

MIXING MEDIA A Massachusetts company is taking advantage of consumers’ infatuation with the most popular and socially minded elements of the Internet—Facebook, Twitter, photo-sharing, and viral videos— by letting guests use them all as back channels for commentary at events, with large monitors showing what people have posted online related to the event.

Aerva offers clients such as Kodak, Yahoo, and Advertising Week software that encourages attendees to interact with the brand on custom digital signage.

(These people can be guests at private events or consumers passing by public stunts.) The company helps event producers select any combination of ways for people to create and share content through their own profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube, on displays as small as a flat-screen television or as large as a Times Square billboard.

Although seeing live streams of relevant text messages or tweets at parties isn’t a completely new concept, Aerva collects more than words. It combines aspects of social networking and contentdistribution sites with text-in polling and photo uploads to ensure maximum participation. Catering to a wider audience of mobile-equipped guests means that none of your budget is spent on computing stations that often go untouched.

It also works as means for informal audience response. At a March conference for the American Association of Advertising Agencies, keynote speaker and Wired editor Chris Anderson deviated from his planned speech and engaged the audience when an Aerva display showed that many listeners disagreed with his stance on the iPad.

ON BIZBASH.COM

Mobile applications aren’t just one of the biggest moneymakers in technology right now, they’re an important reason more than 50 million Americans are smartphone owners. In the event community, they can help trade shows and conferences stay free of paper and laptops while making it easier for attendees to explore, network, and stay on top of the schedule.

“Nobody wants another piece of paper or another badge around their neck,” says Clinton Bonner. “It makes all the sense in the world to deliver content straight to the user’s mobile.”

Bonner’s company, the Social Collective, develops social networks for conferences, and one of its goals is to make those networks friendlier for mobile applications. Bonner is not alone. FollowMe, QuickMobile, and My Mobile Meetings are all catering to the industry with custom software that attendees can download to their phones before or during events.

Such apps contain everything from show floor maps to schedules and registration forms to local city guides.

Event-based apps offer more than just guides, though. Many come with wireless networking to allow attendees to exchange

contact information by simply bumping their iPhones. When the guests return to their rooms at the end of the day, all of their new connections are stored in one place and easily synced to the contacts lists on their phone or computer.

Or, by simply snapping a photo of a bar code at a vendor booth at a trade show, event apps can save links to Web sites containing information that would otherwise have been printed on easily discarded handouts.

The practice is becoming more and more common, but it’s not the standard. Many planners chalk that up to the diversity in hardware, with attendees choosing among different brands. Plenty of these apps only work with one type of phone or another. But as the number of smartphone users grows, so will the number of non-model-specific applications, experts predict.

“Event apps need to be mobile agnostic,” Bonner says. “They have to work with iPhones, BlackBerries, and other smartphones, so you’re including the biggest audience. People’s phones are always on them, so you need to have your content there, and it needs to be branded.”

THE IPAD Speaking of apps: We’re not even halfway into 2010, but the biggest tech story of the year will probably be the April launch of the iPad. More than just a shiny new toy, Apple’s touch-screen tablet computer could change the way you work on site, especially as software developers dream up event-specific applications.

“You can always tell who’s a planner at an event,” Ball says. “They’re carrying around a five-inch-thick three-ring binder with all the details. Tablets will be able to handle all that stuff to just make it a natural substitute.”

Ball thinks the iPad could be the thing to finally push the industry into the 21st century. “Meetings are all about portability,” he explains. “The reason we don’t have as much technology in meetings is because people aren’t carrying around their computers. But they will carry an iPad.”

The fusion of smartphone and notebook computer technology won’t just condense materials, agendas, and guest lists; with a little experimentation—and the inevitable development of some industry-specific applications—it could also make some jobs easier.

Intimate presentations could be delivered on the fly, in hotel rooms, or during a lunch break. At conferences, paperless surveys, registration, and note-taking could all be tackled on an iPad. Security concerns over multiple checkin stations at private parties could be reduced if staffers documented arrivals electronically, and each person’s iPad could show a continuously updated guest list.

For Apple skeptics, such technology isn’t limited to the media-friendly iPad. More than 50 unique tablets are expected to debut within a few months of the iPad’s launch.

Links to further reading on these topics

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Disney’s setting included colorful chairs from the Walt Disney Signature furniture collection, as well as a giant Mickey Mouse sculpture.

At Diffa’s Dining by Design benefit in New York, designers used subtle branding to showcase sponsors.

By LISA CERICOLA

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Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (Diffa) hosted its annual Dining by Design gala at Pier 94 in March. Concurrent with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, the showcase included five days of ticketed and public events built around 32 dining spaces created by artists, architects, and fashion, interior, and event designers. While sponsored tables are always a part of Dining by Design, a stronger promotional presence was felt this year, with creations based around sponsors such as J.C. Penney, Ralph Lauren, and Benjamin Moore.

“There’s an unspoken agreement that they don’t overbrand,” said Steven Williams, Diffa’s director of community relations and operations, who planned Dining by Design with Peggy Bellar, director of special events. “We try to encourage our designers and sponsors to be sensitive to the fact that this is a charity event and not a trade show.” Williams said the connection to the Architectural Digest show (which included Diffa in the ticket price for the first time) brings in more consumers, thereby increasing sponsors’ desire for a visible presence.

PHOTOS: EMILY GILBERT FOR BIZBASH

NOT-SO-HIDDEN MESSAGES

David Stark Design and Production created a table based around Benjamin Moore’s new iPhone app. Images of the program appeared on the walls alongside sample paint colors, and phones topped candelabra.

J.C. Penney’s table, by Shiraz Events, Atomic Design, and Sara Costello, created a traditional dining room look with items from the store’s Cindy Crawford home collection and spelled out the company’s name in pennies.

Ralph Lauren Home went for a poloinspired look with a grassy carpet, saddles, and a gazebolike structure.

The New York Design Center’s table displayed items from its showroom, tagged with the names of the designers.

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TRENDS FROM DIFFA

Kravet mixed bright patterns on dining chairs and fabric-covered boxes at each place setting.

David Beahm’s setting for Continental Airlines used a banquette with two contrasting fabrics and wooden seats.

Contrasting Fabrics Floral Runners

Succulents and other plants ran down the center of David Stark’s table for Benjamin Moore.

Manhattan magazine’s table, by Marc Wilson Designs and Mark Tamayo, had a row of yellow and white flowers and tiny New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.

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Marc Blackwell’s pied-à-terre included several small arrangements of roses and rose petals.

Moore & Giles stuck to shades of beige for Architectural Digest.

Neutral Palettes

Michael Tavano worked with students from the New York School of Interior Design to create a dramatic space with walls covered in strips of wood.

Curtain Dividers Netted material divided Razortoothdesign’s table.

The fabric was cut and draped to create a placemat for each place setting.

Strands of 4,000 Swarovski crystals hung above David Rockwell’s table. Lighting built into the floor uplit the crystals, creating a sparkling effect.

2Michaels created a warm, earthy space with neutral-colored items such as sheepskin throws, a paper divider, and a woven rug.

Place Settings With a Point At Disney’s table, napkins read “What kind of world do you want to create?”

Students from the Fashion Institute of Technology worked with David Stark to create a “Little Red Riding Hood”themed setting. Each seat at the table had a plate with a humorous image of a grandmother and a place card with a short message about each woman.

Architectural Digest used plates with inspirational quotes from notable people such as Christopher Reeve and Anne Frank.

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The Directory A selection of resources from our comprehensive online directory of event and meeting suppliers and venues

Los Angeles New Venues BARS, LOUNGES & CLUBS THE BAR ROOM

Porta Via owner Peter Garland opened the Bar Room adjacent to his Canon Drive restaurant in Beverly Hills.

Designed by his wife, Jill Garland, the Bar Room offers cocktails, beer, and wine, along with small plates of popular Porta Via dishes in an upscale, publike setting. The venue holds 80 and has a glass-topped communal table made from an old iron door with room for 10. (428 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.274.6534) BAR210 AND PLUSH

Bar210 and Plush opened in the Beverly Hilton in February. The adjacent spaces are a lounge (serving small plates and cocktails) and a nightclub, respectively. Together, the spaces offer 7,000 square feet for groups as large as 400. There are multiple full-service bars, an outdoor lounge with a fire pit, and outdoor space that can increase the capacity to 2,000. (9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.887.6060) HYDE LOUNGE MAMMOTH

SBE’s latest incarnation of its Hyde Lounge property opened in Mammoth in January. The space is close to 5,000 square feet and can hold as many as 120 indoors and as many as 200 on its heated patio. (6201 Minaret Road, Suite 240, Mammoth Lakes, 760.934.0669) INDUSTRY

SBE opened new nightclub Industry in March in the former Area space.

The club has a modern look and feel with Art Deco touches. There are plush banquettes and performance poles in the space, which has three bars in the intimate main room. Two additional private rooms have their own full bars serving specialty cocktails. Overall, Industry has room for 500 with a wall removed, or room for groups of 400 and 100 split up. (643 North La Cienega, 310.652.2012) STATION HOLLYWOOD

Innovative Dining Group opened Station Hollywood at the W Hollywood earlier this year. Backed up against the M.T.A.’s Hollywood & Vine station, this outdoor bar and lounge has dark woods, woven resin chairs and a slightly raised V.I.P. area. The venue’s 600-square-foot retractable screen, surround sound system, and HD projector are available for events. (6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.798.1300)

CONFERENCE CENTER

square-foot Diamond Ballroom, two smaller ballrooms, nine meeting rooms, and two boardrooms. The hotel has a restaurant, a wine bar, and a rooftop lounge. (900 West Olympic Blvd., 213.765.8600) RITZ-CARLTON, LOS ANGELES

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Los Angeles opened in April, and the Ritz-Carlton Residences are supposed to open within a couple months. The Ritz has 123 guest rooms, a signature restaurant, a club lounge, and a Ritz-Carlton spa. The 3,400-square-foot club lounge also serves as the 23rd-floor check-in area. A small boardroom is adjacent. There is also a rooftop swimming pool and terrace. (900 West Olympic Blvd., 213.743.8800) W HOLLYWOOD

Open since February, the 305-room W Hollywood has 10,000 square feet of meeting space and 25,000 square feet of overall event space. The W also offers a pool with day beds, cabanas, and a bar, and a variety of restaurant and nightlife offerings, including Drai’s Hollywood from Las Vegas nightlife impresario Victor Drai. (6250 Hollywood Blvd., Eco-Conscious Hollywood, 323.798.1300)

Where to...

Eat an Lunch Downtown

Family-owned healthy food chain Mixt Greens, which started in San Francisco, recently opened in downtown Los Angeles. The space serves up locally sourced fare with a gourmet sensibility; dishes include a vast array of salads and sandwiches with cheeky names like the Rooster, Loafer, and Disco. Mixt Greens is open during weekday lunch hours from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., making it a good choice for a casual meeting or convention break. Catering and boxed lunches are also available for in-office meals. Mixt Greens uses fully compostable, biodegradable packaging and nontoxic, biodegradable cleaners.

A second Los Angeles location recently opened in the Miracle Mile district. (Downtown: 350 South Grand Ave., Suite D6, 213.587.7970; Miracle Mile: 5757 Wilshire Blvd., 213 587 7975)

PHOTO: WINNIEEATSWORLD

FAIRPLEX

The Fairplex in Pomona held a groundbreaking ceremony in February for its Fairplex Conference Center, an 85,000square-foot high-tech venue suited for trade shows and meetings. The ceremony marked the beginning of a yearlong construction project. Incorporating the conversion of a 33,600square-foot exhibit building with the development of a new 50,000-squarefoot structure, the new center will play up the existing Art Deco qualities of the Fairplex grounds as well as the parklike setting. (1101 West McKinley, Pomona, 909.623.3111)

HOTELS JW MARRIOTT AT L.A. LIVE

This new 878-room hotel at L.A. Live shares a 54-story tower with the new Ritz-Carlton. The hotel offers 75,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, including the 26,000-

INDEPENDENT EVENT SPACES OPENING SOON ROLLING STONE

The first U.S. Rolling Stone venue will open at the Hollywood & Highland Center this summer, the venue’s founders—Lucky Rug Group principals Niall Donnelly and Joe Altounian, with Rolling Stone editor and publisher Jann Wenner—announced in December. The multilevel space will encompass more than 10,000 square feet, with a restaurant, bar, lounge, and event space. (6801 Hollywood Blvd.)

DELPHINE

With the opening of the much-anticipated new W Hollywood Hotel & Residences earlier this year came the debut of Delphine restaurant from the Innovative Dining Group. The classic French menu at Delphine offers Provençal cooking with Mediterranean influences. (6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.798.1355) OPENING SOON HARD ROCK CAFE

Hard Rock International announced the new project is slated to open this summer at the Hollywood & Highland complex. The 500-seat Hard Rock Cafe Los Angeles will take over more than 20,000 square feet of space, including seating, a live concert area, and a Rock Shop offering limited-edition merchandise and rock ’n’ roll memorabilia from the company’s collection. The Rock Shop opened in November and displays artist renderings of the whole venue. (6801 Hollywood Blvd., 323.464.7625) PITFIRE ARTISAN PIZZA

Pitfire Artisan Pizza has opened its newest location in Culver City. The casual restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas and an accessible beer and wine list. The restaurant is available for buyout, and the total capacity is 120 inside, or 350 with the parking lot tented. A 30-seat patio has an olive grove and an edible garden with tomatoes and herbs. The menu of farmer’s market-driven, seasonal fare is overseen by executive chef Michael Ainslie. (12924 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 424.835.4088) TAR PIT

The Tar Pit is a luxe, Art Deco-inspired restaurant and bar with ornate chandeliers, mirrored walls, and leather banquettes. The new project from Mark Peel (the man behind Campanile) and Audrey Saunders (the cocktail guru behind Pegu Club in New York) offers artisanal cocktails, bar fare, and a full menu. Tar Pit is available for buyouts for events, but there are no private rooms. The venue can seat more than 90 or hold about 150 for receptions. (609 North La Brea Ave., 323.965.1300)

650 NORTH

OPENING SOON TIATO

Opened in the former Republic space, 650 North is a newly remodeled venue in West Hollywood. The 14,000-squarefoot property has two levels and a maximum event capacity of 1,200 guests with the right permits, or 180 for a seated event. There is an adjacent 5,000-square-foot outdoor area for use for large events. (650 North La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.360.1600)

Slated to open in May, this restaurant from chef Helene An (also of the notable Crustacean restaurant) will serve global fusion cuisine. The restaurant will have more than 9,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a garden patio and a wine bar. The entire restaurant will hold 500 for events. (2700 Colorado Blvd., Suite 190, Santa Monica, 323.460.2645)

MUSEUM OPENING SOON THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES

The Natural History Museum expects to reopen the new “Age of Mammals” exhibit in July inside the museum’s newly restored 1913 building. The historic rotunda, which has been closed for renovations since 2006, is also set to open this summer, with event bookings being accepted for August and beyond. The space can be used in conjunction with the Exposition Rose Garden. It holds 250 for receptions or seats 120. (900 Exposition Blvd., 213.763.3466)

TIGER

Tiger restaurant in Beverly Hills officially opened in April.

The sushi restaurant is available for buyout with a total capacity of 100. Design firm iCrave is behind the natural, wood-filled look of the venue, which serves what it calls “post-Asian” cuisine, meaning new dishes that strive for innovation alongside well-known classics. The menu includes traditional sushi rolls, signature rolls, robata, and other hot and cold dishes. (340 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.274.3200) UPPER WEST

As its name implies, the design for this new restaurant is meant to evoke New York, with 28-foot ceilings, and open kitchen, and urban-rustic decor that channels loft life.

Upper West has a 27-foot bar with hightop tables, couches, and a substantial list of specialty cocktails. In addition to its main dining room, there is an 800-square-foot patio.

The venue is available for buyout, with room for 125 for a seated event or 170 for a reception. (3321 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.586.1111) WP24

RESTAURANTS CULINA, MODERN ITALIAN

This restaurant opened in the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in March, as part of that hotel’s significant remodel. A semiprivate glass-enclosed room holds 10, and a private room holds 40. Half of the restaurant’s 236 seats are on the sprawling patio. Adjacent to communal tables, there is a crudo bar carved from a 200-year-old magnolia tree. (300 South Doheny Drive, 310.860.4000)

This restaurant by Wolfgang Puck opened at the Ritz in April. On the 24th floor of the hotel, WP24 offers Asian fare and skyline views. Puck, with chef Lee Hefter, managing partner and executive corporate chef of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, created the menu and has brought on Spago Beverly Hills veteran David McIntyre as executive chef. ICrave designed the space, which has a wine cave and two private dining rooms. (900 West Olympic Blvd., 213.743.8800)

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New York Venue Directory Activity Venues p. 105 Arcades & Virtual-Reality Centers Bowling Alleys Cooking Schools & Tasting Venues Dance Class Venues Pool & Billiard Halls Sports Venues Wine-Tasting Spaces Other Activity Venues

Bars, Lounges & Clubs p. 111 Bars & Lounges Clubs

Boats & Yachts p. 119 Conference Centers, Convention Centers & Auditorums p. 122 Auditoriums Conference Centers & Meeting Spaces Convention Centers

Entertainment & Performance Venues p. 127 Comedy Clubs Music Clubs Screening Rooms Theaters & Performance Spaces

Hotels p. 135 Independent Event Spaces p. 140 Lofts, Photo Studios & Raw Spaces p. 151

Mansions & Homes p. 155 Historic Houses Mansions Town Houses & Residences

Museums & Cultural Spaces p. 156 Art Museums Art Spaces & Auction Houses Children’s Museum Film & Media Museums Historical & Cultural Institutions Science & Natural History Spaces

Outdoor Spaces p. 162 Private Clubs p. 166 Religious Spaces p. 166 Restaurants p. 167 Retail Venues p. 189 Spas & Relaxation Places p. 190 Stadiums & Arenas p. 191

ON BIZBASH.COM The latest news and our comprehensive online directory of New York event spaces

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

Activity Venues ARCADES & VIRTUAL-REALITY CENTERS DAVE & BUSTERS—TIMES SQUARE

Dave Corriveau and Buster Corley’s chain of restaurantentertainment complexes includes a Times Square location. Occupying 31,500 square feet, the venue serves American fare and offers four private rooms— two event rooms, a boardroom, and a video lounge. A large dining room and two bars are also available. (234 West 42nd St., 3rd Floor, 646.495.2011) ESPN ZONE

This 42,000-square-foot complex offers private rooms, a 10,000-square-foot sports-related arcade that holds 400 for receptions, and three dining rooms and bars throughout its four floors. Among these spaces are a 120-seat screening room, the 100-seat Bristol Suite, and a glass-encased private skybox that seats 45 or holds 75 for receptions. (1472 Broadway, 212.921.3776) PLAY

The games available at this Elmhurst lounge include Twister, chess, checkers, bowling, basketball, pingpong, air hockey, and pool. The lounge, bowling alley, game space, and billiard area can hold 550 for events.

(77-17 Queens Blvd., Queens, 718.476.2828)

BOWLING ALLEYS BOWLMOR LANES

This retro bowling alley has 42 glow-in-the dark lanes, two bars, a private party room, and banquette seating.

For corporate events, movie screens suspended above the lanes can display anything from company logos to customized videos. Bowlmor can hold as many as 600 guests. (110 University Place, 212.255.8188) IN THE WORKS BOWLMOR TIMES SQUARE

Strike Holdings, the operator of Bowlmor Lanes, is planning to open a 90,000-square-foot outpost of the popular Union Square bowling alley inside the old New York Times building. The facility is expected to open in October 2010. (West 44th St., 212.352.9207) NEW BROOKLYN BOWL

This 23,000-square-foot Williamsburg spot opened in July 2009. The venue has 16 lanes, a 35- by 20-foot stage, and a 150-seat café serving food by Blue Ribbon.

The 600-capacity site also offers nine high-definition video projectors, a 12- by 9-foot projection screen, wireless Internet access, stage lighting, and gear for the DJ booth. (61 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn, 718.963.3369) GUTTER BAR

The Gutter is a laid-back, old-school bowling alley in Williamsburg. The alleys have old-fashioned scoring equipment and a rec-room vibe. Groups of 225 can fill the venue, which books private events for four hours Sundays through Thursdays. (200 North 14th St., Brooklyn, 718.387.3585) HARLEM LANES

This bilevel, 25,000-square-foot bowling and entertainment venue offers 24 lanes, a V.I.P. lounge that holds 75, a sports bar and arcade that hold 152, a café, and a private party room; the entire space holds 400 for receptions. (2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., 3rd and 4th Floors, 212.678.2695) LEISURE TIME BOWL

The 26-lane bowling alley at the Port Authority bus terminal recently renovated its space. It now offers an arcade, two bars, a private lounge, and a 100-seat bistro opening in May 2010. The venue can hold 700 for events. (625 Eighth Ave., 212.268.6909) LUCKY STRIKE LANES

The first New York outpost of Lucky Strike Lanes opened in 2008. This 16,000-square-foot Midtown site offers the four-lane Luxe Lounge for private events for as many as 200 guests. A 22- by 12-foot high-definition video projection screen is available. (624-660 West 42nd St., 212.420.9420) 300 NEW YORK

In 2007, AMF debuted this upscale bowling facility, replacing the original alley at Chelsea Piers. The revamped digs have sleek, modern furnishings and an

Xtreme light and sound system. The 50,000-squarefoot space (with a capacity of 750) has eight private lanes, three party rooms, and a lounge that holds 125.

(Pier 60, 23rd St. at the West Side Hwy., 212.835.2695)

COOKING SCHOOLS & TASTING VENUES ARTISANAL CHEESE CENTER

Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in Hell’s Kitchen holds 50 people. On-premise catering is available and is complemented by cheeses from around the world and wines picked by the on-site sommelier. (500 West 37th St., 2nd Floor, 212.239.1200 ext. 3144) ASTOR CENTER

This center opened above the Astor Wine & Spirits store in January 2008. Consisting of three areas, the center offers a 36-seat classroom, a kitchen that holds 16 (or 36 for demonstrations), and an event space that seats 90 or holds 135 for receptions. In partnership with the Culinary Institute of America, Astor Center features classes taught by the institute’s instructors and guest chefs. (399 Lafayette St., 212.674.7501) COOKING BY THE BOOK

Cooking by the Book’s TriBeCa kitchen offers special corporate in-house programs. Teambuilding sessions for as many as 40 begin with wine and hors d’oeuvres with executive chef Joyce O’Neil, followed by a threecourse meal prepared by the guests. Add-on wine programs are also available, as are services for off-site events for as many as 100. (13 Worth St., 212.966.9799) THE CULINARY LOFT

This 2,000-square-foot SoHo loft offers corporate cooking classes in a 400-square-foot gourmet kitchen. The entire space seats 50 or holds 70 for receptions and can also be used for photo and video shoots. (515 Broadway, Suite 5A, 212.431.7425) HUDSON YARDS CATERING

Hudson Yards Catering is an off-premise caterer from Danny Meyer. The outfit’s dining room is available for private events and cooking classes. Designed like a restaurant and holding as many as 20 people, the space features the New American cooking of chef Robb Garceau. (640 West 28th St., 212.488.1500) INSTITUTE OF CULINARY EDUCATION (ICE)

ICE offers hands-on cooking classes for groups of as many as 90. Groups are split into teams to prepare different parts of the menu. There are four teaching kitchens of different sizes and styles to choose from.

Also available are wine and beer tastings and mixology events. (50 West 23rd St., 212.847.0707) INTERNATIONAL CULINARY CENTER

This center is the home of the French Culinary Institute and the Italian Culinary Academy. The 72,000-squarefoot facility added four new kitchens to the existing space, including one with a brick-lined custom pizza oven, and a private dining area. An amphitheater with a demo counter seats 79. (462 Broadway, 646.254.7549) LA CUISINE SANS PEUR COOKING SCHOOL

The name of this cooking school translates from the French as “cooking without fear.” Chef-proprietor Henri-Etienne Levy teaches classic French technique in his home to classes of usually no more than four people. He’s also willing to travel off site. (216 West 89th St., 212.362.0638) MIETTE CULINARY STUDIO

Classically trained Belgian chef Paul Vanderwoude teaches groups of 20 to prepare a three-course, bistrostyle meal, choosing from his menu or creating original dishes. The school is in a charming 19th-century town house in the West Village. (109 MacDougal St., Suite 2, 212.460.9322) NATURAL GOURMET INSTITUTE FOR FOOD & HEALTH

The institute features cooking and health classes with a vegetarian bent, although they can use chicken and fish, too. A team of chefs plans healthy dishes and guides groups through preparation of the meal. Four classrooms each hold as many as 20 guests. (48 West 21st St., 212.645.5170 ext.106)

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New York Venue Directory

Activity Venues T SALON

Miriam Novalle opened a branch of her specialty tea store inside the Chelsea Market in 2007. The joint has bamboo ceilings and floors, serves snacks and tea-based cocktails, and offers more than 200 types of teas. Private groups of as many as 28 can sit for afternoon tea service. (75 Ninth Ave., 212.243.2259)

DANCE CLASS VENUES BALLROOM ON FIFTH

The Ballroom on Fifth offers dance instruction in a traditional ballroom. The venue supplies professional dance teachers for three-, five-, and 10-hour classes. The studio offers a variety of styles, including swing, tango, and salsa. (37 West 37th St., 2nd Floor, 212.532.6232) DANCE TIMES SQUARE

Once a cabaret theater, this space is now a two-story dance studio that can hold as many as 150. The venue, created by United States Latin dance champions Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin, offers guests the opportunity to watch a performance of world-champion ballroom and Latin dancers or take dance lessons in a variety of styles. (156 West 44th St., 212.994.9500) SWING 46

Swing 46 hosts swing-dance lessons with music from DJs or live bands. The venue holds 160 for receptions or 150 for seated events; lessons can accommodate as many as 24 couples. Professional instructors from Dance Manhattan and You Should Be Dancing teach in the space, modeled after a 1940s supper club. (349 West 46th St., 212.262.9554)

POOL & BILLIARD HALLS AMSTERDAM BILLIARDS

This pool hall moved downtown to the former home of Corner Billiards in 2007. In its new digs, the club has 11,000 square feet, and after a $2.25 million remodeling, the site offers 17 plasma TVs, a 50-foot zinc bar with 25 seats, two lounges, Oriental rugs, and 26 pool tables. It holds 500. (110 East 11th St., 212.995.0333) SLATE

This bilevel venue has a catering banquet facility on one floor and a game room on the lower level. Featuring posh couches and a sleek design, the game room has three foosball tables, six ping-pong tables, 14 pool tables, and a Nintendo Wii. The venue holds 1,200 and has three private entrances. (54 West 21st St., 212.989.0096)

SPORTS VENUES AVIATOR SPORTS AND RECREATION

meeting space and a restaurant. (86th St. and Seventh Ave., Brooklyn, 718.225.7472 ext. 2)

This Brooklyn sports complex opened in 2006 in an 800-acre decommissioned airport. The venue has 170,000 square feet of interior space in four adjacent refurbished aircraft hangars, including basketball and volleyball courts, a gymnastics and dance center, two ice rinks, and a climbing wall. The space holds 2,000 for receptions.

(Floyd Bennett Field, Hangar 5, Brooklyn, 718.758.7500)

GLEASON’S GYM

BASEBALL CENTER NYC

GRAND PRIX NEW YORK

This indoor baseball and softball center offers batting cages, pitching simulators, and professional instruction.

Group lessons, games, and corporate events are offered for 60 guests; groups can also book the batting cages with private instructors. (202 West 74th St., 212.362.0344)

This 120,000-square-foot indoor teambuilding and conference facility opened in 2008. Grand Prix has two racing tracks (each a quarter mile long and 24 feet wide), and six conference rooms. The venue offers training programs.

Catering is provided by its restaurant, Eau Rouge. (333 North Bedford Road, Mount Kisco, N.Y., 914.241.3131)

OPENING SOON BASKETBALL CITY5

Basketball City, originally at Pier 63 on the Hudson River, will open a new facility in summer 2010. Six courts will be available for corporate events, as will on-site scorekeepers and refs. The 64,000-square-foot venue will have electronic scoreboards, showers, and a fitness center. A 12,000-square-foot deck behind the building will also be available. (Pier 36, 212.233.5050) CHELSEA PIERS

This Manhattan landmark’s facilities include indoor rock-climbing walls, basketball/volleyball courts, a driving range, and two ice-skating rinks, all available for teambuilding and corporate events. Private reception and meeting rooms, such as the Sunset Terrace, which holds 350 for receptions, are also available. (West 23rd St. at the Hudson River, 212.336.6777) CHURCH STREET BOXING GYM

The Church Street Boxing Gym offers a unique approach to teambuilding events. The gym is staffed to train all skill levels, from amateur to professional. The 8,000-squarefoot space has hardwood floors and exposed brick walls, holds 200, and offers trainers for corporate activities. (25 Park Place, 212.571.1333) DRIVE 495

Drive 495 is a luxury gym and golf-training facility opened by brothers Don and Joseph Saladino in 2006. The bilevel space has a 10,000-square-foot gym and a 5,000-squarefoot computerized golf studio with five simulators, professional golfers to assist with training, and a lounge and wet bar. (495 Broadway, 2nd Floor, 212.334.9537) DYKER BEACH GOLF COURSE5

Brooklyn’s Dyker Beach Golf Course originally opened in the late 1890s and is now a public course, offering 18 holes and a restored 8,000-square-foot clubhouse. In addition to group activity packages, the property has event and

The country’s oldest boxing gym has seen the swift blows of 126 world champions. Today, Gleason’s clients are trading more bonds than punches, but the history and atmosphere are still there. For corporate events, 400 guests can close the gym and learn the basics of boxing from professional coaches. (77 Front St., Brooklyn, 718.797.2872)

HUDSON RIVER PARK5

This park stretches along the Hudson River from Battery Place to West 59th Street and offers a variety of areas for group activities, including boating, kayaking, rowing, and fishing. (Battery Place to West 59th St., 917.661.8740) JIVAMUKTI UNION SQUARE

Jivamukti founders Sharon Gannon and David Life opened this 12,000-square-foot yoga center in 2006. The location also houses JivamukTea Cafe, a 70-seat organic vegan eatery. The entire space is available for event rental and holds 600. Outside catering must be vegan. (841 Broadway, 2nd Floor, 212.353.0214) PELHAM/SPLIT ROCK GOLF COURSE5

This 36-hole facility in the Bronx has banquet and function rooms. The clubhouse is 5,000 square feet and has a maximum capacity of 200. Packages for teambuilding activities and meetings are available. (870 Shore Road, Bronx, 718.225.7472) PROSPECT PARK TENNIS CENTER5

The tennis center at the Parade Ground in Prospect Park opened in 2006 with 11 courts and a building to house fitness rooms, lockers, and showers. A terrace on the second floor overlooks the grounds. (50 Parkside Ave., Brooklyn, 718.287.6215 ext. 1) RANDALL’S ISLAND GOLF CENTER5

In addition to the golf-related areas, this 25-acre property now includes a pro shop styled after a country club, a patio lounge outfitted with Wi-Fi, and a beer garden and grill. For events, there is a 4,000-square-foot tent that holds 500. (1 Randall’s Island, 212.427.5689) RANDALL’S ISLAND SPORTS FOUNDATION5

Randall’s Island is a public park facility in the East River.

It houses Sportime, a new tennis facility with 20 courts; a golf center that has a mini-golf course, driving range,

GROUP THERAPY! GROUP THERAPY PACKAGE $39 Mon-Thurs, 5pm-9pm, 2hrs Bowling & Shoes 1 Beer Tower Per Lane, Tax & Gratuity Call 212.268.6909 for reservations. LeisureTimeBowl.com | Conveniently located in midtown, 550 9th Avenue, 2nd Floor, NYC

New York Venue Directory

Activity Venues and batting cages; various meadows; and Icahn Stadium, a 5,000-seat track-and-field complex available for private rentals. (Randall’s Island, 212.830.7715) ROOSEVELT ISLAND RACQUET CLUB5

This club has two spaces available for events in its 12-court facility. One is a lounge nestled between two indoor courts, and the other overlooks the city. The indoor lounge seats 75, and the courtyard lounge seats 35. (281 Main St., Roosevelt Island, 212.935.0250 ext. 20) TRAPEZE SCHOOL NEW YORK5

The Trapeze School offers lessons on the flying trapeze. A 7,062-square-foot indoor space is available for events and year-round trapeze and trampoline group lessons. The school also offers activities including juggling, stiltwalking, swordplay, and technical ascent. (Hudson River Park, Pier 40, West St. at West Houston St., 917.797.1872) VELOCITY SPORTS PERFORMANCE

This Midtown athletic venue houses a Mondo track, plyometric boxes, Olympic weights, microhurdles, and a four-lane, 35-yard sprint track. The space holds 40 for teambuilding or training events. No alcohol is allowed on the premises. (133 East 58th St., 6th Floor, 212.593.3278)

can be rented for receptions of 75 people. A private tasting room—decorated with wooden tables, leather chairs, granite countertops, and crystal glassware—seats 18 or holds 30 for receptions. (153 East 57th St., 212.980.9463) DISCOVERY WINES

This East Village wine shop is a modern-looking space— well lit and airy, with hardwood floors, built-in wine cabinets, and a 20-foot-long bar. The semiprivate area holds 40 for receptions. The entire space holds 200 and can also provide hors d’oeuvres for events. (10 Ave. A, 212.674.7833) This wine store is owned by Italian wine expert Sergio Esposito. It has two event spaces for private tastings: Studio del Gusto, which holds 65, and the 10-seat Vintage Room. The entire store holds 120. A sommelier can lead tastings. (108 East 16th St., 212.473.2323 ext. 105) MOORE BROTHERS WINE COMPANY

Greg and David Moore opened this 5,500-square-foot New York outpost of their Philadelphia wine stores in 2006. Occupying a renovated town house, the entire store is kept refrigerated by evaporators. The second floor has two areas that combine to hold 75 or seat 30 for private tastings, classes, or events. (33 East 20th St., 888.986.6673) MORRELL WINE STORE AND TASTING ROOM

This retail wine store holds 20 for wine-tasting classes that feature cheese pairings chosen to best complement the wines. (1 Rockefeller Center, 212.688.9370 ext. 2208) NEW YORK VINTNERS

BACCHUS

This wine store is flexible—its office and display cases are on a moving track to allow for small events or larger, with room for as many as 48 guests seated or 70 for receptions.

The venue gives a series of wine lectures and tastings that are open to the public. (21 Warren St., 212.812.3999)

NEW BROOKLYN WINE EXCHANGE

In December 2009, Chris Modica, Joseph Mastriano, and Patrick Watson opened this wine store. Spread over more than 1,400 square feet, the shop incorporates repurposed materials and recycled woods into its interior design and offers a 40-seat learning center for tastings, demos, and seminars. (138 Court St., Brooklyn, 718.855.9463) CITY WINERY

Entrepreneur Michael Dorf opened his 21,000-square-foot winemaking venue in January 2009. City Winery offers two bars, a restaurant, a stage for performances, and a cheese bar from Murray’s Cheese Shop. The main streetlevel area seats 250 or hold 500 for receptions, with additional space in private rooms. (143 Varick St., 212.608.0555) CRUSH WINE & SPIRITS

This wine store and private tasting facility’s entire space

VINO

Offering Italian wines from every region, this wine-tasting venue is across the street from its restaurant counterpart, I Trulli. Bottles of wine line the wood-paneled walls of the space, which can host 50 for an informal tasting or 25 for a sit-down tasting. Vino also offers two-hour Italian wine education classes. (121 East 27th St., 212.725.6516)

ITALIAN WINE MERCHANTS

WINE-TASTING SPACES This Upper West Side wine store hosts private wine tastings inside the store, or a sommelier can come to your home, office, or other location for an event. The store can hold 85 people for receptions. Past clients include Merrill Lynch and Google. (2056 Broadway, 917.684.1067)

holds 100. Three high-tech Enomatic wine systems store and preserve open bottles, dispensing small amounts with a card-swiping machine. (140 Fourth Ave., 212.675.8100)

PASANELLA AND SON VINTNERS5

Owned by husband and wife Marco Pasanella and Rebecca Robertson, this 2,500-square-foot wine store stocks more than 400 wines and exhibits Robertson’s collection of vintage French corkscrews. The private room in the rear— available for wine tastings and private events—opens onto a garden. (115 South St., 212.233.8383) NEW SPARKLING POINTE5

This 10-acre vineyard and winery opened in October 2009 on Long Island’s North Fork. The sparkling wine producer offers a French chateau-style facility with indoor and outdoor areas for events. The grand tasting room holds 200, and the lawn and terrace can be tented to hold 320.

(39750 County Road 48, Southold, N.Y., 631.765.0200) UNION SQUARE WINES & SPIRITS

In 2006, Mitchell Soodak, David Braff, and Bob Greene moved their store to a larger, 6,300-square-foot space that

OTHER ACTIVITY VENUES NEW CARNIVAL

Opened in October 2009, this carnival/circus-themed venue occupies the space above Bowlmor Lanes. The site holds 600 guests under a 60-foot air pressurized bubble.

Large events can be combined with the downstairs bowling alley to hold 1,100. (110 University Place, 212.255.8188) DUBSPOT

Open since 2006, this DJ, VJ, and electronic music production academy offers a range of classes. Dubspot also offers spin sessions, teambuilding events in which groups are taught to mix and scratch. Equipment rental and a list of DJs are available. (348 West 14th St., 877.382.7768) KENSINGTON STABLES5

Kensington Stables provides private horseback riding lessons along the three-and-a-half-mile bridle trail that runs through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. The stable can hold 10 people. (51 Caton Place, Brooklyn, 718.972.4588) PULSE KARAOKE LOUNGE & SUITES

Pulse Karaoke Lounge & Suites opened in February 2009.

In addition to the main room, Pulse offers six private rooms equipped with their own karaoke gear, a programmable LED lighting system, and a Nintendo Wii. Pulse has a menu of comfort food, as well as a selection of cocktails, spirits, and beer. (135 West 41st St., 212.278.0090) RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT—TIMES SQUARE

Housing an eccentric collection of unusual artifacts, the Ripley’s Times Square location can be closed for private events for as many as 1,210 people, or as many as 50 can use a private room. Ripley’s can also arrange for teambuilding activities. (234 West 42nd St., 212.398.3133) IN THE WORKS XANADU MEADOWLANDS

This super entertainment complex is set to open in late 2010. The center will sit on 94 acres of land and offer 2.3 million square feet of space. Divided into themed “districts”—areas for sports, entertainment, youth culture, food and home, and fashion—it will feature restaurants, an indoor snow dome, a skydiving tower, and a concert and live-theater venue. (East Rutherford, N.J., 212.575.4545)

Bars, Lounges & Clubs BARS & LOUNGES AMALIA

Greg Brier—owner of the Flatiron district’s Aspen— opened this 8,000-square-foot lounge next to the Dream Hotel in 2007. The 135-seat space features design elements like large black chandeliers from design firm SLD Designs.

Although they no longer serve lunch or dinner, Amalia is still open for private events and late-night drinks. (204 West 55th St., 212.245.1234) THE ANCHOR

A celebrity publicist and two clothing designers collaborated to open this SoHo bar in 2007. Inside, the Anchor has a wallpapered bar, antler chandeliers, and low banquette seating. The venue is available for events, and catering can be provided. (310 Spring St., 212.463.7406) NEW ARDESIA

In October 2009, Mandy Oser—director of strategic partnerships at Le Bernardin—opened this wine bar in Hell’s Kitchen. Situated on the ground floor of a residential building, Ardesia has 50 seats inside as well as 34 in the front patio. In addition to a selection of varietals and other beverages, there’s a menu of charcuterie, cheeses, and snacks like pretzels served with Dijon mustard and cheese fondue. (510 West 52nd St., 212.247.9191) AROMA KITCHEN & WINE BAR

Aroma, an Italian kitchen and wine bar owned by Alexandra Degiorgio and Vito Polosa, opened in 2005.

Executive chef Chris Daly’s menu takes inspiration from New York’s seasons and Italy, while the interior contrasts contemporary fixtures with dark wood and brick. The main dining room seats 24, and two private rooms seat 22 and 12. (36 East 4th St., 212.375.0100) ART BAR

This low-key West Village bar has eclectic decor—exposed brick, mismatched couches, and an art collection that rotates regularly. The back room features a working fireplace, couches, and coffee tables and holds 40. Guests can eat from a casual American menu, and the entire venue holds 75 for receptions. (52 Eighth Ave., 212.727.0244) ASPEN SOCIAL CLUB

ing its three separate areas. The garden patio, which is equipped with a bar, can accommodate 400 guests. A main dining room seats 200 or holds 600, and a smaller private room seats 50 or holds 200 for receptions. (40 East 4th St., 212.475.2220) BEER BAR5

This Patina Restaurant Group property in Midtown’s MetLife building serves upscale burgers and fries, but the real focus, unsurprisingly, is on the venue’s extensive beer selection. A terrace opens in warmer months and holds 200; the interior space holds 150 for receptions. (200 Park Ave., 212.818.1222)

events. The main level can hold as many as 80. A team of sommeliers is present to help with liquor selections. (25 North Moore St., 212.226.5545) BRASS MONKEY BAR

Brass Monkey is known for a friendly atmosphere and reasonably low prices in a meatpacking district environment that’s become known for snootiness. For events, the bar offers a British pub-style menu, including bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. The bar holds 200 for receptions. (55 Little West 12th St., 212.675.6686) THE BUBBLE LOUNGE

Rolando Beramendi and partner Jon Mudder opened this Greenwich Village wine bar in 2005. Bellavitae serves an Italian menu using ingredients from sustainable farms, and the vast wine list features choices from family-owned wineries in Italy. (24 Minetta Lane, 212.473.5121)

This lounge has a champagne theme—hence its name—and features 300 varieties of champagnes and sparkling wines. The spacious lounge has a multilevel space for parties of as many as 300 people with a private cellar downstairs. It features red velvet sofas, exposed brick walls, and vintage champagne posters. (228 West Broadway, 212.431.3433)

BELMONT LOUNGE5

BUTTERFIELD 8

This lounge near Union Square offers a patio open yearround for drinks, dining, and dancing; it is heated in the winter and holds 40. The lounge accommodates 150 seated people comfortably and features a DJ booth, a rotating collection from local artists, and an international menu. (117 East 15th St., 212.533.0009)

This bistro and lounge opened in 2006 in a century-old, 3,000-square-foot space. The venue is decorated with chandeliers and crown moldings and features a 35-foot granite bar, mahogany-paneled walls, and U-shaped booths. American comfort food is on the menu, and happy hour deals are offered all week. A private dining room in the rear seats 45 or holds as many as 80 for receptions. (5 East 38th St., 212.679.0646)

BELLAVITAE

BEMELMANS BAR

This Upper East Side venue in the Carlyle Hotel is named for Ludwig Bemelmans, author and illustrator of the Madeline children’s books. His artwork, displayed on the walls, complements the nickel-lined black glass tabletops, 24-karat gold-leaf ceiling, and granite bar. There are 75 seats at the bar, and in the summer, the bar offers Madeline-themed tea parties on Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons. (35 East 76th St., 212.744.1600)

CAFÉ NOTTE

Open since January 2008, this Upper East Side restaurant and wine bar is furnished with cushioned benches and floor-to-ceiling wine racks. Café Notte serves a menu of Greenmarket-infused cuisine. It also offers tapas and a few nightly dinner specials. (1626 Second Ave., 212.288.5203)

B FLAT

THE CAMPBELL APARTMENT5

This bar opened in 2007 in the basement of a nondescript building in TriBeCa. The dimly lit space seats as many as 45, but when closed for an event, it can hold 50 guests. B Flat serves a wide selection of Japanese-influenced food and cocktails. (277 Church St., 212.219.2970)

On the balcony level of Grand Central Terminal, the refurbished office of 1920s railroad mogul John W. Campbell now serves as a wood-paneled cocktail lounge that holds 125 for receptions. In warm weather, a terrace with mahogany rocking chairs opens. (Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt Portico, 212.980.9476)

In October 2008, Greg Brier, owner of Aspen Restaurant & Lounge and Highbar, opened this lobby-level eatery inside Vikram Chatwal’s Midtown hotel, Stay. With design elements similar to its sister venue in the Flatiron district, the 3,000-square-foot space holds 300 for receptions and has a 45-seat private room. (157 West 47th St., 212.221.7200)

BIN 220

THE AUSTRALIAN NYC

BINY JAPANESE FOOD & KARAOKE BAR

This Midtown pub offers Australian cuisine such as sausage rolls and barramundi (a native fish). The 2,800-square-foot bilevel space seats 70 in the downstairs dining room, which features a large bar, booth seating, and flat-screen TVs on which to watch both Aussie and American sports matches. The 40-seat private party room upstairs holds 80 for receptions and has its own bar and audiovisual connections. (20 West 38 St., 212.869.8601)

Lychee martinis, a selection of sake cocktails, fusion sushi, video screens, and white leather furniture fill Biny (which stands for “Best in New York”), a restaurant and karaoke bar in SoHo. In addition to the 70-seat dining space and fluorescent-lit bar, the venue offers seven private rooms— each with its own theme decor—equipped with karaoke machines. (8 Thompson St., 2nd Floor, 212.334.5490)

CARNEGIE CLUB

BLACK DOOR

AVA LOUNGE5

This Chelsea bar is the sister of Union Square’s Park Bar. The candlelit space features dark wood wainscoting and high tin ceilings. The Black Door’s back room is available for events and holds 100. (127 West 26th St., 212.645.0215)

The brick arched ceilings, purple leather couches, and chandeliers in this cavernous, subterranean bar in the Bryant Park Hotel make it feel a little like a modern-day medieval castle. Female staff at the Cellar Bar sport sexy corsets to amp up the look. The bar has space for 125 for seated events or 300 for receptions. (40 West 40th St., 212.642.2211)

The bilevel Ava Lounge in the Dream Hotel offers panoramic views of Times Square, Columbus Circle, and the Hudson River. It has a rooftop garden terrace with palm trees and teak and bamboo accents. The entire space holds 300. (210 West 55th St., Penthouse, 212.974.1935) NEW AVENUE

Replacing west Chelsea nightclub Earth NYC is Avenue, a bar and lounge from Danny Abeckaser and Strategic Hospitality Group’s Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss.

The site measures 3,100 square feet across three floors.

The 700-square-foot room on the second level seats 50 or holds 75 for receptions; the entire space seats around 190 or holds 300 for receptions. (116 10th Ave., 212.337.0054) NEW BAR CELONA

Opened in October 2009, this Spanish tapas and cocktail lounge is owned by former fashion consultant Cynthia Diaz. Located near Dumont Burger and La Superior in Williamsburg, Bar Celona has 95 seats in a space decorated with a black and white color scheme, a marbletopped bar, tufted lounge furniture, and low tables. (104 South 4th St., Brooklyn, 718.237.7828) NEW BAR LUNA

In July 2009, Turgut Balikci—owner of a number of Upper West Side eateries including Bodrum and Pasha—took over the former Neptune Room space and opened Bar Luna. The 90-seat spot near the American Museum of Natural History serves an eclectic array of dishes from chef Jacques Belanger, who worked at ’Cesca, Ouest, and West Branch, as well as a selection of European and American wines. (511 Amsterdam Ave., 212.362.1098) BAR SEINE

The recently revamped lounge in the Hôtel Plaza Athénée has an all-leather floor, animal-print seating, and more decor accents inspired by North Africa and Paris. Bar Seine holds 100 for receptions, and the menu can be customized for events. (37 East 64th St., 212.734.9100) B BAR & GRILL5

The B Bar & Grill holds 1,000 for receptions when combin-

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

This 800-square-foot wine bar and enoteca offers a menu of Italian-style tapas. Exposed brick walls, dark wood highboys, and a velvet-cushioned booth create a mellow ambience fit for wine tastings and private parties for as many as 75. (220 Front St., 212.374.9463)

BLUE OWL5

This subterranean East Village bar is decorated with draping fabrics in deep colors that create a sultry environment; it also has a smoking patio. A menu offers Italianinspired fare like imported meats, olives, and cheeses.

There’s space for 100, with an additional 25 in a private room. (196 Second Ave., 212.505.2583) BOAT BASIN CAFÉ5

The Boat Basin Café is an outdoor venue with a view of the Hudson River and sunsets over New Jersey. Lush landscaping makes for pretty decor. It has three areas that can be closed for events. Boat Basin Café is open late March through October. (West 79th St. at the Hudson River, 212.787.8804) BOGART’S

This bilevel lounge features four large televisions and a DJ cage on the main floor. Downstairs has an edgier feel, with a dance floor, couches, private areas, and a separate DJ booth. A menu of bar fare includes calamari, sliders, ahi sashimi, and filet mignon skewers. The capacity is 300, and the downstairs can be rented separately for an event.

(99 Park Ave., 212.922.9244) BRANCH

CANAL ROOM

This sleek TriBeCa venue has a minimalist look in brown, black, ivory, and dark red. It features exposed brick and beams, high ceilings, modern furnishings, and an elevated DJ booth. The space can accommodate as many as 600 for receptions. (285 West Broadway, 212.941.8100 ext. 104) Behind Carnegie Hall, the Carnegie Club has an elegant look, with 18th-century bookcases filled with vintage books, a stone fireplace, Art Deco wallpaper, 25-foot ceilings, and a mezzanine. It holds 75 for seated events or 150 for receptions. (156 West 56th St., 212.980.9476) CELLAR BAR

CHINA 1 ANTIQUE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

This restaurant and lounge offers three event spaces, all with brick walls and pillars, intricate Chinese wood carvings, and plush seating, bathed in reds, golds, and candlelight. The upstairs dining room seats 40 or holds 55 for receptions, the downstairs dining room seats 60 or holds 85 for receptions, and the Antique Bar and lounge has a DJ booth and can each hold 75. (50 Ave. B, 212.375.0665) CIBAR5

Cibar is in the basement of an old town house at the Inn at Irving Place. It features a working fireplace, marble tables, a curving bar, an outdoor space with a bamboo garden, and a vast martini selection. Cibar has room for 100 guests, but can accommodate as many as 175 using the salon directly above at the Inn at Irving Place. (56 Irving Place, 212.460.5656) CIRCA TABAC

Circa Tabac is a lounge with French Art Deco style—plush velvet chairs, bamboo walls, lit columns, and circular booths. It seats 80 or holds 150 for receptions. The venue sells cigarettes and is one of the few venues in New York City that still permits smoking; a filtration system keeps the air clean. (32 Watts St., 212.941.1781)

This 5,000-square-foot club and event space is outfitted in earth tones and has Brazilian cherrywood accents, a 40-foot oval bar, a sunken dance floor, and a DJ booth. The space accommodates 200 for seated events. (226 East 54th St., 212.505.7400) The latest venue

ON BIZBASH.COM

BRANDY LIBRARY

This lounge’s salon features a chocolatecolored velvet banquette surrounded by a collection of liquor-related books from around the world; it is part of the lower level, which holds 50 for receptions or seated

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CLO

This wine bar and shop opened in August 2008 on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center, joining Masa, Per Se, and Porter House New York. Andrew Bradbury, former wine director of Aureole in Las Vegas, is the man behind Clo, which occupies 925 square feet of space and is dedicated to boutique, cult, and rare vintages. Available for private tastings

New York Venue Directory by a collective of drinking and dining veterans including Bill Gilroy of Match restaurants and Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric of Brooklyn bartending school Cocktail Conceptions. The venue has two rooms—a main dining room and a glass-enclosed garden—available for events; the entire space seats 100. (510 Hudson St., 212.242.3021) EPISTROPHY

and events, the wine bar holds 75. (10 Columbus Cir., 4th Floor, 212.823.9898) CLOVER CLUB

Julie Reiner, the mixologist behind Flatiron Lounge, opened Clover Club, another cocktail joint, in June 2008.

With 78 seats in the front and 30 in the private back parlor, the Victorian-inspired den in Brooklyn is worth the hike for fans of fancy drinks. In addition to a selection of punches, juleps, sours, and highballs, Clover Club also has bites for sharing. (210 Smith St., Brooklyn, 718.855.7939) CLUB BAR AND GRILL AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

On the club-terrace level at Madison Square Garden, the Club Bar and Grill is open for events before and after Knicks and Rangers games at the arena. The woodpaneled space features an American menu with salads, steak, and seafood. It seats 250 banquet-style or holds 300 for cocktail parties. (4 Penn Plaza, 212.465.6290) CORIO

This SoHo supper club is known for its burlesque shows.

Design accents include vintage wallpaper from the 1960s, exposed brick walls, and vibrant flooring made from purpleheart trees. A 2,000-square-foot private space on the second floor has two bathrooms, a dance floor, and room for 75 people seated or 100 for receptions. (337A West Broadway, 212.966.3901) DEATH & COMPANY

Partners Dave Kaplan and Ravi DeRossi opened this East Village lounge in 2007. Death & Company is an intimate space with subtle decor details, with a menu that offers tapas, cocktails, and wine. It can accommodate 60 people.

(433 East 6th St., 212.388.0882)

This casual wine bar and café has bohemian touches, with a small rustic bar appointed with vintage-style stools reminiscent of metal-and-wood schoolroom furniture, whitewashed brick walls, and café tables. The straightforward wine list matches the rustic charm of the space.

The menu is light Mediterranean-Italian fare. (200 Mott St., 212.966.0904) FELICE WINE BAR

Co-owner Gherardo Guarducci and wine buyer Jacapo Giustiniani opened this 50-seat Italian wine bar associated with Sant Ambroeus in 2007. The interior features exposed brick walls, a travertine bar, and a glass chandelier. On the menu: Italian dishes and small plates from chef Simone Parisotto. (1166 First Ave., 212.593.2223) FLATIRON LOUNGE

The Flatiron Lounge has Art Deco decor, with stained glass hanging over a restored 30-foot-long mahogany bar built in 1927. Cobalt-mirrored 1930s glass tiles cover one wall above deep red booths. It holds 100 for receptions in its main lounge or 63 in the club room on its lower level. (37 West 19th St., 212.727.7741) FLUTE

Warm-colored drapes make up the rich decor in the Midtown lounge Destino, along with hardwood floors and leather ottoman seating. The venue features a main bar area, as well as intimate candlelit lounges. The space serves Italian cuisine and holds 115. (891 First Ave., 212.751.0700) DEWEY’S FLATIRON

NEW FORTY EIGHT

This Flatiron district sports bar has brick vaulted ceilings, two 15-foot-high historical murals, and a cash register from 1916. The main space holds 300. A more intimate lounge hosts smaller gatherings. The mezzanine has a full-service private bar and a billiard table; this section holds 150. Dewey’s offers the lounge, the mezzanine, or the entire venue for special events. (210 Fifth Ave., 212.696.2337)

Opened in August 2009, Forty Eight is a cocktail lounge from owners Dave Nader and Brian Packin. Situated inside the McGraw Hill building opposite Radio City Music Hall, the 5,500-squarefoot space serves drinks inspired by classic tipples and a small plates menu.

(1221 Ave. of the Americas, 212.649.5339)

DIVINE BAR5

49 GROVE

The Divine Bar is a wine bar and restaurant with two levels—a bar downstairs and a lounge upstairs. The lounge holds 150, and there is also a deck connected to the lounge that holds 50. The entire venue holds as many as 250. (236 West 54th St., 212.265.9463)

West Village bar 49 Grove is in the former Halo space. Four separate rooms—the main bar, a smaller private area, and two adjoining lounges—have a combined capacity of 350. The decor features leather, velvet, and chrome in black, navy, and cream hues. (49 Grove St., 212.727.1100)

D’OR

Below Amalia, the lounge adjacent to the Dream Hotel, is this 1,040-square-foot bar and lounge. Connected to the upstairs by an intricately patterned glass staircase, D’Or contrasts rough brick and granite walls with modern leather and suede furniture and perforated metal ceilings; it holds 120. (204 West 55th St., 212.245.1234)

GOLD BAR

In 2007, the people behind the nightclub Cain (Jamie Mulholland, Robert McKinley, David Tetens, and Jayma Cardoso) opened this intimate cocktail lounge in the space that once housed Odea. Decorated with gilded skulls and other gold-colored fixtures, Gold Bar holds 130.

(389 Broome St., 212.947.8000) GREENHOUSE

In the western reaches of SoHo, Greenhouse is an ecofriendly nightclub that opened in November 2008.

Certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the 6,000-square-foot space has two levels and is made from recycled and recyclable materials. Greenhouse offers two separate sound systems—one for each level— and an elevated stage for performances. (150 Varick St., 212.719.4479)

Where to...

Flute Midtown holds 90 in a candlelit venue with velvet banquettes and lots of nooks. Flute Gramercy holds 125 and has extra-high ceilings, a fireplace, and a collection of original art, as well as a private room that holds 40. Both have a full bar and a menu of more than 100 Champagnes and sparkling wines, as well as hors d’oeuvre and dessert catering. Wine tastings are available. (40 East 20th St.; 205 West 54th St.; 917.721.4635)

DESTINO

low, white-and-pink tables under ambient lighting, and a bamboo garden patio is in the rear. (287 10th Ave., 212.904.1580)

Host an Outdoor Event On the 16th floor of Kimpton Hotels’ recently opened Ink48, Press is the lounge counterpart to lobby-level restaurant Print.

Designed by architect Carlos Zapata and run by restaurant consultant Adam Block, the 3,000-square-foot roof deck is one of the few outdoor spaces in Hell’s Kitchen and comes complete with 360-degree views, a decorative 20-footlong wading pool, and a menu of light fare. Private events for as many as 300 can book the space. Downstairs, Print serves a menu of farm-to-table dishes from husband-and-wife team Charles Rodriguez and Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez. The 80-seat space is accented with walnut wood floors and walls, green mosaic tiles, and coppertopped tables. (653 11th Ave., 212.757.2224)

NEW GRIFFIN

In May 2009, this 2,868-square-foot, bilevel space in the meatpacking district opened in the space that formerly housed PM Lounge. Karrie Goldberg, who manages venues like Cielo, Twelve21, and Double Cross Lounge, books the events here, where the maximum capacity is set at 295 guests. On-site gear includes DJ equipment, sound and lighting systems, and a projection screen and projector. (50 Gansevoort St., 212.255.6676) GSTAAD

This bar in Chelsea features sleek, pared-down decor: Among slanted walls are wooden details in light tones and patterned-fabric couches grouped into intimate seating areas around low tables. The entire space holds 180, and there is a brown-hued private room for 20. (43 West 26th St., 212.683.1440 ext. 2) HALF KING5

This pub has a 30-foot-long bar, a dining room, and a semiprivate lounge.

There’s also a small garden in the rear that holds 24 and is enclosed and heated in the winter. An outdoor café seats 34, and the indoor capacity is 110.

Half King is known as a mingling spot for writers; The Perfect Storm author Sebastian Junger is one of the owners.

(505 West 23rd St., 212.462.4300) HAPPY ENDING

This bilevel Lower East Side lounge is in the former home of a massage parlor—and you can tell. The lower level features a waist-high showerhead and original tiling in private alcoves.

On the street level is a less-suggestive lounge with plush red booth seating.

Total capacity is 250. (302 Broome St., 212.334.9676) NEW HEARTLAND BREWERY

After sitting vacant for almost three years, the Biltmore Room is back in business, with a new name—the Gates— and under the ownership of nightlife partners Danny Kane and Rodd Surut. The historic marble walls, mirrors, and antique gates that once belonged to Midtown’s Biltmore Hotel remain at this 2,500-square-foot lounge, complemented by purple banquettes and a 25-foot-long bar. The spot serves tapas, and can hold 285 people for events. (290 Eighth Ave., 212.206.8646)

Modeled after traditional American brewpubs, the Heartland chain operates several locations, including one in the Empire State Building. The original Union Square venue, which holds 400, has dark wood, exposed brick, original murals, and copper and stainless steel brewing vessels. The 43rd Street pub holds 600, and the Midtown outpost holds 200. In mid-April 2010, the Heartland Brewery opened its seventh New York outpost in the Port Authority bus terminal. The location offers 160 seats, a mahogany bar, and a 27-foot-long copper mural.

(Heartland Brewery & Barbecue: 93 South St.; Heartland Brewery & Chophouse: 127 West 43rd St.; Heartland Brewery at Radio City: 1285 Ave. of the Americas; Heartland Brewery at Union Square: 35 Union Sq. West; Heartland Brewery & Rotisserie: 350 Fifth Ave.; Heartland Brewery Midtown West, 625 Eighth Ave.; for information on all, call 212.582.2057)

GIBRALTAR

HIGHBAR5

This Chelsea venue’s modern interior is filled with vintage knolls and Eames furnishings. Elmo has two floors of event space: The first-floor restaurant offers New American fare; the basement lounge, with Miami nightclub-inspired decor, holds 150 for receptions. (156 Seventh Ave., 212.337.8000)

Jacques Ouari replaced Porcupine in NoLIta with a new restaurant, Jacques, in 2006. The 10-table lower level is Gibraltar, a cozy lounge accessed through a wood door.

Shades of red are used throughout the space, which is furnished with banquettes, divans with pillows, and low tables. Hookahs are available, French-North African tapas are served, and the space seats 75 or holds 100 for receptions. (20 Prince St., 212.966.8886)

Highbar is an indoor-outdoor lounge from Greg Brier, the owner of Aspen, that was designed by ICrave. This rooftop space is available for rent, offering an advanced sound system, a DJ booth, and technology that allows companies to brand the space with logos and video. The bar can accommodate as many as 300 guests. (251 West 48th St., 212.229.0010)

NEW EMPIRE ROOM

GINGER MAN

This 3,500-square-foot cocktail lounge from the company that operates the Campbell Apartment, the Carnegie Club, and World Bar opened in March 2010. Situated on the ground floor of the Empire State Building, the 150-seat Empire Room sports Art Deco-style interiors and serves a selection of upscale cocktails. (350 Fifth Ave., Ground Floor, 212.643.5400)

The Ginger Man is part of a national chain of pubs, with 66 beers on tap. Befitting its casual reputation, the decor includes iron chandeliers, tall ceilings, and dark woods.

A black-leather-upholstered area in the rear is suited to groups of 50, and the entire venue holds 225. (11 East 36th St., 212.532.3740)

EMPLOYEES ONLY

Long, narrow Chelsea bar Glass features a shiny bar top, with walls decorated in cool-colored tile. Inside are small,

The Hill is a sports lounge and event space in Murray Hill available for events seven days a week. Equipped with 25 high-definition, wall-mounted TVs, a projection screen, and Wi-Fi Internet access throughout, this 5,500-squarefoot site is suitable for cocktail events as well as seated presentations and meetings. Additionally, a balcony overlooking the main bar and lounge can be used for private groups. The entire space seats 250 or holds 565 for receptions. There are an additional 40 seats on the patio. (416 Third Ave., 212.481.1712)

DUVET

This restaurant and lounge owned by Sabina Belkin was designed by Andres Escobar. Furnished with large beds that seat 12, the venue features an eight-foot-tall jellyfish tank beside a 90-foot, 35-seat wraparound bar designed to resemble melting ice. The bilevel space holds 1,480 total and 300 seated for receptions. (45 West 21st St., 212.989.2121) NEW 18TH FLOOR AT THE STANDARD

Briefly known as the Boom Boom Room, the Standard New York’s bar and lounge boasts sweeping views of the Hudson River and the surrounding neighborhood from its 18th floor perch. Opened in September 2009, the space is split into two distinct areas and filled with the same modern furnishings that mark the rest of the hotel’s stylish aesthetic. (848 Washington St., 212.645.4646) ELMO

This restaurant and bar inspired by speakeasies is owned

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GALLERYBAR

This bilevel lounge opened in 2007. The Lower East Side venue’s upper level houses a raw gallery for showcasing artwork and photography, and exposed brick, beams, and dark leather couches dominate the bar below. The upper level holds 200 for receptions, and the lower level holds 100. (120 Orchard St., 212.529.2266) NEW THE GATES

GLASS5

THE HILL5

PHOTO: ANDRE GILLARDIN

Bars, Lounges & Clubs

New York Venue Directory

Bars, Lounges & Clubs

at the venue is a 100-foot-long video wall, on-premise catering, an elevated room for V.I.P.s, and coat check and storage areas. (37 West 26th St., 212.725.3860) LATITUDE

HIRO BALLROOM & LOUNGE

This Japanese-themed space in the Maritime Hotel has two components: a lounge and a ballroom. The lounge seats 60 or holds 200 for receptions. The ballroom holds 400 for receptions or seats 250 theater-style. The spaces can be combined for larger events. The decor features dark woods, paper lanterns, exposed beams, and red booths.

(88 Ninth Ave., 212.242.4300)

This 6,500-square-foot Midtown bar and lounge has three levels, two fireplaces, a pool table, five full-service bars, 20 plasma TVs, high-tech audiovisual equipment, and a kitchen serving American cuisine. The space seats 160 or holds 500 for receptions. (783 Eighth Ave., 212.245.3034) LEOPARD LOUNGE AND SIN SIN

Leopard Lounge is upstairs and Sin Sin is downstairs in this East Village bar complex. The areas can be rented together or separately for events; each floor has its own sound system, and each holds 125. (248 East 5th St., 212.253.2222)

lounge chairs, and ottoman seating. It holds 150 for receptions and has a staircase that leads to another lounge, the Plateau, which holds 75. (541 Lexington Ave., 212.755.1200) NEW PALACE GATE5

Palace Gate is the 75-seat lounge in the courtyard of the New York Palace Hotel. Sitting beside the ornate wroughtiron gates with a view of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, this casual spot serves a menu of bites from the adjacent Gilt restaurant. Paved and dotted with plants and trees, this area of the hotel can be used for events. (455 Madison Ave., 212.891.8100) PARAMOUNT BAR

This bar in Sol Meliá’s Philippe Starck-designed Paramount Hotel features crystal chandeliers, fake-fur throws, and ornate mirrors. Movies are projected onto the smooth metal bar, and graffiti tags are written on chalkboard walls. The petite space holds 75. (235 West 46th St., 212.764.5500)

HONEY

LIBATION

Matt Shendell (owner of the Hill and a partner in Dune Southampton) and Paige Restaurant Group opened this restaurant and lounge in Chelsea. The 3,000-square-foot venue has exposed brick, brown leather banquettes, and a 25-foot bar. Honey serves New American fare. (243 West 14th St., 212.620.0077)

This trilevel venue features a large backlit bar on the street level. The restaurant seats 150 people, the private space on the mezzanine seats 45 or holds as many as 90 for receptions, and a party room seats 80 or holds as many as 220 for receptions. The venue also features 13 flat-screen televisions. (137 Ludlow St., 212.529.2153)

HUDSON BAR

LITTLE BRANCH

The bar in the Hudson Hotel stands out for its underlit glass floor, glowing ethereally beneath well-heeled patrons’ Jimmy Choos. Its Philippe Starck-designed decor, gold-colored Ultrasuede chairs, and a brightly colored mural by Francesco Clemente on the ceiling make for a striking environment. (356 West 58th St., 212.554.6217)

Sasha Petraske—owner of Milk and Honey and the East Side Company Bar—runs Little Branch, another topsecret, call-before-you-come venue. The space features an upright piano. Per Petraske’s reputation, extra-fresh ingredients go into the drinks, and the bar feels like a speakeasy. (20-22 Seventh Ave. South, 212.929.4360)

INC. LOUNGE

LIVING ROOM

The Time Hotel’s second-floor cocktail lounge opened in April 2008. Furnishing the 2,500-square-foot space is a mix of pieces including hand-painted club chairs, Lucite chandeliers, Mongolian sheepskin pillows, and wildorchid- and mermaid-patterned wallpaper. The venue holds 250 and is available for buyouts, or groups can book sections of the lounge such as the back room. Dean & DeLuca provides catering. (224 West 49th St., 212.320.2984)

On the seventh floor of the W Hotel–Times Square, in the hotel’s lobby, Living Room has white leather and suede couches and hanging lamps in its soothing environment, a contrast to the bustling, tourist-filled neighborhood below. Living Room holds 200; the entire 6,000-squarefoot space can be closed for private events. (1567 Broadway, 212.930.7444)

JADE BAR

This lounge sits on the ground floor of Ian Schrager’s remodeled Gramercy Park Hotel. Decorated with green and black Moroccan tiles, the Jade Bar has green plaster walls, Venetian mirrored sconces, blue velvet-upholstered seating, and artist/designer/filmmaker Julian Schnabel’s “Blue Japanese Painting No. 3.” The 506-square-foot space holds 50 for receptions. (2 Lexington Ave., 212.920.3300)

This bar is a few steps down from the Mandarin Oriental hotel’s 35th-floor lobby. It features a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of Broadway below. The Lobby Lounge features beige leather seating and decor in brown tones and wood. There’s a menu of Asian fare, as well as tea service. The lounge seats 115 and does not usually accept reservations for private events. (80 Columbus Cir., 212.805.8876)

KATWALK

MAD RIVER BAR & GRILLE

NEW POLAR

Katwalk is a sophisticated space with brown tones and rich leather details. It features a spacious main level, which holds 275 for receptions, as well as a more intimate separate lounge, which holds 75 for receptions. It has a programmable lighting system, 25 glass cases for displays, a catwalk, high-speed Internet access, a new audiovisual system, and wireless microphones. (2 West 35th St., 212.594.9343)

Offering an outdoorsy feel, with ski- and fishing-themed decor, Mad River Bar & Grille offers two private event spaces. One holds 60 for receptions, while the second holds 120 for receptions or seats 45. The 2,700-square-foot downstairs can be rented as well, and seats 100. Both buffet-style and open-bar events can be arranged. (1442 Third Ave., 212.988.1832)

Opened in February 2010, Polar is the lower-level lounge of the Marcel at the Gramercy hotel. Interior design firm Goodman Charlton created the look of the space, which includes arctic-style elements such as igloo-like V.I.P. nooks with silver-painted brick walls, faux polar bear skin accents, and glass tables. (201 East 24th St., 212.292.7502)

METRO 53

KEMIA BAR

This Midtown lounge has two floors, with three bars and two private event rooms. The main bar has a marble top, and an area surrounding a second mahogany bar with original brick holds 150. The total capacity is 600. (307 East 53rd St., 212.838.0007)

This bilevel bar and restaurant in Midtown offers a menu of traditional American comfort food in a casual setting.

Public House seats 250, with room for 40 more outside.

There is a 70-seat private dining room, and semiprivate events of as many as 80 can use the mezzanine; the entire space holds 400. (140 East 41st St., 212.682.3710)

METRO GRILL5

PUCK FAIR

The Hotel Metro’s proximity to Madison Square Garden makes the Metro Grill, its 14th-floor bar, a convenient spot for game- and eventgoers. Its expansive roof offers sweeping city views and holds 150 guests, and a back room holds 40. (45 West 35th St., 212.279.3535)

This SoHo pub features a balcony that affords views of the large space, with its wood and brick decor. The space is refined and business-appropriate. A private bar downstairs holds 60. (298 Lafayette St., 212.431.1200)

MR. WEST

Formerly the Pioneer Bar, this 3,000-square-foot Bowery venue reopened in September 2006. R Bar offers rock ’n’ roll-inspired decor by designer Benjamin Kay, including artwork and photographs that represent his idea of the music genre. A private room in the rear is available for groups of as many as 120. The entire space holds 400. (218 Bowery, 212.334.0484)

Kemia is a subterranean bar in the theater district that holds 120 people in two rooms. The decor is Moroccaninspired and bordellolike, with bright reds and draping fabrics. The menu features tapas and desserts. (630 Ninth Ave., 212.582.3200) KING COLE BAR

Famous for its Maxfield Parrish mural, the intimate King Cole is on the first floor of the St. Regis Hotel. The look is dark, woody, and formal—and the drinks are known to be stiff. The bar holds 60, but cannot be booked for private events. (2 East 55th St., 212.753.4500 ext. 621) KION DINING LOUNGE

Serving Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine, this bilevel East Village restaurant and lounge has a sushi bar and two private dining areas on the lower level, and a main dining room, bar, and balcony at street level. The entire space holds 175 for receptions. (509 East 6th St., 212.529.5200) K LOUNGE

This Midtown lounge holds 150 and has a look inspired by India. There are ornate silver chairs and an art piece depicting the Jaipur skyline in the front room. The back room features lots of pillows on the floor as seating. Bollywood films play on flat-screen TVs, and scenes from the Kama Sutra line the walls. (30 West 52nd St., 212.265.6665) KUSH LOUNGE

The candlelit Kush Lounge features Moroccan- and Indianinspired decor, including intricately carved and inlaid woods. Kush’s specialty is hookah pipes, with tobacco in tons of flavors. The entire space holds 300 people. (191 Chrystie St., 212.677.7328) LA CAVERNA

The cool decor in this Lower East Side lounge was modeled after Roman caves from 1500 B.C. The entry is a winding passage that leads guests down to the subterranean lounge. There’s an Italian menu and plush leather seating. The venue seats 110. (122-124 Rivington St., 212.475.2126)

LOBBY LOUNGE

Opened in September 2008, this 1,800-square-foot lounge in west Chelsea replaced Opus 22. Featuring a granite bar, a custom 600-strand crystal chandelier, black velvet banquettes, and a bronze mirrored wall, Mr. West is owned by Danny Divine and DJ Jus Ske. The lounge holds 200 and is available for private events. (559 West 22nd St., 212.414.8700)

After closing briefly for renovations, Flatiron district lounge Ultra reopened as La Pomme in September 2009. The overhaul for the 3,500-square-foot space included adding intricately patterned wallpaper and photographic murals by Fadil Berisha. Still offered

114 bizbash.com may/june 2010

This Midtown lounge features a menu of small plates and offers a half-bottle wine selection of more than 150 domestic and international vintages. The venue has imported African fixtures, seats upholstered in pinstriped men’s suit fabric, and a white onyx bar. A private room seats 30; the entire space can be rented for events and holds 75. (158 West 58th St., 212.247.2727) PEASANT WINE BAR

The Peasant Wine Bar, once called Cantina 194, is within Italian restaurant Peasant in NoLIta. The candlelit location beneath the dining room feels cozy, with its communal tables, a wine cellar, exposed beams, and stone pillars.

