Outdoor Venue

Inside the James New York property in SoHo is a meeting space known as the Studio with an adjacent terrace. Groups of as many as 75 people can take over this site, using the 850-square-foot indoor lounge as well as the 1,000-square-foot Urban Garden. Amenities include an on-site audiovisual team, complimentary WiFi, and custom menus from the hotel's in-house restaurant David Burke Kitchen.

Here’s an easy way to put together a casual gathering for a small group:  Event planning company Bellafare will be launching Bundles by Bellafare later this summer, a customizable party-in-a-box service. After discussing your needs, they’ll create and hand-deliver a package of décor elements, table set-up sketches, and vendor recommendations. A luxe outdoor summer barbecue bundle could include mason jars for drinks, milk jugs for water, striped straws, linen napkins, melamine plates and flatware, a red-and-white check tablecloth, galvanized pails and buckets to hold fresh flowers and ice for beverages, custom paper invites, personalized cocktail napkins, caterer suggestions, and a summer cocktail recipe, starting at $550 plus tax and delivery. Basic bundles start from $300 with a minimum of ten guests, and a recommended maximum of 40 people.