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New York
$4.95
December 2OO6
Volume 5, Issue 6
For More Ideas and News: BiZBash.com
E V E N T S M E E T I N G S M A R K E T I N G S T Y L E S T R AT E G Y I D E A S
Lighting Trends From
Clubs Across the Country
French
Revolution
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Marie A
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PLUS: 12 Fancy French Rentals
1O Inspiring Tech
Innovations
SPIN CITY
New York’s 15 Hottest DJs
EVENT PLANNERS OF THE YEAR
Marketers Taking on
New Challenges
EMAIL OR PAPER?
An Invitation Conversation
EXCLUSIVE DIRECTORY
442 Planning Firms
Picture-Perfect Ideas
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MODERN ASIAN
5 ROOMS TOTALING
12,000 SQ. FT.
RESERVATIONS
212.989.6699
SPECIAL EVENTS
212.989.6788
ACCOMODATING
15-600 GUESTS
75 9TH AVENUE | BUDDAKANNYC.COM
RESERVATIONS
212.989.8883
SPECIAL EVENTS
212.989.6788
ACCOMODATING
12–300 GUESTS
88 10TH AVENUE | MORIMOTONYC.COM
CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE CUISINE BY IRON CHEF MORIMOTO
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BUDDAKAN
BARCLAY PRIME
MODERN ASIAN
BOUTIQUE STEAKHOUSE
EL VEZ
MODERN MEXICAN
MORIMOTO
CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE
STRIPED BASS
LUXURY SEAFOOD
POD
CONTEMPORARY PAN ASIAN
ALMA DE CUBA
MODERN CUBAN
TANGERINE
MEDITERRANEAN
WASHINGTON SQUARE
MODERN AMERICAN
STARR RESTAURANTORGANIZATION
13 4 M A R K E T S T R E E T P H I L A D E L P H I A P A 19 1 0 6 215 . 9 2 3 . 4 8 3 8 W W W . S T A R R - R E S T A U R A N T . C O M
PRIVATE ROOMS FOR 10 TO 60 GALA EVENTS FOR 100 TO 350 SPECIAL EVENTS 215 . 9 2 3 . 9 6 7 9 E V E N T S @ S T A R R - R E S T A U R A N T . C O M
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THE VIEW FROM ABIGAIL KIRSCH AT STAGE 6...
STATE-OF-THE-ART BALL ROOM AND ROOF TOP TERRAC E
Stunning views of Manhattan from Abigail Kirsch’s newest venue — where the magic of Hollywood meets the glamour of New York.
On location in the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard at Steiner Studios, the east coast’s newest and largest film and television studios, Stage 6 is
a brand new event space. Create your own script for an extraordinary gala, corporate meeting, product launch or celebration. The expansive
event space features state-of-the-art audio-visual and technical services.
An event at Stage 6 offers easy access, being five minutes from the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges, and features on-site parking.
With Abigail Kirsch and Stage 6, your next event is sure to win rave reviews!
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mech,VHall-BizBash
3/15/06
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Atmosphere grand.
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700,000 daily commuters not shown
Grand Central Events
GrandCentralTerminal.com • (212) 340-2347
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Out.
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New management…new inventory…new ideas…new energy.
From traditional standards to the latest designs, Something Different Party Rental
is your source for creating exceptional events. And when the "out there" gets here,
we’ll have that too – because keeping our customers at the cutting edge of fashion
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1 0 7 - 1 1 7 P e n n s y l v a n i a A v e n u e • P a t e r s o n , N e w J e r s e y 0 7 5 0 3 • 2 1 2 - 7 7 2 - 0 5 1 6 o r 9 7 3 - 74 2 - 1 7 7 9
It’s a great day for something different!
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Volume 5, Issue 6
December 2006
ON THE COVER
The Marie Antoinette premiere party at MoMA, photographed by Dan Hallman for BiZBash. Silk nightclub at the
Pechanga Resort and Casino. Limiteazero’s Laptop Orchestra.
The Whitney Museum of American Art gala, photographed by
Nicole Villamora for BiZBash.
© 2006 BiZBash Media
In This Issue
10 G O A S K A N N A
Fresh ideas for a retro event.
W H AT ’ S F R E S H N O W
15 Spin City
New York’s top 15 DJs.
21 The Latest in Club Lighting
Five nightspots across the country with new
technology and inventive design.
23 T H E F R E S H L I S T
New business entertaining ideas: Steak houses to suit
every palate, MoMA’s outdoor artwork, and three new
cocktail spots.
25 N E W V E N U E G U I D E
The scoop on New York’s newest spaces.
D E S T I N AT I O N R E P O RT
31 Boston’s Latest Locations
A look at Beantown’s waterfront restaurants and
hotels. Plus: meeting spaces under construction.
S P E C I A L R E P O RT
32 Fashion Week’s Best Ideas
The coolest concepts from September’s shows
and parties.
E V E N T R E P O RT S
36 French Champagne Lights Up Lady Liberty
Moët & Chandon celebrated the 120th anniversaries
of both its White Star label and the Statue of Liberty.
38 For Anniversary, Models Bring Guess Ads to Life
The brand celebrated its 25th birthday by staging live
recreations of vintage ads.
39 Donna Karan Fragrance Launch Has Golden Notes
Event organizers crammed her store with gold decor,
scented wrap bracelets, and a hanging installation of
metallic beads.
40 Victoria’s Secret Stages Sorority-Style Keg Party
The brand decked a retail space with wall-to-wall pink
carpet and 10 kegs of Budweiser.
PHOTO: DERRICK ROBERTS
41 Nivea Gets Touchy at Interactive Exhibit
The skin-care brand unveiled a month-long public
exhibit centered on the sense of touch.
43 Design Awards Exhibit Unconventional Materials
Slinkys and sculpted insulation foam took on new
roles in this annual gathering of creative types.
44 Whitney Patrons Line Up for Self-Portraits
High society players were agog over giant photos of
themselves.
A crew from Derrick Roberts Productions hung a wall of plastic squares to divide the main party space at the 10th anniversary of
Fox News. The network’s vice president of media relations, Irena Briganti, hired Save the Date to produce the October 4 event.
E V E N T R E P O RT S
46 Hearst Gala Flaunts Modern New Tower
How the media conglomerate inaugurated its
headquarters.
48 Marie Antoinette Takes on Both Coasts
At screenings in Los Angeles and New York, the period piece brought French accents to the after-parties.
50 Wired Showcases Inspiring Tech Innovations
10 event-worthy products, services, and ideas from the
magazine’s expo.
EVENT INTELLIGENCE
53 To Mail, or to Email?
Six event pros talk about when they use electronic
invites—and when they don’t.
EVENT PLANNERS OF THE YEAR
55 Coffee Talk
Holly Rosenfeld produced a temporary salon with free
performances as a Starbucks brand experience.
56 Cosmetic Changes
Joe Billone has a new seat at Avon’s top management
tier and a mandate to shake up the company’s communications strategies.
59 News Leader
Jeff Earl took News Corp’s top executives and a slate of
high-profile speakers to Pebble Beach for an ambitious
corporate retreat.
THE BIZBASH GUIDE TO:
61 Event and Meeting Planning Firms
The ultimate guide to event coordinators in the New
York metro area.
THE SCOUT
96 The Franco-File
We scoured local rental houses to find these French
decor objects.
BiZBash.com
In Person
NEWS & IDEAS Read our
reports on the latest events,
trends, new venues, industry
gossip, and smart strategies.
Or look for ideas to steal in
our archive of event coverage.
BIZBASH EVENT STYLE
AWARDS A showcase of the
best work in event design,
catering, invitations, lighting,
and more.
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Search through 7,000 vendors
to find everything you need
for events, from venues,
caterers, and designers to DJs,
staffing firms, gifts, rentals,
and more.
March 28, 2007
The Nokia Theater
CALENDAR Use our comprehensive listings to check
dates for conflicts and keep
tabs on the industry.
E-NEWSLETTERS Sign up
to receive our weekly emails
packed with the latest industry
news and ideas.
JOB BOARD Check out the
best place to find talent—or a
new gig for yourself.
SYNDICATION Add BiZBash
content to your RSS, XML, or
My Yahoo! feeds.
OTHER MARKETS Check
out the latest news and ideas
in Florida, Los Angeles, and
Toronto.
bizbash.com/newyork
december 2006
9
11/3/06
10:08 AM
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READERS’ FORUM
Correction
The Perfect Complement
of Technology and Design
In an article about speakers in our August/September issue, we
misspelled the name and email address of Jacqueline Fischetti.
She is the director of the Penguin Speakers Bureau, a division of
the publishing house Penguin Group. You can reach her at
[email protected].
Old School Fun
What are some fun, retro entertainment options?
Finding the newest gadgets or the hottest DJ can
sometimes be an exhausting challenge. This summer,
some events revived a few fads that were playful and
much more engaging
than fiddling with the
latest handheld doodad.
Italian denim label
Replay went old-school
for its spring/summer
fashion show in late
You’ve got questions,
September, bringing in
we’ve got listings editor
members of the Gotham
Anna Sekula to hunt down
Girls Roller Derby
the answers. Send questions
(917.749.9278,
to [email protected].
www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com) to debut its new collection. The allgirl, punk rock–style league can perform, pass out flyers, or play games at events (they even have their
own portable floor if there’s no flat surface available).
Skaters recruited by the Central Park Dance
Skaters Association (212.777.3232, www.cpdsa.org)
can perform
at any corporate event,
and the association’s
booking contact, Lezly
Ziering, also
runs the Lezly
Skate School,
so she can
teach groups
Gotham Girls Roller Derby members
or
organize
Beatrix, Bridget Barhot, and Ariel
Assault modeled Replay’s new collection team compeon roller skates.
titions.
If you don’t have room for (or interest in) roller-skating antics, GrooveHoops (646.649.3422, www.groovehoops.com) can bring its six-person hula-hooping dance
team and provide choreographed performances or
teach a group to hula-hoop. The traveling collective can
also teach guests to make hula-hoops.
Although a
little less athletic,
bowling is still a
fun activity, and
there are some
new alleys in the
city to check out.
In May, Sharon
Joseph and Gail
Richards opened The team from GrooveHoops can
perform in costume at events.
Harlem Lanes
(2116 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., 212.678.2695), a
bilevel, 25,000-square-foot bowling center with private rooms, a sports bar and arcade, and glow-in-thedark bowling. And this summer, Port Authority’s
bowling alley, Leisure Time (625 Eighth Ave., 2nd
Floor, 212.268.6909), got an $8 million makeover—
reopening in October with more lanes, a dance floor,
a club, and a large bar.