The wine bar is closed on Mondays. (194 Elizabeth St., 212.965.9511) PEGU CLUB

Opened by Audrey Saunders (the former beverage director of the Carlyle Hotel), Pegu Club was named after a British officers’ club in Rangoon, has an Asian-inspired menu, and serves classic and specialty cocktails. The bar is not available for private rental. (77 West Houston St., 2nd Floor, 212.473.7348) PLAN B

Plan B, which opened on Valentine’s Day in 2004, underwent a redesign in 2005 and is now decked in red, white, and black. The main space holds 100, with two intimate rooms that can hold 20 and 35 for private events. (339 East 10th St., 212.353.2303)

PUBLIC HOUSE NEW YORK

R BAR

RDV

This 55-seat wine bar opened next door to French restaurant Marseille in September 2008. Inspired by the French and Italian rivieras, the venue serves food and wine from both regions, including pasta, antipasti, and cured cheeses. There are an additional 20 seats outdoors. (630 Ninth Ave., 212.956.1800)

This lounge, whose name is short for “rendezvous,” can accommodate as many as 200 people for events. The space can be used for seated dinners for 100, while a private dining room seats 38. RdV offers menu service from French bistro Bagatelle, whose main dining room is located above the lounge. The private room has audiovisual capabilities. (409 West 13th St., 212.255.1933 ext. 18)

NOBLE FOOD & WINE

REHAB

This NoLIta wine bar opened in July 2008 with a large selection of varietals. Noble has an Enomatic machine—a high-tech dispenser that stores open bottles of wine. The venue, with marble and mahogany accents, has a bar in the front and tables in the back. (7 Spring St., 212.777.0877)

This East Village bar occupies the space that once housed Scenic. Upstairs is a lounge, downstairs a stage and a DJ booth with a high-end sound system. The interior features large banquettes, displays of American memorabilia, and a boomerang-shaped bar. The venue holds 275. (25 Ave. B, 212.253.2595)

NIZZA5

NURSE BETTIE

In homage to 1950s pinup girls (Bettie Page in particular), this small bar showcases two commissioned paintings and original ’50s artwork. Nurse Bettie has room for 75 in its 450 square feet, decorated with brown The latest venue banquettes, vintage 1950s bar stools, concrete floors, and chandeliers. The entire news and our space can be rented for private events. (106 comprehensive, Norfolk St., 917.434.9072)

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NEW LA POMME

PARK BLUE

searchable directory of event spaces

OASIS

The lobby bar of the W New York hotel is an open space featuring plush sofas,

RETREAT

This Union Square lounge aims to provide a countrylodge-like escape with its handcrafted wooden walls and tables, antique mirrors, and 3-D images of forests on the walls. The 2,500-square-foot venue can hold 250 and features a projection screen and a sound system. (37 West 17th St., 212.488.6600) RISE5

This hotel bar is on the 14th floor of the Ritz-Carlton New York in Battery Park, with a terrace that holds 100 and offers views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The interior is comfortable, with upholstery in muted colors,

New York Venue Directory

Bars, Lounges & Clubs

foot venue will be divided into five spaces, including a terrace with a retractable roof. Architect Stephen B. Jacobs and interior designer Andi Pepper will decorate the venue with LED ceiling lighting, custom furnishings, and a light installation. (330 West 40th St.) SLIPPER ROOM

and holds 200. The menu features American fare. (2 West St., 917.790.2626) RM. FIFTY5

Replacing the Dream Lounge, this is the lobby-level lounge of the Dream Hotel, redesigned by Jody Singleton and reopened in 2007. The 1,100-square-foot space is decorated with antique settees, Venetian-glass teardrop chandeliers, and black-and-white birch-forest mural wallpaper. Rm. Fifty5 is available for events for as many as 125 people. (210 West 55th St., 212.246.2211)

This Lower East Side lounge regularly features live cabaret performances, although its velvet-draped stage can be used for other purposes—the space has been used for an event with Leonard Cohen, as well as for a documentary featuring U2. (167 Orchard St., 212.253.7246) SOCIAL

Hell’s Kitchen bar Social has a publike feel on three levels; the entire space holds 550. The Irish Pub Room on the second level has a separate bar. Fusion is a third-floor lounge with elevated central seating. An outdoor area has heat lamps. (795 Eighth Ave., 212.459.0643)

RODEO BAR

STANTON SOCIAL

This “honky-tonk” restaurant and bar, with a life-size buffalo above the bar and antler chandeliers, offers Tex-Mex cuisine, country music, and two event spaces. An upstairs lounge with a plasma TV, couches, and a dining area seats 25 or holds 60 for receptions. Downstairs, a room with a private bar and stage seats 40 or holds 150 for receptions. (375 Third Ave., 212.683.6500)

This Lower East Side trilevel space is a tip of the hat to the neighborhood’s early-20th-century roots as a district for tailors and clothiers, which inspired AvroKO’s design.

The shape of the lower level’s backlit wine wall emulates the herringbone fabric of a man’s suit and holds 24. In the upstairs lounge, which holds 40, a wall made of 44 patterned fabric shutters resembles a dressing-room privacy screen. (99 Stanton St., 212.995.0099)

ROOM SERVICE

This restaurant and club is a hotel-inspired space divided into nine rooms, each with its own bartender and minibar available upon request. It offers contemporary American fare. The restaurant seats 100 or holds 490 for receptions.

(35 East 21st St., 212.254.5709) ROSE BAR

Adjacent to the Jade Bar, this lobby-level bar in the Gramercy Park Hotel holds as many as 100 people. With custom furniture by the hotel’s designer, artist Julian Schnabel, the 1,582-square-foot Rose Bar is defined by its rose-colored, rough-hewn plaster walls, Italian handcarved stone fireplace, Maarten Baas’s “Smoke” billiard table, and a walnut bar. (2 Lexington Ave., 212.920.3300) ROSE CLUB

The Rose Club is inside the renovated Plaza hotel. The multilevel bar and lounge overlooking the lobby takes over the spot that once housed the Persian Room. Open from 11 a.m. daily, the ornate Rose Club serves small plates from executive chef Didier Virot and a drinks list that includes beer, wine, cognacs, and other spirits, in addition to cocktails. (768 Fifth Ave., 212.546.5311) RUSSIAN VODKA ROOM

Giant jars of homemade flavor-infused vodkas line this bar, and bartenders pour serious shots. The space holds 75 and has green leather banquettes and dark wooden and marble walls. It often features live piano and other eclectic acts. (265 West 52nd St., 212.307.5835) SALON DE NING

The Peninsula New York reopened its rooftop bar and lounge in May 2008. Formerly known as the Pen-Top Bar & Terrace, this 23rd-floor space is inspired by a Shanghai socialite and features a mix of accents, including Chinese daybeds, Moroccan lanterns, and Venetian mirrors. The entire space is available for events and holds as many as 250, and a glass-enclosed lounge is open year-round. (700 Fifth Ave., 212.956.2888) SALOON

Upper East Side lounge Saloon has three bars, two DJ booths, and a dance floor. In addition to the main nightclub space, there is a smaller pub in an adjoining room with a 40-foot mahogany bar and 16 televisions. (1584 York Ave., 212.570.5454) SILVERLEAF TAVERN

Formerly the in-house restaurant at the 70 Park Avenue hotel, Silverleaf reopened 2006 as a bar and lounge but maintains the original dark look. The space is filled with eclectic decor elements such as branch-shaped crystal light fixtures snaking along the ceiling, booths covered with dark gray tufted velvet, and low settees. (43 East 38th St., 212.973.2550) NEW 675 BAR

In May 2009, 675 Bar replaced Level V in the subterranean space beneath the meatpacking district’s Vento.

Measuring 2,800 square feet, the venue is designed to be a neighborhood bar with vintage couches, retro coffee tables, and games like foosball, Ms. Pac-Man, Jenga, and billiards. In keeping with the cozy atmosphere is a menu of small plates including chocolate-covered bacon, pork and veal meatballs, and whoopie pies. The bar holds 200 people. (675 Hudson St., 212.699.2410) THE SIXTH WARD5

This Lower East Side bar is named for the neighborhood’s once dense population of Irish immigrants. The 1,500-square-foot, year-round beer garden can be rented for events, as can as the 33-foot oak bar indoors. The authenticity extends beyond the typical European fare of shepherd’s pie and fish and chips—the owners flew in a beer expert from Ireland to ensure the perfect levels of nitrogen and CO2 in each pint of Guinness. (191 Orchard St., 212,228.9888) OPENING SOON SKY ROOM5

Slated to open in spring 2010, the Sky Room is the rooftop lounge and club of the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites Times Square. Spread across two levels, the 5,000-square-

116 bizbash.com may/june 2010

STAR LOUNGE

SWIFT

East Village venue Swift is in the style of an Irish pub, with a long bar, communal tables in its back room, and a menu of pub fare written on chalkboards. The space can accommodate parties of as many as 50. (34 East 4th St., 212.260.3600) TELEPHONE BAR AND GRILL

This England-inspired space with a 40-foot mahoganyand-marble bar is particularly appropriate for events with ties to the U.K. The menu offers British and American comfort food, and the bar holds 250. A private room with a fireplace seats 40 and holds as many as 60 for receptions.

(149 Second Ave., 212.529.5000) TEN DEGREES

This 1,200-square-foot wine bar, named for the proper Celsius temperature to store wine, is a dimly lit, jazzinfused space featuring black leather, dark wood, and live music on certain nights. A private room in the back holds as many as 50, and hors d’oeuvres are available. (121 St. Marks Place, 212.358.8600) TENJUNE

Below steak house STK, this lounge offers 4,000 square feet of space and room for 350 people. Purple tones, a large white marble fireplace, and padded walls decorate a semiprivate area with room for 75. Tenjune has four projection screens and can be combined with the bilevel restaurant.

(26 Little West 12th St., 646.624.2410)

In the spot beneath the Hotel Chelsea is Star Lounge, which is divided into three sections: an area dubbed “Room 100,” with framed, backlit silk-screen images of chandeliers and black-and-white prints of the hotel during the 1960s and ’70s; another with two small platforms and LED lights inset in banquettes; and a third with a retro-style zebrawood bar and padded wrought-iron stools. The entire venue holds 150. (222 West 23rd St., 212.255.4646)

135

STAY

The lobby-level space in the 60 Thompson hotel features navy and brown leather seating, cowhide rugs, ebonypaneled walls, and a dark wood floor. There’s also a candlelit fireplace and an Asian-inspired menu. It seats 75 or holds 150 for receptions. A rooftop space holds 120. (60 Thompson St., 212.219.2000)

This East Village bar and lounge has a minimalist aesthetic—picture a 1960s retro look—with a wall of padded banquettes, mod lighting, and modern furniture.

A bar anchors each side of the space, with an elevated private area overlooking one side and a DJ booth in the rear.

Stay can close for private events on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. (244 East Houston St., 212.982.3532)

Bar 13’s mod-style decor includes a leather bar and stools, lava lamps, and disco balls. It features two floors with private entrances that can be used separately or together.

The first floor holds 150, while the second floor holds 120.

Warm-weather events can use the venue’s roof deck, which seats 40 or holds 100. (35 East 13th St., 212.979.6677) THOM BAR5

TILLMAN’S

This Gramercy Park lounge has black-and-white photos on exposed brick walls and dark wood details. Seven plasma TVs and a cable package carrying all NFL football games serve Still’s function as a sports bar. The menu has burgers-and-wings American bar fare. (192 Third Ave., 212.471.9807)

Accented with vintage furniture and photos of jazz greats such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Tillman’s is a lounge hidden behind an unmarked door in Chelsea that can be booked for events. Semicircular booths in alcoves and a stone fireplace create a cozy atmosphere. A DJ booth is hidden behind removable artwork, and the music and sound can be manipulated by remote control. The entire space holds 250. (165 West 26th St., 212.627.8320)

STITCH BAR & LOUNGE

TONIC EAST5

This bilevel Midtown bar and lounge is decorated with original 19th-century moldings and a 60-foot oak bar.

Stitch has full audiovisual capabilities, plasma and projection screens, a kitchen, and an online jukebox. The venue has 4,500 square feet and holds 400. (247 West 37th St., 212.852.4826)

The owners of Times Square’s Tonic Restaurant and Bar opened this trilevel bar and club in 2006. The Murray Hill location’s three floors offer marble-top bars, wooden furnishings, padded leather sofas, private booths, 25 large TVs, 11 plasma TVs, and a smoker-friendly rooftop. Tonic East seats 200. (411 Third Ave., 212.683.7090)

STONE ROSE

TONIC RESTAURANT AND BAR

Rande Gerber’s Stone Rose turned a corner of the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center into a sleek lounge, with lots of leather, rosewood, and glass. The large glass windows offer sweeping views of Central Park and Columbus Circle. The space’s 5,500 square feet can hold 500, and Chef & Company is the in-house caterer. (10 Columbus Cir., 212.823.9769)

Tonic is a large sports bar and restaurant in Times Square with three levels that hold 550 people total. The third-floor private bar has color-changing lighting, a marble bar, projection screens, plasma TVs, and a balcony overlooking the second floor. (727 Seventh Ave., 212.382.1059)

STILL

STOUT

This bar with cobblestone floors and street lanterns serves casual pub fare. It has five bars and seven private dining spaces. The 65-seat Victorian-style Greene Room holds 120. The cellar seats 200 or holds 300 for receptions. The Dart Alley holds 150 for receptions. Private billiard rooms are also available. (133 West 33rd St., 212.629.6191) SUGARCANE

This sake bar on Park Avenue South is adjacent to and run by Sushi Samba. Decorated in orange, green, and dark brown, the 1,100-square-foot bar has a shrine that features the gods of the cultures represented on the menu: Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian. There is a private room in the rear and a sake room in the basement. (243 Park Ave. South, 212.475.9377) SULLIVAN ROOM

This club closed for renovations in January 2007 and reopened a month later with a layout better suited to corporate and private events. The new design divides the venue—formerly one room—into three spaces: a bar, a lounge, and an elevated terrace. Also new is an advanced sound system and programmable LED lighting. The venue holds 400. (218 Sullivan St., 212.252.2151) SUTRA LOUNGE

This Indian-inspired, bilevel lounge holds 175 upstairs and 75 in the cavelike downstairs. It features plasma TVs, golden Buddhas, a mirrored mosaic stairwell, and an elliptical private room draped in red velvet that holds 30. (16 First Ave., 212.677.9477) SWAY

This SoHo lounge has a Moroccan theme, with domed ceilings and tile walls. White lights and Moroccan fixtures over the bar cast a dim but warm glow. The entire space holds 200. Private rooms have space for 60 guests, a private bar, and private restrooms. (305 Spring St., 212.620.5220)

12:31

This petite, candlelit bar is named for the building and street numbers of Hotel Chandler, which houses it. With only seven tables and a capacity of 34, the small space also features leather couches. (12 East 31st St., 646.218.4422) NEW TWO E

As part of a $100 million renovation completed in June 2009, the Pierre hotel opened Two E, a small bar and lounge in the spot formerly occupied by the hotel’s reading room. Serving light fare, small plates, cocktails, and a traditional tea service in the afternoon, this 80-person venue is designed to feel like a living room, with an eclectic mix of furnishings, table lamps, and wood accents. (2 East 61st St., 212.838.8000) ULYSSES5

This pub in Lower Manhattan takes its beverages seriously: It has a 130-foot-long bar, more than 50 beers on tap, and an Irish-inspired menu. The space holds 140 for receptions inside or 200 on the cobblestone patio. (95 Pearl St., 212.482.0400) UNDERBAR

Underbar is the lounge in the W New York–Union Square.

The subterranean space holds about 200 guests and features candles in sconces on the walls, plush velvet couches, and long velvet curtains that separate private booths from the rest of the dimly lit bar. (201 Park Ave. South, 212.358.1560) UNION BAR

This bar has brown leather furnishings and houses the 50-foot curving mahogany bar that served patrons when the space was the Astor Hotel. The bar has 200 liquors, and the menu offers Latin-inspired dishes as well as American classics. The Union Bar holds 275 for receptions. (204 Park Ave. South, 212.674.2105) NEW THE UPHOLSTERY STORE

In July 2009, chef Kurt Gutenbrunner opened this intimate wine bar next door to his West Village restaurant Wallsé.

Located just steps from Madison Located just steps from Madison Located just steps Square Garden andfrom PennMadison Station Square Garden and Penn Station Square Garden and Penn Station Stout is the perfect place to Stout is the perfect place to host your next event host your next event.

• 16,000 square feet of space on three levels • Private rooms for groups of 10 - 400 people • Customized menus Available • C.I.A. trained Executive Chef • State of the art AV system Call today to book your next event: 212-629-6191 133toWest New York, NY 10001 Call today book33rd yourStreet next event: 212-629-6191 Call today book33rd yourStreet next event: 212-629-6191 www.stoutnyc.com 133toWest New York, NY 10001 133 West 33rd Street New York, NY 10001 www.stoutnyc.com www.stoutnyc.com

New York Venue Directory

Bars, Lounges & Clubs

THE WHISKEY

One of Rande Gerber’s larger bars, the Whiskey is in the W New York–Times Square and holds 500 in three rooms. A dance floor is made up of colored gel tiles, and there is an elevated DJ booth. A curtain-enclosed screening room has a 19-foot HDTV screen. (1567 Broadway, 646.666.3135) WHISKEY BLUE

Much like Gutenbrunner’s other eateries, the Upholstery Store serves Austrian fare, which complements the broad range of German and Austrian varietals. Small, but not cramped, the Upholstery Store is divided into three sections seats 35. (713 Washington St., 212.352.2300) OPENING SOON UPSTAIRS AT THE KIMBERLY HOTEL

The rooftop at the Kimberly Hotel is scheduled to open in June 2010 as a lounge called Upstairs. With heated flooring and retractable glass ceilings and walls, the 4,000-squarefoot spot is available year-round and serves small plates from the hotel’s in-house restaurant. The entire space holds 225 for receptions; smaller gatherings can use the 40-person enclosed penthouse room or the 30-person semiprivate patio. (145 East 50th St., 212.702.1685) NEW VANDER BAR

Opened in mid-March 2010, Vander Bar is the Roosevelt Hotel’s new drinking and dining establishment. Furnished with a 26-foot-long granite-topped bar with the capacity for 18 people and retractable windows, the spot serves a full range of spirits and beer as well as a menu of appetizers and small plates. (45 East 45th St., 212.661.9600)

The decor of this 2,000-square-foot lounge in the original W New York hotel has dark chocolate hues, comfy sofas, mirrors, and lots of candlelight. Black-and-white photographs of musicians and entertainers line the walls.

Whiskey Blue can hold 225 for receptions. (541 Lexington Ave., 212.407.2947) WHISKEY PARK

Cork walls and ceilings and deep-brown hues give Whiskey Park an upscale, modern look befitting its home in the Trump Parc residential building. It features a masculine atmosphere, with glowing bar shelves, leather chairs, velvet couches, a pool table, four plasma televisions, and lots of candles. It holds 225. (100 Central Park South, 212.307.9222) WICKER PARK5

This bar and restaurant from Chris Coco and Frank Falesto replaced Martell’s Grill in 2006. The 74-seat venue serves American fare and has mosaic-tiled floors, tin ceilings, high-backed booths, and a mahogany bar. The 1,200-square-foot space also offers outdoor seating. (1469 Third Ave., 212.734.5600)

VELVET CIGAR LOUNGE

WINDFALL LOUNGE & GRILL

At this cigar-friendly lounge in the East Village, guests can enjoy hand-rolled cigars on the spot. The lounge features exposed brick, can hold as many as 20 people, and broadcasts sporting events from around the world. (80 East 7th St., 212.533.5582)

The Midtown Windfall Lounge & Grill has 1920s Arts and Crafts-style wood wall pillars and paneling and a curvy 44-foot-long bar. Weekends are reserved exclusively for special events; the capacity is 150. (23 West 39th St., 212.869.4606)

VERLAINE

WINEBAR5

Named after the poet Paul Verlaine, this Lower East Side lounge has double-height ceilings, black banquettes, and fur pillows, and is lit in amber hues. The kitchen serves Vietnamese cuisine. Verlaine holds 170 people. The entire space can be rented for private events. (110 Rivington St., 212.614.2494)

This Mediterranean wine-and-tapas bar in the East Village has lots of candlelight and dark wood and offers a selection of more than 300 wines. There’s room for 70 inside and additional sidewalk seating for 22 seasonally.

(65 Second Ave., 212.777.1608)

VERO MIDTOWN

The World Bar, on the ground floor of the Trump World Tower condo, offers such Trump-like touches as an ultrapricey cocktail topped with liquefied gold. World Bar features soaring 30-foot ceilings and a modern, mostly earth-toned look, with space for 125. (845 United Nations Plaza, 212.935.9361)

The owners of Upper East Side wine bar Vero opened a Midtown East location in October 2008. The intimate space is furnished with brown leather seating, antique light fixtures, and wood accents. Offering an extensive list of wines, Vero Midtown can hold as many as 75 people.

(1004 Second Ave., 212.452.3354)

WORLD BAR

VERTIGO BAR & RESTAURANT

CLUBS

Vertigo serves internationally influenced American cuisine in a 110-seat venue in Gramercy Park. The interior includes a 42-foot-long zebrawood bar, comfortable banquettes in the 90-seat main dining area, hardwood floors, a wall of exposed brick, and a warm palette of browns and yellows. A lounge in the back is available for special events. (354 Third Ave., 212.696.1011)

NEW AMNESIA NIGHTCLUB

VIA

APT

This 2,500-square-foot restaurant and lounge in the Flatiron district has 17-foot ceilings and a private mezzanine. The 100-seat space is filled with candles and has exposed brick accents, dark woods, and wood-burning stoves for its Southern Italian-style pizza from chef Adrian Nigro. (16 West 21st St., 212.645.5032)

This club is in a two-story, loft-style venue designed to evoke a Manhattan apartment—one that’s cooler than all your friends’. There’s a bed, a kitchen, a dinner table, and a sofa, and the space has photographs and other items from the life of the apartment’s fictitious occupant, Bernard.

(419 West 13th St., 212.414.4245)

VINO VINO5

NEW BADDIES

This TriBeCa wine emporium is also home to a fullfledged enoteca. The shop, divided down the middle by a glass wall, has a 60-seat lounge and bar and serves a selection of meats and cheeses and more than 30 wines by the glass. Parties can customize wine selections from more than 300 bottles. The Landing holds eight outside.

(211 West Broadway, 212.925.8510)

Beneath West Village restaurant Kingswood is Baddies, a lounge and private event space that opened in June 2009.

With a separate entrance—accessed through a series of tunnels—this 1,000-square-foot venue has ostrich leather sofas, chairs upholstered in white cowhide, and a black and red palette. Available for functions of as many as 100, Baddies can be catered by Kingswood. (20 Greenwich Ave., 212.645.0044)

VINO VOLO

Located in west Chelsea, Amnesia opened in December 2009. It is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and is available seven days a week for private events of up to 800 people. In-house catering is provided by Savor, but outside vendors are allowed. (609 West 29th St., 212.643.6464)

a lower-level lounge, which holds 350. (225 East Houston St., 212.254.2200) FASHION 40

Fashion 40 is a large, candlelit, bilevel club near Times Square with unusual diamond-shaped fixtures, deep banquettes, and a second-floor balcony that overlooks a long oak bar. Total capacity is 400, with the mezzanine holding 100 people and the main floor holding 300. (202 West 40th St., 212.221.3628) 40/40 CLUB

Best known for its owner, Jay-Z, this bilevel sports club has leather swing chairs suspended from the ceiling and eight private sections for groups. On the second level, five private rooms hold pool tables, video games, and leather couches and beds. The Remy Lounge and Jay-Z’s Room hold 70, the ESPN Hall of Fame Lounge holds 120, and the cigar lounge holds 40. Another club space holds 300. (6 West 25th St., 212.832.4040) FUSION 215

This nightclub occupies the space that housed Nest. Fusion 215 has four levels: The main level offers a 15-foot bar, a dance floor, and an elevated semiprivate area. FrenchAmerican cuisine is served in the dining lounge on the lower level, and another dance floor is on the second level.

(215 West 28th St., 212.279.8150) THE GRAND

This Upper East Side club is the exclusive event space for Philippe Chow’s Philippe Restaurant Group. The 8,000-square-foot space has room for 500 for receptions or 230 for seated events and is decorated in black, green, deep purple, and red. The space opened in 2006. (41 East 58th St., 212.308.9455) KATRA

This bilevel, 5,000-square-foot Moroccan-inspired venue has large vases, wooden platform seating with colorful pillows, rugs mounted on the walls, and privacy screens.

There are two DJ booths and a kitchen serving Frenchinfluenced Middle Eastern fare. Katra holds 400. (217 Bowery, 212.473.3113) KISS & FLY

This 5,000-square-foot Euro-style nightclub holds as many as 500 people. Twenty eight V.I.P. tables line the ampitheatre-style room, and each includes its own private dance floor. Music and lighting can be customized for private events. (409 West 13th St., 212.255.1933 ext. 18) LE ROYALE

New to the West Village in 2007, this 2,800-square-foot club took over the former Luke & Leroy space. Spread across two levels, Le Royale offers a stage for live performances. The venue also has a 1,000-square-foot dance floor on the mezzanine, as well as DJ booths. Events can take over the space in the early evenings; the entire site holds 280. (21 Seventh Ave. South, 212.463.0700) LQ

In the Radisson Hotel, this 15,000-square-foot club holds 1,000. There are two waterfalls, 12 plasma screens, and a stage. There is a private entrance to the ground floor, which seats 75 or holds 150 for receptions. (511 Lexington Ave., 212.593.7575) MADISON

The decor at this Flatiron lounge evokes a 1930s Art Deco supper club. There are velvet sofas, dark leather armchairs, and columns draped in white. The venue once also featured a restaurant, but the dining room has closed.

(27 West 24th St., 212.462.0999) THE MANOR

Alex Ancheta’s club took over the old Pink Elephant space in 2006 and features leather floors, black pony-skin upholstery, and a sound system designed by a NASA engineer.

The 2,500-square-foot main level holds as many as 350 for receptions, and the 1,500-square-foot Trophy Room holds 100 for receptions. Serena Bass is the exclusive caterer. (73 Eighth Ave., 212.463.0022)

Inside J.F.K.’s new American Airlines terminal, this 24-seat wine bar and retail store is furnished with club chairs upholstered in dark brown leather. Vino Volo serves small plates to accompany its selection of wines. The company operates other airport-based sites around the country.

(Kennedy International Airport, American Airlines Terminal 8, Queens, 718.995.8466)

BLVD

NEW VINTRY WINE & WHISKEY

CIELO5

In December 2009, Harry and Peter Poulakakos opened this bar in the financial district. Located near the owners’ other eateries—Harry’s Café, and Bayards—Vintry Wine & Whiskey is furnished with leather stools, dark wood accents, and marble-topped tables and serves small plates to accompany the large selection of spirits and wine. (57 Stone St., 212.480.9800)

The long strings of running lights that illuminate Cielo’s 3,400 square feet make it feel like a large space, but the venue holds a modest 350 people. This club in the meatpacking district features a sunken dance floor and a hightech audiovisual setup, with a smoker-friendly garden, available for parties of as many as 30. (18 Little West 12th St., 212.645.5700)

MR. BLACK

VUDU LOUNGE

COLUMBUS 72

M2 ULTRA LOUNGE5

This Upper East Side nightclub has a spacious dance floor, a high-tech audiovisual system, a DJ booth, and a stage.

It holds 300 in the main room. The vibe is casual, with funky mirrors, burgundy velvet curtains, spider-shaped chandeliers, and exposed brick walls. (1487 First Ave., 212.249.9540)

Things at this Upper West Side nightclub come in two’s—two dance floors, two bars, and two V.I.P. lounges.

Each room has its own style of music and decor. The 7,000-square-foot club is open four days a week and can accommodate parties of as many as 500. (246A Columbus Ave., 212.769.1492)

In Crobar’s old space is this club from the Opium Group; it’s available for events seven days a week. Formerly called Mansion, M2’s 18,500 square feet spreads across two levels, with a capacity for 2,120 guests. Features include a 20-foottall fireplace, glass-walled stairs, dark wood accents, and crystal chandeliers. (530 West 28th St., 212.629.9000)

WETBAR

ELEMENT

NIKKI MIDTOWN

Wetbar is Rande Gerber’s lounge at the W New York–the Court. It’s decked out with black leather ottomans, red velour couches, and mohair sofas. Wetbar holds 175 and is conveniently close to Grand Central Terminal. (130 East 39th St., 212.592.8844)

Element, a 10,000-square-foot trilevel venue in what was originally the Provident Loan Society of New York, opened in 2006. The venue features four separate spaces: a main room that holds 500 for receptions; the adjacent Fire Lounge; a mezzanine and balcony that hold 150; and Vault,

Nightclub chain Nikki Beach runs a New York outpost in Midtown. The 6,000-square-foot bilevel venue features the club’s signature white linens, throw pillows, and beds.

The second level includes a private lounge with a view of the main lounge. (151 East 50th St., 212.753.1144)

118 bizbash.com may/june 2010

This Lower East Side bilevel event complex features a café, restaurant, and a recording studio, as well as a 1,800-square-foot nightclub that holds 1,200. Crash Mansion, a live music venue beneath BLVD, seats 150 people or holds 350 for receptions. Pink, a club inside BLVD, holds 250. (199 Bowery, 212.982.7767 ext. 13)

MARQUEE

This west Chelsea venue features glass chandeliers, a 35-foot arched staircase that leads to a glass-enclosed private room, three bars, red and gold lighting, and banquettes with drawers underneath for purses. The space holds 597 in 6,500 square feet on two levels. (289 10th Ave., 646.473.0202) Available during off hours for private events, this club has 3,000 square feet of subterranean space. Mr. Black holds 230 and has a cabaret license, teak-lined walls, distressed leather ottomans, cast-iron tables, and velvet banquettes beneath brick arches. A private event space holds 75. (643 Broadway, 212.253.2560)

1OAK

This sophisticated Chelsea nightclub has a full sound system, outdoor smoking room, fireplace, and valet parking. In-house catering is provided by Butter restaurant. The venue recently hosted a 250-person party for BET and Grey Goose Entertainment. (453 West 17th St., 212.242.1111)

A BACON YACHT CHARTER

BIG APPLE SAILING

Eddie Dean’s 30,000-square-foot trilevel nightclub Pacha debuted in 2005. The main space, which includes the dance floor, has large columns, moving projections, and a mezzanine. Pacha holds 1,300 in the main space, 550 on the second level, and 400 on the third level. (618 West 46th St., 212.209.7500)

This company charters 40 yachts in New York Harbor, including the Richard Robbins, which holds 49 for receptions, and the Half Moon, which holds 200 for receptions. Its smallest boat is the Prelude, a 54-foot cutter-rigged ketch that holds six. (West 79th St. Boat Basin at Riverside Park, 212.873.7558)

PINK ELEPHANT

AFFAIRS AFLOAT

In 2006, this lounge moved from the meatpacking district to a 5,000-square-foot space in west Chelsea.

Pink Elephant has a curved 30-foot floating onyx bar with glass tiles and a leather armrest, and two mahogany-stained wooden sculptures. The space holds 400. (527 West 27th St., 212.463.0000) Opened in December 2009, Provocateur is the new nightlife spot from Michael Satsky and Brian Gefter, who owned Stereo on West 29th Street. In the space that recently housed the Garden of Ono, the site offers indoor and outdoor space on the ground floor of the Hotel Gansevoort. (18 Ninth Ave., 212.929.9036)

This company books events on the Queen of Hearts and the Star of Palm Beach. The Queen of Hearts is the city’s largest paddle-wheel boat, with three levels holding 500 for events. The Star of Palm Beach has two levels that hold 420 for events. Both ships have yearround climate control, audiovisual systems, and dance floors. The Queen of Hearts offers discounts for philanthropic organizations. (Pier 40, West Houston St. at the West Side Hwy., 212.987.9200)

SOL

ATLANTICA NY CRUISES

This converted warehouse has 30-foot ceilings with 75-foot skylights, computer-controlled lighting and an LED system, and a prep area for catering. Sol seats 300 or holds 665 for receptions. (609 West 29th St., 212.643.6464)

The Atlantica is a 145-foot motor yacht that holds 400; its smaller counterpart, the Romantica, is 125 feet long and holds 149 for receptions.

Both yachts have three decks (two of which are enclosed), as well as leather wraparound couches, a mahogany bar, climate control for each of their spaces, and an onboard chef. (P.O. Box 633, Peckslip Station, 212.385.9400)

PACHA

NEW PROVOCATEUR5

SUZIE WONG

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SPIN NEW YORK

Boats & Yachts

Named for the title character of Richard Mason’s popular novel, Suzie Wong is an Asian-themed club in west Chelsea. The 4,000-square-foot has a red color scheme that covers everything from the silkupholstered banquettes to the glossy floors. Divided into two parts, Suzie Wong holds 350 for receptions.

(547 West 27th St., 212.268.5105) TOUCH

This 15,000-square-foot Times Square club and event space reopened in 2007 after receiving a multimillion-dollar overhaul. Divided into two levels, Touch offers three bars and has the capacity for 125 for seated dinners or 750 for receptions. Amenities include a video-projection screen and wireless Internet access. (240 West 52nd St., 212.489.7656)

In 2008, this company launched corporate and private charters on America’s Cup boats. Available for threehour rentals is the America II. The floating clubhouse near Ellis Island holds as many as 149. Also available is the “Taste of Sailing,” a three-hour sailboat journey where six guests can Take Ping-Pong assist with the operation of the boat.

(North Cove Marina, Battery Park City, Enthusiasts 212.786.0400)

Where to...

Open since July 2009, Spin New York is a 13,000-square-foot space with 17-ping-pong tables, including the world’s priciest, which is made entirely of mirrors, stainless steel, and glass.

Membership is not required to play table tennis or host events.

Ducks, a bar and lounge area, is also available. The entire venue holds 140 seated or 299 for receptions. Actress Susan Sarandon is an investor. (48 East 23rd St., 212.982.8802)

ATLANTIS OF NEW YORK CRUISES

This company books events on the Queen of Hearts and the Star of Palm Beach. The Queen of Hearts is the city’s largest paddle-wheel boat, with three levels holding 500 for events. The Star of Palm Beach has two levels that hold 420 for events. Both ships have yearround climate control, audiovisual systems, and dance floors. (Pier 9, Emmons Ave. at Ocean Ave., Brooklyn, 212.633.1231)

CALIBER YACHT

Among the vessels available for events is the Cloud Nine IV, with a light-up dance floor, indoor and outdoor seating, and a lower-level lounge. Most of the boats have private chefs. (Skyport Marina, East 23rd St. at F.D.R. Drive, 212.248.3800) CALYPSO

Formerly known as the Lone Ranger—it was originally built for Lone Ranger producer Jack Wrather— the Calypso is now a private yacht with room for 45 passengers. The ship offers four-hour charters with fullservice catering from onboard chef Rean Smith. (Pier 59, Chelsea Piers, 212.736.1010) CHARTERPRO YACHTS

CharterPro specializes in three- to four-hour day charters in New York harbor. Its smallest vessel holds 20, while its largest holds 1,000 for receptions. The company’s yachts offer climate control and panoramic views.

(484 West 43rd St., 212.695.4849) CIRCLE LINE DOWNTOWN

Circle Line charters two boats—the Shark and the Zephyr. The Zephyr, the company’s largest yacht, holds 400 and has mahogany bars and plasma monitors. Custom routes are available. (399 Van Brunt St., Section 8B, Brooklyn, 212.809.0808)

Boats & Yachts CIRCLE LINE 42

This company cruises around New York on the Circle Line Yacht and the Beast speedboat. The yacht holds 550 guests for three-hour trips, while the Beast holds 145 guests for 30-minute excursions. Tour guides are provided for sightseeing trips. (Pier 83, West 42nd St. at the Hudson River, 212.563.3200) CITY LIGHTS CRUISES

City Lights charters yachts and other boats in a variety of sizes. One of its larger boats, the Temptress, stretches 160 feet and holds 700 for receptions; the bilevel boat also features a grand staircase connecting the two levels, a hardwood dance floor, and large windows. The boats depart from several piers around Manhattan. (20 West 20th St., 212.822.8880) CLASSIC HARBOR LINE

Classic Harbor Line operates the Adirondack and the Imagine, both 80-foot vessels modeled after an 1890s pilot schooner. Each holds 49 for receptions. Their sister vessel, the Manhattan, is a 1920s-inspired, 81-foot motor yacht; it holds 70 and has a chef. (Pier 62, West 22nd St. at the Hudson River, 212.627.1825) EASTERN STAR

This 85-foot motor yacht holds as many as 60 passengers. An onboard chef provides full-service catering for every event. The yacht also features a spacious dining deck, an indoor and outdoor bar, as well as a wood-burning stove in its main salon. (Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, West 23rd St. at the Hudson River, 800.445.5942) FRYING PAN

This 133-foot prewar lightship was used off the coast of North Carolina from 1930 to 1964. In the early 1980s, after spending three years underwater, the ship was raised from Chesapeake Bay, restored, and moved to its current home. The ship is permanently docked and available year-round; it holds 299 for receptions. (Pier 66, West 26th St. at the Hudson River, 212.989.6363) JUDY PERL CRUISES

Judy Perl Cruises charters yachts and cruise ships internationally, including ships that depart from New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for corporate events, training sessions, and incentive trips. The company charters the Queen Mary 2, the largest transatlantic liner in the world, holding 2,500 passengers; its largest restaurant, the Britannia, seats 1,347. (228 East 6th St., 212.924.9414) LOTS OF YACHTS/LOTS OF SPOTS

This company charters more than 20 motor and sailing yachts in various sizes. The Lexington is an 85-foot motor yacht that holds 75 for seated events or 149 for receptions. This bilevel vessel mixes a classic antique look with modern amenities like a high-tech audiovisual system. The boat also features teak decks, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an onboard chef. (271 West 47th St., Suite 36B, 917.691.5688)

WELCOME ABOARD

THE ELEGANT ATLANTICA.

MANHATTAN STEAMBOAT COMPANY

This company owns two charter yachts. Its 62-foot custom-built yacht, the Noa Danielle, is modeled after turn-of-the-century passenger steamboats.

The bilevel yacht holds 49 for receptions. The company’s 130-foot-contemporary-style yacht, the Star of America, holds 149. (Pier 59, Chelsea Piers, 212.355.8304)

WHERE YOUR GROUP EVENT CAN BE ANYTHING YOU ENVISION. Plan your next event aboard New York’s premier private yacht, Atlantica by Bateaux New York.

Offering complete customization from menus and entertainment to décor, docking location and cruising times. You can give your group the most unique on-the-water experience.

MANHATTAN YACHT CHARTERS

This company charters motor yachts in a variety of sizes. Risk It All, one of its smaller yachts, holds six passengers and features two staterooms and a sunbathing deck. The Cornucopia Majesty is the largest yacht in New York Harbor, stretching 210 feet and holding 1,200 guests. (P.O. Box 308, Fairfield, Conn., 212.995.5470)

PERFECT FOR: Meetings | Conventions | Client Entertaining | Employee Outings Office Parties | Holiday Parties | Birthdays | Reunions | Weddings Church Group Outings | Unique Group and Social Events

MARIKA YACHT

Operated through Water’s Edge restaurant, the Marika is a 100-foot motor yacht docked in Long Island City. Certified for 150 passengers, the yacht has a dance floor and a sound system. (The East River at 44th Drive, Queens, 718.482.0033) MISS FREEPORT V

Launching from Freeport’s famous Nautical Mile, Miss Freeport V is a 72-foot vessel that holds 150 for receptions. The bilevel boat has spacious wraparound decks, an enclosed dance floor, and stereo equipment. From April to October, the ship offers fishing charters for 80. (85 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport, N.Y., 516.378.0555)

Our elegant decks await. Reserve today.

866.401.8439 | AtlanticaNewYork.com Cruising year-round from Chelsea Piers, Manhattan and Weehawken, NJ.

NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP

Presented by 10-0728

The Nantucket Lightship is a 128-foot, privately owned ship docked in the Hudson River. The historic vessel has a dining room, an open kitchen, lounges, a game room, and overnight accommodations, and is available for chartered cruises. A 2,000-square-foot deck can be used for cocktails during the warmer months; the entire ship holds 144 for receptions.

(North Cove Marina, Battery Park City, 212.560.1095)

NEW YORK WATER TAXI

These bright yellow boats are available for private charter from several piers around Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Of the nine vessels, the smaller 59-foot boats hold 74, and the larger 72-foot boats hold 149. Each boat is equipped with sound systems, bar and refrigeration services, and open-air decks—the smaller boats can hold 27 on the deck; the larger boats, 70. (499 Van Buren St., Section 8B, Brooklyn, 212.742.1969) NY WATERWAY

NY Waterway has the largest ferry and excursion fleet in New York Harbor and operates vessels in two sizes. The smaller boats hold 145 for receptions; the larger hold 275. NY Waterway has a list of preferred caterers. (Pier 78, West 38th St., 201.902.8700) NY YACHT & BOAT CHARTER INC.

This company charters more than 40 yachts and sailboats. One of its smaller boats, the Festiva, stretches 75 feet, has two decks, and seats 80 or holds 110 for receptions. The larger, trilevel Royal Princess is a 120-foot motor yacht that seats 200. (1500 Harbor Blvd., Weehawken, N.J., 212.496.8625) PADDLEWHEEL QUEEN

The Paddlewheel Queen is a 108-foot charter boat with interior and exterior decks. Equipped with sound and lighting equipment, kitchen facilities, and a full bar, the ship holds 400 for receptions. (Skyport Marina, East 23rd St. at F.D.R. Drive, 212.213.2002)

Private yacht and deck charters for Private and deck for intimateyacht gatherings andcharters groups up intimate gatherings and groups up to 500 people, year round to 500 people, year round

PRESTIGE YACHT CHARTERS

This company has a fleet of 43 motor yachts and four sailing yachts available. All are climate-controlled and have outdoor areas and enclosed decks; they can hold as many as 1,200 for private events. (2430 F.D.R. Drive East Service Road, 212.717.0300) SHEARWATER

This 82-foot sailing yacht is twice the weight of many similar-size yachts, meaning a smoother sail. The ship holds 48. A 160-foot ship, the Clipper City, was recently added to the fleet. It can hold 144.

(North Cove Yacht Harbor, Hudson River Esplanade in Battery Park City, World Financial Center, 212.619.0885) SKYLINE CRUISES

Designed for year-round operation, the 120-foot Skyline Princess holds 350 for receptions. The ship offers three floors of event space, and the top deck— which features a private dance floor and skylights— can be completely enclosed. The ship has a list of preferred caterers, but outside caterers are permitted.

(1 World’s Fair Marina, Pier 1, Queens, 718.446.1100) SPIRIT CITY CRUISES

This company’s glass-enclosed vessel, the Bateaux, is a 200-foot yacht with European-inspired decor.

The ship seats 300 in a dining room that can be divided in two using a soundproof partition—the Aurora Room has a dance floor and seats 170, while the Orion Room seats 130. There is an onboard chef.

(Pier 62, Chelsea Piers, West 23rd St. at the Hudson River, 212.352.1366) VALIANT YACHT CHARTERS

This 97-foot luxury motor yacht has five staterooms and can host long-term charters or day-only events.

The three-level vessel has antique Victorian furnishings and oriental rugs and holds 87 for receptions.

The boat features two decks and climate control.

Liberty House Restaurant is the exclusive caterer.

(Liberty Landing Marina, 80 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, N.J., 866.683.3586) WINDRIDGE YACHT CHARTERS

The Lady Windridge is this company’s flagship yacht, stretching 170 feet. Furnished with leather, suede, Italian granite, and hand-etched glass, the yacht is available June through September and holds 500 for receptions. (Pier 59, Chelsea Piers, West 23rd St. at the Hudson River, 212.247.3333) WORLD YACHT

This company has four yachts. The Princess and the Duchess both stretch 160 feet and have full kitchens, climate control, windows offering panoramic views, sound systems, and hardwood decks. With three decks each, both ships hold 500 for receptions. The Cabaret is a 98-foot-long yacht that holds 150 for receptions, while the 130-foot-long Destiny seats 200. (World Yacht Marina, Pier 81, West 41st St. at the Hudson River, 212.630.8800) YACHT OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK

This group represents 100 yachts in the tristate area.

Planners can choose from three types of climatecontrolled yachts: a modern yacht, a classic-style yacht, or a sailing yacht. The association’s largest yacht is 215 feet and holds 1,200 guests. (1123 Broadway, Suite 317, 212.736.1010)

PHOTOS: TK

YACHTS FOR ALL SEASONS

With more than 25 boats harbored around New York, Yachts for All Seasons charters both small sailboats and large yachts. One of its larger boats, the bilevel Cayah Michelle, holds 100 for seated events or 130 for receptions. This 117-foot motor yacht also features a dance floor and an onboard chef, but outside caterers are welcome (1700 York Ave., 212.534.6380)

CORPORATE EVENTS / WEDDINGS / BIRTHDAYS / SOCIAL EVENTS Host your event CORPORATE EVENTS in a unique / WEDDINGS and memorable / BIRTHDAYS setting / SOCIAL with great EVENTS food, exceptional service and exciting 360 degree views of the Manhattan skyline.

Host your event in a unique and memorable setting with great food, exceptional serviceoptions and exciting 360 degree views of the skyline.

Flexible catering available, from sit downs to Manhattan cocktail receptions.

Call us at 212-630-8100 for inquiries or reservations or visit us online at Flexible catering options available, from sit downs to cocktail receptions. www.worldyacht.com Call us at 212-630-8100 for inquiries or reservations or visit us online at www.worldyacht.com PIER 81 W 41ST STREET @ THE HUDSON RIVER / NEW YORK, NY 10036

PIER 81 W 41ST STREET @ THE HUDSON RIVER / NEW YORK, NY 10036

New York Venue Directory

Conference Centers, Convention Centers & Auditoriums AUDITORIUMS AXA EQUITABLE CENTER

This 487-seat raked auditorium has a full lighting and sound system, a video projector, and a 10 1/2- by 14-foot screen. The space has DSL access, and a TV studio on site can be used to record events for broadcast. (787 Seventh Ave., 212.314.4000) COOPER UNION—ROSE AUDITORIUM, WOLLMAN AUDITORIUM, AND GREAT HALL

The Rose Auditorium is a modern meeting space that seats 200 and offers audiovisual equipment, including a built-in screen. Wollman Auditorium is a wood-paneled lecture and meeting space that seats 190; the column-free auditorium is equipped with built-in screens and speakers. The great hall, which offers audiovisual equipment, stage lighting, and three projection screens, seats 900.

(Rose Auditorium: 41 Cooper Sq.; great hall: 7 East 7th St.; Wollman Auditorium: 51 Astor Place; 212.353.4196) FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (FIT)

FIT’s Haft Auditorium seats 775 and is equipped with an LCD projector, a concealed screen, four dressing rooms, and a proscenium stage. The Katie Murphy Amphitheater has an open stage and stadium seating for 277. Reeves Great Hall is a multifunction space with stone floors and high ceilings; it holds 274 for receptions or seats 550 theater-style. Ten additional meeting rooms, with seating capacities of 16 to 50, are also available. (Seventh Ave. at West 27th St., 212.217.4120) GREAT HALL AT THE CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK

Within the college’s Shepard Hall is this Gothic-style space, which has a 63-foot ceiling and features rows of towering columns and arches. The hall has a semicircular raised stage and seats 1,000 theater-style (including a balcony with fixed seating for 90) or 550 banquet-style.

(Convent Ave. at West 140th St., 212.650.6405) MCGRAW-HILL AUDITORIUM AND GALLERY

In the Midtown corporate headquarters of the McGrawHill Companies, this vaulted 345-seat auditorium offers a

private registration lobby, as well as an adjoining 2,500square-foot reception space. Additional breakout rooms are also available. (1221 Ave. of the Americas, 2nd Floor, 212.512.4560) ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY

The university’s Caspary Auditorium has 430 seats and a 16- by 30-foot stage. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller dining room seats 120 or holds 150 for receptions. Two cafés offer views of the East River and the Queensboro Bridge and seat 180 and 120. Cohn Library seats 40 theater-style.

Additional rooms are available. The school rents only to nonprofit organizations. (1230 York Ave., 212.327.8073) SCHOLASTIC AUDITORIUM5

This SoHo 271-seat auditorium, complete with a 24- by 25- by 18-foot stage, has a fully equipped sound and lighting booth, digital surround sound, Wi-Fi, Webcasting, and multicamera recording. Larger events can use auxiliary areas as breakout rooms, suitable for meetings, brainstorming sessions, or small receptions. These include the 1,478-square-foot Educational Resource Center, which features floor-to-ceiling windows and simulcast viewing, and the 1,839-square-foot living room, which contains the original boardroom table from the Woolworth Building.

Also available is a 5,000-square-foot greenhouse and rooftop terrace. (557 Broadway, 212.343.4848)

CONFERENCE CENTERS & MEETING SPACES AMA NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER

This Midtown conference center has 66,000 square feet of space and can hold as many as 120 in its meeting rooms. AMA offers complimentary continuous beverage service, executive chairs, indirect lighting, high-speed Internet access and Wi-Fi. Optional catering packages are available. Other AMA centers are in Atlanta, Chicago, and the San Francisco and Washington, D.C. areas. (1601 Broadway, 212.903.8060) AMERICAN CONFERENCE CENTERS

This center has 10 meeting spaces and includes an audito-

rium with stadium seating for 175. The 2,000-square-foot Grand Central Room can be divided into four spaces and seats 175 theater-style. The center is set up for videoconferencing and provides lighting, sound, and computer staff, as well as extensive audiovisual and production capabilities, Webcasting, and on-site catering. (780 Third Ave., 212.527.9000) BARUCH COLLEGE, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK— WILLIAM AND ANITA NEWMAN CONFERENCE CENTER

The college’s conference center has a large room and four breakout rooms that accommodate 170 people. Also on site are a full kitchen with a catering staff, and audiovisual and technology services. (151 East 25th St., 7th Floor, 646.312.1442) BARUCH COLLEGE, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK— WILLIAM AND ANITA NEWMAN VERTICAL CAMPUS

Meeting spaces at the college include this building’s room 14-220, which has a lectern, a screen, and LCD projectors.

The room seats 300 theater-style or 220 with meeting tables. Seven breakout rooms are equipped with built-in screens and projectors. Also on site are a warm-up kitchen, a catering staff, and classrooms. (55 Lexington Ave., 14th Floor, 646.312.1442) BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY—CENTRAL LIBRARY

The library and its event spaces reopened in 2007 following a massive renovation. The revamp included a new 189-seat auditorium, beneath the 16,000-square-foot plaza, with advanced audio, lighting, projection, and videoconferencing amenities, as well as two adjacent meeting rooms and exhibition spaces. (10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, 718.230.2198) CENTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE EDUCATION & TRAINING

Developed by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association—the group behind the New York International Auto Show—the Center for Automotive Education & Training is located in Whitestone. The attractive 90,000-square-foot building’s event spaces include a light-filled two-story glass atrium that seats 150 or holds

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New York Venue Directory

Conference Centers, Convention Centers & Auditoriums 390 for receptions, a 40-seat boardroom, and a 100-seat auditorium. (15-30 Petracca Place, Queens, 718.640.2000) COLEMAN CENTER

This meeting complex has 12 rooms on two floors. On the 23rd floor, the center’s largest room has 2,208 square feet of space and seats 99 classroom-style. A lounge on that floor seats 38 or holds 60 for receptions. The 22nd floor has four meeting rooms; the largest seats 44 classroom-style.

(810 Seventh Ave., 23rd Floor, 212.541.4600) COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY—ALFRED LERNER HALL

This modern facility—the university’s student center— has three boardrooms (each seats 15 conference-style), 11 meeting rooms, and an auditorium. The auditorium and its balcony seat 1,347 theater-style or 600 banquet-style.

(2920 Broadway, 212.854.5800) NEW COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY—FACULTY HOUSE5

A collegiate landmark since 1923, the Faculty House on the Morning Heights campus of Columbia University underwent an 18-month top-to-bottom restoration and reopened in September 2009. Fitted with new audiovisual technology and renovations to be more versatile, the 38,000-square-foot redbrick and limestone building now offers four floors of meeting space. The main space is the Presidential Ballroom—three large rooms and a reception foyer on the third floor that join to offer 3,475 square feet of space. (64 Morningside Drive, 212.854.1200) CONCIERGE CONFERENCE & EVENT CENTER

The 18,000-square-foot Concierge Center features a 171-seat theater, a 3,000-square-foot ballroom, a boardroom, a teleconference suite, and array of dedicated seminar and breakout rooms. The venue, two blocks from Grand Central Station, is managed by Marenzana Conference Services. (780 Third Ave., 212.735.0011) CONFERENCE CENTER AT THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

Built in 1926, this Romanesque-style structure houses Hosack Hall, a two-tiered, 5,900-square-foot auditorium with 550 seats and a stage. A wood-paneled boardroom seats 10 to 50 at a conference table. Room 20 seats 200 theater-style. The academy’s presidents gallery is a multifunction space that seats 150 theater-style or 108

banquet-style, or holds 200 for receptions. (1216 Fifth Ave., 212.822.7272) DIGITAL SANDBOX NETWORK EVENT CENTERS

Digital Sandbox operates three locations. The 24,000square-foot financial district complex can be broken into eight separate rooms, plus a prefunction area. The venue holds 450 for receptions or seats 200 classroom-style. The 7,000-square-foot space in the Flatiron district has three rooms, a bar and bistro, and a prefunction space; it holds as many as 225 for receptions or seats 100 classroom-style.

The 11,428-square-foot Long Island Technology Center has four rooms, and a prefunction space, and can hold as many as 1,000. (55 Broad St., 41 Madison Ave., 212.482.0851; 3500 Sunrise Hwy., Great Neck, N.Y., 631.859.0500) DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE CENTER

With 30 rooms on six floors, this center, managed by Benchmark Hospitality International, includes DVD players, VCRs, automatic drop screens, LCD projectors, and plasma screens; videoconferencing is also available. The largest meeting room seats 80, and a penthouse boardroom seats 20 and is equipped with a 42-inch plasma screen. (157 William St., 212.618.6990) EXECUTIVE SUITES

Rental company Executive Suites has seven furnished meeting rooms. The rooms do not interconnect—the smallest seats six; the largest seats 42. The center provides audiovisual equipment and permits catering. (1120 Ave. of the Americas, 4th Floor, 212.626.6800) FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL

Keating First and Keating Third auditoriums seat 500 and 270, respectively. The McGinley Center ballroom seats 600 lecture-style or 280 banquet-style. (441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, 718.817.4339) THE GRADUATE CENTER, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

Formerly home to the B. Altman department store, this massive building now houses CUNY’s graduate programs.

Its ninth-floor skylight room holds 74 for seated events or receptions. Nine conference rooms each seat 40 theaterstyle. The Martin E. Segal Theatre seats 70, and Proshansky Auditorium seats 389. (365 Fifth Ave., 212.817.7150) HQ GLOBAL WORKPLACES

This 46th-floor meeting center has two conference rooms that have screens, projectors, and videoconferencing capabilities; two rooms each seat 16, and a training room seats 40. (140 Broadway, 46th Floor, 212.858.7500) JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

A part of the City University of New York, the college has three conference rooms that seat 18, 36, and 80. Two lecture halls at the 59th Street building seat 168 and 195.

The 10th Avenue location has an 80-seat lecture hall, as well as a theater that seats 605. (445 West 59th St., 899 10th Ave., 212.237.8611; theater: 212.237.8157) JOHN ROBERT POWERS

Meeting space is available weekdays at this facility, which has a large room with windows and four adjoining offices. The main room seats 75 theater-style and has two screens with VHS and DVD capabilities. Each office seats 10. (424 West 33rd St., 212.604.4280)

The fashion-industry nonprofit’s headquarters feature a seventh-floor, 650-square-foot conference room with four windows facing the side of the New York Public Library.

The room seats 100 theater-style or holds 125 for receptions and has a DVD player and microphones. Caterers have access to a warming kitchen. The space is available for a maximum of four hours at a time. (8 West 40th St., 7th Floor, 212.302.5511 ext. 26)

KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, LINCOLN CENTER CAMPUS

This meeting space is in the lobby of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies building. The three meeting rooms are modern spaces; the largest seats 75 people theater-style, and the other two hold, respectively, 38 and 26 theater-style. (281 Park Ave. South, 212.777.4800)

At Fordham’s Manhattan location, the Lowenstein Building contains the 400-seat Pope Auditorium, as well as a lounge that seats 150 theater-style or 200 banquetstyle, or holds 235 for receptions. Two meeting rooms each seat 50 and classrooms seat 45 each, all available when the university’s academic schedule permits. A lounge and classrooms are equipped with Internet access. (113 West 60th St., 212.636.7900) FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, ROSE HILL CAMPUS

The university’s main campus includes the O’Keefe Commons conference space, which seats 200 lecturestyle, and Collins Auditorium, which seats 450. The

The college makes available the Mac Center rotunda, which seats 700 or holds as many as 1,000 for receptions.

The rotunda can be divided into five sections. The center’s Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center seats 700, and the Mac Playhouse seats 300. (2001 Oriental Blvd., Brooklyn, 718.368.5028) LAURA PARSONS PRATT CONFERENCE CENTER

LIGHTHOUSE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER

The Midtown headquarters of Lighthouse International, an organization that assists the visually impaired, includes a 250-seat theater; Benay Venuta Hall, an event space that holds 257 for receptions or 252 seated theaterstyle; and a reception space that holds 150. Fourteen meeting rooms are also available, the largest seating 90 theater-style. (111 East 59th St., 212.821.9427)

The Graduate Center/ City University of New York www.gc.cuny.edu

Our variety of spaces can accommodate seating for up to 400.

365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street New York, NY 10016

Looking for the perfect space for your next conference, meeting or reception? Look no further!

Our competitive prices and impressive spaces are perfect for your next training session, reception, holiday party, luncheon, formal dinner or conference.

We have an expert team of event planners, our own in-house caterer and can accommodate your audiovisual needs. Let us assist you in

making your event a success in one of our modern auditoriums, conference suites or reception areas.

Our variety of spaces can accommodate seating for up to 400.

Please call us to set up a site visit and to learn more about our facilities for your next event.

Contact the Office of Special Events at (212) 817-7150, (212) 8171608 (fax) or e-mail at specialevents@ gc.cuny.edu.

New York Venue Directory

Conference Centers, Convention Centers & Auditoriums MARITIME COLLEGE—STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK5

The country’s oldest commercial maritime college has a 55-acre campus on the Throgs Neck peninsula. The SUNY institution has several classrooms, lecture halls, and dining areas available for events, including a special event room with space for 200. The student activity center in McMurray Hall has a balcony with waterfront views; it seats 80. (6 Pennyfield Ave., Bronx, 718.409.7212)

for receptions, a 300-seat auditorium, and a conference room that seats 40 classroom-style or holds 80 for receptions. (250 Greenwich St., 40th Floor, 212.298.8600) THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY—SCIENCE, INDUSTRY, AND BUSINESS LIBRARY

The library’s conference center is made up of two theaterstyle rooms—one seats 50, the other 40. Both have built-in screens and high-speed Internet service, and food service is allowed. Healy Hall is a columned space with a stainless steel staircase that holds 175 for receptions or seats 150. (188 Madison Ave., 212.592.7077) NYC SEMINAR AND CONFERENCE CENTER

This Chelsea conference facility has 11 meeting rooms, four conference rooms, and access to the Masonic Hall’s spaces for large events. The center can provide laptop computers, LED projectors, T1 Internet access, and videoconferencing services. (71 West 23rd St., 646.336.4455)

MARKLE CONFERENCE SPACE

POLYCOM SOLUTIONS CENTER

On the 16th floor of a Rockefeller Center building, this 2,000-square-foot space includes a conference room that seats 50 people, as well as a furnished lounge. The venue is set up for videoconferencing and has high-speed Internet access. Office space is available in conjunction with rentals. (10 Rockefeller Plaza, 16th Floor, 212.713.7640)

Polycom, a company that manufactures telepresence systems, offers its 26 business centers around the world for daily rental, including a new 8,900-square-foot East Coast flagship in New York. The venue has a 16-seat main room with built-in computer screens, Internet access, and ceiling-mounted cameras, as well as a classroom-style room that seats 25. (1 Penn Plaza, Suite 2832, 212.372.6970)

MILLENNIUM CONFERENCE CENTER

Seven floors and 43 dedicated meeting rooms form this conference space. Its largest meeting room seats 120 theater-style, and its smallest seats eight theater-style.

The 700-seat Hudson Theatre can be used for large conferences or presentations. Gallery 8—an 11,000-square-foot event space—seats 400 theater-style. The complex’s business center includes an Internet kiosk and copy and printing services. (145 West 44th St., 212.789.7546) THE NEW SCHOOL

Within the university’s Greenwich Village campus, Wollman Hall seats 175. Tishman Auditorium seats 500, and within the same building are two amphitheaters that each seat 135. The Orozco conference room seats 60 theater-style. The Theresa Lang Community and Student Center seats 200 classroom-style. (Wollman Hall: 65 West 11th St.; Tishman Auditorium, amphitheaters, Orozco conference room, Room 510: 66 West 12th St.; Theresa Lang Community and Student Center: 72 Fifth Ave.; for information on all, call 212.229.2487) NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Originally in a private residence on the Upper East Side, the New York Academy of Sciences is now located in an office tower in the financial district. The venue offers a lobby that seats 100 banquet-style or holds 300 for receptions, a boardroom that seats 80 theater-style or holds 95

PRACTISING LAW INSTITUTE

With a 250-seat conference center, the institute also has an adjacent lounge that holds 100 for receptions; food service may be arranged through the venue. Three smaller rooms are also available. Availability is subject to the institute’s legal programming. (810 Seventh Ave., 212.824.5722) NEW SENTRY CENTERS MIDTOWN EAST

In November 2009, hospitality company Sentry Centers opened its flagship property, a 43,000-square-foot conference and event facility. The venue offers three floors of meeting and function space inside an office tower. Key areas include the 4,000-square-foot Wharton ballroom, an executive boardroom equipped with a 48-foot-long conference table, and a 5,000-square-foot terrace. (730 Third Ave., 17th Floor, 888.730.7307) ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY—MANHATTAN CAMPUS

This outpost of St. John’s has classrooms and lecture halls that are available for rental. Saval Auditorium is the largest; it seats 128 and has a large projection screen.

The second-largest lecture hall seats 72, and the smallest classroom seats 10. (101 Murray St., 212.284.7003) STRATOSPHERE MULTIMEDIA

Stratosphere specializes in interactive meetings and videoconferencing. The Madison Avenue space seats 10 conference-style or 18 theater-style in one room and five

conference-style in a smaller room. (551 Madison Ave., 7th Floor, 212.702.0700) UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT AT THE HOUSTON STREET CENTER

The headquarters of charity organization University Settlement House is available for events and meetings.

Among the on-site facilities are four classrooms (the largest seats 40 people), a dance studio that holds 30, and a 6,400-square-foot gymnasium. The venue also rents out equipment such as projectors. (273 Bowery, 212.475.5008) VANDERBILT SUITES

In April 2009 the Patina Restaurant Group opened this new conference and event space inside the MetLife Building. Named for Cornelius Vanderbilt and designed to echo his 19th-century heyday, this 2,200-square-foot site features 15-foot-tall windows overlooking the street, and old photographs of Vanderbilt and the railroads. Divisible into three separate sections, Vanderbilt Suites seats 160 or holds 250 for receptions. (200 Park Ave., 646.465.5150)

CONVENTION CENTERS JACOB K. JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER

The city’s largest exposition hall, the Javits Center has 840,000 square feet of exhibit space that can be divided into 10 halls. A long-awaited expansion is scheduled for completion in July 2010. When finished, the new facility, tentatively dubbed Javits Center North, will provide 80,000 square feet linked to the existing structure via a 30-foot-wide corridor. (655 West 34th St., 212.216.2186) PENN PLAZA PAVILION

Across from Penn Station, this nonunion exposition hall has two floors and more than 50,000 square feet of space, with room for 142 8- by 10-foot booths. The ground level’s front area has 18-foot ceilings, and the rear has 12-foot ceilings. The second floor’s main space has 22-foot ceilings. (401 Seventh Ave., 212.502.8139) PIERS 92/94 NEW YORK

This 208,000-square-foot event venue is managed by Merchandise Mart Properties. Pier 94 offers 133,000 square feet of uninterrupted exhibition space, and can be rented separately or combined with the adjacent 75,000-square-foot Pier 92. The venue is ideally suited for trade shows, consumer shows, and private functions. (711 12th Ave., 646.778.3211) SHOW PIERS ON THE HUDSON

This large exposition complex on the Hudson River comprises Piers 88 and 90. Each glass-enclosed pier of this union facility has 70,000 square feet of space, and each pier holds 2,000 people. The venue is wired with highspeed Internet access and has 1,000 parking spaces. (711 12th Ave., 212.459.1471)

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Entertainment & Performance Venues COMEDY CLUBS

holds 350 for receptions, with V.I.P. seating available. (131 West 3rd St., 212.475.8592) BOWERY BALLROOM

This popular 7,000-square-foot musical performance space and lounge incorporates Beaux-Arts construction with modern decor on three floors, including a wraparound balcony. Bowery holds 575 and has a bar on each level. (6 Delancey St., 212.260.4700) BOWERY ELECTRIC

performances, and the lower-level space, Vintage Lounge, holds 75. (208 West 23rd St., 212.367.9000 ext. 12)

BROADWAY COMEDY CLUB

This club opened in 1963 and quickly became the brass ring of comedy gigs. The theater district venue holds 275.

Two theaters are also available, seating 160 and 180. The café upstairs provides catering; off-premise caterers are also permitted. (318 West 53rd St., 212.757.2323 ext. 43) CAROLINES ON BROADWAY

Carolines, which originally opened in 1981 in Chelsea, is now a theater district fixture. The theater, which seats 350, has lighting and sound systems and a 10-foot-high projection screen, and the showroom offers Wi-Fi. (1626 Broadway, 212.956.0101 ext. 203) COMIC STRIP LIVE

This classic comedy club on the Upper East Side, with cocktail tables and a small stage, has hosted stand-up greats including Eddie Murphy and Jerry Seinfeld. Seating capacity is 195. (1568 Second Ave., 212.861.9386) COMIX

This 14,000-square-foot comedy club has a 5,000-squarefoot, 320-seat flexible showroom with an expandable stage, two bars, and a 2,000-square-foot kitchen. The venue is equipped with Wi-Fi multimedia capabilities. The entire space holds 700. (353 West 14th St., 212.915.0425)

PEOPLES IMPROV THEATER

The PIT is not only a theater, but also a school and corporate workshop program dedicated to the development of original comedy. The theater seats 50 for its improv performances. Instructors lead groups through teambuilding exercises and lessons. (154 West 29th St., 212.563.7488) TIMES SQUARE ARTS CENTER

This center is made up of one gallery main theater, which holds 350, and four smaller theaters. There are also three function rooms. The 15,000-square-foot venue holds five rooms, each with a stage and motorized drop-down screen. (669 Eighth Ave., 212.586.7829 ext. 303) UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE THEATRE

This 150-seat Chelsea theater is available for evening events. The comedy troupe holds improv classes, and there is a training studio nearby with six 18-seat rehearsal rooms and a 20-seat conference room. The theater has a 17- by 21-foot stage. (307 West 26th St., 212.366.9176)

B.B. KING BLUES CLUB & GRILL

This 16,000-square-foot club includes a performance space that seats 550. Across the hall is Lucille’s Grill, a 150-seat restaurant. Both are equipped with their own stages, bars, and restrooms and can be used together.

Booking the music room gets you the marquee facing 42nd Street. (237 West 42nd St., 212.997.4511 ext. 58)

FRIARS CLUB

BITTER END

In a Renaissance-style town house built in 1909, the Friars Club hosts roundtables of jokes, roasts, and toasts in its banquet and meeting rooms. There are the wood-paneled Lucille Ball Celebrity Bar, the Sinatra Dining Room, and the Milton Berle Room. (57 East 55th St., 212.751.7272)

Billed as the oldest rock club in New York (it opened in 1961), the Bitter End is in Greenwich Village and filled with rock ’n’ roll-inspired decor. The list of people who have performed here runs from Cheech & Chong to Norah Jones. The club holds 220. (147 Bleecker St., 212.673.7030)

GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB

BLUE NOTE

In 2006, Gotham Comedy Club moved a couple of blocks north of its original space to a 10,000-square-foot, multilevel, column-free location. The venue seats 300 for

This West Village club has booked top jazz, blues, R&B, contemporary, and big-band performers since 1981. The 4,000-square-foot club serves American cuisine and

LIGHTHOUSE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER

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COTTON CLUB

The Cotton Club has been around since 1923, booking Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, and Ethel Waters on its long roster of talent. A balcony that holds 25 is available for events, as is full catering, while the main floor holds 150.

(656 West 125th St., 212.663.7980) CRASH MANSION

Record-release parties and evening showcases are a mainstay at Crash Mansion, beneath BLVD Lounge on the Bowery. The space features a bar, sound system, recording studio, photo booth, and exposed stonework walls. It holds 350 for receptions or seats 200. (199 Bowery, 212.982.0740) DON’T TELL MAMA

This nightspot has two cabaret rooms (one seats 52 and has a proscenium stage; the other is a small, raised platform that seats 72), plus a piano bar up front. A full restaurant is also available. (343 West 46th St., 212.757.0788) FILLMORE NEW YORK AT IRVING PLAZA

MUSIC CLUBS

This comedy club has launched the careers of comedians such as Jay Leno, Jim Carrey, and Tim Allen—and is, of course, named for the late, great Rodney Dangerfield. The club seats 225. (1118 First Ave., 212.593.1650)

DANGERFIELD’S

This intimate bilevel venue debuted its lower-level performance space in 2009. The Bowery Electric has its own stage and musical equipment, as well as a projection screen and two DJ booths. Upstairs, the bar holds 200, while downstairs holds 150. (327 Bowery, 212.228.0228)

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Formerly known as simply Irving Plaza, this is among the top venues for indie rock and alternative music in the city. The main ballroom features a full stage, a hardwood dance floor, and eclectic decor. The three-story club holds 1,000 for receptions. (17 Irving Place, 212.777.6817) IRIDIUM RESTAURANT AND CLUB

This jazz venue is decorated with geometrically shaped lamps and seat cushions, and seats 180. The club’s intimate basement is usually filled with the sounds of swinging jazz, while upstairs, Ellen’s Stardust Diner serves American cuisine. (1650 Broadway, 212.582.2121) NEW KNITTING FACTORY

The new location of the Knitting Factory opened in September 2009. Last housed in TriBeCa, the famed music club now offers two full bars, a 400-square-foot stage, and a DJ booth. On-site equipment includes sound proofing, an automated curtain system, and a large video screen.

(361 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, 347.529.6696)

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New York Venue Directory

Entertainment & Performance Venues LENOX LOUNGE

This beloved Art Deco nightclub, which opened in 1939, was restored in 1999, complete with its trademark zebra stripes. There are a front and back room, a bar, and a fullservice restaurant. The space holds 225 people. (288 Lenox Ave., 212.427.0253) MERCURY LOUNGE

In what was once the servant house for the adjoining Astor Mansion, the Mercury Lounge now hosts some of the best music bookings in the city. The single-floor event space holds 250 for receptions or 80 for theater-style seated events. (217 East Houston St., 212.260.4700) MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG

This entertainment venue is from the concert promotion company that operates the Bowery Ballroom. The 600-capacity trilevel space has three bars, an 18- by 31-foot stage, and three greenrooms, as well as sound and lighting equipment suitable for Internet, TV, and radio broadcasts. (66 North 6th St., Brooklyn, 212.375.1200) SANTOS PARTY HOUSE

This 8,000-square-foot bilevel performance space is suitable for live performances, and the upstairs is equipped with a stage, a DJ booth, greenroom facilities, and two bars. Downstairs, an L-shaped bar occupies one corner, and there is recessed seating. Santos Party House holds 520 for receptions. (96 Lafayette St., 212.584.5492) SOUNDS OF BRAZIL (S.O.B.’S)

Since 1982, S.O.B.’s has hosted live salsa, samba, Latin rock, and neo-soul acts. It has a dance floor, two bars, two private rooms, and a 10- by 20-foot stage. The entire club holds 400. (204 Varick St., 212.243.4940) TERMINAL 55

This venue opened in 2007 and hosts a wide range of events and functions. The venue can hold more than 3,000 guests. In May 2009, Terminal 5 opened a 4,900square-foot rooftop deck with city views; it holds as many as 280 for receptions. (610 West 56th St., 646.221.8024) WEBSTER HALL

Built in 1886, this landmark East Village venue was once an RCA recording studio. The four-story, 40,000-squarefoot space has seven rooms, including the 10,000-squarefoot grand ballroom, which holds as many as 1,500. Other spaces include the Marlin Room, which holds 500; the studio, which holds 300; and the balcony lounge, which has room for 200. (125 East 11th St., 212.353.1600 ext. 19)

CLEARVIEW CINEMAS

Clearview’s Ziegfeld Cinema is named for Florenz Ziegfeld.

It’s a classic movie palace with a large lobby, two plasma screens, 1,162 red velvet seats, and a 55- by 22 1/2-foot screen. Clearview has two more locations in Manhattan; all three are available for rent. (Ziegfeld: 141 West 54th St.; Clearview’s 1st and 62nd: 400 East 62nd St.; Chelsea Cinemas: 260 West 23rd St.; 908.918.2056) DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA THEATER

The Directors Guild of America offers a private screening venue for film-industry screenings, receptions, and corporate events. Recently renovated, the theater seats 430 and boasts state-of-the-art digital equipment. Upper and lower lobbies are available for pre- and post-event receptions. (110 West 57th St., 212.258.0811) FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER—WALTER READE THEATER

The 268-seat Walter Reade Theater has clear sight lines, a 35-foot screen, and a digital light projector for high-definition screenings. A prefunction space made up of gallery space and a concession stand holds 268 for receptions.

(165 West 65th St., Plaza Level, 212.875.5610) GRAND SCREEN AT TRIBECA GRAND HOTEL

The hotel has a 100-seat arena-style theater that features contoured, chocolate-brown leather seats. It is equipped to present 35-millimeter or video projections with multichannel surround sound. Network and cable television connections enable screenings of live broadcasts and sporting events. (2 Ave. of the Americas, 212.519.6600) HIDEFINITION SCREENING ROOM

This screening room in Chelsea has only 12 seats, since it is used primarily for director and producer screenings. It can be booked for small, private screenings. (300 West 23rd St., 212.633.9960) IFC CENTER

This venue was formerly known as the Waverly Theater.

The three theaters—holding 210, 114, and 61—now have comfortable seating (stadium seating in the 61-seater) and offer high-definition and digital 35-millimeter projection. The IFC is available for events during the week. (323 Ave. of the Americas, 212.924.6789) IMAGINASIAN

Originally the D.W. Griffith movie house, this 280-seat space is now the ImaginAsian, featuring Asian films. The venue also has a concession stand in the lobby that sells standard concessions along with Asian snacks and beverages. (239 East 59th St., 212.371.6682) KELLEN AUDITORIUM AT THE NEW SCHOOL

SCREENING ROOMS

This auditorium is in the Sheila Johnson Design Center. It seats 90 and is equipped with LCD projectors and audio.

The Aronson Gallery and the Sheila Johnson Gallery are also within the center, and available for receptions. (66 Fifth Ave., 212.229.2487)

AMC EMPIRE 25

PARK AVENUE SCREENING ROOM

AMC owns nearly 25 theaters in New York, which are all booked through National CineMeetings & Events. Among the venues is AMC Empire, which offers 25 auditoriums with stadium seating, three terraces, two screening rooms with leather seating, and a conference and entertainment room. (AMC Empire 25, 234 West 42nd St., 212.398.2597; CineMeetings & Events: 888.327.6338)

This 55-seat theater was built in conjunction with Disney’s production and postproduction facilities. It can present 35-millimeter film formats and features an NEC 2K projector. An intimate lobby can be used for pre- or postscreening receptions for 55. (500 Park Ave., 212.735.5348)

AMC LOEWS LINCOLN SQUARE 13 WITH IMAX

The 598-seat Imax theater inside the Lincoln Square complex features a 77- by 101-foot screen with a sixchannel digital sound system. An Art Deco, U-shaped atrium surrounds the theater, and the lobby overlooks a Hollywood-themed mural. (1998 Broadway, 212.336.5025) ANGELIKA FILM CENTER

The Angelika has six theaters, with seating ranging from 75 to 260, that can be rented for independent or private film screenings and events Monday through Thursday, using 35-millimeter projection. There is a café in the lobby. (18 West Houston St., 212.871.6837) ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES

Anthology is devoted to the preservation, study, and exhibition of film. The venue offers the 187-seat Courthouse Theater, as well as the Maya Deren Theater, which seats 72. The screening facility is equipped to present 35-millimeter film in all ratios, 16-millimeter film, Super 8, Beta SP, DVD (universal), and VHS. (32 Second Ave., 212.505.5181) BAM ROSE CINEMAS

Part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, this cinema features first-run and art-house films on four large screens, which can be used by commercial and nonprofit groups. The theaters seat 103, 155, 222, and 272. (30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, 718.636.4198) BROADWAY SCREENING ROOM

The stylish and comfortable Broadway Screening Room, much used by the film industry, is on the fifth floor of the landmark Brill Building. It has one 50-seat theater for 35-millimeter screenings and various video formats.

