The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge is slated to unveil its redesigned ballrooms and meeting space on Wednesday, the latest chapter in a $43 million renovation to the borough’s largest hotel. Other improvements to the downtown Brooklyn property include a redesign of the M Club Lounge and the industrial-chic Bar. Overall, the hotel has more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space. The renovations, including renovations to all 667 rooms, are slated to finish in 2016.
One of the most anticipated restaurant openings is Jams by Jonathan Waxman. The restaurant, a reincarnation of the chef’s 1980s-era restaurant, opened at 1 Hotel Central Park in August. Like the original, it serves California-inspired farm-to-table cuisine, fitting in with the hotel’s eco-minded mission. Natural light from the two-story windows fills the 110-seat dining room, which was designed by AvroKo. White oak, exposed brick, and visible ducts add to the relaxed yet upscale atmosphere.
Vaucluse, an Upper East Side brasserie from Altamarea Group, opened September 2. Chef Michael White and Marea executive chef Jared Gadbaw collaborated on the French menu, and Meyer Davis provided the interior design. The restaurant is split into two dining rooms that each seat 80 and offers seating in its bar and a lounge. A private dining room on the lower level seats 12 at one round table and includes space for a pre-dinner reception. Additionally, the restaurant has a townhouse available for private events. It seats 32 or holds 40 for receptions. Its amenities include full audiovisual equipment as well as a separate entrance.
Located below STK Downtown is One Manhattan, a private event space. The meatpacking district venue, accessible via a private entrance, features a dance floor, a DJ booth, a main bar, and a separate lounge called the Marble Room. The space has audiovisual equipment including three drop-down screens and a sound system. The venue holds 200 guests for receptions and can be divided into several private rooms.
The Mexican restaurant Hecho en Dumbo debuted a new look in early July. Located on the Bowery, the eatery features colorful hand-painted floors, exposed brick, and wooden ceilings. The menu offers chef and co-owner Danny Mena’s inventive tacos and entrées such as barbacoa grilled baby lamb ribs. The beverage menu has an extensive margarita list and other classic and house cocktails. The dining room seats 45 or holds 70 for receptions; the space also has a 14-seat bar and an eight-seat chef’s counter. Next door is the restaurant’s private event space, a lounge and performance space called Salon Hecho. The space has its own look with curved banquettes, antique lamps, and a mix of marble and wood tabletops. It seats 40 or holds 70 for receptions.
Big Deal Casino—a 13-table gaming room with craps, blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat—opened in May just north of Madison Square Park. The casino, which uses play money, has a contemporay feel with white walls and red and black accents. In addition to holiday parties, the venue is available for teambuilding events, receptions, and social events and also offers classes on how to play the games. The space holds 150 for receptions.
A beer garden and restaurant, West End Hall opened on the Upper West Side in July. The concept, from KES Hospitality and the Lure Group, offers a welcoming interior that mixes old and new, such as the space’s rediscovered original terrazzo floor and vintage mirrors that hide LED televisions. The menu features classics such as bratwurst and sausages, pretzel bites, and mussels, as well as extensive bottled and draft beer options. Beer geeks can marvel at the flux capacitor, a tool that regulates the gas blend of each beer. In warmer months, the space also features an open-air backyard garden that has heat lamps. The venue holds 250 inside and 100 outside for receptions.
This year, the Governors Ball went with a “Reigning With Radiance” theme executed with thousands of crystalline details from Swarovski. Governors Ball Committee co-chairs Barbara Cassel and Geriann McIntosh worked with the ball’s longtime designer and producer, Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions, to bring the theme to life.
A crowd of about 4,000 guests dined on a meal catered by Patina Catering that included a first course of wildflower honey-poached pear salad, a main course of filet of beef tenderloin, and a single-origin Ghana brownie for dessert.
Designer 8 supplied furnishings, First Circle Design provided lighting design with equipment from ShowPro, and Goodman handled the sound. Dazian installed sparkle drape in the party space and created a perimeter of silver beaded curtains.
Fox’s Emmy Post Party took place at Vibiana, following the network’s broadcast of this year’s show. 20th Television’s Jen Weinberg, FX’s Myesha Ward, and Fox's Bob Stillo oversaw the fete, designed once again by Mindy Weiss. Chef Neil Frasier’s Redbird set up a sizzling robata activation station, plus crudo and California-inspired cuisines. Mia Moretti was the DJ for the night.
Weiss's East Coast-meets-West Coast concept included a palette of muted blues, soft grays and greens, and textured pillow and linen patterns.
Oversize logo decor pieces dotted the party space.
For the Entertainment Weekly party, Event Eleven this year removed all the furniture and trees from Fig & Olive's main dining room and added custom cushions and furnishings to the space. The producers also added a projection against the wall of the interior and filled the room with hundreds of candles. Gray sofas with brass end tables and touches of navy blue decorated the space.
Presenting sponsor L’Oréal Paris offered its products in a logo-covered bathroom.
American Express celebrated its first N.F.L. team sponsorship, with the Seattle Seahawks, with a pregame activation before the team’s game against the Carolina Panthers on October 18. Dubbed American Express Hawks Island, the activation took place on a 200-foot barge on Puget Sound and had Astroturf flooring and decor in the team’s colors.
Activities at American Express's October event included cornhole games as well as a surprise performance by the band Everclear.
Upfront Ventures hosted its fifth annual summit on February 1 and 2 at the Event Deck at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. Produced by RG Live Events, the event featured two interactive LED light tunnels that led to a custom-built theater.
San Francisco's Asian Art Museum Gala took place March 2. The event, which celebrated the connection between art and technology, featured a 96-foot-long LED tube chandelier designed by Got Light. The multicolor installation was created with more than 200 tubes.
Your Event Solution produced an adult Willy Wonka-theme corporate event for an association’s annual meeting on April 1 at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort outside of Atlanta. Showcasing a unique take on a doughnut wall, the event offered doughnuts placed on giant letters that spelled out “sweet."