Ask
Anna
Event Audio & Video Design
Equipment & System Rentals
Production Management
Engineering & Technical Support
Design, Installation & Maintenance
DJ & Live Entertainment
Custom Music Programs
SINE ~ AUDIO
, inc
SineAudio.com • 212–924–5727
BIZBASH MEDIA
Chad Kaydo, Editor in Chief
[email protected]
Mark Mavrigian, Ideas Editor
[email protected]
Courtney Thompson,
Associate Editor
[email protected]
Anna Sekula, Listings Editor
[email protected]
Ted Kruckel, Editor at Large
[email protected]
Caryl Chinn, Jane L. Levere,
Michele Marchetti,
Erika Rasmusson Janes,
Jenny Sherman, Ellen Sturm Niz
Contributing Editors
Danielle Bufalini, Francine Cohen,
Jeralyn Gerba, Jeff Long,
Chrissi Mark, Sara Neuffer,
Kai Alexis Smith
Contributing Writers
Michael Benedetto,
Patricia Cunningham,
Kelli Rae Patton, Josh Wimmer
Copy Editors
WEST COAST BUREAU
Alesandra Dubin,
Editor/Bureau Chief
[email protected]
Irene Lacher,
Editor at Large
Lesley Balla, Jill Feiwell,
Lizbeth Scordo, Kim Serafin
Contributing Writers
ART & PHOTO
Joey Bouchard, Art Director
[email protected]
Steve Olson, Photo Editor
[email protected]
Francine Daveta, Nadine Froger,
Getty Images, Dan Hallman,
Anna Persson Herbst,
Jeff Thomas/Image Capture,
Nicole Villamora
Contributing Photographers
CONTACT US
Editorial Feedback and Ideas
[email protected]
Event Invitations and Press
Releases [email protected]
Directory Listings
[email protected]
New Subscriptions
www.bizbash.com/subscribe
Subscription Renewals
www.bizbash.com/renew
Reprints
Ashley Rinier, RMS Reprint
Management Services
800.494.9051 ext. 125,
[email protected]
Editorial Offices
21 West 38th St., 13th Floor
New York, New York 10018
phone 646.638.3600
fax 646.638.3601
West Coast Bureau Offices
8436 West Third St., Suite 650
Los Angeles, CA 90048
phone 949.460.0522
Online www.bizbash.com
® 2006 BiZBash is a registered trademark
of BiZBash Media Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction whole or in part without
written permission is strictly prohibited.
BIZBASH MEDIA
David Adler, C.E.O. and Founder
[email protected]
Richard Aaron, President
[email protected]
Jonathan Adler (Chairman),
Richard Aaron, David Adler,
Louis Perlman, Todd Pietri,
William F. Reilly
Board of Directors
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF GROOVEHOOPS, SGP ITALIA (GOTHAM GIRLS)
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BIZBASH MEDIA
Robert Fitzgerald, Vice President
of Sales and Marketing
[email protected]
Daniel Hollandsworth,
Vice President of Operations
[email protected]
Lisa Heissan, Publisher,
National Venue Guide
[email protected]
MARKETING
Sarah Welt, Marketing Manager
[email protected]
EVENTS & PROMOTIONS
Chelsea Zimmer, Marketing Assistant
[email protected]
BiZBash Hosts Luncheons to
Promote the Debut of the
National Venue Guide
BiZBash hosted several intimate receptions to
celebrate and promote its new National Venue
Guide, premiering in January 2007. Luncheons
were held in Washington, D.C., at Susan Davis
International on June 16, in Boston
at the Commandant’s House on
July 26, in Philadelphia at the
National Constitution Center
on August 7, in San Diego
at the Emerald
Hornblower on August
14, in Chicago at Edelman on
August 23, in Las Vegas at Cili Restaurant at
Bali Hai Golf Course on October 4, and again
in Chicago at Edelman on October 19.
Discussions covered a range of topics,
including site management, profitability, and
everyday challenges. To find out if you qualify
for a free National Venue Guide, visit
www.bizbash.com/nvgsubscribe.
Industry Association Leaders
Gather for Presidential Summit
On September 7, 2006, Richard Aaron, chairman
of the Center for Events & Hospitality, along with
Jennifer Claire Scott, president of ISES New York
metro chapter and Russ Ebersole, president of
MPI of Greater New York chapter, gathered the
executive committees of New York event
associations at a luncheon hosted by Comix, to
strategize ways they can partner together to
have a greater impact on this industry and its
memberships.
CIRCULATION
Hamilton Maher,
Director of Circulation and
Audience Development
[email protected]
PRODUCTION
Jackie Lasek, Production Manager
[email protected]
Josianne Purchio,
Customer Service Specialist
[email protected]
At the “Art of the Event Trend Forum” panel, (from left to right) Danette Herman, Judy Levy,
Howard Bragman, Gavin Keilly, Peter Otero, and Barry Guterman, addressed the crowd.
Samantha Newman, Events Intern
BiZBash and Paramount Pictures Host the
First-Ever Trend Forum in Los Angeles
OPERATIONS
Andrew Graziano,
Accounting Manager
[email protected]
Paramount Pictures and BiZBash Media co-hosted BiZBash Media’s first “Art of the Event Trend
Forum” on October 17 at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles. Over 400 corporate and
professional event planners attended the reception, which featured cocktails, hors d’oeuvres,
and a panel discussion that provided a sneak preview of event strategies for 2007. The panel,
entitled “What’s New, What’s Now, What’s Next,” was
moderated by BiZBash Media’s C.E.O. and founder, David
Adler, and BiZBash Los Angeles/Southern California
bureau chief Alice Dubin. The panel featured experts
Howard Bragman, founder of FifteenMinutes.com (PR
strategies), Danette Herman, coordinating producer for
live television specials and events (celebrities), Peter
Otero, partner and design director, Silver Birches Inc.
(event design), Gavin Keilly, founder, GBK Productions (gift
bags), attorney Barry Guterman (tax laws), and Judy Levy,
co-owner, Levy, Pazanti & Associates, (planning and
fundraising strategies) debating topics from the gift bag
controversy to celebrity wrangling, and discussing the
hottest trends in the industry for the coming year. In
addition to Paramount Pictures and BiZBash, the event
was sponsored by Classic Party Rentals, Baileys, Silver
Birches, and Cvent. Guests left with new information to
BiZBash Los Angeles/Southern
help them plan successful events, along with gift bags that California president Elisabeth Familian
contained the recently-published venue issue of BiZBash
kicked off the panel discussion with an
Los Angeles/Southern California.
introduction of the industry experts.
Victoriya Golikov,
Accounting Assistant
What’s Coming Up with BiZBash
Back row: Fred Seidler, VP-Membership, ISES;
Richard Aaron, CSEP, CMP, president, BiZBash; Russ
Ebersole, president, MPI; Middle Row: Jennifer
Quinones, CSEP, VP-Communications, ISES; Jennifer
Claire Scott, president, ISES; Tom Travers, president,
HSMAI; Jessica Boykin, CMP, VP-Finance, MPI; Front
row: Joel Dolci, executive director, NYSAE; Christine
Zahn, chairman, IAEM; Frank Dee, VP-Programs,
HSMAI; Samantha Bowerman, CMP, president,
PCMA; Jeff Fagan, CMP, CASE, president-elect,
PCMA; Mondell Sealy, president-elect, MPI.
EVENTS
Dana Bertotti,
Project and Events Manager
[email protected]
Can’t wait to get started on 2007? Neither can we! We’re ringing in the new year with our
January/February issue featuring the top 100 annual events of 2007. Find out what events you
should be looking out for in the year ahead. Over the past seven years, our coverage of New
York’s top 100 events has become one of our most popular features, and we expect no less
success from our first-ever Los Angeles/Southern California top 100 annual events story in our
first 2007 issue for Southern California.
Our March/April issue focuses on business entertaining. We have found that our readers
are not just planning events but advising on everything from where to close a deal to where to
take the board of directors after the meeting. BiZBash editors check out the dining,
entertainment, and activity scene from an event planner’s point of view. With meetings and
events now going hand-in-hand more than ever before, meeting and event planners are
thrilled to have access to such a valuable resource when looking for ideas about venues,
catering, company retreats, you name it.
Look to these upcoming issues for all the event industry news you need to know for this
year. Let’s let the events of 2007 show the events of 2006 who’s boss.
Make sure that you are a subscriber by visiting www.bizbash.com/subscribe.
Erin Burkett, Office Administrator
[email protected]
Wei Zheng, Senior Developer
[email protected]
BIZBASH NEW YORK
Jacqueline Gould,
Associate Publisher
[email protected]
Lauren Stonecipher,
Advertising Director
[email protected]
Heather Feinstein,
Senior Account Executive
[email protected]
Benjamin Ritacco,
Account Executive
[email protected]
Kate Kelley, Account Executive
[email protected]
BIZBASH LOS ANGELES/
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Elisabeth Familian, President
[email protected]
Bobbi Proctor, Publisher
[email protected]
Nina Steiner,
Associate Sales Executive
[email protected]
Melissa Arnold,
Sales Associate
[email protected]
Neicha Osei,
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
BIZBASH FLORIDA
Ann Keusch
800.327.3726, [email protected]
BIZBASH TORONTO
Kyle Hosick
416.425.6380 ext. 802,
[email protected]
CHICAGO SALES
Susan Babin,
Advertising Sales Representative
773.275.4020
[email protected]
CONTACT US
Publishing Offices
21 West 38th St., 13th Floor
New York, NY 10018
phone 646.638.3600
fax 646.638.3601
Marketing and Advertising
Programs, [email protected]
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Jennifer Elias and Julie Tucker, Founders, SmartsCo
On a wintry night last year, SmartsCo, a publisher of party games, received a
frantic call. A retailer needed stock overnight for a holiday event. So Jen and Julie
packed their cars and hand-delivered it. “Likewise,” says Jen, “when we sorely
needed better cash flow, American Express cared enough to make sure we got it.”
For a complimentary year of service, visit open.com or call 800-NOW-OPEN.
SM
For the Business Gold Rewards Card, the annual fee of $125 for the Basic Card is waived for the first year of your membership. The annual fee of $45 per additional Card is waived for up to nine (9) cards added during the first year of your Cardmembership.
Visit open.com for complete terms and conditions. ©2006 American Express Company.
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Page 15
What’s Fresh Now
T H E L AT E S T E V E N T T R E N D S A N D I D E A S
Spin City
Meet the top 15 DJs providing soundtracks for nightlife
spots around New York. Some are famous (or semi), some
aren’t—all are worth a listen. By Jeralyn Gerba, Photos by Francine Daveta
DJ CAT The party prowess of Catherine Wentworth secured her residency at nightlife impresario Amy Sacco’s
Lot 61 and Bungalow 8, along with performances for Vanity Fair soirees, Rebecca Taylor fashion shows, and
East Village hideaways. Clients include Robert De Niro and Marc Jacobs, for whom she spins rock, electro, hiphop, 80’s, breaks, and techno on a mission to make the crowd dance. (646.234.1578, www.djcatnyc.com)
JAMES F!@#$%^ FRIEDMAN Music journalist, consultant, and
so-called “Head of Cultural Insights” at a New York ad agency,
Friedman delivers his spin on the electronic music scene (Detroit
techno, house, acid-tinged techno), plus punk-funk, soul, and dirty
rock at parties as far reaching as the Mode Museum in Antwerp,
Belgium, to the Virgin Festival in Baltimore. Gigs range from $250
to $1,500. (www.defendmusic.com/gocommando.php, or contact
Lori Riegler at [email protected])
ANDREW ANDREW This twinned-out DJ-ing duo revolutionized the party scene when they set up
their iPods at club APT and allowed guests to take a turn mixing music for the crowd. Their weekly
iParty signaled the democratization of spinning, and since then the pair have become iconic in the
downtown (Apple-driven) scene—not only for their coordinated outfits and entertaining branding
identity—but for their eclectic, esoteric mix of downloadable music, which they reveal weekly on
their eastvillageradio.com show, Sound Sound. (www.andrewandrew.com,
[email protected])
QUEEN MAJESTY Brooklyn–based Erica Diehl has spent the last
six years perfecting her collection of deep-digging Jamaican music
and dancehall, which she showcases at her monthly event with
Deadly Dragon Sound System and veteran reggae luminaries like
Johnny Osbourne and Wayne “Sleng Teng” Smith. Queen Majesty
has been featured in Italian Vogue and Re:Up magazine and has
worked parties for Puma and Puerto Rico’s Candelafest. Gigs start at
$500. (www.queenmajesty.com, [email protected])
JUSTINE D The inimitable Justine D (for Delaney) has spent the
greater part of the 21st century tag teaming with DJ-party partners
for her Motherfucker party—which has built a reputation for bringing together rowdy, diverse, glam-filled crowds on holiday weekends. Other turntable gigs include Diesel, Ralph Lauren, Gen Art,
and various parties that capture the high/low 21st-century scene.