It now has a digital cinema video projector, as well. (1619 Broadway, 5th Floor, 212.307.0990) BRYANT PARK HOTEL SCREENING ROOM

Designed by David Chipperfield, this fashionable Midtown hotel has a 70-seat screening room (the screen is 9 by 17 feet) with red velour chairs that have built-in desks. There is a full array of audiovisual amenities, including Dolby surround sound and a high-definition LCD projector. (40 West 40th St., 212.642.2108 )

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TRIBECA CINEMAS

This spot has classic-style theaters, with restored 1940s chairs and love seats. One theater seats 100; the other seats 130. Screenings can be combined with receptions in the main dining room, which seats 100 or holds 200 for receptions, or with the downstairs lounge, which holds 75 for receptions. Tribeca Cinemas Gallery is a 2,500-squarefoot space with white walls and hardwood floors that holds 200 for receptions. (54 Varick St., 212.941.2001) TRIBECA SCREENING ROOM

This screening room in the Tribeca Film Center has 72 fabric-covered seats, digital cinema projection equipment, and a THX sound system. The 22- by 9-foot screen sits above the 24- by 10-foot stage. Tribeca Loft, adjacent to the screening room, holds 150 for receptions and is catered

by Tribeca Grill. (375 Greenwich St., 212.941.3930) 20TH CENTURY FOX SCREENING ROOM

This 24-seat private screening room in Rockefeller Center, outfitted with top-of-the-line equipment, includes a 16-foot screen and digital video capabilities. The screening room has black-carpeted soundproof walls and dark green seats. (1211 Ave. of the Americas, 3rd Floor, 212.556.2406 fax 2128527831) THE WHISKEY

Designed in conjunction with Toronto-based design group Yabu Pushelberg, Rande Gerber’s 7,500-square-foot nightclub/lounge resides in the basement of the W New York—Times Square and features a disco-themed acrylic dance floor. It offers a 60-seat screening room. (1567 Broadway, 212.930.7444)

THEATERS & PERFORMANCE SPACES ABINGDON THEATRE COMPANY

The Abingdon in Midtown offers two spaces for events: the June Havoc Theatre, with a 20-foot-wide stage and a 98-tiered seating facility; and the 56-seat Dorothy Strelsin Theatre. The lobby has an upright piano in addition to full box office facilities. (312 West 36th St., 212.868.2055) ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

The home of the world-renowned dance group is the country’s largest facility devoted to dance. The 77,000-

square-foot, eight-story space has 12 dance studios and a 255-seat black-box theater with a 35- by 26-foot stage. A greenroom, a concession area, dressing rooms, and other additional spaces are included in the theater rental. (405 West 55th St., 212.405.9000) AMERICAN AIRLINES THEATRE

Home to the Roundabout Theatre Company, this 740-seat theater can be rented for a variety of events. Two additional rooms provide space for other catered events. The penthouse lobby holds 300, while the Langworthy Lounge holds 70. (227 West 42nd St., 212.719.9393) APOLLO THEATER

Built in 1914, the legendary Harlem theater has hosted a long list of performers, including Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin, and is designated a national landmark.

The theater has 1,506 seats, and the 1,680-square-foot Apollo soundstage can be used for receptions or meetings.

(253 West 125th St., 212.531.5335) ATLANTIC THEATER

This intimate 182-seat Off Broadway theater is in an old Gothic-Revival church in Chelsea. A modular, removable stage, one divisible dressing room, a computerized box office, and lighting and sound packages are available.

Eight rehearsal studios can be rented, as well. (336 West 20th St., 212.691.5919 ext. 1089) BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER

The glass-and-steel Midtown building designed by John W. Averitt for Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dance foundation also offers its spaces for events and meetings. The two floors of the Baryshnikov Arts Center have four columnfree studios. (450 West 37th St., 646.731.3202) BEACON THEATRE

A holdover from vaudeville days, the Beacon, built in 1928, is a national historic landmark, thanks to its Art Deco good looks. Between regularly scheduled concerts, the Upper West Side theater is available for events. It seats 2,894 and has three tiers. (2124 Broadway, 212.465.6106) BLENDER THEATER AT GRAMERCY

A grand Off Broadway stage and movie-theater seating are vestiges of this venue’s previous incarnations. The theater holds 600, with standing room for 450 and 150 seats on the raked floor behind. Two bars are on the main level, with a third bar in the Buddha Lounge downstairs, which holds 200. (127 East 23rd St., 212.614.6847) THE BOX

In a former sign factory, this 5,000-square-foot, 392-capacity dinner theater has a small stage, booths and banquette seating, two bars, and an on-site kitchen. Beneath the main level are two dressing rooms (one with direct access to the stage above) and bathrooms. The Box opened in 2007. (189 Chrystie St., 212.982.9301 ext. 311) BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC

The BAM Howard Gilman Opera House seats 2,109, and other event spaces include BAMcafé in the Lepercq Space, which holds as many as 400, and the 874-seat BAM Harvey Theater. In the works are a 263-seat theater and a second cinematic complex with three screens and a gallery. (BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAMcafé, and Rose Cinemas: 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn; BAM Harvey Theater: 651 Fulton St., Brooklyn; 718.636.4198) BROOKLYN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

Teaching music for more than 100 years, this venue is one of the oldest community arts schools in the country. Its performance space, in a Victorian mansion in Park Slope, has a 105-seat concert hall. Catering can be brought in for events. (58 Seventh Ave., Brooklyn, 718.622.3300) BROOKLYN MUSIC SCHOOL

This four-story facility rents out a 266-seat proscenium theater for events. There is no box office, but a light board and basic lighting come with the theater rental. Ten small music studios are available that would be suitable for support space. (126 Saint Felix St., Brooklyn, 718.638.5660) BROOKLYN-QUEENS CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

A division of the venerable Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the Queens branch opened in 1955 and relocated to Flushing in 1995. Available only for music events, it seats 100 people in its concert hall. (42-76 Main St., Queens, 718.461.8910 ext. 14) CARNEGIE HALL

One of the world’s most famous concert halls, Carnegie Hall has three spaces that offer some of the best acoustics in the city. The Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage has been renovated several times since its construction in 1891 and seats 2,804 amid classic architecture and decor.

Also available are 268-seat Weill Recital Hall and 599-seat Zankel Hall. (881 Seventh Ave., 212.903.9710) CASPARY AUDITORIUM AT ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY

Distinctively dome-shaped—it’s 99 feet in diameter and 40 feet high—Rockefeller University’s 430-seat auditorium has an amphitheater-style interior designed for superior acoustics. There is a 16- by 30-foot stage, but no backstage or wing space. (1230 York Ave., 212.327.8073) CEDAR LAKE CENTER

The home of dance company Cedar Lake comprises two landmark buildings in west Chelsea and offers a 5,000-square-foot, column-free space with a vaulted ceiling and a 3,875-square-foot studio for events. The center holds as many as 500. (547 West 26th St., 212.244.0982) CHERRY LANE THEATRE

Built in 1817 as a farm silo, this West Village theater has

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Entertainment & Performance Venues been home to many major Off Broadway productions.

Its 179 seats and 616-square-foot stage can be rented for events and productions, as can the Cherry Lane Studio, a smaller space that seats 60. Two dressing rooms with bathrooms, a greenroom, and audiovisual equipment are available. (38 Commerce St., 212.989.2020) COOPER UNIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GREAT HALL

Completed in 1958, this venue has hosted the likes of Abraham Lincoln. The Great Hall offers audiovisual equipment, stage lighting, three projection screens, and three projectors, and seats 865. (7 East 7th St., 212.353.4195) DANCE NEW AMSTERDAM

This venue is a bilevel, 25,000-square-foot space within the Sun Building. The modern venue has six studios and a theater available for events. The versatile 1,970-square-foot theater has a partially telescoping riser seating system; it seats 130. (280 Broadway, 2nd Floor, 212.625.8369)

Hotel. Top names in the cabaret world are usually on the bill. The space seats 140 at tables of four for intimate dinner theater. Audio and lighting come with the territory. (540 Park Ave., 212.339.4108) IN THE WORKS FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTERâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ELEANOR BUNIN-MUNROE FILM CENTER

HIGHLINE BALLROOM

FRENCH INSTITUTE/ALLIANCE FRANĂ&#x2021;AISE

The Ford Center for the Performing Arts became the Hilton Theatre in 2005. The 1,813-seat theaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stage is 49 by 53 feet. A private suite holds 60. The Apollo Link, a long room with a marble checkerboard-patterned ďŹ&#x201A;oor, holds 85. The lobby can hold 750 for receptions or seat 300. (213 West 42nd St., 212.556.4719)

This cultural organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Florence Gould Hall has 400 seats and concert-quality acoustics. Tinker Auditorium has 120 seats, which can be removed to hold 340 for receptions. The Le Skyroom atrium on the eighth ďŹ&#x201A;oor of the French Institute has a glass wall overlooking 60th Street, and the space seats 120 or holds 250 for receptions.

(Florence Gould Hall and Tinker Auditorium: 55 East 59th St.; Le Skyroom: 22 East 60th St.; 646.388.6601) GALAPAGOS ART SPACE

In 2008, Galapagos Art Space relocated from its former location in Williamsburg to a 10,000-square-foot space in Dumbo. The new space includes one theater with a 1,600-square-foot pool of water and anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a 3,000-square-foot space beneath a gabled roofâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that combines a planetarium with a performance venue. (16 Main St., Brooklyn, 718.222.8500)

DIXON PLACE

HARLEM STAGE AT THE GATEHOUSE

Theatrical organization Dixon Placeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s space is divided into two parts: a 60-person lounge with a small cabaret area in the front, and a 130-seat main theater that includes a 40-seat mezzanine in the back. Dixon Place offers dressing rooms, a rehearsal studio that can double as a catering prep area, and a professional sound studio.. (161 Chrystie St., 212.219.0736)

On the City College of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus in Harlem, this performing arts center houses the 750-seat Marian Anderson Theater, which has a proscenium stage. The Gatehouse holds 192. Also available is a smaller black-box theater, a rehearsal studio, and the trilevel grand lobby.

(150 Convent Ave., 212.281.9318)

EDMOND J. SAFRA HALL AT THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE5

The Roundabout Theatre Company opened the Steinberg Center in 2004. Inside, the modern-looking Laura Pels Theatre has 410 gray fabric-covered, orchestra-style seats and the latest audiovisual equipment. (111 West 46th St., 212.719.9393)

This space has 375 African cherrywood seats, a 42- by 26-foot stage, and excellent acoustics; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also home to the only Fazioli piano in a New York performance hall. For ďŹ lm screenings, the hall has a 24- by 12-foot screen and 16and 35-millimeter and digital LCD projection equipment.

The venue offers several spaces that hold as many as 400.

(36 Battery Place, 646.437.4206) FEINSTEINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AT THE REGENCY

Vocalist Michael Feinstein lends his name to this swanky nightclub, replete with gold curtains, in the Regency

At street level is an event space with 14-foot ceilings, a mahogany bar, maple ďŹ&#x201A;oors with cherry accents, and a warming kitchen; it holds 400 for receptions or 200 for seated events. On the lower level is the Helen Mills Theater, which seats 140. (137-139 West 26th St., 212.243.6200)

As part of the three-phase redevelopment plan for Lincoln Center, the Film Society will acquire a new facility. The Rockwell Group will design the space. Plans include two screening rooms (one with 90 seats, the other with 150), a public amphitheater with a cafĂŠ and a reception space.

The redevelopment is scheduled for completion in 2011.

(West 65th St., 212.875.5610)

This space is available for events between theatrical performances; it seats 299 or holds 499 for receptions.

Below the theater is the D-Lounge, with space for 75 seated or 150 for receptions. The 99-seat DR2 Theatre is next door. (Daryl Roth Theatre: 101 East 15th St.; DR2: 103 East 15th St.; 212.375.1110 ext. 8)

DARYL ROTH THEATRE

HELEN MILLS EVENT SPACE & THEATER

HAROLD AND MIRIAM STEINBERG CENTER FOR THEATRE

HELEN HAYES THEATRE

Built in 1912 by Winthrop Ames, the Helen Hayes Theatre was then known as the Little Theatre. From 1942 to 1959, it served as the conference center for The New York Times.

Both the exterior and the interior have a Colonial Revival design; the stage is a traditional proscenium. It seats 597.

(240 West 44th St., 212.944.9457)

From the owners of B.B. Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, this Chelsea club has room for 700 in a 10,000-square-foot space with a 600-squarefoot stage, a mezzanine that can be used as a V.I.P. section, and a full complement of performance equipment. (431 West 16th St., 212.414.4314 ext. 10) HILTON THEATRE

HUDSON THEATRE AT MILLENNIUM BROADWAY

This historical landmark theater, the third-oldest on Broadway, has amenities including PictureTel videoconferencing technology. With its removable orchestra seats, the former playhouse seats 700 theater-style or 300 banquet-style. The theater is connected to the Millennium Broadway Hotel. (145 West 44th St., 212.789.7546) JACK H. SKIRBALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

In the Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for University Life, this 860-seat red-and-gold-decorated space is the largest performing arts center south of Lincoln Center.

Designed by architect Kevin Roche, the facility has a 68-foot-wide stage, as well as live and digital media capabilities. (566 La Guardia Place, 212.992.8484) JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, FREDERICK P. ROSE HALL

This 100,000-square-foot performing arts complex in the Time Warner Center was built for jazz performances. Rose Theater can be conďŹ gured proscenium-style or theaterin-the-round, seating 1,233 people. A 50-foot glass wall is the distinctive feature of the Allen Room; it seats 467. Jazz club Dizzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club Coca-Cola seats 140 people. (33 West 60th St., 11th Floor, 212.258.9800) JOEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PUB

In the Public Theater, Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pub has made a reputation since 1998 for booking some of the most interesting acts around. With high ceilings and windows, the 1,200-square-foot club has an elevated bar. It seats 150 or holds 180 for receptions. (425 Lafayette St., 212.539.8776) JOYCE THEATER

Formerly a 1940s movie house, this 472-seat theaterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

ELEGANCE IS WITHIN YOUR REACH Frederick P. Rose Hall has the perfect venue for your event.

Conveniently located at Columbus Circle.

FOR AVAILABILITY, FACILITY TOURS, OR BOOKING INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US:

212-258-9535 booking@jalc.org jalc.org/venues >V]b] Pg 3`WY 3Y`]bV

Entertainment & Performance Venues regularly home to dance performances—is available for corporate and nonprofit events when the theater is dark.

A lobby holds 100 for receptions, while a conference room holds 15. Joyce SoHo, a newer, smaller space, seats 74. The three-story former firehouse also has two dance studios and a 15-seat conference room. (175 Eighth Ave., 212.691.9740; Joyce SoHo: 155 Mercer St., 212.431.9233) JUJAMCYN THEATRES

Late Jujamcyn cofounder James Binger named the theater group for his children, Judith, James, and Cynthia.

The group owns and operates the August Wilson, Al Hirschfeld, Eugene O’Neill, St. James, and Walter Kerr theaters, but due to small lobbies that can accommodate reception-style events only, outside events are rarely held in these theaters. (212.840.8181) KAUFMANN CONCERT HALL AT THE 92ND STREET Y

The cultural institution’s 905-seat Kaufmann Concert Hall was designed for classical music performances but is suitable for any event that requires great acoustics. Walnut paneling surrounds the stage. Hall rental includes use of a nine-foot Steinway grand piano, two dressing rooms, and ushering and security staff. (1395 Lexington Ave., 212.415.5780)

LIGHTHOUSE THEATER

Run by the nonprofit organization Lighthouse International, this 240-seat theater features a stage equipped with a small proscenium, a 22-foot drop screen, and a two-channel infrared system for hearingand vision-impaired guests. An 851-square-foot adjacent lobby holds 100. (111 East 59th St., 212.821.9361) LINCOLN CENTER—ALICE TULLY HALL5

Within the Upper West Side campus of Lincoln Center is Alice Tully Hall, a performance space that opened in February 2009. Various sections of the facility are available for event rental, including the 1,087-seat woodpaneled Starr Theater and the 6,161-square-foot grand foyer. The glass-enclosed Hauser Patron Salon seats 140 and has its own terrace. (1941 Broadway, 212.875.5954) LINCOLN CENTER—AVERY FISHER HALL

Home to the New York Philharmonic, this 2,738-seat, three-tiered hall is one of the city’s premier symphony spaces. The grand promenade, coupled with the first and second tiers, holds 1,000 for seated events. (10 Lincoln Center Plaza, 212.875.5037) LINCOLN CENTER—DANIEL & JOANNA S. ROSE REHEARSAL STUDIO

On the 10th floor of the Rose Building at Lincoln Center, this modern studio, used for rehearsals by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, has excellent acoustics, making it ideal for intimate talks and presentations.

The space can hold as many as 100. (165 West 65th St., 212.875.5774)

KAYE PLAYHOUSE AT HUNTER COLLEGE

NEW LINCOLN CENTER—DAVID H. KOCH THEATER

The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, originally dedicated by F.D.R. in 1942, is a 624-seat theater with an orchestra level and one balcony used for live performances and screenings. It has a proscenium stage, an orchestra pit, complete lighting and sound systems, and 10 dressing rooms. (695 Park Ave., 212.772.4471)

In October 2009, the New York State Theater reopened as the David H. Koch Theater following a $108 million renovation. Home to the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera, the building is available for rental.

Spaces include the 1,000-person Grand Promenade and Portico, the 2,586-seat theater, and a 60-person green room. (20 Lincoln Center Plaza, 212.870.4259)

LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

This Lehman Center concert hall seats 2,310 (on orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony levels) and offers raked seating, a hydraulic orchestra pit for 40 musicians, and seven large dressing rooms. Recent performers include Patti LaBelle and Natalie Cole. (250 Bedford Park Blvd.

West, Bronx, 718.960.8232) LE POISSON ROUGE

Opened by classical musicians, this space seats 250 or holds 800 for receptions. The Walters-Storyk Design Group handled the build-out and acoustic improvements to the 11,000-square-foot venue, which offers a greenroom, a catering prep area with a walk-in cooler, and multiple entrances. (158 Bleecker St., 212.796.0741)

LINCOLN CENTER—METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

The Met is the grande dame of Lincoln Center’s performance spaces. Designed in a horseshoe shape, the auditorium features four balconies and is decorated in red velvet, rosewood, and gold leaf. The ceiling features mobile crystal chandeliers. The hall seats 3,800. The Patina Group runs the Grand Tier Restaurant and the Belmont Room. (West 65th St. at Broadway, 212.799.3100) LINCOLN CENTER—STANLEY H. KAPLAN PENTHOUSE

This intimate penthouse space is primarily used by departments of Lincoln Center, but can be rented. The 2,400-square-foot space, equipped with theatrical lighting and a sound system, holds 350 for receptions or 200

ROUNDABOUTTHEATRECOMPANY Contact our Rental Manager at 212-719-9393 D\\k`e^j <m\ekj fe 9ifX[nXp Chairman’s Circle Lounge Studio 54

Stephen Sondheim Theatre

8d\i`ZXe 8`ic`e\j K_\Xki\ 227 W.42nd Street–700 Seat Mainstage, 3500 sq. ft. Penthouse,VIP Lounge Jkl[`f ,+ 254 W. 54th Street–1000 Seat Mainstage, VIP Lounge ?Xifc[ D`i`Xd Jk\`eY\i^ :\ek\i& CXliX G\cj K_\Xki\ 111 W. 46th Street— 400 Seat Theatre Penthouse Lobby American Airlines Theatre

Jk\g_\e Jfe[_\`d K_\Xki\ 124 W. 43rd Street–1026 Seat Mainstage

banquet-style. Restaurant Associates is the exclusive caterer. (165 West 65th St., 212.875.5288) LINCOLN CENTER—VIVIAN BEAUMONT THEATER AND MITZI E. NEWHOUSE THEATER

used for live performances or screenings of DVDs or videos; 35-millimeter film projection equipment must be brought in. (3 Spruce St., 2123461231) MILLER THEATRE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Both theaters can be rented for private events. The Vivian Beaumont Theater is beside Lincoln Center’s reflecting pool and seats more than 1,000 people. The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater is an intimate, miniature version of its counterpart, with a seating capacity of 299. (150 West 65th St., 212.501.3213)

This 688-seat space has a stage that measures 42 feet wide, 28 feet deep, and 19 feet high. The theater has 16- and 35-millimeter film, DVD, and VHS projection capabilities. Rental of the theater may also include the use of dressing rooms, a greenroom, and the box office.

(2960 Broadway, 212.854.6205)

IN THE WORKS LOEWS KINGS THEATER

NEDERLANDER ORGANIZATION

The historic Loew’s Kings Theater is undergoing a $70 million rehabilitation. Texas-based ACE Theatrical Group was selected to restore the French Renaissancestyle structure, the largest indoor theater in Brooklyn, and operate it as a place for concerts, plays, and events.

The projected opening date is 2014. (1025-1035 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn)

The Nederlander Organization owns and operates nine Broadway theaters. The company can incorporate the casts and stage sets of its shows into events. The theaters are available for events on nonmatinee days and on Monday evenings. The lobbies of the Minskoff and Gershwin theaters can each hold 700 people for receptions or 300 for seated events. (212.840.5577)

LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE

NEW AMSTERDAM THEATRE

Considered one of the top Off Broadway houses, this intimate, 299-seat West Village venue is available for rent only to nonprofit groups when there is no production running or on a show’s dark night (usually Monday).

(121 Christopher St., 212.924.2817)

This 1,800-seat Disney theatre has two event spaces.

The ornate Ziegfeld Room on the orchestra level opens up to the grand promenade and holds 150. The New Amsterdam Room has a hand-painted ceiling and holds 250. Sweet Concessions is the in-house caterer. (214 West 42nd St., 212.282.2952)

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB’S CREATIVE CENTER

The administrative offices of the Manhattan Theatre Club, a producer of Off Broadway shows (and Broadway hits such as Doubt and Proof), has four large rehearsal rooms and one 15-seat meeting room. The rehearsal rooms hold 120, 75, 60, and 40 for receptions. (311 West 43rd St., 8th Floor, 212.399.3000) MARK MORRIS DANCE CENTER

The Mark Morris Dance Group’s home in Fort Greene has five (soon to be six) fully equipped studios ranging from 720 to 3,600 square feet. A 139-seat theater is available for events. Rental priority is given to dance companies and nonprofit institutions. (3 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, 718.624.8400 ext. 204) MERKIN CONCERT HALL AT KAUFMAN CENTER

This 499-seat recital hall has two Steinway grand pianos, state-of-the-art recording facilities, and film screening capabilities. Two reception spaces are also available: The upper lobby holds as many as 250, while the Molly Goodman Lounge holds 150. For smaller performances or meetings, the 100-seat Ann Goodman Recital Hall is also available. (129 West 67th St., 212.501.3345) MICHAEL SCHIMMEL CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT PACE UNIVERSITY

The Schimmel Center is home to Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio broadcasts. The 730-seat theater can be

NEW DANCE GROUP

In 2006, the New Dance Group moved to a 21,000-squarefoot studio location. Designed by architect Howard Spivak, the bilevel space has 11 studios, a recording studio, high-tech sound systems, an art exhibition gallery, two vocal rooms, and two performance spaces, each with raked seating for 120 people. (305 West 38th St., 2nd Floor, 212.904.1990) NEW 42ND STREET STUDIOS

This building is not something you find every day in the city. When it opened in 2000 with a $33.7 million price tag, it was designed specifically to house rehearsal space. The 10-story facility houses 14 contemporary dance studios, offices, and a 199-seat theater named the Duke. (229 West 42nd St., 646.223.3042) NEW VICTORY THEATER

Built in 1900 and restored in 1995, the New Victory is not only New York’s oldest active theater, but it was also a harbinger for the Times Square renaissance, welcoming children back into the neighborhood. The 499-seat house is used now for shows geared toward kids and teens. (209 West 42nd St., 646.223.3020) NEW YORK CITY CENTER

A neo-Moorish facade is one of the distinctive features of this technically sophisticated landmark theater built

PLAN AN EVENT AT THE JOYCE THEATER, New York City’s home for dance, or at one of our other beautiful venues – DANY Studios, The Joyce’s newly-opened studios and rehearsal spaces, conveniently located in midtown, and Joyce SoHo, a three-story former firehouse in New York’s SoHo district – both perfect for gatherings of all kinds.

AVAILABLE FOR

Corporate Meetings Conferences Community Events Fashion Shows Product Launches Intimate Cocktail Receptions Press Events And More!

For information about hosting your special event at The Joyce, please contact Laura Diffenderfer.

212-691-9740 or ldiffenderfer@joyce.org THE JOYCE THEATER DANY STUDIOS JOYCE SOHO 175 Eighth Avenue 305 West 38th Street 155 Mercer Street New York, NY 10011 New York, NY 10012 New York, NY 10018

GET CLOSER TO DANCE

New York Venue Directory

Entertainment & Performance Venues in 1923. Multilevel seating holds 2,753; 699 can fit on the main floor for smaller affairs. As many as 1,000 guests can mingle in the various lobbies for receptions. (130 West 56th St., 212.763.1237) 92YTRIBECA

This space offers a variety of accommodations within its 12,500 square feet. The venue has a café, screening rooms, gallery space, and a performance venue with a full-service bar. It holds 500 people. Amenities include concert sound and lighting systems, professional-grade video capabilities, floor-to-ceiling windows, food-prep facilities, and a freight entrance. (200 Hudson St., 212.413.8862) NOKIA THEATRE TIMES SQUARE

The former space of Loews Astor Plaza, this theater, owned by concert promotion company AEG Live, holds 2,100 for concerts. David Rockwell designed the space, which has state-of-the-art lighting, a JBL sound system, two mezzanine lounges, and a greenroom. An 85-foot-long LED high-definition marquee displays live and digital video.

(1515 Broadway, 212.930.1950) NEW PARADISE THEATER

Built in 1929, the Paradise Theater is a surviving example of architect John Eberson’s opulent and palatial movie house designs. Although the designated Bronx landmark was vacant for two years, new owners resurrected the site and reopened it in fall 2009. Some 3,769 seats face the proscenium stage at this baroque hall, and a 300-person lounge on the second floor can be used for private functions. (2403 Grand Concourse, Bronx, 718.220.1952) PETER NORTON SYMPHONY SPACE

The main space of this arts complex is the proscenium Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, which seats 760; the stage is 40 feet wide by 38 feet deep. Also on site is the 158-seat Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre, whose stage is 19 feet wide by 11 feet deep. There’s also a café called unWINEd. (2537 Broadway, 212.864.1414 ext. 213) RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

One of Manhattan’s Art Deco crown jewels, Radio City is also one of the city’s finest—and largest—performance spaces. The 60-foot-high great stage stands before 5,900 seats. The theater’s 7,100-square-foot grand foyer holds 600, and the 6,000-square-foot grand lounge holds 400.

The Roxy Suite suits more intimate events, holding 75 for receptions. (1260 Ave. of the Americas, 212.465.6106)

Elegant

SAMUEL J. & ETHEL LEFRAK THEATER

The elegant LeFrak Theater in the American Museum of Natural History, built in 1900, got an $8 million makeover in 2002, making it a sparkling Beaux-Arts beauty. It is available for events every evening after the museum closes. It seats 924 and offers Imax technology. (Central Park West at 79th St., 212.769.5350) SAVAL AUDITORIUM AT ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY

St. John’s Manhattan campus offers its 3,175-square-foot Saval Auditorium for rental. The small stage is proscenium-style, the 128 seats are stadium-style, and there is one large projection screen. There are also meeting and event rooms available, the largest of which holds 72. (101 Murray St., 212.284.7003) ST. ANN’S WAREHOUSE

This versatile, 14,000-square-foot performance space in a former spice-milling factory near the Brooklyn Bridge is surprisingly well furnished and equipped. St. Ann’s can seat 400 or hold 1,000 for receptions. When combined with the on-site greenhouse, café, full-service bar, and lounge, the entire venue can hold as many as 1,200. (38 Water St., Brooklyn, 718.254.9601)

Partnership’s effort to create a new cultural district.

(264 Ashland Place, Brooklyn; for more information, call 212.229.2819) THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY

This community cultural center comprises four theaters; the smallest seats 65 people, and the largest has a seating capacity of 240 (a portable dance floor is available for the latter). A 99-seat house has a permanent dance floor. There is also a café in the lobby. (155 First Ave., 212.254.1109) 37 ARTS

This 50,000-square-foot performance space is managed

by Dan Markley Productions. The venue offers three theaters that seat 290, 399, and 499 people; each theater has two dressing rooms and its own performance stage.

The top five floors of the complex house the Baryshnikov Arts Center. (450 West 37th St., 212.560.8912) TISHMAN AUDITORIUM AT THE NEW SCHOOL

The New School’s only auditorium with a stage, the Tishman is suitable for live performances or screenings.

Since its primary function is as a lecture hall, the stage lighting provided is minimal. The house seats 500. (66 West 12th St., 212.229.2487)

STUDIO DANTE

TOWN HALL

Sopranos star Michael Imperioli’s Off Broadway theater was created to present new dramatic works. It’s a 19th-century, European-styled jewel box. Studio Dante can seat 66 or host 100 for receptions. (257 West 29th St., 212.239.4500)

Designed by McKim, Mead & White, Town Hall is a theater with one balcony, a 49-foot-wide proscenium stage, and just under 1,500 seats, notable for their excellent sight lines and acoustics. An annex holds 75 for receptions. Traditional concert lighting is provided for the hall.

(123 West 43rd St., 212.997.1003 ext. 12)

STUDIO 54

Late-night home in the 1970s to Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Liza Minnelli, and others, this legendary nightclub now serves as a 1,000-seat Broadway theater under the aegis of the Roundabout Theatre Company. The cabaret tables and lamps were replaced with cream-colored orchestra-style seats, and the theater is equipped with two bars. (254 West 54th St., 212.719.9393) NEW S.V.A. THEATRE

In 2008 the School of Visual Arts acquired this 20,000-square-foot facility known then as the Clearview Chelsea West Cinemas. Opened in September 2009, the west Chelsea venue has two auditoriums, one seating 275 and the other seating 480. Artist Milton Glaser designed the decor and the exterior of the site, which includes a 120-foot revolving illuminated sculpture atop the marquee. (333 West 23rd St., 212.592.2980) IN THE WORKS THEATER FOR A NEW AUDIENCE

Designed by architect Hugh Hardy is the new home of the Theater for a New Audience, expected to begin construction at the end of 2010. The 30,000-square-foot, 299-seat facility is a key component of the Downtown Brooklyn

TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Operated by the Borough of Manhattan Community College, this center has two theaters suitable for live performances or screenings. Theater 1 has 913 seats, and Theater 2 has 260; both have stages and full audiovisual equipment available. A variety of reception spaces are within reach at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. (199 Chambers St., 212.220.1461) WAMU THEATER AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

Only at Madison Square Garden could a 5,600-seat theater be described as intimate; the stage area alone is 1,900 square feet. Four hundred people can sit for a banquet in the theater; the 8,000-square-foot lobby can seat another 500. (4 Penn Plaza, 212.465.6106) WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY

This Off Broadway theatrical company has two theater spaces. The main stage has a 23-foot-wide proscenium and 65 seats; the Jewel Box has 33 seats. Two elevators go to the fourth floor, where the theaters are. Lighting and audio equipment are included in rentals, as well as full use of the dressing facilities. (312 West 36th St., 212.695.4173)

ENOUGH FOR THE WHO’S WHO OF SOCIETY, ACCOMMODATING ENOUGH FOR THE GENERAL WHO.

We have 30,000 square feet of meeting space, banquet area and breakout rooms. Perfect for parties, affairs, galas, balls, socials, gatherings, luncheons, hooplas, festivals, soirees, reunions, bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, engagements, receptions, anniversaries, New Year’s, Christmas and Chanukah. Treat any occasion with traditional New York flair sensibly at The Roosevelt.

Madison Avenue at East 45th Street | 212.661.9600 | theroosevelthotel.com

Hotels ACE HOTEL NEW YORK

Designed as an affordable but stylish boutique property, The Ace Hotel features an eclectic array of vintage and contemporary furnishings and 260 rooms. In October 2009, Ken Friedman and chef April Bloomfield opened the 130-seat Breslin Bar & Dining Room on the ground floor. The 3,000-square-foot Liberty Hall can host parties for 200. (20 West 29th St., 212.679.2222) AFFINIA DUMONT5

This Murray Hill hotel has an Oasis Day Spa on site. The 1,100-square-foot Rafferty Room holds as many as 100 for receptions and can be divided into two small meeting rooms. The patio of the hotel’s restaurant, Barking Dog, holds 50 for receptions and can also be used for events in warm weather. (150 East 34th St., 212.481.7600) AFFINIA MANHATTAN

This hotel close to Madison Square Garden and Penn Station offers contemporary design and spacious suites with customized beds. There are nine meeting rooms, including a 3,154-square-foot ballroom that holds 325 for seated events. (371 Seventh Ave., 212.563.1800) NEW AFFINIA SHELBURNE 5

room can hold 100 for receptions or seated events, and a basement holds 40. (100 Orchard St., 212.533.9080) BOWERY HOTEL

Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson, the duo behind the Maritime Hotel and the Waverly Inn, own this downtown hotel. The Bowery Hotel has a redbrick facade and 135 loft-style rooms. A second-floor event space holds 500 for receptions. Italian restaurant Gemma debuted in 2007.

(335 Bowery, 212.505.9100)

DUANE STREET HOTEL

BRYANT PARK HOTEL

DYLAN5

This hotel has a 1,100-square-foot loft on the 25th floor with hardwood floors, a full marble bathroom, and views of the Empire State Building. Also available are a plush 70-seat screening room, the subterranean Cellar Bar, and the Los Angeles restaurant import Koi. (40 West 40th St., 212.869.0100)

Jeffrey Beers’s modern design puts this hotel in New York’s boutique elite. The meeting room totals 625 square feet and can be divided into two rooms, the 250-squarefoot Concorde East and the 350-square-foot Concorde West. On the 12th floor, the penthouse suite includes a landscaped terrace. (52 East 41st St., 212.338.0500)

CARLTON ON MADISON AVENUE

EASTGATE TOWER5

After a $60 million renovation led by David Rockwell, the Carlton reopened with 316 rooms, a three-story lobby, Geoffrey Zakarian’s restaurant Country, and nine meeting spaces. The 1,750-square-foot Seville Room seats 100 or holds 150 for receptions. (88 Madison Ave., 646.472.3635)

Owned by Denihan Hospitality Group, this all-suite property in Murray Hill has generously spaced rooms near Grand Central Station. The on-site restaurant, Il Sogno Ristorante, has a large patio for outdoor dining. (222 East 39th St., 212.687.8000)

CARLYLE HOTEL

EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL NYC

This Rosewood Hotels & Resorts property completed a multimillion-dollar restoration of its banquet spaces in 2007. For receptions, the Trianon holds 225, the Versailles holds 200, and the foyer between them holds 80. (35 East 76th St., 212.744.1600)

This all-suite hotel has a 3,100-square-foot ballroom; a soaring atrium, which can hold 1,200, surrounded by 15 floors of guest rooms; one boardroom; and several meeting rooms. The Regal Cinema, part of the same complex, has five theaters with stadium seating available for events. (102 North End Ave., 212.945.0100)

Reflecting the quiet Murray Hill neighborhood, the Affinia Shelburne reopened in June 2009 following a $25 million renovation. The 323-room hotel’s 1,275-square-foot Connect Conference Room seats 60. The 900-squarefoot Rare View rooftop lounge is especially appealing, not least for its view of the Empire State Building. (303 Lexington Ave., 212.689.5200)

NEW CASSA HOTEL AND RESIDENCES

ALEX HOTEL5

CHAMBERS HOTEL

With interior design by David Rockwell, the 203-room hotel features a small, fully furnished penthouse that holds 20 for receptions. Riingo, the in-house restaurant, serves Japanese-influenced American cuisine. Riingo’s semiprivate mezzanine seats 32. For a larger group, the full restaurant seats 107. (205 East 45th St., 212.867.5100)

Designed by David Rockwell, this Midtown boutique hotel off the poshest stretch of Fifth Avenue has one conference room that can hold as many as 15 people. Additional event space can be found on the hotel’s balcony and mezzanine.

(15 West 56th St., 212.974.5656)

ALGONQUIN HOTEL

This Midtown property from hotelier Vikram Chatwal’s father, Sant Chatwal, was slated to open in April 2010.

The space has 88 rooms and a design courtesy of architect Thierry Despont. Meeting space for as many as 120 seated is available as well as an on-site bar and restaurant from Geoffrey Zakarian. (130 West 44th St., 212.764.6200)

A flight up from where the famous literary Round Table held court, weightier matters can be discussed in the 3,000-square-foot space on the second floor, which can be broken into four spaces plus a foyer. The 900-square-foot Oak Room can be used for evening events; it holds 80 for receptions. (59 West 44th St., 212.840.6800) ALLEGRIA HOTEL & SPA

The Allegria is billed as Long Island’s first oceanfront hotel west of the Hamptons. Developer Allen Rosenberger built a 143-room property, which has a rooftop pool, a restaurant from chef Todd Jacobs, a lounge overlooking the water, and a spa. For events, there is a 250-seat ballroom.

(80 West Broadway, Long Beach, N.Y., 506.889.1300)

Scheduled to open in spring 2010, Desires Hotels’ Cassa Hotel and Residences is a 42-story property designed by Ten Arquitectos. Alongside the 57 apartments are 166 hotels rooms furnished with modern amenities. Also in the plans for the building were a restaurant and an eighth-floor terrace and lounge. (70 West 45th St.)

NEW CHATWAL NEW YORK

COOPER SQUARE HOTEL5

Managed by MK Hotels, this 21-story property opened in 2008. The boutique hotel offers 145 rooms and suites, a lobby-level bar, an indoor and outdoor bar and lounge, a private garden, and a private screening room. Also on site are a 3,000-square-foot unfurnished penthouse and chef Scott Conant’s Faustina. (25 Cooper Sq., 212.475.5700) COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT UPPER EAST SIDE

Scheduled to open in summer 2010, this outpost of Hyatt’s boutique hotel brand Andaz will have 184 room rooms designed by Tony Chi, two restaurants, and a bar. Situated opposite the New York Public Library, the property will also offer private event space. (485 Fifth Ave., 212.601.1234)

This 226-room property features three meeting rooms that total 1,364 square feet. The 308-square-foot East River Room seats 18 conference-style. The 1,056-square-foot Hudson River Room seats 72 theater-style or holds 87 for receptions. The Hudson East Room seats 110 theater-style or holds 60 for receptions. (410 East 92nd St., 212.410.6777)

NEW ANDAZ WALL STREET

NEW CROSBY STREET HOTEL5

Andaz opened its Wall Street property in January 2010.

The 253-room venue has loft-like guest rooms, complimentary WiFi, and a fitness center. For meetings, there are five rooms—the largest of which has 741 square feet and holds 30 banquet-style—as well as a lounge and and prefunction space. (75 Wall St., 212.590.1234)

Open since October 2009, this boutique hotel in SoHo has 86 rooms and suites spread across 11 floors, a restaurant, bar, and a garden on the ground floor. For meetings and events, the Crosby Street Hotel offers a 99-seat screening room, three private function rooms, and a large reception space. (79 Crosby St., 212.226.6400)

BEACON HOTEL

CROWNE PLAZA TIMES SQUARE MANHATTAN

Popular for its Upper West Side location and sizable rooms, the Beacon offers a 10-seat boardroom and a larger space that holds 70 for receptions. A 1,500-square-foot function room seats 70 banquet-style. (2130 Broadway, 212.787.1100)

The Crowne Plaza offers 31 meeting rooms. Among them is the 6,780-square-foot Broadway Ballroom, which seats 800 theater-style or 650 banquet-style, or holds 700 for receptions. Guests have access to the 29,000-square-foot New York Sports Club, which has a 50-foot swimming pool. (1605 Broadway, 212.977.4000)

OPENING SOON ANDAZ 5TH AVENUE

BEEKMAN TOWER HOTEL

A classic Art Deco building, the Beekman’s Top of the Tower restaurant on the 26th floor has 1,300 square feet of event space that holds 50 for receptions. The restaurant has its own bar, as well as a 360-degree view. The 1,450square-foot Beekman Ballroom holds 120. (3 Mitchell Place, 212.355.7300)

Rockwell-designed Serafina and Amalia, which opened in 2007. Ava, a retro lounge up top, holds 150 and offers views of Times Square. (210 West 55th St., 212.247.2000)

NEW DISTRIKT HOTEL

This boutique six-story TriBeCa property from the Hersha Hospitality Trust opened in 2007 and has 45 guest rooms.

The hotel offers a 24-hour business center, Wi-Fi access, and in-room spa services. The 40-seat restaurant, ’Beca, is available for private events. (130 Duane St., 917.338.5507)

EMPIRE HOTEL5

This redesigned hotel, which originally opened in 1892, reopened in 2007. The Empire now has 420 rooms and offers a year-round rooftop pool (it is heated during the winter), an outdoor lounge, and an in-house restaurant.

The property also offers meeting space for 250. (44 West 63rd St., 212.265.7400) OPENING SOON EVENTI5

Eventi, a 292-room property scheduled to open in May 2010, is the latest addition to the Kimpton Hotels portfolio and includes a significant amount of real estate devoted to events. In addition to areas for business groups, the hotel has a 2,976-square-foot terrace, an adjacent 22-seat screening room, and a street-level plaza equipped with a 22-foot screen. (851 Ave. of the Americas, 212.564.4567) NEW FASHION 26

This Wyndham property in Chelsea opened in April 2010 with 280 rooms. Located near the Fashion Institute of Technology, Fashion 26 offers a conference room with the capacity for as many as 80 people, a 14-seat boardroom, and a Rare Bar & Grill restaurant with a rooftop lounge.

(152 West 26th St., 212.858.5888) FITZPATRICK GRAND CENTRAL

A little touch of Ireland in Midtown, this 155-room hotel offers Old World hospitality, cheery yellow walls in the lobby, canopied beds in guest rooms, and the Wheeltapper Pub for a pint of ale. There is one 14-seat, wood-trimmed boardroom. (141 East 44th St., 212.351.6800) FITZPATRICK MANHATTAN

This Irish hotel offers 91 rooms and suites. An 800-squarefoot boardroom and a 14-seat meeting room are available.

A recent renovation revamped the decor in the lobby, rooms, bathrooms, and the Fitz bar and restaurant. (687 Lexington Ave., 212.355.0100) FLATOTEL5

The Flatotel recently refurbished the 70 suites of its 289 guest rooms. The hotel’s 14,000 square feet of event space consists of a floor of flexible function rooms, four meeting rooms, and the 6,000-square-foot Moda Outdoors galleria space. Italian restaurant Moda caters. (135 West 52nd St., 212.887.9400) FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

Grandly modern (thanks to I.M. Pei), the Four Seasons has soaring lobby ceilings and Deco-inspired rooms. Nearly 10,000 square feet of high-tech meeting space is available. The largest event space, the Cosmopolitan Suite, holds 190 for receptions or 120 with a dance floor. The boardroom seats 14 people. (57 East 57th St., 212.893.6897)

This 32-story property opened in February 2010. With interiors inspired by Manhattan neighborhoods and iconic city landmarks—a 12-foot living wall in the lobby is designed to represent Central Park—the 155-room hotel also offers a restaurant called Kollage and soundproof windows. (342 West 40th St., 877.424.6423)

FRANKLIN HOTEL

This boutique hotel with a dash of Old World flair has a 276-square-foot executive boardroom that seats 12, and the 1,200-square-foot Morrison Room can be broken into four separate rooms and holds 110. The second-floor lounge has a wall of windows; it holds 75 for receptions.

(125 East 50th St., 212.715.2500)

DOUBLETREE GUEST SUITES

OPENING SOON GANSEVOORT PARK5

This 460-suite hotel overlooks Duffy Square. It offers 6,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 2,072square-foot ballroom that seats 110 classroom-style and divides into three sections. There are four additional meeting rooms. (1568 Broadway, 212.719.1600)

BLAKELY NEW YORK5

DOUBLETREE METROPOLITAN HOTEL5

Expected in June 2010 is Gansevoort Park, the 249-room Park Avenue sister to the meatpacking district’s Hotel Gansevoort. Like its crosstown sibling, the main event space at this hotel will be a 13,000-square-foot trilevel rooftop complex, complete with an indoor-outdoor pool area and lounges. (420 Park Ave. South, 212.730.0892)

On site is the brick-clad Abboccato Ristorante, featuring Italian food from the team behind Molyvos. The hotel’s two event spaces are a 750-square-foot, 12-seat boardroom and a penthouse; a 450-square-foot terrace is attached to both rooms. (136 West 55th St., 212.245.1800)

A major renovation in 2005 restored some of this hotel’s 1960s midcentury design. There are 755 guest rooms and 14 meeting and event rooms spread over 12,000 square feet, with new carpeting, wall coverings, and light treatments. A penthouse has a glass-enclosed atrium and two terraces. (569 Lexington Ave., 212.752.7000)

BENJAMIN HOTEL

BLUE MOON HOTEL

This intimate, 22-room hotel opened in 2006. In a restored tenement building, the simple Blue Moon has turn-of-thecentury interior features such as high ceilings, decorative moldings, and carved-wood accents. A ground-floor event

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

DREAM HOTEL

Vikram Chatwal’s high-style hotel has 208 guest rooms and 20 suites. The Dream has one event space that holds 80 theater-style. Two restaurants are available: the David

This boutique hotel on the Upper East Side finished renovations in 2008. The Franklin has 50 guest rooms, each appointed with European-style furnishings, as well as LCD TVs, iPod-compatible clock radios, safes, and desks.

(164 East 87th St., 212.369.1000)

GERSHWIN HOTEL

The unmistakable Gershwin Hotel, with flame-shaped structures protruding from its red exterior, revamped its lobby in 2004. The lounge has curvy oversize red banquettes and a wall adorned with orange doughnutshaped light fixtures. It holds 100. Two additional meeting spaces are available. (7 East 27th St., 212.545.8000) GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL5

Ian Schrager reopened this hotel in 2006 after nearly two years and $200 million in renovations. The property

bizbash.com may/june 2010 135

New York Venue Directory

Hotels has 185 rooms and suites, a spa, a rooftop terrace, and a second-floor conference room. The hotel has two bars and a restaurant operated by Danny Meyer. (2 Lexington Ave., 212.920.3300) GRAND HYATT NEW YORK

The 1,311-room Grand Hyatt renovated its 14th floor in 2005, adding 22 executive boardrooms. In total, the hotel has five floors of event space. This includes the recently renovated conference level, which has 55,000 square feet of space including 40 breakout rooms. (109 East 42nd St., 212.883.1234) OPENING SOON GREAT JONES HOTEL

This hotel in NoHo, scheduled to open in spring 2010, is being designed by Smith-Miller & Hawkinson Architects.

In the plans for the property are 48 rooms, a bar and lounge, a restaurant, and a spa. (25 Great Jones St.) GREENWICH HOTEL

In 2008, Robert De Niro and hotelier Ira Drukier opened the Greenwich Hotel in TriBeCa. The eight-story hotel includes 88 rooms (designed by Samantha Crasco), duplex suites (one from Grayling Design, another from the Rockwell Group), a spa, and the restaurant Locanda Verde. (377 Greenwich St., 212.941.8900) HELMSLEY PARK LANE5

Rising 46 stories over Central Park, this 600-room European-style hotel has a second-floor ballroom that holds 400 and features an adjacent garden terrace.

Meeting space is also available on the fifth floor. The Park Room restaurant and Harry’s Bar prepare meals. (36 Central Park South, 212.371.4000) HILTON NEW YORK

This hotel has 1,980 guest rooms. Several floors of function rooms include a boardroom, a videoconference room, and meeting rooms. The 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom has a capacity of 2,800. (1335 Ave. of the Americas, 212.586.7000) HILTON SHORT HILLS5

Twenty-five miles from Manhattan, this 304-room hotel has a 5,150-square-foot column-free ballroom that holds as many as 700 for receptions. There are 13 additional meeting rooms, including a boardroom that seats 12. (41 John F. Kennedy Pkwy., Short Hills, N.J., 973.379.0100) HILTON TIMES SQUARE

Perched above 42nd Street, this Hilton has more than 5,000 square feet of banquet space. The largest space, the Empire Room, is 1,100 square feet and holds 130. All meeting rooms feature large windows with panoramic views of the city. (234 West 42nd St., 212.642.2600) HOTEL BEDFORD

This hotel has no meeting space, but it offers 77 rooms and 58 suites in Midtown close to Grand Central and the United Nations. Newly renovated rooms include kitchenettes and high-speed Internet. (118 East 40th St., 800.221.6881) HOTEL 41

Next door to the Nederlander Theater, this boutique hotel is housed in a 100-year-old building. There is no event space, but Bar 41, decorated with dark gray mohair chairs and green glass tabletops, offers a private room for 20.

The entire bar holds 75. (206 West 41st St., 212.703.8600) HOTEL GANSEVOORT5

This modern hotel has 187 guest rooms. The rooftop Loft and adjoining terrace hold 300 for receptions, and a garden holds 75. The hotel also offers a 16-seat cellar boardroom and a 1,196-square-foot meeting room that holds around 100 for receptions. Also on site is Exhale Spa, which opened in 2006. (18 Ninth Ave., 212.660.6727) HOTEL GIRAFFE5

Blocks from Gramercy Park, Hotel Giraffe has 72 rooms, including the 1,300-square-foot Penthouse Piano Suite with 26-foot ceilings, a working stone fireplace, a baby grand piano, and a landscaped terrace. The room holds 60 for receptions and can be combined with the rooftop garden to hold 125. (365 Park Ave. South, 212.894.0494) NEW HOTEL INDIGO5

In October 2009 InterContinental Hotels Group opened the first Hotel Indigo in Manhattan. The 20-story property includes 122 rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a rooftop lounge. On the ground floor there’s a 496-square-foot space for meetings, which seats 20 in a boardroom set-up or 40 theater-style. (127 West 28th St., 212.973.9000) HOTEL MELA

In 2007, the first New York property from Desires Hotels opened in the theater district. The Italian-inspired 230-room hotel has a penthouse that holds 25 for events and a meeting room that seats 12 conference-style. French bistro-cuisine restaurant Saju seats 110. (120 West 44th St., 877.452.6352) HOTEL ON RIVINGTON5

This hotel is 21 stories of glass on the Lower East Side.

Offered for events are a conference center with an adjacent lounge, the Surface Penthouse which measures 2,500 square feet, and a 1,000-square-foot roof deck. Thor, the in-house restaurant, is available for 300-person buyouts, and a 2,000-square-foot lobby lounge can be booked for 75. (107 Rivington St., 212.475.2600)

136 bizbash.com may/june 2010

HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA

More than 90,000 square feet of extensive meeting and function space is on hand at this hotel near Penn Station.

Spaces include the 50,000-square-foot Penn Plaza Pavilion, a commercial space in the hotel’s lobby; three ballrooms, the largest of which seats 600 banquet-style; and nine function rooms. (401 Seventh Ave., 212.502.8717) HÔTEL PLAZA ATHÉNÉE

This boutique hotel features a marble entrance and Italian tapestries. The 1,400-square-foot Le Trianon seats 100 banquet-style and has 10 large windows. The restaurant, Arabelle, and the 24-seat private dining room are gold-domed rooms with Asian art and Murano glass chandeliers. (37 East 64th St., 212.606.4663) HOTEL ROGER WILLIAMS5

This hotel from the JRK Hotel Group has 200 guest rooms, and its sole event space is Veranda 411, an 850-squarefoot, fourth-floor terrace with a retractable awning and teak lounge furniture. It holds 60, and it’s attached to a 450-square-foot bedroom that can be configured as a 12-seat boardroom. (131 Madison Ave., 212.448.7000) HOTEL WALES5

2007, updated the decor in the 149 guest rooms. (66 Park Ave., 212.885.7188) LAFAYETTE HOUSE

Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson, owners of the Bowery Hotel, opened this hotel in NoHo. In a restored 19thcentury town house, Lafayette House has 15 rooms (some with kitchenettes and terraces), each featuring a working fireplace, as well as antique rugs and furniture. (38 East 4th St., 212.505.8100) LE PARKER MERIDIEN

This hotel wears its contemporary look proudly, and the eleven function rooms follow suit: There are 10 warm, contemporary meeting rooms on the second and third floors, as well as a penthouse with views of Central Park.

(119 West 56th St., 212.245.5000) LIBRARY HOTEL5

This hotel’s spaces include a mahogany-paneled Writer’s Den with a fireplace, as well as a greenhouse solarium Poetry Garden with a wraparound terrace. As many as 12 can sit in the Executive Inspiration Boardroom. Madison & Vine is the in-house American bistro. (299 Madison Ave., 212.204.5408)

This hotel offers five event spaces. The largest space, the Carnegie Lounge, holds 74 for receptions. There are three high-tech meeting rooms, two that seat 8 and one that seats 14. The rooftop terrace can also be rented and has views of Central Park. The Upper East Side location of Sarabeth’s is located inside the hotel, as well as Paola’s restaurant. (1295 Madison Ave., 212.876.6000)

THE LONDON NYC

HUDSON HOTEL5

MANDARIN ORIENTAL NEW YORK

On the 24th floor, the penthouse and apartment can together hold 400 for receptions, or separately, 65 and 250, respectively. Other spaces include the Sky Terrace, with room for 150; three boardrooms; five additional meeting rooms; the Hudson Bar; and the library and its adjacent garden. In February 2010, the hotel opened Good Units, a basement-level space measuring 7,000 square feet. (356 West 58th St., 212.554.6000)

This luxe hotel’s 6,000-square-foot Mandarin Ballroom offers views of Central Park South and Columbus Circle from its 36th-floor perch inside the Time Warner Center.

The ballroom seats 500. The 960-square-foot Lotus Suite seats 90 theater-style, and a boardroom seats eight. (80 Columbus Cir., 212.805.8800)

NEW INK 485

Ink 48, a 222-room hotel from Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, opened in September 2009. The boutique property—named for its former incarnation as a printing house—offers an eco-friendly spa, an 80-seat eatery at lobby level, a rooftop restaurant and lounge, and 5,000 square feet of meeting space. (653 11th Ave., 212.757.0088) INN AT IRVING PLACE

The two adjoined town houses that make up this inn were built in 1834. Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon seats 60 or holds 75 for receptions. Two smaller rooms are adjacent to the salon. The hotel also houses Cibar, its comfy basement bar, which is connected to Lady Mendl’s via an interior staircase. (56 Irving Place, 212.533.4600) OPENING SOON INTERCONTINENTAL NEW YORK TIMES SQUARE

The Times Square location of the InterContinental is scheduled to open in July 2010 with more than 600 rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Designed to meet the criteria for LEED certification, the 36-story building will offer an inhouse restaurant from chef Todd English. (300 West 44th St., 212.803.4500) INTERCONTINENTAL THE BARCLAY NEW YORK

The Barclay boasts a long roster of presidents, heads of state, and celebrities among its guests. There are 686 guest rooms and 18 meeting and banquet rooms. The 2,546-square-foot Astor Ballroom holds 300 theater-style.

The Whitney and Park Avenue banquet rooms each seat 150 theater-style. (111 East 48th St., 212.755.5900)

The renovated Rihga Royal reopened in 2006 as the London NYC. The second floor, dubbed the Park, is dedicated to event space, with a private entrance, prefunction space, a leather and crocodile-print bar, and three event rooms. A David Collins-designed duplex penthouse opened in 2008. (151 West 54th St., 212.468.8709)

MANHATTAN CENTRE HOTEL5

Formerly the Rockefeller Center Hotel, this 230-room venue offers a fitness facility as well as a business lounge on the mezzanine. The restaurant and bar, Johnny Utah’s, is also available for events. In the same building is the Terrace Club with indoor meeting rooms and a terrace for 140. (25 West 51st St., 212.262.1600) MANSFIELD HOTEL

Built in 1903, the Midtown venue recently revamped some original details and added more modern amenities.

There are two separate spaces for events: the M Bar, with a domed skylight, and the librarylike club room, which features a working fireplace and tables for classic games such as chess. (12 West 44th St., 917.639.1212) MARITIME HOTEL5

The 3,600-square-foot Hiro Ballroom, with its 20-foot barrel-vaulted ceiling, seats 180; the Hiro Lounge can be combined to seat an additional 60. Chef Tadashi Ono’s Japanese restaurant Matsuri is available for events. Other options include the private penthouse suite, which holds 50 for receptions, and two cabanas that hold 550 when combined. (363 West 16th St., 212.242.4300) NEW MARK HOTEL

After two years of renovations, this swank Upper East Side hotel reopened in October 2009. Designed by Jacques Grange and developed by Alexico Group, the hotel has 150 rooms and offers a restaurant from Jean Georges Vongerichten, which has a 20-seat private dining room.

(25 East 77th St., 212.744.4300) MARRAKECH HOTEL

Slated to open in summer 2010 is the James New York, sister hotel to the James Chicago. The boutique, 20-story property in SoHo will have 114 rooms, a garden and lounge on the second floor, and a restaurant. (27 Grand St.)

A few blocks from Central Park, Columbia University, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, this boutique Moroccan-themed hotel opened in 2006. The Kazbar Lounge at Marrakech can be used as an event space for 60 people. Sookk, the hotel’s Thai restaurant, caters gatherings in the lounge. (2688 Broadway, 212.222.2954)

JANE HOTEL

MARRIOTT NEW YORK DOWNTOWN

In 2008, Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson finished a restoration to a West Village building and reopened it as the Jane Hotel. The Jane offers 200 small rooms modeled after old train cabins and furnished with bunk beds. Also on site is the lobby-level bar and ballroom space, which can be booked for events. (113 Jane St., 212.924.6700)

This property recently underwent a $15 million renovation to update the event space and the 500 guest rooms.

Fourteen meeting rooms make up 12,000 square feet of function space. That includes two ballrooms, the larger of which is 4,550 square feet. (85 West St., 212.385.4900)

JOLLY HOTEL MADISON TOWERS

With 72 rooms and a modern Scandinavian design, this boutique property from Desires Hotels—which operates hotels in South Beach, St. Louis, and Milwaukee—opened in July 2009 near Madison Square Park. (62 Madison Ave., 212.532.7373)

OPENING SOON JAMES NEW YORK5

The Italy-based Jolly Hotel chain owns this property, which features traditional Italian decor. The 244-room hotel has five meeting rooms, each named for an Italian artist. The largest of these is the 1,470-square-foot Michelangelo Room, which seats 80 theater-style. (22 East 38th St., 212.802.0600) JUMEIRAH ESSEX HOUSE

While it’s more than 75 years old, the Essex, now managed

by Dubai-based hotel management group Jumeirah, maintains plenty of its shiny Art Deco allure. The hotel has more than 11,000 square feet of event space, including the grand salon for receptions for 450, two boardrooms, and 19 meeting rooms, some with views of Central Park.

(160 Central Park South, 212.484.5144) KITANO NEW YORK5

This graceful, Japanese-inflected Midtown hotel has a boardroom that seats 14. The 1,400-square-foot penthouse holds 146 for receptions or can be divided into two spaces, and each has a terrace with views of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. A renovation, completed in

NEW MAVE HOTEL

MERCER HOTEL

This Christian Liaigre-designed hotel, owned by André Balazs, has six floors of modern rooms, 75 of them in all, none of which will put you in the mood to work (although they occasionally serve as temporary showrooms). Mercer Kitchen, run by superchef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which has maintained its hip credentials for an impressive length of time. (147 Mercer St., 212.966.6060) MICHELANGELO HOTEL

This 179-room hotel is appointed with Old World flair.

Two boardrooms are available—the Florentine Room, which holds 20, and the Venetian Room, which holds 14.

Both feature all the requisite electronic amenities. The Roman Room, when combined with the adjoining mezzanine, offers 2,143 square feet of flexible space and holds 150 for receptions. (152 West 51st St., 212.765.1900)

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

“Every successful meeting begins with introductions. Allow me.”

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Behold, more than 6,000 square feet of meeting space and 7 unique rooms.

And, if you think the Carlton looks good in the capacity chart and these shots, take a tour. We’re Midtown Manhattan, and ready when you are.

Room Name

Dimension

Sq. Ft.

Ceiling Height

Rounds

Reception

The Seville

39’ X 50.5’

1750

8’2”

110

175

110

60

40

40

Union Square

15.7’ X 24.9’

460

9’6”

30

40

30

25

22

20

Kips Bay

15.7’ X 24.9’

420

9’6”

20

30

25

15

18

12

12.6’ X 30’

415

27’3”

30

30

30

n/a

20

n/a

12’ X 30’

370

8’9”

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

14

n/a

Gramercy

27.5’ X 32’

922

9’

60

70

40

35

25

25

Flatiron

11.6’ X 33’

577

9’

30

40

25

25

20

n/a

Madison Avenue Murray Hill

8 8 M a d i s o n Av e n u e 212.532.4100

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N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 0 1 6

c a r l t o n h o t e l n y. c o m

Theater Classroom Conference U-Shape

New York Venue Directory

Hotels MILLENIUM HILTON

The Hilton’s public spaces and the 569 guest rooms are back in perfect order [after a renovation?]. Five rooms on the fourth floor offer more than 2,500 square feet of meeting space; the largest holds 225 for receptions. Up on the 55th floor, the 1,000-square-foot Presidential Room has views of New York Harbor. (55 Church St., 212.693.2001) MILLENNIUM BROADWAY HOTEL

After an extensive renovation that finished in 2007, this hotel in Times Square offers a large, 110,000-square-foot conference center comprising seven floors and several meeting areas. The upgrade included the addition of Wi-Fi to public spaces, Internet kiosks on each floor, and T1 lines to every meeting room. (145 West 44th St., 212.768.4400) MILLENNIUM PREMIER HOTEL

This hotel offers modern, luxe guest rooms—125 in all, with European soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and highspeed Internet access. The hotel has no meeting space of its own but, like the Broadway, offers the Millennium Conference Center and the Hudson Theatre for events.

(133 West 44th St., 212.789.7670) MILLENNIUM U.N. PLAZA HOTEL

With its full-service fitness center, as well as its heated pool and tennis court (both indoors), this hotel gets diplomats from across the street to unbutton a little. The hotel offers 427 spacious guest rooms and suites with city skyline views, as well as flexible function space for as many as 200 guests. (1 U.N. Plaza, 212.758.1234) IN THE WORKS MONDRIAN SOHO

The Morgan Hotel Group plans to open this hotel in fall 2010. Designed by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, the 270-room hotel will have an outdoor bar and a restaurant serving seafood from former Top Chef contestant Sam Talbot. (150 Lafayette St.; for more information, call 800.697.1791) MORGANS HOTEL

This Morgans Hotel Group property reopened in 2008 after a renovation featuring an Andrée Putnam design done up in tones of taupe, camel, and ivory. In-house restaurant Asia de Cuba seats 190, the Living Room holds 80 theater-style, and a split-level penthouse holds 70. (237 Madison Ave., 212.686.0300) MUSE HOTEL

In addition to 200 large guest rooms, this hotel offers three event spaces: a standard boardroom; the Bacchus private dining or meeting room, featuring a decorative wine cellar; and the 930-square foot Olympus function room, which holds 100 for receptions or can be divided into smaller spaces. (130 West 46th St., 212.485.2400) NEW YORKER HOTEL

After a $65 million renovation project, completed in 2008, this historic hotel increased its size to 910 guest rooms.

With 25,000 square feet of total event space, it has two ballrooms: the 7,500-square-foot grand ballroom and the smaller Crystal Ball Room. The New Yorker’s in-house eateries are Cooper’s Tavern and the 24-hour Tick Tock Diner. (481 Eighth Ave., 212.971.0101 x.5408)

including the drawing room, which holds 200 for receptions and 140 for dinners, and the library, which holds 100 for receptions and 70 for dinners. Also available is the chairman’s office, which seats 18 boardroom-style or 36 for dinners. (455 Madison Ave., 212.888.7000) NIGHT HOTEL

Vikram Chatwal, who operates the Dream Hotel, also runs this boutique property. Designed by Mark Zeff (also responsible for the Dream), the Night Hotel has 72 rooms decorated in black and white with large chariot beds, Wi-Fi connections, and other modern amenities. The top-floor penthouse holds 100, while the Nightlife lounge holds 50. (132 West 45th St., 212.835.9600) OPENING SOON NOLITAN NEW YORK5

Slated to open in May 2010, this boutique hotel in NoLiTa will offer 55 rooms in a building designed by Grzywinski & Pons. Meyer Davis is responsible for the interior look of this property, which will include a rooftop lounge and a restaurant from restaurateur Jimmy Bradley. (30 Kenmare St., 212.925.2555) IN THE WORKS NOMAD HOTEL

Scheduled to open in 2011, the 165-room NoMad Hotel is designed to be one of the city’s first hotels certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Situated inside a 12-story French Renaissance-style building, the property will have loft-like guest rooms and suites with French bohemian decor. (1170 Broadway, 212.796.1500) NOVOTEL NEW YORK5

Novotels are in 58 countries around the world; the outpost on West 52nd Street has a contemporary look. The in-house restaurant, Café Nicole, is on the seventh floor, and offers a window bay with views of Times Square. It can be combined with the adjacent terrace for private receptions. (226 West 52nd St., 212.315.0100) OMNI BERKSHIRE PLACE

Centrally located, this Midtown hotel has nine function rooms with 7,000 square feet of space designed to handle small to midsize events, including the Julliard Ballroom, which seats 90 banquet-style. A grand staircase and a dedicated elevator bring guests to the second-floor function spaces. (21 East 52nd St., 212.753.5800) PARAMOUNT HOTEL

Cheap chic is the aim at this Philippe Starck-designed hotel, originally owned by Ian Schrager. The Paramount features a 15-seat wired boardroom and a smaller room seating eight, along with the Library Bar and Bar 46, which can be used for events. (235 West 46th St., 212.764.5500) PARK CENTRAL NEW YORK

This hotel’s strong suit is its location midway between the theater district and Central Park. There is a total of 15,000 square feet of event space. The ballroom and adjacent room hold 1,000 for receptions. Twelve other meeting areas include three boardrooms and exhibition space.

(870 Seventh Ave., 212.247.8000)

REGENCY

Long the home of the Manhattan power breakfast, this Loews hotel on Park Avenue remains highly polished in all matters of hospitality. Six function rooms are on site, the largest of which holds 200 for receptions. The Delacorte is one of the larger boardrooms in town, with seats for 25. (540 Park Ave., 212.759.4100) NEW RENAISSANCE NEW YORK HOTEL 57

After completing a $40 million makeover, this Marriottowned property reopened in September 2009. The 200-room Renaissance New York Hotel 57 now sports an interior designed by Jordan Mozer. Although there are no meeting spaces at this boutique hotel, Opia is the inhouse restaurant and bar and offers three private rooms for groups. (130 East 57th St., 212.753.8841) RENAISSANCE NEW YORK HOTEL TIMES SQUARE

This trapezoid-shaped hotel rises up 26 floors and has a total of 2,520 square feet of meeting space among four rooms, the largest of which is 950 square feet and seats 60. A 12-seat boardroom is also available, along with a recently renovated lobby. (714 Seventh Ave., 212.765.7676) RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT TIMES SQUARE MANHATTAN

With 357 studio suites, this hotel is a long-term-stay property. Two of the five meeting rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. The largest room is the 925-square-foot Bryant Park Room, which seats 70 theater-style; the smallest is the 406-square-foot Broadway Room, which seats 15. (1033 Ave. of the Americas, 212.768.0007) THE RITZ-CARLTON NEW YORK, BATTERY PARK5

Views of the city skyline and harbor distinguish this Ritz-Carlton on the southern end of Manhattan. There is 8,000 square feet of meeting space and an additional 4,000 square feet of prefunction space. The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom seats 460; the boardroom seats 12. Outdoor receptions can accommodate 60 during warmer months.

A rooftop bar is also available. (2 West St., 212.344.0800) THE RITZ-CARLTON NEW YORK, CENTRAL PARK

The regal-looking Ritz-Carlton, in a renovated historic building from the 1930s, rises 33 stories above Central Park South. The hotel has 259 guest rooms and 2,000 square feet of meeting space. The elegant Olmsted Boardroom seats 10, the Emory Roth Room seats 155 theater-style, and the Samuel Halpert Meeting Room seats 63 theater-style.

The posh La Prairie spa and restaurant BLT Market are also on the premises. (50 Central Park South, 212.308.9100) ROGER SMITH HOTEL5

This quirky 136-room hotel marches proudly to the beat of its own drum. It features, among other things, permanent and rotating art exhibits throughout the property. The Roger Smith has event spaces that include its 800-squarefoot Starlight Ballroom, a 40-seat screening room, and the restaurant Lily’s. Also available are the penthouse and balcony, which hold 75. (501 Lexington Ave., 212.755.1400) ROOM MATE GRACE5

The Park South is a boutique hotel in Murray Hill with one 10-seat boardroom and two meeting rooms. The meeting rooms hold 25 people each classroom-style, and can be combined. In-house restaurant Black Duck seats 75 or holds 120 for receptions. (122 East 28th St., 212.448.0888)

Formerly Hotel QT, this hotel opened under its new moniker in 2008. It offers 16 floors and 139 guest rooms with modern decor, in-room massages, blackout drapes, and iHome docks. The mezzanine pool deck doubles as a meeting space and holds 225. DJs spin poolside five nights a week. (125 West 45th St., 212.354.2323)

NEW YORK HELMSLEY

PENINSULA NEW YORK5

ROOSEVELT HOTEL5

The Helmsley has four rooms in the Knickerbocker Suite that, when combined, offer 4,200 square feet of space that holds 500 for receptions. The three meeting rooms are each 1,080 square feet and seat 100 theater-style, and there are four boardrooms that hold eight to 16. Twelvefoot ceilings and large picture windows make the rooms seem especially airy. (212 East 42nd St., 212.490.8900)

The Peninsula consists of 23 stories, 239 guest rooms, a three-story spa, the Salon de Ning rooftop bar and terrace, and 4,460 square feet of meeting space. The largest room, the Gramercy, seats 120. Hidden beneath the hotel’s elegant veneer is a full range of technical support for meetings. (700 Fifth Ave., 212.956.2888)

NEW YORK MARRIOTT AT THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

The 189-room Pierre has several spaces for meetings and events. On the second floor are six areas offering 18,000 square feet total, including the expansive grand ballroom that holds 1,500. In August 2009, the hotel debuted three new meeting rooms adjoining the fourth-floor business center,. Among these is the 400-square-foot Madison Boardroom, which seats 14 and is suited for presentations.

(2 East 61st St., 212.838.8000)

The Roosevelt is looking awfully spry for an octogenarian.

It opened in 1924 and is in good enough shape to make its namesake (Teddy) cry, “Bully!” The grand ballroom seats 650; the terrace ballroom, with its 23-foot ceilings, seats 300. Twenty-one meeting rooms offer a great deal of flexibility. A rooftop lounge holds 120 for receptions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, and 75 on Wednesdays through Fridays. (45 East 45th St., 212.661.9600)

This Marriott in Brooklyn added 280 guest rooms and underwent a $2 million renovation of all function space in 2005. There’s 30,000 square feet of it, including the 18,000-square-foot grand ballroom, which holds about 2,000 for receptions, and 25 meeting rooms. (333 Adams St., Brooklyn, 718.246.7000) NEW YORK MARRIOTT EAST SIDE

The Marriott East Side has 646 rooms on 35 floors. Of a wide array of event spaces that total 21,000 square feet with 19 breakout rooms, the largest is the 3,775-squarefoot Morgan Room, which holds 400 for receptions. The Fountain Room is on the 16th floor. (525 Lexington Ave., 212.755.4000) NEW YORK MARRIOTT MARQUIS

Built in the ’80s, this enormous hotel is like a fortress— even the lobby is eight floors up. There is more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The Broadway Ballroom alone seats 2,800 in 29,000 square feet of space. More than four dozen other function rooms are also available. (1535 Broadway, 212.398.1900) NEW YORK MIDTOWN EAST COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT

While it is geared toward business travelers, this hotel in an office tower has only a modest amount of meeting space. The largest is the 775-square-foot Empire Room, which holds 70 theater-style. A boardroom seats 12, and the 360-square-foot Macmillan Room holds 30 for receptions. Evening receptions for 100 can also be held in the East Side Café. (866 Third Ave., 212.644.1300) NEW YORK PALACE HOTEL & TOWERS

There is over 21,000 square feet allotted for functions at this hotel. The Villard Center and Mansion has 20 rooms,

138 bizbash.com may/june 2010

PARK SOUTH HOTEL

THE PIERRE

POD HOTEL5

Formerly the Pickwick Arms, this Midtown East hotel from BD Hotels opened in 2007 with a modern look. The budget boutique-style Pod has 348 rooms with modern amenities such as iPod docking stations, free Wi-Fi, and LCD TVs. Other features include the hotel lobby lounge (featuring art by J.M. Rizzi), an outdoor café, and a rooftop deck. (230 East 51st St., 212.355.0300) NEW PRESIDENT HOTEL

The President Hotel is a politically themed property that opened in October 2009. The hotel has 334 rooms decorated with images of political figures like Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and Richard Nixon. Additionally, the President Hotel offers a conference center and a lobby lounge named Primary operated

by Greg Brier. (234 West 48th St., 212.246.8800) RADISSON LEXINGTON

This hotel has 712 handsome, contemporary rooms in Midtown under the Radisson banner. Two conference rooms—one 270 square feet, the other 230—seat 10 each, and the 530-square-foot Florentine Room holds 50 theater-style. On site are the nightclub LQ and Dynasty restaurant, which are also available for events. (511 Lexington Ave., 212.755.4400)

ROYALTON HOTEL

This Morgans Hotel Group property reopened in 2007 with a redesigned look from Roman and Williams. As part of the $17.5 million renovation, the lobby and penthouses were updated, as were the in-house restaurant (Brasserie 44) and bar (Bar 44). The hotel’s signature blue runs throughout the interior spaces, including the 168 guest rooms. (44 West 44th St., 212.869.4400) IN THE WORKS SANCTUARY

Originally the Portland Square Hotel, this Times Square property plans to reopen in fall 2010 as a 115-room boutique hotel. After the redesign, this Impulsive Group hotel will offer wood furnishings and quarried marble, exposed in-room baths, and European fabrics in earth tones. Portland Square Hotel will continue to operate during the construction. (132 West 47th St., 212.382.0600) IN THE WORKS SETAI FIFTH AVENUE

Slated for a November 2010 opening, the Setai Fifth Avenue will be a 157-room hotel. Stocked with a secondfloor restaurant and an 11,500-square-foot spa, the modern property will also include meeting space. Located on the third floor, the 2,394-square-foot Salon will seat 180 or hold 300 for receptions and an adjacent boardroom will have room for 12. (400 Fifth Ave., 212.695.4005) 70 PARK AVENUE HOTEL5

What was once the undistinguished Doral Hotel is now the far spiffier 70 Park Avenue, thanks to interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber and $19 million from Kimpton Hotels.

The hotel’s 900-square-foot meeting room holds 50 for receptions, and the 18,000-square-foot penthouse suite on the 17th floor (with a narrow, wraparound terrace) is

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot to get excited about at the Hilton New York. Legendary moments. Service that never leaves you asking. A locale in the middle of all the favorites: Rockefeller Center, Broadway Theaters, Times Square. An energy like nothing else. One visit and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get it.

212.586.7000 Âť NewYorkHiltonHotel.com

New York Venue Directory

Hotels also suitable for events. The renovated Silverleaf Tavern seats 80. (70 Park Ave., 212.973.2400) SHERATON NEW YORK HOTEL AND TOWERS

No doubt about it, the Sheraton is one of the city’s busiest venues, with 1,750 guest rooms and 55,000 square feet of event space. The smallest function room seats 15, while the 15,000-square-foot Metropolitan Ballroom holds 2,500. The executive conference center is well suited to smaller meetings. (811 Seventh Ave., 212.581.1000) SHERRY-NETHERLAND

Though it no longer has any meeting space, this 50- room hotel is still a rendezvous point for bluebloods, beloved for its understated rooms and discreet service. This is not a place you’ll find overrun with movie crews—just a proudly old-fashioned, hospitable inn, as Louis Sherry saw it when he opened it in 1927. (781 Fifth Ave., 212.355.2800) SHOREHAM HOTEL5

The 177-room Shoreham features the 800-square-foot Atrium Loft penthouse, with a terrace, a wet bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide panoramic views of Manhattan. The 697-square-foot Skylight conference room seats 50 and can be combined with the adjacent 697-square-foot lobby lounge. Other spaces include the Shoreham Gallery and the Shoreham Restaurant & Bar. (33 West 55th St., 212.247.6700) 6 COLUMBUS

This Thompson Hotel property has 88 rooms. Although there are no dedicated event or meeting spaces, three private rooftop decks and two penthouses can be booked for private events, and there is private dining at restaurant Blue Ribbon Sushi. (6 Columbus Cir., 212.204.3000) 60 THOMPSON

60 Thompson out-boutiques most boutique hotels.

Designer Thomas O’Brien from Aero Studios created a striking sense of place. Events can be held in the 150-seat Thai restaurant Kittichai, in Thom Bar (which holds 125 for receptions), or on the rooftop lounge A/60, which holds 150. (60 Thompson St., 877.431.0400)

standard of luxury, this top hotel manages to be discreetly opulent in every facet—even in its 10 fully wired meeting rooms, the largest of which seats 220. On the top floor is the hotel’s jewel, the much-sought-after 4,300-squarefoot St. Regis Roof ballroom. (2 East 55th St., 212.753.4500) SURREY HOTEL

A quiet citizen among the genteel ranks of the Upper East Side, the European-style Surrey has one meeting space: the 273-square-foot Madison Room, which seats 20. Meals can be catered by in-house restaurant Café Boulud. (20 East 76th St., 212.288.3700) THE TIME

Hospitality meets high concept at the Time, courtesy of designer Adam Tihany. The second-floor Inc. Lounge holds 175. The Glass Pavilion, a 12-seat meeting room on the penthouse level, holds 40 for receptions. (224 West 49th St., 212.246.5252) TRIBECA GRAND5

The Tribeca Grand offers a wide range of event options.

