Conferences and meetings don’t have to take place in the same old places. Here’s a look at some quirky and unusual settings for a business gathering.
A Backyard for Brainstorming
Nestled between indie designer boutiques in NoLIta, Elizabeth opened in April and has a dramatic interior with three distinct event rooms, each with wireless Internet. One of these is the enclosed (and heated) garden out back, which has a stone fountain, a bar, a retractable roof, and cedar flooring. This area of the restaurant seats 50 for dinner or holds as many as 65 for cocktails.
A Home for Literature
In addition to housing its corporate offices and its street-level store, Scholastic’s landmark SoHo building is also home to a freshly renovated 271-seat auditorium and several breakout rooms. The 1,478-square-foot Educational Resource Center and the cozy 1,839-square-foot living room (where images and quotes from various children’s books cover the walls) are available for events.
Eco-Friendly Environs
Earlier this year, Brooklyn’s Galapagos Art Space moved out of its Williamsburg digs and relocated to Dumbo in a new spot that opened in August. Designed for performances and film screenings, the 10,000-square-foot space—which is certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building—can also be used for conferences and meetings. In the main performance area, a projection screen drops down over the stage and red banquettes sit on a platform above a 1,600-square-foot pool of water.
Tasting Space
Less than a block east of Union Square sits wine and tapas bar Vintage Irving. The 60-seat space is filled with high-top tables and stools, and features high ceilings, hardwood floors, and exposed brick walls. A 30-seat private room, which can be used for meetings and dinners as well as sommelier- and mixologist-led tastings, is available, and there’s a selection of European wines, craft beers, and Absinthe cocktails.
A Rooftop for Meetings
In early September, the owners of the downtown raw space Skylight debuted their latest offering—the 22,500-squarefoot Skyline Studios & Gallery in Midtown. The venue’s big draw is its open rooftop and unique 20- by 60-foot billboard (which can be used as a projection surface). Directly below the rooftop is a 7,500-square-foot studio that holds 350 for receptions.
