A New York institution and favorite of the city's power lunch set, the Four Seasons Restaurant relocated to a new Midtown space after a high-profile move from the Seagram Building. Opened in August, the restaurant from owners Alex von Bidder and Julian Niccolini features a New American menu from executive chef Diego Garcia and a pastry program from former White House executive pastry chef Bill Yosses. The design is Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld's first project in the United States and aims for an elegant, mid-century modern feel with elements pulled from around the world. There's hand blown glass beads from the Czech Republic in the 20-seat Bar Room as well as an Italian terrazzo floor and a light installation by London-based designer Michael Anastassiades in the 110-seat dining room. The second-floor private dining space seats 100 for lunch or dinner or holds 150 for receptions.
Union Square Hospitality Group opened its first dedicated event space, Bay Room, in Lower Manhattan. Towering over lower Manhattan on the 60th floor of a Liberty Street skyscraper, the space has sweeping views of New York Harbor from the East to the Hudson rivers, including the Statue of Liberty. The venue seats 520 guests or holds 580 for receptions. Catering is by Union Square Events, and the space's amenities include access to audiovisual equipment, Ketra intelligent lighting, automatic shades on windows, and Wi-Fi.
A new exhibit at the New York Aquarium offers an unbeatable view for events: the creatures that populate "Ocean Wonders: Sharks." It's the first new exhibit since 2012, when Hurricane Sandy destroyed half of the park. Long anticipated, the Coney Island attraction features more than 115 marine species, including 18 different types of sharks and rays, and features experiences like a walkway with a coral reef on three sides with marine life flowing all around you. The exhibit is available for private events. The space seats 120 guests or holds 450 for cocktails and has a rooftop bar that overlooks the boardwalk and Atlantic Ocean. The entire aquarium can accommodate more than 2,000 guests.
The latest incarnation of the Playboy Club debuted in time for New York Fashion Week parties in early September. The space revels in the history of the storied men's magazine and its founder, the late Hugh Hefner. The clubby space's interior is by the design studio Cenk Fikri and uses chesterfield banquettes, red velvet chairs, and wood paneling, as well as makes frequent use of the brand's iconic bunny logo—including in a 600-gallon exotic aquarium. (And yes, the female staff "bunnies" wear ears and a tail.) For events, the largest space is the Black Box, which holds 600 guests and has amenities including an audio system, intelligent lighting, and a flexible stage. Smaller spaces include the Royal Salute Lounge, which holds 50 guests; the Bunny Lounge for 40 guests; the Grotto Lounge for 30 guests; and the Mansion Lounge for 25 guests.
Formerly the restaurant Union Fare, the spacious new event venue Union Park debuted in October. Located near Union Square Park, the venue is fully finished and offers multiple spaces for events. On the ground level, the Copper Room holds 500 and the Estate holds 500, while the lower-level Vault holds 100. For buyouts, the space holds about 1,000 for reception-style events. Riviera Caterers is the venue's exclusive food and beverage provider.
The James NoMad debuted a renovated ballroom this summer, offering a refined setting for meetings and events. The 337-room luxury hotel has 5,000 square feet of meeting space. The largest room, the Great Room, measures 2,237 square feet and holds 200 for reception or seated at rounds or 208 guests theater-style. LDV Hospitality oversees catering at the property, including meeting breaks, banquets, breakfast buffets, cocktail parties, executive lunches, and more.
The nightclub Slate unveiled a new look this fall following a $2 million renovation, complete with an adult-sized, 20-foot slide for faster (and more fun) access to the lower level. Located in Chelsea, the club spans 16,000 square feet and entertains guests with activities including three bowling lanes, a private karaoke room, an arcade, pool tables, and more. In addition, there are multiple private event spaces and a 20-tap pouring station for Be Your Own Bartender service. Overall, the club can hold 1,600 guests.
Hortus NYC, named for the Latin word for "garden," opened in October in NoMad from general manager and partner Suhum Jang (formerly of Per Se, Daniel, and Jung Sik). Serving modern Asian fare with local and seasonal ingredients, the menu from executive chef Seungjoon Choi includes oysters with gochujang and plum mignonette; ssamjang hummus; and braised pork belly with shiitake mushrooms and bok choy. Beverages include sake, craft beers, and an extensive wine list as well as soju cocktails. The first floor has bar dining, while the second floor includes a main dining room that seats 40, an 18-person lounge, and garden dining outside. A chef's table seats 10. For buyouts, the restaurant can fit anywhere between 40 to 80 guests.
Located near Times Square, Elsie Rooftop is situated atop a Midtown skyscraper offering cityscape views. The Art Deco-inspired venue was named after Elsie de Wolfe, a socialite and interior designer, and has indoor and outside seating in its lounge and terrace. The $7 million renovation to the space added glam touches such as Versailles parquet flooring, a blue marble bar-top, and antique mirrors. The venue has a small plates menu from famed chef David Burke and event catering from his David Burke Catering Co. The reception capacity for the space is 200 guests.
The Japanese yakitori restaurant Toriko NY opened in Greenwich Village in late August, the first U.S. location for the concept that has more than 50 locations. The eatery offers several varieties of chicken and vegetable skewers as well as larger-format dishes and small plates such as foie gras and truffle chawanmushi and an extensive wine list. The minimalist space seats 46 diners.