These include Sanctum, an intimate, 1,104-square-foot cocktail lounge that holds 100; a rooftop terrace; a 100-seat screening room; and Studios A and B, which hold 190 for receptions when combined with the adjacent foyer. (2 Ave. of the Americas, 212.519.6600) TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL AND TOWER

Trump or no Trump, this hotel is one of New York’s best—Central Park on one side, Time Warner Center on the other, and five-star in-house restaurant Jean Georges.

There are two function rooms: a small conference room that seats eight and a 16-seat boardroom. (1 Central Park West, 212.299.1000) NEW TRUMP SOHO

This joint venture between the Trump Organization, Bayrock Group, and the Sapir Organization is a 46-story, 391-room property with the exterior designed by Handel Architects and the interior by the Rockwell Group.

The 12,000 square feet of meeting and function space includes the 3,900-square-foot Soho Ballroom and SoHi, an 1,700-square-foot private event space on the 46th floor.

(246 Spring St., 212.842.5500) TUDOR HOTEL AT THE U.N.

little bit of Miami style imported to Eighth Avenue. The 34,000 square feet of meeting space is more subdued.

The Westin has three ballrooms and 32 meeting rooms.

Connected to the hotel is a 13-screen movie theater.

Individual rooms can be rented for special events. (270 West 43rd St., 212.201.2700) WESTMINSTER HOTEL

The four-star Westminster Hotel has 183 guest rooms and 16,000 square feet of banquet and conference space. Its grand ballroom has a private entrance and holds 900 for seated events; the Chelsea Room seats 40. A fitness center is accessible 24 hours a day and includes an indoor pool.

The Glazier Group’s first venture outside Manhattan, a Strip House restaurant, seats 120. (550 West Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, N.J., 973.533.0600) WINGATE BY WYNDHAM MANHATTAN MIDTOWN

This 17-story property in Midtown offers 92 rooms; a fitness facility; a business center; Luxe, an Italian restaurant and lounge; and a boardroom for 10. (235 West 35th St., 212.967.7500) W HOBOKEN HOTEL & RESIDENCES

Open since April 2009, this waterfront property has 225 guest rooms, 40 suites, 5,700 square feet of meeting and event space, two bars, a restaurant, and a Bliss spa. For business functions, the hotel includes four 400-squarefoot rooms—Studios 1, 2, 3, and 4—which each seat 24 theater-style. The W Hoboken’s ballroom measures 4,140 square feet and holds 270 banquet-style or 400 for receptions. (225 River St., Hoboken, N.J., 201.253.2400) W NEW YORK

David Rockwell’s design of this 688-room hotel focuses on elements of the earth. This carries over into the seven meeting rooms, from the 330-square-foot Sea Room to the 3,690-square-foot Forest Ballroom, which holds 500 for receptions. The restaurant Heartbeat and the Whiskey Blue bar are on site, as is a Bliss day spa. (541 Lexington Ave., 212.755.1200) W NEW YORK—THE COURT

Down the block from the slightly smaller W Tuscany, this 198-room Murray Hill hotel has 3,900 square feet of meeting space in seven rooms, including a prefunction area.

Two rooms can be combined for almost 1,000 square feet to hold an event. (130 East 39th St., 212.685.1100)

Thirty curvy stories high, this hotel has 345 guest rooms and 52 suites. Eight meeting rooms run the gamut from a 12-seat conference room to a formal grand ballroom that seats 190, and has 22-foot-high ceilings with natural lighting and blackout drapes. (45 West 44th St., 212.354.8844)

This hotel, one block from United Nations headquarters, has 300 guest rooms and a staff that speaks more than a dozen languages. Five meeting rooms are available, including the Knightsbridge Room, which holds 150. The boardroom seats 15. The on-site Tudor Neighborhood Bar and Grill can also be used for events. (304 East 42nd St., 212.986.8800)

SOHO GRAND5

VINCCI AVALON HOTEL

On the 17th floor are two penthouses: the 1,800-squarefoot Loft North and the slightly smaller Loft South each hold 100 for receptions. Both lofts have 1,200-square-foot terraces for additional mingling room and great views of the city. Additional spaces include the 1,300-square-foot Harbor Room, the Chart Room, the grand lounge, and the gallery. (310 West Broadway, 212.965.3000)

In Murray Hill just off Madison Avenue, the Avalon’s lobby has black marble columns and a marble floor. The 2,079-square-foot Camelot Room holds 150 for receptions or seats 70 classroom-style, and the Excalibur Boardroom (which is two rooms combined) seats 30 theater-style.

Three smaller meeting rooms are also available. (16 East 32nd St., 212.299.7000)

THE STANDARD NEW YORK

WALDORF-ASTORIA

W NEW YORK—THE TUSCANY

André Balazs’ meatpacking district property opened in 2008 with 337 rooms and its street-level restaurant the Standard Grill. The first Standard hotel outpost in New York also offers meeting spaces on its third floor, including the High Line room and terrace, which hold 250 for receptions. (848 Washington St., 212.645.4646)

This hotel is one of the busiest, with three dozen meeting and event spaces, including its nearly 10,000-square-foot grand ballroom, which seats 1,500; the 18th-floor Starlight Roof, which holds 800 for receptions; and an executive meeting center. All together, there is 60,000 square feet of event space. (301 Park Ave., 212.355.3000)

A somewhat clubbier version of the W Court, the Tuscany has fewer rooms (122, rather than 198), but they’re a bit more spacious. The Tuscany has no meeting space in the building—it shares the Court’s function facilities. The café, Audrey, captures the classic elegance of its namesake, Hepburn. (120 East 39th St., 212.686.1600)

STAY HOTEL

WARWICK

W NEW YORK—UNION SQUARE

Vikram Chatwal, the owner of several other boutique hotels, opened this Times Square property in 2008. Stay offers 210 guest rooms appointed in warm copper tones and fitted with interactive LCD displays. There are no private meeting rooms, but the lobby-level lounge, Aspen Social Club, is available for private events and gatherings.

(157 West 47th St., 212.768.3700)

Built in 1926 by William Randolph Hearst for his paramour Marion Davies, the Warwick’s 359 guest rooms and 67 suites are generously spaced. The seven meeting rooms range from 595 to 1,811 square feet. Events can also be held in Murals on 54 restaurant, which holds 125, and the M. Davies Room, which holds 75 for receptions. (65 West 54th St., 212.247.2700)

Beaux-Arts was never so beaux as at this W. Given its up-to-the-minute design, you’ll be surprised to find an elegant, turn-of-the-(20th)-century ballroom that makes up some of the 7,000 square feet of event space—all teched-up for this century. In-house restaurant Olives, run by chef Todd English, seats 100. (201 Park Ave. South, 212.253.9119)

NEW THE STRAND HOTEL5

WASHINGTON SQUARE HOTEL

OPENING SOON YOTEL TIMES SQUARE5

This hotel opened in December 2009 with 177 rooms.

The Strand Hotel also offers 2,500 square feet of meeting space and a rooftop lounge called Top of the Strand, a sister restaurant to Miami’s seafood grill A Fish Called Avalon. (33 West 37th St., 212.448.1024)

This Greenwich Village hotel has 150 guest rooms. There are no meeting rooms, but Deco Room, the lobby bar, seats 20 or holds 30 for receptions. North Square restaurant, off the hotel lobby, offers a lounge that is available for daytime meetings of 30. (103 Waverly Place, 212.777.9515)

ST. REGIS

WESTIN NEW YORK—TIMES SQUARE

A 1904 Beaux-Arts beauty that has helped set the city’s

This 45-story Westin has a brightly colored exterior—a

Expected to open in 2011 is the first U.S. location of European hotel brand Yotel. Situated inside the Related Companies’ planned tower in Midtown West, Yotel Times Square will offer 669 rooms styled after first class airline cabins, a restaurant, meetings rooms, and what the property is billing as the largest hotel terrace space in the city.

(440 West 42nd St.)

SOFITEL NY

OPENING SOON W NEW YORK—DOWNTOWN

Starwood Hotels and Resorts is scheduled to open this property in summer 2010. The downtown building will offer 217 guest rooms and 223 residential units. There are a planned four meeting and event spaces, the largest is a combination of studio spaces totaling 1,320 square feet.

(123 Washington St., 646.826.8600) W NEW YORK—TIMES SQUARE

In the center of the theater district, the W brings plenty of drama to the neighborhood. Six small meeting rooms are available (the largest is 484 square feet), plus the seafood eatery Blue Fin, part of the B.R. Guest restaurant group, and the Living Room bar. (1567 Broadway, 212.930.7400)

Independent Event Spaces ALTMAN BUILDING

In a former carriage house, this 13,000-square-foot Chelsea event space has mahogany and glass doors and 17-foot ceilings. The space has ash floors, and its two levels hold a combined 600 for receptions, 575 for seated events, 400 for dinner and cocktails, or 750 theater-style.

A passage connects the venue to Metropolitan Pavilion next door. (135 West 18th St., 212.741.3400) ANGEL ORENSANZ FOUNDATION CENTER FOR THE ARTS5

This converted synagogue dates to 1849 and features Gothic arches and a 55-foot vaulted ceiling, which is a

140 bizbash.com may/june 2010

replica of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The main hall—at 6,500 square feet—seats 260 or holds 350 for receptions. A 3,000-square-foot balcony holds 200. The center’s assembly room holds 100. (172 Norfolk St., 212.529.7194) ARENA

This event space and nightclub is next to Bryant Park.

Framed by two crystal chandeliers, the centerpiece of the venue is a demi-globe set in the center of the original 1923 molding. The multi-level space features New York’s largest programmable LED lighting system. It seats 400 or holds 600 for receptions. (135 West 41st St., 212.278.0988)

ARTIST’S ROOM

Operating by Raging Skillet, the Artist’s Room is a 250-square-foot gallery that adjoins the catering firm’s commercial kitchen. Though not suited for events with dancing or live entertainment, the site can be used for intimate gatherings and business meetings. The entire space holds 20 for seated dinners or as many as 40 for receptions. (335 East Houston St., 212.677.2204) ASTRA

Chef Charlie Palmer’s 1,600-square-foot venue on the 14th floor of the D&D Building has limestone tile floors and

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

PREMIUM EVENT SPACE MIDTOWN, M ANHAT TAN

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New York Venue Directory

Independent Event Spaces cherrywood accents on the tabletops and bar. Made up of four rooms and a terrace, the space seats 140 or holds 300 for receptions. (979 Third Ave., 212.644.9394) ATELIER SKY LOUNGE5

The Atelier building in Midtown West that houses Espace also offers its uppermost floor and terrace for events. The 10,000-square-foot Atelier Sky Lounge has a wraparound deck that offers views of the city and the Hudson River. It comes with removable furniture, a kitchen, service-elevator access, and audiovisual capabilities. The Sky Lounge is available year-round, but only one event per week is permitted. (635 West 42nd St., 212.784.2390) ATRIUM AT EQUITABLE CENTER

This lobby is decked out with marble floors and walls and has 90-foot ceilings. Adorned with a large mural by Roy Lichtenstein, the atrium seats 400 or holds 500 for receptions. It may be rented on the weekends or after 6 p.m. on weekdays. (787 Seventh Ave., 212.314.4000) ATRIUM AT TRUMP TOWER

This space inside Trump Tower has marble flooring and a 60-foot water wall, and seats 80 or holds 300 for receptions. The Trump Tower Grill provides catering and staffing. (725 Fifth Ave., 212.715.7290) AVEVENUE

AVEvenue offers two spaces: a 2,250-square-foot loft and a 3,000-square-foot social hall. The loft, with views of the Empire State Building, has white walls, hardwood floors, and 12-foot ceilings; it seats 45 or holds 65 for receptions.

The social hall features a wet bar, 15-foot ceilings, and glass highboy cocktail tables (which can be used in the loft as well); it seats 100 or holds 125 for receptions. (15 West 28th St., 212.683.1111) THE BALLROOM AT QUEENS COLLEGE

This 9,000-square-foot ballroom holds 700. For smaller events, the Skyline Room holds 200 guests. Both rooms have high-def projectors and multimedia systems. Events are booked through and catered by Metropolitan Food Service. (65-30 Kissena Blvd., 516.797.7066) BAYARD’S

In 2006, Bayard’s changed from a restaurant to a private dining venue. Among the 10 rooms within the India House building are the 200-seat Marine Room and the 12-seat Jewel Room. The space offers American continental fare; Bayard’s, Harry’s Cafe, and Harry’s Steak, in the

same building, are all owned by the Poulakakos family.

The entire venue holds 1,000. (1 Hanover Sq., 212.514.9454) BRIDGEWATERS5

The Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline are part of the view from this 27,000-square-foot venue at the South Street Seaport. Operated by the Glazier Group, the facility includes 1,000 square feet of glass-enclosed space with skylights, the nautical-themed museum club (which seats 500 or holds 800 for receptions), and a terrace that wraps around two sides of the building. The bridge room seats 540 or holds 700 for receptions, and the terrace room seats 180 or holds 300 for receptions. The entire venue holds 2,500. (11 Fulton St., 212.608.7400) BROAD STREET BALLROOM

Formerly the Downtown Auditorium, this 5,700-squarefoot event space in the financial district opened in 2006.

The venue has 30-foot ceilings, mosaic pillars, and a removable stage, as well as a 22-foot square retractable screen. The venue has full audiovisual capabilities and holds 300 banquet-style, 500 theater-style, or 630 for receptions. (41 Broad St., 646.624.2524) CAEDMON SCHOOL5

This Upper East Side school building offers a variety of versatile spaces. The Caedmon Hall on the main floor is 1,000 square feet and can hold 125 for receptions and 75 for seated events. A fully equipped kitchen is accessible to the 2,300-square-foot Caedmon Dining Hall. Two other spaces are the 900-square-foot Caedmon Gymnasium and the Caedmon Courtyard, an outdoor space with a garden plot and playground equipment. All of the spaces may be rented individually or combined. (416 East 80th St., 212.879.2296) CAPITALE

Originally the Bowery Savings Bank, this national landmark building was designed by Stanford White and built in 1893. The space now serves as a ballroom, with 65-foot ceilings, tall Corinthian columns, and an art glass skylight. The 15,000-square-foot event space seats 500 or holds 1,500 for receptions. Two smaller rooms on the upper level each seat 60. Catering is done in-house, except when kosher food is needed. Wireless internet access is available. (130 Bowery, 212.334.5500) CARLYLE ON THE GREEN5

Carlyle on the Green stands on the grounds of the Bethpage State Park and holds a total of 1,000 for receptions in several spaces: the grand ballroom, the Heritage Room, the Lenox Room, and the Tillinghast Lounge.

The Oakroom at Bethpage Black restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. (99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Farmingdale, N.Y., 516.501.9700)

THE CATHEDRAL NYC

This concert and event venue opened in June 2007 with 8,000 square feet of space near the Lincoln Tunnel.

The entire space seats 600 or holds 800 for receptions.

Catering and production services are provided by Chantal Beadeau Caterers. (504 West 41st St., 212.268.7171) OPENING SOON CENTER548

Slated for an official opening in July 2010, Center548 is a four-floor venue in the west Chelsea space that once housed the Dia Art Foundation’s exhibition facility.

Leased by Absolute Events, the red brick building’s rooftop and second, third, and fourth floors will be available for corporate and nonprofit functions. Each floor measures approximately 9,500 square feet and has the capacity for 300. (548 West 22nd St., 917.992.1854) CHACALA

In February 2009, Laujack Inc. launched Chacala, a 6,000-square-foot loft. Tucked away on the fourth floor of a nondescript building on Broadway, the roomy venue sports hardwood floors, exposed brick accents, bay windows, and a cyclorama. The venue can also provide production and design services. The entire space holds 300 for receptions. (394 Broadway, 4th Floor, 212.244.4464) CIPRIANI 42ND STREET

This perennially popular 14,860-square-foot event space is in the Byzantine-style former Bowery Savings Bank building. The large hall has monumental marble columns and a series of arches, as well as 65-foot ceilings, oversize golden chandeliers, and inlaid marble floors. The venue seats 850 for dinner. (110 East 42nd St., 646.723.0826) CIPRIANI WALL STREET

With massive columns, an elaborate dome, and coffered ceilings, this ballroom seats 900 or holds 1300 for receptions. A small wood-paneled room holds 30 for seated events or 20 for receptions; a boardroom holds 20 seated or 30 for receptions. Another space, Club 55, has a selection of smaller spaces for groups of 10 to 100 that includes the library, bank vault room, screening room, billiard room, and the Terrace 57 room. (55 Wall St., 212.699.4099) CREST EVENTS5

Formerly China Club, this Midtown venue is now three separate venues operating under the umbrella of Crest Events. Jade Terrace is now Eden Rooftop, a 5,000-squarefoot indoor/outdoor space that holds 350 for receptions.

On the second floor is Opera Ballroom, which holds 500 for receptions, and below that is Crest Lounge, which holds 250. (268 West 47th St., 212.398.0044) NEW DAVID RUBENSTEIN ATRIUM AT LINCOLN CENTER

Originally the Colonial Music Hall, the David Rubenstein Atrium was redesigned as Lincoln Center’s new public

New York Venue Directory

Independent Event Spaces space and reopened in December 2009. The site features two, 21-foot-tall vertical gardens, a floor-to-ceiling fountain, and a 97-foot art installation by Dutch textile artisan Claudy Jongsta. The LEED gold-certified 5,700-square-foot atrium also offers a 44-foot-long media wall, portable staging equipment, and the capacity for 250-guest receptions. (61 West 62nd St., 212.875.5288) DESMOND TUTU CENTER

This conference and event venue opened in 2007 in west Chelsea. Operated by Aramark Harrison Lodging, the Desmond Tutu Center comprises three buildings on the west side of the General Theological Seminary campus and includes a 19th-century refectory, 60 guest rooms, and seven meeting spaces. (180 10th Ave., 212.929.3888) DOUBLE CROSS LOUNGE

This 1,500-square-foot space, owned by Slovakian spirit company Double Cross Vodka, is a cozy place for lunchtime meetings or after-work gatherings and has room for as many as 50 people. Furnished with leather club chairs, hardwood floors, and plush couches, the loftlike lounge comes equipped with a sound system, adjustable lighting, a 60-inch plasma TV, bathroom facilities, some kitchen appliances, and a small area for catering prep. (39 East 13th St., 646.873.4999) EDISON BALLROOM

The Hotel Edison’s Supper Club, which shuttered unexpectedly in 2007, reopened in March 2008 as the Edison Ballroom. Leased from the building’s owner, the 17,000square-foot space is now under the management of Allan Wartski—owner of the Hakata Grill and Christo’s Steakhouse—as a dedicated event space. The ballroom seats 500 banquet-style or holds 1,000 for receptions; it seats 700 theater-style. In addition to a 600-square-foot stage (which can be extended into a runway) are three bars and a lounge. (240 West 47th St., 212.201.7650)

marble floors, 40-foot ceilings, and massive chandeliers.

The 12,000-square-foot space seats 800 or holds 1,200 for receptions. The northeast balcony overlooks the station’s main concourse and seats 100 or holds 200 for receptions.

Vanderbilt Hall is not available from early November through December, due to internal holiday programming. (42nd St. and Park Ave., 212.340.3404) GRAND PROSPECT HALL5

This event space’s French Renaissance building, once a dance hall, dates to 1892. The venue has 16 ballrooms, including the 10,400-square-foot grand ballroom, which has 60-foot ceilings, two tiers of balconies, and an adjacent glass-enclosed atrium with a terrace that seats 600.

The ballroom seats 2,000. Outdoors is a garden with two waterfalls. (263 Prospect Ave., Brooklyn, 718.788.0777) GUASTAVINO’S5

Under the Queensboro Bridge is Guastavino’s, a defunct restaurant that reopened as a private event space. The landmark venue has 15,000 square feet of usable space on two levels and holds 2,000. The upstairs seats 600 theater-style, and the downstairs seats 600 comfortably.

A garden holds 400. Guastavino’s is the exclusive caterer, except when kosher catering is requested. (409 East 59th St., 212.980.2711) HUDSON TERRACE5

Hudson Terrace is a bilevel venue from Sean McGarr and Michael Sinensky. The 13,000-square-foot space in Midtown West has indoor and outdoor spaces, including an enclosed, clublike lounge and bar and a rooftop terrace. In total, the site holds 850 people, with room for 400 in the salon, 150 on the garden terrace, and 300 on the roof. (621 West 46th St., 212.228.4200) IAC BUILDING

The Frank Gehry-designed headquarters of Barry Diller’s InterActiveCorp is an eye-catching example of modern architecture. Subject to board approval, events can use the 8,550-square-foot lobby of the west Chelsea venue, home to one of the longest indoor high-definition video walls—it’s 120 feet long and 11 feet high. (555 West 18th St., 212.314.7300) LA.VENUE

Built in the 19th century, the 1887 Townhouse is a singlefamily home on the Upper West Side with 6,000 square feet over six levels. The entire space is available for rent, including a small dining room that comfortably seats 10, two living rooms, a 600-square-foot garden and patio, and three bedrooms that can be used as prep areas. (59 West 85th St., 212.877.5400)

Within the Terminal building is this 18,000-square-foot loftlike site connected to the Waterfront. Approximately $1.2 million was spent on a renovation, which restored much of the historic site’s original architectural elements.

Divided into four main areas, the space has direct access to loading docks in the front, an on-site catering prep area, bathrooms and storage on the lower level, and Wi-Fi. (608 West 28th St., 212.967.9636)

NEW 82 MERCER

THE LIGHTHOUSE5

In January 2010, Global Ventures partners Harvey Fung and John Hickey opened this facility in SoHo. Designed specifically for events, the 25,000-square-foot secondfloor site is inside a 19th century landmark building with 14-foot ceilings, brick archways, hardwood flooring, and cast iron columns. Comprised of three spaces— two 10,000-square-foot areas and a 5,000-square-foot section—82 Mercer holds 880. (82 Mercer St., 917.224.2774)

Abigail Kirsch’s 10,000-square-foot facility inside Chelsea Piers on the Hudson River has floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as polished hardwood floors and period lanterns. The whole venue—including a terrace—holds 800 for receptions; the interior spaces combined seat 600. (Chelsea Piers, Pier 61, 212.336.6144)

1887 TOWNHOUSE5

LIGHT SPACE NYC

This modern event space is situated inside the Atelier condominium tower. The 10,000-square-foot venue seats 500 or holds 1,000 for receptions. On site are a kitchen, bathrooms, and wireless Internet access, and if necessary, parking can be arranged. Outside caterers are permitted, but they must be kosher. (635 West 42nd St., 212.967.7003)

In March 2009, Levy Lighting announced that its Midtown West studio was available for event rental. At around 1,500 square feet, the modern space seats 50 or holds 110 for receptions. The street-level facility, usually used as a showroom for the lighting company, is rigged with LED, audiovisual, and projection technology. Also on site are a kitchenette, bathrooms, and a storage area. (347 West 36th St., 212.925.4640)

583 PARK AVENUE5

LUXE LABORATORY5

The Rose Group, which operates Guastavino’s, manages events at this Upper East Side venue. The large, Georgianstyle building designed by Delano & Aldrich has a 6,500square-foot ballroom that holds 1,200 for receptions and a balcony that holds an additional 300. Also available is the arcade, which holds 800 for receptions or seats 400 banquet-style. (583 Park Ave., 212.583.7200)

In 2007, Robert Verdi created a branded design community called the Luxe Laboratory. The 5,000-square-foot space looks like a fully-furnished home, with a gourmet kitchen, a 500-square-foot spa, and a media room with a 103-inch plasma TV. The entire space seats 20 or holds 65 for cocktails; there is also a 500-square-foot terrace. (247 West 30th St.)

GARDEN TERRACE ROOM, NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN5

MANHATTAN CENTER STUDIOS

ESPACE

Abigail Kirsch, Caterer & Events, operates this ballroom on the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden. Its walls feature murals that depict garden landscapes, and a terrace has views of the Haupt Conservatory. The ballroom holds 350 for seated events with a dance floor, and a tent on the terrace holds 300 with a dance floor or 350 without. (200th St. at Southern Blvd., Bronx, 718.220.0300) GLASSHOUSES AT THE CHELSEA ARTS TOWER

Two floors of a concrete and glass structure in the Chelsea arts district became available for events in late 2007. Built out for events, each floor is 3,600 square feet and holds 200 for cocktails. Both offer views through floor-toceiling windows and have kitchens and bathrooms. (545 West 25th St., 212.242.7800) GOTHAM HALL

Built in 1924 as the Greenwich Savings Bank, this 17,500square-foot space’s main feature is its oval-shaped ballroom, which has 70-foot ceilings and is capped by a stained-glass dome. A mezzanine overlooks the ballroom and has two connecting rooms, and there is also a lounge.

The whole venue seats 600 or holds 1,200 for receptions.

(1356 Broadway, 212.244.4300) GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL—VANDERBILT HALL AND THE NORTHEAST BALCONY

Formerly a waiting room, Vanderbilt Hall features pink

148 bizbash.com may/june 2010

This event complex is home to the Hammerstein Ballroom, which was built in 1906 as the Manhattan Opera House and has 12,000 square feet on its main floor.

The Hammerstein has two balconies, six opera boxes, and 75-foot ceilings embellished with a large fresco of angels; it seats 1,000 people banquet-style or 2,400 theater-style, and holds 2,500 for receptions or 3,400 for concerts. The seventh-floor grand ballroom seats 550 banquet-style or holds 1,200 for receptions, in theater-style seating, or for concerts. (311 West 34th St., 212.279.7740) MANHATTAN CLUB

This 2,800-square-foot Midtown space inside Rosie O’Grady’s restaurant has its own entry and can be divided into three rooms. Audiovisual equipment and T1 Internet access are available. The entire venue holds 240 for seated events, 325 for receptions, 140 classroom-style, or 200 theater-style. (201 West 52nd St., 212.489.9595) MANHATTAN PENTHOUSE ON FIFTH AVENUE

Seventeen floors up, at the top of a Beaux-Arts tower, this venue has oak-herringbone floors and arched windows offering panoramic views of the city and both rivers. The penthouse includes a ballroom and a reception room with antique paneled and stained-glass bar, and an executive lounge. The space seats 225 people or holds as many as 275 for receptions. Mansions Catering is the exclusive caterer.

(80 Fifth Ave., 212.627.8838)

MEET AT THE APARTMENT

Owned by Sara and Marc Schiller, this two-story venue is designed for business meetings and events. On the 1,300square-foot main floor are a library, a parlor, a lounge, a kitchen, and a workstation. Filling the lower level is a conference room, a brightly lit 1,000-square-foot space with an 18-seat table, whiteboard walls, and a movable 65-inch screen. Taste Caterers provides set menus for breakfast and lunch, and hors d’oeuvres are available for events. (101 Crosby St., 212.966.1550) MELVILLE HOUSE

In January 2008, Hoboken-based independent book publisher Melville House moved to a new space in Dumbo and opened part of its new home for event rentals. The 1,100-square-foot area is raw and designed for book readings and other literary events. There are no kitchen facilities, but the venue can provide some tables and seating.

For seated events, the space holds 50. (145 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, 718.722.9204) METROPOLITAN BUILDING

This building in Long Island City offers several spaces for events, including a 9,000-square-foot ballroom on the top floor with wraparound windows and 14-foot ceilings; it holds 300 seated or for receptions. Also available is a second-floor space that holds 150 for receptions. The venue has a loading dock, a large freight elevator, and an inventory of antique props available for rent. (44-01 11th St., Queens, 718.784.3716) METROPOLITAN PAVILION

This raw event venue in Chelsea consists of four spaces.

The 30,000-square-foot north and south pavilions are at ground level and feature polished oak floors; they seat 1,220 or holds 1,565 for receptions. The fourth-floor gallery is a white space with glossy epoxy floors and square columns. The Level is an 8,000-square-foot space on the fifth floor that holds 280. In August 2010, the Metropolitan Pavilion plans to open a 9,000-square-foot space on the second floor. (125 West 18th St., 212.463.0071) MILK GALLERY

This 6,000-square-foot raw space is on the ground level of the Milk Studios photography complex. The large white space has nearly 12-foot ceilings and columns, with six removable walls; the floor is glossy, epoxy-coated concrete. The venue has a catering preparation area (but no kitchen) and high-speed Internet access. The space seats 400 or holds 644 for receptions. (450 West 15th St., 212.645.2797) NASDAQ MARKETSITE

Home to financial broadcasting facilities used by networks such as CNBC and Bloomberg TV, the Nasdaq MarketSite has 3,960 square feet of event space on its second floor—including the circular drum area, which has windows that overlook Times Square and a press conference area; the entire venue holds 300 for receptions. (4 Times Sq., 646.441.5209) NEST EVENT LOFT

In February 2009, Barb Salzman, owner of event design firm Hatch Creative Studio, moved into a larger space, which she began renting for events. Dubbed the Nest Event Loft, this studio in the Flatiron district is an open 2,000-square-foot site with views of the neighborhood from its 17th-floor perch. With floor-to-ceiling windows, a skylight, polished birch floors, and 12-foot ceilings, the venue holds 125 for receptions or 60 for seated affairs.

(920 Broadway, Suite 1703, 212.679.6378) NEW YORK ACADEMY OF ART, LAWRENCE AND JOSEPHINE C. WILKINSON HALL

The school’s mission is to train young visual artists in traditional skills that serve as powerful tools in the creation of vital contemporary art, and this 3,300-squarefoot hall—used as a gallery and event space—contains numerous casts of famous classical sculptures. The room has decorative Corinthian columns, hardwood floors, and 20-foot ceilings. It holds 320 for receptions and seats 215 banquet-style or 300 theater-style. (111 Franklin St., 212.966.0300 ext. 966) NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE

The society’s Upper West Side center features an 811-seat concert hall with soaring vaulted ceilings. Dark wood paneling and stained-glass windows adorn the ceremonial hall, which overlooks Central Park West and holds 150. The social hall seats 285. A library and a study are also available. (2 West 64th St., 212.874.5210 ext. 116) NEW NEW YORK SOCIETY OF SECURITY ANALYSTS

In January 2010, the New York Society of Security Analysts moved to a new space in Times Square and is now offering it up for meetings and presentations. The main room, which can be split into three separate sections, seats 195 in a classroom setup. There are also two smaller conference rooms available; one seats 10, the other four. Membership is not required to rent the site. (1540 Broadway, Suite 1010, 646.871.3429) 91

Oak floors adorn this West Village space, which consists of a foyer and a main room. The rooms have exposed brick arches and an in-house lighting system. The wall between the kitchen and the event space can be opened (for cooking classes, for instance), and the space seats 140 or holds 200 for receptions. The Upper Crust is the exclusive caterer. (91 Horatio St., 212.691.4570)

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

Independent Event Spaces NO. 554

At the end of 2008, catering firm Sonnier & Castle moved into a bilevel town house and in March 2009 started offering part of the building for corporate and nonprofit functions. Less than two blocks from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, No. 554 offers a 550-square-foot gallery space on the ground level and a 700-squarefoot section on the floor above. The venue is equipped with A.D.A.-compliant restrooms and entrances and a surround-sound system. (554 West 48th St., 212.957.6481) 101 RIVER VIEWS5

Zanger Hall

This SoHo event space features a 400-seat ground-floor grand hall that holds 800, and has 18-foot ceilings in an 8,000-square-foot, column-free space. Two rooms on the 22nd floor, the Capital Room and the executive boardroom, seat 130 and 50, respectively. The 23rd floor has 2,000 square feet and an 800-square-foot terrace; the floor seats 120 or holds 250 for receptions. (101 Ave. of the Americas, 212.431.2262) 174 HUDSON STREET

This TriBeCa venue is available for special events seven days a week. The space has an 8,000-square-foot main floor, as well as locker rooms, bathrooms, and a large loading dock. (174 Hudson St., 212.625.6544) OPENHOUSE GALLERY

This 4,500-square-foot loftlike venue is in the former Cath Kidston retail space in NoLIta. Openhouse has a glass facade, 16-foot ceilings, and all-white walls and floors, and is flooded with natural light through five massive skylights. Suitable for gallery exhibitions as well as pop-up promotions, the venue has drive-in access and holds as many as 300. (201 Mulberry St., 212.334.0288) PIER SIXTY5

Perfectly Suited For corporate events, classes, conferences, celebrations, performances & charity events

Glass walls on three sides of this 20,000-square-foot Chelsea Piers venue provide views of the Hudson River.

The interior can be divided into five sections, and a large terrace opens onto the river. Pier Sixty has 18-foot ceilings, and the entire venue (including the terrace) seats 1,200 or holds 2,000 for receptions. Abigail Kirsch is the exclusive caterer. (Chelsea Piers, West 23rd St. at the Hudson River, 212.336.6060) THE PLAZA GRAND BALLROOM

CPS Events at the Plaza, a joint venture between Great Performances and Delaware North Companies, now operates and manages the Grand Ballroom, Grand Ballroom Foyer, Terrace Room, and new meeting spaces at the Plaza hotel. The 4,800-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which reopened in 2008, retains the neo-Classical decor of the original design, with enhanced lighting and sound equipment. (768 Fifth Ave., 212.549.0550) POWERHOUSE ARENA

Inside Powerhouse Books’ Dumbo home is this event venue. The 4,200-square-foot ground-floor showroom— part gallery, part performance space, and part bookstore—has 22-foot ceilings, 175 feet of windows, and arena-style seating. Powerhouse Arena seats 250 (150 theater-style) or holds 500 for receptions. (37 Main St., Brooklyn, 212.604.9074 ext. 123) THE PRINCE GEORGE BALLROOM

Replete with a herringbone-pattern oak floor, ornate columns, and an intricate ceiling, this ballroom is joined to a modern gallery that serves as an entry for the venue.

The gallery and ballroom seat 330 or hold 600 for receptions. (15 East 27th St., 212.471.0882) PROSPECT PARK—AUDUBON CENTER AT THE BOATHOUSE5

This structure was built in 1904 and sits alongside a calm lagoon, the Lullwater. Glass doors open onto a waterside terrace with views of the Lullwater Bridge. The venue has its original brick floor and vaulted ceilings embellished with Guastavino tiles holds 90 for seated events or receptions. This site is available for rent after it closes to the public at 5 p.m. (Near Lincoln Road and Ocean Ave., Prospect Park, Brooklyn, 718.287.6215) PROSPECT PARK—PICNIC HOUSE

For Reservations Call 212.787.2199 347 west thirty fourth street www.zangerhall.com

Built in 1928, the Picnic House is a 4,000-square-foot brick-and-glass building with views of Prospect Park’s 90-acre Long Meadow. Recent renovations include a restored exterior, hardwood floors, and new lighting and heating systems. The venue seats 175 or holds 250 for receptions. (Near Prospect Park West and 3rd St. entrance, Brooklyn, 718.287.6215) PUCK BUILDING

This redbrick building in SoHo was built in 1886 as a printing plant. (The 19th-century satire magazine Puck was produced here.) Event spaces have large windows and decorative columns. The grand ballroom, gallery, and Lafayette Room combine to seat 500 or hold 1,200 for receptions. The Skylight Ballroom seats 250 or holds 360 for receptions. (295 Lafayette St., 212.257.6085) ROSELAND BALLROOM

A popular event and concert venue, Roseland includes a large lobby, a ballroom, and a mezzanine. The 25,000-square-foot venue holds 1,500 for receptions, or seats 1,000 banquet-style or 1,800 theater-style. The

venue has in-house sound, lighting provisions, and a large coat check. The location holds 3,200 for concerts.

(239 West 52nd St., 212.489.8350) THE SHOPS AT COLUMBUS CIRCLE IN TIME WARNER CENTER

A wall of glass with views of Central Park stands at the front of this shopping complex, in the building that holds Jazz at Lincoln Center, high-profile restaurants, and 50 retailers. The main public event spaces are on the ground floor and second floor. The second-floor space can be used for private events and can hold as many as 350 people. (10 Columbus Cir., 212.801.1186) NEW S.I.R. STAGE37

Stage37, a ground-floor facility owned and managed by musical equipment rental company S.I.R., opened in October 2009. The 14,000-square-foot site has 26-foot ceilings, a 500-person capacity, a 10-foot-wide load-in area, and 1,800 amps of dedicated power. Designed exclusively for events, Stage37 also includes production offices, a greenroom, and wireless Internet access. (508 West 37th St., 212.239.9603) 620 LOFT & GARDEN5

On the seventh floor of one of Rockefeller Center’s buildings is this event room and rooftop garden. The landscaped garden overlooks the Channel Gardens and the skating rink, and has views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the marquee of Radio City Music Hall. The entire space holds 165. (620 Fifth Ave., 212.332.6521) 630 SECOND

This banquet facility has a lobby with a marble staircase that leads from street level to the grand ballroom, as well as a 6,150-square-foot carpeted space that has six large columns and 18-foot ceilings and seats 600 or holds 660 for receptions. A street-level terrace holds as many as 500 for receptions. Three additional rooms, which hold 100, 50, or 15, are also in the complex. On-site catering is available. (630 Second Ave., 212.252.1171 or 212.686.0710) 69TH REGIMENT ARMORY

The historic Armory Show of 1913 was held in this massive space maintained by the New York National Guard. The main 31,000-square-foot space features a barrel-shaped ceiling but no air-conditioning. It holds 2,000. (68 Lexington Ave., 646.424.5500) SKYLIGHT5

With concrete floors, white walls, columns, and—true to its name—six large skylights, this popular SoHo venue consists of a corridor that holds 400 for receptions and a main room that seats 800 or holds 1,000 for receptions.

A 3,000-square-foot terrace is on the Renwick Street side of the building. (275 Hudson St., 212.367.3730) NEW SKYLIGHT ONE HANSON

In September 2009, the owners of Skylight and Skylight West opened this 10,000-square-foot venue for events.

Housed inside the old Williamsburg Savings Bank in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, the event site includes original marble floors, carved teller stations, and vaulted 63-foot ceilings. Skylight One Hanson is available for receptions of as many as 1,500 or seated dinners of 500. (1 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, 718.230.0400) SKYLIGHT WEST

This venue from the owners of Skylight offers three full floors for events. One block from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the Midtown West site features a lobby-level gallery, a columned studio on the sixth floor, and a rooftop deck with a 20- by 60-foot billboard.

Encompassing about 22,500 square feet of space, Skyline also offers a freight elevator and in-house production and lighting vendors. (465 10th Ave., 212.736.6200) SONY PLAZA ATRIUM

Stone floors and lofty ceilings are some features of this public space in the Sony Building in Midtown. The atrium holds 1,050 for receptions and may be rented after 3 p.m. any day of the week. The Sony Wonder Technology Lab can be rented in conjunction with the arcade. (550 Madison Ave., 212.833.7246) STAGE 6 AT STEINER STUDIOS5

The event space at this giant facility in the Brooklyn Navy Yard opened in 2006. The 500-seat ballroom, with two walls of windows facing Manhattan, holds 650 for receptions. Also available is a 100-seat private screening room, an expansive rooftop terrace that holds 500 for receptions, and on-site parking. Abigail Kirsch manages Stage 6 and is the venue’s exclusive caterer. (15 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, 718.237.1919) THE TEA ROOM AT THE PRINCE GEORGE

Within the Prince George Hotel is this 983-square-foot space that dates to the late 19th century. The Beaux-Arts hall features tall square columns ornamented with trellises, vaulted ceilings, mirrored walls, and murals of landscapes. The room holds as many as 65. (15 East 27th St., 212.471.0882) 10 ON THE PARK AT TIME WARNER CENTER

Inside the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, this meeting and event site recently became available for functions. Spaces include the 3,950-square-foot Columbus Room, which holds 300 for receptions, 262 banquet-style, or 150 classroom-style. Restaurant Associates is the exclusive caterer and the facility also includes wireless Internet access, high-definition digital projectors, plasma TVs, and built-in audio conferencing systems. (60 Columbus Cir., 10th Floor, 212.484.6121)

THE TENT AT LINCOLN CENTER

This structure covers Damrosch Park each spring and seats 1,400 or holds 2,000 for receptions. It features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, bathrooms, heating, and air-conditioning. The space can be used in conjunction with Lincoln Center’s performance halls. Catering by Restaurant Associates is the exclusive caterer. (West 62nd St. at Amsterdam Ave., 212.875.5818) TERRACE ON THE PARK

This venue is perched atop a modern building that originally served as a heliport and port authority during the 1964 World’s Fair. Fourteen stories over Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the 15,000-square-foot ballroom holds 1,000.

The penthouse offers panoramic views of the city and seats 280. (52-11 111th St., Queens, 718.592.5000) 320 PARK

This 35th-floor space has its own entry lobby and 3,110 square feet of space; 25-foot windows overlook Park Avenue. The venue seats 150 or holds 240 for receptions and is only available Monday through Friday. (320 Park Ave., 212.224.1234) THE TIMESCENTER

The TimesCenter—part of the Renzo Piano-designed New York Times headquarters—opened in 2007. The TimesCenter Stage, a 378-seat auditorium with a 15- by 65-foot platform stage, has wireless Internet access and production facilities and can be used for lectures, concerts, and screenings. The sublevel 4,958-square-foot TimesCenter Hall seats 400 or holds 700 for receptions.

(242 West 41st St., 212.556.4300) TIMES SQUARE INFORMATION CENTER

The Times Square Alliance maintains this kiosk in the Embassy Theater, a onetime movie palace. The 6,000square-foot venue has restored touches such as decorative patterned ceilings and carved-wood paneling. It seats 250 or holds 490 for receptions. (Seventh Ave. between 46th and 47th Sts., 212.869.5480) TOP OF THE ROCK5

Closed since the late 1980s and reopened to the public in 2005, the top of Rockefeller Center’s tallest building includes a 67th-floor event space with a 24-foot ceiling and 18-foot windows flanked by terraces, a wraparound public observation deck on the 69th floor, and at the

summit—the 70th floor—another open-air observation deck with 360-degree views. (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 212.593.9499 ext. 6) TOP OF THE TIMES5

On the 15th floor of a Times Square residential building, this venue includes a dining room that seats 80 and has terra-cotta tile floors, wood paneling, a skylight, and a fireplace. A 1,150-square-foot gallery holds 74. Two roof terraces offer Midtown views. (255 West 43rd St., 212.659.0879) TRIBBLES STUDIO

This TriBeCa venue, originally a retail shop and currently home to Cara Stone Pfeifer’s floral and event design company, became a space for events in April 2009. The 1,500-square-foot venue holds as many as 74 people and offers a sound system, track lighting, a wide street-level entrance for easy load-in, and an extensive collection of vases, candles, and other decor items that are included in the venue rental fee. (217 West Broadway, 212.965.8480) TRIBECA ROOFTOP5

This 15,000-square-foot venue features white square columns and an industrial-looking staircase that leads to a mezzanine overlooking the space and up to the rooftop.

Surrounded by walls of windows and capped by a 65-footwide skylight, the space also has a cherrywood dance floor. It seats 350 or holds 400 for receptions. (2 Desbrosses St., 212.625.2606) TWELVE21

This 8,000-square-foot bilevel event space is situated in the Flatiron district. The 4,000-square-foot ground floor has a stage, and below are a kitchen, a greenroom, and storage areas. The venue offers sound and lighting equipment, rigging outlets in the ceiling, a mobile DJ unit, a freight elevator, and private access between the stage and the greenroom. (12 West 21st St., 212.463.8174) TWENTY FOUR FIFTH

The Glazier Group operates this venue, built in 1926 as part of the Fifth Avenue Hotel. David Rockwell designed the ballroom’s look, which features etched antique mirrors, vintage chandeliers, wall sconces, and ornamental plasterwork. The 2,838-square-foot space near Washington Square Park seats 250 or holds 400 for receptions. (24 Fifth Ave., 212.505.8000)

UNION SQUARE BALLROOM

This underground ballroom features vaulted ceilings and seats 200 or holds 300 for receptions. Combined with a lounge, the whole space holds 500 for receptions. The space also features a Phazon sound system and a built-in DJ booth. An in-house chef handles the food. (27 Union Sq. West, 212.645.1802) THE WATERFRONT

This cavernous space was originally a large warehouse, and traces of its commercial past include an interior train platform, steel beams, and 20-foot ceilings. The venue features redbrick walls and hardwood floors, and holds 1,500 for receptions. (224 12th Ave., 212.695.8090) WATERWAY PAVILION MIDTOWN5

The NY Waterway’s Midtown terminal is an 9,000-squarefoot waterfront glass structure adjacent to the Javits Center. The Riverfront Pavilion includes a grand foyer that holds 1,200 for receptions or seats 450; the north plaza and terrace, which hold 800 for receptions or seats 300; and the 40-seat balcony café. The venue is accessible by boat. (West 39th St. and 12th Ave., 201.463.6860) WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER WINTER GARDEN & PLAZA5

The Winter Garden is a three-story glass atrium with a court of live palm trees and a large marble staircase offering views of the Hudson River. The atrium seats 800 or holds 1,500 for receptions. An adjacent plaza can be tented and seats 400 or holds 1,000 for receptions. (West St. between Vesey and Liberty Sts., 212.417.7143) THE XCHANGE5

Meyer Davis Studio (which also worked on the meatpacking district’s Vento and the V Bar at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas) designed this 5,000-square-foot loft, which offers views of the Hudson River and a 1,600-square-foot terrace. The loft holds 450 for receptions and includes a prep kitchen and lighting and sound systems. (640 West 28th St., 9th Floor, 212.967.4500) ZANGER HALL

Zanger Hall has a 3,000-square-foot Social Hall with a stage, kitchen, and bathrooms. The venue has high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and stained glasss. Downstairs is a 2,000-square-foot loft-like space that can be rented together or separately. Zanger Hall can hold as many as 500 people. (347 West 34th St., 646.283.2853)

Lofts, Photo Studios & Raw Spaces NEW AMPERSAND STUDIOS

Opened for events and photo shoots in March 2010, this 5,200-square-foot ground-floor site offers polished concrete floors, a basement-level production area, and the capacity for 510 people for a runway presentation, 400 for receptions, or 250 seated with room for dancing.

Kage Konsulting handles the booking of the space and inhouse lighting and audiovisual production is provided

by Bentley Meeker. (500 West 36th St., 646.873.4999) AROOFTOPSTUDIO.COM5

This venue consists of a column-free studio with two south- and west-facing windows, white concrete floors, and white walls. Four elevators are also available. The entire space, combined with a 600-square-foot connecting balcony, seats 40 or holds 80 for receptions. (213 West 29th St., 212.929.0008) NEW THE ARSENAL5

Opened in July 2009, this photo studio, showroom, and event venue has 2,000 square feet of space and a terrace.

Situated atop the foundations of an old armory, the venue also includes original tin ceilings and hardwood floors.

(153 Roebling St., Studio 4B, Brooklyn, 917.349.9155) BATHHOUSE STUDIOS5

Behind the neo-Classical facade of a onetime public bathhouse, this studio has three levels of event and photography space as well as a rooftop deck. Among the interior features are polished hardwood floors, exposed brick, and modern and antique furnishings. The lower level holds 125, the main level holds 150, and the top floor holds 100.

(540 East 11th St., 212.388.1111) CAPSULE STUDIO

A mezzanine constructed from steel beams overlooks this loft space, which features a wall of windows, hardwood floors, and 16-foot ceilings. The space is equipped with a kitchen, a sound system, a cyclorama, and stainless steel rolling tables. The studio seats 70 or holds 150 for receptions. (873 Broadway, 212.777.8027) CITY STAGE

This Chelsea film-production facility has three black-box soundstages. The 15,000-square-foot venue has 15-foot ceilings, and each floor holds 300 for receptions or seated events. There is a prep kitchen, as well as freight and passenger elevators. (435 West 19th St., 212.627.3400) CLASSIC CAR CLUB MANHATTAN

The local branch of London’s Classic Car Club opened in 2005. The members-only club provides access to rare automobiles. The 9,500-square-foot clubroom and garage,

a raw space with 22-foot ceilings, is available for events.

(250 Hudson St., 212.229.2402) CVB SPACES

This location-leasing agency offers six Manhattan lofts and a ballroom, as well as more exotic locales such as a castle on Staten Island and Lakefront Lodge in Connecticut. The Penthouse loft features a kitchen and three bathrooms. (646.221.5239)

ELI’S VINEGAR FACTORY

Above Eli Zabar’s 3,000-square-foot Upper East Side gourmet market is a 4,000-square-foot loft that serves as a restaurant on weekends and an event space during the week. The open and airy space seats 180 and has rustic wood floors, exposed beams, and large windows. (431 East 91st St., 212.987.0885) EYEBEAM

Comprising four studios totaling 7,000 square feet, this venue features 18-foot ceilings and 16-foot-high windows.

Two of the rooms may be combined into one space, holding 200 for seated events or receptions. A third room holds 40. (450 West 31st St., 8th Floor, 212.967.2000)

An expansive, industrial, column-free location, this ground-level west Chelsea venue features 16-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls, steel beams overhead, and concrete floors. With 10,000 square feet, Eyebeam seats 500 or holds 700 for receptions and has a wireless Internet connection. (540 West 21st St., 212.340.4792)

DIVINE STUDIO

NEW FACTORY STUDIOS

This NoHo studio has 3,100 square feet of space, white poured-epoxy floors, and floor-to-ceiling arched windows.

Features include two kitchens and a freight elevator with drive-in loading. The space seats 100 or holds 150 for receptions. (21 East 4th St., Suite 605, 212.387.9655)

Once a textile factory, this studio and event space opened in November 2009 with a 3,000-square-foot sound stage.

Factory Studios offers a soundproof facility at street level, which comes equipped with a 20- by 30-foot cyclorama, drive-in capabilities, two loading docks, and a lighting grid. (79 Lorimer St., Brooklyn, 718.690.3980)

DAYLIGHT STUDIOS

DRIVE IN STUDIOS

This bilevel photography studio has 12,300 square feet of space that includes four studios and a lobby. Two studios have drive-in capabilities, all are wireless, and one features skylights; another has a wall of south-facing windows. The space seats 300 or holds 1,200 for receptions. (443 West 18th St., 212.645.2244)

FAST ASHLEY’S STUDIOS

DV DEPOT

In the building that houses Dos Caminos Hudson is this fifth-floor, 1,800-square-foot loft. Flow seats 35 or holds 75 for receptions and features exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, and integrated technology (like plasma TVs on automated tracks). Also available are a sound system and a freight elevator. (675 Hudson St., Suite 5N, 212.463.8782)

The venue is frequently used for screenings, but DV Depot also offers spaces for events and meetings. The lounge seats 45 or holds 125 for receptions; a bar seats eight. The glass-enclosed conference room has a 50-inch reversible screen and seats 15. The entire venue holds 140. (251 West 39th St., 7th Floor, 212.333.5100)

This low-rise, ground-level venue in a converted warehouse in Williamsburg features a 1,600-square-foot studio with a concrete floor and a private entrance. There is no kitchen. (95 North 10th St., Brooklyn, 718.782.9300) FLOW

THE FOUNDRY5

This raw, column-free space one block from Penn Station has concrete floors and south- and west-facing windows.

It seats 50 or holds 100 for receptions; an outdoor space holds 60. The studio also has a full kitchen and a stereo system. (259 West 30th St., 13th Floor, 212.736.6221)

This renovated 19th-century metal foundry has exposed brick walls and arches, skylights, and steel railings. The space seats 125 people or holds as many as 200 for receptions, and a courtyard can be tented. The 1,200-square-foot rooftop terrace features views of the Manhattan skyline.

(42-38 9th St., Queens, 718.786.7776)

18965

GARY’S LOFT

The 1896 is a 24,000-square-foot complex of three buildings. Among the different spaces are two warehouses, Area 2 and Area 3. The 2,500-square-foot Area 2 has a 24-foot ceiling and opens onto the 1,500-square-foot courtyard. Area 3 offers 3,500 square feet and a 30-foot ceiling. (592 Johnson Ave., Brooklyn, 718.451.6531)

Four large skylights and white plank flooring are features at this 5,000-square-foot penthouse loft. The space seats 125 people or holds as many as 200 for receptions.

An additional 2,000 square feet on the floor below is connected to the loft by an internal staircase. (28 West 36th St., Penthouse, 917.837.2420)

EAGLESNEST STUDIO5

Lofts, Photo Studios & Raw Spaces HAPPY MONKEY STUDIO

In 2008, the all-white Happy Monkey Studio opened its doors for event rentals and photo shoots. Hidden among the larger buildings in the garment district, this 2,250-square-foot ground-level space offers 22-foot ceilings and a mezzanine. (348 West 36th St., 212.290.5306) HOME STUDIOS INC.

This 4,000-square-foot space features south- and east-facing windows (16 in all), 14-foot ceilings and columns, a full kitchen, and a freight elevator. The studios also have wireless Internet and a complete bathroom set. Home Studios seats 125 or holds 175 for receptions. (873 Broadway, Suite 301, 212.475.4663) HUDSON STUDIOS

On the 13th ďŹ&#x201A;oor of the Starrett-Lehigh Building, these ďŹ ve studios can be rented individually or combined. The entire 21,000-square-foot space offers high-speed Internet access. (601 West 26th St., 212.924.2430) INDUSTRIA SUPERSTUDIO

This complex of photography studios has two spaces that combine to seat 300 or hold 550 for receptions.

(Another studio can be used for staging or catering.)

Two additional spaces each seat 125 or hold 200 for receptions. Industria Superstudioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location in a residential area of the West Village dictates that loud music must cease by 10 p.m. (775 Washington St., 212.366.1114) JACK STUDIOS

Comprised of seven separate spaces, this photo studio sits on the 12th ďŹ&#x201A;oor of the Starrett-Lehigh Building. The largest sections are studio 5 and 7, which measure 6,000 square feet each. Equipped with two kitchens, blackout screens, 200-amp power supply per studio, and 10 bathrooms, Jack Studios also offers prop rentals and freight elevator access.

(601 West 26th St., 12th Floor, 212.367.7590) LOFT ELEVEN5

This 6,500-square-foot loft has wraparound windows. The space has exposed brick walls, hardwood ďŹ&#x201A;oors, and crystal chandeliers. The loft seats 150 or holds 300 for receptions and offers a smokerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terrace. (336 West 37th St., 11th Floor, 212.871.0940) NEW LOFT 676

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This event venue on the border of Greenwich Village and NoHo opened in November 2009. The recently renovated venue has 3,500 square feet of space and offers hardwood ďŹ&#x201A;oors, exposed brick accents, 13-foot ceilings, and 11-foot-high windows overlooking the street. Also on-site is a kitchen. (676 Broadway, 646.596.8676) LUX STUDIOS

This Chelsea raw space consists of a 3,400-squarefoot room and a 350-square-foot mezzanine; it has exposed ceiling beams, white brick walls, and large skylights. No kitchen is available, but the space can be divided to create a preparation area. (456 West 18th St., 212.352.3522) MICHELSON STUDIO/M STUDIO

This 6,000-square-foot space has Hudson River views. There are 15-foot ceilings, a preparation kitchen, three bathrooms, a sound system, and a DJ booth, and high-speed wireless Internet. The venue seats 200 or holds 300 for receptions. (163 Bank St., 212.633.1111) MIDTOWN LOFT AND TERRACE5

The interior of this 5,000-square-foot space features windows on all four sides, oak ďŹ&#x201A;oors, three bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen. Midtown Loft seats 180 or holds 300 for receptions. A 3,400-squarefoot terrace is also available. (267 Fifth Ave., 11th Floor, 888.435.4979) MOROCCO STUDIO

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This Chelsea loft has 3,000 square feet of space, with 14-foot ceilings, hardwood ďŹ&#x201A;oors, and a catering kitchen. The venueâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which also features a terraceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; holds as many as 175 for receptions or seated events and is accessible by freight elevator. It also has two dressing rooms. (6 West 20th St., 2nd Floor, 212.727.8326) NEO STUDIOS

This 8,000-square-foot NoHo location offers two studios. The 3,000-square-foot Suite 302 comes with a private kitchen, as does the 2,700-square-foot Suite 401. A common lounge holds 10. (628 Broadway, Suite 302 or Suite 401, 212.533.4195) OFFICEOPS5

Atop this four-story converted warehouse is a 15,000-square-foot rooftop space. The venue holds as many as 300. A rain-contingency space on the second ďŹ&#x201A;oor holds 150. On the second ďŹ&#x201A;oor is a 40-seat

A 19th Century Foundry, meticulously restored to retain its industrial character.

Rental Location for Private Events, Weddings, Parties & Film/Photo Shoots Features: • 2000 sq. ft. main floor • 1100 sq. ft. mezzanine • 40' skylight ceiling • full caterer’s kitchen • courtyard for tent setup • located directly across from Manhattan by the East River near the 59th Street Bridge

42-38 ninth street long island city, ny 11101

p:718.786.7776 f: 718.729.0910 www.thefoundry.info

New York Venue Directory

Lofts, Photo Studios & Raw Spaces

ceiling windows and is peppered with Balinese lounge furniture (which can be removed if necessary). The space has 14-foot ceilings and slender columns, hardwood floors, a full kitchen, a DJ booth, a sound system, and a 25-footlong bar. The venue seats 80 or holds as many as 200 for receptions. (446 Broadway, 3rd Floor, 212.625.3366)

theater equipped with a projection booth and screen, as well as an arcade carrying 10 vintage video-game and pinball machines. (57 Thames St., Brooklyn, 718.418.2509)

NEW SALONECO

PARTY LOFT

This loft has oak floors and six large windows. The 1,000square-foot venue has 13-foot ceilings, a large commercial kitchen, and a French country-style oak bar. Table of Contents Catering operates the space, but outside caterers are permitted. The venue seats 60 or holds 100 for receptions. (73 Fifth Ave., 212.620.0622) PENTHOUSE 155

This 4,500-square-foot space has modern furnishings and has hardwood floors and a decorative marble fireplace. A rooftop deck offers 270-degree views. The entire venue seats 100 or holds 250 for receptions. (336 West 37th St., 15th Floor, 212.871.0940) PRIMUS STUDIO

This SoHo studio has 2,800 square feet of space and eastand west-facing windows. The venue has hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings with beams, exposed brick and Venetian plaster walls, and a full kitchen. It seats 80 or holds 125 for receptions. (64 Wooster St., Suite 3, 212.966.3803)

Green Spaces, an organization that supports ecologically minded entrepreneurs, opened its TriBeCa loft for events in April 2010. Outfitted with a rotating exhibition of sustainable artwork and vintage furniture, the 1,750square-foot space offers an on-site kitchen, sound system, and projector. The entire space holds 300 for receptions.

(394 Broadway, 5th Floor, 917.267.9264) 7 WORLD TRADE CENTER

This 52-story office tower has multiple floors for events, each with 40,000 square feet of raw space, 360-degree views, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The floors each hold 700 for receptions or seated events. The building’s lobby features an installation of scrolling poetry and prose by artist Jenny Holzer. (250 Greenwich St., 212.551.7355) SHOP STUDIOS5

Consisting of one 3,000-square-foot room, this studio has 12-foot ceilings and windows on three sides. The space has concrete floors and a full kitchen, and seats 80 or holds 120 for receptions. A small terrace holds an additional 20 for receptions. (442 West 49th St., 212.245.6154) SOBRO STUDIOS5

Production Central has two soundstages available for rental. The larger upstairs room seats 75 theater-style or holds 100 for receptions, and the smaller downstairs room seats 40 theater-style or holds 75 for receptions. (873 Broadway, Suite 205, 212.631.0435)

Operated by video-production firm DMBJ Productions, this raw space in the South Bronx has a 700-square-foot room with a wall of windows. The space has concrete walls and floors, holds 150 for receptions, and offers access to the building’s 20,000-square-foot rooftop. (2417 Third Ave., Suite 804, Bronx, 718.665.1157)

RAMSCALE STUDIO5

SOHO LOFT

This photo studio has a total of 3,500 square feet, including a 1,000-square-foot terrace. The space features a kitchen, 18-foot ceilings, and a raised stage and holds 80 for seated events or 125 for receptions. A north studio has an interior of 1,200 square feet and an exterior of 1,700 square feet. The space seats 40 and can hold 80 for receptions. (55 Bethune St., 212.206.6580)

This 4,000-square-foot space is made up of five open rooms, with a modern kitchen that has a large counter with seating. The loft features exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows; there is also a plasma TV. The loft holds 125 for receptions.

(199 Lafayette St., 917.450.1890)

ROOM STUDIO

Nancy Ney Studios rents this photo studio for events. The 22- by 34-foot studio holds 75 guests inside its 15-foot walls.

SoHo Loft 620 has an eat-in kitchen, exposed brick walls, and hardwood floors, as well as cable Internet access. (620 Broadway, Suite 2R, 212.260.4300)

PRODUCTION CENTRAL

This photo studio doubles as a 2,800-square-foot event space. With windows on three sides and all-white walls and floors, the space holds 250. The loft also offers wireless Internet service and an iPod/MP3 port for the sound system. (250 West Broadway, 5th Floor, 212.625.2830) SAFE HARBOR

This 5,000-square-foot SoHo loft has a wall of floor-to-

SOHO LOFT 620

THE SPACE @ 50 NORTH 3RD

This 2,400-square-foot raw space is operated by Villain L.L.C.. The two-story venue seats 150 or holds 250 for recep-

tions, and full food and beverage catering is available. An additional 2,000-square-foot studio is being renovated; it was expected to open in September. (50 North 3rd St., Brooklyn, 718.782.2222) SPLASHLIGHT SOHO

In August 2008, this photo studio and event space originally located near the Javits Center moved to a new spot in SoHo. Within its 60,000 square feet of space are four large studios that can be combined into a 12,000-squarefoot space. The largest space on-site is Double Exposure, at 3,000 square feet with 13-foot ceiling, a cyclorama, and a private bathroom. (75 Varick St., 3rd Floor, 212.268.7247) STUDIO 4505

This studio has two levels of modern event space, including a penthouse surrounded by a 4,000-square-foot wraparound terrace on four sides. The space seats 230 or holds 320 for receptions and has 10-foot ceilings and a kitchen. (450 West 31st St., 212.290.1400) NEW STUDIO SQUARE

Studio Square is a newly renovated building with a 12,500-square-foot loft. Designed as a flexible site for corporate functions, live music performances, and promotional events, the venue seats 500 or holds 1,000 for receptions and also offers a 3,000-square-foot terrace that can seat 200. (35-33 36th St., Queens, 718.383.1001) SUN WEST5

Windows wrap around all sides of this west side photo studio, which has 16-foot ceilings, white walls, and hardwood floors. The space also has a full kitchen, a terrace, large bathrooms, and space for 300 for receptions or 225 for seated events. (450 West 31st St., 10th Floor, 212.330.9900) 3415

This event venue in East Williamsburg is a 5,000-squarefoot second-floor space with hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, and 19 windows. A terrace can be rented separately.

Past clients have included HBO and the Six Characters Theatre Group. (341 Scholes St., Brooklyn, 718.381.8782) 24TH STREET LOFT

White-oak floors and Indian-teak doors fill this 4,500-square-foot furnished Chelsea loft. The event space includes a fully equipped kitchen, wireless Internet, and two passenger elevators, plus a freight elevator. The venue holds 125 for receptions, and parking is available next door. (148 West 24th St., 9th Floor, 212.807.1436) WESTSIDE LOFT

With 9,500 square feet of space, this loft features hardwood floors, a fireplace, exposed brick, and decorative arches, and includes a garden room with slate floors and a koi pond. The space seats 200 or holds 400 for receptions.

(336 West 37th St., 6th Floor, 212.871.0940)

Mansions & Homes HISTORIC HOUSES

WYCKOFF FARMHOUSE MUSEUM5

ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE5

This farmhouse, the oldest house in New York City, dates to 1652. The house holds 50; two rooms can be used for seated events and hold a total of 30. The grounds have historic gardens and space for a tent to hold 250; another outdoor area holds 75 for seated events or 100 for receptions. (5816 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn, 718.629.5400)

This Victorian-Gothic cottage was the home of photographer Alice Austen. It has two galleries that exhibit changing photography shows and two 19th-century period rooms. The front lawns hold 350 for receptions or 175 for seated events. A meadow seats 150 or holds 500 for receptions. (2 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, 718.816.4506 ext. 12) BARTOW-PELL MANSION5

MANSIONS

In Pelham Bay Park, this mansion dates to 1842. Of its interior spaces, the Orangerie—a conservatory with tile floors, nine large windows, and views of the lawn—holds 25 for seated events. Outdoors, the Pebble Court has views of the gardens, can be tented, and holds 125 for receptions or seated events. (895 Shore Road, Bronx, 718.885.1461)

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, HAROLD PRATT HOUSE AND PETERSON HALL

MERCHANT’S HOUSE MUSEUM5

This 19th-century town house is decorated with period furniture. Two parlors can be used to seat 50 when combined. The ground level includes a family room and a rustic kitchen and opens into the rear garden; the three spaces combined hold 125. (29 East 4th St., 212.777.1089) MORRIS-JUMEL MANSION5

The oldest existing home in Manhattan, this Palladianstyle mansion dates to 1765 and has two interior spaces for events. The octagonal drawing room and adjacent grand hallway are decorated with antique French wallpaper and seat 30 or hold 100 for receptions. A park holds 250 for receptions or seated events and can be tented. (Roger Morris Park, 65 Jumel Ter., 212.923.8008) MUSEUM HOUSE

Operated by the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, this brick town house was built in the 1920s and re-creates a typical wealthy New Yorker’s home of the pre-Revolutionary period. Rooms are appointed with 18th-century furnishings. A ballroom holds 100 for seated events, and the entire museum holds 250 for receptions. (215 East 71st St., 212.744.3572) VAN CORTLANDT HOUSE MUSEUM5

Within Van Cortlandt Park, this 18th-century Georgianstyle house hosted George Washington during the Revolution. In its basement is a rustic herb cellar with slate floors and old beams that seats 36. The lawn accommodates a tent for 200. Six months’ notice is required for booking. (Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, 718.543.3344)

The Harold Pratt House’s second-floor ballroom features antique chandeliers and inlaid wood floors. With the adjacent library, it seats 130 or holds 250 for receptions.

The house’s adjoining Peterson Hall is a modern meeting space that seats 250 theater-style or 180 banquet-style.

Combined with the Pratt House’s first floor, it holds 350 for receptions. (58 East 68th St., 212.434.9576) THE HOUSE OF THE REDEEMER

This mansion was built in 1916 as the home of socialites Ernesto and Edith Fabbri. The first-floor dining room has a vaulted ceiling and a stone fireplace and seats 80 or holds 100 for receptions; a separate reception room seats 30 or holds 40 for receptions. The second-floor library holds 125.

(7 East 95th St., 212.289.0399) PRATT MANSIONS

The mansions opposite the Metropolitan Museum of Art have grand spaces that include a cocktail area with an Italian marble staircase that leads to a second-floor oak-paneled ballroom. The ballroom features crystal chandeliers and a large bay window. The venue holds as many as 200 for receptions or as many as 150 for dinner and dancing. (1027 Fifth Ave., 212.744.4486 ext. 173) UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

Built in 1898, this fancy French-Gothic mansion is now the home of the Ukrainian Institute of America, which rents three floors for events. Six rooms are available, including a second-story ballroom that features 18-foot ceilings, parquet floors, and decorative wall lights. The house holds 200 for receptions. (2 East 79th St., 212.288.8660) VAN ALEN MANSION

Home to the Kosciuszko Foundation, a Polish cultural organization, this mansion dates to 1917 and has a circular entry hall with decorative masonry and a winding stair-

case. An oak-paneled gallery with 30-foot ceilings is lined with 19th-century paintings by Polish artists. The house holds 120 for receptions, 100 for seated dinners, or 120 for seated concerts. (15 East 65th St., 212.734.2130 ext. 215) WAVE HILL5

Twenty-eight acres of gardens and woodlands surround this stone mansion in the Bronx. The house includes Armor Hall—a large room with a vaulted ceiling, a flagstone floor, tall windows, and space for 180. Other spaces include a large gallery, a terrace that can be tented, and two lawns. The second-floor Toscanini Room seats 30. (West 249th St. at Independence Ave., Bronx, 718.549.3200)

TOWN HOUSES & RESIDENCES ALGER HOUSE IN THE VILLAGE

This converted carriage house—now a private residence also used for events—features stained-glass windows and a collection of paintings and sculptures. Spaces include a ballroom with beamed ceilings and an indoor garden room with skylights and a Victorian-style fireplace. The whole venue seats 110 or holds 150 for receptions. Green Mansions Catering is the exclusive caterer. (Off Bleecker St. and Ave. of the Americas, 212.627.8838) ANNEMARIE’S DINING ROOM

This Murray Hill town house operated by chef Annemarie Huste is appointed with a salmon, dark green, and white color scheme and includes a reception room that looks down to the garden-level dining room. The house holds 60. Huste also teaches cooking classes in the space. (104 East 30th St., 212.685.5685) HISTORIC TOWNHOUSE5

Operated by Taste Caterers, this West Village town house dates to 1854 and has two salons with 14-foot ceilings, sliding pocket doors, crown moldings, and marble fireplaces.

It seats 50 for cocktails and dinner and accommodates as many as 125 for receptions. (16 West 10th St., 212.255.8571) 632 ON HUDSON5

This 1847 trilevel town house—home of the 2001–02 cast of MTV’s The Real World—has 5,000 square feet of space, including a kitchen with a 12-foot trestle table and a 40-foot atrium. The 1,000-square-foot rooftop is available for receptions, while the interior of the house holds 130.

There is also an 1,800-square-foot ground-floor space. (632 Hudson St., 212.620.7631)

New York Venue Directory

Museums & Cultural Spaces ART MUSEUMS

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART—THE CLOISTERS5

AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM

This institution is full of works by traditional and contemporary folk artists. Its atrium and mezzanine together seat 80 or hold 250 for receptions. The Esmerian/King Family Auditorium seats 70 theater-style and has audiovisual equipment. (45 West 53rd St., 212.977.7170 ext. 308)

In Upper Manhattan, the Cloisters is an assemblage of medieval monastic structures and a repository of a portion of the Metropolitan Museum’s medieval art collection. The buildings feature Romanesque and Gothic architectural sculpture, and the courtyard seats 250 or holds 400 for receptions. (Fort Tryon Park, 212.570.3773)

BRONX MUSEUM OF THE ARTS5

THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM

In 2006, the Bronx Museum of the Arts unveiled its expanded space—a $19 million project that added 16,700 square feet to the 35-year-old institution. Designed by Arquitectonica, the additions include a facade of diagonally positioned glass and steel panels, a minimalist main gallery, an education center and media lab, additional gallery space, and an event area on the second level with an adjacent terrace. (1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, 718.681.6000)

This expanded institution reopened in 2006 with three glass-and-steel pavilions designed by Renzo Piano. The structures connect the original three buildings and added 75,000 square feet, including a 264-seat auditorium, a café and restaurant, a new reading room, and additional gallery space. (225 Madison Ave., 212.590.0326)

BROOKLYN MUSEUM5

A collection including centuries of Egyptian, European, and American art is found at Brooklyn’s largest museum.

Its glass entry pavilion and grand lobby combine to seat 300 or hold 1,000 for receptions. The Iris B. and Gerald Cantor Auditorium seats 460. The renovated BeauxArts Court seats 500 or holds 1,000 for receptions, and the Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden holds 350. (200 Eastern Pkwy., Brooklyn, 718.501.6408) CHELSEA ART MUSEUM

This museum houses its contemporary art collection in a building that dates to 1850, with refurbished loft-style interiors that feature glass and metal accents. The mezzanine holds 100, and the third floor and ground floor each seat 250 or hold 350 for receptions. (556 West 22nd St., 212.255.0719 ext. 105) COOPER-HEWITT NATIONAL DESIGN MUSEUM, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION5

The former mansion of Andrew Carnegie, this museum has a great hall that holds 500 for receptions. The Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden has views of Central Park and may be tented; it seats 650 or holds 1,000 for receptions.

The museum also has a gallery that overlooks the garden, a glass-enclosed atrium, and a lecture room. A donation or corporate membership is required to schedule an event. (2 East 91st St., 212.849.8341) IN THE WORKS DIA: CHELSEA

In November 2009, the Dia Art Foundation announced that it will construct a new Manhattan home for itself on the footprint of the west Chelsea space it closed in 2004.

The new venue will house commissioned art works, exhibitions, long-term installations, public programs, and performances. (545 West 22nd St.) NEW EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO5

This museum, devoted to the cultural heritage of Latin America and the Caribbean, launched its $20 million capital renovation project in 2006 and reopened in October 2009. The revamp included the installation of a new glass facade, a redesigned courtyard, updated gallery spaces, an expanded shop, and the addition of a café. (1230 Fifth Ave., 212.660.7195) FRICK COLLECTION5

Originally the residence of steel magnate Henry Clay Frick, this building houses a collection of works that date from the Renaissance to the late 19th century. The mansion is rich with classically inspired details—rows of columns, detailed pilasters, and arches—and the entrance hall, reception hall, garden court, and music room may be used for events. The museum seats 200 or holds 500 for receptions. (1 East 70th St., 212.547.0706) INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Companies that donate $5,000 or more may entertain on this center’s two floors of modern gallery space. The museum is available for events before or after viewing hours, or during the day on Mondays. The space holds 500. Taste Caterers is the in-house caterer. (1133 Ave. of the Americas, 212.857.0034) JEWISH MUSEUM

In the onetime Warburg mansion, this museum presents exhibitions showcasing 4,000 years of Jewish culture and identity. Scheuer Auditorium—featuring original stained-glass windows—seats 160 or holds 300 for receptions; it seats 230 for lectures or performances. The Nancy and Morris W. Offit Gallery seats 50 or holds 100 for receptions. The Skirball Lobby holds 75 for receptions. (1109 Fifth Ave., 212.423.3239)

MUSEUM OF ARTS & DESIGN

In September 2008, the Museum of Arts and Design unveiled its new Columbus Circle headquarters. Designed

by Allied Works Architecture, the 54,000-square-foot museum houses a 155-seat auditorium, a store, and a 1,880square-foot event space. A new 3,650-square-foot ninthfloor restaurant operated by Ark Restaurants Corporation is in the works. (2 Columbus Cir., 212.956.3535) MUSEUM OF BIBLICAL ART

Exhibitions of Judeo-Christian art and history are presented at this museum. Its event space, which looks through a glass pavilion across Broadway, seats 50 or holds 90 for cocktails. Guests may peruse exhibits, but without food or drink. (1865 Broadway, 212.408.1495) MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

Previously only available to corporate members, MoMA is now offered for a variety of functions, including fundraising, political, and promotional gatherings. The entry lobby and adjacent Agnes Gund Garden Lobby seat 700 or hold 1,000 for receptions. Above the lobbies is the Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium, which seats 400 or holds 700 for receptions. A smaller atrium on the sixth floor seats 70 or holds 250 for receptions. The Roy and Niuta Titus theaters are available for film screenings and panel discussions on Tuesdays; Titus 1 seats 400, and Titus 2 seats 200. (11 West 53rd St., 212.408.8429) NATIONAL ACADEMY MUSEUM

This museum’s rotunda and spiral staircase have an inlaid marble floor and hold 60 for receptions. The Stone Room has 16-foot Palladian-style windows and a blackand-white marble floor, and seats 80 or holds 125 for receptions. The Huntington Room is wood-paneled, lined with bookcases, and seats 140 or holds 225 for receptions.

