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	<title>Observer &#187; A Moment of Silence, Please, for the Holiday Party</title>
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		<title>Observer &#187; A Moment of Silence, Please, for the Holiday Party</title>
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		<title>A Moment of Silence, Please, for the Holiday Party</title>

		<comments>http://observer.com/2008/12/a-moment-of-silence-please-for-the-holiday-party/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:24:19 -0400</pubDate>
					<link>http://observer.com/2008/12/a-moment-of-silence-please-for-the-holiday-party/</link>
			<dc:creator>Irina Aleksander</dc:creator>
				
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		<description><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" src="http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/marcjacobs07.jpg?w=208&h=300" />Hearst Corporation, ABC News, <a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/marc-jacobs-cancels-annual-holiday-party" target="_blank"><strong>Marc Jacobs</strong></a> and oil and gas billionaire <strong><a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/how-children-very-very-rich-discover-allergies-polo-matches#comments" target="_blank">David Koch</a></strong> have all canceled their holiday parties. (<strong>Barry Diller</strong>, the CEO of the media conglomerate IAC, however, <a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/recession-reshmession-party-must-go-says-barry-diller-chocolate-fountains-and-all" target="_blank">has not</a>.) </p>
<p>In a handy little slideshow, <a href="http://businesssheet.alleyinsider.com/2008/12/bah-humbug-cancelled-corporate-christmas-parties" target="_blank">The Business Sheet</a> looks back to last year and reminds us how corporate New York holiday party season looked before decadent parties were canceled in favor of charity donations, small get-togethers, and extra vacation days. Some of their findings: </p>
<p><strong>Morgan Stanley</strong>: Last year's bash was at Lotus--bottle service and all. This year the financial firm will forgo a holiday party in favor of donating the yearly party fund to charity (and getting some positive press.)</p>
<p><strong>Viacom</strong>: Last year's party--attended by nearly 3,000 guests--was at Hammerstein Ballroom featuring a snowglobe filled with beautiful models playing Twister. Instead of a party, the company's employees--<a href="http://gawker.com/5101825/the-dreaded-viacom-layoffs-850-people" target="_blank">those still left standing</a>--will enjoy two extra vacation days this year.</p>
<p><strong>Google</strong>: Last year's party, held at the Rainbow Room, reportedly cost the company $300 per head, with spouses of employees invited to come along. This year's party will be split into two &quot;smaller gatherings&quot;--one for the engineers at a private loft, another for the sales staff at the Central Bark Boathouse. And no plus-ones. </p>
<p><strong>Goldman Sachs</strong>: Last year's party was at the BLVD club in Soho and attracted protesters angry about the company's contribution to the already developing sub-prime mortgage crisis. This year, no party.</p>
<p><strong>UBS</strong>: The company announced that it was canceling its bash at the Museum of Natural History and will instead to donate $100,000 to charity.  But it still plans to quitely host a dinner at the Museum of Modern Art for its high net worth clients. </p>
<p><strong>Mayor Bloomberg</strong>: The annual holiday dinner that Mr. Bloomberg holds for City Hall reporters has moved from his residence to Chinatown's Golden Unicorn restaurant. Reporters will have to pay $45 to attend.  </p>
<p><strong>Dreier LLP</strong>: Considering that <strong>Marc Dreier</strong>, the managing partner of the firm, <a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/arrested-power-lawyer-marc-s-dreier-has-had-trouble" target="_blank">has recently been arrested in Canada</a>, the company had to cancel its annual party at the Waldorf=Astoria. </p>
<p><strong>Estee Lauder</strong>: The cosmetics company canceled its party for the media at Nobu and will instead donate money in their guests' honor to the Dress for Success organization.  </p>
<p><strong>Sunshine, Sachs &amp; Associates</strong>: Last year's party at Room Service has been downgraded to a night of bowling at Lucky Strike for this PR firm that works with celebrities like <strong>Leonardo DiCaprio</strong> and <strong>Ben Affleck</strong>.  </p>
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" src="http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/marcjacobs07.jpg?w=208&h=300" />Hearst Corporation, ABC News, <a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/marc-jacobs-cancels-annual-holiday-party" target="_blank"><strong>Marc Jacobs</strong></a> and oil and gas billionaire <strong><a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/how-children-very-very-rich-discover-allergies-polo-matches#comments" target="_blank">David Koch</a></strong> have all canceled their holiday parties. (<strong>Barry Diller</strong>, the CEO of the media conglomerate IAC, however, <a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/recession-reshmession-party-must-go-says-barry-diller-chocolate-fountains-and-all" target="_blank">has not</a>.) </p>
<p>In a handy little slideshow, <a href="http://businesssheet.alleyinsider.com/2008/12/bah-humbug-cancelled-corporate-christmas-parties" target="_blank">The Business Sheet</a> looks back to last year and reminds us how corporate New York holiday party season looked before decadent parties were canceled in favor of charity donations, small get-togethers, and extra vacation days. Some of their findings: </p>
<p><strong>Morgan Stanley</strong>: Last year's bash was at Lotus--bottle service and all. This year the financial firm will forgo a holiday party in favor of donating the yearly party fund to charity (and getting some positive press.)</p>
<p><strong>Viacom</strong>: Last year's party--attended by nearly 3,000 guests--was at Hammerstein Ballroom featuring a snowglobe filled with beautiful models playing Twister. Instead of a party, the company's employees--<a href="http://gawker.com/5101825/the-dreaded-viacom-layoffs-850-people" target="_blank">those still left standing</a>--will enjoy two extra vacation days this year.</p>
<p><strong>Google</strong>: Last year's party, held at the Rainbow Room, reportedly cost the company $300 per head, with spouses of employees invited to come along. This year's party will be split into two &quot;smaller gatherings&quot;--one for the engineers at a private loft, another for the sales staff at the Central Bark Boathouse. And no plus-ones. </p>
<p><strong>Goldman Sachs</strong>: Last year's party was at the BLVD club in Soho and attracted protesters angry about the company's contribution to the already developing sub-prime mortgage crisis. This year, no party.</p>
<p><strong>UBS</strong>: The company announced that it was canceling its bash at the Museum of Natural History and will instead to donate $100,000 to charity.  But it still plans to quitely host a dinner at the Museum of Modern Art for its high net worth clients. </p>
<p><strong>Mayor Bloomberg</strong>: The annual holiday dinner that Mr. Bloomberg holds for City Hall reporters has moved from his residence to Chinatown's Golden Unicorn restaurant. Reporters will have to pay $45 to attend.  </p>
<p><strong>Dreier LLP</strong>: Considering that <strong>Marc Dreier</strong>, the managing partner of the firm, <a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/arrested-power-lawyer-marc-s-dreier-has-had-trouble" target="_blank">has recently been arrested in Canada</a>, the company had to cancel its annual party at the Waldorf=Astoria. </p>
<p><strong>Estee Lauder</strong>: The cosmetics company canceled its party for the media at Nobu and will instead donate money in their guests' honor to the Dress for Success organization.  </p>
<p><strong>Sunshine, Sachs &amp; Associates</strong>: Last year's party at Room Service has been downgraded to a night of bowling at Lucky Strike for this PR firm that works with celebrities like <strong>Leonardo DiCaprio</strong> and <strong>Ben Affleck</strong>.  </p>
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