Her preferences include rock (new and old), soul, disco, house, and
electronica. Gigs start at $1,000. ([email protected])
bizbash.com/newyork
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P 15-17 WFN_DJs.jb.final.qxp
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What’s Fresh Now
WOWCH Max Cattaneo, the man behind the downtown clothing label of the same name, drops hits at haunts like Happy Ending, Motor City,
Tribeca Grand, and Avalon, and he has provided soundtracks for the film premiere of Coffee & Cigarettes, promotional parties (clients include
Nokia, Surface, Vice), trade shows, Fashion Week events, and on his weekly eastvillageradio.com show. His tastes range from oldies, metal,
classic rock, Motown, northern soul, and funk, to new wave, and he says prices are flexible. (www.wowch.com, [email protected])
JUSTIN CARTER With one foot planted in the history of jazz, funk,
and reggae, and another in the future of hip-hop and electronic
music, Carter spins for hipsters and suits at warehouse parties as well
as SoHo lounges. As a member of the East Village record label and
club Nublu, he’s turned vinyl with the Brazilian Girls, Q-Tip, and Ursula
1000, played personal DJ for the Gorillaz, and lined up performances
for Saatchi and Saatchi, Flavorpill, the Getty Museum, and Res magazine. Gigs start at $1,000. (646.346.9873, [email protected])
16
bizbash.com/newyork
december 2006
DJ SHAKEY Julie Covello has been on the New York scene for
the last 16 years as one of the city’s underground turntable
queens, presenting her eclectic music collection (dance, rock,
oldies, swing, Latin, hip hop, country, jazz, rarities) to the wellheeled and the down and dirty. As a music consultant for runway
shows, designer retail stores, and parties, Shakey updates her
impressive resume of corporate events and Brooklyn warehouse
parties. Gigs range from $1,500 to $2,500. (www.djshakey.com)
DJ LINDSEY As part of New York’s legendary Negroclash
crew, Lindsey Caldwell spins electronic funk music monthly at
APT and lends vocal talents to artists and producers like Rich
Medina, Prince Language, and the Rapture. She balances spinning with working at music marketing and public relations firm
Girlie Action. Her expertise lies in soul, classics, ‘80s pop, classic
electro, underground hip-hop, and R&B. Gigs range from $750
to $1,500, depending on the length of time and the location.
(www.djlindsey.com, [email protected])
SMALL CHANGE Over the past 15 years, Jim Dier has become
intrinsically linked to the underground nightlife scene with his eclectic dance sets, mod outfitting, and hard-hitting late-night gigs. The
veteran New York DJ and music addict has an incredibly extensive
collection of records (over 30,000) and a knack for creating unique
play lists for events from Los Angeles to Berlin to Australia. Gigs
range from $1,500 without equipment to $2,500 with, depending
on the setup. (www.djsmallchange.com)
P 15-17 WFN_DJs.jb.final.qxp
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ULTRAGRRRL Music blogger and downtown DJ Sarah Lewitinn
made her name as a music scout, editor, and tastemaker in the
indie-rock scene, and now heads her own record label, Stolen
Transmission. She’s mostly seen and heard at industry parties for the
rocker set, championing new bands. In her book, Pocket DJ, she set
up play lists for every occasion, from proms to first dates to pool
parties. ([email protected])
DJ MONI Monica Pineda scores theater productions, hosts a radio
show, and teaches after-school arts programs, and she still has time
to spin a serious mix of bass-heavy electro, hip-hop, and Caribbean
and African rhythms for the likes of Central Park SummerStage,
Dwell magazine, and Sephora. She was selected to tour nationally
with critically acclaimed hip-hop theater show Flow, in which she
mixed to great reviews in The Washington Post and The Los Angeles
Times. (www.djmoni.com, [email protected])
BEN BUTLER His residency at the lounges inside the SoHo Grand
and Tribeca Grand hotels led the way for Butler to produce, mix,
and edit the compilation CD Downtown Downtempo. Butler’s soulful and sophisticated sounds have kept him active in New York’s
design, museum, and fashion scene, including gigs for Deitch
Projects, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Gen Art, and
special events at the Guggenheim Museum. ([email protected])
DUANE HARRIOTT When he’s not imparting his musical wisdom to enthusiasts at downtown hipster store Other Music,
Harriott discloses electronic R&B, 80’s and early 90’s hip-hop to
dance-loving crowds all over New York (APT, Joe’s Pub, P.S.1) on
his own and as part of the Negroclash triumvirate, where he principally spins hooks and hops for his body-shaking crowd.
(917.553.0632, [email protected])
THE MISSHAPES The New York nightlife collective known as the MisShapes (Greg Krelenstein, left, Leigh Lezark, and Geordon Nicol)—
and their die-hard downtown scenester party—catapulted into the cult celebrity spinning status when they lent their turntables to surprise
guests like Madonna, Yoko Ono, Amy Sedaris, and Jessica Simpson. Their devoted following and impressive roster of collaborators has
secured them a string of corporate gigs, as well as a serious amount of press, from People to Italian Vogue. (www.dgimanagement.com)
bizbash.com/newyork
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17
P 18-19 WFN.final
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What’s Fresh Now
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I N S P I R AT I O N
Heavy Metal
It’s making a comeback in fashion
and interior design, and now you
can check out the real thing:
Golden objects and specimens
shine at the American Museum of
Natural History’s “Gold” exhibiTiffany & Company commissioned Paloma
tion, which brings together prePicasso to create this brooch in 1988.
Columbian jewelry, the first gold
coins (minted in what is now Turkey), rare crystallized gold, shimmering gold bars,
nuggets, textiles—even such modern-day examples as best-selling gold records,
Academy Award statuettes, and Olympic medals. The show delves into the metal’s
cultural and geological history; highlights include a specially designed 12- by 12-foot
room with eight-foot-high panels, gilded entirely with three ounces of gold—its walls
and ceiling covered in 300 square feet of the rich yellow stuff. The show runs through
August 19. (Central Park West at 79th St., group tours: 212.313.7011,
www.amnh.org) —Mark Mavrigian
D I S C O V E RY T E C H N O L O G Y
Get Out the Message
To lure an audience to an event, Adwalker (212.764.6060, www.adwalker.com)
offers a personal, yet high-tech approach with human billboards. “Adwalkers”
wear Internet-enabled computers with touch screens and portable printers that
allow them to display a marketing message
across their chests and engage with interested consumers by playing interactive games,
gathering contact information, and printing
coupons and invitations. Daimler-Chrysler
used this one-on-one advertising style to
promote its Dodge Nitro automobile at the
Men’s Health Urbanathlon in October.
Matt Fine, Adwalker’s regional C.E.O.,
describes this approach as a “turbo-charged
version of a street team.” Rental prices vary,
but each unit costs around a few hundred
dollars per day. —Helen Matatov
TREND SPOTTED
The pretty decorations have popped up at brand
promotions and big-league benefits.
For the New York City Opera’s fall gala, David Stark
suspended 5,000 streamers (cut from 15,000 yards of
ribbon) over dinner tables from rope that stretched
from the second-tier balconies of the New York State
Theater’s Grand Promenade. The opera’s director of
special events, Sarah Denton, said she “wanted to
give [the event] a glamorous, starry feel.”
"REAKFAST,UNCHEONS$INNER%VENTS
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At Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer’s “Strength and
Beauty” photography exhibition opening, a13foot-high wall of grosgrain ribbons separated the
entry space of the Waterfront from the next part
of the event. XA, the Experiential Agency
designed and built the wall, which guests passed
through as they made their way from the check-in
and the red carpet areas.
Featured amid the numerous touchable items
Nivea set up inside a temporary interactive exhibit
was a display of approximately 100 raw silk strips
five inches wide and six feet long. Blue Sky
Communications planned the event and conceived
the ribbon wall, which was installed by 13 Designs.
As part of the tour of tactile experiences, those
checking out the promotional venue could walk
through the four-foot-deep fabric installation.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY/© TIFFANY & COMPANY ARCHIVES
Ribbons
P 18-19 WFN.final
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FreshFace
Designer on the Rise
WHAT SHE DOES Angela
Giannopoulos is the president and
founder of SC3 Group, a design and pro-
duction firm that she started in 2002. She
lists such influential clients as Estée
Lauder and Tishman Speyer. This year she has taken on a
number of high profile events: a party to celebrate Blondie’s
induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the
Watermill Center’s always artful summer benefit (“working
with Robert Wilson was a big feather in my cap,” she says
of the center’s creator), and two launches for the new Donna
Karan Gold fragrance. This fall Giannopoulos has also
debuted a subsidiary business: Studio 3, which rents custom-built furniture and accessories.
HER BACKGROUND After studying business,
Giannopoulos decided “it just wasn’t my bag” and applied
for a summer job at Barneys New York. That turned into
a six-year stint at the department store, where she worked
with Simon Doonan as part of a team that created windows and store displays, and helped launch the Madison
Avenue store as well as locations in Beverly Hills and
Chicago. (“To this day, when I see Simon I say, ‘It’s
because of you that I’m where I am today.’ And it’s true.”)
After Barneys she worked briefly for her father’s firm,
Irene’s Florals, before starting SC3 Group.
HER STYLE “I don’t like when someone tries to manipu-
late something that is pure and make it something else. I
focus on the purity of the idea, not getting too kitschy, not
getting too campy—just focusing on where the idea originated. I guess that’s why my events are so clean and why
there aren’t a lot of bells and whistles.” —M.M.
Event
Calendar
DECEMBER 12 NYC &
Company Foundation’s
Leadership in Tourism award
dinner at Gotham Hall
DECEMBER 15 Hospitality
Committee for United
Nations Delegations’
Ambassadors’ ball at
Cipriani 42nd Street
JANUARY 19 TO 21
International Motorcycle
Show at the Javits Center
JANUARY 19 TO 28
Winter Antiques Show at the
Seventh Regiment Armory
JANUARY 29 Hospitality
Sales & Marketing
Association International’s
Adrian awards at the
Marriott Marquis
FEBRUARY 6 New York
Botanical Garden’s Orchid
Dinner at the Rainbow Room
FEBRUARY 8 Museum of
Television & Radio’s gala at
the Waldorf-Astoria
FEBRUARY 11 TO 14
Toy Industry Association’s
Toy Fair at the Javits Center
FEBRUARY 12 TO 13
Westminster Kennel Club
Dog Show at Madison
Square Garden
FEBRUARY 22 TO 26
Art Dealers Association of
America’s Art Show at the
Seventh Regiment Armory
FEBRUARY 22 New-York
Historical Society’s Young
Friends’ “El Morocco
Glamour” benefit
FEBRUARY 23 TO 26
The Armory Show at the
Show Piers on the Hudson,
Piers 90 and 92
Giannopoulos designed a brunch
for the Dalai Lama in September.
D I S C O V E RYA C T I V I T Y
Make Arrangements
Nature lovers, the green thumb-challenged, and budding
florists alike can learn the art of floral arrangment in a
low-key group setting with Floral Therapy
(917.208.2928, www.irisrosin.com). The new division of
Iris Rosin’s eponymous, four-yearold floral and visual design
company now offers
classes for corporate
clients ranging from
45 to 90 minutes.
Participants try
their own hands at
replicating arrangements
and take home their creations.