(1083 Fifth Ave., 212.369.4880 ext. 202) NEUE GALERIE NEW YORK

Dedicated to German and Austrian art, this facility allows corporate patrons to entertain in Café Sabarsky, a Viennese-style coffeehouse with carved-wood walls, which seats 64. The café and all other spaces—including the bookshop, in the original library of the mansion— hold 350. (1048 Fifth Ave., 212.994.9491) NEW MUSEUM5

The museum’s new 60,000-square-foot location on the Bowery opened in 2007. The top floor of the eight-story structure has southern and eastern views, and is a multipurpose space available for events, with a warming kitchen as well as an adjoining terrace. (235 Bowery, 212.219.1222 ext. 254) P.S.1 CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER5

An affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art, P.S.1 mounts contemporary art exhibitions in a former public school in Long Island City. The large courtyard holds 3,000, and the building—when exhibitions allow—can hold 2,500. The café seats 100 or holds 200 for receptions. (22-25 Jackson Ave., Queens, 718.784.2084) QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART

The Unisphere Gallery seats 120 or holds 300 for receptions, with a wall of windows that provides views of the spherical sculpture of the same name. The Triangle Gallery seats 300. A 100-seat theater is also available.

(New York City Bldg., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, 718.592.9700) RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART

Once occupied by Barneys New York, this 70,000-squarefoot building houses a collection of Himalayan art. The colonnade and the museum’s lobby, with its spiral staircase, seat 220 or hold 500 for receptions. A theater has 137 removable seats; it holds 100 for receptions or seats 96 cabaret-style at tables. (150 West 17th St., 212.620.5000)

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

SCULPTURE CENTER5

Corporate patrons at the $60,000 level may entertain at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which unveiled its Greek and Roman galleries in 2007, a project that took more than a dozen years to complete. The Temple of Dendur space seats 500 or holds 800 for receptions. Other spaces include the great hall and its balcony, the Carroll and Milton Petrie European Sculpture Court, and an auditorium. The Charles Engelhard Court in the museum’s American Wing reopened in May 2009. (1000 Fifth Ave., 212.570.3773)

In an industrial Long Island City setting—the building once housed a trolley-repair operation and was renovated in 2002 by noted architect Maya Lin—this center exhibits contemporary sculptures and holds 600 for receptions when installations permit. A sculpture yard may be tented and holds 150 for receptions. (44-19 Purves St., Queens, 718.361.1750)

156 bizbash.com may/june 2010

SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS—THE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ILLUSTRATION5

This space has two galleries that seat 80 or hold 100 for

receptions when combined. The dining room features works by N.C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell and seats 75 or holds 100 for receptions; a small terrace adjoins the room. A library can accommodate small receptions or business meetings. The main gallery is also available for rent. (128 East 63rd St., 212.838.2560) SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

Within this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building is the soaring rotunda, which—depending on the size and configuration of exhibitions—seats 300 or holds 1,000 for receptions. The Peter B. Lewis Theater seats 281, and a separate screening room seats 70. In mid-December 2009, the Guggenheim added the Wright, a 58-seat restaurant serving a menu of modern American fare from David Bouley protégé Rodolfo Contreras. (1071 Fifth Ave., 212.423.3670) STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM5

This uptown institution mounts exhibitions of African and African-American artists’ work. The museum has completed a construction project that added a film theater, a café, and educational facilities; its event spaces also include the lobby, the atrium, and a courtyard (which may be tented). (144 West 125th St., 212.864.4500 ext. 247) WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART5

Corporate members who contribute $10,000 or more may entertain at this museum. The building’s modern lobby holds 150 for receptions, and its lower gallery seats 170 or holds 500 for receptions. An outdoor sculpture court is connected to the lower gallery (and may be tented), and seats 320 or holds 800 for receptions. (945 Madison Ave., 212.606.0388)

ART SPACES & AUCTION HOUSES AGORA GALLERY CHELSEA

This gallery exhibits the work of international contemporary artists and has a total of 5,800 square feet. The space has polished hardwood floors, a kitchen, wireless Internet, and holds 350. (530 West 25th St., 212.226.4151) THE ART DIRECTORS CLUB

This 5,000-square-foot gallery displays works of graphic design, advertising, publishing, illustration, new media, and photography. The gallery—which has a wall of windows facing the street—seats 250 or holds 450 for receptions. The space has a kitchen and a coat check. (106 West 29th St., 212.643.1440) ARTISTS SPACE

This nonprofit displays works from international emerging artists in its current 3,800-square-foot gallery; however, the venue is planning a renovation to be completed by the end of September, and the space will increase to 7,000 square feet. The venue has a kitchen for catering preparation. The current space seats 80 or holds 300 for receptions. (38 Greene St., 3rd Floor, 212.226.3970 ext. 305) ASIAN FUSION STUDIO

This 2,000-square-foot gallery owned and operated by the Asian Cultural Center is available for rent in the evenings.

The venue has lighting and audiovisual equipment, as well as tables and chairs available for events. The space holds 100 for seated events or receptions. (15 East 40th St., 2nd Floor, 212.679.8833 ext. 123) BONHAMS

In April 2008, Bonhams auction house—founded in London in the 18th century—expanded to New York with a facility in the space that formerly housed the Dahesh Museum of Art. Spread across three floors, this Midtown venue began offering its 30,000 square feet of space for corporate events in 2009. In addition to a 2,880-squarefoot auditorium and a mezzanine, Bonhams offers gallery space, the largest of which holds 175 for receptions. (580 Madison Ave., 212.644.9001) CHRISTIE’S

The London-based auctioneer’s New York location has seven galleries and two auction rooms available for events (subject to exhibition schedules). The building seats 300 or holds 1,500 for receptions. The boardroom seats 120 or holds 175 for receptions. (20 Rockefeller Plaza, 212.636.2690 ext. 2687) COOPER CLASSICS COLLECTION

A showplace of classic cars and home to a collection of contemporary art, this West Village venue has 2,500 square feet on its ground level and a 1,500-square-foot upper level that overlooks the main room. The entire venue seats 150 or holds 400 for receptions. The museum recently opened a new gallery across the street; both spaces can be rented. (137 Perry St., 212.929.3909) CUE ART FOUNDATION

The street-level gallery owned and operated by the Cue Art Foundation is available for private rental. The 2,600-square-foot space has windows facing the street, drive-up access, and a skylight atrium; it seats 150 or holds 350 for receptions. (511 West 25th St., 212.206.3583) DABORA GALLERY

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New York Venue Directory

Museums & Cultural Spaces gallery is decorated as a Victorian salon, with antique furniture, taxidermy, and velvet curtains. The space has two rooms that together seat 100 or hold 200 for receptions; a bar is on site, but not a kitchen. The venue can be used for photography shoots. (1080 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, 718.609.9629) DOYLE NEW YORK

While this auction house doesn’t typically offer its space for events, companies and organizations may hold events here if their purpose or audience is relevant to Doyle’s departments of fine art, jewelry, vintage fashion, and contemporary and antique furniture. Works remain on display during events, and the house’s two galleries hold 350. (175 East 87th St., 212.427.2730) DRAWING CENTER

Devoted to the exhibition of historic and contemporary drawings, the center’s main gallery has 3,100 square feet of space, 13-foot ceilings, and oak floors; the gallery holds 250 for receptions or 100 to 150 for seated events. Across the street, the organization’s Drawing Room seats 25 to 30 or holds 50 for receptions. (35 Wooster St., 212.219.2166 ext. 114) DUMBO ARTS CENTER

This raw exhibition space—which features a rotation of curators’ shows of contemporary artists’ work—consists of a gallery with 3,000 square feet of space and 12-foot ceilings. The gallery holds 150 for seated events or 250 for receptions. There is no kitchen, but a food prep area is available on site. (30 Washington St., Brooklyn, 718.694.0831) EXIT ART

This nonprofit institution exhibits multimedia work from emerging international artists in its 8,000-squarefoot ground-floor gallery, which has 16-foot ceilings and is lined with large windows on two sides. The first floor holds as many as 450 people for receptions or seated events and has four restrooms. A 3,000-square-foot space downstairs (which has its own street entrance) holds 200 for receptions. (475 10th Ave., 212.966.7745) THE GABARRON FOUNDATION CARRIAGE HOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Carriage House Center in Murray Hill is a landmark town house built in 1902 with 3,500 square feet of space.

The first two floors, connected by a spiral staircase, seat 120 or hold 200 for receptions. The venue features art

by Cristóbal Gabarrón and Roy Lichtenstein and has a kitchen, an antique conference table, and sound and video systems. (149 East 38th St., 212.573.6968 ext. 11) GALLERY VIET NAM

This space exhibits contemporary and antique Vietnamese art and artifacts. The 2,900-square-foot room seats 80 or holds 200 for receptions; catering is provided by the adjoining Viet Café, which can provide an additional 2,000 square feet. The gallery has 14-foot ceilings, a large skylight, and windows that face a small garden. (345 Greenwich St., 212.431.8889) HOSFELT GALLERY

Owned by Todd Hosfelt, this gallery is now available for corporate events and meetings. With remnants of its 19thcentury warehouse beginnings—wooden floors, beams running across the ceiling, and distressed columns—the 7,500-square-foot Hosfelt Gallery is an open space that can be divided into four areas. Audiovisual equipment is available, and the entire venue holds 350 for receptions.

(531 West 36th St., 212.563.5454) JAMAICA CENTER FOR ARTS & LEARNING

In a landmark building that dates to 1898, this arts complex includes a 99-seat theater with a sound booth, a box office, a projection screen, a raised stage, dressing rooms, and a newly renovated soundproof music studio.

A multifunction room seats 75 or holds 125 for receptions.

(161-04 Jamaica Ave., Queens, 718.658.7400 ext. 131) JEN BEKMAN

space on the second floor for presentations, seminars, and workshops. The gallery has pressed-tin ceilings and an eight-foot projection screen. The second floor has a 1,000-square-foot room with a 12-foot projection screen.

The first floor holds 75 for receptions, and the upper level seats 30 or holds 70 for receptions. (123 Smith St., Brooklyn, 718.797.3116) MIXED GREENS

This contemporary art gallery moved from its former location in the Starrett-Lehigh Building to a nearby space in 2005. The 3,500-square-foot gallery has concrete floors finished with white poured epoxy. Capacity and availability are dependent upon the current exhibition. (531 West 26th St., 1st Floor, 212.331.8888) NEW MURPHY AND DINE GALLERY5

After moving to a new home earlier this year, boutique architecture and interior design firm Murphy and Dine opted to make its gallery a venue for private events.

With 1,500 square feet of space, 22-foot ceilings, and a 1,000-square-foot garden, the site can hold as many as 250 for receptions. There’s also a rooftop terrace on the fifth floor, which, when combined with the other spaces, increases the reception capacity to 450. (520 West 27th St., 212.226.7171) PARK AVENUE ARMORY

Sometimes referred to as the Seventh Regiment Armory, this massive building was constructed between 1877 and 1880 and is run by a nonprofit arts organization.

Frequently used for art and antique fairs, the landmark space is also available for other events. The 38,000-squarefoot drill hall holds 1,500 for receptions or seated events and has arched ceilings and iron tressels. (643 Park Ave., 212.616.3934 ) SALMAGUNDI ART CLUB, A CENTER FOR AMERICAN ART

This Greenwich Village club and artists’ assistance organization was founded as a sketch club in 1871 and has resided in its current location since 1917. The club contains a parlor decorated with Victorian furniture and marble fireplaces, and an adjoining gallery; the two spaces hold 200 for receptions. A wood-paneled dining room holds 85.

(47 Fifth Ave., 212.255.7740) SMACK MELLON

This Dumbo art space moved to the renovated Boiler Building in 2005 and consists of a 6,000-square-foot gallery with 35-foot ceilings. The gallery has two rows of windows that offer views of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the East River. The space seats 150 or holds 250 for receptions and is wheelchair-accessible. (92 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, 718.834.8761) SOTHEBY’S5

Event space in this auction house’s modern building includes its 10th-floor galleries and a terrace, which hold 200 for receptions or seated events when combined. A large, open exhibition space on the seventh floor seats 500 or holds 960 for receptions. Tours may be incorporated into events. Great Performances is the exclusive caterer. (1334 York Ave., 212.606.7375) This Chelsea gallery typically exhibits interior-design objects and fashion and offers 850 square feet, which includes the main room and a reception area. On the second floor, the gallery is in a converted stable and has 14-foot ceilings, two skylights, and a full kitchen. (276 West 25th St., 212.352.9968) STUDIO 580

On the fifth floor of a building near Times Square, Studio 580 is a contemporary art gallery and entertainment space that can be rented for corporate events, fund-raisers, and fashion shows. The 3,000-square-foot space has direct elevator access. (580 Eighth Ave., 212.354.2999) SWANN AUCTION GALLERIES

The Swann Auction Galleries focus on African-American fine art, rare books, posters, photographs, prints, and drawings; events in the firm’s Flatiron district space often relate to these areas of concentration. The fifth-floor gallery has movable walls on tracks and holds 200 for receptions. The sixth-floor venue has built-in bookcases and holds 125 for receptions. (104 East 25th St., 212.254.4710 ext. 19) THIRD WARD

LEHMANN MAUPIN GALLERY

WHITE COLUMNS

The Lower East Side location of Lehmann Maupin Gallery became available for corporate and nonprofit events in March 2009. Encompassing three floors behind an unassuming storefront, the gallery offers its main level for dinners and its basement for catering prep and backof-house operations. There’s room for 144 seated, or a maximum of 200 can take over the first- and second-floor galleries for receptions. A sister space in Chelsea is also available. (201 Chrystie St., 212.255.2923)

Highlighting emerging visual artists, this nonprofit art space consists of one large gallery and two smaller rooms and has concrete floors and 20-foot ceilings. Caterers may make use of one of the smaller rooms for preparation. The venue holds 200 for receptions, but is only available to events and companies that support its mission. (320 West 13th St., 212.924.4212)

An art space in Boerum Hill, this venue has a streetlevel, 2,000-square-foot art gallery and multifunction

158 bizbash.com may/june 2010

CHILDREN’S MUSEUMS BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM5

Founded in 1899, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum expanded its facility and reopened in September 2008.

The expansion, designed by architect Rafael Viñoly, increased the exhibition space, made the rooftop terrace more accessible, and almost doubled the square footage, to 102,000. Now finished, the educational venue offers a total of 102,000 square feet, with multiple areas for events. (145 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn, 718.735.4400) CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS

This museum’s main exhibition hall is a 1,400-squarefoot space with 14-foot ceilings and columns; it seats 40 or holds 120 for receptions. The art displayed is largely kids’ works and remains on the walls during events. An underground level is suitable for use as a preparation area. (182 Lafayette St., 212.274.0986) CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN5

With five floors of exhibits, this entire museum—which holds 1,500 for receptions—may be rented for events. The third floor, refurbished in 2006, has 4,000 square feet of event space. An outdoor exhibit, “City Splash,” is available for events and holds 85. The museum does not accommodate seated meals. (212 West 83rd St., 212.721.1223 ext. 227) STATEN ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM5

On the Snug Harbor Cultural Center campus, this museum includes Portia’s Playhouse, which has a stage and tables and chairs to seat 50. Two indoor spaces are available for events: one that seats 60 at long tables and another that holds 100. An open-sided tent beside a meadow in front of the building seats 100. (1000 Richmond Terr., Staten Island, 718.273.2060 ext. 264)

FILM & MEDIA MUSEUMS IN THE WORKS MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE5

This Astoria museum highlights film, television, and digital media. An expansion project began in 2007 and will include a new theater, a screening room, and galleries, as well as a garden for exhibits, screenings, concerts, and special events. Completion of the project is scheduled for fall 2010. During construction, the main floor and Riklis Theater will be unavailable for rental. (35th Ave. at 36th St., Queens, 718.784.4520) PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA

Formerly known as the Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center has a collection of more than 140,000 advertising, television, and radio programs. The museum’s newest space, the Kissinger Global Conference Room, seats 40. The John E. Fetzer Lobby and Steven Spielberg Gallery combine to hold 80 for sit-down dinners or 250 for receptions. The Concourse Theater seats 200, the Goodson Theater seats 84, and two screening rooms seat 45 apiece.

The library holds 100 for receptions, and the boardroom seats 32. (25 West 52nd St., 212.621.6778)

SPACE DOWNTOWN

This intimate NoLIta gallery was established in 2003 and shows work by emerging artists, with an emphasis on photography. The spare space has exposed brick walls, and events may be held during exhibitions (but the host may not hang additional signage or materials).

The gallery seats 20 or holds 50 for receptions. There is no kitchen, but there is an area that may be used for serving.

(6 Spring St., 212.219.0166)

MICRO MUSEUM

productions and holds 110 for receptions. (135 Broadway, Brooklyn, 718.486.6012)

This 20,000-square-foot gallery and event space in Brooklyn has several areas for events. In addition to four 800-square-foot photo studios, there is a 10,000square-foot wood shop, a fully loaded digital media lab, and 4,000-square-feet of private office space. The venue can host custom corporate workshops for teambuilding events. (195 Morgan Ave., Brooklyn, 718.715.4961)

WILLIAMSBURG ART & HISTORICAL CENTER

The former Kings County Savings Bank dates to 1867.

The second floor has two galleries that hold 170 for receptions or seat 150 when combined. A column-free ballroom serves as a space for music, theater, and dance

HISTORICAL & CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AMERICAS SOCIETY

The second-floor event spaces at this organization are the Salon Bolivar (which features a painted ceiling depicting cherubs), a library, and a dining room. These spaces combined accommodate 200 for receptions. All three rooms have crystal chandeliers and hardwood floors, and the venue is equipped with a catering kitchen. (680 Park Ave., 212.277.8321) THE ARMORY/NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD HALL OF FAME MUSEUM

The Armory’s third-floor arena seats 1,400 in 60,000 square feet and is equipped with a wireless PA system, a Jumbotron, and wireless Internet. The fourth-floor balcony seats 2,000. The Hall of Fame theater, with a wallmounted projection screen and a ceiling-mounted LCD screen, offers 70 permanent seats; the two Hall of Fame galleries hold 700 for receptions. (216 Fort Washington Ave., 212.923.1803 ext. 12) ARSENAL BUILDING5

This Central Park building is home to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. A gallery seats 80 or holds 120 for receptions. The north roof is an outdoor space with wood-plank flooring and views of the park and zoo. The roof seats 80 or holds 120 for receptions. (830 Fifth Ave., 212.360.1336) ASIA SOCIETY

The Asia-Pacific region is the focus of cultural programming at this Upper East Side nonprofit. The society’s eighth floor has three rooms that open into each other and seat 200 or hold 400 for receptions combined. The organization’s Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium seats 258. Great Performances is the site’s exclusive caterer. (725 Park Ave., 212.327.9322) BOHEMIAN NATIONAL HALL5

Built in 1895, Bohemian National Hall is the Upper East Side home of the consulate general of the Czech Republic, the Czech Center New York, and the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association. Renovated and reopened to third-party events in May 2009, the site’s biggest space is its 2,810-square-foot fourth-floor ballroom, which includes a balcony and holds a maximum of

New York Venue Directory

Museums & Cultural Spaces 300. Also on site are a 1,707-square-foot gallerylike space, a 1,218-square-foot library, a rooftop terrace, and a 60-seat cinema. (321 East 73rd St., 646.422.3318) CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE

Home to the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Center for Architecture Foundation, this building has galleries and a lecture hall. The hall and its mezzanine seat 200 and hold 276 for receptions.

With round tables, the space seats 50. The Gerald D. Hines Gallery holds 100. With round tables, the library seats 40.

(536 LaGuardia Place, 212.358.6112) CONEY ISLAND MUSEUM

This 1917 building is home to exhibits of Coney Island memorabilia (like fun-house distortion mirrors) and has large windows with views of the amusement park. The large room and lobby hold 100 for seated events or receptions. The building is best suited for events in the spring or fall, as it does not have air-conditioning or heat. (1208 Surf Ave., Brooklyn, 718.372.5159) ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRATION MUSEUM

Millions of immigrants entered the U.S. via this port of entry—a 27.5-acre island in New York Harbor. The Registry Room has vaulted ceilings and seats 1,100 people. There are also two 140-seat theaters. An outdoor tent holds 1,000 for receptions. Evelyn Hill is the exclusive concessionaire with the National Park Service. (Ellis Island, New York Harbor, 212.344.0996) FEDERAL HALL

Built on the site of the original Federal Hall of George Washington’s inauguration, this hall is maintained by the National Park Service. The building’s main space—its rotunda—holds 150 for seated events or 300 for receptions. The hall reopened in 2006 after renovations. (26 Wall St., 212.825.6993) FRAUNCES TAVERN MUSEUM

This museum preserves period rooms, including the site where George Washington bid farewell to his troops. The Davis Flag Gallery is lined with authentic and reproduction Revolutionary and Colonial-era flags, and can accommodate 100 people. The top floor of the building has wood-paneled walls and holds 30 for receptions or seated events. (54 Pearl St., 212.425.1778) GOVERNORS ISLAND5

A quick ferry trip from the southern tip of Manhattan, this

island features an esplanade that overlooks the harbor, the skyline, and the Statue of Liberty. The Admiral’s Quarters is a Federal-style house that holds 100, and Pershing Hall is available for meetings of 75. An outdoor space is suitable for corporate picnics, holding groups of as many as 300, and has basketball courts, softball fields, and volleyball courts. Event facilities are available yearround. (New York Harbor, 212.440.2225) INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM5

In November 2008, this 912-foot vessel, the world’s largest naval museum and one of the city’s biggest event spaces, reopened after an extensive two-year renovation. Docked on the west side of Manhattan, the Intrepid is attached to the 112,000-square-foot Pier 86 and offers several sites for functions and meetings. The largest is the flight deck, an outdoor space atop the ship with room for 2,500 guests among its collection of restored aircraft. Other rooms include the Exploreum, the Michael Tyler Fisher Center for Education, and the 245-seat Lutnick Theater. Catering

by Restaurant Associates is the exclusive food provider.

(Pier 86, West 46th St. and 12th Ave., 646.381.5301)

Leaders, the Opening Night Room, and the pop-culture area are available privately only when the entire venue is booked for an attraction buyout; the Opening Night Room may also be booked semiprivately. The museum holds 1,200 and now features a new Sports Zone, which has interactive boxing, basketball, and Wii tennis. (234 West 42nd St., 212.512.9600 ext. 250) MOUNT VERNON HOTEL MUSEUM & GARDEN5

Built in 1799, this structure operated as a hotel in the 1820s and now features period-decorated rooms and tours that can be incorporated into events. The museum’s interior space combines with a garden that features a new gazebo to hold 50 guests. (421 East 61st St., 212.838.6878 ext. 32) MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE

The new Wall Street location of this museum opened in January 2008. The 30,000-square-foot space, formerly the headquarters of the Bank of New York, uses the banking hall for exhibitions; it seats 220 or holds 400 for receptions. At the concourse level is the education center, which seats 220 and can be sectioned off with a movable wall. (48 Wall St., 212.908.4110)

THE ITALIAN ACADEMY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

NEW MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA

The Casa Italiana building’s most impressive room is the Teatro, which has coffered ceilings, ornamental moldings, and a stage; it can accommodate 197 for receptions.

Another room, the Salone, accommodates 50. A library can accommodate 65 people, and a conference room accommodates 65. A Sterling Affair is the exclusive caterer. (1161 Amsterdam Ave., 212.854.1623)

This institution, dedicated to the history of Chinese Americans and once housed on Mulberry Street, opened its new building on Centre Street in September 2009.

Designed by architect Maya Lin, the 14,000-square-foot museum houses galleries, a store, classrooms, meeting facilities, a two-story interior courtyard, and an exhibition fabrication workshop. (215 Centre St., 212.619.4785)

JACQUES MARCHAIS MUSEUM OF TIBETAN ART5

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK5

Resembling a Himalayan temple and situated on a steep hill, this museum is surrounded by meditation gardens.

A gallery holds 50 for receptions. A fieldstone terrace has views of the hillside, gardens, and trees, and holds another 50 for receptions. There is no kitchen. (338 Lighthouse Ave., Staten Island, 718.987.3500)

In August 2008, this museum showed off its newest addition—a three-level pavilion designed by architectural firm Polshek Partnership. The new glass and aluminum structure is part of Phase 1 of the history museum’s $97 million expansion project, which broke ground in 2006.

The Museum Mile institution launched Phases 2 and 3 in 2008 and expects to complete the project by 2011. (1220 Fifth Ave., 212.534.1672 ext. 3309)

LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT MUSEUM

Groups get a glimpse of 19th- and early-20th-century tenement life through tours of this museum’s historic residences. The visitors’ center, which also includes a gift shop, holds 75 for receptions. An event space at 97 Orchard Street seats 24 and can accommodate more intimate receptions. The museum can provide an array of mismatched china, flatware, and linens for a vintage feel.

(108 Orchard St., 212.431.0233 ext. 244) MADAME TUSSAUDS NEW YORK

This museum has several event spaces. Cinema 4D, which opened in July 2008, seats 142 and includes a reception area that holds 130. The 42nd Street viewing gallery seats 40 or holds 80 for receptions. The Gallery of World

MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE: A LIVING MEMORIAL TO THE HOLOCAUST5

In a modern building in Battery Park City, this museum’s special events hall is a 5,000-square-foot space with views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. The third-floor lobby, bridge, and terrace seat 150 or hold 250 for receptions. Edmond J. Safra Hall is a performance space that comfortably seats 375 guests. (36 Battery Place, 646.437.4206) MUSEUM OF SEX

This small institution in the Flatiron district provides exhibitions that explore and document the historical

Symbolic harbor views Unparalleled service Endless possibilities

SPECIAL EVENTS HALL

PHOTO BY FRED MARCUS PHOTOGRAPHY

EDMOND J. SAFRA HALL

PHOTO BY THOMAS HINTON

FOR INQUIRIES OR A TOUR OF THE EVENT SPACES, CONTACT RACHEL HEUMANN 646.437.4206 | RHEUMANN@MJHNYC.ORG

EDMOND J. SAFRA PLAZA / 36 BATTERY PLACE / LOWER MANHATTAN /

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and cultural context of human sexuality. The museum contains three galleries and holds 450 for receptions. One gallery may be used for more intimate events for 65. (233 Fifth Ave., 212.689.6337 ext. 113) NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

In a former customs house, the museum’s rotunda is a large elliptical space that has a central skylight and murals painted by Reginald Marsh. The room seats 240 within its inner ellipse or 350 in its entirety; together, the rotunda and the great hall hold 1,200. The Collector’s Office seats 80 or holds 200 for receptions. There are also four meeting rooms and a 325-seat auditorium. The Diker Pavilion for Native Arts and Cultures seats 300 or holds 450 for receptions. (1 Bowling Green, 212.514.3820) NEW YORK CITY FIRE MUSEUM

The T-shaped, loftlike Commissioner’s Room on the museum’s third floor has 3,000 square feet of space, exposed brick walls, 13-foot ceilings, and two walls of windows.

The room seats 170 people or holds as many as 300 for receptions. Exhibits are open to guests, but drinks and food are limited to the event space and the first floor. (278 Spring St., 212.691.1303 ext. 15) NEW YORK CITY POLICE MUSEUM

With three floors of exhibits that chronicle the history of the police department, this entire museum—within the onetime home of the First Precinct—holds 300 for receptions. The Roosevelt Room holds 75 for seated events. (100 Old Slip, 212.480.3100 ext. 110) THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

In addition to exhibitions that focus on the culture and history of New York City, this museum’s spaces include the great hall, which has arched ceilings, inlaid stone floors, and space for 300 people. The library features stained-glass windows and Ionic columns and seats 130 people or holds 200 for receptions. Other spaces include the auditorium, which seats 350; Dexter Hall, which seats 230; and the Luman Reed Gallery, which holds 150 for receptions. (170 Central Park West, 212.873.3466) THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Exchange opened up its trading floor and dining hall— the old stock exchange luncheon club—to outside companies. Although the 500-capacity trading floor can only be used after business hours, the landmark building’s main dining area, lounge, and card room upstairs may be used during the day. The venue offers on-site catering, audiovisual equipment and technicians, and the ability to advertise on the historic site’s facade. (11 Wall St., 212.656.6098) NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM

In a decommissioned subway station, this museum displays more than 20 vintage and elevated cars. A former signage room is an event space that holds 150, and the platform level holds 250 for seated events or receptions.

Events on the subway level are not feasible during the heights of summer and winter, but the signage room is climate-controlled. (Boerum Place and Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn, 718.694.1579) 92ND STREET Y

The Y provides cultural programming in the visual, literary, and performing arts. Its Kaufmann Concert Hall seats 917 and is usually rented with the Weill Art Gallery, which holds 165 for receptions. Part of the Y’s dance school, Buttenwieser Hall, has a wall of windows and a wall of floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Warburg Lounge holds 100. (1395 Lexington Ave., 212.415.5780) SCANDINAVIA HOUSE5

This center for Nordic culture’s modern building includes Volvo Hall, which has glass walls with views of Park Avenue and features a stone- and wood-accented terrace; the space seats 100 or holds 220 for receptions. An 1,800square-foot gallery with spruce floors holds 150. The center also includes Victor Borge Hall, a 168-seat auditorium. (58 Park Ave., 212.847.9719) SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN BLACK CULTURE

A division of the New York Public Library, this Harlem research library houses the Langston Hughes Auditorium, which seats 340; the adjacent atrium and mezzanine hold 250 for receptions. The American Negro Theater holds 75 for meetings or 125 for receptions. (515 Malcolm X Blvd., 212.491.2200)

Astor Hall, with its grand marble columns and arches, seats 250 or holds 750 for cocktail parties. Capped by a glass dome, the Celeste Bartos Forum holds 450 for seated dinner and dancing or 500 for cocktail parties. McGraw Rotunda is adorned with murals that depict the history of the written word; it seats 150 or holds 300 for receptions.

(Fifth Ave. and 42nd St., 212.930.0730)

SEAMEN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE5

NEW NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM

Previously only available for event rental to companies listed on the exchange, in 2010 the New York Stock

This institution mounts exhibits that explore the history of tall buildings. Its sole gallery has stainless steel floors

Designed to resemble a ship moored to a pier, this nonprofit mariners’ assistance organization features the Top Deck event space atop its building. The space has wood floors and is surrounded by windows and a wraparound terrace. The space holds 130 for receptions or 85 for seated events. (241 Water St., 212.349.9090 ext. 250)

and mirrored ceilings; it accommodates as many as 175 guests. The lobby is suitable as a check-in area and has room for a small bar. (39 Battery Place, 212.945.6324) SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM

This museum documents the history of New York as a port city. Its Melville Gallery dates to the 19th century and has hardwood plank floors and 13-foot beamed ceilings, and holds 80 for receptions. In 2010, the venue opened its Schermerhorn Galleries on the fifth floor. The museum also maintains the ship Peking at Pier 16, which holds 180 for receptions. (12 Fulton St., 212.748.8786) STATEN ISLAND MUSEUM

This museum presents exhibits on borough history, natural history, and the fine arts (with a focus on Staten Island-based artists). Combined, its three spaces hold 200 for receptions. The auditorium, renovated in 2007, seats 75 theater-style or 60 for dinners. (75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, 718.727.1135 ext. 116) STATUE OF LIBERTY

The National Park Service administers this iconic island monument. When events are allowed, tours of Lady Liberty are possible, and the outdoor area at its base may be tented and will seat 300 or hold 600 for receptions. Events for larger groups may be possible, pending approval from the superintendent. (Liberty Island, New York Harbor, 212.363.3206, ext. 107) TIBET HOUSE

With a focus on Tibet, this organization exhibits works by international artists. The main gallery, which has 14-foot ceilings and a wall of windows that face 15th Street, holds 130. The library seats 25. (22 West 15th St., 212.807.0563) UNITED NATIONS DELEGATES DINING ROOM

Within the imposing modern headquarters of world power lies this event space, which features floor-toceiling windows with views of the East River and a large terrace. The space seats 750 or holds 800 for receptions, and tours of the General Assembly and Security Council may be incorporated into events. (United Nations Bldg., First Ave. at 45th St., 212.963.7625) UKRAINIAN MUSEUM

This museum is a depository of Ukrainian fine and folk art and archival material. The museum has an auditorium that seats 100 with a built-in projection booth and screen. A smaller space on the lower level holds 100 for receptions or seats 50 to 60. A prep kitchen is available.

(222 East 6th St., 212.228.0110) WATERFRONT MUSEUM AND SHOWBOAT BARGE

Docked in Red Hook, Brooklyn, this rustic covered wooden barge has an enclosed deck house with skylights and is available May through October. The total capacity of the

A RARE GEM OFFERING INFINITE POSSIBILITIES.

George Gustav Heye Center, One Bowling Green, New York www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/specialevents

For information on Corporate Membership and Special Events call, 212-514-3750 or email, nmainy-specialevents@si.edu

New York Venue Directory

Museums & Cultural Spaces

Architects, the larger room has full-length windows and is lined with library shelves; it holds 150. The smaller 20-seat room has a conference table and can also seat 30 for a lecture or presentation without the conference tables. (148 West 37th St., 13th Floor, 212.757.0915) LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER5

vessel is 149 for corporate meetings. No private parties or receptions are permitted, and no alcohol is allowed on the premises. (290 Conover St. at Pier 44, Brooklyn, 718.624.4719)

SCIENCE & NATURAL HISTORY SPACES AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY5

This museum has 45 event spaces. The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life holds 1,200 for receptions. The Rose Center for Earth and Space seats 450 or holds 1,500 for receptions and also contains the Hayden Planetarium, which seats 425. The 5,000-square-foot Powerhouse holds 550. The Arthur Ross terrace, just outside the Powerhouse, offers a view of the Rose Center and holds 400. Catering by Restaurant Associates is the exclusive caterer. (Central Park West at 79th St., 212.769.5350) BRONX ZOO5

In all, this zoological park occupies 265 acres and includes such exhibits as the Congo gorilla forest, which has monkeys, gorillas, and okapi. The gorilla forest space holds as many as 150 for receptions. The Dancing Crane Pavilion seats 750. The Monkey House holds 125 for receptions. A new banquet hall, the Madagascar House, opened in 2008 and holds 240. (2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, 718.741.3836) CENTRAL PARK ZOO5

Animals inhabit their own park within Central Park, a 5.5-acre area that includes the rain-forest building, where tropical birds roam and which holds 175 for receptions. There is also the penguin building, which seats 40 or holds 70 for receptions; the zoo gallery seats 50, or 80 auditorium-style. The entire zoo holds 1,200 for receptions. (64th St. at Fifth Ave., 718.741.3836) NEW DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE EXPOSITION

This 60,000-square-foot facility—a joint venture between the Discovery Channel and Running Subway Productions—is in an old printing press area of The New York Times. Housing rotating exhibits, the Discovery Times Square Exposition is open for events with a dedicated space managed by Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs. (226 West 44th St., 866.987.9692) HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The society moved in 2006 to its new home, with two event spaces available. Designed by Marpillero Pollak

Following a nearly two-year, $109 million renovation, Jersey City’s science and technology museum reopened in 2007 with a 20,000-square-foot center and all-new exhibitions. The entire venue is available for events; among the usable areas are 11,000-squarefoot Governors Hall; a fourth-floor space with views of Manhattan; a lawn; and a 400-seat Imax Dome theater.

Catering by Restaurant Associates is the exclusive on-site caterer. (222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, 201.253.1384) NEW YORK AQUARIUM5

On the shore at Coney Island, the aquarium’s Oceanic Deck has a large reef exhibit. The deck is an outdoor space in the warmer months and is encased in glass walls during the colder seasons. It seats 200 or holds 350 for receptions and is the only space that can be rented during the day. The Sea Cliffs space includes a large rocky coast exhibit, and viewing tanks line the wall; it seats 150. Each exhibit is available for events in the evenings.

(Surf Ave. at West 8th St., Brooklyn, 718.741.3836) NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE5

The New York Hall of Science has a new miniature golf course. The museum’s 70,000-square-foot Science Playground holds 750 for receptions. The oval-shaped Viscusi Gallery has 42-foot ceilings and holds 325 for dinner and dancing. There are more than 400 handson exhibits throughout the museum. (47-01 111th St., Queens, 718.699.0005 ext. 371) QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM5

This open-air farmland museum features planting fields and a cornfield maze. The barn accommodates 120 people with a dance area. The orchard holds 1,000 for receptions or seated events and may be tented. With a covered top and open sides, the pavilion is available May to September and holds 85. (73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Queens, 718.347.3276 ext. 10) SONY WONDER TECHNOLOGY LAB

Within the Sony Plaza Public Arcade, this venue has four floors with several recently renovated and new interactive exhibition spaces. There is a 73-seat high-definition theater and a small adjacent reception area that overlooks the arcade. Food and beverages are limited to the reception area, and events of more than 75 guests often rent the arcade as well. (East 56th St. at Madison Ave., 212.833.7875)

Outdoor Spaces BATTERY PARK

All events at this 23-acre park on the southern tip of Manhattan require a permit from the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. With its sweeping views, expansive lawns, and waterfront esplanades, Battery Park often hosts open-air concerts in the summer and offers all of its spaces for events, including the Castle Clinton National Monument (which holds 1,200 for receptions) and its garden. Tenting is permitted.

(Broadway and Battery Place, 212.408.0226) BRYANT PARK

Home to HBO’s summer film screenings, Bryant Park’s eight-acre venue is behind the New York Public Library and bordered by promenades and perennial gardens. Events must be coordinated with the Bryant Park Corporation and generally require a city permit.

Events also typically require negotiations with the park on details such as tents, security, and caterers. A 17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink, called the Pond at Bryant Park, is installed each winter. (42nd St. between Fifth Ave. and Ave. of the Americas, 917.438.5119) BRYANT PARK—LE CARROUSEL

Designed by the Brooklyn-based Fabricon Carousel Company and featuring 14 fanciful animals, the carousel in Bryant Park turns to the sounds of French cabaret music. The carousel is on the south side of the lawn, and its use is subject to approval from the Bryant Park Corporation. Party packages and group rates are available. (25 West 40th St., 212.768.4242 ext. 129) CAROUSEL AT PROSPECT PARK

Built in 1912, this carousel was designed by Charles Carmel and was originally at Coney Island. It moved to Prospect Park in 1952, and the Prospect Park Alliance restored it in 1990. Now, the carousel is available for two-hour private rentals after public hours. It holds 60 guests. (Willink entrance at Empire Blvd. and Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, 718.287.6215) CENTRAL PARK—CONSERVATORY GARDEN

These six acres make up Central Park’s only formal

garden—which takes its name from a glass conservatory that once stood at the location—and actually comprise three gardens that are colorful and peaceful year-round and are inspired by Italian, English, and French landscaping, respectively. The space has three fountains. (East Side from 104th to 106th Sts., 212.360.2766)

the East River, a lawn surrounded by an L-shaped, seventiered concrete amphitheater, and a 50-foot-high light sculpture called the “Beacon of Progress.” (55 Water St., 212.963.7099) ELLIS ISLAND

park and have been used for competitive and charity walks and runs. Ongoing renovations may limit use of the space. (Battery Place to West 59th St., 212.627.2020) HUDSON RIVER PARK—CHELSEA WATERSIDE

This public location was extended to include a block once occupied by auto shops and has a field, a basketball court, and a playground. There are recreational facilities and gardens. (11th Avenue between West 22nd and West 29th Streets, 212.627.2020)

Central Park’s 13 acres of Kentucky bluegrass—with athletic fields, pedestrian paths, a special event area, and the Turtle Pond—were renovated in 1998. During the summer, the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera give free performances on the Great Lawn. (Central Park at 81st St., 212.408.0226)

The former port of entry for thousands of immigrants offers a variety of outdoor options for events. Receptions for as many as 1,000 people can fill the east lawn and the American Wall of Honor Circle, both of which have New York Harbor views. Both of these spaces, as well as the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, must be booked through catering operation Evelyn Hill. (New York Harbor, 212.344.0996)

CENTRAL PARK—NAUMBURG BANDSHELL

FLEA BY THE SEA

West of Rumsey Playfield and donated to Central Park

by Elkan Naumburg in 1923, this neo-Classical limestone band shell replaced the original cast-iron structure. The band shell hosts a wide variety of concerts and theatrical performances during the summer; SummerStage started here in the 1980s. (Central Park Mall between 66th and 72nd Sts., 212.408.0226)

Owned and operated by real estate developer Thor Equities, this new open-air market on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island offers tents for special events. Two tent sizes are available: 4,300 or 13,000 square feet. The larger tent comes with a full lighting and sound system. (Coney Island, 212.529.7413)

CENTRAL PARK—RUMSEY PLAYFIELD

The 172-acre Governors Island (seven minutes from Lower Manhattan by ferry) features views of the city skyline, the harbor, and the Statue of Liberty from its esplanade, which holds as many as 700 people for receptions. The 13-acre great lawn and numerous outdoor sports facilities, including ball fields and tennis courts, are available for rental for events. (New York Harbor, 212.440.2200)

HUDSON RIVER PARK—PIER 45

HERALD SQUARE

The 34th Street Partnership will coordinate the use of the areas adjacent to Herald and Greeley squares, helping to secure the necessary permits based on an event’s type, size, and technical requirements. (34th St. and Ave. of the Americas, 212.719.3434)

This Greenwich Village section of Hudson River Park has a play area with a turf surface, a recreation field, and wooden picnic tables. Food concessions are on the esplanade between Piers 45 and 46. The 31,000-square-foot space holds 2,000 people for events. (North of Christopher St. at the Hudson River, 212.627.2020)

NEW HIGH LINE PARK

HUDSON RIVER PARK—PIER 54

After years of anticipation, fund-raising, and restoration closely followed by local media, the park on the High Line finally opened in early June 2009. The mile-anda-half-long swath of green landscape, stretching from Gansevoort to West 20th Street, includes linear concrete planked walkways surrounded by trees and wild flowers, a sundeck, an area for public art exhibitions, and the remnants of its past life as an elevated rail structure.

Open daily, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the park has no official plan yet for event rentals. (Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street, 212.500.6035)

The Carpathia docked at this pier in 1912 carrying survivors of the Titanic, and the pier was home to the temporary, mobile Nomadic Museum in 2005. With its entrance adorned by a historic arched gate, this 55,000-square-foot pier—Hudson River Park’s main performance and event space—has hosted many events, among them a Marc Jacobs fashion show, Heritage of Pride celebrations, and a summer jazz festival. (West 13th St. at the Hudson River, 212.627.2020)

CENTRAL PARK—GREAT LAWN

The playfield is named after Mary Harriman Rumsey, sister of 1950s New York Governor Averell Harriman. Its stage is home to the Central Park SummerStage, the Good Morning America concert series, and the Central Park Film Festival. Rumsey Playfield can be rented for concerts and is often tented for Conservancy events. (East 72nd St. off Fifth Ave., 212.360.2756) CENTRAL PARK—WOLLMAN RINK

The 50,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space is available for events between October and April. Events have use of the rink (which can be covered for nonskating events after mid-April, when the rink is closed to the public), its indoor skating house, and the outdoor heated tent. The entire space holds 2,000 for receptions and becomes an amusement park during the summer months. (West 59th St. at Ave. of the Americas, 212.439.6900 ext. 13) CENTRAL PARK ZOO

This zoo covers five and a half acres, with outdoor spaces including the Central Garden (which holds 2,000 for receptions) and the Intelligence Garden (for receptions of 125). Winter events can be held in the rain-forest building, which holds 175 for receptions. The 40-seat Zoo Gallery has audiovisual capabilities. (830 Fifth Ave., 718.741.3836) ELEVATED ACRE

Managed by Aramark Catering, this space in the financial district holds as many as 750 and can be tented for private events. The venue is 30 feet above street level and includes a Brazilian hardwood boardwalk with views of

GOVERNORS ISLAND

HUDSON RIVER PARK—BIKEWAY

Operated by the park’s trust, Hudson River Park’s spaces are available for private rental but require special permits.

The five-mile bikeway’s two lanes travel the length of the

HUDSON RIVER PARK—PIER 40

The second-largest pier in Hudson River Park, Pier 40 has been the site of film series, workshops, and several fashion shows. As the Hudson River Park Trust continues to implement a development strategy for this section of the park, the main space available for private events is the picnic house at the southwestern edge of the pier.

Measuring 5,400 square feet, this area is enclosed, but glass walls open up to turn this into an outdoor space.

Permits are required to use the picnic house and can be obtained through the Hudson River Park Trust. (West Houston St. at the Hudson River, 212.627.2020) Pier 45 was part of the first phase in the river trust’s renovation project. With downtown views, the 850-footlong pier has wooden decking, grass areas, pavilions, and space for 4,000 people; it has hosted music performances.

(Christopher St. at the Hudson River, 212.627.2020) HUDSON RIVER PARK—PIER 46

HUDSON RIVER PARK—PIER 84

As part of the Hudson River Park Trust’s ongoing reconstruction plans, this 75,000-square-foot pier reopened to the public in October 2006. It is now the park’s largest pier and includes a large public plaza complete with an interactive fountain, a kayak boathouse, a community

The Terrace Club

The Terrace Club overlooking Rockefeller Center has private function rooms ideal for social events, corporate meetings and seminars.

The Terrace and Terrace Club room provide a perfect year round indoor/outdoor setting for corporate luncheons, dinners, weddings and other special events while enjoying a spectacular view of Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Enjoy a view of the Rockefeller Center holiday tree ... on our all season terrace enclosed with a view.

25 West 51st., New York, NY. 10019, phone: 212.626.9308, fax: 212.626.9393 For events, contact Gerard E. Kauper: gkauper@terraceclub.com

Outdoor Spaces garden, and a playground. (West 44th St. at the Hudson River, 212.627.2020)

Wollman Rink in Central Park in 1949. Groups of as many as 400 can reserve Prospect Park’s rink for ice-skating parties on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday evenings from November to March. From May to October, the space can be used for pedal boating. (Near Parkside and Ocean Aves. entrance, Brooklyn, 718.287.6215)

KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PROSPECT PARK—PARADE GROUND

The campus of this Brooklyn college has a one-acre beach with views of the Atlantic Ocean, full shower facilities, an area shaded by trees, and a patio that holds as many as 500 for receptions, as well as a band shell that seats 4,000 theater-style. Softball and baseball fields with spectator seating are also available, as are four outdoor tennis courts and an indoor swimming pool. (2001 Oriental Blvd., Brooklyn, 718.368.6684)

In the southernmost portion of Prospect Park, the Parade Ground opened in 1869. The 40-acre space has 11 fields, night lighting, and spectator seating in the baseball diamond for as many as 300 people. (Coney Island Ave. between Caton and Parkside Aves., Brooklyn, 718.287.6215) RINK BAR

In the middle of the Lincoln Center campus is Josie Robertson Plaza, an open-air space with a round black granite fountain, reminiscent of Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome. The entire space holds 2,000 for receptions. (West 65th St. and Broadway, 212.875.5037)

In winter, it’s the famed Rockefeller Center ice-skating rink, but from May through September, the space in front of the Prometheus statue is the Rink Bar. The venue features a canvas-covered bar and a large lounge scattered with café tables shaded with brightly colored umbrellas. The entire space seats 600 or holds as many as 2,000 for receptions. (Fifth Ave. between 49th and 50th Sts., 212.332.7606)

MADISON SQUARE PARK

SOLAR 1

The plazas in the Flatiron district stretch from 22nd to 25th streets, alongside the western edge of the park, but the park’s conservancy doesn’t handle the programming in these areas. The Flatiron 23rd Street Partnership does, and it encourages planners to send requests directly to the Street Activity Permit Office. (22nd to 25th Sts., 212.788.7567)

Solar 1, a nonprofit organization in Stuyvesant Cove Park, calls itself New York’s first “green energy, arts, and education center.” Its facility hosts sustainable film, dance, and music performances. A 500-square-foot building is available for small private events, and the adjacent estuary-inspired outdoor lot can hold as many as 500 people for receptions. (2420 F.D.R. Drive, Service Road East, 212.505.6050)

LINCOLN CENTER PLAZA

MODA OUTDOORS

Formerly known as Loggia, Moda Outdoors is the 6,000-square-foot outdoor portion of the Flatotel’s in-house restaurant, occupying the breezeway between the hotel and a neighboring building. Decorated with vine-covered steel arches and small globe lights, the space has a 50-foot glass ceiling and seats 200 people or holds as many as 400 for receptions. (135 West 52nd St., 212.887.9400) MUSEUM OF MODERN ART—ABBY ALDRICH ROCKEFELLER SCULPTURE GARDEN

Originally designed in 1953 by architect Philip Johnson, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden was expanded and renovated by Yoshio Taniguchi, the architect responsible for the museum’s recent renovations.

The garden displays sculptures from the museum’s collection and holds as many as 1,500 people for receptions. (11 West 53rd St., 212.708.9840) NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN

STATEN ISLAND BOTANICAL GARDEN

On the Snug Harbor Cultural Center campus, this garden includes the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, which holds as many as 225 people for receptions; the Carl Grillo Glass House, whose outdoor space holds 150 for receptions; and the Connie Gretz Secret Garden, which holds 150 for receptions. Two other areas—the white garden and the rose garden—hold 150 and 15, respectively, for receptions. The Tuscan Garden holds 150 for receptions.

(1000 Richmond Ter., Staten Island, 718.362.1011) TIMES SQUARE

The pedestrian plazas running from 42nd to 47th Street, beside Military Island and Duffy Square are now available for events. The Times Square Alliance still handles events at Duffy Square, but the Street Activity Permit Office oversees the use of the pedestrian areas and Military Island. (42nd to 47th Sts., Times Square Alliance: 212.768.1560; Street Activity Permit Office: 212.788.7567)

This garden covers 250 acres in the Bronx and includes the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory (a Victorian greenhouse) and the conservatory tent, which holds 1,000 people for receptions and can be used from April to July.

The beautiful Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden can hold as many as 350 for receptions. In addition to its green spaces, the garden also offers the 428-seat Arthur and Janet Ross Lecture Hall. (200th St. and Kazimiroff Blvd., Bronx, 718.817.8885)

TOBACCO WAREHOUSE

NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE—SCIENCE PLAYGROUND & ROCKET PARK

In the summer, Central Park’s Wollman Rink becomes the Victorian Gardens—a miniature amusement park complete with rides and games. Available from late May to mid-September, the venue features handcrafted rides and holds as many as 3,000 guests for receptions. (West 59th St. at Ave. of the Americas, 212.982.2229)

The Science Playground can hold as many as 750 people for receptions in its 70,000 square feet. The 3,500-squarefoot Rocket Park surrounds two refurbished rockets—a Titan and an Atlas booster, holdovers from the 1964 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Rocket Park holds 250 people for receptions or seats as many as 175. (47-01 111th St., Queens, 718.699.0005 ext. 371) NEW YORK MARBLE CEMETERY

This privately owned 19th-century East Village garden and burial ground is available for events. The half-acre landmark space is a secluded spot for daytime events; it has 12-foot walls and underground vaults and can be tented. There are restrictions on events in the evening, and no water, electricity, or bathrooms are provided by the venue. Tours of the grounds are available. (41 1/2 Second Ave., 516.922.7345) PALM HOUSE AT BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN

The Palm House is a unique, 5,000-square-foot Victorian greenhouse with lily pools and surrounding gardens, offering a scenic setting for receptions for as many as 400 people. The outdoor space—a terrace and garden— can be used in conjunction with the venue. The space must be booked through catering company Charles, Sally & Charles. (1000 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, 718.398.2400) THE POND AT BRYANT PARK

This former tobacco warehouse, within Empire Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood, has the rustic brick walls and cement floor you’d expect from a building built in 1871. Although the warehouse does not have a roof, the 7,200-square-foot space can be tented and can accommodate as many as 350 people for seated events. (26 New Dock St., Brooklyn, 212.866.2005) VICTORIAN GARDENS AMUSEMENT PARK

WATER TAXI BEACH

This Long Island City space is a half acre on a wharf— 400 tons of sand from the Jersey shore was trucked in to create a beach—and is only available during the summer. Operated by New York Water Taxi, the venue holds 800 for receptions or 300 for seated events and has on-site concessions. (2-03 Borden Ave., Queens, 212.742.1969 ext. 207) NEW WATER TAXI BEACH GOVERNORS ISLAND

In addition to its sandy outdoor venue in Long Island City, New York Water Taxi opened a beach spot on Governors Island in July 2009. This makeshift beach is on the northern side of the island, adjacent to the Governors Island ferry landing. Managed by the Harbor Experience Companies, the waterfront recreational facility has tons of sand (literally), a café and grill, volleyball and basketball areas, and a stage for concerts. (Governors Island, 877.974.6998) NEW WATER TAXI BEACH SOUTH STREET SEAPORT

Also operated by Harbor Experience Companies, Water Taxi Beach South Street Seaport opened over Memorial Day weekend in 2009. Like the locations in Long Island City and Governors Island, this beach does not permit swimming, but offers 18,000 square feet of sandy space and includes a food stand, a nine-hole miniature golf course, Ping-Pong tables, and a site for skee ball. (Pier 17, 19 Fulton St., 877.974.6998)

New York City’s only free admission ice-skating rink, the Pond at Bryant Park opens every November. The 17,000-square-foot rink holds 500, while an enclosed and heated skating pavilion holds 300. Celsius, a glassenclosed café and bar, holds 400 and can be rented for events. Also on site: the 400-square-foot Pond Party Room ideal for groups of 10-50. The skating rink sits in the The latest venue center of the park’s annual Holiday Shops at Bryant Park. (42nd St. between Fifth Ave. news and our and Ave. of the Americas, 212.661.6640) PROSPECT PARK—KATE WOLLMAN RINK

Opened in 1961, the Kate Wollman Rink was funded by the Wollman family, who also donated funds for construction of the

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comprehensive, searchable directory of event spaces

The Winter Garden is a 10-story, glassenclosed hall with views of the Hudson River. The atrium seats 800 or holds as many as 1,500 for receptions. The openair plaza can be tented and holds 400 for seated events or 1,000 for receptions.

(West St. between Vesey and Liberty Sts., 212.417.7143)

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New York Venue Directory

Private Clubs

PENN CLUB OF NEW YORK

CITIBABES

HARMONIE CLUB

PLAYERS CLUB

This 10,000-square-foot family club has a 1,500-squarefoot indoor playground, a gym with a rock-climbing wall, and six large classrooms. There is also a café with six large windows and chandeliers made from Popsicle sticks; it seats 60 people or holds 100 for receptions. (477 Broadway, 3rd Floor, 212.334.5440)

Built between 1904 and 1906 and designed by Stanford White, this club has three rooms with carved-wood ceilings, Corinthian-style pilasters, and limestone columns.

Each room can seat 250 or hold 300 for receptions. (4 East 60th St., 212.355.7404)

This club’s dining room has a small stage with a lighting and sound system; it seats 240 theater-style. Among its other rooms is a great hall, which holds 200 for receptions. A second-floor terrace overlooks Gramercy Park. (16 Gramercy Park South, 212.475.6116)

HARVARD CLUB OF NEW YORK CITY

PRINCETON CLUB OF NEW YORK

CITYVIEW

Only members can rent this club for private or business events. Among the event spaces is the wood-paneled Harvard Hall, which holds 300. The entire venue holds 700 for receptions. (35 West 44th St., 212.827.1200)

Members and sponsored guests may host events at this Ivy League club, which has three entertaining spaces; each holds 200. Eight meeting rooms and audiovisual equipment are available. A garden terrace holds 125. (15 West 43rd St., 212.596.1210)

This 80,000-square-foot sports facility and private club opened in April 2008. The club includes seven tennis courts, three squash courts, a café, a lounge, and a spa.

CityView offers corporate memberships and is available for private events. (43-34 32nd Place, Queens, 718.389.6252)

LIEDERKRANZ CLUB

This club’s dining room has dark carved-wood accents, including pilasters with gilded capitals; the space holds 250. Two banquet rooms each seat 70 or hold 100 for receptions. Events must be hosted by members. (30 West 44th St., 212.403.6619)

Founded in 1847, this private music society’s clubhouse has a ballroom with crystal chandeliers and parquet and carpeted floors, and another large room that has parquet floors throughout. Each of the rooms holds 110. A dining room and bar hold 50, and a basement room holds 60. (6 East 87th St., 212.534.0880)

RACQUET & TENNIS CLUB

METROPOLITAN CLUB

SOHO HOUSE NEW YORK5

This members-only space 30 stories above Midtown has a main dining room that seats 60 or holds 100 for receptions, and also features a wraparound terrace. The wine room seats 20. The club has an American menu overseen by chef Jerrome Abustan. (146 West 57th St., 212.262.7066)

Built in 1891 by J.P. Morgan, this Italianate palace has 11 rooms available to rent, including the great hall, which holds 250, and the main dining room, which holds 400.

The entire ground floor holds 1,500. The penthouse dining room and terrace are available for weekend events. The area holds 300. (1 East 60th St., 212.838.7400)

CLUB 101

MIDTOWN EXECUTIVE CLUB

Members and nonmembers alike can host functions at the New York location of this London club. Its much-talked-about rooftop pool is not available for private events, but the converted warehouse space houses a library, a 44-seat screening room, and the white room, all of which may be used for events. A private dining room holds 14 guests. (29-35 Ninth Ave., 212.627.9800)

Within a Midtown office building, this executive club has six private rooms that combine to seat 100. The venue’s main room seats 300 or holds 350 for receptions. All of the rooms are at ground level; member sponsorship is not required for event rental. (101 Park Ave., 212.687.1045)

This club contains Rumford Hall (a columned space that holds 150 for receptions), as well as a Victorian-style dining room that seats 108. The Priestly Room conference space seats 150. A 20-seat boardroom is also on site. (40 West 45th St., 212.626.9308)

COLONY CLUB

MONTAUK CLUB

In 1903, this club was the first of its kind for women in New York. Within its Georgian-style building is a ballroom that holds 350 for receptions. The loggia members’ room seats 110 or holds 150 for receptions. A private dining room seats 34. (564 Park Ave., 212.838.4200)

This 1891 Venetian Gothic building has stained-glass windows and terra-cotta panels that depict the Montauk Indian tribe. Both floors hold 130; a boardroom seats 12.

Nonmembers are required to obtain a trial membership to host events. (25 Eighth Ave., Brooklyn, 718.638.0800)

3 WEST CLUB

CORE CLUB5

NATIONAL ARTS CLUB

TOWN TENNIS CLUB5

This invitation-only club has six floors with a bar and lounge, a garden terrace, private dining and meeting spaces, a screening room, a spa with private cabanas, a salon, and a gym. Only members may host events. (66 East 55th St., 212.486.6600)

Two front parlors combine to hold 100. The grand gallery seats 200 or holds 250 for receptions, the sculpture court seats 75 or holds 90 for receptions, and the Marquis Gallery holds 40. Only members and sponsored guests may host events at the club. (15 Gramercy Park South, 212.475.3424)

This private sports club has kitchen facilities, audiovisual equipment, and a dining area. Town Tennis offers its indoor clubhouse and its outdoor courts—which can be tented—for events. The club has a capacity of 250. (430 East 56th St., 212.752.4059)

DOUBLES CLUB

NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB

UNION CLUB OF NEW YORK

Underground in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel, this club is a private dining and entertainment venue. Events may only be hosted through a member. Prominent features include red walls and banquettes. A dining room, dance floor, and bar hold 200. (783 Fifth Ave., 212.751.9595)

Members can rent the elegant ninth-floor card room and lounge; the space holds 300. Of five Olympic suites, some can seat as many as 30 for meetings, and all can be combined for receptions for 150. (180 Central Park South, 212.767.7068)

New York City’s oldest social club—it was founded in 1836—may be rented by members or sponsored guests.

Its first-floor ballroom holds 400 for receptions, 200 for seated events, or 150 with room for dance space. (101 East 69th St., 212.606.3415).

DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

NEW YORK CITY BAR ASSOCIATION

UNION LEAGUE CLUB

Occupying four floors, this club’s spaces include the Wainwright Room, which holds 250, and the Pine Street Room, which holds 150. The entire building holds 1,000 for receptions. Nonmembers may rent the facilities for events. (60 Pine St., 212.422.1997)

The association’s reception hall seats 160 or holds 300 for receptions. There are 10 meeting rooms, including the Stimson Room (which seats 75 theater-style) and the meeting hall (which seats 450 theater-style). Spaces are available during the day Monday through Thursday. (42 West 44th St., 212.382.6637)

The origins of this club date to 1863, and its current home dates to 1931. The club’s largest spaces are the 3,192-squarefoot Lincoln Hall and the 3,192-square-foot main dining room; each seats 330 banquet-style or holds 450 for receptions. Sixteen other spaces are available for event rental.

(38 East 37th St., 212.685.3800)

Available for corporate members, the club’s secondfloor event spaces include the Clark Room—a spacious ballroom with high ceilings—and the library, which has stained-glass windows and doors. Both rooms open onto a terrace and hold 300 for receptions or seats 120 when combined. (46 East 70th St., 212.628.8383)

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY TORCH CLUB

UNIVERSITY CLUB

Only people affiliated with the university have access to this club, which includes a dining room and a taproom with a bar. Each space seats 70 or holds 130 for receptions.

There are three conference rooms; two combine to seat 30, while the third seats 20. (18 Waverly Place, 212.992.9158)

Members and sponsored guests may entertain at this structure in Midtown. Built in 1899 by Charles McKim, its facade resembles an Italian Renaissance palace.

Conference rooms and banquet halls are available for rental. (1 West 54th St., 212.247.2100)

GRAND HAVANA ROOM

NEW YORK YACHT CLUB

YALE CLUB OF NEW YORK CITY5

Cigar smoking is still allowed at this venue. On the 39th floor of a Midtown tower, the club offers expansive city views. A dining room and lounge are available to members. Membership is by invitation only. (666 Fifth Ave., 212.245.1600)

A Louis Comfort Tiffany-designed stained-glass ceiling adorns this institution’s model room. The room holds 250. The grillroom is a restaurant space that resembles the interior of a yacht, with wood-plank walls and curved beams, and seats 150. (37 West 44th St., 212.201.4337)

Yale, Dartmouth, and University of Virginia alumni may entertain here. A 4,032-square-foot ballroom holds 400.

A library holds 200. The terrace holds 250 for receptions.

The lounge seats 170, and two banquet rooms can be combined to seat 150. (50 Vanderbilt Ave., 212.716.2122)

CLUB 55

In addition to the ballroom, condos, and restaurant at the Cipriani Group’s Wall Street property, this private members club opened in 2008. On the lower level, Club 55 has three private dining rooms, a library, a billiard room, and a 24-seat screening room. (55 Wall St., 212.699.4094) CLUB METROPOLITAN5

EXPLORERS CLUB

Open since 1918, this building imitates an Italian Renaissance palace. The club offers four squash courts, one doubles squash court, one racquets court, two tennis courts, and two event rooms. Private events must be hosted or sponsored by members. (370 Park Ave., 212.753.9700)

TERRACE CLUB AT ROCKEFELLER PLAZA5

This private executive club is in the Manhattan Centre Hotel. The Terrace Club offers its members private rooms for functions, a terrace for dining, a club-room lounge, and subsidized rates at the hotel. Membership is not required.

(25 West 51st St., 212.626.9308) This club is also known as the Women’s National Republican Club. A ballroom holds 300, and the grand salon dining room holds 250. Two cocktail rooms hold 120 and 160 for receptions. (3 West 51st St., 212.582.5454)

Religious Spaces CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE

The world’s largest Gothic cathedral—and headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of New York—dominates Morningside Heights. Its crossing and great choir seat 900, but are only open to nonprofit community-based organizations. (1047 Amsterdam Ave., 212.316.7482) LANDMARK ON THE PARK

The home of the Universalist Church of New York, this church dates to 1897, and its 7,500-square-foot sanctuary seats 400 for banquets or holds 550 for receptions. Also available are six conference rooms, a 3,500-square-foot gym with an attached kitchen, and a more intimate 22-seat chapel. (160 Central Park West, 212.595.8410) MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH

This gray limestone Protestant Dutch Reformed church has a single tall spire and a large sanctuary, which can no longer be rented for events since receiving landmark

166 bizbash.com may/june 2010

status. Available spaces include three event halls, the largest of which seats 170 or holds 200 for receptions. (1 West 29th St., 212.686.2770) RIVERSIDE CHURCH

Modeled after the Chartres Cathedral in France, this interdenominational church has a nave that seats 2,500.

Within the church’s 20-floor, 400-foot tower is a 110-seat lounge. The assembly hall has stone pillars and a stage; it seats 200 or holds 500 for receptions. Other spaces include the south hall, which holds 500, and a 250-seat theater. (490 Riverside Drive, 212.870.6766) ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH5

This Episcopal church complex includes two wood-paneled rooms that open onto a 1,000-square-foot terrace; these combined spaces seat 110 or hold 150 for receptions.

An outdoor café and a restaurant occupy the church’s renovated great hall, and a 5,000-square-foot terrace

holds 400 for receptions. The Cloister Garden holds 40.

(109 East 50th St., 212.378.0254) ST. MARK’S CHURCH IN-THE-BOWERY5

This church’s sanctuary holds 300 for receptions or seated events (though no food or drink is permitted), and the building’s parish hall holds 125 and has an adjoining kitchen. Events can also be held outside in the West Yard Garden, which holds 200. (131 East 10th St., 212.674.6377) WALLACE HALL AT THE CHURCH OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

Under the church’s sanctuary, this space, built in the 1800s and renovated in 1990, has large window wells with stained-glass windows. The 8,000-square-foot space seats 500 banquet-style, and has a 40- by 30-foot stage and an adjacent kitchen. Two meeting rooms each seat 40 theater-style. Three meeting spaces in the parish house can also be rented, ranging between 285 and 550 square feet. (980 Park Ave., 212.288.3588)

Restaurants

ATLANTIC GRILL5

ABBOCCATO5

ALTO

AT VERMILION

The Blakely Hotel’s restaurant is Abboccato, opened by the Livanos family, owners of Oceana and Molyvos. The main space accommodates 75 seats. Chef Jim Botsacos serves Italian fare. A 20-seat terrace, known as “the Terrazza,” is a semiprivate enclosed room that overlooks the New York City Center. (136 West 55th St., 212.265.4000)

Vicente Wolf designed this 5,000-square-foot space, named for the Italian term for gourmet cuisine, alta cucina, and the Alto Adige region of Italy. The dining room seats 85, and the mezzanine holds two private spaces— one seats 16, the other 24. (11 East 53rd St., 212.308.1099)

Chicago restaurateur Rohini Dey opened At Vermilion, a sister Indian-Latin American eatery to her spot in Illinois.

This restaurant features a two-story fountain, a 22-foot mesh chandelier, and a backlit bar. There’s room for 30 in the private room. The entire space seats 450 or holds 600 for receptions. (480 Lexington Ave., 212.871.6600)

NEW ABC KITCHEN

Amy Ruth’s opened in 1998 and displays African-American art on a bimonthly basis. The soul-food restaurant names its dishes after prominent African-Americans, and its private dining room—the Reggie Harris Pavilion—seats 85. (113 West 116th St., 212.280.8779)

Restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened this restaurant in March 2010. Taking over the space inside ABC Carpet & Home formerly occupied by Lucy Latin Kitchen, the 150-seat ABC Kitchen offers a market-driven menu and organic wines. (35 East 18th St., 212.475.5829) NEW ABE & ARTHUR’S

The EMM Group’s replacement for Lotus opened in October 2009 as Abe & Arthur’s, a 202-seat restaurant and lounge. Spread across two levels, the flexible venue offers several areas for private events and groups, including the mezzanine level, which has its own bar, restrooms, and DJ booth. (409 West 14th St., 646.289.3930) ABIGAEL’S

Abigael’s on Broadway is one of the only non-deli restaurants to offer upscale kosher cuisine. The bilevel Victorian-style venue has nine rooms, ranging from the study, which holds 140 for receptions or seats 90, to the library, which holds 20 for receptions or seats 12. Sushi and pan-Asian cuisine as well as global cuisine are served in both the Green Tea Lounge and in the main dining room.

The space holds 400. (1407 Broadway, 212.575.1407) ADOUR

Chef Alain Ducasse opened this modern-looking space in Midtown’s St. Regis in 2008. In addition to the main dining room, the restaurant has a four-seat interactive wine bar, where tasting notes are projected onto the surface of the bar. Private wine vaults complement the 12-seat private dining room. (2 East 55th St., 212.710.2277) AGOZAR

Agozar, a brightly colored slice of Cuba, features an L-shaped wooden bar and a cozy lounge in the front of the restaurant. The dining room’s sunny, golden walls and vibrant, eye-catching mosaic tables add to the feel of old Havana. The entire space seats 71 or holds 125 for receptions. (324 Bowery, 212.677.6773) NEW AGUA DULCE

In August 2009, Daniela and Chris LaMotta opened this 200-seat bilevel restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. Divided into several different semi-private areas, Agua Dulce has room for seven at a communal table facing the grill station, 40 seated in the lower level dining room, and 10 in a niche in the main dining room. (802 Ninth Ave., 212.262.1299) NEW THE AINSWORTH

Matt Shendell, president of the Paige Restaurant Group, converted his loft-like event space on West 26th Street into a Pan-Asian restaurant in September 2009. Redesigned to accommodate a restaurant, the interior includes antique mirrors, banquette seating, and wooden accents. At 6,000 square feet, the Ainsworth is also available for corporate events. (122 West 26th St., 212.741.0646) NEW ALDEA

Chef George Mendes, who honed his skills in the kitchens of Bouley, Le Zoo, and Wallsé, opened this solo venture in May 2009. Aldea offers seasonal Spanish and Portugueseinspired fare in a bilevel space. In addition to a six-seat chef’s counter, there’s also a 12-seat private dining room on the mezzanine. (31 West 17th St., 212.675.7223) ALEO5

AMY RUTH’S

ANGELO & MAXIE’S5

Architect Morris Nathanson’s design for this 223-seat steak house includes 1930s Art Deco decor accented with murals of carousing cows. The masculine space has warm wood paneling, comfortable booth seating, and a semiprivate dining room that seats 45. An 18-seat outdoor space is available. (233 Park Ave. South, 212.220.9200) ANNISA

Following a fire in 2009, this airy, minimalist venue reopened in April 2010 and serves contemporary Asianinfluenced American fare from chef Anita Lo. The restaurant features chenille banquettes and a blond-wood bar and can seat 45. There is no private room, but the restaurant can close for events. (13 Barrow St., 212.741.6699) ANTHOS

Restauranter Donatella Arpaia opened this modern Greek restaurant in Midtown. The interior of the bilevel venue features a soft palette of pink and brown, with cherryblossom artwork and a backlit mural of pink flowers. The dining room seats 95 people, the lounge seats 10, and the bar seats 10. The 30-seat dining room upstairs is available for events. (36 West 52nd St., 212.582.6900) AQUAGRILL5

Considered one of the city’s finest seafood restaurants, this spot has a brightly colored dining room and a creative menu from chef-owner Jeremy Marshall. The main dining space seats 80, while a raised terrace seats 30. (210 Spring St., 212.274.0505) AQUAVIT

The hallmarks of Scandinavian design—clean lines and beautiful wood—fill chef Marcus Samuelsson’s Swedish restaurant. A private dining room behind the bar has audiovisual capabilities and Internet access; it seats 40 or holds 50 for receptions. (65 East 55th St., 212.307.7311 ext. 4) ARABELLE

The restaurant at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Arabelle serves French-American fare in a 2,887-square-foot main dining room that seats 100. The restaurant offers an elegant, ivory-colored 280-square-foot private dining space that seats 24 or holds 30 for receptions. A bar holds 100 for receptions. (37 East 64th St., 212.606.4647) ARIUM

Clean, spare, and somewhat elegant (for the meatpacking district), the 40-seat Arium café opened in 2006. The white, columned, loftlike interior features antique-style furniture, smooth wooden floors, and a rebuilt 1906 Steinway B piano. (31 Little West 12th St., 212.463.8630) ARMANI RISTORANTE

Atop the 43,000-square-foot Giorgio Armani store that opened on Fifth Avenue in February 2009 is this new Italian restaurant. Like the store, the 125-seat eatery was designed by architects Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas and features a minimal palette of beige and black. (717 Fifth Ave., 212.207.1902)

In the Flatiron district, Mediterranean and Italian fusion restaurant Aleo has a garden that seats 50. The space has olive-colored walls, green foliage, and waterfalls. During the cooler months, the 50-seat garden is covered and heated, and can be used for private parties year-round. (7 West 20th St., 212.691.8136)

ARNO RISTORANTE

ALFREDO OF ROME

ARTISANAL FROMAGERIE & BISTRO5

This Italian restaurant offers three private dining rooms— Cicciolina, Tiber, and Baccus—that can be combined (to seat 80 or hold 125 for receptions) or used independently for events. The 90-seat semiprivate Forum Room holds 100 for receptions. The entire space seats 225 or holds 300 for receptions. (4 West 49th St., 212.397.0100)

Terrance Brennan’s cheese haven in Murray Hill has 250 international varieties of cheese and a cheese-slicing station in the rear. Artisanal also serves classic French bistro fare and has a modestly priced international wine list, offering about 120 wines. The entire space seats 160 or holds 350 for receptions. (2 Park Ave., 212.725.8585)

ALICE’S TEA CUP

ASIA DE CUBA

Sisters Haley and Lauren Fox opened this Upper West Side teahouse with decor inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The 1,200-square-foot space can accommodate 50 seated and 70 standing in the main room, and 20 in the adjacent Raspberry Room, a private dining area. (102 West 73rd St., 212.799.3006)

This Philippe Starck-designed Asian-Latin fusion restaurant from Jeffrey Chodorow is inside the Morgans Hotel.

The two-story venue has a 2,200-square-foot, 140-seat lower level with a 30-foot communal table and a 15-foothigh light box featuring a photo of a waterfall. The 1,700square-foot upstairs space seats 50 or holds 120 for receptions. (237 Madison Ave., 212.726.7755)

ALLEGRETTI

Chef Alain Allegretti’s eponymous restaurant in the Flatiron district opened in August 2008. Allegretti, previously the executive chef at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park’s Atelier, serves a menu of Provençal cuisine that reflects the influence of his French childhood. The simply decorated spot seats 74, including a 12-seat bar. (46 West 22nd St., 212.206.0555)

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

Italian restaurant Arno has three private rooms for events, all of which have fashion photographs lining the walls.

