COMMUNITY
DOUBLE UP Hudson Hotel’s newest event space features two halves of a whole new idea
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hanneling a mix ’n’ match eclecticism pioneered by black and white cookies, Hudson Hotel’s newest event space Half & Half opened last month, bringing eighties cool and hip-hop style to the Columbus Circle area. The room, which officially opened on November 5, features a mad mash-up of dance hall and arcade space, flashily decked out with female soul dancers and billboards in stylized typography. Running down one edge is a bank of old-school arcade games, including such favorites as Ms Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Frogger and NBA Jam, with a bar to the opposite side and dance floor to the middle. The design concept for the space centers around a rotating series of artists who will each be taking over the room for a few months at a time, continually
Clockwise, from top: Boyce’s design centers around bold graphics; duplicated soul dancers feature heavily; arcade games include Ms PacMan and Mortal Kombat.
Dude, where’s my sign? The retro ‘Dude’ poster on 11th Avenue, ostensibly advertising awesomeness and nothing but, is no more. In its place? A suited man riding a bicycle as a citrus sun sets. While control of the previous image was won by an employee of billboard owner Mother New York creative agency – leading to the oblique reference to sunnier climes – this latest poster seems to have more conventional roots, promoting White Pike Whiskey, also owned by Mother. “White Pike is the alcoholic brainchild of Mother New York,” confirms Steven Ljubicic, Brand Manager at White Pike Whiskey. “This billboard is part of our new ‘Mix Up Your Day’ campaign, encouraging people to mix White Pike cocktails during the day.” Responsibly, we’re sure. www.whitepike.com
evolving the interior. The current installation, entitled ‘Nostalgia’, is the work of photographer and videographer Harrison Boyce, best known for his commercial work with fashion designers Dries van Noten and global channel Nowness. His design draws heavily from the soul music dancehalls of the late 1970s and hip-hop scene of the early 1980s. Plastered on the walls are images of soul dancers, alongside bold, monochrome slogans. “Half & Half is inspired by the early days of New York nightclubs, when amazing young artists would use nightlife as a way to expose their talents to the world,” said Alan Philips, Chief Marketing Officer of Morgans Hotel Group. “[It] is an amazing opportunity to introduce the next generation of artists into our culture and guest experience.” www.morganshotelgroup.com
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