—Erika Rasmusson Janes
FEBRUARY 24 TO 26
Diffa’s Dining by Design display at the Waterfront
FEBRUARY 26
Broadcasters’ Foundation’s
Golden Mike award at the
Waldorf-Astoria
MARCH 1 Frick Collection’s
Young Fellows winter ball
MARCH 20 Advertising
Hall of Fame luncheon at
the Waldorf-Astoria
MARCH 22 TO 25
International Vision Expo
East conference and trade
show at the Javits Center
To check dates for
conflicts and keep
tabs on the industry,
watch our complete
calendar listings at
BiZBash.com
020
11/3/06
12:47 PM
Page 20
Party at Havana Central
or We Can Bring Havana to You
CUBAN/LATIN CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS…
From small lunches to large events
Contact Our Catering Department 212 398-7447
Office Parties / Business Meetings / Movie Premiers / Product Launches
that'sjustthebeginning
Three Convenient Locations
TIMES SQUARE / UNION SQUARE / UPPER WEST SIDE
212 398-7447
e-mail: [email protected] / www.havanacentral.com
Let there be light
and sound and video.
: audio
Whether you are looking to dazzle the ears, mind or eyes,
we have the lastest equipment on hand and the expertise to
make it work for you.
We have it all: an expanding inventory, the latest tools and smart people
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: video
Call us at 212.582.2345 for our expertise and equipment.
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212.582.2345 tel • scharffweisberg.com
: lighting
P 21 WFN_Lighting.final
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What’s Fresh Now
The Latest in Club Lighting
These five nightspots in cities across the country use new technology and inventive design to create innovative environments.
By Chrissi Mark
A Wet Effect in the Desert
The 8,500-square-foot lounge E4 in Scottsdale, Arizona (4282 North Drinkwater,
480.970.3325, www.e4-az.com), has four element-theme environments. Aside from the
backlit murals in the Earth, Air, and Fire rooms, E4’s lighting gems are four 12-foot
Aquallusion columns—acrylic columns that use airflow technology to create the look of
water flowing inside each dry pillar—in the coolly decorated Liquid Room. Dave
McKnight, president of Orlando, California-based Design Concepts, created the pieces.
“They’re basically all installed around the dance floor and function as light and motion,”
McKnight says. “It looks like there are bubbles flowing.” The DJ booth includes controls
to alter the speed, direction, and color of the light to fit the music and crowd.
Telling Clubbers Where to Go
Filled with what look like bubbles of light, Diva Lounge (248 Elm St., 617.629.4963)
stands out from its college-bar-filled neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts, near
Boston. “It’s all one big room,” says the venue’s designer, Studio Luz Architects president
Anthony Piermarini. “[We tried] to make smaller spaces through color and lighting effects,
to make another world of this one long space.” The dawn-hued, three-dimensional lighting
appears otherworldly indeed. Piermarini covered Diva’s ceilings and walls with skylight
replacement pieces, and illuminated them with LEDs to create a warm cloudike glow.
PHOTOS: JOHN HORNER (DIVA LOUNGE), THEO
WARGO/WIREIMAGE (MUR.MUR), BRUCE TALBOT (LIQUID)
Cracked in a Good Way
Vegas Va-Va-Voom
Las Vegas is the epicenter of over-the-top hot spots, and
when the nightclub management team Light Group
created Jet at the Mirage (3400 South Las Vegas Blvd.,
702.792.7900, www.jetlv.com), the venue got an
impressive, sky-high light design that’s no exception to
the rule. Light panels top the dance floor in the swanky
interior designed by Jeffery Beers. Installed by John
Lyons of Avalon Sound and the Avalon nightclubs,
these squares of light are set flush against the 15-foot
ceiling and can change color patterns to fit the mood.
And because of the density of the panels’ pixels, they
can also display video or signage for events.
Chandeliers and candelabras continue to deck
nightlife venues, but new technologies often inspire
new interpretations of such seasoned centerpieces. At
Silk (45000 Pechanga Pkwy., 951.770.2474,
www.silkatpechanga.com), the Pechanga Resort and
Casino’s 28,000-square-foot nightclub in Temecula,
California, LED lighting plays an integral role
throughout, while a fiber-optic chandelier takes center
stage. Crafted in an inverted-pyramid shape, the chandelier has 4,000 strands of responsive cracked-fiber
cable. “It’s like fiber-optic cable, except the cable is
exposed,” says Peter Maradudin, former chief lighting designer of Visual Terrain, who headed the project. “It’s been cracked along its length, so it emits
light out the side. It will do color changing through
different parts of the chandelier, so it’s quite sinuous.
Just the size is awesome: It’s like a giant jellyfish.”
Fancy on the Ceiling
The Borgata hotel and casino’s nightspot Mur.mur
(1 Borgata Way, 609.317.7249, www.borgatanightlife.com)
opened this July in Atlantic City with long lines of plush
banquettes and fine finishes. But the 300-capacity venue’s
most striking aesthetic are the scores of light orbs that
float along the ceiling. To create the effect, SJ Lighting
president Stephen Lieberman, the lighting designer
behind Tao in Las Vegas, Crobar in New York, and
Nocturnal in Miami, used 54 of Pulsar’s
ChromaSpheres—orbs of glowing LEDs that can be programmed to run through the color spectrum and pulse in
time with the music—in two sizes. “When I looked at the
space, the place looked really flat and plain, with no texture to it,” he says. “So I made a pretty bold statement by
putting all of these ChromaSpheres out on the ceiling.”
bizbash.com/newyork
december 2006
21
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Central Park Zoo | City Center | Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum | Liberty Science Center |
Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Kaplan Penthouse, New York State Theater, Metropolitan Opera House, The Tent at Lincoln Center |
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | The Morgan Library & Museum | The New York Academy of Sciences
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P 23 FreshList.final
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10:22 AM
Page 23
The Fresh List
T H E L AT E S T O P T I O N S F O R B U S I N E S S E N T E R TA I N I N G
By Mark Mavrigian
BITES
JUST DESSERTS It’s hard to escape the explosion of
edible Japanese offerings, and the intimate Kyotofu in
Hell’s Kitchen (expected to open in November) is part
take-out joint, part dessert shop. Designed by architect
Kyotofu’s green tea tofu brownie
Hiro Tsuruta (of Jewel Bako and Momofuku), the
800-square-foot space has 15 seats located within a cocoonlike area in the back of the
establishment and a take-out area up front. There are a variety of sweet treats available,
like poached pear tartlets, Japanese cookies dipped in green tea chocolate, vanilla-rich
sticky rice pudding, and citrus-flavored tofu cheesecake. Catering and gift baskets are
available. (705 Ninth Ave., 212.974.6012)
INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH The dessert chef
from Spice Market and 66, Pichet Ong, is striking out
P*ong’s drinkable desserts
on his own with an intimate spot in the West Village
called P*ong, scheduled to open in late November. The
menu has sweet and savory items—and some selections
that meld the two. Yvan Lemoine designed the imaginative cocktail menu. (150 West 10th St., 212.929.0898)
FROM ACROSS THE POND Brit superstar chef Gordon Ramsay has made the leap
to the States with a new restaurant situated in the London NYC hotel (the revamped
Rihga Royal). Gordon Ramsay at the London serves an interpretation of modern
French cuisine and is done up in shades of emerald green, adorned with decorative
wood panels; the space seats 45. A more casual section—the London Bar—features a
menu of small plates, patchwork leather furniture in shades of blue and green, and seats
for 70. Within the kitchen is a private chef’s table for eight, and there are three private
dining rooms, which hold 20, 50, and 80. (151 West 54th St., Gordon Ramsay at the
London: 212.468.8888; London Bar: 212.468.8889)
PHOTOS: FRANCES JANISCH (PORTER HOUSE NEW YORK), JOAN MARCUS ( THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED ), © FREDERICK CHARLES/COURTESY CREATIVE TIME (AITKEN)
N E W TA K E S O N S T E A K
Porter House New York
Doug Aitken’s projections at MoMA
C U LT U R E
ART ON THE WALLS The folks at Creative Time have partnered with the Museum of
Modern Art to present new, site-specific work from contemporary artist Doug Aitken—but
you don’t need to head into the galleries for this exhibit. MoMA will be projecting a film by
Aitken—shot last summer and early fall with artsy heavyweight talent, like actress Tilda
Swinton and musician Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power)—on seven of its outside walls every
evening from 5 PM to 10 PM from January 16 to February 12. Do you need a better excuse to
grab a drink or dinner at the Modern? (www.creativetime.org; MoMA: 11 West 53rd St., tours
212.708.9685, www.moma.org; the Modern: 9 West 53rd St., 212.333.1220)
SHOW
THE DIGNIFIED ONE Michael Lomonaco, the former chef at Windows on the
World, is at the helm of Porter House New York, the new steak house in the Time
Warner Center. Jeffrey Beers gave the 140-seat space that once housed V
Steakhouse a more casual, elegant air, with wooden floors, exposed ceiling beams,
and leather banquettes and armchairs. In addition to the selection of aged prime
beef, there’s also a large selection of seafood, including lobster, salmon, tuna, walleye, and trout. There’s also a private dining room with 50 seats that may be divided
into two spaces. (10 Columbus Circle, 4th Floor, 212.823.9500)
THE FASHIONABLE ONE Appropriately situated in the meatpacking district, STK
is a sleek new steak house with modern decor from the Icrave Design Studio. The
menu has a variety of cuts and sizes of steaks and lamb and chicken entrees, as well
as seafood options like skate, lobster, or wild striped bass. Accented with cream-colored leather banquettes, the main space seats 200. There are also four private dining
rooms on an upper level—two seat 20, another seats 40, and the largest seats 70.
(26 Little West 12th St., 646.624.2444)
THE ONE WITH TEXAS CHARM Chef Tim Love’s new Lonesome Dove Western
Bistro—the sister establishment of his Fort Worth restaurant—has a western-influenced
menu with items such as roasted garlic stuffed beef tenderloin and grilled New Zealand
red deer chop (which comes with truffled macaroni and cheese, no less). The cozy space
seats 56; a private dining room holds 30. (29 West 21st St., 212.414.3139)
Julie White
THE ROAD TO STARDOM An Off-Broadway hit last winter,
Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed has come to the
Great White Way; performances began in October at the Cort
Theatre. The comedy about the price of fame revolves around four
characters: a determined Hollywood agent (played by Julie White,
who won an Obie last year for the role), a gay-but-closeted film
star on the rise (Tom Everett Scott of TNT’s Saved), a male prostitute (Johnny Galecki of Roseanne), and his naive girlfriend (Ari
Graynor). (138 West 48th St.; 212.239.6200, Telecharge.com;
group sales: Broadway Inbound, 212.302.0995)
DRINKS
IMBIBE IN STYLE On the ground floor of Ian Schrager’s newly refashioned Gramercy
Park Hotel, you’ll find two stylish bars. Artist Julian Schnabel (who oversaw the renova-
tions) has left his mark on both—with his “Blue Japanese Painting No. 3” hung on one of
the Jade Bar’s namesake green walls. The bar also has green and black Moroccan tiles,
rich blue velvet seats, and Venetian mirrored sconces. The neighboring Rose Bar includes
custom furniture from Schnabel, a walnut bar, and rustic-textured rose walls. (2 Lexington
Ave., 212.920.3300)
TOAST A BYGONE ERA Slated to open this month or in January, the Volstead takes on
tones of the age of Prohibition and the speakeasy. (The lounge’s name comes from the act
that outlawed booze.) Heavy with mahogany and other dark woods, low tables, and
ottomans, the space will be both lounge and restaurant, with a menu of small plates to
share, as well as some salads and entrees. The Volstead will serve lunch and dinner and be
open late into the night; the entire space will hold 350 for receptions. (125 East 54th St., call
sister establishment PS450 for information: 212.532.7474)
bizbash.com/newyork
december 2006
23
New Page Grid
8/24/06
3:41 PM
Page C1
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P 25-29 NVG.final
11/3/06
10:23 AM
Page 25
New Venue Guide
The scoop on New York’s newest spaces—where they are,
when they open, and what to expect.
