It may have been a chilly night in New York, but that didn’t seem to matter much to the giddy bikini-clad models cavorting outside the new Hawaiian Tropic Zone restaurant. The occasion was the opening night of the Times Square venue—a spectacle involving a sandy beach, surf gear, and beach umbrellas, as well as a number of scantily dressed models. Besides selling suntan lotion, Hawaiian Tropic also holds bikini competitions—and now, with Nicole Miller-designed staff bathing suits and chef David Burke of David Burke & Donatella behind the menu, the company has made the foray into dining with Riese Restaurants.The day before the event, crews in parked trucks prepared items for the faux seashore and just after midnight (when the sidewalk permit became active) 700 pounds of sand arrived to create the beach setting.
Riese looked to Harrison & Shriftman to produce the event—and Hilary Broderick, the firm’s senior production manager, collaborated with Travis Bass on the design concept, which included beach plants and shells set amid the sand dunes, a boardwalk (used in lieu of a red carpet), a 16-foot-high lifeguard tower (built over a functioning street telephone booth), and a working hot tub (for models to splash in, naturally).
The swirl of food, sand, and skin eventually caused such a stir that fire marshals closed the door at around 10 PM, an hour before the party was scheduled to end. While some reports say that stopped the party—we were gone by then—Harrison & Shriftman reps told us yesterday the party went on inside, and there weren’t any permit violations.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 09.27.06
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Riese looked to Harrison & Shriftman to produce the event—and Hilary Broderick, the firm’s senior production manager, collaborated with Travis Bass on the design concept, which included beach plants and shells set amid the sand dunes, a boardwalk (used in lieu of a red carpet), a 16-foot-high lifeguard tower (built over a functioning street telephone booth), and a working hot tub (for models to splash in, naturally).
The swirl of food, sand, and skin eventually caused such a stir that fire marshals closed the door at around 10 PM, an hour before the party was scheduled to end. While some reports say that stopped the party—we were gone by then—Harrison & Shriftman reps told us yesterday the party went on inside, and there weren’t any permit violations.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 09.27.06
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Models danced on top of a giant lifeguard stand outside of the new Hawaiian Tropic Zone restaurant.
The beach scene included a hot tub lined with tropical plants—and more models.
Instead of a typical red carpet entrance, a boardwalk led the way into the party.
Sand dunes lined the Seventh Avenue side of the venue and included plants, shells, and surfboards.
More models lounged about on beach towels and chairs.