The largest, the Boticelli Room, holds 180; the Fiorentina seats 60; and the Fashion Room seats 40. The entire restaurant holds 400. (141 West 38th St., 212.944.7420)

ASIATE

The in-house restaurant of the Mandarin Oriental New York hotel features cuisine from chef Tony Robertson and a modern design by Tony Chi. The dining room seats 90, and a semiprivate dining area next to the restaurant’s impressive floor-to-ceiling wine rack seats 10. (80 Columbus Cir., 212.805.8800)

Owned by B.R. Guest Restaurants, Atlantic Grill features a sushi bar in the front and a large, open, 200-seat dining room with pale blue walls and a skylight. The rear of the dining room offers U-shaped banquettes. An outdoor café can seat 25. (1341 Third Ave., 212.988.9200)

AUGUST

Andrew Chapman opened this European restaurant in the West Village in 2004. Executive chef Terrence Gallivan’s menu includes dishes from different regions in Europe and a wine list to complement them. The cozy 65-seat space features wooden banquettes, antique floorboards, and a heated atrium. (359 Bleecker St., 212.929.8727) NEW AUREOLE5

Charlie Palmer’s Aureole opened in its new location in the Bank of America Tower in June 2009. With a menu of progressive American fare, the space includes a bar and lounge with a sophisticated cocktail program, a terrace for warm-weather dining, and a private room that can seat as many as 60 guests. (135 West 42nd St., 212.319.1660) AURORA SOHO

The owners of Williamsburg’s Aurora opened a Manhattan location of the rustic Italian restaurant in 2007. The outpost has 68 seats and an interior similar to the one in Brooklyn, with exposed brick and wooden tables. An extensive list of Italian wines complements the authentic Italian cuisine. (510 Broome St., 212.334.9020) NEW A VOCE COLUMBUS

The second outpost of the Marlon Abela Restaurant Corporation’s A Voce restaurant opened in September 2009. Located inside the Time Warner Center, A Voce Columbus has 9,000 square feet of space, a 114-seat dining room, and a 66-seat private dining area. The focal point of the eatery’s interior are walls lined with 9,000 bottles of wine. (10 Columbus Cir., 3rd Floor, 646.358.3770) A VOCE MADISON5

Owned by the London-based Marlon Abela Restaurant Corporation, this American-influenced Italian restaurant opened in 2006. The 94-seat venue, designed by Tony Chi, has walnut wood flooring, white and brown walls, and olive-green leather-topped tables. A 94-seat patio is available. (41 Madison Ave., 212.545.8555) AVRA ESTIATORIO5

This restaurant offers Greek and Mediterranean cuisine in a dining room designed by architect Yianni Skordas to look like a Greek home, with limestone floors, whitewashed walls, and simple wooden furnishings. The seafood restaurant seats 180 people, while a terrace seats 50. (141 East 48th St., 212.759.8550) AZALEA5

Azalea features modern Italian cuisine in an airy space designed by Rick Daley. An 18-foot mahogany ceiling soars above the dining room, where guests dine on meat- and seafood-centric cuisine, as well as fresh pasta, inspired

by Parma and the Amalfi Coast. The space seats 90, and a terrace seats 40. (224 West 51st St., 212.262.0105) BABBO

In operation since 1998, chef Mario Batali’s Babbo is a 90-seat split-level Greenwich Village venue (formerly the Coach House) that received the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant award the year it opened. Wine director Luca Pasquinelli oversees the extensive wine list.

(110 Waverly Place, 212.777.0303) BAGATELLE

This neighborhood bistro, reminiscent of a Provençal café, serves contemporary French cuisine by executive chef Nicolas Cantrel. The restaurant holds as many as 150 people, and is owned by Remi Laba and Aymerie Clemente. (409 West 13th St., 212.675.2400) BALTHAZAR

Keith McNally’s bustling SoHo eatery has warm yellow walls and ceiling columns, large antique mirrors, tiled floors, and large frosted-glass front windows that look out onto Spring Street. Serving French bistro fare, the space seats 175 or holds 250 for receptions and can be closed for private events. (80 Spring St., 212.965.1414) BAR AMERICAIN

Chef Bobby Flay opened this brasserie in 2005. The venue has a raw bar, a 28-foot bar that seats 15, and a 200-seat dining room. Two private dining rooms seat 45 or hold 60 for receptions. For larger events, the two rooms can be combined with the mezzanine to seat 80 or hold 150 for receptions. (152 West 52nd St., 212.265.9701) BARBETTA5

Open since 1906, this antique-decorated Italian restaurant has four private dining rooms, including an 18-seat wine library that holds 25 for receptions and the 36-seat Rose Room, which holds 45 for receptions. Barbetta added its 80-seat garden in 1963, with an intricate stone fountain and 100-year-old trees—details reminiscent of Italian country estates. (321 West 46th St., 212.246.9171) BAR BOULUD

Daniel Boulud’s casual wine bar and bistro on the Upper

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New York Venue Directory

Restaurants

group. The Art Deco-influenced decor in the dining room is uncomplicated—vaulted ceilings and beige walls with brass sconces. There is seating for 199 with an additional 25 seats outside. (7 East 54th St., 212.688.1999)

that features grilled dishes and sushi. There is room for 14 at the bar, 12 at the sushi bar, and 20 in a semiprivate area.

(6 Columbus Cir., 212.397.0404)

West Side opened in January 2008. Bar Boulud has a 116-seat main dining area and three private dining rooms (the largest seats 70). Chef Boulud serves French bistro fare with an emphasis on handmade charcuterie. (1900 Broadway, 212.595.0303)

BIG DADDY’S DINER

In 2005, the owners of City Crab and Duke’s opened this American diner. Big Daddy’s combines all things ’70s and ’80s (think Pac-Man, tater tots, The Brady Bunch, and retro pink Formica tables). A balcony can hold 35 guests, and the entire venue holds 150 for receptions. (239 Park Ave. South, 212.477.1500)

Danny Meyer’s take on urban barbecue has a casual roadhouse look, with large splayed light fixtures that resemble giant asterisks illuminating the room’s brick walls, exposed steel piping, midnight blue tables, and red vinyl chairs. A small 35-seat balcony overlooks the bar, and in the basement, Jazz Standard seats 135 people or holds 160 for receptions. (116 East 27th St., 212.447.7733)

NEW BILL’S BAR & BURGER

BLUE WATER GRILL5

Stephen Hanson’s B.R. Guest Restaurant Group took over the Meatpacking district’s Hog Pit space in October 2009 and turned it into a bar and restaurant. Called Bill’s Bar & Burger, the 75-seat eatery serves casual fare like burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches complemented by a selection of local and imported beer. (22 Ninth Ave., 212.331.0328)

Blue Water Grill’s decor is simple and classic: white walls and tablecloths, and accents of blue in the furniture. This seafood restaurant has live jazz and two dining rooms in addition to the main dining room—the 36-seat Bank Vault and the 90-seat jazz room downstairs (which can be booked for private lunches). Sidewalk seating is available for 50. (31 Union Sq. West, 212.331.0328)

BARBOUNIA

After opening Nice Matin and Marseille, Simon Oren, David Sasson, and Isaac Kestenberg replaced Patria with this Mediterranean restaurant. The dining room seats 140, the bar seats 14, and a communal table seats 16. (250 Park Ave. South, 212.995.0242) BARBUTO5

Chef Jonathan Waxman’s Italian restaurant in the Industria Superstudio photo studio features a woodburning oven and antique furnishings. Serving seasonal dishes, Barbuto seats 86, with a kitchen and a private room that seat 14 and 12. There are 20 sidewalk seats. (775 Washington St., 212.924.9700) NEW BAR HENRY

The owners of Café Henri opened this bistro in November 2009. The 65-seat Bar Henry is furnished with a 19th century mahogany bar, an Italian marble floor, and vintage brass chandeliers. The wine list has more than 200 bottles overseen by John Slover, former sommelier of Blue Hill and Cru. (90 West Houston St., 646.448.4559) BAROLO RESTAURANT AND GARDEN5

Barolo offers Northern Italian fare and an extensive wine list in a simple, spacious dining room. The three separate rooms are able to accommodate 450 guests, and an indoor terrace area seats 125 or holds 150 for receptions. A garden with rows of cherry trees seats 200 or holds 300 for receptions. (398 West Broadway, 212.226.2055) BAR STUZZICHINI

Bar Stuzzichini offers a lower-level private room which seats 40 or holds 65 for receptions. The Flatiron-district eatery serves small plates, and its main dining room is furnished with a long bar, semicircular banquettes, and wooden furniture. (928 Broadway, 212.780.5100) BATTERY GARDENS5

Battery Gardens replaced American Park at the Battery with a white, beige, and celery-colored dining room and event space. Upstairs is the harbor-view room, exclusively for special events: It seats 220 with a dance floor or holds 350 for receptions, and has two terraces that hold 90 and a downstairs patio that holds 120. (Inside Battery Park, opposite 17 State St., 212.809.5508) BEACON

This Midtown eatery offers a classic environment of white tablecloths and hardwood floors with tawny wooden furnishings in a trilevel space. The 200-seat dining room has an open kitchen where diners can watch the grilling action. The private mezzanine seats 50; the club room seats 90. (25 West 56th St., 212.332.0501) BECCO

This Lidia Bastianich Italian eatery offers its atrium for private events, seating 40 guests, which when combined with the boardroom will seat 100. The upstairs dining room seats 70 or holds 100 for receptions, and the bar seats 50. Becco’s menu is full of budget-friendly, familystyle classics. (355 West 46th St., 212.397.7597) BEN BENSON’S STEAKHOUSE5

Open since 1982, this steak house has a classic look: white walls and tablecloths, dark wood wainscoting, and hardwood floors. Ben Benson’s upstairs private event space seats 80 or holds 125 for receptions. The outdoor café seats 70. (123 West 52nd St., 212.581.8888) BENJAMIN STEAKHOUSE

This meat-eater’s spot in the Dylan Hotel is the venture of a former chef from steak authority Peter Luger, Arturo McLeod, and business partner Benjamin Prelvukaj (also a Luger alum). Benjamin Steakhouse serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the 60-seat mezzanine may be used for private events. (52 East 41st St., 212.297.9177) BENOIT

Chef Alain Ducasse opened this eatery. In addition to the 102-seat main dining room and a 31-seat bar, the venue has a 60-seat private room, which can be divided into three separate areas to host smaller groups. There is also a 10-seat chef’s table set in an antique 19th-century apothecary from Bordeaux. (60 West 55th St., 646.943.7373) BEPPE

Executive chef Marc Taxiera serves Italian fare in a space that resembles a Tuscan farmhouse. The venue was designed by Bogdanow Partners Architects and includes a fireplace. The main dining room seats 100 people, and a private room seats 30. (45 East 22nd St., 212.982.8422) BG

Bergdorf Goodman’s seventh-floor restaurant opened in 2005. The venue was designed by Kelly Wearstler and contrasts de Gournay chinoiserie wallpaper with curvedback 18th-century-style chairs, icy blue and bright green accents, and mirrored panels. BG seats 80 and has a 10-seat bar. (754 Fifth Ave., 212.872.8977) BICE RISTORANTE

Adam Tihany designed this eatery named for the Milanese branch (which opened in 1926) from the same restaurant

168 bizbash.com may/june 2010

OPENING SOON BILL’S BAR & BURGER—ROCKEFELLER CENTER

Following the 2009 opening of Bill’s Bar & Burger in the Meatpacking district, Stephen Hanson’s B.R. Guest Restaurant Group will open a second outpost at Rockefeller Center. Expected to open in May 2010, the 563-seat restaurant will occupy an 11,000-square-foot bilevel space. (16 West 51st St.) NEW BISTRO VENDOME

In February 2010, Pascal and Virginie Petiteau opened this French bistro. Designed to be cozy and comfortable, the bilevel townhouse has a 92-seat dining room, 10-seat bar, and room for 16 in its outdoor garden. For groups there are two private dining rooms. The largest holds 40 people. (405 East 58th St., 212.935.9100) BLACK DUCK5

Inside a restored 18th-century brownstone, Black Duck’s 75-seat dining room has an alabaster bar, candles, and burgundy walls. In the summer, French doors open onto an outdoor space. The restaurant holds 100 for receptions.

(122 East 28th St., 212.204.5240) BLAUE GANS

Kurt Gutenbrunner took over casual bistro Le Zinc in 2005.

Like Le Zinc before it, the 85-seat “Blue Goose” is low-key and casual, decorated with European art, film posters, and communal seating. On the menu is Gutenbrunner’s informal German nosh. (139 Duane St., 212.571.8880) OPENING SOON BLT BAR & GRILL5

The restaurant of the W New York Downtown is set to debut in August 2010. The bilevel BLT Bar & Grill will offer a 28-seat bar, 50-seat dining room, and 90-person patio as well as another dining area on the second floor and a 24-seat private room. Planned for the menu are modern takes on classic American bar food. (123 Washington St.) BLT FISH

BLT Restaurant Group’s BLT Steak has a first-floor casual dining room called the Fish Shack, a second-floor event space, and a fine-dining room on the top floor. The event space seats 66 or holds as many as 120 for receptions and has full audiovisual capabilities, a full-service bar, and private bathrooms. (21 West 17th St., 212.691.8888) BLT MARKET

BLT Restaurant Group’s bistro opened in the Ritz-Carlton Central Park in 2007. The restaurant’s menu rotates monthly. The space features Marilyn Sommer paintings, fluted walls, and wooden furniture, all in shades of coffee and cream. BLT Market seats 100 for dinner. (1430 Ave. of the Americas, 212.521.6125) BLT PRIME5

The third bistro to open in the BLT empire was this meatcentric restaurant. The 5,000-square-foot, 100-seat main dining room features a glass-paneled dry-aging room, a semi-open kitchen, and skylights. The 10,000-square-foot space also includes two kitchens and a 45-seat private dining room. In addition, sidewalk seating is available for 12 people. (111 East 22nd St., 212.995.8570) BLT STEAK

The first of the BLT restaurants opened with chef Laurent Tourondel and designed by Michael Bagley, BLT Steak has a 23-foot zinc bar, chocolate- and caramel-colored accents, and suede paneling. A private event space seats 18 or holds 30 for receptions, and features audiovisual amenities such as a plasma screen. (106 East 57th St., 212.752.7470) BLUE FIN

Part of the B.R. Guest restaurant group, Blue Fin is the younger, hipper sister to the Blue Water Grill. This eatery, the in-house restaurant for the W Hotel–Times Square, serves seafood fare in a two-story, 485-seat space. Three private dining rooms are on the second floor. (1567 Broadway, 212.981.1400) BLUE HILL

Dan Barber, whom the James Beard Foundation named the Best Chef in New York City in 2006, has been serving New American fare since 2000 at Blue Hill, a restaurant inside a 19th-century West Village town house. The space seats 55 or holds 100 for receptions and offers an 18-seat garden room. (75 Washington Place, 212.539.1776) BLUE RIBBON SUSHI BAR & GRILL

The Midtown branch of SoHo’s successful sushi restaurant opened in 2007 inside the 6 Columbus hotel. The 160-seat lobby-level eatery has decor similar to that of its downtown sibling (Blue Ribbon Sushi) and offers a menu

BLUE SMOKE

BOATHOUSE IN CENTRAL PARK5

This restaurant and event space is a pavilionlike structure on the east side of Central Park’s lake. With views of the park, the Boathouse offers the Lake Room, surrounded by French doors that open onto an English-style garden for events. The 4,500-square-foot garden pavilion is available year-round and seats 300 or holds as many as 500 for receptions. (Fifth Ave. at 72nd St., 212.517.2233) BOBBY VAN’S

Bobby Van’s Steakhouse replaced Vine restaurant. The bilevel restaurant has kept the original venue’s vault— using the room as a private space that holds 500 for receptions. Two boardrooms are also available, one seating 20, the other 30. The seventh East Coast location of the steakhouse chain opened in 2006 in Midtown; the restaurant has private dining facilities for 100. (Steakhouse: 25 Broad St., 212.344.8463; Grill: 135 West 50th St., 212.957.5050) BOBO5

This restaurant is spread across two levels of a brownstone and decorated with antique furnishings and curios. The 100-seat eatery offers a dining bar and pantry bar downstairs, and a main dining area, bar, and garden upstairs.

James Beard Award-winning chef Patrick Connolly serves a menu of European-influenced dishes made with seasonal ingredients. (181 West 10th St., 212.486.2626) BOCCA5

Sister restaurant to the East Village’s Cacio e Pepe and the Upper West Side’s Spiga, Bocca opened in 2007. The simple but tastefully furnished dining room seats 72. Bocca can be rented for private events. (39 East 19th St., 212.387.1200) BOMBAY PALACE

This Maharaja Palace-inspired Indian restaurant has spacious banquettes, a crystal chandelier, and imported brass fixtures from India. The banquet room features partial audiovisual amenities and a dance floor, and holds 150. Above Bombay Palace is K Lounge, a Kama Sutrathemed bar and lounge. (30 West 52nd St., 212.541.7777) BOMBAY TALKIE

Designed by Danish architect Thomas Juul-Hansen and inspired by owner Sunitha Ramaiah’s native India, this restaurant features teak floors, birch furniture, exposed brick walls, and canvas billboards of classic Indian films.

The venue seats 74. (189 Ninth Ave., 212.242.1900) BOND 45

Bond 45 is an elegant space decorated in antique woods, marble, and deep reddish-brown leather accents. It features 1940s artwork, original mosaics, and—to tie in the nostalgia—a large vintage Deco-style bar. The restaurant seats 250 or holds as many as 400 for receptions. (154 West 45th St., 212.265.0100) BONDST

Inspired by traditional Japanese decor, BondSt offers elegant surroundings in a low-lit space. Jonathan Morr owns the trilevel sushi lounge in a NoHo town house, which seats 140 between its two levels of dining space and holds 90 in the lounge. The private 40-seat Tatami Room has a sunken table. (6 Bond St., 212.777.2500) NEW BONGO WEST VILLAGE

Bongo West Village, the spin-off of Jeffrey Bell and Andrea Cohen’s west Chelsea seafood spot, opened in August 2009. The space is filled with modernist furniture, including Eames chairs and pieces from Herman Miller. Divided into three rooms, Bongo West Village has the capacity for 50 in the bar area, 50 in the living room, and 25 in the den.

(395 West St., 212.675.6555) BOQUERIA

Yann de Rochefort opened this Spanish eatery in 2006.

Named for Barcelona’s famous food market, Boqueria is an 1,800-square-foot space with a 65-seat main dining room, a 10-seat tapas bar, and two communal tables, which each seat eight. (53 West 19th St., 212.255.4160) BOQUERIA SOHO

Boqueria Soho is owned by Yann de Rochefort and opened in November 2008. Much like its sibling, this spot serves regional Spanish cuisine devised by chef Seamus Mullen.

The 2,300-square-foot interior is clad with tiles and wood, seating 70 at tables, 12 at the chef’s counter, and 20 at the tapas bar. (171 Spring St., 212.343.4255) NEW BOSIE

Tea and pastries are what’s served at Bosie, a cozy eatery that opened in January 2010. Proprietor Kiley Holliday

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

New York Venue Directory

Restaurants provides a selection of more than 100 loose-leaf teas to pair with chef Marie-Kathryn Baillergeau’s menu of desserts and sweet treats. A parlor and greenhouse are offered for tea-centric gatherings and events. (10 Morton St., 212.352.9900) BOTTEGA DEL VINO5

The sister restaurant of a wine house in Verona, Italy, this Midtown East space offers two private event rooms. The Verona Room, with warm colors and antique chandeliers, seats 25, while the wine cellar, with dark wood walls and brick-gabled ceilings, houses the restaurant’s selection of wines and seats 45. Sidewalk seating is available for 10. (7 East 59th St., 212.223.2730 ext. 115) BOTTINO5

Bottino has been a Chelsea favorite since it opened in 1998.

Formerly a hardware store, the 150-seat space retained the original shelving and added modern furniture. Its enclosed garden room seats 26, and the pool room seats 50. Surrounded by pine trees and willows, the garden seats 55 in the summer and 36 in the winter (when it is tented and heated). (246 10th Ave., 212.206.6766 ext.6) BOUCHON BAKERY

Revered chef Thomas Keller opened his New York outpost of Bouchon Bakery—a floor below his popular restaurant Per Se—in 2006. The casual 65-seat venue designed by Adam Tihany has a full-service café, as well as a retail section serving a wide array of sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (10 Columbus Cir., 3rd Floor, 212.823.9366) BOULEY

Marbled white walls gracefully arch over the main dining room, and crimson pilasters flank the plush red couches that line the walls at famed chef David Bouley’s eponymous eatery. For private dining, a 50-seat red room holds 70 for receptions, and the 40-seat white room holds 75 for receptions. The entire restaurant can host seated events for 120 or receptions for 175. (163 Duane St., 212.964.2525) BRAEBURN

This first restaurant from chef Brian Bistrong and John Paul O’Neil opened in October 2008. The 70-seat Braeburn serves New American cuisine, using seasonal ingredients from Bistrong’s own garden. The private dining cellar holds as many as 15. (117 Perry St., 212.255.0696) BRASSERIE

In the landmark Seagram Building, Brasserie’s mod dining room is filled with layers of sleek wooden panels that curve along the walls and ceiling. White chairs and green tables fill the dining room, and the all-white side room has sliding panels that can enclose the 60-seat space for private dining. The entire venue seats 280. (100 East 53rd St., 212.751.4840) BRASSERIE 8 1/2

Brasserie’s younger sibling offers a design that’s part modern-art museum and part restaurant. Works by Léger and Matisse adorn the walls, and a dramatic central staircase descends from the main entrance. A private dining room seats 100 or holds 200 for receptions. The main dining room holds 500 for receptions or seats 250. (9 West 57th St., 212.829.0812) BRASSERIE 44

Open since late October 2007, the remodeled restaurant of the Royalton hotel was designed by the same firm responsible for the hotel’s new look. Brasserie 44 is decorated with eye-catching woven rope arches and lighttoned materials such as teak and pale buffalo skins and leathers. The restaurant seats 110 and can be booked for private events. (44 West 44th St., 212.944.8844) BRASSERIE JULIEN

An Upper East Side brasserie with decor inspired by Art Deco Paris, Brasserie Julien is owned by Philippe Feret of Allure Catering and named after his son. The restaurant has a semiprivate space that seats 45 in the rear of the main dining room; the entire space seats 100 or holds 200 for receptions. (1422 Third Ave., 212.744.6327) BRASSERIE RUHLMANN5

This French spot is inspired by 1920s Parisian eateries. The interior includes an Art Deco stone relief adorned with gold and silver leafing, imitation Macassar ebony, and mosaic floors. The venue seats 180 in the dining room, 300 on the terrace, and 12 at the bar. The restaurant’s private room can hold 42 for a seated dinner and 60 people for receptions. (45 Rockefeller Plaza, 212.974.2020) BRASSERIE 3605

This bilevel brasserie has a red, beige, and yellow palette. A sweeping curved staircase joins the restaurant’s 100-seat brasserie downstairs to the open space upstairs, which seats 70 or holds 100 for receptions. Outdoor seating is available for 40. (200 East 60th St., 212.688.8688) NEW BRESLIN BAR & DINING ROOM

This venture from chef April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman inside the newly minted Ace Hotel opened in October 2009. The 130-seat space has a meat-centric menu—including terrines, house made sausages, and dry aged rib eye steak—a chef’s table overlooking the kitchen, and a pub-style interior of wood tables, plaid curtains, and leather booths. (16 West 29th St., 212.679.1939)

170 bizbash.com may/june 2010

NEW BRINKLEY’S

Opened in October 2009, Brinkley’s is Tom and Anthony Martignetti’s replacement for Bar Martignetti. This spot in Little Italy was renovated and is now English-style pub/ restaurant with black and white tile floors, casual seating, and two flat-screen TVs broadcasting sports events like soccer and rugby. (406 Broome St., 212.680.5600) BROADWAY EAST

With a modern American menu consisting of seasonal, farm-fresh organic ingredients, this Lower East Side restaurant opened in 2008. The restaurant’s 70-seat room is accented with a 240-square-foot wall of plants, antiquestyle light fixtures, whitewashed brick, and oak flooring.

B.East, a bar and lounge, is underneath the restaurant. (171 East Broadway, 212.228.3100) BROTHER JIMMY’S5

is divided into four parts: traditional dishes, seasonal specialties, vegetarian creations, and foods influenced by other cuisines. (200 Park Ave., 212.949.8248) CAFÉ CENTRO5

Café Centro serves French Mediterranean cuisine in a dining room decorated in polished marble, brass, glass, and high-backed banquettes. Its private dining room seats 50 or holds 70 for receptions. The entire space seats 250 to 500 and holds 500 for receptions. A patio can seat 100 or hold 150 for receptions. (200 Park Ave., 212.949.8248) CAFE CLUNY

This West Village bistro seats 70 people in two rooms.

From Lynn Wagenknecht, Judi Wong, and Steven Abramowitz, Cafe Cluny serves French-American fare in a space with a muted palette, tin ceilings, and simple furnishings. (284 West 12th St., 212.255.6900)

Lively and crowded with hungry sports fans and lovers of Southern food, these eateries offer a full range of smoked meat and belly-filling fare. The original Brother Jimmy’s on Second Avenue holds 250 for receptions and offers its 50-seat rear room and a 30-seat café for events. For receptions, the Third Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue locations hold 200 and 180, respectively. A Midtown location can hold 30 in the Hog Room or 250 in the entire space. The Murray Hill location has a private room that can hold 150; the entire space can hold 500. In March 2010, an 200-seat outpost took over the Union Square space that recently housed Irving Mill. (1485 Second Ave., 212.288.0999; 1644 Third Ave., 212.426.2020; 428 Amsterdam Ave., 212.501.7515; 416 Eighth Ave., 212.967.7603; 181 Lexington Ave., 212.779.7427; 116 East 16th St., 212.673.6465; 116 East 16th St., 212.244.3503)

CAFE D’ALSACE5

BRUNO JAMAIS RESTAURANT CLUB

CAFÉ FIORELLO5

Bruno Jamais is just blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A private dining room downstairs seats 15; the entire restaurant seats 95 or holds 150 for receptions.

Tony Chi designed the space, which has a large skylight and plush furniture. (24 East 81st St., 212.396.3444)

A dining favorite for Lincoln Center-goers, Café Fiorello offers an attractive private room with studded leather chairs, striped fabric banquettes, and Mark Kostabi paintings on the walls. The room seats 40 or holds 50 for receptions; the entire restaurant seats 200 or holds 250 for receptions. Outdoor seating on bustling Broadway accommodates 125. (1900 Broadway, 212.265.0100)

BRYANT PARK GRILL5

Behind the New York Public Library, this eatery operated

by Ark Restaurants group serves New American cuisine.

The interior space and outdoor café each seat 200. In the warmer months, the roof seats 150, and during the winter a tented and heated garden seats 250. The three outdoor spaces have large market umbrellas and are planted with seasonal flowers. (25 West 40th St., 212.840.6500) B. SMITH’S

Cooking show personality and former model Barbara Smith runs this spacious, brightly colored venue serving Southern-influenced global cuisine on Restaurant Row. The elegant restaurant has a private 25-seat dining room and a 50-seat mezzanine, or the entire space seats 175 people. (320 West 46th St., 212.315.1100) BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP CO.

This second-floor space offers views of Broadway and the hustle and bustle of Times Square. The all-American, L-shaped restaurant seats 350 or holds 375 for receptions.

A semiprivate room seats 15. (1501 Broadway, 212.391.7100) BUDDAKAN NEW YORK

Stephen Starr opened a 16,000-square-foot Manhattan outpost of his Philadelphia restaurant Buddakan.

Executive chef Lon Symensma, former sous-chef at Spice Market, is in the kitchen creating modern pan-Asian fare.

The restaurant holds 300 for seated dining and 800 for receptions. (75 Ninth Ave., 212.989.6699) BUENOS AIRES5

This 70-seat East Village eatery opened in 2006.

Contrasting the dark wooden floors, tables, and bar are large mirrors, studded cowhide panels, and black-andwhite photographs of Argentina’s capital. At the rear of Buenos Aires’s space are French doors leading to a 20-seat garden. (513 East 6th St., 212.228.2775) BULL & BEAR

Renovated in 2007, this space is the Waldorf-Astoria’s in-house steak house and pub. Constantly filled with hotel guests and Midtown businessmen, the masculinelooking street-level space has a 43-seat bar. The wine library private salon is connected to the restaurant by French doors and can hold as many as 35 guests. The entire restaurant seats 170. (301 Park Ave., 212.872.4606) BULL RUN RESTAURANT AND CONFERENCE CENTER

It’s a hangout for Wall Streeters, but this restaurant also offers versatile conference space on the second floor, ideal for an out-of-office lunch meeting. The 110-seat eatery’s 12-foot ceilings have arched wooden beams, and the conference space can be broken into four smaller rooms, or used as one large room for receptions of as many as 250 guests. (52 William St., 212.859.2200) BUTTER

A giant illuminated photograph of a white-birch forest is at the rear of Butter’s 115-seat main dining room. The walls and ceiling of the downstairs 80-seat Birch Room are covered with rows of birch branches, while the 30-seat gallery lounge is a narrow space with high-backed red leather banquettes. (415 Lafayette St., 212.253.2828) CAFÉ BOULUD

Daniel Boulud’s 90-seat restaurant in the Surrey Hotel is still posh, pairing white tablecloths with dark mahogany and orange-upholstered leather chairs in a warmly lit dining room with cream-colored walls. Boulud’s menu

This eatery from the Tour de France Restaurant Group serves Alsatian cuisine from executive chef Philippe Roussel. The 60-seat café has saffron-colored walls, burgundy banquettes, zinc light fixtures, and French doors that open onto a 45-seat outdoor area. The zinc-topped bar, with an original Art Deco beer tap at the center, offers more than 80 beers. (1695 Second Ave., 212.722.5133) CAFÉ DEVILLE5

Café Deville is a brasserie in the building that once housed the Hotel Regina. It has more than 3,000 square feet of function space, including sidewalk seating, and Le Bar Bleu, a basement lounge with room for 80. Wooden tables, leather banquettes, and French doors make up the decor in this simple venue. The café is equipped with a 10-foot projection screen. (103 Third Ave., 212.477.4500)

CAFFE FALAI5

Iacopo Falai, the chef and owner of the Lower East Side restaurant Falai, opened this casual Italian eatery. The charming, all-white SoHo space is small, with only 40 seats inside, 12 on the sidewalk, and an additional 10 at the bar, but Falai’s followers are likely to stop by and enjoy his popular handmade breads, pastries, pastas, and chocolates here. (265 Lafayette St., 212.274.8615) NEW CAFÉ GITANE

Café Gitane, sister restaurant to a NoLIta eatery, is in the Jane Hotel’s. In the spot that once housed Socialista, this place opened in November 2009 with breakfast menu of Mediterranean fare; lunch and dinner service followed in December. (113 Jane St., 212.255.4113) CALLE OCHO

A masterful mix of color and texture, Calle Ocho’s dining room features a graceful, white wood ceiling and an eyegrabbing rear wall made of copper. A semiprivate dining room seats 16 or holds 40 for receptions, and the main dining room seats 150. The entire restaurant holds 400 for receptions. (446 Columbus Ave., 212.873.5025) CAPITAL GRILLE

The 42nd Street outpost of this nationwide steak-house chain is inside the Philip Johnson-designed Trylon Towers.

Private dining options include the 40-seat Chrysler Room, the 30-seat wine vault, the private 100-seat Trylon Room, and the 10-seat chef’s table, which has a view of the open kitchen. The entire restaurant seats 250 or holds 300 for receptions. (155 East 42nd St., 212.953.2000) NEW THE CAPITAL GRILLE TIME-LIFE

The Capital Grille opened its second New York location in May 2009. Inside the Time-Life building, the 355-seat Midtown restaurant has mahogany-paneled walls, commissioned portraits of noted city figures—including Oscar Hammerstein, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Jackie Robinson—and a 5,000-bottle wine room. On site are seven private dining rooms, each with a maximum capacity of 28. (120 West 51st St., 212.246.0154) NEW CAPITAL GRILLE WALL STREET

The newest New York location of the Capital Grille chain opened inside the financial district’s Equitable Building in September 2009. Like the other outposts, this restaurant has a large dining room as well as private dining facilities for as many as 500 people. (120 Broadway, 212.374.1811) CARMINE’S5

Serving Southern Italian fare, Carmine’s has two Manhattan locations. The original Carmine’s on the Upper West Side has an early-20th-century-inspired interior, a private dining room that seats 40, and a 20-seat outdoor café that holds 40 for receptions. The theater district location offers a second-floor event space that holds 200 for a seated dinner and 200 for receptions. (200 West 44th St., 212.221.3800; 2450 Broadway, 212.221.3800 ext. 225) CASA LA FEMME

This former SoHo venue recently relocated to the West Village. The restaurant serves northern Egyptian cuisine in an exotic setting, which includes private tented tables, hanging lanterns, hookahs, and booths with plush floor seats. The venue can hold as many as 250 guests for events. (140 Charles St., 212.505.0005)

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

New York Venue Directory

Restaurants NEW CASA LEVER

Taking over the site that once housed power lunch spot Lever House is Casa Lever. The eatery from the owners of Sant Ambroeus opened in October 2009, serving Italian fare in a room decorated with 19 original Andy Warhol paintings. Redesigned by architect William T. Georgis, Casa Lever offers 162 seats and private dining areas for groups. (390 Park Ave., 212.888.2700) CASA MONO

Part of Mario Batali’s restaurant empire, Casa Mono offers tapas from executive chef Andy Nusser and Spanish wines in a 41-seat dining room near Gramercy Park. Like Batali’s other restaurants, this festive spot is perennially packed with customers. (52 Irving Place, 212.253.2773) CASCINA RISTORANTE

Rose-colored walls, wood-beamed ceilings, and a brick oven are found at this traditional Italian restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. Its two stories seat 160 guests or hold 300 for receptions. The rustic house wines, imported from the owner’s Northern Italian vineyard, make this trattoria feel more like a Tuscan countryside eatery than a Hell’s Kitchen storefront. (647 Ninth Ave., 212.245.4422) CAVIAR RUSSE

Caviar Russe serves expensive roe, as well as New American cuisine, in luxurious parlors decorated with ornate moldings, dark navy blue ceilings, and murals depicting Russian fairy tales. The venue offers a 25-seat private room and a sushi bar, Wave Sushi. (538 Madison Ave., 212.980.5908) CENTOLIRE

Part of the Pino Luongo empire, Centolire’s main and private dining rooms are on the second floor overlooking Madison Avenue. Decorated with bright yellow tablecloths and pastel-striped banquettes, the upstairs dining room can seat 120 people or hold 300 for receptions. A glass elevator takes guests to the downstairs dining room, which seats 40 or holds as many as 60 for receptions. A private room seats 30. (1167 Madison Ave., 212.734.7711) CENTRICO5

In 2005, Drew Nieporent replaced the belly dancers and Moroccan atmosphere at his Middle Eastern restaurant Layla with this Mexican eatery. Centrico serves Americaninfluenced Mexican cuisine from chef Aarón Sanchez in the Pulice Williams-designed space. The 90-seat dining room has 15-foot ceilings and wall-to-wall windows. A patio seats 60. (211 West Broadway, 212.431.0700) CENTRO VINOTECA

Sasha Muniak, owner of Gusto, opened this West Village restaurant in 2007. Designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen, the 80-seat bilevel venue features white-painted brick walls, dark leather banquettes, and a glass-and-steel chandelier.

The kitchen dishes up modern Italian fare. (74 Seventh Ave. South, 212.367.7470) CERCLE ROUGE5

This TriBeCa restaurant offers a menu of classic French brasserie dishes. The 80-seat dining room of Cercle Rouge has a bistro-style look, with plenty of wood and red accents. A red private room seats 20, there’s room for 25 in the bar and lounge, and a terrace holds an additional 30.

(241 West Broadway, 212.226.6252) ’CESCA

Named after Francesca, the daughter of one of the restaurant’s partners, ’Cesca offers chef Kevin Garcia’s southern regional Italian fare on the Upper West Side. The warm, comfortable interior has dark wood-paneled walls, wrought-iron lamps and chandeliers, a granite-topped bar, and chocolate-colored velvet booths. A private dining room seats 20. (164 West 75th St., 212.787.6300) NEW CHADO

The owners of Murray Hill restaurant Barbes partnered with Mike Lim, the former executive chef and partner of Gari, to open this Japanese sushi restaurant in February 2010. Decorated with a six-foot-tall Buddha and Japanese calligraphy, Chado offers a bar, a dining and lounge area, and a sushi bar. (4 East 36th St., 212.532.2210) CHINA GRILL5

With Asian-inspired cuisine, China Grill is part of Jeffrey Chodorow’s restaurant empire. Thirty-foot ceilings, marble mosaics on the limestone floor, and granite walls characterize the dining room. The entire space, including the bar and lounge, seats 300 or holds 600 for receptions.

The 25-seat outdoor dining space is available during the summer. (60 West 53rd St., 212.554.6507) CHINATOWN BRASSERIE5

Once Time Cafe’s downtown location (near the Public Theater), this space was transformed by owners Josh Pickard and John McDonald. The restaurant seats 175 people in the main dining room, 100 in the downstairs Koi lounge and banquet space, and 80 outside during the warmer months. (380 Lafayette St., 212.533.7000) CHIN CHIN

This Chinese restaurant from James Chin has established itself as a popular location in Midtown East. Chin Chin’s 4,000-square-foot space seats 150 in the main dining area and offers a 15-seat bar, a private 50-seat garden room, and the 22-seat window room. (216 East 49th St., 212.888.4555)

172 bizbash.com may/june 2010

NEW CHOPTANK

This seafood-centric spot from Maryland native Robert Werhane opened in January 2010. Choptank, a casual eatery situated in the West Village, offers a raw bar and serves Chesapeake Bay-inspired items like crab cakes and peel-and-eat shrimp in a space that seats 60 indoors and 24 in a garden open during the warm weather. (310 Bleecker St., 212.675.2009) CHURRASCARIA PLATAFORMA

Named for the tradition of cooking meat over a woodburning fire, Churrascaria Plataforma’s two restaurants serve large groups. The original Brazilian rotisserie in the theater district seats 300, and its downtown outpost seats 400. Both venues are simply decorated, with tiled floors, tall columns, and high ceilings. (316 West 49th St., 212.245.0505; 221 West Broadway, 212.925.6969) CIPRIANI DOLCI

The menu at Cipriani Dolci features all the classics of its sister restaurant downtown—like the baked taglionini with ham and carpaccio—at substantially lower prices.

Reservations are accepted (and a snap to get), and diners can enjoy the view of Grand Central Terminal’s busy concourse. (89 East 42nd St., 212.973.0999) CIPRIANI WALL STREET RESTAURANT5

In the same building that houses the oft-used Wall Street ballroom is this second-floor restaurant from the Cipriani Group. Seating 75, the eatery has cork-paneled walls and a Roman travertine marble floor, and offers a 600-square-foot terrace overlooking Wall Street. (55 Wall St., 212.699.4096) CITRUS BAR & GRILL

Latin and Asian fusion flavors come together at this bright, colorful restaurant on the Upper West Side with a list of 65 tequilas. The private room seats 75 or holds 150 for receptions. The entire restaurant holds 350 for receptions. (320 Amsterdam Ave., 212.595.0500) CITY CRAB5

Gramercy Park’s casual seafood restaurant offers American seafood and a nautical theme. The venue has a raw bar and a private room upstairs that seats 40 or holds 60 for receptions. A balcony and upstairs bar seat 150 or hold as many as 200 for receptions, and an outdoor café seats 10. (235 Park Ave. South, 212.529.3800) CITY HALL5

In a landmark cast-iron building in TriBeCa from 1863, City Hall is a seafood-and-steak house with two private rooms. The restaurant offers hearty classic American fare in a stark setting in its 110-seat granite room, which holds 220 for receptions. The 36-seat rose room has exposed brick and rose-colored walls and holds 45 for receptions, and the patio seats 24. (131 Duane St., 212.227.7777) CLUBHOUSE CAFE

José Meirelles opened this kosher restaurant, which replaced the Portuguese tapas restaurant Tintol, in September 2007. Clubhouse Cafe serves fine American cuisine in a venue with exposed brick walls and several large mirrors. The venue seats 80 people in the dining room and 20 at the bar. (155 West 46th St., 212.354.3838)

include bamboo chairs and a white oak log that separates the lounge from the 105-seat main dining area. Other elements include handmade tiles adorning the walls and a stone oven and spit rotisserie in the kitchen. A patio seats 40. (156 10th Ave., 212.924.4440) CORTON

The Myriad Restaurant Group partnered with chef Paul Liebrandt to open Corton in the space formerly occupied

by Montrachet. Named for a wine-producing area in Burgundy, the 65-seat restaurant serves modern French dishes from Liebrandt in a space designed by Stephanie Goto. (239 West Broadway, 212.219.2777) COUNTER

This restaurant serves vegetarian dishes using local, organic, and seasonal ingredients with a Mediterranean flair in a chic bistro environment. Customers can choose from more than 300 organic and biodynamic wines from vineyards and vintages around the world. While there are no private rooms, the whole space can be rented for events. (105 First Ave., 212.982.5870) COUNTRY

From chef Geoffrey Zakarian, Country is in the Carlton Hotel. The large bilevel venue, designed by David Rockwell, has restored parts of the original building, including a mosaic floor and a Tiffany-style glass dome in the dining room. At street-level is a café and upstairs houses a more formal dining room and nine private dining rooms. (90 Madison Ave., 212.889.7100 ext. 303) NEW COVET

Taking over the Midtown East space recently vacated

by Azza, Covet is a bilevel restaurant and lounge that opened in April 2010. At street level is the 66-seat eatery, which serves executive chef John Keller’s Pacific Rim and Mediterranean-influence dishes in a room adorned with Marcel Wanders Zeppelin chandeliers and Robert Lambert’s oil paintings. Below, the cocktail bar and lounge has marble-top tables, ottomans upholstered in cow hide print, and the capacity for 250 guests. (137 East 55th St., 212.223.1802) CRAFT/CRAFTBAR

Tom Colicchio’s 80-seat restaurant Craft, known for its create-your-own-meal, family-style menu, has wide wooden tables, a built-in wine rack, and a curved wall of leather-covered panels. In 2005, the more casual Craftbar moved around the corner to a larger, 120-seat space— replacing Morrells restaurant—and its former space became Craft’s 40-seat private dining room. (Craft: 43 East 19th St.; Craftbar: 900 Broadway; 212.400.6512) CROTON RESERVOIR TAVERN

This two-story restaurant and tavern has a 50-foot oak bar, exposed brick walls, stained-glass accents, wroughtiron railings, and leather chairs. With a 150-square-foot hand-painted mural of the Croton Reservoir, the entire space seats 160 people or holds as many as 350 for receptions. The lower level has a brick bar and holds 125 for receptions. (108 West 40th St., 212.997.6835) CUCINA & CO.

Chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio’s replacement for Craftsteak is Colicchio & Sons, which opened in January 2010. Serving Colicchio’s signature farm-to-table fare and a selection of wine and artisanal beers, this 3,500-squarefoot west Chelsea restaurant features original vaulted ceilings, riveted steel columns, and expansive windows.

(85 10th Ave., 212.400.6699)

This café and marketplace, serving Mediterranean fare, has three locations. Spread across 9,000 square feet of space in Macy’s Cellar, three dining areas seat 200 or hold 300 for receptions. The 800-square-foot MetLife Building location seats 100 or holds 150 for receptions. The 80-seat Rockefeller Center outpost holds 120 for receptions. (Macy’s Cellar: 151 West 34th St., 212.216.9611; MetLife Bldg.: 200 Park Ave., 212.949.8248; Rockefeller Center: 30 Rockefeller Center, Concourse Level, 212.332.7606)

NEW THE COLLECTIVE

DANIEL

The One Group replaced the meatpacking district’s One Little West 12th with this eclectic restaurant in mid-March 2010. Designed by ICrave and furnished with thrift store finds and recycled pieces—license plates, vintage records, bath tubs, and muffin tins reused as decor—the Collective serves a menu of American fare from chef Todd Miller. (1 Little West 12th St., 212.255.9717)

The flagship of chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant empire serves contemporary French cuisine. Shoot for a corner table in the 120-seat dining room or take over the Bellecour Room, which has a clubby feel and can seat 90 people, or hold as many as 150 for receptions. Since 1993, Daniel has been synonymous with French excellence, and you can still expect to see Boulud himself barking orders and kissing guests. (60 East 65th St., 212.288.0033)

NEW COLICCHIO & SONS

COLORS RESTAURANT

Owned by former employees of the World Trade Center restaurant Windows on the World, Colors is in Greenwich Village and has a menu that features dishes inspired by the staff’s traditional family recipes. The main dining area seats 100 people, the semiprivate room seats 25 people, and the bar seats nine. The restaurant opened in 2006. (417 Lafayette St., 212.777.8443)

DA SILVANO5

COMPASS

DAVID BURKE AT BLOOMINGDALE’S

This Upper West Side eatery has three spaces for private events. A glass-enclosed private room seats 44 with views of the kitchen, while a wine room seats 16. The front room, a modern lounge with a glass-topped bar, seats 20 or holds as many as 50 for receptions. The entire restaurant can be rented for larger parties. (208 West 70th St., 212.875.8600)

Chef David Burke opened this 60-seat café and wine bar inside Bloomingdale’s. Decorated in bright colors and warm wood accents, the eatery offers a menu of burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and salads and a full bar all day. (150 East 59th St., 212.705.3800)

CONVIVIO

Formerly L’Impero, this restaurant opened in 2008, following an interior renovation by Vincente Wolf. Chef-owner Michael White, who also worked at Alto, has created a Southern Italian menu. Convivio, which features rich orange banquettes, seats 125 and has a 40-seat elevated private space. (45 Tudor City Place, 212.599.5045)

Owned by chef David Burke, (and formerly called David Burke & Donatella) this restaurant has an imaginative dining room. Designed by Matthew Sudock of M Design, the 110-seat space features geometric patterns with a predominantly red, white, and brown color scheme. A 25-seat mezzanine is also available, and the front lounge holds 30. (133 East 61st St., 212.813.2121)

COOKSHOP5

DB BISTRO MODERNE

This restaurant in Chelsea serves Marc Meyer’s seasonal and sustainable American fare. Its interior decor elements were made with sustainable materials and

Chef Daniel Boulud’s take on bistro fare offers diners a sexy setting with crimson, flame-shaped flowers on the west walls of the 50-seat front room, and a calmer

A popular spot for the media and fashion crowds, Silvano Marchetto’s Tuscan restaurant in Greenwich Village opened in 1975 and has a smaller 60-seat dining area next door and sidewalk seating for 40 under a bright yellow awning. The entire 80-seat space or parts of it can be used for private events. (260 Ave. of the Americas, 212.982.2343)

DAVID BURKE TOWNHOUSE

New York Venue Directory

Restaurants

meatpacking district, opened in mid-April 2010. (373 Park Ave. South, 212.294.1000; 475 West Broadway, 212.277.4300; 825 Third Ave., 212.336.5400; 675 Hudson St., 212.699.2400) DOVETAIL

pistachio-colored room in the rear that seats 54. An additional 20 guests can dine at communal bar tables in the main dining area. A semiprivate alcove in the rear seats 12 guests. (55 West 44th St., 212.391.2400) DBGB KITCHEN & BAR

The newest restaurant from chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud is DBGB Kitchen & Bar. Downtown and casual, this bistro on the Bowery serves a menu dominated by sausages and beer. Near the entrance, the bar and café area seats 40, and the 140-seat dining room toward the rear has views of the partially open kitchen. A 14-seat private room is also on site. (299 Bowery, 212.933.5300) DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAKHOUSE

This formidable 16,000-square-foot, 480-seat, threestory space has dark wood touches, stone surfaces, and a view of Midtown. Private dining options are plentiful: The semiprivate newsroom seats 30, the private lounge behind the newsroom seats 40, the Diamond Room (ideal for meetings and small private functions) seats 22, and the wine cellar (with its own private bar) seats 75. (1221 Ave. of the Americas, 212.575.5129) DELL’ANIMA5

With an emphasis on wines from Italy, this restaurant in the West Village serves seasonal cuisine in a space accented with Italian plaster walls, brass sconces, and brown banquettes. Dell’Anima’s main dining room seats 45, has room for 10 at the granite-topped bar, and offers a six-seat chef’s table. (38 Eighth Ave., 212.366.6633) DELMONICO’S

Dining at Delmonico’s is a history lesson in itself. The Wall Street steak house has moved around Manhattan—it suffered a few fires and a shutdown during Prohibition— since its inception in 1837. The current space in a Beaux Arts-style triangular building offers four private rooms with classic steak-house decor; the entire restaurant holds 500 for receptions. (56 Beaver St., 212.509.1144) DEL POSTO

This west Chelsea restaurant was opened by Mario Batali and Lidia and Joseph Bastianich. Designed by Glen Coben, the 24,000-square-foot space serves upscale Italian cuisine in an extravagant 120-seat dining room featuring marble and dark wood accents. The venue also has a 70-seat lounge. Narciso Rodriguez designed the uniforms for the waitstaff and bartenders. (85 10th Ave., 212.497.8090) DIABLO ROYALE

Bob Giraldi and Jason Hennings own this Mexican restaurant, open since 2006. The space features murals of vintage tequila labels painted onto the exposed brick walls, rusted-steel and wooden tables from Desiron, and a quilted wooden taco bar overlooking the kitchen. (189 West 10th St., 212.620.0223) DITCH PLAINS

Ditch Plains, a restaurant from Marc Murphy and Pamela Schein-Murphy, replaced Yumcha, the modern Chinese restaurant that opened and closed in 2005. Open since 2006, this new oyster bar and casual bistro serves a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu of informal fare. The dining room seats 44, and the bar seats 12. (29 Bedford St., 212.633.0202) DIWAN

Diwan offers regional Indian cuisine in a setting of dark wooden furnishings and delicate Indian wood carvings set inside the walls. The front lounge is a modern, sleek space with cushy low chairs, cube seating, and low tables.

A private room holds 150, and the entire space holds 209.

(148 East 48th St., 212.593.5425) DJANGO

This David Rockwell-designed space is elegant, airy, and spacious. Decorated with comfortable couches upholstered in pretty fabrics and curtains of glass beads along the walls, Django serves Mediterranean cuisine. A lounge holds 150, one private room holds 30, a semiprivate room holds 60, and the terrace holds 100; the entire restaurant holds 600. Sheer fabric, gathered at the ceiling, surrounds the gypsy tent, a 12-seat second-floor space; the entire second level holds 180. (480 Lexington Ave., 212.871.6173) DON’S BOGAM BBQ & WINE BAR

This Little Korea establishment has dark wood and a minimalist look—a pattern of repeating squares dominates the space in a nod to the classic “turtle ship,” or Korean battleship. A section of the restaurant features grilling tables, each one seating four to eight. This area can seat 75 people and has walls ornamented with subtle blue mosaics. Guests sit Korean-style: low to the floor with their shoes removed. (17 East 32nd St., 212.683.2200)

Previously the executive chef of Compass, John Fraser opened his first restaurant in 2007. Situated in an Upper West Side town house, Dovetail features a minimalist look with a teak bar, bird’s-eye maple-paneled walls, and black walnut tables. The lower-level sherry cellar is offered as a private room for 20 and overlooks the kitchen. Following an expansion by architect Richard Bloch, Dovetail reopened in November 2009 with an additional 16-seat bar area and an extra 20 seats in the main dining room, bringing it to a total of 90. (103 West 77th St., 212.362.3800) DOWNTOWN CIPRIANI

This is the less formal version of the Upper East Side’s Harry Cipriani restaurant. The SoHo restaurant offers pricey Italian fare in ornate surroundings with high ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and walls ornamented with modern art. The main dining room seats 66. (376 West Broadway, 212.343.0999) DRESSLER5

Opposite Peter Luger—the famed Williamsburg hangout for businessmen and avid carnivores—is this 65-seat restaurant from Colin Devlin, owner of DuMont. Dressler has high ceilings, mosaic-tiled floors, brick walls painted red, iron chandeliers, and a zinc bar. Sidewalk seating is available for 16 people. On the menu is creative American cuisine from chef Polo Dobkin. (149 Broadway, Brooklyn, 718.384.6343) DUANE PARK

Open since March 2008, this TriBeCa restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine from chef Shawn Knight.

Both the interior and the cuisine of Duane Park take inspiration from the South, with a crystal chandelier from a Louisiana plantation and New Orleans-style dishes. The restaurant seats 65. (157 Duane St., 212.732.5555) DUKE’S5

Duke’s offers roadhouse-style dining with a sense of humor. The off-the-wall honky-tonk joint has two locations, each of which can seat 100 or hold as many as 200 for receptions. The East 19th Street location has nine flatscreen plasma TVs, while the Third Avenue location has seven, as well as an outdoor space with 25 seats. (99 East 19th St., 212.260.2922; 560 Third Ave., 212.949.5400) DYLAN PRIME

As sleek and elegant as a steak house can get, Dylan Prime fills a former TriBeCa warehouse with a modern atmosphere and upscale cuisine. A semiprivate dining room seats 25, the lounge can be closed off to seat 50 or hold 125 for receptions, or the entire space can seat 200. (62 Laight St., 212.334.4783) NEW EAST SIDE SOCIAL CLUB

Celebrity photographer Patrick McMullan is a partner for this venue, a restaurant and bar inspired by 1940s film noir. Opened in mid-November 2009, the East Side Social Club serves traditional Italian-American fare and fancy cocktails in the 113-seat space that was once occupied by Montparnasse. (230 East 51st St., 212.355.9442) OPENING SOON EATALY5

Formerly known as the International Toy Center, 200 Fifth Avenue will soon be home to Eataly, a 32,000-squarefoot site housing an upscale food and wine market, restaurants, and a rooftop beer garden. Slated to open in summer 2010, the project is a collaboration between the founders of Eataly in Turin, Italy and the Batali-Bastianich Hospitality Group run by Joseph and Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali. (200 Fifth Ave.) NEW ED’S CHOWDER HOUSE

In partnership with restaurateur Jeffery Chodorow, Chef Ed Brown opened this casual seafood joint in September 2009. The eatery, a modern version of a shack-style place, is located on the second floor of the Empire Hotel and has a chowder bar and a raw bar. (44 West 63rd St., 212.956.1288)

Part of the Ark Restaurants Group, this Midtown Tex-Mex restaurant separates its food into two rooms—one for Texas, the other for Mexico. Each seats 50 or holds 200 for receptions. The space is decorated in traditional Southwestern style and features a patio that seats 50. (160 East 38th St., 212.867.0922) EN JAPANESE BRASSERIE

Serving Japanese home-style cooking, EN has interiors with custom-designed furniture imported from Japan, rich woods, and antique carved panels, as well as high ceilings and large windows. The main dining room seats 80, and there are five private dining spaces. (435 Hudson St., 212.647.9196) ESCA5

Esca’s pale yellow walls accented with brown marble tiles give the restaurant a sunny, Mediterranean feel to match chef David Pasternack’s Southern Italian seafood menu.

The main dining room seats 65, and a small patio seats 25.

(402 West 43rd St., 212.564.7272) ESSEX

This 150-seat restaurant with whitewashed brick walls, skylights, and black tables and chairs combines Jewish and Latin cuisines to create a quirky menu. The restaurant has three spaces, including a semiprivate balcony that holds 40 people for receptions, a second balcony that holds 20 for receptions, and the main floor, which holds 125 for receptions. (120 Essex St., 212.533.9616) ESTIATORIO MILOS

Since 1997, Greek seafood has been served in this soothing, cavernous Midtown outpost of the Montreal restaurant of the same name. In the main dining room, gauzy white curtains billow from the high ceilings, weighted down by huge cloves of garlic. The mezzanine’s private room seats 10 or holds 24 for receptions. (125 West 55th St., 212.245.7400) ETCETERA ETCETERA

Owners Daniele Kucera, Franco Lazzari, and chef Stefano Terzi of ViceVersa opened this Italian restaurant in Times Square. The venue (by ViceVersa designer Franco Rosignolo) has a first-floor dining room that holds 65 and a second-floor party room that can seat 100 or hold 200 for receptions. (352 West 44th St., 212.399.4141) FALAI5

Chef and owner Iacopo Falai serves his native Northern Italian cuisine in this Lower East Side restaurant, where everything from the pasta to the chocolate is fatto in casa (made in-house). Designed by Uli Wagner, the 40-seat space is sleek and white and has a 20-seat patio with vintage furniture. (68 Clinton St., 212.253.1960) FATTY CRAB5

Zak Pelaccio’s Malaysian restaurant offers light fare served on mismatched plates in an intimate space with red walls, unique fans, lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, and an open kitchen. The 32-seat eatery also has four tables out front. Fatty Crab can be rented for small private events. (643 Hudson St., 212.352.3592) FATTY CRAB UPPER WEST SIDE5

The Upper West Side outpost of chef Zak Pelaccio’s Malaysian restaurant is a casual eatery that opened in March 2009. Like its sister property in the meatpacking district, Fatty Crab Upper West Side is filled with decor to match the menu of street food—red walls, unfinished dark wood tabletops, and salvaged metal chairs. The restaurant seats a total of 74, with room for 13 at the bar and 20 at the outdoor café. (2170 Broadway, 212.496.2722) NEW FAUSTINA5

Chef Scott Conant, owner of Scarpetta, opened this restaurant in February 2010. Situated inside the Cooper Square Hotel—the eatery replaces Govind Armstrong’s Table 8 outpost—Faustina serves casual Italian fare. In addition to the main dining room, a café and bar area seats 45 and an outdoor section will open later in the spring. (25 Cooper Square, 212.475.3400) FELIDIA

This bilevel, 135-seat restaurant serves eclectic Latin cuisine from executive chef Jorge Adriazola. The space showcases Dominican paintings, a curved wooden ceiling, an onyx staircase, and handcrafted steel wine racks.

The second floor has a semiprivate dining room. (112 Dyckman St., 212.304.3800)

In a converted Midtown brownstone, Lidia Bastianich’s Italian restaurant has parquet floors, rich mahoganypaneled walls, and etched-glass windows. The second floor has two private dining areas that can be combined: The window room seats 16, and another room seats 24.

Chef Fortunato Nicotra often uses local ingredients to create dishes that are contemporary in appearance yet traditional in taste. (243 East 58th St., 212.758.1479)

ELAINE’S RESTAURANT

15 EAST

Elaine Kaufman’s Italian-American restaurant, which opened in 1963, is a New York institution known more for its patrons—a who’s who of media and literary types— than its food. The restaurant even spawned a book published in 2004, Everyone Comes to Elaine’s. The private room seats 60. (1703 Second Ave., 212.534.8114)

Jo-Ann Makovitzky and chef Marco A. Moreira moved Tocqueville down the block and made over the original space as 15 East. Moreira worked with chef Masato Shimizu (formerly of Jewel Bako) on the modern, Japanese-inspired menu. The 45-seat dining room is simple and stylish, with a charcoal and white color scheme, and is well suited for a dinner tête-à-tête. (15 East 15th St., 212.647.0015)

809 SANGRIA BAR & GRILL

DOS CAMINOS5

ELEVEN MADISON PARK

A B.R. Guest restaurant, the original Dos Caminos is upholstered with autumnal tones and warmly lit with light fixtures fashioned from hollowed logs. The kitchen turns out modern Mexican fare, and waiters prepare guacamole tableside in the 250-seat dining room. The 110-seat SoHo branch has an 85-seat outdoor café. The 11,000-square-foot Midtown East location has 380 seats, a private dining room for 40, and outdoor space that seats 120. The newest location, in the former Vento space in the

Danny Meyer’s restaurant has supple black banquettes, Art Deco touches, and soaring ceilings. But the most impressive part of the decor is the park view: From twostory windows, the lush greenery of the park (in warmer months, that is) provides a charming, cheerful vista. Two private rooms (one seating 18, the other seating 32) can be used separately or combined, and look out onto the main dining room, which seats 150 or holds 300 for receptions.

(11 Madison Ave., 212.889.0905)

174 bizbash.com may/june 2010

EL RIO GRANDE5

FIG & OLIVE FIFTH AVENUE

The third location of Mediterranean restaurant Fig & Olive opened in 2008. In a bilevel Midtown space, the 5,000-square-foot eatery holds 200 for receptions. At street level is a retail section that sells olive oil, a 50-foot marble bar, a 30-seat communal dining table, and 60 seats at tables overlooking the open kitchen. A more formal dining area for 110 on the second floor can be booked for events. (10 East 52nd St., 212.319.2002)

Restaurants FIG & OLIVE MEATPACKING

This restaurant is the second location of the popular Mediterranean café. (The original is on the Upper East Side.) Divided into several distinct areas—including a 16-foot marble communal table that seats 18—the 5,000-square-foot venue can hold as many as 400 in a space decorated with olive trees and rosemary plants. An 80-seat dining room, a 60-seat café, and a 50-seat lounge are also available. (420 West 13th St., 212.924.1200) F. ILLI PONTE

F. Illi Ponte provides Italian fare in a rustic room with exposed brick arches, a colorful tiled floor, and brocadecovered chairs. The three private rooms upstairs have 16-foot windows looking out onto the river. The main dining room seats 140. (39 Desbrosses St., 212.226.4621) FINANCIER PATISSERIE5

The French bakery chain’s newest location on Cedar Street serves breakfast and lunch on china and includes a mini financier cake with each coffee sold. Owned by restaurateur Peter Poulakakos, the 70-seat venue has an outdoor area that seats 40 and serves pastries and cakes, as well as eggs and sandwiches. Availability for events is limited. (35 Cedar St., 212.952.3838; 62 Stone St., 212.344.5600; 3-4 World Financial Center, 212.786.3220) FIRE BIRD5

With the ambience of an opulent pre-Revolutionary Russian home, Fire Bird’s three-story town house is decorated with antique furniture, a marble-topped bar, vintage costumes, and 19th-century photographs. The 425-seat restaurant has four ornate dining rooms—two downstairs and two upstairs—and a 20-seat space with an oval dining table that can be used for private dining.

A 60-seat room that opens onto a terrace holds 100 for receptions. (365 West 46th St., 212.586.0244) FIRESIDE

Midtown’s Omni Berkshire Place hotel replaced its Kokachin restaurant with chef Sam DeMarco’s Fireside, which takes on both casual and elegant airs. There’s a bar area along the street side, and an open, lofty dining room dominated by a towering fireplacelike structure crafted of fiery red, gold, black, and white molding. Off the dining room are two semiprivate alcoves—one seats four, the other seats eight. (19 East 52nd St., 212.754.5011) FISHTAIL5

Taking over the Upper East Side space that once housed Jovia and the second location of Zoe restaurant, Fishtail

is a venture from prominent chef David Burke. The 3,800-square-foot bilevel eatery seats 120 and serves a selection of seafood, as well as other modern American fare. In addition to a 16-seat bar and an ample dining room, there is a 170-square-foot outdoor seating area with room for 25. (135 East 62nd St., 212.754.1300) 540 PARK

When the room isn’t transformed into Feinstein’s at the Regency for famed crooner Michael Feinstein’s cabaret act (among others), the Regency Hotel’s in-house restaurant, 540 Park, is the site of power breakfasts. The dining space seats 100 or holds 150 for cocktails. The less formal library has shelves of books, comfortable couches, and checkerboards carved into tabletops. (540 Park Ave., 212.339.4050) FIVE FRONT5

Brooklyn’s Five Front offers New American fare in a lovely spot beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. The main dining room seats 45, the bar seats 18, and an intimate room off the 45-seat garden seats 17. The entire indoor seats 65. A bamboo garden and lounge is available in warm weather, with large colorful umbrellas and a wooden deck; it seats 12 and holds 20 for receptions. (5 Front St., Brooklyn, 718.625.5559) 5 NINTH5

Although 5 Ninth is just down the street from such meatpacking district standouts as Pastis and Spice Market, its discreet wooden door and relatively small size set it apart.

The venue is in a restored trilevel brownstone with a 52-seat second-floor dining room, a 16-seat bar, a garden, and a third-floor lounge that seats 36 for private dinners and holds 60 for receptions. (5 Ninth Ave., 212.929.9460) FIVES

The elegant in-house restaurant of the Peninsula New York hotel serves contemporary American cuisine from chef Thomas Piede. The look may be sophisticated, but the atmosphere in Fives’s 70-seat main dining room is casual.

The floor-to-ceiling arched windows offer great views of Fifth Avenue from the second floor. Catered events in the other hotel spaces enjoy the same cuisine. (700 Fifth Ave., 212.903.3861) FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT

Alex von Bidder and Julian Niccolini preside over this classic entertaining spot, with its two main dining rooms—the pool room and the grill room—and three smaller private dining rooms. Of the private rooms, the pool room terrace seats 100 people using the restaurant’s chairs or 120 with rented chairs. Private dining room 2 holds 32 for receptions and has a constantly changing gallery of modern art. Private dining room 3 can hold 14 for receptions and opens to private dining room 2 through

sliding doors. Private dining room 3 features starlight ceilings and shimmering chain curtains. (99 East 52nd St., 212.754.9494) FRANCHIA5

This Murray Hill teahouse offers tea workshops all about the Korean tea ceremony. The venue, which can be rented for groups of as many as 50, has a ground-floor tea bar, a sidewalk café, a second-floor dining space that seats 20, and a third-floor traditional Korean tearoom with low tables and intricately carved wooden sliding doors, which can accommodate 10 guests. (12 Park Ave., 212.213.1001) FRANKIE & JOHNNIE’S

A speakeasy when it opened in 1926, the original Frankie & Johnnie’s is a family-owned steak house and seafood restaurant with seating for 66. A small semiprivate room seats 24. The 37th Street location—originally John Drew Barrymore’s town house—seats 170 and offers the Barrymore Room for private events. (269 West 45th St., 212.997.9494; 32 West 37th St., 212.947.8940) FRAUNCES TAVERN

Established as an inn by Samuel Fraunces in 1762, this venue is now a small museum of American history that serves New American cuisine. The informal tavern has wood paneling, Revolutionary muskets, an original mural depicting the Battle of Brooklyn, and a flat-screen TV. The five dining rooms include the 110-seat Bissell Room, the 68-seat Nichols Rooms, and the 26-seat Washington Room. (54 Pearl St., 212.968.1776) FRED’S AT BARNEYS NEW YORK

Fred’s offers Italian-American cuisine from chef Mark Strausman on the ninth floor of Barneys. More impressive than the usual department-store cafeteria, this 175-seat restaurant caters to chic shoppers, especially at brunch on Sundays. A private dining room seats 45 or holds 50 for receptions, or the entire restaurant holds 325 for receptions or seats 250. A penthouse on the eighth floor is also available for private catered events. (660 Madison Ave., 212.833.2207) FREEMANS

Freemans may be hidden away in a narrow alley off Rivington, but since its 2004 opening, this bar and restaurant has been bustling with artists and actors.

With the recent addition of another room, the eatery now seats 100. Freemans serves traditional American cuisine and, despite its down-low profile, is usually full. (End of Freeman Alley, 212.420.0012) GABRIELA’S5

This 150-seat Upper West Side restaurant has Mexican mission-style wood doors, colorful pillows on its banquettes, a 24-seat hammered copper bar, and a 45-seat

A NEW POINT OF VIEW COMING SUMMER 2010 | New American cuisine by celebrated Chef & Owner Chris Siversen | Site inspections now available by appointment | 270 degree wraparound outdoor terraces with outdoor bars and cocktail stations | 30,000 square feet of private event space | Interior design by Stephanie Goto | Panoramic view of

Island | Seasonal menus featuring the best of local, organic & sustainable produce | Flowing indoor to outdoor terrace for receptions and ceremonies | Dramatic three story lobby | Vaulted wood ceilings | Located on the Hudson River in Liberty State Park |

8 4 AU D R E Y Z APP D RIVE , LI B ERT Y STATE PAR K J ERSE Y CIT Y, N J 073 0 5 , I N FO @ MARITI M EPARC .CO M , W W W. MARITI M EPARC .CO M , 20 1 41 3 0 05 0

RENDERING: STEPHANIEGOTO

downtown Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty & Ellis

New York Venue Directory

Restaurants patio with a 32-seat tequila bar. Three private rooms are available with seating for eight, 10, and 20. The back half of the restaurant can also be sectioned off for private dining for 50. (688 Columbus Ave., 212.961.9600) GABRIEL’S

Popular among theatergoers and Upper West Siders, Gabriel’s serves flavorful Tuscan food in a casual dining room and offers a 36-seat private room with sunny yellow walls. Food is cooked over a wood grill, and all pastas are homemade. Owner Gabriel Aiello is often around to meet and greet diners. (11 West 60th St., 212.956.4600) GALLAGHER’S STEAK HOUSE

GOTHAM BAR AND GRILL

HARBOUR LIGHTS RESTAURANT5

This restaurant is a standby for business luncheons and a reliable restaurant for entertaining clients. The space is clean and modern, with a high-ceilinged dining room and white-swathed light fixtures. The restaurant seats 140 or holds 200 for receptions. In 2006, the James Beard Foundation named Gotham chef-owner Alfred Portale the most outstanding chef in the nation. (12 East 12th St., 212.620.4020)

This American seafood restaurant in the South Street Seaport offers views of the harbor and the Brooklyn Bridge through its floor-to-ceiling windows and from its narrow 150-seat outdoor dining area. Harbour Lights offers the Harbour Room for private events and the captain’s table for large groups in the dining room. The entire space, including the outdoor seating, seats 300. (South Street Seaport, Pier 17, 3rd Floor, 212.227.2800)

GRACE

HARD ROCK CAFE5

This TriBeCa bar and restaurant has a 40-foot mahogany bar and a separate, skylit dining room available for lunch and dinner until 4 a.m. While spots at the bar can be reserved, the dining room seats as many as 60 for private events. The restaurant serves New American cuisine tapas-style. (114 Franklin St., 212.343.4200)

The Hard Rock Cafe is famous for its original memorabilia displayed with museumlike care. Once on 57th Street, this restaurant moved to Times Square in 2005. The 708-seat venue has the Hard Rock Live concert space, an 1,800-square-foot store, and an outdoor section above the building’s marquee. The newest location of the chain of Hard Rock eateries is the outpost inside Yankee Stadium.

Open year-round—even when the stadium is closed for off-season—the property seats 165 and has 12 flat-screen TVs for game-day viewings. (Times Square: 1501 Broadway, 212.343.3355; Yankee Stadium: 1 East 161st St., Gate 6, Bronx, 646.977.8888)

Opened in 1927, Gallagher’s prominent glass-enclosed meat locker sits at the front of the restaurant in full view of passersby. As a result of its location (near the Neil Simon and Virginia theaters), this Midtown steak house is a popular restaurant for stage actors and theatergoers. The venue offers its 110-seat trophy room for private events. (228 West 52nd St., 212.957.2884)

GRAFFITI

NEW GANSEVOORT 69

GRAMERCY TAVERN

Florent Morellet’s popular 24-hour diner closed in 2008, and in September 2009 David Graziano and Corey Lane reopened the Meatpacking district space as a bistro serving comfort food. (69 Gansevoort St., 212.691.0069)

This restaurant with a rustic appearance serves American cuisine. For casual drinks and small plates, the front room is always bustling. For dinner, the 140-seat dining room seats 140, and a private room for 22 has dark wooden vaulted ceilings and antiques. (42 East 20th St., 212.477.0777)

A casual and graceful environment has been the allure of the Harrison since its doors opened in 2001. The intimate venue’s 85-seat main dining room is decorated with wood, steel, leather, and antiques. The restaurant has a 40-seat outdoor area and a lower-level, 22-seat private dining space featuring a farmhouse table and walls lined with wooden wine racks. (355 Greenwich St., 212.274.9319)

GRAND CENTRAL OYSTER BAR

HARRY CIPRIANI

In the cavernous lower level of Grand Central Terminal, the Oyster Bar first opened in 1913; after a fire in 1997, it was restored to its original glory with a raw bar and arched white-tiled ceilings. The classic New York eatery offers a 65-seat semiprivate dining room named the Saloon Room for events, a main dining room that seats 250, and four counters and an oyster bar for 110. (Grand Central Terminal, Lower Level, 212.490.6650)

In the Sherry-Netherland Hotel on the Upper East Side, the first New York Cipriani restaurant has golden walls lit with glowing sconces that illuminate the classic dining room. Designed to imitate the original Cipriani restaurant, Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, Harry Cipriani opened in 1985 and serves classic Italian dishes. A quiet section in the back seats as many as 50, while the entire restaurant seats 130. (781 Fifth Ave., 212.753.5566)

GREENWICH GRILL & SUSHI AZABU

HARRY’S CAFE & HARRY’S STEAK

Greenwich Grill features “Tokyo-Italian” cuisine—a strong Italian base with a subtle infusion of Japanese tastes, ingredients, and cooking techniques. Downstairs is Sushi Azabu, which serves traditional Edomae-style sushi alongside small Japanese dishes. Opened in 2008, both restaurants are available for private events of up to 80 people. Individually, the dining space holds 40, a lounge holds 20, and the sushi bar holds 23. (428 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013, 212.274.0428)

This casual 150-seat café features oval booths, leather banquettes, a 47-foot-long black walnut bar, and a copper ceiling. Adjacent to the café is Harry’s Steak, a 70-seat steak house with pine paneling, leather banquettes, murals of monks making wine, and exposed stone walls dating from the 18th century. Both venues feature an extensive wine list. (1 Hanover Sq., 212.785.9200)

GARAGE RESTAURANT & CAFÉ5

This Greenwich Village restaurant serving casual American cuisine took its name from the building’s original business—an automobile garage. Garage has live jazz nightly, inlaid wood floors, a two-story stone fireplace, a semiprivate balcony with seating for 40, and outdoor seating for 80. (99 Seventh Ave. South, 212.645.0600) GAUCHO STEAK QUICK GRILL

Sister restaurant to Gaucho Steak in Montclair, New Jersey, this Argentinean steak house opened in June 2007.

The Hell’s Kitchen restaurant features burnished wood accents, stucco walls, and metal fixtures; the venue seats 28 guests. Overseeing the menu is Alex Garcia, the former Calle Ocho chef who also opened Novo in 2006. (752 10th Ave., 212.957.1727) GEISHA

David Rockwell designed the geisha-inspired dining room of this Japanese fusion restaurant; Le Bernardin’s Eric Ripert consulted on the menu. There are four rooms available: The sushi room on the ground floor seats 45, the second-floor main dining room seats as many as 65, the back room on the second floor seats 25 for private dining, and a room on the third floor seats 30 or holds 45 for receptions and can be used for private events. (33 East 61st St., 212.813.1112) GEMMA

Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson opened Gemma, the in-house Italian restaurant of their new hotel on the Bowery. Designed by Taavo Somer, the space takes on a rustic, farmhouse look with wooden beams, chandeliers, and hanging copper pots. Chris D’Amico is responsible for the menu, which includes wood-fired-oven pizza. (335 Bowery, 212.505.9100) GIANDO ON THE WATER5

On Brooklyn’s waterfront just south of the Williamsburg Bridge, Giando on the Water serves seafood and Italian cuisine and offers views of Manhattan and the East River. Its newly renovated banquet space can seat 300 upstairs when combined with the patio and terrace, while the downstairs seats 100. (412 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, 718.387.7000) GIARDINO D’ORO

This Italian-inspired steak house in the financial district dry-ages its prime steak on site, slices and serves its porterhouse tableside, creates its own homemade pastas, and has hundreds of bottles of wine lining the walls. The downstairs dining area seats 120, and the upstairs seats 50. The lower level features the 25-seat wine cellar, and two additional private rooms that seat eight and 16. (5 Gold St., 212.514.6400) GIOVANNI RISTORANTE

Owned by Giovanni Francescotti and serving Northern Italian fare from chef Giovanni Pinato, this restaurant has a 185-seat main dining room that features handmade Venetian mirrors and a marble and mahogany bar. Two private dining rooms are available: the 35-seat club room and the 70-seat card room, decorated with artwork of old Italian playing cards. (47 West 55th St., 212.262.2828) GONZALEZ Y GONZALEZ

This NoHo restaurant serves south-of-the-border cuisine and features folksy Mexican decor. The entire space can seat 200 or hold 300 for receptions. A smaller private room can hold 90. (625 Broadway, 212.473.8787) GORDON RAMSAY AT THE LONDON

Brit superstar chef Gordon Ramsay made the leap to the States with a restaurant in the London NYC hotel. Gordon Ramsay at the London serves modern French cuisine and is adorned with decorative wood panels. The dining room seats 45, the informal Maze seats 70, and the London Bar seats 45. Within the kitchen is a private chef’s table for eight, and there are three private rooms, which hold 20, 60, and 80. (151 West 54th St., 212.468.8888)

178 bizbash.com may/june 2010

Pastry chef Jehangir Mehta branched out on his own, opening his first food and wine bar in 2007. The 18-seat bistro is accented with items from Mehta’s personal collection of artwork and antiques; the menu offers savory and sweet dishes, as well as wine. (224 East 10th St., 212.677.0695)

THE GRILL ROOM

On the mezzanine in the Winter Garden Atrium of the World Financial Center, the Grill Room offers New American cuisine and views of New York Harbor. There are three private rooms: One seats 50, another seats 100, and the third is a lounge that holds 30 for receptions. (225 Liberty St., 212.945.9400) GROTTA AZZURRA

Traditional Italian dishes are served in this Little Italy establishment named for Capri’s underground cavern, the Blue Grotto. The restaurant originally opened in 1908 and attracted the likes of Frank Sinatra, but was renovated in the 1990s and reopened in 2003. The wine cellar has a private entrance on Broome Street and seats 65 or holds 100 for receptions. The first floor has à la carte seating with a bar and lounge for 120. (177 Mulberry St., 212.925.8775) NEW GUS & GABRIEL

In July 2009, chef Michael Psilakis replaced the Upper West Side space that previously housed Kefi with Gus & Gabriel, a casual gastropub serving affordable American fare. Named for Psilakis’ father and son, this uptown eatery is furnished with dark wood accents, burgundy walls, antique objects, and a coat of armor. Up front, the bar seats four, and in the rear is a 65-seat dining room. (222 West 79th St., 212.362.7470) GUSTO RISTORANTE E BAR AMERICANO

Sasha Muniak’s West Village restaurant and bar was inspired by 1950s and ’60s Italian cinema (La Dolce Vita, Rocco and His Brothers, The Gold of Naples). The decor is a mix of simple white tiles and dark wood tables with plush black velvet banquettes, Missoni striped bar stools, and a 1950s Viennese chandelier. The 400-square-foot wine cellar can be used for special events. (60 Greenwich Ave., 212.924.8000) HAKUBAI

This is the New York branch of a 200-year-old restaurant in Kyoto. Specializing in kaiseki ryori—a meal consisting of seasonal small plates—Hakubai is the in-house restaurant of the Kitano Hotel and is notorious for its highpriced menu. The 48-seat main dining room is brightly lit, and three private tatami rooms are available for events.