A Sleek Take on Comedy
Comix, the new 14,000-square-foot comedy club just east of Ninth Avenue, opened
in late September. The spacious venue has a more modern design than the typical
comedy club, with glass and copper accents, marble floors, and a muted color
scheme of cream and brown. Within the venue are a 5,000-square-foot, 320-seat
flexible showroom with an expandable stage, two separate bars, and a 2,000square-foot kitchen (Katy Sparks of Great Performances is overseeing the menu).
SIA Acoustics worked closely with the club to design a fully integrated sound system, and the venue also comes equipped with Wi-Fi multimedia and video capabilities. The entire space holds 700 for receptions. (353 West 14th St., 212.524.2500)
A Modern Makeover in the Bronx
In early October 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
firm responsible for Miami’s American Airlines Arena and Times Square’s Westin Hotel), the
new 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 outdoor terrace. (1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, 718.681.6000)
PHOTOS: MARTHA COOPER (BRONX MUSEUM), SAURABH WAHI (COMIX), COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK TIMES (TIMES CENTER RENDERING).
Audi’s Midtown Showroom
In October, the U.S. division of Audi opened the
Audi Forum, what the auto manufacturer calls its
first “brand experience center.” But you can call the
6,400-square-foot space a showroom for the company’s cars—or a venue for your own event. The cars
and Audi signage can be removed, and the space is
outfitted with advanced technology, including a large,
moving LED panel that can display high-definition
images, individually controlled speaker systems,
three 63-inch plasma screens, and videoconferencing
capabilities. The L-shaped main floor holds 150, and
there’s also a 10-seat meeting room and an elevated
lounge furnished with low white sofas. (250 Park
Ave., 212.370.2835)
Science Academy
Takes Raw Space
Originally in a private residence on the
Upper East Side, the New York Academy of
Sciences moved to the 40th floor of a 52story office tower in the financial district in
late September. The space has facilities available for outside meetings and events. The
venue offers a lobby that seats 140 banquetstyle or holds 280 for receptions, a boardroom that seats 100 theater-style or holds 95
for receptions, a 300-seat auditorium, and a
conference room that seats 50 classroomstyle or holds 80 for receptions. (250
Greenwich St., 40th Floor, 212.298.8600)
Venues of the Times
The Times Center—part of the new Renzo
Piano-designed New York Times headquarters—is scheduled to open in September
2007. The venue will host Times events as
well as open its two separate spaces for
trade shows, concerts, screenings, and other
corporate functions. A 378-seat auditorium
with a 40- by 10-foot stage, wireless Internet
access, and production facilities will be a
floor above a hall with 4,958 square feet of
space and room for 400 seated or 700 for
receptions. (West 41st St. between Seventh
and Eighth Aves., 212.556.4300)
Edited by Anna Sekula
Venue Buzz
Harold Dieterle, the first
winner of Bravo’s reality series
Top Chef, is planning to open
his first restaurant, Perilla, in
New York this winter.
The Pond at Bryant
Park—a temporary skating
rink over the central lawn—
reopened in October. This
year the outdoor venue offers
an expanded café space and
will be open though January
17. It’s available for events on
Tuesday nights.
bizbash.com/newyork
december 2006
25
Planning Your Next World Class Event?
United Nations
www.aramark-un.com
Ellis Island
Elevated Acre
www.ellisisland.com
www.elevatedacre.com
Contact Patti Golden at 212.963.7099 • [email protected]
Photos courtesy of Kevin J. McCormick Photography. www.kevinjmccormick.com
The Reuters Building
www.3xsq.com
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New Venue Guide
ACTIVITY VENUES
AMSTERDAM BILLIARDS & BAR
This winter, Amsterdam will move from the Upper West Side
to the downtown space formerly occupied by Corner
Billiards. The club plans to remodel its new home, a 10,000square-foot venue, but retain the 30-foot-long zinc bar
added in 2003. (110 East 11th St., 212.496.8180)
AVIATOR SPORTS AND RECREATION
New in September, this Brooklyn sports complex opened in
an 800-acre decommissioned airport. The venue has
170,000 square feet of interior space housed in four adjacent
refurbished aircraft hangars, including basketball courts, volleyball courts, a gymnastics and dance center, two ice rinks,
and a climbing wall. Also available are two outdoor fields. All
facilities are available for private booking; the space holds as
many as 1,500 for receptions, or 1,000 seated. (Floyd
Bennett Field, Hangar 5, Brooklyn, 718.785.0554)
INTERNATIONAL CULINARY CENTER
In October, this center opened as the home of the French
Culinary Institute and the Italian Culinary Academy. The new
72,000-square-foot facility added four new kitchens to the
existing space (previously FCI’s school), plus a brick-lined,
custom pizza oven and an adjacent private dining area. (462
Broadway, 646.254.7596)
BARS
GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL PRIVATE ROOF CLUB
Scheduled to open at the end of this year, the rooftop space
at the Gramercy Park Hotel will be a private club accessible
to members and guests of the hotel. Plans for the venue
include a landscaped garden, indoor and outdoor dining,
gas- and woodburning fireplaces, and room for as many as
200 guests. (2 Lexington Ave., 212.475.4320)
R BAR
Formerly the Pioneer Bar, this 3,000-square-foot Bowery
venue reopened in September. The new incarnation 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. (218 Bowery, 212.334.0484)
TENJUNE
This new meatpacking district lounge debuted in
September. Located below the new steakhouse STK, the
subterranean venue 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)
TONIC EAST
The owners of Times Square’s Tonic and the Met Lounge
opened this new trilevel bar and club in June. The Murray Hill
location’s three floors offer marble-top bars, wooden furnishings, padded leather sofas, private booths, 25 large TVs, 11
plasma-screen TVs, and a smoker-friendly rooftop. Tonic East
seats 200. (411 Third Ave., 212.683.7090)
205 CLUB
This 3,500-square-foot, bilevel Lower East Side lounge
opened in late September. The first floor, modeled after
Andy Warhol’s Factory, features mismatched mod furniture, a
tin ceiling, and brick walls painted silver. Text from a selection
of Craigslist ads is painted on the walls downstairs. 205 also
has a 12- by 6-foot stage, in-house catering, and capacity for
354 people. (205 Chrystie St., 212.477.6688)
VENUE
In early November, this club reopened in the former Club
Deep space. Venue’s main area combines a red palette with
mahogany accents in a room that has two bars, a dance floor,
and tiled columns. The mezzanine offers an ivory and gold
color scheme, while the lower level is done up in blue and silver. The entire space holds 1,200. (16 West 22nd St.,
212.727.7774)
PHOTO: DAVID SUNDBERG/ESTO (DIKER PAVILION).
ENTERTAINMENT
& PERFORMANCE SPACES
THE BOX
Opened in October, the Box is a new 5,000-square-foot, 200seat dinner theater and club in a 1935 two-story former sign
factory on the Lower East Side from Simon Hammerstein
(grandson of Oscar II), Richard Kimmel, and Randy Weiner. In
the kitchen is Richard Farnabe, previously the executive chef
at Montrachet. (189 Chrystie St., 212.982.9301)
CEDAR LAKE CENTER
This is the home of contemporary dance company Cedar
Lake. The venue is comprised of two landmark buildings in
west Chelsea and offers a 6,690-square-foot column-free
space with a vaulted ceiling and a 3,940-square-foot studio
for events. The center has full audiovisual capabilities and
holds as many as 500. (547 West 26th St., 212.244.0015)
FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
As part of the three-phase redevelopment plan for Lincoln
Center, the Film Society will acquire a new facility on West
65th Street. The Rockwell Group will design the space. Plans
include two screening rooms (one with 90 seats, the other
with 160), a public amphitheater wired with an Internet connection, a café, and a reception space. The entire redevelopment is scheduled to finish in 2009. (212.875.5610)
NEW DANCE GROUP
In August, the New Dance Group moved to a new 21,000square-foot studio location, double the size of its first.
Designed by architect Howard Spivak, the bilevel space has
11 studios, a recording studio, hi-tech sound systems, an art
exhibition gallery, and two performance spaces, each with
raked seating for 100. (305 West 38th St., 212.904.1990)
Downtown Museum
Expands With New Space
The Diker Pavilion’s elliptical space has 10 large
exhibit cases built into the perimeter walls.
The National Museum of the American Indian—the
seven-story Smithsonian Institution housed in the
historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House—
increased its public space with the addition of the
new Diker Pavilion for Native Arts and Cultures.
The 6,000-square-foot art and performance space on
the museum’s ground floor opened to the public in
late September with sprung white maple flooring, a
60-foot-long, 15-foot-high curved wall of translucent
glass, and cherrywood-paneled walls. The elliptical
pavilion holds 280 for seated events or 500 for receptions. (1 Bowling Green, 212.514.3820)
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New Venue Guide
HOTELS
HOTEL MELA
In October, the first property from Desires Hotels (the boutique division of Miami-based Tecton Hospitality) opened in
the theater district. The design for the 235-room Hotel Mela
combines contemporary decor with more classic architectural details and will feature New York-theme artwork. The hotel
is scheduled to open its still-unnamed restaurant in early
2007. (120 West 44th St., 800.452.6352)
SANCTUARY
Originally Portland Square Hotel, this Times Square property has a new owner, Hank Freid, who plans to reopen it as a
115-room boutique hotel in late 2007. Renovations are
scheduled for January—although Portland Square will operate during the construction—and will include a new look for
rooms, the lobby, and in-house dining spaces, courtesy of
nightlife design firm Icrave. (132 West 47th St., for more
information call 212.843.8282)
TRUMP SOHO HOTEL CONDOMINIUM NEW YORK
This joint venture between the Trump Organization, the
Bayrock Group, and the Sapir Organization is a 45-story, 413room property designed by Handel Architects (the firm
behind Battery Park’s Ritz-Carlton and Pier 94) and the
Rockwell Group. Among the plans for the development are
a restaurant, a bilevel lobby lounge, a library, banquet and
meeting facilities, and an outdoor swimming pool and sundeck. Ground-breaking is slated for late fall. (246 Spring St.,
for more information call 212.843.8053)
INDEPENDENT EVENT SPACES
ATRIUM AT TRUMP TOWER
Inside Trump Tower, this space is now available for outside
events. The atrium has marble flooring, a 60-foot waterfall
wall, and room for 300 for receptions or 60 seated. Catering
and staffing are provided by the Trump Tower Grill, and LVR
is the exclusive provider of audiovisual equipment. (725 Fifth
Ave., 212.715.7290)
SILVERCUP WEST
Silvercup Studios, the Queens movie and television studio, is
planning to build a new complex on a six-acre section of
Long Island City’s waterfront. Called Silvercup West, the $1
billion development will include eight soundstages, 100,000
square feet for a cultural institution, and a 40,000-square-foot
catering hall and rooftop space for corporate and private
events. (Long Island City, for more information call Silvercup
Studios, 718.906.2000)
STAGE 6 AT STEINER STUDIOS
The working film studios are open at this giant new facility in
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but this event space will not be available until December. The 500-seat ballroom, with two walls
of windows facing Manhattan, will hold 650 for receptions.
