| LOCATION SCOUT 05.05.09 9:01 AM |
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| Quick Trips: Group-Friendly Venues Near Manhattan |
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Need to take a group out of the city? These venues, within two hours of Manhattan, are suited to a variety of corporate outings.
Secluded Incentive Trip
Although the Lodge at Woodloch is not new—the resort and spa originally opened in 2006—it still continues to receive awards for its food, classes, treatments, and facilities from high-end travel sites and publications. Sitting on 75 acres of private land by an idyllic 15-acre lake, this getaway is just 90 miles from Manhattan and is designed for incentive meetings and group retreats. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | Lodge at Woodloch
Photo: Courtesy of Lodge at Woodloch |
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 | Wellmont Theatre
Photo: Adam Macchia |
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 | Wyndham Princeton Forrestal
Photo: Courtesy of Wyndham Princeton Forrestal |
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 | Morello Bistro
Photo: Courtesy of Morello Bistro |
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Summer Retreat
Coming later this month, the Allegria Hotel & Spa is billed as Long Island’s first oceanfront hotel west of the Hamptons. Developer Allen Rosenberger is building a 143-room property that will have a rooftop pool, a restaurant from chef Todd Jacobs (owner of the Atlantica restaurant in Westhampton Beach), a lounge overlooking the water, and a spa. For events, there will be a 200-seat ballroom.
Theatrical Presentation
To open the Wellmont Theatre last fall, the principals behind Bowery Presents—operators of the Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Terminal 5—partnered with New Jersey-based promoter Andy Feltz. The historic site, originally a live-theater venue converted into a cinema in 1929, is now a flexible facility capable of hosting large musical performances. The renovation made structural changes to improve the layout and restore original plasterwork. Newly installed are sound, lighting, broadcasting, and recording systems, as well as bars, greenrooms, and concession areas. Total capacity is 2,500.
Group Dining
Marlon Abela, who owns A Voce in the Flatiron district, reopened his Connecticut spot Gaia as Morello Bistro late last year. Near Greenwich Harbor, on an avenue dotted with stores, the airy bilevel eatery sits inside a former bank with the original vaulted tile ceiling. Executive chef Townsend Wentz serves a modern Italian menu to match the 650-label wine selection. The 140-seat space includes two areas on the mezzanine that are available for private events, each overlooking the main dining room; one seats 50, the other 35.
Function on the Water
With the launch of the Atlantic City Express Service (or ACES) trains in February, getting to Atlantic City is quicker than ever. And by fall, the seaside town will have a new, independently run venue designed exclusively for events. At the eastern end of the Pier Shops at Caesars, One Atlantic will extend 100 yards over the ocean and offer 10,000 square feet of space, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a terrace. Providing on-site management and planning will be the Icon Group; Jon Weinrott, founder of Philadelphia’s Peachtree & Ward, will handle catering.
All-Day Conferences
Formerly the Merrill Lynch Conference Center, the Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center in central New Jersey recently completed a $7 million upgrade, which improved the center’s interior. In addition to 364 guest rooms, the lakeside business facility offers 64 function rooms across 64,000 square feet of space. There’s a 360-seat tiered auditorium with projection capabilities, a 3,741-square-foot section known as Woodrow’s dining room, and several boardrooms that can be combined into larger suites.
—Anna Sekula
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Shoreham Hotel
The Shoreham Hotel, located steps from 5th Avenue, is the ideal venue for small gatherings to designer showrooms to high-profile events. Seductively stylish and sleek, the Shoreham not only guarantees an interesting visual experience, but the event spaces promise the highest standard of comfort. More >>
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Signature Event Rentals
Signature Event Rentals offers an exclusive line of luxury lounge rentals and decor that go beyond standard rental items. Their exclusive collection includes the finest contemporary seating, tables, bars, lighting, and accessories—everything you need to create a sophisticated, modern, and sexy aesthetic. More >>
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Tastings
Tastings is a full-service catering/event company that caters to a discriminating clientele ranging, from New York society, government officials, and entertainers to fashion and corporate clients. They design tailored menus and provide polished service in the style of an upmarket restaurant, crafting a total dining experience for their guests—from passing bite-size savory and sweets at social events or sit-down lunches, to roaming dinners or dessert installations at private residences. More >>
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