THE-VELVET-ROPE
If you may recall from our post, Art, Culture and Fun: The Haitian Way, the end of June would witness a party unlike any the isle of Manhattan has experienced. Last week we gathered with other supporters and fans of the organization, Haiti Cultural Exchange, at the Gild Hall of the Thompson Hotel to celebrate the organization and its fabulous team. The night was themed "Indigo Blue" and guests donned their best blue duds to drink, eat, and dance the night away.
Exclusivity is part of life. One need only harken back to the clique-ish social webs of their youth to recall the fickle nature of social interaction. Gaining admittance is a rite of passage of sorts—a bildungsroman of the social strata—that requires one to leave their humble beginnings in hopes of grander pastures.
Cracking into the mercurial night scene is no different. As is the wont of life, the most enticing offers always lie behind gilded, heavily muscled doors. The velvet rope acts as a line demarcating the fashionable from the socially inept—the “in crowd” from the spectators. Are we all doomed to repeat the tortures of adolescence, like some cosmic form of social purgatory? The answer is “No”—there is hope!
Head over to the brick laden roads of the Meatpacking district to seek out the Gansevoort Hotel. When you arrive, be sure to either step out of a Ferrari or have a bouquet of gorgeous ladies at your side.
For a couple of kids from Queens, this place is the epitome of 'making it'. From the grand wait on line, to the mind blowing entrance (conveniently located in the hotel lobby). It's hard not to be wowed by all the gorgeous women decorating the foyer- and when you enter in the elevator, an obvious regular will chuckle and tell you, 'Wait til you get upstairs...' And was he right!
'Castor' -Daft Punk
This Friday, the American Museum of Natural History is hosting a party like no other in their famed Rose Center. Regardless of what your local meteorologist suggests the weather may be like come out to the AMNH for one of the biggest kick off parties this fall.
The immense size of this place is awestricking enough. Combine that with the glass exterior walls of the wing, not to mention that you're in one of the coolest museums on this side of the country. Yet the sheer feeling is the best part.
Fellas made sure their pocket squares were looking crisp while Gals overdid their makeup in celebration of, you guessed it, Fashion's Night Out.
Instead of night clubs, elite fashion houses were the highlight of the city last Thursday, September 8th. Salvatore Ferragamo was the spot to be on 5th Avenue this year, while posting a 'Private party' sign outside. All the normal people were lined outside, trying to get a peek of what was happening beyond those walls, as we tippy-toed past security.
Inside, champagne and house pomegranate cocktails were flying. Accompanied by tuna tartare hors d'oeuvres about the size of a cigarette.There were also many other interesting different finger foods, one of which even included foie gras in a flaky pastry. The best bite of the night had to be the red velvet balls. They were so delicious, you probably could've found yourself fighting for the last one with Sports Illustrated super model Jessica Hart...
'Summer time', Vybz Kartel
In a neighborhood where warehouses and car repair shops dominate, new venue, Viva, has emerged
to bring the parties of Carnival to you. Pulling up, there is a valet ready to park your car and a door man ready to open the velvet rope for you and your entourage.
When you walk in, the space is-in a word my fellow New Yorkers- ENORMOUS! Several VIP booths have been scooped out along the walls and adequate tables and couch space around the building's support beams. Since it is Carnival weekend you know that the dj will play the hottest & most recently released reggae, soca, and dancehall tunes.
Redefining luxury travel takes work. So suffice to say international hotelier, Vikram Chatwal is a busy man. Not too busy to privately fly tabloid impresario, Lindsey Lohan, to his modernistic midtown palace this past April however. After staking claim to Hollywood hotties like Gisele and Kate Moss in the past, Chatwal has reportedly been using the "Do Not Disturb" sign with LiLo these days--if you know what we mean.
Well, if it's Lindsey's any indication, Chatwal knows hot. The American hotelier, has just put the finishing touches on his second New York City project, DREAM Downtown, the latest in his internationally acclaimed, five-star boutique hotel group, which spans five global cities. The Dream bundle, which serves transient, posh populations of Cochin, India, Bangkok, Thailand, South Beach, Midtown, and as of this evening, Downtown Manhattan, has become synonymous surreal luxury--a state-of-art imaginative and entirely unique experience.
Three levels of sumptuous white? No, we’re not talking about Kate Middleton’s dress this time. We’re talking about the Memorial Day soiree you won’t want to miss: All White Cruise Party on the Queen of Hearts cruise ship this Sunday, May 29. For those who typically party on dry land, the Queen of Hearts cruise ship is home to the largest dance floor on the water. The Queen of Hearts, all three levels in its glory, will leave Pier 40 at 12:15 a.m. and will circle our beloved island until 4:30 in the morning, hitting Memorial Day essentials like Ellis Island, Govenors Island, and that girl with the torch. Talk about a proper commemoration! The event will strictly enforce an all-white themed dress code, that’s shoes too, and jewelry hues will be limited to gold and silver for the ladies.
Ok, so Louis might not be around, but his successors are! If you're usually a bar rat but are craving something different this week, show your appreciation for the age-old genre of jazz with one of the following legendary jazz clubs.
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola: At 2,300 square feet and offering jazz seven nights a week (while overlooking Central Park), Dizzy's is definitely one of upperscale venues. Just don't forget to make a reservation online before you go - it's first-come first-serve. Monday's there's a $30 cover, and $10 minimum at a table, or $5 at the bar; to go cheap, late-night Friday's and Saturday's are only $10 admission. The Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, New York NY 10023, (212) 258-9595
 |
 |
 |
 |