Also available: a 100-seat private screening room, an expansive rooftop terrace that will hold 500 for receptions, and onsite parking. Abigail Kirsch manages Stage 6 and is the
venue’s exclusive caterer. (15 Washington Ave., Brooklyn,
718.237.1919)
LOFTS, PHOTO STUDIOS & RAW SPACES
7 WORLD TRADE CENTER
This new 52-story office tower has multiple high-level floors
available for events, each with 40,000 square feet of raw
space, 360-degree views, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The
available 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 and holds 200 for
receptions. Silverstein Properties will offer the floors for
events through the end of 2007; a permanent event space
may be created in the future. (250 Greenwich St.,
212.551.7355)
SHOWROOM
This 6,000-square-foot loft is a bright and airy venue with views
of the Empire State Building and the Hudson River. Private elevators open directly onto the space, which has high ceilings,
an illuminated black chalkboard wall that can be customized
for events, an outdoor terrace, pinspot lighting, and a Bose
sound system. The venue is booked through Corporate
Events Manhattan. (519 Eighth Ave., 21st Floor, 212.420.9655)
MUSEUMS & CULTURAL SPACES
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK
The society moved to its new home in September, with two
spaces available for events. Designed by Marpillero Pollak
Architects, the larger room has full-length windows and is
lined with library shelves that can be covered by white sliding walls for gallery exhibitions; it holds 150 for receptions.
The smaller 20-seat room has a conference table. (148 West
37th St., 13th Floor, 212.757.0915)
MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE
In spring 2007, this museum plans to move into its new residence on Wall Street. The 30,000-square-foot space, formerly the headquarters of the Bank of New York, will use the
banking hall for exhibitions and two additional floors for an
auditorium, library, education center, and research facility.
Wank Adams Slavin Associates is the firm responsible for the
venue’s design. (48 Wall St., 212.908.4110)
NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
The museum’s new 60,000-square-foot location on the
Bowery is slated to open in the fall of 2007. The top floor of
the seven-story structure will have south- and west-facing
views, and will be a multipurpose space available for events,
with a warming kitchen as well as an adjoining terrace. The
museum’s lobby will also be available and will feature a café;
there will also be a 188-seat theater. Event rentals require
corporate membership donations of at least $5,000. (236
Bowery, 212.219.1222 ext. 201)
SMACK MELLON
This Dumbo art space moved to the recently renovated
Boiler Building in autumn 2005 and consists of a 6,000square-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 holds 150 for seated
events or 300 for receptions and is wheelchair-accessible. (92
Plymouth St., Brooklyn, 718.834.8761)
OUTDOOR SPACES
HUDSON RIVER PARK—PIER 84
Among the Hudson River Park Trust’s ongoing reconstruction
plans is this 75,000-square-foot pier that reopened to the
public in October. Now completed, Pier 84 outranks Pier 40
as the park’s largest pier and includes a large public plaza
with an interactive fountain, a kayak boathouse, and a playground. Later additions will include a café and a community
garden. The pier will be available for events in late spring or
early summer 2007. (West 44th St. at the Hudson River,
212.627.2020)
MCCARREN PARK POOL
Closed since 1984, the empty pool at the northern end of
Greenpoint’s McCarren Park reopened as a public events
venue in September 2005 and hosted a series of concerts
this summer. A relic from an era of vast public building projects, the enormous 50,000-square-foot venue, built in 1936,
is an open, fortresslike space—once with room for 6,800
swimmers—accessed through a mammoth brick entryway.
Renting the space for an event requires a permit from the
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. (Lorimer
St. between Bayard St. and Driggs Ave., for more information call 212.360.1319)
RESTAURANTS
AMALIA
Vikram Chatwal—the boutique hotelier—is planning to open
this 8,000-square-foot restaurant and lounge next to his
Times Square property the Dream Hotel. The 135-seat space
will feature design elements like large black chandeliers from
Steve Lewis, whose work includes Aspen, Marquee, and
Home. Amalia is slated to open in late November. (210 West
55th St., 212.645.5040)
BOQUERIA
Yann de Rochefort (co-owner of popular Lower East Side
restaurant Suba) opened this Spanish eatery in the Flatiron
district in August. Named for Barcelona’s famous food market, Boqueria is an 1,800-square-foot space with a 65-seat
main dining room, a 20-seat tapas bar, and a 16-foot communal table. On the menu is seasonal fare from executive
chef Seamus Mullen. (53 West 19th St., 212.255.4160)
BROUWER’S OF STONE STREET
Located off historic Stone Street, this American restaurant
serves raw bar classics and steak and seafood entrees in the
financial district. The venue has 80 outdoor seats and a
3,000-square-foot indoor dining room that mixes dark wood
with gold-colored corduroy and leather banquettes. Open
since June, the venue’s semiprivate dining room seats 60,
and a sizable 22-stool bar area has a capacity of 120. (45
Stone St., 212.785.5400)
CENTRO VINOTECA
Sasha Muniak, owner of popular West Village eatery Gusto,
will open a more casual Italian restaurant in mid-November.
The new venture is being designed by architect Thomas
Juul-Hansen and will serve food from chef Anne Burrell. (74
Seventh Ave. South, 212.367.7470)
For the latest news and our complete
new venue listings, go to BiZBash.com
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CHARLTON HOUSE
Steve Tzolis and Nicola Kotsoni, owners of Il Cantinori,
Periyali, and Amuse, have scheduled a spring 2007 opening
for their newest project, Charlton House. The trilevel restaurant and event space in SoHo will feature a restored 19thcentury mahogany bar from Harvey’s Chelsea, a tasting
room, and five private rooms in 30,000 square feet. (68
Charlton St., 212.929.3512)
CORE ONE NINE ONE
Replacing Matthew Kenney’s short-lived organic restaurant
Heirloom is this eatery serving small plates from Michelinstarred chef Stephan Boissel. Decorated with chocolate
leather chairs, stone flooring, and moss-colored accents, the
venue offers a 50-seat dining room, a 40-seat bar, and a 100seat beer garden. (191 Orchard St., 212.228.9888)
809 SANGRIA BAR & GRILL
This bilevel, 135-seat restaurant opened in September and
serves eclectic Latin cuisine from consulting chef Ricardo
Cardona and chef de cuisine 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)
EUROPEAN UNION
Despite the tumultuous stretch Bob Giraldi and Jason
Hennings have had with their East Village gastropub since it
opened last spring (the community board originally denied
its request for a liquor license ), the pair reopened the restaurant in October with a new executive chef, Sara Ochs—formerly the chef de cuisine of Esca—and a beer and wine
license. (235 East 4th St., 212.254.2900)
15 EAST
Designer Richard Bloch has remodeled the space that
housed Tocqueville (Jo-Ann Makovitzky and Marco Moriera’s
restaurant, which moved to new digs in February) as a modern Japanese eatery and sushi bar. 15 East is slated to open
in November with a black and white dining room and a nineseat sushi bar. (15 East 15th St., 212.647.1515)
FIRESIDE
Midtown’s Omni Berkshire Place hotel is scheduled to open
its new restaurant and bar this winter. Following a $3 million
redesign, Fireside will replace Kokachin with a new space
and a menu from chef Sam DeMarco. Inspired by British
manor houses, Fireside will feature four fireplaces, wood
paneling, a chandelier, and checker-patterned tabletops. (21
East 52nd St., 212.754.5800)
FREDERICK’S DOWNTOWN
Brothers Frederick and Laurent Lesort—owners of Frederick’s
and Frederick’s Madison restaurant—opened a third location
downtown in mid-October. The bistro serves southeastern
French fare from Vincent Chircico in a 75-seat space.
Sidewalk seating accommodates an additional 16 diners.
(637 Hudson St., 212.488.4200)
GIN LANE
In late July, this restaurant and lounge opened in the space
formerly occupied by the infamous dive bar the Village Idiot.
The 150-seat space, which holds 300 for receptions, is decorated with wrought-iron chandeliers, an antique oak bar, and
gold leaf wallpaper, and features a retractable skylight. Gin
Lane serves executive chef Antonio Cardoso’s American fare
and offers a cocktail menu from Dale DeGroff that includes a
number of gin-based concoctions. (355 West 14th St.,
212.691.0555)
GRAYZ
Gray Kunz, chef and owner of foodie hot spot Café Gray,
plans to open a restaurant and lounge in the landmark
Midtown spot that once housed Aquavit. The bilevel space
takes inspiration from the building itself—a former
Rockefeller town house—and 1950’s New York, with leather
upholstery, high-backed chairs, a fireplace, and herringbonepatterned floors. Framing the private room, known as the
Atrium, will be a two-story wall of wine. Kunz plans to open
Grayz in March 2007. (13-15 West 54th St., for more information call Café Gray, 212.823.6338)
HAWAIIAN TROPIC ZONE
Opened in September, this is a 16,000-square-foot trilevel
restaurant, lounge, and club from sun protection and tanning lotion brand Hawaiian Tropic. The venue features a
menu by David Burke, “table concierges” (servers
assigned to look after the needs of one particular table)
dressed in sarongs and bikini tops, and cabaret entertainment, and the space includes private rooms. (729 Seventh
Ave., 866.489.6631)
HONEY
In August, Matt Shendell (owner of Dip and a partner in Cain
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. On the menu is New American fare from chef
Victor Rodriquez. (243 West 14th St., 212.620.0077)
I-CHIN
There are only 50 seats in the venue, which is decorated with
antique doors and figurines and serves a seafood-heavy
menu of Chinese fare with influences from Burma, Thailand,
and India. I-Chin features Indian coffee, Chinese teas, and
cocktails flavored with herbs and spices. I-Chin opened in
October. (247 East 50th St., 212.223.4959)
INTENT
Architect Xavier de la Grange teamed up with François
Payard and Philippe Bertineau to bring Mediterranean food
and wine from Italy, France, and Spain to SoHo. The 60-seat
restaurant has dark brown leather banquettes, Venetian plaster walls, and Brazilian wood accents. The tented rear dining
area features a waterfall wall. InTent opened in July. (231
Mott St., 212.966.6310)
IZAKAYA TEN
Owner Lannie Ahn converted her Korean restaurant D’or
Ahn into a casual Japanese eatery and sake bar in October.
The new space has minimalist furnishings, a hand-painted
facade, and paper lanterns hanging outside. Izakaya Ten
serves Japanese izakaya-style fare (small plates) from chef
Thomas Kato (who has previously worked at Morimoto and
Nobu) 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)
LANDMARC AT THE TIME WARNER CENTER
Chef Marc Murphy plans to open a second location of his
Landmarc restaurant in the Time Warner Center in spring
2007. On the building’s third floor, Murphy’s 10,500-squarefoot venue will include a 25-seat bar, three dining areas, and
a wine room capable of holding 10,000 bottles. (10
Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor, for more information call
212.255.2617)
L’ATELIER DE JÖEL ROBUCHON
Replacing Fifty Seven Fifty Seven in the Four Seasons hotel
is this eatery from Parisian restaurateur Jöel Robuchon.
Modeled after his famed French eatery of the same name,
the 52-seat venue was designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and
serves small plates of his French cuisine. The restaurant
opened in August. (57 East 57th St., 212.758.5757)
PERA MEDITERRANEAN BRASSERIE
Named for a historic district in Istanbul, this Turkish restaurant
is slated to open before the year ends. The Midtown eatery
will serve 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. (303
Madison Ave., 212.878.6301)
PIER 2110 SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
This seafood restaurant is a 10,000-square-foot, 175-seat
space that opened in June in Harlem’s old Alhambra Theater.
