Manhattan has hundreds of storied spots, some of which saw recent renovations and policy changes to make them available for modern events.
1. Previously only available to companies listed on the Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange now rents its trading floor and dining areas to outside parties. The trading floor, marked by 72-foot ceilings, holds 500.
2. The Lambs Club, the former home of one of the city’s oldest theatrical organizations and a Stanford White-designed landmark, became the 88-room Chatwal New York hotel in August. Architect Thierry Despont restored some of the existing Art Deco interior and mixed in modern accents.
3. Once used as a post office, the Empire Room sits on the ground floor of the Empire State Building. The venue features an interior designed to blend in with the architectural style of its surroundings. Embossed leathers, marble, glass-topped tables, silver leaf, and Macassar ebony wood decorate the 3,500-square-foot upscale bar and lounge.
4. Hampton Hotels & Resorts fully renovated the Best Western Times Square property and reopened it at the end of 2009 with a new design. The 334-room President Hotel now sports a colorful interior dominated by images of political figures like Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and Richard Nixon.