(66 Park Ave., 212.885.7111) HANGAWI

Little Korea’s HanGawi serves Korean vegetarian cuisine in a luxurious, business-appropriate setting for an upscale crowd. The no-shoes policy and recessed tables encourage interaction among groups in the serene and quiet space. The restaurant comfortably seats 60, but due to the recessed seating, it cannot be used for cocktail receptions.

(12 East 32nd St., 212.213.0077)

THE HARRISON5

HARU

This modern Japanese restaurant group has seven eateries throughout Manhattan. The 175-seat Park Avenue restaurant has rice-paper window screens, floors made of photographs of grass, tanks of robotic fish suspended over the sushi bar, and an outdoor area that holds 80. The design at the newest location in the financial district was inspired by Japanese Shinto temples, and has two private dining rooms for events. (280 Park Ave., 212.490.9680; 205 West 43rd St., 212.398.9810; 433 Amsterdam Ave., 212.579.5655; 1329 Third Ave., 212.452.2230; 220 Park Ave. South, 646.428.0989; 1327 Third Ave., 212.452.1028; 1 Wall St. Court, 212.785.6850) HAVANA CENTRAL

The Times Square outpost of the Union Square restaurant features decor inspired by 1950s Cuba. Serving homestyle Cuban fare, the venue has a 110-seat dining room, a 70-seat lounge, the 30-seat Hemingway Room, and a 26-seat veranda café. The entire space holds 400 for receptions; the original location seats 70. A third location, in Morningside Heights, seats 350 or holds 500 for receptions. (151 West 46th St., 212.398.7440; 22 East 17th St., 212.414.4999; 2911 Broadway, 212.662.8830) HAWAIIAN TROPIC ZONE

This 16,000-square-foot trilevel restaurant, lounge, and club holds a total of 700 throughout its three floors. The venue features a menu by David Burke, “table concierges” (servers assigned to a sole table) dressed in sarongs and bikini tops, and cabaret entertainment. Private rooms are available on the lower level. (729 Seventh Ave., 212.626.7312) HEARTBEAT

Heartbeat, in the W New York, offers a health-conscious breakfast menu, while the lunch and dinner menus feature global-Latin influences and flavors. David Rockwell’s design includes a subtle blend of pastels and natural wood accented by columns covered with colorful glass fragments. The restaurant has no private dining room, but the entire space seats 125 or holds 200 for receptions. (149 East 49th St., 212.407.2900) NEW HIGHLANDS

This Scottish-influenced gastropub opened in October 2009 in the space that once housed Pichet Ong’s P*ong.

Outfitted in all things Scottish—tartan fabrics, rustic furniture, and a fireplace—Highlands serves ales, scotches, and Scottish cocktails as well as a menu of traditional Scottish fare. The dining room seats 32. (150-152 West 10th St., 212.229.9270) HILL COUNTRY

This Texan barbecue restaurant has two floors of space, a no-frills approach to dining, and a stage for musical entertainment. Here, dry-rubbed meats and hearty sides are ordered at the counter and served on butcher paper.

There are 100 seats at street level and 150 on the floor below; the entire space is available for events. (30 West 26th St., 212.255.4544) OPENING SOON HILL COUNTRY CHICKEN

Slated to open in summer 2010, this is the fried chickenfocused spin off of Texan barbecue joint Hill Country. The restaurant will occupy a 2,700-square-foot, bilevel space in the Flatiron district and offer sidewalk seating. (1123 Broadway) NEW HOTEL GRIFFOU5

Named for a 19th-century flophouse, this restaurant is owned by Jesse Keyes, Larry Poston, and Johnny Swet and has five rooms for dining. Opened in June 2009, Hotel Griffou sports an interior designed after artist studios and French salons, with working fireplaces and old-fashioned portraits. There’s a 15-seat terrace, as well as a 14-seat wine vault. (21 West 9th St., 646.448.4632) HUDSON CAFETERIA

The stylish Hudson Cafeteria is akin to a college dining hall—as envisioned by Philippe Starck. Long wooden communal tables and benches, stained-glass windows, and exposed brick walls give the room a warm, comfortable atmosphere. The entire space seats 140 or holds 350 for receptions. (356 West 58th St., 212.554.6306) HUDSON RIVER CAFÉ5

Once a dilapidated mechanic shop, this 6,000-squarefoot space is now a restaurant serving modern American fare from chef Ricardo Cardona. The café has a red, white, and black color scheme, a menu featuring Hudson River Valley products, and a bilevel patio. (697 West 133rd St., 212.491.9177) OPENING SOON HURRICANE CLUB

Michael Stillman and Craig Koketsu of Park Avenue Summer/Autumn/Winter/Spring will open this Polynesian restaurant in the space once occupied by Porcao. Slated to open in summer 2010, the 250-seat space will be designed by AvroKO. (360 Park Ave. South) IL BASTARDO

This 90-seat restaurant from Bobby and Enrico Malta features a design by ICrave Design Studio, which includes mahogany floors, exposed brick walls, a 40-foot bar, and a reflective ceiling (designed to imitate water). Chef Camillo Bassani created the Tuscan grill menu. A private room holds as many as 100 for receptions. (191 Seventh Ave., 212.675.5980) IL BUCO

NoHo’s antiques store turned restaurant is a warmly lit, comfortable space serving Italian and Mediterranean fare amid a collection of American accoutrements. The nearly 200-year-old wine cellar features brick walls

and the restaurant’s assortment of Italian, Spanish, and French wines; it is available for private events, seating 25.

The main dining room seats 70, and the chef’s table at the rear seats 20. (47 Bond St., 212.533.1932) IL CORTILE

In Little Italy, Il Cortile is an airy restaurant with an indoor Roman garden in its high-ceilinged, sunlit, 262-seat dining room. The skylights and lush greenery make Il Cortile a scenic space for corporate dinners or receptions, and the eatery has four private rooms for smaller events—including a 75-seat garden room and the 65-seat Renaissance Room. (125 Mulberry St., 212.226.6060) ILILI

Ilili, the colloquial Lebanese word for “tell me,” is a modern Lebanese restaurant a few blocks north of Madison Square Park. The spacious bilevel venue is divided into several areas, including a 110-seat main dining room, a bar and lounge (with room for 110), and a tentlike private lounge upstairs. On the menu is contemporary Lebanese cuisine.

(236 Fifth Ave., 212.683.2929) INAKAYA

This Japanese restaurant is on the ground floor of the Midtown headquarters for The New York Times. Operated by the same company that runs the Grand Central Oyster Bar, Inakaya is a 3,000-square-foot space sporting 19-foot ceilings and design accents made with rice paper. The restaurant serves robata-style fare—Japanese dishes grilled in front of diners—as well as sushi and sashimi.

(620 Eighth Ave., 212.354.2195) INDOCHINE

Indochine has established itself as a NoHo mainstay still crowded with style-minded twentysomethings. In a landmark building opposite the Public Theater, the restaurant’s interior was inspired by French Colonial Vietnam and seats 120 or holds 200 for receptions. The bar and lounge seat 50. (430 Lafayette St., 212.505.5111) ’INOTECA

This late-night Lower East Side haunt is an extension of Jason and Joe Denton’s ’Ino and offers a sizable list of regional Italian wines. The 50-seat main dining room has cast-iron-framed windows and hardwood floors. Inspired

by Italian wine bars, the 30-seat Cantina showcases ’Inoteca’s wine collection. (98 Rivington St., 212.614.0473) INSIEME

Replacing the Michelangelo Hotel’s Limoncello restaurant is chef Marco Canora and sommelier Paul Grieco’s Insieme. Canora and Grieco opened this Italian eatery in 2007. Bentel & Bentel’s design combines white oak tabletops, cork walls, and a travertine bar. A private room seats 30. (777 Seventh Ave., 212.582.1310)

IPPUDO

The New York location of Shigemi Kawahara’s popular Japanese chain opened in the East Village in March 2008.

With a focus on ramen, the restaurant serves a menu of Japanese dishes in an 80-seat dining room decorated with kimono fabrics and a large bamboo tree. Ippudo also has a private room that holds 30 for receptions. (65 Fourth Ave., 212.388.0088) ISABELLA’S

A favorite among Upper West Siders and Natural History Museum visitors, Isabella’s offers a bright, airy, bilevel atmosphere that features large windows that look out onto Columbus Avenue. Continental cuisine is served in a space with brick walls, subdued yellow tones, and wooden floors. A semiprivate mezzanine seats 45. (359 Columbus Ave., 212.724.2100) I TRULLI5

Southern Italian fare is served in a country-style, brickand-wood-filled dining room with a fireplace and a private 60-seat space. The 20-seat garden, open yearround, is partially covered, and heated during the winter.

The entire restaurant can be closed for an event—it holds 160. The owners of I Trulli also own Vino, a wine store for private events and wine tastings. (122 East 27th St., 212.481.7372) IZAKAYA TEN

Owner Lannie Ahn converted her French-Korean restaurant D’or Ahn into a casual Japanese eatery and sake bar in 2006. The space has minimalist furnishings, a handpainted facade, and paper lanterns hanging outside.

Izakaya Ten serves Japanese izakaya-style fare (small plates) in a 28-seat dining room. A 24-seat room in the rear is available for private events, and the bar seats an additional nine. (207 10th Ave., 212.627.7777) OPENING SOON J & S FOOD HALL

Restaurateur Jimmy Bradley, the owner of the Red Cat and the Harrison, will open a spot inside the planned Nolitan hotel. Slated to debut in summer 2010, the 50-seat eatery is tentatively dubbed J & S Food Hall and chef Bill McDaniel of the Red Cat will oversee the menu. (30 Kenmare St.) JACK’S LUXURY OYSTER BAR

Another gem in Jack and Grace Lamb’s family of tiny, successful restaurants, Jack’s Luxury Oyster Bar offers creative dishes featuring oysters (naturally) and other seafood delights. The restaurant holds as many as 22 for receptions. (246 East 5th St., 212.979.1012) JACQUES5

Jacques Ouari replaced Mediterranean restaurant Porcupine in NoLIta with a new eponymous restaurant and a subterranean lounge, Gibraltar, in 2006. Upstairs,

Le Cirque the world renowned restaurant, invites you to host your next private function in one of our unique and beautiful event spaces. The 18,000 square-feet restaurant features a main dining room for event buy-outs. Adjacent to the main dining room is the opulent bar/lounge which readily converts to a semi-private room. The impressive all glass wine tower houses over 2,000 bottles and extends upward 27 feet to the mezzanine level to highlight Le Cirque’s most private space — the Stella room overlooking the main dining room. Our world-class service and attentive staff will create the most memorable occasion for your corporate or personal needs. Le Cirque’s Special Events team is looking forward to hosting your next soirée!

New York Venue Directory

Restaurants an intimate bistro serves French fare with North African influences on wooden tables and chairs. Jacques seats 60 or holds 100 for receptions. A terrace holds 12. (20 Prince St., 212.966.8886) JADIS

With a French-leaning wine list and a menu of meats, cheeses, and panini, this Lower East Side wine bar has a rustic, intimate feel, with exposed brick walls and wooden café tables. A semiprivate, loungelike space in the back replete with sofas and long, communal tables works for small groups. (42 Rivington St., 212.254.1675) JANE

Chefs Glenn Harris, Brian Ellis, and Jason Heiselman created the classic American menu at Jane, a casual eatery in Greenwich Village. Jane’s private, 40-seat green room holds 65 for receptions, and its moss-green walls offer tranquility on bustling Houston Street. (100 West Houston St., 212.254.7000) JAPONAIS

Restaurateurs Miae Lim and Rick Wahlstedt collaborated with designer Jeffrey Beers to open this New York outpost of Chicago restaurant Japonais in 2006. The 10,000square-foot space seats 291 people and has a 160-seat main dining room (known as the red room) with an eight-seat sushi bar, a 60-seat mezzanine lounge, and a street-level lounge for 40. (111 East 18th St., 212.260.2020) JEAN-GEORGES5

Say what you want about Donald Trump, but he built a landmark location for Jean-Georges Vongerichten—a modern wonderland where you can sit up high overlooking the park while savoring the exquisite cuisine. The restaurant features a terrace, a lively bar, a relaxed front room, and a main dining room where a sense of hushed expectation accompanies the courses. Expect to see JeanGeorges darting about, never too busy to greet people, and expect to pay top dollar—but you do get what you pay for. The main room seats 64 and the bar seats 70. (1 Central Park West, 212.299.3901 ext. 110) JIMMY’S

Chef Jimmy Carbone opened his basement bar and restaurant in the East Village in 2005. The 2,000-squarefoot venue serving European beer-hall-style appetizers has soft earth tones, brick ceilings, aged wooden floors, banquettes, and high tables. The main dining area holds 74; for smaller events, the stage room seats 40 or holds 50 for receptions. (43 East 7th St., 212.982.3006) JOHNNY UTAH’S

Johnny Utah’s is the in-house restaurant of the Manhattan Centre Hotel. The 6,000-square-foot eatery seats 220 and serves Tex-Mex cuisine. There are three private event areas—the smallest seats 25, the largest holds 50. (25 West 51st St., 212.262.8824) JOJO

able, with full audiovisual capabilities. The restaurant opened in 2006. (19 West 44th St., 212.221.0144) NEW KENMARE

Behind this cozy, Little Italy newcomer is Beatrice Inn creator Paul Sevigny, Little Owl chef Joey Campanaro, and Rose Bar’s partner and creative director Nur Khan.

Campanaro’s menu of Mediterranean-American food is complemented by the stucco walls, bronze palm leaves, and comfy banquettes that ornament the 100-seat space.

(98 Kenmare St., 212.274.9898) KING’S CARRIAGE HOUSE

This cozy Upper East Side restaurant inside a 19th-century town house takes its inspiration from Irish country manors and features antique furniture and collectibles.

Serving Continental cuisine, the restaurant consists of three rooms, each of which can be booked for private dining. One room seats 16 people, another seats 22, and a third seats 30. (251 East 82nd St., 212.734.5490) KITTICHAI5

This in-house restaurant at the 60 Thompson Hotel serves upscale Thai cuisine. Kittichai was named one of Travel & Leisure’s best new restaurants in 2004. The venue has 3,000 square feet and seats 150 or holds 275 for receptions in its main dining room. Forty additional seats are available in the private outdoor cabanas. (60 Thompson St., 212.219.2000) KLEE BRASSERIE

This European-American brasserie debuted in late 2006.

Owned by Daniel Angerer, an Austrian chef who has worked with chefs including Joël Robuchon, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and David Bouley, the west Chelsea restaurant seats 62. “Klee” is the German word for clover. (200 Ninth Ave., 212.633.8033) KNIFE & FORK

Damien Brassel, an Irish chef who has worked at highprofile restaurants in Dublin, London, Copenhagen, and Sydney, opened this casual eatery in 2006. Charming and rustic—very little of the interior changed after the former occupant, Onju, vacated—Knife & Fork is a 40-seat restaurant serving modern European cuisine. (108 East 4th St., 212.228.4885) KOI

In the Bryant Park Hotel and owned by Nick Haque, Koi is the New York incarnation of the popular Los Angeles restaurant of the same name. Designed by ICrave Design Studio, the space has a pond, dark wood furniture, soft leather banquettes, and ceiling decor inspired by fish scales. Chef Sal Sprufero offers a Japanese menu, and the restaurant seats 165. (40 West 40th St., 212.642.2100) KYOTOFU

This eatery in Hell’s Kitchen is part takeout joint, part dessert shop. Designed by architect Hiro Tsuruta (of Jewel Bako and Momofuku), the 1,000-square-foot space has 32 seats in a cocoonlike area in the back of the establishment and an 11-seat takeout area up front. The entire restaurant can be rented, seating 50 or holding 65 for receptions. (705 Ninth Ave., 212.974.6012)

An Upper East Side favorite from Jean-Georges Vongerichten, JoJo is a graceful, somewhat opulent bilevel restaurant with rich, plush burgundy banquettes that line the walls, terra-cotta tiles, silk drapes, and large windows that brighten the rooms. The entire space seats 80 and serves Vongerichten’s signature French cuisine. (160 East 64th St., 212.223.5656)

LA BOTTEGA5

NEW JOSEPH LEONARD

L’ABSINTHE

Named for the owner’s grandfathers, this cozy West Village boîte from Gabriel Stulman serves a French-influenced American menu in a small space near Sheridan Square.

Furnished with pieces sourced from flea markets, Joseph Leonard houses only seven tables in addition to a bar and an open kitchen. (170 Waverly Place, 646.429.8383)

This restaurant’s menu has modern and classic French cuisine and creative contemporary European food.

Decorated with brass rails, mirrors, dark wooden café tables, and Art Nouveau posters, this brasserie can close off the rear portion of the restaurant for private dining for 65 people. The restaurant seats 120 or holds as many as 170 for receptions. (227 East 67th St., 212.794.4950)

KAI/ITO EN

Short for kaiseki, a Japanese meal consisting of seasonal small plates, Kai is a 44-seat restaurant on the second floor of Ito En, a green-tea boutique on the Upper East Side. An intimate private dining room in the basement seats 14 and features private elevator access and restrooms. (822 Madison Ave., 212.988.7277) KEENS STEAK HOUSE

This English chophouse in Midtown, established in 1885, features one of the largest selections of singlemalt Scotches in the country. Keens offers four banquet rooms, with a total capacity of 500 for receptions or 385 seated. The 35-seat Bullmoose Room has a fireplace and is often used for wine tastings, the Lillie Langtry Room seats 25, and the Lambs Room seats 100. (72 West 36th St., 212.947.3636) KEFI

Kefi, the Upper West Side restaurant from chef Michael Psilakis and Donatella Arpaia, moved to a larger space on Columbus Avenue in September 2008. The new location offers almost four times more space than the original, and features private dining options as well as catering services. The old location is now Gus & Gabriel. (505 Columbus Ave., 212.873.0200) KELLARI TAVERNA

This 200-seat spot from Stavros Aktipis serves what is billed as “contemporary Hellenic” cuisine from chef Gregory Zapantis. Kellari Taverna features rustic decor like wooden wine barrels. A private room for 50 is avail-

180 bizbash.com may/june 2010

One of two restaurants inside the Maritime Hotel (the other is Matsuri), La Bottega offers moderately priced Italian fare. The eatery is abundant in dark wood furnishings and has tiled flooring, a wood-burning oven, and cozy booths with leather cushions. Inside, the restaurant seats 140; the patio seats 300. (88 Ninth Ave., 212.243.8400)

LA ESQUINA

After navigating past the “Employees Only” sign, down a staircase, and through the kitchen, guests at La Esquina find themselves in a dark, brick-walled dining room with wrought-iron gates and plenty of candles. The speakeasy vibe won’t be for everyone, but is bound to impress certain downtown denizens and fashionable types. A semiprivate room seats 24 around rustic farm tables for Mexican fare and more than 100 tequilas. (106 Kenmare St., 646.613.7100) LA FONDA DEL SOL

In January 2009, the Patina Restaurant Group opened La Fonda del Sol, a modern Spanish restaurant inside the MetLife building. As a nod to the eatery’s name—which means “inn of the sun”—Adam Tihany’s interior design features a subtle sunburst motif throughout. At the kitchen’s helm is Josh DeChellis, a chef noted for his work at Sumile, Jovia, and Bar Fry, who serves a tapas-focused menu. La Fonda del Sol seats 210 between two rooms. (200 Park Ave., 212.867.6767) LA GRENOUILLE

This French restaurant, opened by the Masson family in 1962, is often regarded as a New York classic. The dining room is filled with luxe red banquettes, chartreuse silkupholstered walls, and fresh flower arrangements. A 70-seat, bilevel party room upstairs was once the home of artist Bernard Lamotte and Le Petit Prince author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. (3 East 52nd St., 212.752.1495)

NEW LAMB’S CLUB

Chef and restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian planned to open this restaurant inside the Chatwal New York in Spring 2010. The Lamb’s Club offers 90 seats and a 2,500-squarefoot lounge on the mezzanine. (130 West 44th St.) LANDMARC

Named after chef-proprietor Marc Murphy, Landmarc offers French and Italian cuisine in a TriBeCa space designed by architect Robert Pierpont and designer Natalie Loggins. The 100-seat, bilevel space fuses industrial materials like steel and concrete with natural wood floors and elegant leather banquettes. (179 West Broadway, 212.343.3883) LANDMARC AT TIME WARNER CENTER

Chef Marc Murphy opened a second location of his restaurant in the Time Warner Center in 2007. On the building’s third floor, Murphy’s 9,000-square-foot venue includes a 17-seat bar, a 300-seat dining room, around 80 seats for private entertaining, and a wine room capable of holding 10,000 bottles. (10 Columbus Cir., 3rd Floor, 212.823.6123) L’ARTUSI

In December 2008, the team behind Dell’anima opened this West Village restaurant. Named for Pellegrino Artusi’s cookbook, L’Artusi serves seasonal Italian fare from chef Gabriel Thompson. Inside the bilevel venue are a 30-seat bar, an open kitchen, room for 110 diners, and a private space for 16. (228 West 10th St., 212.255.5757) L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON

This eatery from Parisian restaurateur Joël Robuchon replaced Fifty Seven Fifty Seven in the Four Seasons hotel.

Modeled after his famed French eatery of the same name, the 46-seat venue was designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and serves small plates of French cuisine. (57 East 57th St., 212.350.6658) LATTANZI RISTORANTE5

This bilevel, family-owned restaurant in a town house on Restaurant Row has four dining rooms, a second-floor terrace, and a skylight patio room that opens onto a 20-seat garden. The cuisine is Jewish-influenced Roman, and Lattanzi’s elegant and rustic interior combines exposed brick walls with wooden ceiling beams and candlelight. The main dining room seats 160. (361 West 46th St., 212.315.0980) LE BERNARDIN

Chef Eric Ripert mans the stove at this much-lauded, 130-seat French seafood restaurant. Les Salons Bernardin is the private room, with its own entrance, kitchen, restrooms, and coat check; it’s enclosed in etched glass with coffered maple ceilings and seats 80, or can be divided into three rooms. (155 West 51st St., 212.554.1107) NEW LE CAPRICE

In late October 2009, the Richard Caring Group, which operates the Ivy restaurant in London, opened a New York outpost of Le Caprice inside the newly renovated Pierre hotel. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, this lobby-level eatery offers an 76-seat dining room and a 14-seat bar in a space decorated with David Bailey’s photographs of Jean Shrimpton. (795 Fifth Ave., 212.940.8195) LE CIRQUE

Now in its third location, Sirio Maccioni and family’s Le Cirque opened to the public in the Bloomberg Tower in 2006. The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows, and its facade is all shimmering glass and steel. The main dining room has a 27-foot ceiling and can seat 95, with seating for an additional 65 at the bar and wine lounge. A steel and glass wine tower also soars overhead and connects with the private dining room upstairs, which holds 80 for receptions. (151 East 58th St., 212.405.5094) LE PÉRIGORD

This traditional French restaurant has waiters in tuxedos, soft lighting, and desserts served on an antique trolley.

A tranquil setting for business entertaining, Le Périgord offers a 40-seat private room decorated with muted colors and walls painted with French landscapes. (405 East 52nd St., 212.755.6244) LES HALLES

The original Les Halles on Park Avenue has a 140-seat dining room and in 2004 extended the property with an indoor market and additional dining space next door. The downtown location continues the classic French brasserie style, with dark wooden tables and chairs and matching dark brown leather banquettes along the walls. It has a 20-seat room available for private events, and the main dining room seats 70. (411 Park Ave. South, 212.679.4111; 15 John St., 212.285.8585) NEW THE LION

Waverly Inn chef John DeLucie was scheduled to open this bilevel restaurant in Greenwich Village in late April 2010.

The Lion, which occupies the space formerly home to the Village Restaurant, offers 140 seats for dining and a menu of classic American dishes. (62 West 9th St.) LIME THAI BISTRO

In 2006, Taweewat Hurapan and son Dejthana opened this eatery serving contemporary Asian dishes and traditional Thai fare, which was bought by Sompont Tsutsavorn in 2007. The West Village space holds 80 in its main area and has a 35-seat private room downstairs. (29 Seventh Ave. South, 212.727.2678) LITTLE OWL

Chef Joey Campanaro (previously the executive chef at the

Harrison and Pace) and Gabriel Stulman opened their cozy bistro in the West Village in 2006. The 32-seat space has a painted tin ceiling, a cedar and cherrywood bar, handblown glass shades, steel wall sconces, and glass-and-steel chandeliers. On the menu is seasonal Mediterraneaninfluenced fare. (90 Bedford St., 212.741.4695) NEW LOCANDA VERDE5

In June 2009, Locanda Verde opened it the Greenwich Hotel space that recently housed Ago Ristorante. The airy, light-filled site has high ceilings and offers a café in the front, sidewalk seating, and a main dining room, as well as a private dining room in the rear. In the kitchen is Andrew Carmellini, previously the chef at A Voce, who serves affordable Italian fare. (377 Greenwich St., 212.925.3797) LUGO CAFFE

Modeled after typical Italian cafés, Lugo Caffe is the first restaurant effort from menswear company Lugo.

Opposite Penn Station, the 4,000-square-foot eatery features a casual section complete with tiled floors, a bar, and communal tables, as well as a more formal area with banquettes and booths. Lugo Caffe seats 150 with a 35-seat private room; the entire space is available for buyouts. (1 Penn Plaza, 212.760.2700) LUPA

Mario Batali’s casual Italian restaurant in the West Village features warm yellow walls, small café tables, brick archways, and an exposed wine rack in the front. The 30-seat reception room has banquettes lining the walls, and the main dining room—known as the tavern room—seats 50 and is available for private events. (170 Thompson St., 212.982.5089) LURE FISHBAR

Lure Fishbar, the popular seafood restaurant beneath SoHo’s Prada store, reopened in 2006 following renovations after a fire the previous January. Owners John McDonald and Josh Pickard gave their eatery a full facelift, with a new seating configuration and naval palette.

Lure now offers a 30-seat private dining room. (142 Mercer St., 212.431.7676) MACELLERIA

Part steak house and part Italian restaurant, Macelleria is a large restaurant that was once a meat warehouse. (It is in the meatpacking district, after all.) In addition to its main dining room, the restaurant has a 75-seat basement wine cellar and a 20-seat back room for private events. (48 Gansevoort St., 212.741.2555) MACY’S CELLAR BAR & GRILL

Operated by Patina Restaurant Group, this restaurant is in the basement of Macy’s in Herald Square. The 200-seat

space offers a private room that seats 80 people and is decorated with a collection of exhibits that celebrate the store’s century-old history. The restaurant’s menu offers burgers, sandwiches, salads, and other casual fare. (151 West 34th St., 212.216.9611) MADISON & VINE

Hospitality Holdings, the operators of the Campbell Apartment, World Bar, Bookmarks, and the Carnegie Club, opened this bistro and wine bar. On the street level in the Library Hotel and decorated with Gothic accents, Madison & Vine is a small but airy space with 60 seats and French doors that open onto the sidewalk. The entire space can be booked for events. (299 Madison Ave., 212.867.5535) MAE MAE CAFE

Owned and operated by caterer Great Performances, this SoHo wine bar and café is decorated with wine bottles, antique wood furnishings, a curved mahogany bar, and a chandelier with red lampshades. This neighborhood favorite seats 30 or holds 60 for receptions. (68 Vandam St., 212.924.5109) NEW MAIALINO

In November 2009, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group opened this new Italian restaurant inside Ian Schrager’s Gramercy Park Hotel. Designed by the Rockwell Group, Maialino is styled after Roman trattorias, with warm colors, wooden floors, and wainscoting.

In addition to offering windows that overlook the park, the eatery also has a 22-person private dining room available for events. (2 Lexington Ave., 212.777.2410) MALONEY & PORCELLI

Owned by Fourth Wall Restaurant Group, Maloney & Porcelli is known as a place for a steak power lunch, with a menu from James Jermyn. Upstairs, the restaurant’s 1,800-square-foot skylight room has a large fireplace, a baby grand piano, and a 25-foot cherrywood bar; it holds 128 for seated dinners and 170 for cocktail receptions. (37 East 50th St., 212.227.2347) NEW MA PÊCHE

Opened in April 2010 is David Chang’s restaurant inside the Chambers Hotel. Located in the spot recently vacated

by Geoffrey Zakarian’s Town, Ma Pêche was designed by Thomas Schlesser and offers a menu overseen by chef Tien Ho, an 85-seat dining room, and a four-seat raw bar.

(15 West 56th St., 212.757.5878) MARC FORGIONE

Chef Marc Forgione, son of restaurateur Larry Forgione, opened this TriBeCa restaurant in 2008. Designed to be intimate and comfortable, the 55-seat dining room features wooden shelves filled with vintage cookbooks and antique copper pots, reclaimed wood walls, and glass

lanterns hung from the ceiling. The communal room, with a bar and long tables, seats 24. There is also a 40-seat private room. (134 Reade St., 212.941.9401) NEW MARCONY RESTAURANT5

In mid-March 2010, Marco Pipolo opened this Italian restaurant in Murray Hill. Inspired by the Isle of Capri, Marcony’s white walls, blue accents, and dark wood beams create a light and airy setting for the 74-seat dining room. There’s two areas on the upper level for private groups—one seats 16, the other seats 30—and an additional 20 seats are available in the outdoor café. (184 Lexington Ave., 646.837.6020) NEW MAREA

Taking over the space vacated by San Domenico in May 2009 is Marea, an Italian seafood restaurant from Chris Cannon and chef Michael White. The spot, just south of Central Park and close to Columbus Circle, is decorated with brown leather seating, glass-enclosed wine racks, Indian rosewood paneling, and a bar topped with backlit onyx. In addition to the dining room, there’s an eight-seat raw bar and lounge with views of an indoor garden. (240 Central Park South, 212.582.5100) OPENING SOON MARITIME PARC5

Scheduled to open in late May 2010, Maritime Parc is a 30,000-square-foot restaurant and event space in Liberty State Park. With views of the Statue of Liberty, the venue offers a 90-seat eatery designed by Stephanie Goto as well as a 100-person terrace, and space for private functions on the second and third floors. As many as 500 guests can use the second floor for seated dinners; the third floor holds 150 seated or 400 for receptions. (84 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, N.J., 201.413.0050) NEW MARI VANNA

In August 2009, this Russian-themed eatery opened in the Flatiron district. Styled after the parlor of a traditional Russian home, Mari Vanna is decorated with elaborate chandeliers, patterned wallpaper, shelves filled with stacking dolls and trinkets, and vintage furniture. On the menu are classic Russian dishes, including beef stroganoff, chicken kiev, and Petrossian caviar served with blinis. (41 East 20th St., 212.777.1955) NEW THE MARK RESTAURANT BY JEAN-GEORGES

Opened in late February 2010, this, the inhouse restaurant of the Mark Hotel, is from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Designed by Jacques Grange, Vongerichten’s latest offers a bar and lounge in the front, a 90-seat dining room with a skylight and Venetian glass columns, and a 20-seat room for private events. In the kitchen is Pierre Schutz, who oversees a menu of French comfort food. (25 East 77th St., 212.606.3030)

For your event, please contact Malia Stevens: m.stevens@rougetomate.com or 646-237-8963

New York Venue Directory

Restaurants MARKET TABLE

The owners of Little Owl teamed up with Mike Price, former executive chef of the Mermaid Inn, to open this West Village restaurant. As the name suggests, Market Table is part specialty market (selling fresh produce, meat, cheese, and seafood) and part restaurant, serving seasonal American fare. The dining room seats 40, with an additional eight seats at the bar. (54 Carmine St., 212.255.2100) MARKJOSEPH STEAKHOUSE

The MarkJoseph Steakhouse offers large cuts of dry-aged porterhouse and is a popular lunch and dinner destination for Wall Streeters. The modern 150-seat dining room features a sculpture of a bull. A semiprivate area seats 50.

(261 Water St., 212.277.0020) MARKT

Owners Peter Michaels and Paolo Veronese moved their Belgian brasserie from the meatpacking district to Chelsea, reopening the eatery in 2007. In its new location, Markt has the same decor accents—wooden furniture, antique tiles, and beveled mirrors—a menu of Belgian fare, and an extensive list of Belgian beers. (676 Ave. of the Americas, 212.727.3314) MARSEILLE

Simon Oren of Sushi Samba and L’Express offers French Mediterranean cuisine in this Hell’s Kitchen restaurant.

Kemia, a separate 60-seat lounge downstairs, contains two small private event rooms: The Casbah holds 75 for receptions, and the Oasis holds 20. Both have private restrooms, and a DJ is available. (630 Ninth Ave., 917.826.5459) MARS 2112

This cavernous, 35,000-square-foot bilevel theme restaurant has red rock walls and ceilings that simulate an intergalactic visit to the fourth planet. With a 25-foot spaceship at the entrance, a 150-seat bar with specialty drinks, a three-story crystal tree, and costumed waitstaff, the kitschy space holds 1,000 for receptions or seats 500.

(1633 Broadway, 212.582.2112 ext. 214) MARTINIQUE CAFE

Restaurateur Stavros Aktipis’s Martinique Cafe is inside the Radisson Martinique hotel on Broadway and serves contemporary American cuisine. The bilevel eatery has views of Herald Square Park and seats as many as 175. The hotel also offers private event space for the restaurant.

Artemis Catering is the café’s off-premise catering division. (1260 Broadway, 212.244.0170) MASA

Famed sushi chef Masa Takayama closed his Beverly Hills sushi mecca Ginza Sushiko to open this 26-seat restaurant with a high-priced prix fixe menu in the Time Warner Center. At the sushi bar, diners have an opportunity to see Takayama at work, while the tables are quiet spaces separated by curtains where patrons can enjoy the carefully decorated venue. (10 Columbus Cir., 212.823.9800)

decorated with wood-paneled walls, stained-glass chandeliers, mosaic-tiled floors, and two mahogany bars. The restaurant’s private 80-seat banquet room holds 125 for receptions, and the patio also holds 125. (1285 Ave. of the Americas, 212.459.1222) MEGU

TriBeCa’s Megu makes a big statement, with 13,000 square feet on two levels, a decorative wall of porcelain sake vases, and a menu full of pricey, elaborate Asian fare.

The tables surrounding the Buddha ice sculpture in the 205-seat main dining room make for prime people-watching. The Imperial Lounge holds 30 for receptions, and a private dining room seats 12. (62 Thomas St., 212.964.2171) MEGU MIDTOWN

Koji Imai opened a 130-seat outpost of his Megu restaurant in Trump World Tower in 2006. This boutique version is smaller (at 8,500 square feet) than the downtown location’s 13,000 square feet. Megu Midtown has a dramatic black Swarovski chandelier, a large tiger mural, and large lamp-shaped light fixtures. A semiprivate dining room seats 25. (845 United Nations Plaza, 212.964.2171) MERCAT

Modeled after the food markets of Barcelona, Mercat is a Spanish restaurant in NoHo. The eatery serves Catalan cuisine from executive chef Ryan Lowder (formerly of Jean Georges). Mercat has 90 seats in a space with brick walls, lofty ceilings, and an exposed kitchen, as well as a tapas lounge on the lower level. (45 Bond St., 646.853.1169) MERCER KITCHEN

Yes, it’s sceney, but Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s SoHo outpost has a steady following that goes as much for the fine French food as for the fashionable crowd the hotel attracts. On two floors inside the Mercer Hotel, this 200-seat restaurant has brick walls, pale purple banquettes, and a glass ceiling through which diners can see the crowds on the sidewalks. (99 Prince St., 212.966.5454) MERCHANTS NY5

This restaurant group operates two Merchants eateries in Manhattan. The Upper East Side branch, a licensed cigar bar, features two working fireplaces, as well as a brandy bar and cigar lounge that can hold 1,000 for receptions.

The Chelsea location offers several 40-seat private rooms, as well as a sidewalk café. (1125 First Ave., 212.366.7267; 1125 Seventh Ave., 212.832.1551) THE MERMAID INN5

Owner Danny Abrams operates this East Village seafood restaurant which offers a menu from chef Jose Luis Martinez. The space features black and white decor with framed antique maritime maps on the walls. It seats 38 in the front dining room (plus 10 at the bar), 40 in the rear dining area, 20 in the garden, and 12 in the sidewalk cafe.

Abrams opened a second location on the Upper West Side in 2007. The second Mermaid Inn is a two-room, 84-seat space decorated with vintage maps and dark wood furnishings, and offers a seasonally inspired menu from chef Laurence Edelman. (96 Second Ave., 212.674.5870; 568 Amsterdam Ave., 212.799.7400)

above striped banquettes and orange and red drum lights illuminate the space. A semiprivate room has audiovisual equipment and seats 12, and the main dining area can host parties of 150. The restaurant also provides catering for two conference rooms within the hotel, both able to seat 40, and on the hotel terrace, which can fit 100. (150 East 50th St., 917.208.4027) MODA5

Moda is the in-house restaurant in Midtown’s Flatotel, serving executive chef Eric Mason’s modern Italian cuisine in a low-key, minimalist dining room with lights embedded in the dark walnut tables and glass panels separating the dining area from the bar. Moda Outdoors is the outdoor area of the restaurant, and hosts evening cocktails and summer movies and concerts. (135 West 52nd St., 212.887.9880) THE MODERN

This sleek restaurant within the Museum of Modern Art is operated by the Union Square Hospitality Group and features French-American cuisine. A 64-seat private dining room overlooks the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden and holds 80 people for receptions. The entire restaurant can seat 100 or hold 200 for receptions.

(9 West 53rd St., 212.408.6641) MOLYVOS

One block south of Carnegie Hall is Molyvos, offering authentic Greek cuisine and an extensive list of Mediterranean wines in a dining room with photographs of the Greek fishing village of the same name. The attractive Midtown space opened in 1997. The entire restaurant seats 220, and a semiprivate room is available for parties of as many as 70. (871 Seventh Ave., 212.582.7500) MONKEY BAR

After buying the 175-seat Monkey Bar from the Glazier Group in August 2008, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter reopened the Midtown restaurant in April 2009.

Murals still adorn the walls at this spot, which, like the Waverly Inn, attracts a crowd of well-known New Yorkers and serves a menu of American fare. (60 East 54th St., 212.288.1010) MORANDI

Restaurateur Keith McNally opened Morandi, an Italian restaurant in the West Village, in 2007. In the kitchen is Tony Liu (formerly of August), serving a selection of seasonal regional Italian fare. Named for Italian painter Giorgio Morandi, the eatery has a rustic look, with weathered brick, copper, and pine accents. (211 Waverly Place, 212.627.7575) MORAN’S BAR & GRILL

With four dining areas and a New American menu, Moran’s restaurant is in a turn-of-the-century landmark building in Chelsea. Its private dining room, with exposed brick walls, a tin ceiling, and dark wooden wainscoting, seats 200. The other three areas have space for parties of as many as 70. (146 10th Ave., 212.627.3030) MORIMOTO

Replacing the short-lived Smith’s restaurant is a spin-off Danny Abrams’ Mermaid Inn eateries, which opened in mid-November 2009. The Mermaid Oyster Bar serves 16 different types of oysters from chef Laurence Edelman in a space decorated with exposed brickwork and weathered wood accents. (79 MacDougal St., 212.260.0100)

Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr partnered with Iron Chef alum Masaharu Morimoto to open this restaurant. Morimoto’s bilevel space has glass and rice-paper partitions, an 18-seat sushi bar around the 1,500-squarefoot kitchen, an eight-seat omakase bar (chef’s table), and a sculpture wall made with 17,400 Ty Nant water bottles in the 40-seat lounge. The 12,000-square-foot space seats 160 in the dining room and 300 for receptions. (88 10th Ave., 212.989.8883)

Philippe Kayadjanian’s French bistro and sushi bar recently changed its name from Paris Match. On the menu are bistro dishes and sushi from 212 Restaurant and Bar’s executive chef Stephan Boissel, and sushi chefs Jay and Chris Lin. The decor includes a zinc bar imported from France, tiled floors, cherrywood paneling, and red banquettes. The space can seat 50 or hold 80 for receptions. (29 East 65th St., 212.737.4400)

MESA GRILL

MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE

Food Network fave Bobby Flay serves gourmet Southwestern fare at this still-popular restaurant he opened in 1991. The vibrantly colored dining room has seating upholstered in cowboy prints for 150 on two levels.

The second-level balcony can be reserved for semiprivate events. (102 Fifth Ave., 212.807.7400)

MATSUGEN

Restaurateur and chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten replaced 66 with this noodle-focused restaurant. Operated in partnership with the Matsuhisa brothers—Yoshiharu, Masashi, and Takayuki—Matsugen has a 90-seat dining room, a 16-seat lounge, and a 12-seat bar. A private room holds 30. (241 Church St., 212.925.0202)

This Glazier Group property is in Grand Central Terminal.

The restaurant seats 160 or, when combined with the bar, holds as many as 350 for receptions. Two private dining rooms (one seats eight and the other seats 16) and the wine salon, a 20-seat private room showcasing the venue’s collection of more than 1,500 wines, are available.

(23 Vanderbilt Ave., 212.655.2300)

The New York outpost of the national chain of steak houses has four private rooms dedicated to meetings and events in addition to its 160-seat dining space. One 750-square-foot boardroom seats 56, a 270-square-foot room seats 16, and a third seats 24 in 324 square feet. All three spaces have audiovisual capabilities and can be combined to create a 110-seat room. There is also a new private loft that seats 80. (551 Fifth Ave., 212.972.3318)

MATSURI

MICHAEL’S5

One of two restaurants inside the Maritime Hotel (the other is La Bottega), the 250-seat basement-level Matsuri offers Japanese fare from chef Tadashi Ono and more than 200 types of sake. The theatrical decor in the windowless space includes oversize Japanese paper lanterns, ceramic tiled walls, and high arched ceilings. While the restaurant itself cannot be rented, the 50-seat sake room can. (369 West 16th St., 212.243.6400)

Business and media heavies still meet at this lunch spot over dishes such as the Cobb salad. The 130-seat restaurant holds 350 for receptions and has vintage French doors that open onto the garden. The 80-seat garden room holds 150 for receptions. (24 West 55th St., 212.767.0555)

MAS FARMHOUSE

Mas is a small, 55-seat restaurant where foodies flock to sample chef Galen Zamarra’s seasonal French-American fare. The interior design is a contrast between farmhouse accents—wood slats on the walls, a sandstone bar, and hand-stitched pillows—and modern, clean lines and suede banquettes. (39 Downing St., 212.255.1790) MATCH 65

NEW MERMAID OYSTER BAR

MICHAEL JORDAN’S THE STEAKHOUSE NYC

MINETTA TAVERN

Maya’s 200-seat dining room has decor that mixes rustic and modern touches, like marbled walls paired with hand-carved wooden chairs, recessed lighting, antiqued wood floors, and wooden tables in the bar. A 40-seat semiprivate dining area is available for events. (1191 First Ave., 212.751.4545)

The latest addition to Keith McNally’s empire is Minetta Tavern, which the restaurateur restored and reopened in March 2009 with partners Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr. The 72-year-old space is now an 85-seat restaurant serving French-influenced bistro fare. Vintage murals and old photographs are reminders of the spot’s storied past, while tiled floors, bright red banquettes, and woodpaneled walls keep the overall look cozy and casual. (113 Macdougal St., 212.475.3850)

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT5

MINT5

Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick started this nationwide seafood restaurant chain in 1972 and opened its first New York location in 2004. This bilevel Midtown space is

This restaurant serving Indian cuisine is inside the San Carlos Hotel. Bold colors dominate the decor in the dining area, where green-and-yellow-painted panels hang

MAYA

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MR. CHOW TRIBECA5

Midtown’s flashy Chinese restaurant Mr. Chow spawned a this downtown outpost in 2006. The 12,000-square-foot space, which was once Pace, has a crystal-dotted ceiling and off-white limestone walls, and its main dining room seats 130. Gold-leaf walls and mahogany floors adorn the private room, which holds 50 and has its own bar.

A 70-seat patio is also available in the warmer months.

The original New York location of the restaurant offers a 30-seat private room; the entire restaurant seats 120. (324 East 57th St., 212.751.9030; 121 Hudson St., 212.965.9500) MURANO

This northern Italian restaurant near Madison Square Garden opened in 1983. The restaurant has a private dining room for 40, and can provide off-premise catering for as many as 2,000. (207 West 36th St., 212.695.5220) NAPLES 455

On the ground floor of the MetLife Building on Park Avenue, Naples 45 is a Neapolitan Italian restaurant run

by Patina Restaurant Group. The brightly colored dining room has a white-tiled bar and holds 400 for receptions or seats 200. A patio seats 100. (200 Park Ave., MetLife Bldg., 212.949.8248) NATSUMI RESTAURANT

This theater district venue from Barbara Matsumura and chef Haru Konagaya serves Japanese dishes with Italian

ingredients and flavors. The dining area, filled with modern furniture and wood accents, holds 53; the bar and lounge, featuring a backlit waterfall and rice-paper light fixtures, holds 42. (226 West 50th St., 212.258.2988) NERO

This 95-seat restaurant opened in 2005 in the meatpacking district. Co-owned by Gino Piscopo and Guido Venitucci, the venue is decorated with wood tables, exposed brick walls, and wine barrels. Camillo Bassani’s menu features Italian cuisine with Mediterranean influences. (46 Gansevoort St., 212.675.5224) NEW LEAF RESTAURANT & BAR5

In a 1930s structure in Fort Tryon Park, this lodgelike restaurant offers New American cuisine and a view of the garden. The New York Restoration Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cleaning up and reclaiming the city’s green spaces, operates the restaurant. The main dining room seats 56, and a patio seats 150. (1 Margaret Corbin Drive, 212.568.5323) NICE MATIN5

Nice Matin is an Upper West Side restaurant with Greek-, Italian-, and Middle Eastern-inspired French cuisine. The 80-seat dining room has a sunny Mediterranean look, with a palette of yellows, reds, and greens, and a curved zinc bar; a 70-seat patio is open in the summer. (201 West 79th St., 212.873.6423) NICK & STEF’S STEAKHOUSE

In Madison Square Garden, Nick & Stef’s is a Patina Restaurant Group-run steak house with a modern look that combines muted gray, brown, and moss green with blond wood. A semiprivate room seats 20 or holds 25 for receptions, or the entire space seats 150 or holds as many as 250 for receptions. (9 Penn Plaza, 212.949.8248) NINO’S TUSCANY

The fifth in Nino Selimaj’s line of restaurants is this Tuscan eatery with a menu from chef Jesus Salgero and entertainment provided by pianist Irving Fields. Decor in the 150-seat dining room includes colorful abstract murals by artist Michael Litzig, brick arches, and iron lanterns.

(117 West 58th St., 212.757.8630) NIOS RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR

District, the restaurant adjacent to the Muse Hotel, became Nios in April 2009. Chef Patricia Williams, formerly of District and Morrell Wine Bar, serves classic American fare with a focus on small plates and appetizers. Nios seats 80 or holds 120 for receptions; a private dining space seats 22. (130 West 46th St., 212.485.2999) NOBU

The flagship sushi restaurant from Nobu Matsuhisa, Drew Nieporent, and Robert De Niro was designed by

David Rockwell. With custom-designed chairs inspired by pearls and chopsticks, the entire dining room seats 140, and a 40-seat semiprivate room is in the rear. Nobu Next Door opened in 1998 and has a 70-seat dining space that holds 90 for receptions. (105 Hudson St., 212.219.0500; Nobu Next Door: 212.334.4445) NOBU 57

The Midtown branch of the famous TriBeCa sushi restaurant consists of 13,000 square feet on two floors, decorated in wood, metal, and wicker. The first-floor bar can be rented for 75 people, as can an upstairs 32-seat lounge and flexible back room. The entire restaurant can hold 300 for receptions. (40 West 57th St., 212.757.3000) NOLITA HOUSE

Owned by Scott Bankey and chef Marc Matyas, Nolita House serves contemporary American cuisine and showcases artisanal cheese. Inspired by the design of a Shaker schoolhouse, the venue often plays host to art exhibits and wine and cheese tastings frequently conducted by Max McCalman. The 50-seat restaurant holds 90 for receptions and is available for off-premise catering. (47 East Houston St., 212.625.1712) NOMAD5

This warm and cozy 59-seat French North African restaurant in the East Village opened in 2006. The interior is decorated with the building’s 130-year-old beams, lantern light fixtures, and original bricks. The 35-seat dining area in the rear can be closed off for private affairs. The garden seats an additional 14. (78 Second Ave., 212.253.5410) NORMA’S

Just off the lobby of Le Parker Meridien hotel, the 102-seat in-house restaurant offers traditional American fare, but only for breakfast and lunch. Comfortable banquettes, leather chairs, wood accents, and high ceilings make for a modern-looking eatery. (118 West 57th St., 212.708.7460) NORTH SQUARE

Owned by Judy Paul, this 50-seat bistro in the Washington Square Hotel offers two additional event spaces. The Deco Room, with chandeliers and plush banquettes, seats 20 and holds 35 for receptions; a lounge seats 35 and holds 50 for receptions. (103 Waverly Place, 212.254.1200) NOVITA5

Novita in the Gramercy Park area serves regional Italian cuisine from chef-owner Marco Fregonese and features yellow walls, wooden floors, and Venetian sconces.

Novita has a private room that seats 12 and sidewalk seating during the warmer months. (102 East 22nd St., 212.677.2222) OAK ROOM

The refurbished lobby-level dining spot at the Plaza hotel

reopened in November 2008. Run by restaurateur Joey Allaham, the Oak Room has original wood-paneled walls, a barrel-vaulted ceiling, a mosaic tile floor, and large murals by artist Everett Shinn. Aside from the 112-seat dining area and the 75-person bar, there’s an 18-seat private dining room and an eight-seat chef’s table. (10 Central Park South, 212.758.7777) NEW OCEANA

In September 2009, Oceana, the Livanos family’s 17-yearold restaurant, reopened in a new location near Rockefeller Center. The seafood house has a 165-seat dining room, a 20-seat bar, a 12-seat raw bar, and a private room. Kim Natheson designed the look of the space, which includes Brazilian cherry wood flooring, 14-foot ceilings, marbletopped bars, blue fabric, and marine-inspired artwork.

(1221 Ave. of the Americas, 212.759.5941) OCEAN GRILL

Another of Steve Hanson’s seafood restaurants, Ocean Grill offers simple decor, with slate blue banquettes paired with white table linens and large mirrors in its main dining room. More interesting is the semiprivate, 50-seat photo room, where the walls are crammed with framed landscape photos. (384 Columbus Ave., 212.579.2300) OLD HOMESTEAD STEAKHOUSE

Opened in 1868, New York’s oldest steak house has been owned and operated by the same family for three generations. Though not as popular with the fashion crowd as some nearby meatpacking district eateries, this restaurant offers classic steak-house fare and a wine list recognized for its excellence by Wine Spectator. Three private rooms are available for group dining for as many as 125.

(56 Ninth Ave., 212.242.9040) OLIVES

The New York branch of prolific chef Todd English’s famed Boston restaurant is inside the W Hotel in Union Square.

Olives serves Mediterranean fare that’s big on flavor in a warm, earth-toned, 100-seat main dining room designed

by David Rockwell. The 50-seat private wine room above the restaurant showcases the wine collection. (201 Park Ave. South, 212.353.8345) OMIDO

This Japanese restaurant opened next to the Ed Sullivan Theater. The AvroKO-designed eatery features bamboo walls, a wooden sushi bar in the center of the main dining room, and a private alcove decorated with 10,000 paper strips—omikuji fortunes—hanging from the ceiling. The menu from Eiji Takase, a chef with previous experience at Sushi Samba and Shibuya at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, uses fresh ingredients imported from Tokyo. Also on site is a private room. (1695 Broadway, 212.247.8110)

T EVENT ON THE HOLD YOUR NEX E WORLD TH 9TH FLOOR OF NEYS NEW YORK. R BA RENOWNED

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New York Venue Directory

Restaurants ONDA

Onda, a restaurant serving contemporary Latin comfort food, opened in January 2009 in a 1,800-square-foot spot opposite the South Street Seaport. Bright and colorful, this venue is decorated with Spanish tiles, distressed wood, and comfy banquettes. Inside Onda are a 12-seat bar and a 56-seat main dining area. (229 Front St., 212.513.0770) ONE835

Open since 2004, this Upper East Side Mediterranean restaurant’s open airy space seats 125 in the main dining room. The Garden dining room seats 35 for private dining.

During the warmer months, a patio garden is available.

(1608 First Ave., 212.327.4700) ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SEA

Known as one of the city’s most romantic restaurants, this intimate spot in an 18th-century carriage house in the West Village has four working fireplaces and live piano music. One if by Land offers the 30-seat Constitution Room and the 50-seat mezzanine room for private events.

(17 Barrow St., 212.228.0822) OPIA

In Hotel 57 in Midtown, this 300-seat restaurant from Frederick Lesort and Antoine Bleck has 4,000 square feet of space, arched windows, and 11-foot ceilings, and holds 400 for receptions. Opia has three private rooms that hold 50, 100, and 150 people. (130 East 57th St., 212.688.8448) ORSAY5

This classic French brasserie on the Upper East Side has antique mirrors, brass railings, mosaic tile floors, and a zinc-topped oak bar. Orsay has a 140-seat main dining room and a 70-seat second-floor private room with mahogany-paneled walls that holds 120 for receptions.

There is also a 35-seat sidewalk terrace. (1057 Lexington Ave., 212.517.0015) OSTERIA DEL CIRCO

Osteria del Circo, run by the prodigious sons of Le Cirque founder Sirio Maccioni, has a festive design by Adam Tihany, with orange and yellow circuslike banners hung from the ceiling, comical brass sculptures, and a rope ladder over the bar. Serving classic Italian fare, the dining room seats 125, and a private room seats 20 or holds 40 for receptions. (120 West 55th St., 212.265.3636) OTTO ENOTECA

Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s pizza joint packs in diners nightly for gourmet pies and pasta. While Otto lacks a private space, groups of 12 or more can book space in the cavernous 200-seat dining room. The site also hosts wine tastings for groups of 20. (1 Fifth Ave., 212.995.9559) OUEST

Lauded as an Upper West Side culinary oasis, Tom Valenti’s contemporary American bistro is a casual but elegant 140-seat space. The dining room is furnished with semiprivate circular booths upholstered in red leather and decorated with red lanterns and lamps. (2315 Broadway, 212.580.8700) PALÀ5

This Lower East Side Roman-style pizzeria seats 40 in an industrial-looking space of exposed brick walls, a glossy poured-concrete floor, and sliding metal garage doors.

During the summer, tables outside are available, seating as many as 16. (198 Allen St., 212.614.7252) PALM

Steaks, lobsters, and an Italian-American menu are served at the Palm restaurants. The newest outpost in TriBeCa has two rooms for events, the largest of which seats 90 or holds 110 for receptions. The original location of this steak-house chain offers a 40-seat private room, and Palm Too’s private space seats 55 or holds 75 for receptions and features private restrooms. Palm West has four private dining rooms: an 18-seat boardroom and three rooms that seat 85 combined. (837 Second Ave., 212.687.2953; Palm Too: 840 Second Ave., 212.697.5198; Palm West: 250 West 50th St., 212.333.7256; Palm TriBeCa: 206 West St., 646.395.6391) PAMPANO

Co-owned by Placido Domingo, Pampano is a posh Midtown restaurant that serves modern Mexican seafood from chef Richard Sandoval. In addition to the white 50-seat dining room with textured beige patterns of palm trees adorning the walls, an upstairs room seats 70 people, a third room seats 20, and a terrace seats an additional 50.

(209 East 49th St., 212.751.4545) PAPILLON

This classic French-style, turn-of-the-century bistro and bar has 11,000 square feet of space between two floors.

There are several private event spaces, including the 70-foot downstairs bar, a smaller second-floor bar, and two private function rooms with separate V.I.P. entrances.

The restaurant can hold as many as 300 people. (22 East 54th St., 212.754.9006) PARADOU5

A sunny French bistro in the meatpacking district, Paradou has a simple look, with whitewashed walls, high ceilings, and blond wood accents. In the 20-seat dining room, the bar and tabletops are made from vintage French wine crates. A small, leafy, secluded garden at the rear seats 60.

(8 Little West 12th St., 212.463.8345)

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PARIS COMMUNE

After moving from its 20-year home on Bleecker Street, this eatery reopened at its new location in 2004. The intimate Rogue Wine Bar—furnished with red velvet banquettes, old French sconces, antique mirrored ceilings, murals by Bill Rancitelli, and a crystal chandelier above the bar—seats 30 or holds 60 for receptions. The entire restaurant is also available for events, seating 120. (99 Bank St., 212.929.0509) THE PARK5

Created in a former taxi garage, this 10,000-squarefoot restaurant has several spaces available for private dining. The 150-seat main dining room has a 30-foot tree, Indonesian lanterns, and a fireplace. Other areas include a 35-seat glass-enclosed atrium that holds 50 for receptions and the 55-seat red room with Asian-inspired decor.

A 4,000-square-foot garden, planted with wisteria and Japanese maples, seats 200. The rooftop patio, featuring a hot tub and a glass ceiling during colder months, holds 300. (118 10th Ave., 212.352.3313 ext. 256) PARK AVENUE SUMMER/AUTUMN/WINTER/SPRING

The Smith & Wollensky Group’s Park Avenue Café space is a restaurant that alters its decor, menu, and name each season. The eatery seats 125 people in the main dining room and offers private dining rooms for 75. (100 East 63rd St., 212.644.1900) PARK ROOM

The in-house restaurant of the Helmsley Park Lane finished renovations in 2008. Overlooking Central Park from its perch on the first floor, the 85-seat Park Room is connected to Harry’s Bar and serves contemporary American fare from executive chef Michael Hill.

Decorated with a neutral color scheme, the venue can seat as many as 120; maximum capacity for receptions is 100.

(36 Central Park South, 212.521.6655) PARLOR STEAKHOUSE

In 2008, Michael and Susy Salvo Glick opened this Upper East Side chophouse, where executive chef Lucas Billheimer serves a variety of cuts of U.S.D.A. prime beef, as well as seafood. Clean and modern, the space has two dining rooms—a glass-enclosed 25-seat café and a 70-seat section on the mezzanine—and a 30-seat bar. A private area downstairs can accommodate 40. (1600 Third Ave., 212.423.5888) PASTIS5

With the classic bistro look (pale yellow walls, dark wood, red awnings), Pastis remains a meatpacking district favorite. A communal table seats 24, or the entire restaurant seats 155. The outdoor café—which offers prime peoplewatching—seats 70. (9 Ninth Ave., 212.929.4844) IN THE WORKS PATINA RESTAURANT AT LINCOLN CENTER5

Accompanying Lincoln Center’s campus expansion will be the addition of a Patina Restaurant Group establishment, slated to open in fall 2010 with chef Jonathan Benno—chef de cuisine for Thomas Keller’s Per Se—at the kitchen’s helm. Designed as a glass-enclosed structure with a sloping roof by architectural firm Diller Scofidio & Renfro, the as-yet-unnamed restaurant at the northern end of the plaza will offer terrace eating, an upscale dining area, and a private dining room. (West 65th St.) PATROON5

Despite the scrapping of its cigar bar, Patroon remains a power-lunch spot for Midtowners. Six private banquet rooms hold as many as 400 for receptions, including a wine cellar, a chef’s table—a six-seater with a view of chef Craig Attwood at work—and the Humidor Room.

Other options are the main dining room, which seats 125, and the outdoor rooftop, which seats 60 or holds 125 for receptions. (160 East 46th St., 212.883.7373)

bold arrangements of fresh flowers contrasting with simple white stucco walls. The restaurant features an indoor garden with a glass ceiling, as well as two semiprivate rooms—one seats 16, the other 50. The entire space seats 125. (35 West 20th St., 212.463.7890) PERRY STREET

Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened this restaurant in one of Perry Street’s Richard Meier-designed towers. The space was designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen and has a menu from Vongerichten and chef de cuisine Justin Bazdarich.

The 60-seat venue has white leather banquettes, gray sofas, and a black resin bar. (176 Perry St., 212.352.1900) PER SE

Getting a seat at one of the 15 tables in the Adam Tihanydesigned four-star restaurant of French Laundry chef Thomas Keller may require making reservations two months in advance, but the anticipation is part of the experience. For private entertaining, the 990-square-foot west room (which can be divided in two) seats 60 or holds as many as 100 for receptions; the smaller east room seats 10 and has views of Central Park. Private events can also book the entire space. (10 Columbus Cir., 212.823.9349) PETER LUGER STEAKHOUSE

This famed steak house began as a café, billiard hall, and bowling alley in 1887. Its legendary porterhouse steaks still pull in the masses from Manhattan—especially suits from Wall Street—to its Williamsburg locale. The restaurant’s interior look is masculine, with no-frills woodwork, simple furnishings, and bright lighting. The second floor seats 35 for private events. (178 Broadway, Brooklyn, 718.387.0500) PETROSSIAN

It’s opulent swank at its finest at Petrossian, where the caviar flows like water if you’re willing to splurge. In the Alwyn Court residential building, the restaurant offers highly rated French-influenced contemporary cuisine that’s more budget-friendly than the caviar. The entire restaurant seats 90 or holds 130 for receptions, or it can be divided into two smaller rooms. (182 West 58th St., 212.767.1041) PHILIPPE

This contemporary Chinese restaurant from Philippe Chow (former chef of Mr. Chow) opened in the space once occupied by RM. The minimalist two-story venue seats 250 or holds as many as 350 for receptions, and the upstairs dining room is available for private events. Two private wine cellars can seat 25 each. (33 East 60th St., 212.644.8885) PICHOLINE5

Chef Terrance Brennan’s Upper West Side restaurant closed in 2006 for renovations and reopened in early September 2007 with a redesigned interior by Coffinier Ku Design. Decorated in shades of purple, the new space still serves Brennan’s celebrated French-Mediterranean cuisine. The 84-seat restaurant has two additional private spaces: an eight-seat wine room and a 22-seat private room. (35 West 64th St., 212.724.8585) PIOLA

Brothers Stefano and Dante Carniato brought their chain of pizza restaurants to New York in 2005. The Union Square outpost has a wood-burning oven, as well as Murano glass lanterns and bold-colored walls hung with art and photographs. The 2,000-square-foot space seats 120. (48 East 12th St., 212.777.7781) PIPA

A tapas bar in ABC Carpet & Home, Pipa seats 125 in a dark, candlelit space decorated with Bohemian-inspired decor—mismatched chandeliers, embroidered cushions, and antique tables. (38 East 19th St., 212.677.2233)

PATSY’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

P.J. CLARKE’S5

The famed Midtown Italian restaurant has been owned and operated by the same family since 1944. This favorite of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and theatergoers serves traditional Neapolitan food, and the decor is a tribute to the era in which it was founded. A private room seats 85 or holds 100 for receptions. (236 West 56th St., 212.247.3491)

This New York institution—first established on Third Avenue as a saloon in 1884—opened a second eatery in the financial district in January 2007 and has a third that opened near Lincoln Center in fall 2007. Sidecar, the Midtown location’s private dining room, has its own entrance, exposed brick walls, and wooden beams on the ceiling; it holds as many as 300. P.J. Clarke’s on the Hudson seats 225, with room for 300 outside, and the Lincoln Center location has a private space for 300. (915 Third Ave., 212.317.2044; P.J. Clarke’s on the Hudson: 4 World Financial Center, 212.285.1500; Lincoln Center: 44 West 63rd St., 212.957.9700)

PEACOCK ALLEY

This restaurant and bar in the Waldorf-Astoria has 30-foot-long bar adorned with cast-glass female silhouettes. Besides drinks, lunch and small plates are available at the bar. The entire space can seat 120 or holds 220 for receptions, and a private lounge with stained-glass windows can hold 75. (301 Park Ave., 212.872.4938)

PLANET HOLLYWOOD

Named for a historic district in Istanbul, this Turkish restaurant opened in 2006. The Midtown eatery serves a menu inspired by the various cuisines of Turkey, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe in a space that features a 10-foot-long charcoal grill. Private dining is available for 28 people. (303 Madison Ave., 212.878.6301)

In Times Square, Planet Hollywood offers a 35,000-squarefoot, multilevel facility with four dining areas, two bars, a lounge, and a private area. The restaurant also houses a 49-seat private screening room with velvet-cushioned seating. The decor features memorabilia from films, Broadway shows, sports legends, and music icons. (1540 Broadway, 212.265.2404)

PERILLA

POP BURGER

Harold Dieterle, the first winner of Bravo’s reality series Top Chef, opened his first restaurant, Perilla, in 2007. The West Village spot offers seating for 62 (with an additional 10 seats at the bar) and Dieterle’s seasonal American cooking. The small space was designed by Studios Go with a simple look that includes dark wood accents and stuccoed walls. (9 Jones St., 212.929.6868)

Pop Burger, the popular fast-food joint on the edge of the meatpacking district, opened a Midtown location in December 2007. Decorated in a fashion similar to the original, this restaurant has prints of Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Can” and a 75-foot-long backlit aluminum mural. With 60,000 square feet across three levels and a capacity for 300, Pop Burger features a third-floor billiard room that can be used for private events. (14 East 58th St., 212.991.6644)

PERA MEDITERRANEAN BRASSERIE

PERIYALI

Periyali is a Greek restaurant in the Flatiron district with

PORTER HOUSE NEW YORK

Chef Michael Lomonaco, former chef of Windows on the World, opened a steak house on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center. Porter House New York, designed by Jeffrey Beers, has 140 seats in the main dining room and an additional 50 in a private room. (10 Columbus Cir., 4th Floor, 212.823.9500) POST HOUSE

On the first floor of the Lowell Hotel, this steak house offers a warm atmosphere with parquet floors, creamcolored walls, and wooden wainscoting. Like the other Smith & Wollensky restaurants, the Post House is a familiar spot for business lunches and steak lovers, and has a 40-seat private room. (28 East 63rd St., 212.935.2888) PRANNA

This pan-Asian restaurant took over Scopa’s space on Madison Avenue in 2008. For events, the venue features a private space overlooking the main dining area, a subterranean wine cellar, and a semiprivate satay lounge. (79 Madison Ave., 212.696.5700) PREM-ON THAI*

This Thai restaurant, from chef and owner Prakit Prem-on, features four dining areas. The main dining room has a wide gold-leaf stripe running along the walls and banquettes upholstered in red Thai silk. The restaurant seats 85, and there is outdoor seating for 10. (138 West Houston St., 212.353.2338) PRIMAVERA RISTORANTE

This Upper East Side restaurant serves Northern Italian cuisine in a 65-seat dining room decorated with framed paintings, wooden paneling, and marble columns. The private dining room seats 50; Primavera requires a minimum of 20 guests to use it. (1578 First Ave., 212.861.8608) PRIME GRILL

This Midtown kosher steak house also serves seafood and sushi. The interior is simple, with wooden paneling, warm lighting, and unadorned chairs. The main dining room seats 230 guests, the sushi lounge seats 40, and an 18-seat private room has a plasma TV for presentations.

(60 East 49th St., 212.692.9292) PRIMEHOUSE

B.R. Guest added Primehouse—a 300-seat modern steak house—to its list of eateries. Replacing Park Avenue Country Club, the 5,600-square-foot space offers three separate areas: a bar in the front, a main dining room, and two interconnected private dining rooms. On the menu is fare from chef Jason Miller, formerly of Primehouse in Chicago. (381 Park Ave. South, 212.824.2600) NEW PRINT RESTAURANT5

Print, open since February 2010, is the lobby-level restau-

rant of the Ink 48 hotel in Hell’s Kitchen. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the 80-seat space is accented with walnut wood floors and walls, green mosaic tiles, and copper-topped tables. In April 2010, the restaurant’s 3,000-square-foot rooftop lounge, Press, opened with a menu of light fare, cocktails, and the capacity for events of as many as 300 people. (653 11th Ave., 212.757.2224) (653 11th Ave., 212.757.2224) PROVIDENCE

With a coastal European menu from chef Robert Cangelosi, this restaurant replaced Le Bar Bat in 2005. Highlighting the venue’s original function as the Manhattan Baptist Church, the redesigned space has original wooden beams and marble accents. Providence can hold as many as 1,200 in its 13,500 square feet on three levels. (311 West 57th St., 212.307.0062) PS 450

This 4,000-square-foot restaurant and lounge has a flexible floor plan to accommodate large groups or provide intimate meeting space. PS 450 offers New American cuisine by chef Dominic Giuliano. The space is decorated with dark mahogany touches, antique red glass lamps, and plasma TVs, and can hold 350 for receptions. (450 Park Ave. South, 212.532.1519)

heated above 118 degrees—from chef Sarma Melngailis.

The minimalist, 75-seat restaurant has low lighting and orange walls and attracts the curious and the healthconscious. A garden seats 100, and a private dining room seats 20. (54 Irving Place, 212.477.1010) QUALITY MEATS

Quality Meats, a venture from the steak pros at the Smith & Wollensky group, was designed by AvroKO. The space has inventive details like chandeliers fashioned from silver-toned meat hooks and pulleys, walnut plank walls, industrial-looking columns, and butcher-block wood on the stairs—which lead to a private dining space that seats 40 and holds as many as 60 for receptions. (57 West 58th St., 212.371.7777) NEW QUATTRO GASTRONOMIA ITALIANA

The Trump SoHo New York is home to the first New York outpost of Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, a popular restaurant in South Beach, Florida. Timed to the launch of the hotel, the 3,800-square-foot eatery opened in April 2010 with an interior look by Studio A Design, 160 seats, and a 1,200-square-foot mezzanine with two private dining areas. On the menu is Northern Italian fare from chef Fabrizio Carro. (246 Spring St., 212.842.4500) NEW RABBIT IN THE MOON

Inspired by spaces like libraries and municipal buildings, Public is decorated with antique furnishings and serves an eclectic menu from head chef Brad Farmerie. The semiprivate wine room seats 20, and a lounge in the rear holds 30 for receptions. The entire restaurant is spread across five rooms and two terraces, and holds as many as 125 people. (210 Elizabeth St., 212.343.7011)

Scheduled to open in Spring 2010 and billed as an Englishstyle gastropub, this Greenwich Village eatery was inspired by and modeled after the Eagle, a pub in London, England. Set in a bilevel space near Washington Square Park, Rabbit in the Moon offers a lounge on one level and a main dining room on the other. A private room seats 40 and on the menu is English comfort foods like shepherds pie. (47 West 8th St., 212.473.2800)

PUKK

NEW RARE BAR & GRILL5

Pukk (the Thai word for vegetable) is an East Village restaurant that opened in 2005 serving Thai vegetarian cuisine. The sleek, narrow, 700-square-foot space seats 36 and has minimalist decor, grass-green accents, and walls with white round tiles. (71 First Ave., 212.253.2741)

Inside the Wyndham’s Fashion 26 hotel is another outpost of Rare Bar & Grill. Opened in April 2010, this spot has a 1,000-square-foot lobby bar and a 200-seat restaurant.

And much like the set up at the Shelburne Hotel, Rare Bar & Grill will operate Rare View, a 3,000-square-foot rooftop lounge slated to open in summer 2010. (152 West 26th St., 212.807.7173)

PUBLIC5

NEW PULINO’S BAR & PIZZERIA

To open this pizza-focused joint on the Bowery, restaurateur Keith McNally partnered with chef Nate Appleman.

Pulino’s debuted in March 2010 and has two wood-fired ovens and offer meat dishes in addition to the pies. The eatery offers 110 seats for dining in a room decorated with white tiled walls, exposed brick accents, and vintage light fixtures. (282 Bowery, 212.226.1966) PURE FOOD & WINE5

Pure Food & Wine was New York’s first upscale outpost serving the popular raw-food diet trend—organic produce prepared in blenders and dehydrators but not

RAYUELA5

Rayuela is a modern Latin restaurant that uses unconventional ingredients in traditional Latin and Spanish dishes.

The 3,500-square-foot bilevel venue features a live olive tree and seats 60 downstairs, 110 upstairs, and 18 on its terrace. The entire space is available for events of as many as 250 people. (165 Allen St., 212.253.8840) NEW RECETTE

In mid-January 2010, chef Jesse Schenker opened this West Village restaurant. Serving Schenker’s contemporary

New York Venue Directory

Restaurants American dishes as well as desserts from Christina Lee (former pastry chef de partie at Per Se), Recette is a cozy space decorated with rustic wood floors and tables and antique mirrors. Situated just a couple of blocks south of the meatpacking district, Recette offers a 46-seat dining room. (328 West 12th St., 212.414.3000) RED5

In the center of the South Street Seaport square, Red offers Mexican fare and decor inspired by the American Southwest. The upstairs dining room holds 80 for receptions or seated events and offers a view of the seaport.

The patio can hold 100 for receptions. (19 Fulton St., 212.571.5900) RED CAT

Standing on a relatively lonely stretch of 10th Avenue in Chelsea, Red Cat features seasonal American fare from chef de cuisine Bill McDaniel. Open since 1999, the restaurant was designed by Mark Zeff with red and white interior accents, 1950s-style wood furniture, and oversize lanterns. The dining room seats 75, and the bar seats 15.

(227 10th Ave., 212.242.1122) REDEYE GRILL

Redeye Grill offers seafood from both coasts on a grillstyle menu. There are three private rooms, including the 12-seat, glass-enclosed sky room, which overlooks the entire restaurant. The larger Pacific and Santa Barbara rooms seat 30 and 40, respectively, or can be combined for larger events. (890 Seventh Ave., 212.541.9000) REMI5

Venice was the inspiration behind designer Adam Tihany’s decor. Remi offers four event spaces, but the loveliest is the 80-seat Rialto Room—decorated with Venetian chandeliers suspended from high ceilings—which holds 125 for receptions. The atrium garden seats 400. The chef table seats 16. The main dining room seats 200. (145 West 53rd St., 212.581.4242) RE SETTE

Named for the Italian card game Seven Kings, Re Sette offers Southern Mediterranean cuisine in a two-story Midtown restaurant. The first floor seats 80 or holds 150 for receptions and is decorated in a Gothic-Italian style with candelabras, exposed brick, and French doors.

The second floor seats 40 or holds 60 for receptions and features jewel-toned velvet- and tapestry-covered seats and a wine collection on display behind an ornate brass gate. (7 West 45th St., 212.221.7530) RESTAURANT CHARLOTTE

New American cuisine is served at this Midtown spot inside the Millennium Broadway Hotel. The main dining room holds 150 for receptions and is elegantly decorated with wood and marble walls. Within the hotel are eight floors of banquet space that hold 650 for receptions. (145 West 44th St., 212.789.7508) RIINGO5

The Alex Hotel’s restaurant serves Japanese-American fusion fare from Marcus Samuelsson. Designed by Glen Coben, the interior contrasts yellow walls, dark woods, bamboo floors, and a marble staircase. The venue has a 37-seat dining room, a 30-seat bar and lounge, and a 32-seat semiprivate mezzanine. A seven-seat sushi bar offers views into the kitchen. The menu is also offered in the hotel’s penthouse, which holds 25 for receptions, and on the terrace, which holds 70. (205 East 45th St., 212.867.4200) RISTORANTE 110

Ristorante 110 replaced MJ Grill—the more casual offspring of MarkJoseph Steakhouse—in 2006. The comfortable 150-seat venue has private booths and a 60-foot curving mahogany bar and offers Italian cuisine, as well as a 100-seat private room that holds 200 people for receptions. (110 John St., 212.346.9848) RIVER CAFÉ5

Brooklyn’s waterfront restaurant, which helped launch the career of chef Charlie Palmer in the 1980s, serves American cuisine and offers a space that features a water garden and blossoming trees and flowers year-round.