Pier 2110 features nautical accents, decorative light fixtures,
flat-screen monitors that display videos of marine life, and
large fish tanks. The menu from chef Jamie Blatt offers a wide
selection of fresh seafood, as well as sushi. A private room
seats 40. (2110 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., 212.280.7437)
ROOM SERVICE
Replacing the short-lived club Rock Candy, this restaurant
and club opened in October. Room Service is a hotelinspired space divided into nine rooms, each with its own
butler, bartender, and minibar. Room Service offers contemporary American fare, but with 24 hours’ notice, patrons can
enjoy a menu of their own design. The restaurant seats 100
or holds 490 for receptions. (35 East 21st St., 212.254.5709)
ROSANJIN
Japanese artist and restaurateur Kitaoji Rosanjin was the
inspiration for this TriBeCa restaurant. Serving Kyoto cuisine
and kaiseki (a meal of seasonal small plates), this small space
seats 24. Rosanjin also delivers within TriBeCa and the financial district. (141 Duane St., 212.346.7991)
TOUR
This European-style eatery replaced Diner 24 in west Chelsea.
The 2,000-square-foot space will offer dark green banquettes,
floor-to-ceiling windows, and 3-D artwork. Tour seats 60 in the
dining room and has additional space for 20 outdoors. The
menu from chef Kenneth Collins features a range of international cuisines. (102 Eighth Ave., 212.242.7773)
RETAIL SPACE
OILILY SOHO
In October, Dutch fashion label Oilily opened its U.S. flagship
store inside a six-story 19th-century SoHo building. The 5,000square-foot loftlike shop, modeled after the Antwerp store,
offers an all-white lower level with a full kitchen and bathrooms
for private events. (465 West Broadway, 212.871.0201)
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Destination Report BOSTON
On the Waterfront
Who’s Going
Where
Not since a certain tea party has Boston’s harbor seen so much action.
Along the recently spruced-up waterfront, here’s where to go...
O, the Oprah Magazine
hosted “Oh You!”, a seminar
and workshop featuring Suze
Orman and other speakers,
at the Boston Convention &
Exhibition Center (415
Summer St., 617.954.2000,
www.massconvention.com) in
October. The Wi-Fi-equipped
facility opened in June 2004
and has 164,000 square feet
of flexible meeting space, 62
covered loading bays, and
five elephant doors with exhibition floor access.
A rendering of the new Institute of Contemporary Art
The Burgundy Wine
Council hosted a walkaround tasting and educational seminar at the
Radisson Hotel Boston (200
Stuart St., 617.482.1800,
www.radisson.com/bostonma)
in September. Located a
block from Boston
Common, the 365-room
hotel has more than 20,000
square feet of meeting and
event space that can accommodate 500.
The bar at LTK
FOR A SEAFOOD FIX Torn between a hot new boîte and an old, reliable stand-by? With LTK Bar & Kitchen (225 Northern Ave., 617.330.7430,
www.ltkbarandkitchen.com), you get a little of both. In June, Legal Sea
Foods, a Boston fixture since 1950, rolled out a 3,500-square-foot futuris-
tic concept restaurant where the company’s classic recipes undergo innovative tweaking (the name stands for “legal test kitchen”), like lobster rolls
served on grilled flatbread instead of hot-dog buns. The reinvention continues in the dining room: Tables feature iPod docking stations—a modern take on 50’s-era tapletop jukeboxes.
COMING SOON
Hotels Opening Next Year
ACTIVITY CENTRAL Slated for a late-2007 opening, the 150-room
Regent Boston at Battery Wharf (344 Commercial St., 617.994.9090,
www.regenthotels.com) will be situated, temptingly, in the North End,
within strolling distance of the Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall. In
addition to 6,200 square feet of meeting space, plans include a restaurant, a spa, and a water-taxi shuttle to Logan Airport.
GET IN, GET OUT Scheduled to open in December 2007, the 492room Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel (606 Congress St.,
617.777.7979, www.renaissancehotels.com) is located on the waterfront, just steps from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center,
next door to the World Trade Center and minutes from Logan
Airport. The 21,000 square feet of meeting space will include a grand
ballroom for 1,700, two private dining rooms in the hotel’s Georges
Bank Bistro, and 19 meeting rooms.
A LOCK ON LUXURY? The new 300-room Liberty Hotel (215
Charles St., 617.399.4260, www.libertyhotel.com) is a conversion of the
1851 Charles Street Jail, which until about 16 years ago housed
county criminals. Located in Beacon Hill, the luxury hotel will comprise
a new wing with 6,000 square feet of meeting space. Slated to open
its doors in summer 2007, the hotel plans include a grand ballroom
and a courtyard. —J.H.
FOR ARTY PARTIES The visually stunning new home of the Institute of
Contemporary Art (100 Northern Ave., 617.478.3107, www.icaboston.org)
is a modernist marvel of glass and metal cantilevered to the water’s edge.
Scheduled to open December 10, the 65,000-square-foot Diller Scofidio
and Renfro design features breathtaking glass-walled spaces for events
that require a dose of drama, including a sprawling lobby that holds 400,
a theater that can hold 300 (floor-to-ceiling-windows offer harbor and city
views), and a café adjacent to the lobby that holds 200 and opens onto a
patio—all with postcard harbor views. Oh, and there’s art, too: Works by
the likes of Nan Goldin mingle with the oeuvre of tomorrow’s marquee
talents.
FOR THE CONVENTION BOUND If location is key, it’s hard to beat
the new 793-room Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel (425 Summer St.,
617.532.4600, www.westin.com/bostonwaterfront), so close to the Boston
Convention & Exhibition Center it’s connected by a 64-foot-tall sky
bridge. Open since June, the hotel has 22 meeting spaces that range from
10-person breakfast rooms to the cavernous grand ballroom, which seats
1,675. For a more leisurely ambience, opt for the tree-adorned Birch Bar,
in the hotel lobby, or Sauciety (617.532.4670), an acclaimed American
grill serving up standards (aged sirloin, pan-roasted lobster) with a twist:
Every dish comes with two flavorful sauces from a list of 15. A private dining room seats 30.
FOR SOME NEW DIGS In a tight race for newest luxe hotel on the harbor, the InterContinental Boston Waterfront Hotel (500 Atlantic Ave.,
617.747.1000, www.intercontinentalboston.com) just edges out the
Westin. Decked out in blue-hued reflective glass, the 424-room hotel is
scheduled to open in November with 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art
event space, from 140-square-foot boardrooms to the 10,000-square-foot
Rose Kennedy ballroom, which holds 1,000. Also on the premises is
Brasserie Provençal, a 24-hour French café from two-star Michelin chef
Jacques Chibois, and Sushi Teq, a Japanese/Latin fusion bar where salsa
dancers serve sushi and premium tequilas. —Jolyon Helterman
The Duplessy Foundation
hosted the Derrick’s
Birthday Bash fashion and
comedy show at Nick’s
Comedy Stop (100
Warrenton St., 617.423.2900,
www.nickscomedystop.com)
in September. Nick’s is often
rented out for private events
for as many 250 people and
will customize a private comedy routine.
Fleming’s Prime
Steakhouse & Wine Bar
sponsored the Children’s
Hospital Trust Golf
Tournament at the picturesque Sandy Burr Country
Club (103 Cochitutate Road,
Wayland, 508.358.7211,
www.sandyburr.com) in
August. Located 16 miles
west of Boston, the country
club has an 18-hole golf
course that specializes in
tournaments for as many as
144. The English Tudor clubhouse holds 160 and has
two fireplaces and a patio.
The American Heart
Association hosted the 2006
Boston Heart Ball, which
was attended by Bill Clinton,
at the Westin Copley Place
(10 Huntington Ave.,
617.262.9600,
www.westin.com/copley) in
May. The Westin has 803
guest rooms and 26 meeting
rooms, totaling 50,000
square feet of event space.
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december 2006
31
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FASHION WEEK’S BEST IDEAS
The coolest concepts from September’s shows and parties.
The show’s 43 models walked alongside the Guggenheim’s Zaha Hadid exhibit.
Miss Sixty Walks Models
Down Guggenheim Spiral
Miss Sixty’s show took place in the museum’s rotunda.
The SoHo Grand Hotel’s temporary space,
Dome, opened in late August and closed in
late September. The venue consisted of two
dome-shaped areas that held a combined 800.
32 bizbash.com/newyork
Some 600 guests sat on benches lining three sloping
levels of the Guggenheim’s rotunda, watching the
models embark on their two-and-a-half-minute walk
down the runway.
december 2006
TO LAUNCH ITS SPRING/SUMMER 2007 COLLECTION, MISS SIXTY
embodied its ask-me-if-I-care designs by eschewing the well-trod Bryant Park
runways in favor of the spiral rotunda at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Currently hosting the Zaha Hadid exhibit, the
rotunda’s six-level spiral atrium served as a backdrop for the
show, with 43 models walking their way down three levels
of spiral ramps—a feat that took each model approximately two and a half minutes to complete.
“The runway was definitely steep and long,
and we were concerned about it,” said Emily Liu,
Sixty USA’s director or public relations and marketing, who oversaw the event. “But we had some
models walk it a month beforehand, and it worked
out pretty well. They said they didn’t mind it at all,
so we decided to go with it.”
Close to 600 editors and fashion-minded guests
sat on white benches lining the inner edge of each level;
Kevin Krier & Associates custom made the benches
with one side higher than the other to accommodate
Wink created circle-shaped
the sloping floors. Light and sound posts were also
invitations inspired by the
Guggenheim.
custom made and placed every 20 feet behind the
attendee benches. Design 1 and Audio Design Lab
worked together to choreograph the light and sound
MISS SIXTY SPRING/
SUMMER FASHION SHOW
with the models on the runway.
Guggenheim Museum
Typical to Fashion Week, the show ran almost an
Tuesday, 09.07.06,
hour late, due mostly to late arrivals Carmen Electra
5 PM to 6:30 PM
and Kristin Cavallari. The show itself lasted 10
After-Party DJs Victor Coral
minutes, as the models worked their way down each
and Kid Millionaire/Steve Aoki
level and onto the main floor, where Krier & AssociAfter-Party Venue SoHo
ates placed three white podiums.
Grand Hotel
The after-party was at Dome, the temporary lounge Design Audio Design Lab
Event Production Kevin Krier
resembling a mini Epcot Center, located in an empty
& Associates
lot adjacent to the SoHo Grand Hotel. The event garInvitations Wink
nered roughly 600 attendees and went from 10 PM to
PR C&M Media Ltd.
2 AM, while Amsterdam DJ Victor Coral and Steve
Venue Solomon R.
Aoki took turns in the DJ booth. —Courtney Thompson
Guggenheim Museum
PHOTOS: SCOTT WINTROW/GETTY IMAGES (MODELS)
The fashion label was the first to send models down the
museum’s fabled ramps.
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Re-working the Runway
It wasn’t just the clothes that stood out at these shows—the sets drew attention of their own. By Mark Mavrigian, Anna Sekula & Courtney Thompson
Marc Jacobs’ intense green runway was a crooked path
elevated over a shimmering field of wrapped candies.
Y-3’s show mimicked an
assembly line with conveyor
belts on the runway.
Polycarbonate sheets emerged from the ceiling of the Nokia
Theater for DDCLab’s show.
ADIDAS STAGES SURREAL SHOW For Y-3—Yohji
Yamamoto’s collection for Adidas—Belgium-based Villa
Eugenie, Paris- and New York-based event production
company OBO, and Lot71 created a surreal design at Pier
40. The white runway had six built-in conveyor belts. As
PHOTOS: STRATTON MCCRADY PHOTOGRAPHY (Y-3), BRYAN BEDDER/GETTY IMAGES (CATHERINE MALANDRINO), FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES (VENA CAVA), ANDREW
H. WALKER /GETTY IMAGES (MARC JACOBS), DAN LECCA (DDCLAB), SCOTT WINTROW/GETTY IMAGES (SUE STEMP), MARK MAINZ/GETTY IMAGES (HEATHERETTE)
DDCLAB BOASTS FUTURISTIC RUNWAY Los
Angeles-based Keith Greco of Greco Decor designed and
built the sets for all the Red Bull-sponsored shows (with
technical production from Kadan Productions) held at the
Nokia Theater. His most innovative design was a modern
set for Savania Davies-Keiller and Roberto Crivello’s ecofriendly line DDCLab. The futuristic interpretation of the
collection’s “Shiny Pretty Thing” theme included polycarbonate pieces hanging from the ceiling to frame both sides
of the runway and display projections of New York’s streets
and urban landscapes. To get the attention of the audience
(and to startle them), larger panels at the runway’s
entrance tilted forward suddenly, signaling the start of the
show. Greco, Pam Rocks of Montreal-based Moment
Factory, and lighting designer Nol van Genuchten collaborated on the project.
Entertainers wore grass skirts and Heatherette designs as
they performed luau and break dance moves on the landing
strip runway.
the models stood on the moving belts—like mannequins
in an assembly line—three barges with vertically-positioned
fluorescent lights silently steered their way toward the
event, reaching the pier at the show’s blackout finale.
A towering set made with construction scaffolding made for a
mysterious industrial scene at the Catherine Malandrino show.
MARC FOLLOWS A DIFFERENT PATH Marc Jacobs’
models walked along a crooked, bright green runway—
evocative of a grassy trail that led out from a backdrop of
rolling silver mountains and clouds. The jagged-edge platform wended its way out some 250 feet. Set designer
Stefan Beckman created the dreamy landscape for Jacobs
and incorporated different elevations into the unorthodox
runway. Underneath the green pathway, 500,000 clear cellophane-wrapped blue hard candies shimmered for a
watery effect. KCD served as the executive producer for the
presentation, which included lighting by JKLD.
Without a runway, Vena Cava staged its spring collection in
a cute garden setting.
MALANDRINO MODELS CLIMB CONSTRUCTION
An industrial look pervaded the Roseland Ballroom for
Catherine Malandrino’s show. SPEC Entertainment
designed and produced a set using scaffolding that rose
more than 28-feet high. Each of the 36 models emerged
from a portal in the structure, followed spot lights down the
runway, and returned to fill in a section of the grid. As an
additional dramatic effect, the stacked display of models featured flashing strobe lights. Philippe Cerceau designed the
lighting scheme, Kadan Productions provided technical
direction, Design One installed lighting units, and Scharff
Weisberg supplied lighting equipment.
HEATHERETTE HAS ISLAND-INSPIRED SET DESIGN
The always-audacious Heatherette label went island-crazy
this year with a beachy backdrop and grass skirt-clad entertainers performing break dancing moves down the runway.
Celebrities- and socialites-turned-models strutted with
props that ranged from a frothy milkshake to a bottle of
booze. The runway itself was white with yellow dashes,
mimicking a landing strip—appropriate, considering the
set featured a palm tree-studded seascape with a giant
white prop plane pasted over it.
VENA CAVA SOWS A PARK Faux greenery at Bryant
Park—that was the setting for designers Lisa Mayock and
Sophie Buhai’s Vena Cava line, held in the UPS-sponsored
section of the tents and produced by Syndicate. Independent set designer Andrew Ondrejcak interpreted a garden
party environment, with models set amid the greenery,
which included a fake lawn and hedges. Models made the
most of the outdoorlike space and lounged, sketched—even
shucked corn—all without a traditional runway, and editors
got a chance to get a closer look at the clothes.
STEMP SHOW HAS HINTS OF HOME The runway
design at Sue Stemp’s show in the Nokia Theater,
reflected the British-born designer’s colorful collection and
created a more intimate setting for the presentation. Three
freestanding screens enclosed the runway and the seating
area and Greco Decor used projections (inspired by wallpaper patterns),
wainscoting,
and arched
doorlike cutouts
on the screens
to imitate the
room of a
private home.
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FASHION WEEK’S BEST IDEAS
Eight dancers from the Hysterica Dance
Company performed at the Grey Ant show.
Frock Rock
The Kills, a modern dance troupe, and an African choir were among the
acts that filled runways and parties. By Mark Mavrigian, Anna Sekula & Courtney Thompson
CINEMAX AND BETTE INSPIRE DANCERS AS MODELS The presentation for Grey Ant’s 2007 collection at the Altman Building showcased
more than just the Grant Krajescki-designed clothes. Inspired by the back
cover of the 1976 Bette Midler album Songs for the New Depression and
the erotic film—and cable channel staple—Emmanuelle, Krajescki brought
in the Los Angeles-based Hysterica Dance Company to perform a specially
choreographed routine that comprised the bulk of the show. Wearing Grey
Ant attire, eight dancers writhed, pirouetted, and gyrated to music by electronic artists Work and Aphex Twin. Ojala Ltd. provided show production
and People’s Revolution handled front of house production.
A half-hour performance by the Kills gave a kick to Another
Magazine’s after-party.
GAP CHOIR CHANNELS CHARITABLE MESSAGE Gap celebrated the launch of Individuals: Portraits
From the Gap Collection, a book of photos used in its ad campaigns, at Eyebeam on September 12 by
bringing in the Shining Century Choir from Lesotho, Africa, to perform a five-song set. The 25-member
group of garment factory workers tied into the event’s charitable cause: The proceeds from Individuals go
towards programs helping African women and children with HIV and AIDS. The Los Angeles-based firm
A Squared Group erected a small stage for the performance and decorated Eyebeam with more than 250
Gap portraits on its walls and on four 10-foot-tall photo blocks and totem poles.
BRIT MAGS BRING GARAGE ROCK
A 35-minute set from rock band the Kills
Prada sounded off the first night of Fashion Week with a concert by the Raconteurs.
supplied a sexy, swaggering vibe when
British publications Another Magazine
and Dazed & Confused partnered with
David Yurman for a private dinner in the
penthouse at Milk Studios and an afterparty in the venue’s ground floor gallery.
Another’s cover girl Kirsten Dunst hosted
the evening. Plug produced the event,
and Seventh House Public Relations
handled press.
N’Dea Davenport from the Brand New Heavies performed in an Afshin Feiz outfit (albeit from an older
collection) at the designer’s show.
MODELS STRUT ALONGSIDE LIVE
MUSICIANS On the last day of the
fashion shows at the Altman Building,
N’Dea Davenport of the jazzy and
soulful band the Brand New Heavies
donned an outfit from designer Afshin
Feiz and performed during the collec-
tion’s presentation. Poised on low blocks
in the middle of either side of the
runway, Davenport and bassist Andrew
Levy entertained the audience with
songs from their new album. (Feiz is a
fan of Davenport’s and asked her to
perform at the show.) People’s Revolution provided front and back of house
production for the Altman shows, and
Ojala Ltd. handled production for the
runway show.
34 bizbash.com/newyork
december 2006
PRADA TAKES A PAGE FROM THE VMAS Prada got in the rock mood
with a music-focused party on the first night of Fashion Week inside its SoHo
emporium. Fresh from their performance as the house band at the MTV Video
Music Awards, the Raconteurs—the band that would rather not be called the
side project of the White Stripes’ Jack White—played for some 600 guests
(who chowed on a menu from Creative Edge Parties that included Corner
Bistro burgers, milk shakes, and Krispy Kreme donuts). Screens within the store
displayed a live feed of the concert for guests who couldn’t make it front and
center to the store’s wall of steps, which made for an obvious seating choice.
PHOTOS: RANDY BROOKE (AFSHIN FEIZ), COURTESY OF PRADA/GETTY IMAGES (RACONTEURS), JEFF THOMAS/IMAGE
CAPTURE (GAP), COURTESY OF SEVENTH HOUSE PUBLIC RELATIONS/PATRICK MCMULLAN (THE KILLS)
An African choir performed five gospel songs at Gap’s event.
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Page 35
Rock & Republic’s first New York Fashion Week presentation included
stadium-style seating and a runway illuminated with a diamond-like logo.
The entry of Cipriani 42nd Street featured custom-made staircases
to bring guests up to the top level of the runway seating.
On Saturday afternoon, crews helped hoist the sparkling
Rock & Republic sign.
A cocktail reception was held an hour before the
runway show commenced.
Stacks of chairs were
brought into the
venue to be placed
alongside the runway.
Rock & Republic Puts Up Big Set in Short Time
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF STOELT PRODUCTIONS/PAUL MCKELVEY
With just 14 hours to set up the elaborate stage and seating for its first New York fashion show, the jeans
brand’s crew followed a planned-to-the-minute production schedule.
LUXE DENIM LINE ROCK & REPUBLIC MARKED ITS NEW YORK
Fashion Week debut with an extensive set built in a minimal amount of
time at Cipriani 42nd Street. Designer Michael Ball commissioned Matt
Stoelt of Stoelt Productions to produce the show, which featured twentythree 33-foot-tall soft LED panels, a runway with a diamondlike illuminated
logo, and stadium-esque seating housed within the old teller signs of the
former bank.
Ball and Stoelt previously worked together on two of Rock & Republic’s
Los Angeles shows, but their first New York effort, dubbed “14 Hours:
Locked and Loaded,” required a scheduled-to-the-minute setup within a
tight time frame: Cipriani would be closed to the crew all day Friday for
another event, leaving Stoelt and his crew just 14 hours to load and install
the entire set.
Stoelt was able to bring Wolf Productions into the venue just after midnight on Thursday morning to complete the rigging and installation of the
lighting equipment before turning the venue over to the other event’s planners. Then on Saturday morning at 12:01 AM—semi trucks were lined up
and waiting on 41st and 42nd Streets for the go-ahead—more than 70 crew
members descended on Cipriani to unload the 10 trucks, filled with 170
stage decks and a custom-built staircase, through the front entrance. Taylor
Creative moved decor in through the front door, including 450 Kartell Louis
“ghost” chairs, white leather furniture, and two large crystal chandeliers.
All was in place by the time the lights dimmed and DJs Stone Rokk
and Marshall Barnes blasted the Who and Led Zeppelin while models
jutted down the runway in the label’s signature rock-inspired denim hot
pants, form-fitting blazers, and sexy skirts. The Rock & Republic logo glittered at the end of the runway; to create the effect, the logo was laser cut
into decking material, lit with a flexible light bulb product, covered with
sparkling stones, and topped with glass.
The soft LED panels that lined both sides of the room projected larger
than life footage of the runway action and flashed graphics over the
crowd—creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of an arena rock concert
than a staid runway show. At the conclusion of the 15-minute show, guests
moved on to an after-party at TenJune. —Sara Neuffer
ROCK & REPUBLIC’S “14
HOURS: LOCKED AND
LOADED” FASHION SHOW
Cipriani 42nd Street
Saturday, 09.09.06,
8 PM onward
Backstage Production Moda
Tech Inc.
Backstage Rentals Fairfield
Pro Production Services
Decor Taylor Creative Inc.
Event Design/Production
Stoelt Productions
Ice Sculpture Ice Sculpture
Designs
LED Panels Main Light
Industries
Lighting Design Vibrant Design
Lighting/Rigging Wolf
Productions
PR Harrison & Shriftman
Red Carpet/Tenting Access
Event Services/Metropolitan
Skytracker
Set Dressing Largent Studios
Staging BML Stage Lighting
and Productions Inc.
Venue/Catering Cipriani
42nd Street
Video Production Sweetwater
Video Production
bizbash.com/newyork december 2006
35