The private dining terrace—with views of the East River and Manhattan—seats 100 or holds 120 for receptions. (1 Water St., 718.522.5200) THE RIVER ROOM5

This 275-seat restaurant and supper club opened in 2005 inside Harlem’s Riverbank State Park. Inside, the space seats 135, including seating for 25 in the bar and lounge, and during the warmer months, the patio facing the Hudson (which can be tented) seats 115. The entire venue holds 450 for receptions. (Riverside Drive at 145th St., 212.491.1500) NEW ROBERT

Situated atop the new home of the Museum of Arts & Design, Robert is a restaurant named for the late event designer, Robert Isabell. Operated by Ark Restaurants, the space is furnished with LED ceiling lights, modern sofas, glass-topped tables, and a color palette of yellow, pink, orange, and purple, and offers views of Columbus Circle and Central Park. (2 Columbus Circle, 9th Floor, 212.299.77300)

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ROCK CENTER CAFÉ5

SAJU

In its prominent location across the Rockefeller Center ice rink from the Sea Grill, Rock Center Café doesn’t need much more than the view to fill its dining room, which serves contemporary American cuisine. A private room can seat 22 or hold 25 for receptions; the main dining room seats 175 or holds 450 for receptions. Rink Bar, the venue’s outdoor space, seats 600 or holds 2,000 for receptions, weather permitting. (20 West 50th St. 212.332.7606)

This upscale Vietnamese restaurant co-owned by Philippe Bernard is the in-house eatery of Hotel Mela. Designed

by Pierre Hitier and influenced by colonial Vietnam, the space features teak flooring, a bamboo ceiling, and a soft palette of orange, yellow, and green. Saju seats 110. (120 West 44th St., 212.997.7258)

ROSA MEXICANO

The most striking design element at Rosa Mexicano’s West Side outpost is a giant water wall flowing through small plaster models of divers on sapphire-blue tiles. The L-shaped space features one private room that seats 40 or holds 65 for receptions and one semiprivate room that seats 40, or the entire restaurant seats 275. The East Side venue seats 125 and has no private dining room. In 2005, a Union Square location opened with a large private room that seats 120, which can be split into private rooms for 40 and 65; and the entire restaurant seats 300. (61 Columbus Ave.; 1063 First Ave.; 9 East 18th St.; for all locations, call 212.397.0666 ext. 40) ROSANJIN

Japanese artist and restaurateur Rosanjin Kitaoji was the inspiration for this TriBeCa restaurant. Serving Kyoto cuisine and kaiseki (a meal of seasonal small plates), the small space seats 22. Rosanjin also delivers within TriBeCa and the financial district. (141 Duane St., 212.346.0664) ROSIE O’GRADY’S

The Midtown steak-and-seafood restaurant has a polished wooden bar at street level and a basement lounge with fireplaces, mahogany-paneled walls, and a private bar. Also on the premises is the Manhattan Club, a catering facility that can be used for receptions for 250 people. Rosie’s Times Square offers two private dining rooms, two full-service bars, and a lounge that can seat 30 people. The entire restaurant can seat 250. (800 Seventh Ave., 212.582.2975; Times Square: 149 West 46th St., 212.869.0600) ROUGE TOMATE

Restaurateur Emmanuel Verstraeten opened Rouge Tomate in Brussels in 2001 and in October 2008 opened a New York location. The restaurant, which serves a selection of locally sourced and health-conscious fare, was designed by Bentel & Bentel, with leather couches, a wallmounted oak trellis, and artwork by Per Fronth. It offers several spaces for events, including the Walnut Room, a fully enclosed private room for 18, and the Cranberry Pool, which can accommodate 28. The Alcove is a semi-private space for 38, and a semi-private lounge tucked away under three oak tree photographs offers room for 30. The Downstairs Dining Room accommodates up to 150 guests.

(10 East 60th St, 646.237.8977) ROY’S NEW YORK

An outpost of chef Roy Yamaguchi’s international chain of restaurants, this eatery a few blocks south of the World Trade Center site serves Hawaiian fusion cuisine. The restaurant’s U-shaped dining room can seat 250 guests, and areas can be separated for semiprivate dining.

A lower-level café seats an additional 20 guests. (130 Washington St., 212.266.6262) RUBY FOO’S

Both Ruby Foo’s locations offer kitschy Asian theme-park decor to go with a mélange of Asian cuisines. The David Rockwell-designed uptown restaurant seats 300—which includes seating for 200 on the second floor and seating for 80 in its private third-level Asian Den. The entire restaurant can accommodate receptions of as many as 500 people. The 300-seat Times Square location has a 20-seat sushi bar and semiprivate alcoves within its colorful space, as well as a private room that seats 80 or holds 125 for receptions. (Upper West Side: 2182 Broadway; Times Square: 1626 Broadway; for both locations, call 212.331.0328)

SALA

A beautiful Spanish villa was the inspiration behind the design of Sala, a tapas restaurant on the Bowery. Sunny yellow walls are lined with purple banquettes in the dining room, which seats 60 or holds 125 for receptions.

Sapphire-blue walls accented with glowing sconces and bench seating fill the 60-seat downstairs lounge. Sister restaurant Sala 19 is located in the Flatiron district and has a 70-seat dining room. (344 Bowery, 212.979.6606; Sala 19: 35 West 19th St., 212.229.2300) SALUTE5

From restaurateur Gennaro Sbarro, this 5,000-squarefoot bilevel Murray Hill eatery serving Italian fare has a 200-seat dining room designed by Julius Baum, with Mediterranean-inspired mosaic tile floors and floor-toceiling windows. An area of the room can be partitioned off for parties of 100, and there is also a lounge with a private bar that seats 60 or holds 100 for receptions. There is outdoor seating for 26. (270 Madison Ave., 212.213.3440) SANCTUARY T

Dawn Cameron, owner of the online tea company Sanctuary Tea, opened this wood-paneled restaurant in SoHo. Naturally, the eatery specializes in tea, but also offers food from chef Kevin Stanton, as well as tastings and tea parties. Sanctuary T is available for private events; it can hold as many as 75 people for receptions. (337B West Broadway, 212.941.7832) SANDRO’S

Sandro Fioriti is the chef and owner of this Upper East Side restaurant. Fioriti, who back in 1984 opened a Roman-style eatery of the same name on East 59th Street, serves simple Roman food here, along with an all-Italian wine list and a selection of infused grappas. Sandro’s seats 50 in the dining room and eight at the bar. During summer, Sandro’s is open only for dinner. (306 East 81st St., 212.288.7374) NEW SAN ROCCO

In September 2009, Rocco Arena opened San Rocco, the inhouse eatery of the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Chelsea.

The modern trattoria includes an aperitivo bar, a sleek interior, and a menu from Massimiliano Convertini, formerly the executive chef of Bottega del Vino. (37 West 24th St., 212.255.4655) SARABETH’S CENTRAL PARK SOUTH5

The flagship location of Sarabeth Levine’s lineup of eateries is this outpost on Central Park South, open since 2005.

The 200-seat restaurant features sidewalk seating facing the park, a glass-enclosed boxwood garden, a skylight, painted ceilings in the rear dining area, and chocolatecolored zebra-print banquettes. Two private areas seat 30 and 110, and an outdoor café seats 20. (40 Central Park South, 212.826.5959) SARAVANAAS

Veena Ramaiah, the sister of Bombay Talkie owner Sunitha Ramaiah, opened this Gramercy Park restaurant in 2005. Named after a Hindu goddess, the 70-seat venue serves South Indian vegetarian fare and offers a minimalist interior created by Los Angeles-based designer John Nyomarkay. (81 Lexington Ave., 212.679.0204) SARDI’S RESTAURANT

Broadway stars are always hanging out in the form of caricatures on the walls at Sardi’s, if they’re not actually there in person. The 190-seat Eugenia Room (named after Sardi’s cofounder Eugenia Sardi) on the fourth floor holds as many as 250 for receptions; also available is the semiprivate club room, which seats 120 or holds 175 for receptions. (234 West 44th St., 212.221.8440)

RUE 57

SAVOY

This 7,000-square-foot Parisian-style brasserie and sushi bar serves French classics and Japanese hors d’oeuvres from chef Sam Hazen. With dark wood accents, red leather banquettes, and simple café-style furniture, Rue 57 attracts a lively crowd of diners, especially at lunch. A private area can seat as many as 120 people and has a fullservice bar. (60 West 57th St., 212.307.5656)

On the corner of Prince and Crosby streets, this tiny gem of a restaurant underwent an interior redesign in 2002.

The slightly sleeker space still retains some intimacy with the 45-seat upstairs dining room, with an open fireplace.

Owner and chef Peter Hoffman serves a seasonal and creative American menu—made with sustainable fish and farmer’s market produce. (70 Prince St., 212.219.8570)

RUSSIAN TEA ROOM

SCALETTA

After a multimillion-dollar renovation, this restaurant reopened in 2006 with decor restored from its previous incarnation. Elaborate interior accents include an acrylic juggling bear, gold mirrors, antique samovars, and red leather seating. The 28,000-square-foot venue has four floors for dining, with a combined capacity of 760 seated or 1,485 for receptions. (150 West 57th St., 212.581.7100)

This Upper West Side restaurant serves Northern Italian fare. The main dining room can be divided into smaller rooms for private dining, or the entire 275-seat restaurant is available for buyouts. Off-premise catering for as many as 2,000 people is also available. (50 West 77th St., 212.769.9191)

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

Scott Conant, the chef behind Alto, opened this Italian restaurant in 2008. On the outskirts of the meatpacking district, Scarpetta is an elegant space furnished with a long mahogany bar, dark wood accents, and some exposed brickwork. Accenting the main dining room is a sweeping skylight. The restaurant seats 85, with room for an additional 20 in the sidewalk café. (355 West 14th St., 212.691.0555)

The Manhattan location of this national steak-house chain has mahogany-paneled walls and three private rooms. The private dining areas range from the 100-seat boardroom (which holds 140 for receptions and has satellite radio, a wireless microphone system and Internet, and a private kitchen and bar) to the 50-seat library (which holds as many as 75 for receptions) or the 30-seat Taft Room. A semiprivate anteroom seats 20. (148 West 51st St., 212.245.9600)

SCARPETTA5

SCHILLER’S LIQUOR BAR

Keith McNally’s Lower East Side restaurant—a popular

place for cocktails and lively groups—has a slightly institutional take on a bistro, with black-and-whitetiled floors, antique mirrors, wire glass details, and steel fixtures. Schiller’s serves an eclectic, budget-friendly menu of European-influenced American fare in a dining room that seats 100 or holds 150 for receptions. (131 Rivington St., 212.260.4555) NEW SD26

Owners Tony and Marisa May closed their Central Park South restaurant San Domenico in 2008, and opened a new place at Madison Square Park. The 350-seat Italian restaurant, which more than doubles the space at the old venue, debuted in September 2009 and includes a 100-seat private dining room and a 75-seat lounge. (19 East 26th St., 212.265.5959) SEA

In April 2009, the owners of Sea—a Thai restaurant with locations in Brooklyn and the East Village—quietly opened a third outpost in the meatpacking district.

Taking over the space formerly occupied by Highline, this Thai restaurant offers three levels, including a lounge on one floor and dining areas on the other two. For events, the lounge holds 100 for receptions and the dining rooms each seat 100. (835 Washington St., 212.243.3339)

features tables with mother-of-pearl and glass inlays, silk-upholstered walls, and Brazilian walnut and terrazzo flooring. The venue offers three private spaces, including a 16-seat tasting room surrounded by glass wine displays.

(40 Broad St., 2nd Floor, 212.809.3993) SHULA’S STEAKHOUSE

Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula’s steak house is one of the Westin Times Square’s in-house restaurants.

The basement space is dedicated to the Dolphins’ 1972 undefeated season, featuring photographs of games lining the warm brown-and-gold walls and menus painted on official NFL pigskins. The steak house also has a 55-seat private room, an 18-seat private room, and the 15-seat No Name Lounge. (270 West 43rd St., 212.201.2776) SHUN LEE

Shun Lee is a novelty: a Chinese restaurant that attempts to provide aesthetically pleasing surroundings for its delectable cuisine. Designed by Adam Tihany, it offers two semiprivate rooms; one seats 20, the second seats 30.

The Upper West Side location has modern décor, with a dragon spanning the length of the restaurant; a private room holds 200, seated or for receptions. (43 West 65th St., 212.595.8895; 155 East 55th St., 212.371.8844) THE SMITH

STAND

Jonathan Morr, owner of NoHo’s BondSt., opened this burger restaurant. The Greenwich Village venue is more stylish than your average burger joint—the upscale cafeteria look has custom furniture, modern wood tables, and an installation of black-and-white photographs. Stand seats 80 in the dining room and 20 at the bar. (24 East 12th St., 212.488.5900) NEW STANDARD GRILL

The Standard Grill is the in-house restaurant of Andre Balazs’ Standard New York hotel. Sitting beneath the newly opened High Line Park, this eatery includes a more casual café in the front and a dining room in the rear.

Chef Dan Silverman, previously at Lever House, runs the kitchen here, which serves a range of budget-friendly options. (848 Washington St., 212.645.4646) STELLA MARIS

The South Street Seaport’s Stella Maris is a restaurant and café serving European-influenced fare. The interior has a modern French-bistro look and offers 1,800 square feet of space in the main dining room and 800 square feet in the café. (213 Front St., 212.233.2417) STK

Appropriately situated in the meatpacking district, STK is a sleek steak house with modern decor from ICrave Design Studio. Accented with cream-colored leather banquettes, the main space seats 200 or holds 375 for receptions.

There are also five private dining rooms on upper levels with seating for as many as 130. (26 Little West 12th St., 646.624.2444)

During the winter, the Sea Grill’s white and ice-blue dining room is accompanied by the entertainment of ice-skaters wobbling and skidding across the Rockefeller Center rink.

A private room seats 12; the whole space seats 150 or holds 225 for receptions. Rink Bar, the venue’s outdoor space, seats 600 or holds 2,000 for receptions, weather permitting. (19 West 49th St., 212.332.7610)

Glenn Harris and Jeffrey Lefcourt, the duo behind the Neptune Room and Jane restaurant, opened this casual brasserie in late 2007. Designed by Mark Zeff, the bilevel space is decorated with reclaimed wood, white subway tiles, a 20-seat zinc bar, and large lanterns hung from meat hooks. The main dining room seats 160, and the 65-seat space downstairs can be booked for private events.

(55 Third Ave., 212.420.9800)

SEPPI’S5

SMITH & WOLLENSKY

The in-house restaurant at the Le Parker Meridien hotel, Seppi’s offers European bistro fare from chef-owner Claude Solliard in a contemporary dining room with black-and-white banquettes, an adjacent bar, and a 60-seat patio. The entire space seats 160 or holds as many as 200 for receptions. (123 West 56th St., 212.708.7444)

Possibly as famous for its wines as for its sirloins and filets mignons, Smith & Wollensky is a traditional steak house, with dark wooden furnishings and brass accents. Four private rooms with skylights on the second floor can be used separately or combined, seating a total of 200. The entire space seats 390. (797 Third Ave., 212.753.1530)

SEQUOIA5

SOLO

This seafood restaurant with maritime-inspired decor on Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport has views of the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.

A terrace seats 100, and three private rooms can be combined to seat 180 or hold 450 for receptions. The entire venue holds 800. (South Street Seaport, 212.732.9090)

This kosher restaurant inside Midtown’s Sony Atrium has three private dining options: The 75-seat main dining room and two 26-seat private rooms separated from the main room by a sliding glass door. Cork floors, ostrichleather seating, and a wall lined with bottles of olive oil are among Solo’s design highlights. (550 Madison Ave., 212.833.7800)

STRIP HOUSE

SOTO

NEW STUZZICHERIA

The man behind Atlanta’s popular sushi restaurant Soto opened a New York spot in Greenwich Village in 2007.

Sotohiro Kosugi, one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs in 1997, serves unconventional Japanese fare at this highend eatery. Hiro Tsuruta, the architect behind Momofuku Noodle Bar, designed the minimalist look for the space.

(357 Ave. of the Americas, 212.414.3088)

The folks behind Bar Stuzzichini planned to open this sibling spot in Spring 2010. Situated at the northern end of TriBeCa, Stuzzicheria offers Italian tapas in the old Province space. (305 Church St.)

SEA GRILL

SERAFINA5

The Serafina Group has six Italian restaurants in Manhattan. Serafina Fabulous Grill offers a 144-seat main dining room with an open-fire grill and oven, a 40-seat lounge, and a 60-seat terrace. The 50-seat Fabulous Pizza branch has a 63-seat rooftop terrace, while the Lafayette location seats 100. Two other locations are the 50-seat Serafina Osteria and the 110-seat Serafina Broadway in the Dream Hotel. Serafina in the Time Hotel opened in 2008 and seats 110 in the main dining room, 40 in a semiprivate area, and 30 in a private glass pavilion on the 17th floor. (Serafina Fabulous Grill: 29 East 61st St., 212.702.9898; Serafina Fabulous Pizza: 1022 Madison Ave., 212.734.2676; Serafina Lafayette: 399 Lafayette St., 212.995.9595; Osteria Serafina: 38 East 58th St., 212.832.8888; Serafina Broadway: 210 West 55th St., 212.315.1700; Serafina at the Time Hotel: 224 West 49th St., 212.247.1000) SHABURI

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY5

Eytan Sugarman opened this 3,000-square-foot, 135-seat Southern home-style barbecue restaurant. Southern Hospitality has a 30-foot-long bar, walls and tables made from red cypress, and photos of music icons like Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. Outdoor seating is available for 20. A private room seats as many as 40, with walls using recycled wood from Hurricane Katrina. (1460 Second Ave., 212.249.1001)

Shaburi, a chain of shabu-shabu (the Japanese tradition in which diners cook pieces of raw meat and vegetables in a pot of boiling broth at the table) restaurants that started in Taiwan, opened its first American outpost in Midtown in 2005 and also features sushi. The space is filled with crimson-upholstered seats, white stone walls, and dark brown wood tables and chairs. The restaurant seats 110 and has a private room that seats eight. (125 East 39th St., 212.867.6999)

SOUTH GATE

SHANG5

SouthWest NY serves contemporary American Southwest fare in its 13,000 square feet on the waterfront. A retail space provides catering and takeout options, an area of the restaurant can be cordoned off for meetings for 150, and in the summer, tables are available outdoors. The entire space, including the outdoor area, can seat 600. (225 Liberty St., 2 World Financial Center, 212.945.0538)

Open since January 2009, this bar and restaurant inside the new Thompson Lower East Side has a terrace with seating for 69. Up on the seventh floor, members-only bar Above Allen is also available for private events. The lounge has a retractable roof—so it can be used year-round—and holds 150 for receptions. The restaurant, which serves Chinese food by chef Susur Lee, can be rented for events.

(187 Orchard St., 212.260.7900) SHEEP MEADOW CAFE

On the northern edge of Central Park’s 15-acre Sheep Meadow, this summer favorite is a snack bar during the day and an upscale outdoor grill at night. Specializing in food grilled over a charcoal fire, the café seats 200 or holds 400 for receptions. (69th St. and Central Park West, 212.396.4100) SHELLY’S TRADIZIONALE

In 2006, Shelly’s moved east of its former location to a smaller three-story space. The steak-and-seafood restaurant has a cellar that seats 45 and a wine room for parties of eight. The entire venue seats 180 or holds 225 for receptions (41 West 57th St., 212.265.0100) NEW SHO SHAUN HERGATT

Opened in June 2009, this modern French restaurant is inside the Setai, New York, a 34-story condo development in the financial district. Designed by Denniston International and Robert D. Henry Architects, this spot

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

In the upper part of Midtown is this restaurant from chef Kerry Heffernan, who earned his reputation as the inaugural chef of Eleven Madison Park. South Gate’s clean design is from Tony Chi, and Heffernan has created a menu that changes seasonally. The restaurant seats 90 in its main dining room and offers a 20-seat private room.

(154 Central Park South, 212.484.5120) SOUTHWEST NY5

SPARKS STEAK HOUSE

This straightforward steak house’s decor matches the no-fuss fare. A former Mob hangout, Sparks was established in 1966 and today offers five private rooms with dark wood furnishings and red carpeting that can seat 175 guests. The main dining room seats 750. (210 East 46th St., 212.687.4806) SPICE MARKET5

This cavernous 400-seat market-style restaurant has diners captivated in a meatpacking district Aladdin fantasy world. Private rooms are available that hold as many as 30 for receptions, as is a lounge that holds 170.

The Southeast Asian street food is served family-style, and a patio has seats for 28. (403 West 13th St., 212.675.2322) SPIGOLO

This Upper East Side restaurant is decorated with exposed brick and warm yellow-painted walls, a cork floor, and a pressed-tin, copper-colored ceiling. Spigolo serves modern Italian fare. The restaurant seats 26 inside and outside and six at the bar. (1561 Second Ave., 212.744.1100)

IN THE WORKS STK MIDTOWN5

The One Group, parent company of the STK eateries in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, is planning to open a second New York outpost of its modern steak house in fall 2010. The 9,000-square-foot location inside the Bryant Park-adjacent Grace Building is dubbed STK Midtown and will offer a seasonal menu from executive chef Todd Mark Miller as well as 3,000 square feet of outdoor dining space and takeout kiosk STKout. (1114 Ave. of the Americas; for more information, call 646.624.2400) The Glazier Group’s East Village steak house serves French-influenced American fare. Designed by David Rockwell, the restaurant has a bordello-red color scheme and vintage photographs on the walls from the Studio Manasse collection of the early 1900s. The venue seats 150.

(13 East 12th St., 212.328.0000)

SUSHI OF GARI

Chef Masatoshi Sugio of the popular Japanese restaurant Sushi of Gari opened this spot in 2005. The 64-seat, 1,500-square-foot Tony Chi-designed space opposite the American Museum of Natural History is airy and open. At the sushi bar, diners watch as chefs prepare dishes from executive chef and partner Mike Lim’s fusion menu. (370 Columbus Ave., 212.517.5340) SUSHI SAMBA5

Sushi and ceviche are on the menu at both Sushi Sambas, the South American-influenced sushi restaurants. The original Park Avenue South location is the smaller of the two, with a 125-seat dining room, a 12-seat sushi bar, and a 10-seat bar. The Seventh Avenue outpost has 28-seat lounge, a 40-seat patio, and a Japanese roof garden that seats 125, in addition to its 80-seat main dining room and an 18-seat sushi bar. (245 Park Ave. South, 212.475.9377; Sushi Samba 7: 87 Seventh Ave. South, 212.691.7885) SUSPENDERS5

This bar and grill in the financial district offers Americaninternational fare in a cozy, pub-style environment with mahogany accents. The space seats 200 people indoors, and the patio on Thames Street (available only on the weekends) seats 150. A private room is also available, seating 45 and offering audiovisual equipment and wireless Internet access. (111 Broadway, 212.732.5005) SUTTON PLACE5

This trilevel restaurant offers four bars, 18 TVs, and four projection screens. The 100-seat first floor holds 200 and has a 40-foot bar and two large projection screens. The second floor holds 200 for receptions and has its own bar and decorative French doors. The Skylight Lounge seats 30 on sofas by a fireplace, and the terrace seats 150. (1015 Second Ave., 212.207.3777) SWIFTY’S

Originally known as Mortimer’s, this Upper East Side restaurant serves American cuisine in a dining room designed by Mario Buatta. A private room seats 44, while the entire restaurant seats 75. (1007 Lexington Ave., 212.535.6000) TABLA5

Danny Meyer’s Indian fusion restaurant is adjacent to another of his restaurants, Eleven Madison Park. Tabla features dark woods, warm colors, and curved walls. The venue offers two semiprivate spaces: The upstairs dining room seats 130, and Bread Bar downstairs seats 70. During the warmer months, the 75-seat street-level patio is bustling with diners. (11 Madison Ave., 212.889.0667)

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New York Venue Directory

Restaurants TAJ

This Indian fusion restaurant in the Flatiron district features sandstone statues of dancing Shivas along the walls. Burnt-red and orange fabrics cover the U-shaped booths, and tall, silk lampshades hang above the tables.

The entire space seats 120 people or holds as many as 299 for receptions. A private mezzanine seats 40 or holds 80 for receptions. (48 West 21st St., 212.620.3033 ext. 118) TAMARIND

Tamarind serves regional Indian cuisine in a modern, elegant space in the Flatiron district. While the upscale restaurant has no private event space, the 16-seat Tamarind Tea Room next door serves sandwiches on Indian bread and 14 kinds of tea, and can be rented for private events. (41-43 East 22nd St., 212.674.7400) NEW TANUKI TAVERN

Replacing Ono inside the Hotel Gansevoort is this Japanese gastropub and sushi bar from Jeffrey Chodorow’s China Grill Management. Modeled after traditional izakaya— the Japanese version of a tapas bar—Tanuki Tavern serves a menu from executive chef John Dileo in a bilevel space decorated with paper lanterns and rustic wood accents.

(18 Ninth Ave., 212.660.6766) TAO

Tao remains a favorite among event planners not only because of its impressive size (12,000 square feet), but also for its Midtown location and fun pan-Asian menu.

The 26-seat private skybox overlooks the main dining room and has its own private restrooms, but often, the whole place is rented for big corporate bashes. The entire restaurant can seat 300 people or hold as many as 800 for receptions. (42 East 58th St., 212.399.3097) TASTE

Eli Zabar’s Taste, a self-serve café by day and a full-service restaurant by night, is adjacent to his famed gourmet market on the Upper East Side. With a 30-foot bar, the elegant space has a private room that seats 40. The entire restaurant seats 140. (1413 Third Ave., 212.717.9798) TELEPAN

Bill Telepan (former chef of the Judson Grill) replaced the Santa Fe Grill with this eponymous restaurant in 2005.

Telepan, designed by architect Larry Bogdanow, serves guests a menu of seasonal New American cuisine in a 110-seat main dining room, an eight-seat lounge, and a 12-seat bar. (72 West 69th St., 212.580.4300) 10 DOWNING FOOD & WINE

Chef Jason Neroni, formerly of Porchetta, heads the kitchen at this West Village bistro, which opened in November 2008. Serving Mediterranean-influenced American dishes, the restaurant was designed by the Meyer Davis Studio, featuring artwork from the late 1950s to mid-1970s. (10 Downing St.; 212.255.0300) TERRACE IN THE SKY5

Above Columbia University’s Butler Hall, Terrace in the Sky’s windows offer views of Manhattan from its main dining room. The penthouse space has two private rooms that seat 80 and 140 guests. The Greenhouse, a glassenclosed space on the roof, seats 80 or holds 150 for receptions. (400 West 119th St., 212.666.9490) THALASSA

Sweeping white sails hovering below the 18-foot ceiling, an icy white marble bar backlit with blue lights, a 60-seat private wine cellar, and the 120-seat gallery loft make Thalassa one of the most event-friendly restaurants in TriBeCa. The restaurant serves Greek cuisine in its 130-seat main dining room. (179 Franklin St., 212.941.7661) THALIA

A large, sprawling restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen, Thalia has soaring ceilings and striking red-white-and-green walls accented with large, framed vintage posters. A portion of the main dining room that seats 60 can be curtained off for a semiprivate event, or the entire main room seats 140 people or holds as many as 300 for receptions. There are also two lounges, seating 20 and 45 people, and a separate bar. (828 Eighth Ave., 212.399.4625) THOR

The Hotel on Rivington’s restaurant opened in 2005.

Designed by Marcel Wanders, the 100-seat street-level space serves eclectic seasonal cuisine and has a 22-foot glass ceiling in the dining room. Thor can hold as many as 170 for receptions. (107 Rivington St., 212.796.8040) TOCQUEVILLE

Jo-Ann Makovitzky and Marco Moreira’s eatery relocated to a larger space just two doors down from its original location in 2006. In its current digs, Tocqueville offers a 75-seat dining room, a 20-seat bar, and a 30-seat private room on the mezzanine. (1 East 15th St., 212.647.1515) TOP OF THE TOWER5

On the 26th floor of the Beekman Tower Hotel, this 1,300square-foot restaurant combines Art Deco design with views of Manhattan from its wraparound terrace and live piano entertainment on Wednesdays through Sundays.

Top of the Tower’s dining room seats 50. (3 Mitchell Place, 212.980.4796) TOTALLY BAKED5

Jason Apfelbaum renovated and opened this Flatiron

188 bizbash.com may/june 2010

district eatery—formerly Ate 18—in 2008. Gourmet stuffed spuds are on a menu from executive chefs Jeffrey Crawford and Miguel Urrego. The restaurant seats 50 or holds 60 for receptions and is available for private events.

(8 West 18th St., 646.336.6118)

neighborhood.) The venue occupies 4,575 square feet and has a 3,000-square-foot basement. Supervising the menu, which includes English-style tea, is chef Annie Wayte. (75 Ninth Ave., 646.638.1173)

NEW TRATTORIA CINQUE

Offering chef Nestor Yumiguano’s New American cuisine on the Upper East Side, this restaurant seats 80 in the firstfloor dining room and terrace. Upstairs is a private room that seats 55 or holds 80 for receptions, equipped with an audiovisual projection system, Internet access, and digital surround sound. (133 East 65th St., 212.249.6565)

This Italian restaurant opened in TriBeCa in August 2009.

Owned by Russell Bellanca, who also owns Midtown’s Alfredo of Rome, this retro 250-seater is styled after trattorias from the 1960s, complete with fireplaces, oversized booths, a marble bar, and wooden tables. On site are two private rooms; one seats 25 and the other seats 50. (363 Greenwich St., 212.965.0555) TRATTORIA DELL’ARTE

The Fireman Hospitality Group’s Trattoria Dell’Arte has tiled floors, fireplaces, half-finished paintings, and sculptures throughout the dining space, modeled after a Tuscan artist’s studio. It offers several private rooms, including the 17-seat wine room, the 44-seat Bomorza Room, the 30-seat candle room, and the 80-seat Il Naso Room. (900 Seventh Ave., 212.265.0100) TRATTORIA DOPO TEATRO

This restaurant’s intricately decorated private spaces are available for events. In addition to its 100-seat main dining room, Dopo Teatro offers its 35-seat Theatre Room, the 30-seat American Room, a 100-seat wine cellar, an eight-seat private room off the wine cellar, and the ornate 60-seat secret garden. The entire restaurant seats 310. (125 West 44th St., 212.869.2849) NEW TRAVERTINE

Opened in September 2009, Travertine is a Mediterranean eatery that serves a menu from Manuel Treviño, a chef with previous experience at Dos Caminos and Babbo.

Travertine stone, vintage leather, and rich wood accents decorate Australian restaurateur Danae Cappelletto’s venue, which offers a 58-seat dining room and a mezzanine level for private events. (19 Kenmare St., 212.966.1810) TRE DICI

Giuseppe Fanelli (of Rao’s) opened Tre Dici in 2005.

Designed by MJ Macaluso & Associates, the intimate space features curved terra-cotta-colored walls, onyx cocktail tables, and silver leather banquettes. On the menu is an extensive seafood selection, including its famous ovenbaked bass in parchment paper. The restaurant holds as many as 40. (128 West 26th St., 212.243.8183)

212 RESTAURANT & BAR5

230 FIFTH5

This 22,000-square-foot rooftop lounge and restaurant from Steven Greenberg (a former owner of Gramercy Park Hotel) offers a menu of Malaysian fare from chef Zak Pelaccio. A fully enclosed penthouse lounge takes up 8,000 square feet; the other 14,000 square feet is [openair?] rooftop space. (230 Fifth Ave., 212.725.4300) UNCLE JACK’S STEAKHOUSE

This 200-seat steak house’s decor includes dark woods, banquette seating, red velvet drapes, and a fireplace.

There are two private party rooms, a 14-seat library, and the 75-seat El Presidente Suite. The smaller Bayside location offers a 21-seat private dining room. A third location opened in 2007, with seating for 32 in the private dining area, balcony seating for 24, and seating for 105 on the second floor. (440 Ninth Ave., 212.244.0005; 39-40 Bell Blvd., Queens, 718.229.1100; 44 West 56th St., 212.245.1550) UNION SQUARE CAFE

This is Gramercy Tavern’s bustling cousin, opened in 1895, where the hosts know how to make perhaps the oddest seating configuration work perfectly. The entire restaurant seats 90 and the bar is open all day. Union Square Cafe was rated number one by Zagat as the most popular restaurant in New York City of 2009. (21 East 16th St., 212.243.4020) UPTOWN RESTAURANT & LOUNGE5

Uptown offers 3,300 square feet of dining space, with large brown banquettes in the rear of the restaurant, high ceilings, and three levels that can be used for semiprivate dining. The entire space seats 120 or holds 250 for receptions. The third tier offers a back room with curtains and a private bar for 35 guests, and there are 18 seats outdoors.

(1576 Third Ave., 212.828.1388) VERITAS

Open since 2006 is chef Ralf Kuettel’s casual restaurant in a 19th-century building in west Chelsea that once housed Chelsea Commons. The space has original brick walls, wood flooring, and a walled garden shaded by trees, and serves contemporary American fare. (242 10th Ave., 212.645.5659)

Small and simply decorated, this 65-seat hidden gem has gained a reputation for its extensive and impressive wine list (more than 192,000 bottles). Chef Gregory Pugin’s American contemporary fare is adventurous and creative—proof of the skills he learned from his association with Joël Robuchon at L’Atelier in the Four Seasons Hotel in New York. (43 East 20th St., 212.353.3700)

TRIBECA GRILL

VICEVERSA5

Co-owned by Robert De Niro, the Tribeca Grill opened in 1990 on the ground floor of the old Martinson Coffee Building as part of the Tribeca Film Center. The banquet loft seats 120 or holds 175 for receptions. The private gallery seats 40 people or holds as many as 50 for receptions. (375 Greenwich St., 212.941.3905)

This is Etcetera Etcetera’s sister restaurant, an understated venue with clean lines, a stainless steel bar, dark wood floors, and shelves showcasing terra-cotta vases.

Contemporary Italian dishes are served in the 70-seat dining room. A 20-seat garden is available. (325 West 51st St., 212.399.9291)

TRINITY PLACE

V CAFÉ/GALLERY VIET NAM

In a 19th-century landmark space, Trinity Place serves New American fare from Donal Crosbie. The venue has 35-ton vault doors, a chandelier, brown leather banquette seating, a 40-foot-long mahogany bar, red silk lampshades, and a wine cooler constructed in what was once an elevator shaft. The 4,000-square-foot space seats 250.

(115 Broadway, 212.964.0939)

Owner and chef Lan Tran Cao brings cuisine from her native country to this warm TriBeCa venue, decorated with Vietnamese art, lamps, tables, stools, and silk lanterns. The entire café seats 90 or holds 100 for receptions and is available for special events. Adjoining the restaurant is a gallery displaying art and antiques from Southeast Asia. (345 Greenwich St., 212.431.8889)

TRIOMPHE

THE VIEW

On the ground floor of the Iroquois Hotel is Triomphe, the boutique hotel’s 44-seat in-house restaurant. Le Petit Triomphe, the restaurant’s 27-seat private dining room, holds 65 for receptions and features a marble floor, its own bar, and a 42-inch flat-screen TV for presentations.

(49 West 44th St., 212.453.4052)

This revolving restaurant on the 47th floor of the Marriott Marquis underwent a $4 million renovation in 2004. The space now has modern decor, and the menu emphasizes New York State ingredients and wines. The restaurant has 200 seats, and the lounge has 220. (1535 Broadway, 47th Floor, 212.704.8900)

TSE YANG

VIG 27

Chinese cuisine is served in a formal setting with coffered ceilings, delicate antiques, silk cushions, and high-backed chairs. Named for an area of China’s Forbidden City, the atmosphere here is peaceful—perfect for quiet meetings.

Tse Yang’s three small private rooms can be combined to seat as many as 60. The entire restaurant seats 120. (34 East 51st St., 212.688.5447)

This 3,000-square-foot venue is three blocks from sister venue PS 450. A private back room with a bar and an open fireplace has room for parties of 100 to 260, or the entire restaurant can be rented for 275 people. Chef Dominic Giuliano provides an eclectic menu designed for sharing.

(119 East 27th St., 212.532.1519)

TURKS & FROGS TRIBECA

Just east of Union Square, this 60-seat wine and tapas bar also serves a selection of European wines, craft beers, and absinthe cocktails. A 30-seat private room can be used for meetings and dinners, as well as sommelier- and mixologist-led tastings. (118A East 15th St., 212.677.6300)

TRESTLE ON TENTH5

This 2,000-square-foot restaurant, originally a stonemason’s studio, is adorned with the owner’s collection of French and Turkish antiques. Turks & Frogs Tribeca serves mezzes and a selection of Turkish wines; the restaurant holds as many as 60 for receptions. (458 Greenwich St., 212.966.4774) 21 CLUB

Born during Prohibition, the 21 Club offers cuisine from chef John Greeley. The four-story space offers 10 private dining rooms. Upstairs at 21 is a 32-seat dining room with four murals painted by Brooklyn artist Wynne Evans depicting New York landmarks in the 1930s. The more intimate, 300-square-foot room in the wine cellar seats 22. (21 West 52nd St., 212.582.1400) 202

Food and fashion come together with this Nicole Farhi location. (The original 202 Café is in London’s Notting Hill

VINTAGE IRVING

VIRGIL’S REAL BARBECUE

This 275-seat bilevel theater district eatery, part of the restaurant group that also owns Carmine’s, serves Southern down-home barbecue. A private room on the second floor seats 200 or holds 275 for receptions.

Semiprivate dining is also available; the entire space holds 475 for receptions. (152 West 44th St., 212.921.9494) VISCONTI5

Visconti opened in 2008 in a 3,000-square-foot space.

Serving modern Tuscan cuisine with a 150-bottle selection of international wines, Visconti seats 150 in the main dining room with an additional 20 seats in the lounge.

Also available is a private room that seats 25; the entire

restaurant can be booked for events for as many as 200 people. (39 East 58th St., 212.758.8600) VOLSTEAD

The Volstead takes on tones of the age of Prohibition and the speakeasy. Heavy with mahogany and other dark woods, low tables, and ottomans, the space is both a lounge and a restaurant, with a menu of small plates to share, as well as some salads and entrées. The Volstead can accommodate groups of as many as 275 people for receptions. (125 East 54th St., 212.532.1519) NEW WALL & WATER

Wall & Water, the in-house restaurant of the new Andaz hotel on Wall Street, opened in January 2010. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the space is intended to evoke the menu of organic and locally sourced ingredients with bamboo and oak accents contrasted by glass wall sconces and marble flooring. For groups there’s a 10-seat private room and a 12-seat chef’s table. (75 Wall St., 212.590.1234) WATER CLUB5

On the East River at 30th Street, this restaurant and event venue offers views of Queens and Brooklyn. Banquet rooms are available on the upper and lower levels. The 5,000-square-foot lower-level barge seats 460 people or holds as many as 1,075 for receptions. The Crow’s Nest is a 100-seat deck above the main dining room. (East 30th St. at the FDR Drive, 212.545.1155) WATER’S EDGE5

From May to October, this Long Island City restaurant’s outdoor space—which offers views of the East River and the Manhattan skyline—is open for events. The alfresco dining area is a promenade adjacent to the restaurant’s dock that holds 150 for receptions. (44th Drive at the East River, Queens, 718.482.0033) WATER STREET RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

This bilevel restaurant and lounge has three separate spaces in its 7,000 square feet. The upstairs 3,200-squarefoot restaurant holds 225 for receptions and has a 60-foot bar. The Roebling Carriage Room holds 75 for receptions in 700 square feet of space. The 2,600-square-foot Underwater Lounge has 20-foot ceilings and holds 175. (66 Water St., Brooklyn, 718.625.9352) WAVERLY INN

This 70-seat eatery, a West Village stalwart, reopened under new owners Sean MacPherson, Eric Goode, and

Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter. John DeLucie (chef of the Maritime hotel’s La Bottega) serves comfort food in the spruced-up space with cozy fireplaces and murals of celebrities who live in the area. (16 Bank St., 212.243.7900) WD-50

It’s twice the size of his old place, 71 Clinton Fresh Food, and chef Wylie Dufresne packs them in for his inventive New American cuisine. The main dining room seats 67. The private wine cellar seats 14. (50 Clinton St., 212.477.2900) WEST BANK CAFE

This restaurant serves American fare from chef Joe Marcus; its main dining room seats as many as 90.

Downstairs is the 80-seat Laurie Beechman Theatre, with a 20-foot mahogany bar, a grand piano, and a dance floor.

The downstairs also doubles as a cabaret theater. (407 West 42nd St., 212.695.6909) IN THE WORKS WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART CAFÉ

The Whitney Museum of American Art will open a new café in fall 2010 as part of a partnership with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group and its catering arm, Hudson Yards. Meyer’s operation will replace the Sarabeth’s outpost, which closed in January. During the renovation of the space, Hudson Yards—now the exclusive caterer for all the museum’s events—will manage a temporary eatery. (945 Madison Ave.) WICKER PARK5

This bistro from Chris Coco and Frank Falesto replaced Martell’s Grill in 2006. The 74-seat eatery serves American fare and has mosaic-tiled floors, tin ceilings, high-backed booths, and a mahogany bar. The 1,200-square-foot space also offers outdoor seating. (1469 Third Ave., 212.734.5600) WILDWOOD BARBEQUE

B.R. Guest Restaurants opened this American barbecue joint in the space formerly occupied by Barça 18.

Redesigned by the Rockwell Group, the open, airy venue incorporates industrial materials and includes a 50-footlong bar. The entire space seats a total of 222 people. (225 Park Ave. South, 212.331.0328) WOLFGANG’S STEAKHOUSE

After 41 years as a headwaiter at Brooklyn’s Peter Luger Steak House, Wolfgang Zwiener opened this 120-seat dining room, which features an original blue-and-whitetiled Guastavino vaulted ceiling. A private dining room seats 24. There is also a newer, larger location in TriBeCa,

which has a main dining room that seats 120, a private dining room for 170 guests, and a wine cellar. A third location will open in the space recently vacated by Jean Georges Vongerichten’s Vong. As of press time, there was no opening date set. (4 Park Ave., 212.889.3369; 409 Greenwich St., 212.925.0350; 200 East 54th St.) NEW THE WRIGHT

Replacing the Guggenheim’s café in mid-December 2009, the Wright is a 1,600-square-foot space adjacent to the museum’s rotunda. The restaurant and bar’s look was created by British artist Liam Gillick. Serving executive chef Rodolfo Contreras’ menu of modern American fare, the Wright can be booked for private events and seats 50 or holds 75 for receptions. (1071 Fifth Ave., 212.849.8332) YUVA

Owned by husband and wife Kedar Shah and Hritu Deepak, this Indian restaurant opened in 2006. Yuva, which means youth, serves traditional dishes from a menu that’s divided into two sections: slow-cooked and roasted. The 10-seat chef’s table is the ideal spot to watch the grilling in action in the slate-tiled kitchen. The restaurant holds as many as 65. (230 East 58th St., 212.339.0090) ZANZIBAR

Part Mediterranean restaurant, part bar and lounge, Zanzibar caters to post-theater diners. Owned by Emilio Barletta, the space mixes industrial accents—pouredconcrete floors and a circular open-pit fireplace—with a sleek backlit bar and a large projection TV. Four dining rooms and a bar can be combined to seat 232 or hold as many as 300 for receptions. (645 Ninth Ave., 212.957.9197) ZARELA

Following the success of her televised cooking show and cookbooks, Zarela Martinez opened a brightly colored eatery serving regional Mexican food family-style in a homey environment. The upstairs dining room can be closed for events for 75. (953 Second Ave., 212.644.6740) NEW ZENGO

Chef Richard Sandoval and partner opera singer Placido Domingo opened a New York outpost of Latin-Asian fusion restaurant Zengo. Designed by AvroKo, the Midtown eatery debuted in April 2010 with a 100-seat main dining room, a 20-seat sake and shochu lounge on the mezzanine , and a lower-level tequila library that can hold 75 for receptions. (622 Third Ave., 212.808.8110)

Retail Venues AMERICAN GIRL PLACE

CITY BAKERY

This store holds 500 for receptions and has a 150-seat café and a 133-seat theater. A private dining area seats 50.

These spaces can be rented individually or as a unit, both during store hours and after closing. The café provides catering. (609 Fifth Ave., 212.644.1145 ext. 5056)

This bakery and café can be used as an event space after store hours. City Bakery has a bilevel space and provides on-site catering (no outside caterers are permitted). The bakery’s own furniture can be used, but there is minimal lighting and sound equipment on site. The entire venue holds as many as 200 people. (3 West 18th St., 212.366.1414)

AN EARNEST CUT & SEW

High-end denim brand Earnest Sewn’s 2,500-squarefoot retail location is available for events for as many as 300. Design accents include a copper-colored tin ceiling, exposed brick walls, wood floors, and early-20th-century light fixtures. (821 Washington St., 212.242.3414) AUDI FORUM

In 2006, the U.S. division of Audi opened the Audi Forum, a 6,400-square-foot showroom for the company’s cars that is also available for events. A 10-seat meeting room and an elevated lounge furnished with low white sofas are available, as is the L-shaped main floor, which can hold 50 guests. (250 Park Ave., 212.370.2835) BANCHET FLOWERS

This meatpacking district floral atelier owned by designer Banchet Jaigla doubles as an event space—with existing flowers serving as decor. The 18,000-square-foot space expanded with Flower Bar, a bar and lounge that opened in 2005. The two spaces can hold 150 people for receptions when combined. (809 Washington St., 212.989.1088) BOND NO. 9

Bond No. 9, the perfume boutique that custom-blends fragrances, also offers its 3,500-square-foot space for events. The store allows cocktail parties, shopping events, and product launches to take over the site and has room for as many as 250. Bond No. 9 is available any day of the week after 11.30 a.m. (9 Bond St., 212.228.2847) BOTTLEROCKET WINE & SPIRIT

This wine and spirits store is located in the Flatiron district.

The 2,500-square-foot space is raw and industrial-looking, contrasting polished concrete floors and brushed-metal accents with brightly colored walls. The entire space is available for private events. (5 West 19th St., 212.929.2323) BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP STORE

The St. Louis-based international teddy bear retailer’s 22,000-square-foot New York flagship store is in Midtown.

Along with bear-making stations and retail space, the venue has three private event spaces that hold 20 guests each or can be combined to hold larger groups. The space also includes a café. (565 Fifth Ave., 877.789.2327)

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

DYLAN’S CANDY BAR

Sugar emporium Dylan’s Candy Bar has a 5,000-squarefoot event space on the third floor. It is comprised of three combinable sections that resemble a brightly colored modern-day soda shop and offer audiovisual equipment including a flat-screen TV, DVD player, and a CD system with surround sound. (1101 Third Ave., 646.735.0078) HENRI BENDEL

There is no designated event space in this high-end Fifth Avenue boutique, but part of the sales floor can be sectioned off or the entire store can be used, depending on the size of the group. Events include a shopping or makeover component, as the store requires that hosts purchase gift certificates for guests to use in lieu of a rental fee. The entire space holds 600. (712 Fifth Ave., 212.424.0450) HOUSING WORKS BOOKSTORE CAFÉ

AIDS nonprofit Housing Works operates this used bookstore in SoHo. It has 4,000 square feet of space, 20-foot ceilings, and a classic library look, with mahogany paneling and a balcony accessible via spiral staircases. The store can seat 120 people or hold 275 for receptions. (126 Crosby St., 212.966.0466 ext. 1104) JACQUES TORRES CHOCOLATE HAVEN

Chocolatier Jacques Torres’s Manhattan facility is a 2,500-square-foot space encased in glass walls overlooking the 5,500-square-foot chocolate factory. The venue comes with caramel-colored square seats and chocolatetinted tables, and can hold 150. Private demonstrations by Torres can be arranged. (350 Hudson St., 212.414.2462) L’OLIVIER DOWNTOWN5

Floral designer Olivier Giugni’s Chelsea retail operation has 1,500 square feet of space inside and an additional 1,500 square feet in the garden. The entire venue holds as many as 100 for receptions or 50 for sit-down dinners inside. (213 West 14th St., 212.255.2828) MAGNOLIA BAKERY—UPPER WEST SIDE

In September 2008, Magnolia Bakery opened a private party room at its Upper West Side location. The room, which seats 24 or holds 35 for receptions, is available for

daytime gatherings or events in the evening. The bakery offers activities in this area, including kid-friendly arts and crafts; rental fees include two dozen cupcakes or one cake. (200 Columbus Ave., 212.724.8101) MAKE

Make offers pottery painting with staff instruction for corporate teambuilding events in its two stores, both of which hold 35 guests. The stores have modern decor and bright colors, and guests’ creations are glazed and fired to make them food- and dishwasher-safe. (1566 Second Ave., 212.570.6868; 506 Amsterdam Ave., 212.579.5575) MAX BRENNER

This Union Square restaurant and sweet shop features French-influenced cuisine by its namesake chocolate company. The 5,000-square-foot bilevel space has modern yet playful decor that combines Willy Wonkastyle artwork with Art Deco-patterned walls and flooring; it seats 150. (841 Broadway, 212.388.0030 ext.1) N5

Nikoa Evans, Larry Ortiz, and Lenn Shebar opened this bilevel, 4,000-square-foot boutique in Harlem. The upscale retail space—which carries apparel from Byron Lars and Nicole Miller, home decor items from Jonathan Adler, and cosmetics from Iman—also has a 600-squarefoot landscaped patio. The indoor space holds as many as 200 for receptions. (114 West 116th St., 212.961.1035) NBA STORE

This 35,000-square-foot retail space has two floors available for events. On one floor is a half-court that allows guests to test their shooting skills. The upper level holds merchandise, but can also be booked for events. The bilevel space holds 750 for receptions, 150 for seated events, and 10 in the V.I.P. greenroom. (666 Fifth Ave., 877.622.3836) SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Both during and after store hours, the New York flagship store’s three restaurants are available for events: the 200-seat Café SFA, the fifth-floor SnAKS, and the 1,500square-foot 2 Eat @ Saks, with views of Rockefeller Center.

After-hours events (with a minimum of 300 guests) can be held on the sales floor. (611 Fifth Ave., 212.940.4094) TOYS “R” US TIMES SQUARE

The entire store is not available for events, but it offers one private room: The 1,150-square-foot skybox glass conference room overlooks the store and holds 75 for receptions or seats 60. A flat-panel screen and audiovisual capabilities are available. (1514 Broadway, 646.366.8825)

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New York Venue Directory

Spas & Relaxation Spaces BLISS SPA

The spa chain founded by Marcia Kilgore offers a full range of treatments, including hangover-healing facials and “nerve whacker” massages. Bliss 49, in the W New York hotel, offers haircuts and blowouts, as well. Bliss also sells products from lines like the ultra-high-end La Mer, as well as its own. (12 West 57th St., 3rd Floor; 568 Broadway, 2nd Floor; W New York, 541 Lexington Ave.; for information on all, call 212.931.6383 ext. 1409) BODY BY BROOKLYN

This 10,000-square-foot spa has 10 treatment rooms, including two private suites for couples. A 5,000-squarefoot lounge has a bar, a tapas restaurant, plasma TVs, and audiovisual equipment; it holds 150 for receptions. A wet lounge has a hot tub and a cold plunge pool, two saunas, and a steam room. The private studio suite, with its own Jacuzzi and shower, has a sound system and a plasma TV. (275 Park Ave., Brooklyn, 718.923.9400) CHOPRA CENTER AND SPA AT DREAM

Deepak Chopra’s well-being center inside the Dream Hotel opened in 2005 with ayurvedic treatments and classes in a beautifully designed space. Taking inspiration from India, the tranquil interior includes rosewood, soft red and yellow accents, a 20-foot-tall fresco, a three-foot stone centerpiece for the meditation area, and unique artwork painted on the walls. (1710 Broadway, 212.246.7600) CLAY5

Clay is a 20,000-square-foot health club that features a coed lounge with a fireplace. Events at the facility can use a roof deck with seating open from March through September, where guests can dine on selections from all-organic caterer Fancy Girl. There are individual saunas and massage rooms, as well as a spa offering such services as microdermabrasion with oxygen treatment and a firmand-tone treatment. (25 West 14th St., 212.206.9200) CLEO SPA AND SALON

In 2007, this 5,000-square-foot spa and salon opened in the Upper West Side residential building Trump Place.

Decorated with natural materials such as stone and wood, the Zen-like venue has a leaf motif, as well as large pieces of art made entirely of buttons. The spa is available for group buyouts. (157 Freedom Place, 212.260.0300) EDAMAME SPA

Edamame, a spa that specializes in prenatal pampering, has 2,000 square feet of space and three 150-square-foot treatment rooms. The Relax Room—a quiet, loungelike area—seats four and features a soothing water wall.

The second-floor learning studio, available for non-sparelated events, holds 25 for receptions. (575 Madison Ave., 212.588.1990) FAINA EUROPEAN DAY SPA

European-style Faina—opened by a former practicing M.D.—has been in Midtown since 1987. The spa uses salt from Hungary, mud from Italy, and fragrances from France. The space has six treatment rooms and can host groups of 10. (315 West 57th St., 212.245.6557) FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SPA

This luxe spa was renovated in 2003 and features nine treatment rooms. The atmosphere is as posh as the hotel that houses it, and relaxation treatments include services for both men and women. For groups staying at the hotel, treatments can be arranged in guests’ rooms. (57 East 57th St., 212.350.6420) GLOW SKIN SPA

This small, 1,500-square-foot spa near Central Park offers a variety of skin-care treatments and is available as a space for private events, meetings, or group outings. Groups can rent the entire venue; it holds 25. (30 East 60th St., Suite 808, 212.319.6654) GREAT JONES SPA

Great Jones is a day spa on a massive scale: In its 15,000 square feet, it features multiple levels, three-story waterfalls, 20 treatment rooms, a café, and a huge river-rock sauna. The space can be booked for events of 200 people, with or without use of the spa facilities. (29 Great Jones St., 212.505.3185) NEW EXHALE SPA

The Hotel Gansevoort opened this 4,500-square-foot venue in June 2009. The space offers three infinity hydro pools for water-based treatments, a steam room, and three private therapy rooms. The spa can be booked for events and groups. (18 Ninth Ave., 212.660.6733) JOHN ALLAN’S

The idea behind John Allan’s properties is a retro focus on male grooming in a clublike environment. The fullservice grooming club features billiard tables, leather chairs, wooden ceiling fans, and jazz—a cool choice for a crowd of, say, men’s magazine editors—and can accommodate events of as many as 200 at some locations. (46 East 46th St., 212.922.0361; 95 Trinity Place, 212.406.3000; 418 Washington St., 212.334.5358; Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave., 7th Floor, 212.940.2210) JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER FOR BEAUTY AND WELLNESS

This salon and spa has two locations on Long Island.

190 bizbash.com may/june 2010

Owned by Joseph Christopher and his wife, Doris Inzone, the spaces offer customized spa parties with catering, entertainment, and rental services. Both the Long Beach and Bellmore locations are 6,000 square feet and have eight treatment rooms. In summer 2010, a third location is scheduled to open in the Allegria Spa and Hotel in Long Beach. (254 West Park Ave., Long Beach, N.Y., 516.889.3900; 2750 Merrick Road, Bellmore, N.Y., 516.889.3900) LA CASA DAY SPA/INSPARATION

La Casa director Jane Goldberg has a Ph.D. in mind and body health; she offers treatments based on the principle that the classic elements (earth, sky, water, and fire) have healing properties. Insparation is La Casa’s sister spa at the 92nd Street Y. (La Casa: 41 East 20th St., 212.673.2272; Insparation: 1395 Lexington Ave., 212.415.5795)

long indoor pool, the spa occupies 35,000 square feet on the 21st floor of the hotel. Available for group outings, the space is best suited to small gatherings of about 12 for simultaneous treatments. (700 Fifth Ave., 212.903.3910) PHYTO UNIVERSE

In 2006, botanical hair-care brand Phyto opened its first U.S. treatment and training center in Midtown, with 6,000 square feet of space and a 2,000-square-foot wall of living plants. Phyto Universe’s education space is available for events, with audiovisual equipment, a stage, and room for 45 seated. Also offered is the treatment area, which can accommodate receptions of 150, and an on-site prep kitchen. (715 Lexington Ave., 3rd Floor, 212.308.0270) POLISH BAR OF BROOKLYN

In the Ritz-Carlton at Central Park, La Prairie features six treatment rooms, including one wet room, a women’s lounge, and steam rooms for both men and women.

Clients can choose their own music to play during treatments. (50 Central Park South, 212.521.6135)

Owned by a former MAC Cosmetics artist, the Polish Bar of Brooklyn opened in 2006 in Clinton Hill. Services include manicures, pedicures, makeup application, and waxing. The salon hosts private parties, where guests learn tips and tricks from makeup artists while sipping on cosmos. Sessions last an hour and a half. (470 Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn, 718.622.5363)

LE CHATEAU DE FRENCHE DAY SPA & TEA ROOM

SERENITY SPA

This Bedford-Stuyvesant day spa from aesthetician Nikima Frenche opened in 2006. Le Chateau de Frenche offers facials, body treatments, waxing, massages, manicures, and pedicures, as well as gift cards or certificates and packages. Groups of six to 16 can take over the space for treatments. (441 Tompkins Ave., Brooklyn, 718.399.8621)

The Serenity Spa has peach-colored decor and soft music.

Its owners are unusual massage purveyors: Glenn and Maria Hardy, a criminal defense lawyer and an architect, respectively. Serenity offers body treatments, massages, facials, nail care, and waxing. The spa hosts groups of 15.

(776 Ave. of the Americas, 212.481.7898)

L’INSTITUT SOTHYS PARIS—NEW YORK

SETAI SPA

Indulge clients with spa treatments at the first United States spa from the luxury French skin-care company. The institute has nine treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy room, plus a shop and a reception area that can serve as event space for receptions for 75 people or seated events for 30. The curved staircase would be a stylish alternative to a runway for fashion shows. A small café can serve as a food or wine station or seat as many as 12. (37 West 57th St., 212.688.9400)

Hidden inside the financial district’s swanky Setai Wall Street residential building is the Setai Spa, a 12,000-square-foot retreat open to groups. Accented with Brazilian walnut, Italian glass tiles, and leather wall panels, this spot has 10 rooms for facials, body treatments, massages, and other services, as well as tea lounge and a Jacuzzi. (40 Broad St., 3rd Floor, 212.363.5418)

LA PRAIRIE

MIDTOWN SPA 31

Located in Midtown, this spa has a Hwangto Igloo—a special dry sauna made with beauty and health remedy minerals from Korea. The trilevel spa has separate areas for men, women, and groups. Groups can schedule hour or hour and a half massages, with beverages and fresh fruit included. All groups have access to the Hwangto Igloo, the steam sauna, and the lounge area. (32 East 31st.

St., 212.683.4484) NICKEL SPA FOR MEN

The 4,500-square-foot men-only Nickel Spa has eight treatment rooms on two stories, as well as manicure and pedicure stations, a salon, and a lounge. The spa’s design was intended to mimic the look of a submarine, with chrome walls and cobalt lighting. (77 Eighth Ave., 212.242.3203) OASIS DAY SPA

Oasis Day Spa has two Manhattan locations, as well as a facility in the JetBlue terminal at Kennedy Airport. The Park Avenue and Affinia Dumont Hotel locations each offer full-service hair and nail salons, along with private event spaces that hold as many as 40. The entire spa (at either location) can also be booked by the hour in advance, which includes unlimited use of all basic services. (1 Park Ave.; Affinia Dumont Hotel, 150 East 34th St.; JetBlue Terminal; 212.254.7722) OC 61 SALON AND SPA5

Louise O’Connor’s spa has three garden terraces. Signature treatments include an acupuncture facial and a superluxe pedicure that includes a foot soak using rose petals, milk, and honey; an herbal exfoliation and masque; a massage; and polish. (33 East 61st St., 212.935.6261) OKEANOS

Okeanos, a 4,500-square-foot spa, has seven treatment rooms. It features traditional Russian treatments—steam and sauna followed by an ice-cold plunge—in a cedar room, as well as a barber room. The treatment rooms feature Tuscan stone tiles, and a lounge is built in the style of 1930s ocean liners. (211 East 51st St., 212.223.6773) PAUL LABRECQUE SALON & SPA

Paul Labrecque is a full-service day spa, salon, and apothecary. The Upper West Side location is available for group events for as many as 12, including executive retreats and corporate promotions. Events for smaller groups can be held at the Columbus Avenue location. In addition to soothing spa treatments, Paul Labrecque can provide a spa lunch with wine for groups. (160 Columbus Ave., 171 East 65th St., 212.988.7816 ext. 104) PENINSULA SPA BY ESPA—NEW YORK

Following a renovation, the Peninsula hotel reopened its spa and fitness facility in January 2009. Fitted with 12 treatment rooms, an Asian tea lounge, and a 42-foot-

SKINCARELAB

The look of this SoHo venue founded by dermatologist Brad Katchen is modern and minimalist, with light wood flooring and stainless steel walls. The spa offers each client one of five individual treatment rooms for privacy and comfort. The spa can host groups of as many as 30.

(568 Broadway, Suite 403, 212.334.3142) SOHO SANCTUARY

The Soho Sanctuary day spa for women offers skin care, facials, and massage treatments, as well as instruction in yoga, Pilates, and Gyrotonics. It also has a revolving menu of season-appropriate treatments, such as body polishing in the summer. (119 Mercer St., Suite 3S, 212.334.5550) SPA AT CHELSEA PIERS

In a corner of the gym in the Chelsea Piers recreation complex, this spa offers eight treatment rooms for the therapeutic standards: massages, manicures, pedicures, reflexology, waxing, skin care, and aromatherapy. For real pampering, packages that include up to five hours of services are available. (Pier 60, West 23rd St. at the Hudson River, 212.336.6780) NEW SPA CHAKRA ON FIFTH

Formerly known as the Cornelia Day Resort, this space reopened in May 2009 as Spa Chakra on Fifth. Sitting on the eighth floor of a building that also houses the Salvatore Ferragamo flagship, the 20,000-square-foot facility has 14 private treatment rooms, a David Evangelista salon, and food provided by Fig & Olive. (663 Fifth Ave., 8th Floor, 212.871.3050) THAI PRIVILEGE SPA

This 5,300-square-foot SoHo spa is the first location of the Thai chain in the U.S.; it opened in 2006. Traditional Thai details can be seen throughout the venue, including goldpaper walls and antique carved furnishings. The spa has six treatment rooms and two V.I.P. rooms, a salon for floor massages, and two 300-square-foot suites that can accommodate groups. (155 Spring St., 2nd Floor, 212.274.8121) TOWNHOUSE SPA

Jamie Ahn, owner of Acqua Beauty Bar, opened her Midtown Townhouse Spa in 2006. The space has three floors: one for men, one for women, and one with retail makeup and accessories, nail salon areas, a lounge (equipped with projection screens), and dining space. The men’s floor holds 60; the women’s floor holds 60 as well and offers 10 treatment rooms, including a V.I.P. room equipped with steam showers and a fireReports on the place. (39 West 56th St., 212.245.8006)

ON BIZBASH.COM city’s newest event spaces, and a comprehensive, searchable directory of all kinds of venues in every New York neighborhood

WHITE TEA SPA

This spa books appointments by time, not by service; this allows guests to wait until the day of their appointment to choose treatments. The decor is pared down, and the space has five treatment rooms and enough noise insulation that its location above busy crosstown thoroughfare West 14th Street is not a distraction. (104 West 14th St., 212.647.8919)

5= Venues that offer outdoor event space

Stadiums & Arenas ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM/U.S.T.A. BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER5

Rossetti Associates Architects designed this 23,000-seat stadium, the home of the U.S. Open. It features 46 acres of indoor and outdoor venues for events and meetings, including six private restaurants, meeting rooms, and a lounge that holds 400. The tennis center also includes the 10,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 6,000-seat Grandstand court, and additional ďŹ eld courts. (Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, 718.595.2420) BELMONT PARK5

Belmont is a 430-acre racetrack in Elmont, New York. The park offers indoor and outdoor event spaces for entertaining, including the garden terrace, a full-service trackside restaurant, ďŹ ve private banquet rooms, and two tented areas that hold 120 and 500. The track is the home of the Belmont Stakes horse race and can hold 120,000 people, with trackside dining for 2,300 and stadium seating for 32,940. Between late July and early September, when no races take place, the entire venue holds 100,000 for events. (2150 Hempstead Tpk., Elmont, N.Y., 516.488.6000) NEW CITI FIELD5

Replacing Shea Stadium as the home of the New York Mets, Citi Field is a 45,000-seat arena with multiple spaces for corporate event rental. The largest space is the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the 19,000-square-foot entrance with a capacity for 1,500 people. Elsewhere, the 10,000-squarefoot Excelsior Club holds 600, the Acela Club restaurant seats 350, and an auditorium has space for 150. (12301 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, 718.803.4032) ICAHN STADIUM5

PHOTO: ALEX RAYTSES

Available year-round for outdoor use, this 5,000-seat stadium on Randallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Island offers a 500-seat mezzanine, a 100-seat observation deck, and an adjoining soccer ďŹ eld (which holds 1,000 seated) for private parties. RCano is the exclusive caterer. The facility opened in 2005. (20 Randallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Island Park, 212.830.7715) IZOD CENTER

Part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, this facilityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; previously called Continental Airlines Arenaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;holds about 20,000. Ten luxury suites (seating 20 each), 18 regular suites (seating 14), a 36-seat party room, and the 450-seat Winners Club restaurant are available for events.

(50 State Route 120, East Rutherford, N.J., 800.601.3804)

teams including the New Jersey Devils, concerts, and This ballpark, which houses the minor-league Brooklyn other performances. On site are 76 luxury suites, two Cyclones, was built in 2001 and can be rented for groups to club lounges, and a 350-seat restaurant. (165 Mulberry St., Newark, N.J., 973.854.8760) play baseball. It has a capacity of 7,500.

NEW RED BULL ARENA Event spaces include a party deck that Red Bull Arena, a new $200 million holds 125, four 22-person suites, and stadium for New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Major League one 44-person suite (all available on Soccer team, opened in March 2010 a nightly basis), plus eight suites that Host a Reception in northern New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Harrison are available yearly. (1904 Surf Ave., Near Javits MetroCentre. Designed by Los AngelesBrooklyn, 718.449.8497) Less than a block east of the MADISON SQUARE GARDEN based Rossetti Architects, the 13-acre Home to the Knicks and Rangers, this Jacob Javits Convention Center site is sponsored by energy drink Red multipurpose facility holds 19,500 is Stage37, music equipment Bull and includes 30 suites and three people, with a theater that seats 5,600. rental company S.I.R.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst club areas for private events. The arena Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a 36,000-square-foot expo has 25,000 seats. (600 Cape May St., dedicated event space.

The center, a 9,500-square-foot terrace, and Harrison, N.J., 877.727.6223) 14,000-square-foot venue, RICHMOND COUNTY BANK BALLPARK AT the 175-seat Play by Play restaurant, bar, ST. GEORGE5 and video arcade. Nearly 100 private open since October 2009, has The Staten Island Yankees play at this boxes can also be rented, as well as 26-foot ceilings, a 500-perstadium overlooking New York Harbor the 250-seat Club Bar and Grill. (4 Penn son capacity, a 10-foot-wide and the Statue of Liberty. The park is Plaza, 212.465.6106) load-in area, and 1,800 amps of MEADOWLANDS RACETRACK5 right next to the Staten Island Ferry dedicated power. Stage37 also This Meadowlands venue holds 40,000 terminal, and its 6,800 seats offer great includes production ofďŹ ces, in its racetrack and betting facilities. views of the city skyline. Available for a greenroom, and wireless Aramark caters the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room, rent are 20-seat luxury suites, as well which holds 50 for receptions, and Internet access. (508 West 37th as a partly tented picnic area in right the terrace suite dining room, which St., 212.239.9608) ďŹ eld holding 250. (75 Richmond Ter., holds 60 for receptions. Two additional Staten Island, 718.720.9265) NEW YANKEE STADIUM5 event spaces and one tented area are In April 2009, the Yankeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new also available. (50 State Route 120, East stadium opened in Macombs Dam Rutherford, N.J., 201.460.4043) NEW NEW MEADOWLANDS STADIUM5 Park, adjacent to the existing ballpark.

Opened in April 2010, the new stadium Now offering 1.3 million square feet of for N.F.L. teams the New York Giants space, the home of the Bronx Bombers and the New York Jets is a $1.6 billion includes several areas available for facility that houses 82,500 seats in 2.1 events and meetings, including seven million square feet of space. The sports party suites for entertaining during arena also offers several club areas game days. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 2,200-square-foot designed by the Rockwell Group and conference center, two on-site restau280,000 square feet of outdoor plaza rants, a 30,000-square-foot concourse, space. (50 Route 120, East Rutherford, N.J., 201.559.1710) and a small museum with room for 125 for receptions. The PRUDENTIAL CENTER stadium also has a partnership with the Food Network to This 18,500-seat arena in Newark opened in 2007. bring in chefs to cook in its luxury Legends Suite Club. (1 Managed by AEG, the venue hosts sporting events for East 161st St., Bronx, 646.977.8400) KEYSPAN PARK5

Where to...

<$1.(( 67$',80 (9(176 YANKEE STADIUM IS A VENUE FOR ALL SEASONS

<DQNHH 6WDGLXP LV DYDLODEOH WR KRVW HYHQWV IURP PHHWLQJV EDQTXHWV DQG WUDGHVKRZV WR IXQGUDLVHUV ZHGGLQJV DQG EDU EDW PLW]YDKV :LWK D GLYHUVH VHOHFWLRQ RI XQLTXH HYHQW VSDFHV DYDLODEOH RQ QRQ JDPH GD\V \HDU URXQG LW¡V QRW DERXW GHFLGLQJ ZKDW W\SH RI HYHQW \RX FDQ KRVW DW <DQNHH 6WDGLXP LW¡V DERXW UHDOL]LQJ \RX FDQ FHOHEUDWH HYHU\ RFFDVLRQ DW <DQNHH 6WDGLXP BOOK YOUR NON-GAME DAY EVENT TODAY: EMILY HAMEL, DIRECTOR OF NON-BASEBALL EVENTS

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Music Is the Answer What’s your question?

The other day I threw a little party in a fashion showroom for a luxury leather line called Aeon New York that I am helping to launch. Mostly it was people I know really well, but I had invited a few fashion editors and socialites, too. I wanted it to be simple but chic, and I wanted people to have fun, let their hair down. A party in a showroom can be deadly if it is too fussy: items sitting neatly but forlornly on little shelves, people afraid to touch anything. I was hoping people would take a drink, eat a chocolate, and finger the merchandise with abandon.

I called ahead to make sure the showroom had Wi-Fi. My latest partymusic trick is, I load a bunch of music videos onto a YouTube playlist and then just hit autoplay. You get a custom mix, plus a little visual entertainment. I throw in some live versions and old TV segments (my favorite is the medley Tina Turner did with Cher as a guest on the latter’s variety show) so that it doesn’t feel like an MTV throwback.

Of course, at the last minute, the Wi-Fi didn’t work, so one of the girls helping lent me her iPod. At first I tried to work with her list, but I just couldn’t, so I ceded the whole music

thing and hoped for the best. The party went well: the editors and the socialites showed, the friends and family drank and ate, the merchandise got fingered as hoped for.

A few times during the evening I would hear the music—I remember the Beatles wafting by and liking it—but I never cranked the volume. I couldn’t get behind the vibe.

For me, a party isn’t a real party unless the people dance and break a few glasses. Everything else is just foreplay.

I went to my friend Laura’s wedding a few weeks ago. She used to be a professional “party motivator.” She and her troupe were hired to attend big events and get people to dance and participate. So she brought along an M.C., a tall, handsome guy with a top hat who danced and worked the mic from the floor, along with a sax player who accompanied the music with a tiny wireless mic clipped to the rim of his instrument. I had never seen this particular combo before, and I write about parties for a living.

It could have been a disaster, but they were both so good, there was never a dinner break, you just ate when you were tired.

We’ve all been to events where the opposite happens. The saddest are charity benefits when they have a big dance floor in the middle of the room but they let the speakers go on too long. As soon as they can, guests bolt for the door, except for the handful who don’t have to work the next day. Crestfallen event organizers have to listlessly mill about the clueless gyrators, wishing they could just break down the tables while the band soldiers on through its play list. Or worse, they just go ahead and do.

I was going to write about my favorite DJs, like Victor Calderone and Mark and Samantha Ronson. I used to love Dimitri from Paris, and played his A Night at the Playboy Mansion CD until every song skipped. One summer on Fire Island, we lived next door to Susan Morabito, and she would come home at 5 a.m. from spinning at the famous Pavilion and—too wound up from her set—she’d do a cooldown mix for about two hours at 20 decibels. We liked it, I guess, but then we didn’t really have a choice.

I even toured with Prince once.

Long story. His thing was to do a big concert, and then he’d do a word-ofmouth set at some hole-in-the-wall the same night that kicked off at 4 a.m. And after that, he liked to chew the fat with some serious background sounds. Exhausting.

Whenever I like the music, I go and introduce myself to the DJ, who invariably proffers a sample CD. But when I play them in my car, they have nothing to do with what I remember and I get all confused. Maybe I don’t know what I like. Or what’s good.

That’s because great party music

is lightning in a bottle: You can’t catch it twice. That doesn’t mean that you can’t play the same songs. One of the best DJs is Tom Finn. He is known for being able to get people to dance and keep them dancing. He often starts with Barry White. It works.

Here’s what works for me: 1. Lots of small speakers are better than two giant ones.

2. Most bands play too loudly.

3. An imperfect singer often benefits from a little more reverb.

4. Music bullies—that is, guests who move in to control the sound— have to be dealt with quickly and directly. “I won’t try to control the music when I come to your house” is often my opening salvo. Once, I had a music bully’s car towed.

5. I honor requests only when they come from a guest of honor or the life of the party. I make the policy clear to prevent grousing.

6. Start with a consistent lead-in vibe. At the beginning of an event, don’t go all choppy-changey. I like a low-key lead-in. My favorites are Grace Jones, the Style Council, and Art of Noise.

7. Club music only works in clubs.

Many gay friends have a hard time understanding this.

8. Plan a moment. Just because an evening isn’t big-time produced doesn’t mean you can’t plan a moment. Dim the lights. Open a door to a new room or area. Pass something flaming. Then play your go-to song.

9. Thanks to The Marriage Ref, the reign of Madonna is finally over, right? Lady Gaga is now queen. Long live the queen. But I still sneak in Ray of Light once in a while.

Where Ted’s Been Dining in the Dark was an eye-opening event, literally.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness gala at the Plaza Hotel served dinner in complete darkness. Here, blindfolded volunteers practiced getting around the event before I like to meet people at the Breslin in the Ace Hotel when guests arrive. it’s not too busy, otherwise the service gets really slow.

192192bizbash.com bizbash.comjanuary/february may/june 2010 2010

Perhaps the best news on the economy I witnessed firsthand was a big turnout from both exhibitors and spectators at the New York Boat Show. Now, of course, I’m desperate to buy a boat.

PHOTOS: DARCY SCOTT FOR BIZBASH (DINING IN THE DARK), MELISSA HOM (BRESLIN), AUSTIN KENT PHOTOGRAPHY (BOAT SHOW)

Ted Kruckel

CREATIVEEDGEPARTIES COM

0HOTO ¥ 3TEPHEN 'REEN !RMYTAGE

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/NE CATERER DOMINATES THE .EW 9ORK PARTY SCENE