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Parties

By Kim Velsey 1/30 1:27pm

Parties

Matthew Patrick Smyth designed this bedroom with globe-trotters in mind.

Sales After Sandy: 250 West Street’s Rainy Night Reveal

The Observer took a long, damp walk to 250 West Street last night for the condo conversion’s official debut (its target audience is clearly not the public transportation crowd), but the Hudson, thankfully, kept to itself on the far side of the highway.

It was not so well behaved last October, when Hurricane Sandy flooded the Tribeca building’s basement, delaying not only the move-in date, but the big reveal of three apartments gussied up by Hearst for its interior design showcase. (Some of the mechanicals in the basement had to be replaced.) Read More

By Matt Chaban 7/13/11 8:58am

Parties

Seal in '06. Those were the days.

Salesmanship in D Minor: The Real Estate Party Returns, In a Way

Gregory Spock is used to performing librettos before rapt audiences in concert halls from Hartford to Florence. Recently, the 26-year-old has found more intimate venues within the exposed-brick walls of New York townhouses. A Roland keyboard or a baby grand to his right, a pink bow tie around his neck, a songbook in his hands—Verdi always wows `em—Mr. Spock delivers bursts of baroque beauty, all for salesmanship.

Mr. Spock joined Manhattan brokerage Rubicon Property four months ago, after receiving his broker’s license in the winter. He said his new boss liked him for his creativity, which means saving money on those showings.

“A lot of people have food or wine now, but the entertainment isn’t thought out.”

Because who isn’t lulled into signing a multi-million dollar contract by the plaintive moans of Aida?

During last decade’s real estate boom, the real estate party, usually in a newly built condo tower, was a staple of the industry. After the recession hit, nobody could much afford them. Now they seem to be hobbling back, along with the real estate market. Read More

By Pamela Engel 6/30/11 1:16pm

Parties

510 Madison a while ago.

We Accidentally Check Out Boston Properties’ 510 Madison

Business seems to be moving along at 510 Madison, the luxury office building that developer Harry Macklowe traded to Mort Zuckerman’s Boston Properties last year. In addition to seeking major deals for multiple floors of office space, the building at Madison Avenue and 53rd Street is marketing to smaller tenants who would lease as little as 2,500 square feet (read: hedge funds).

“We have a great level of activity and we are willing to entertain deals from 2,500 square feet to multiple floors,” said CB Richard Ellis’ Paul Amrich, the rental agent for the building, at a cocktail party last night to introduce the building’s small-tenant program.

The Observer, upon  receiving an invitation (apparently by accident), stopped by the party to check out the new building. As it turns out, the party wasn’t open to reporters, but we got an inside look anyway. Read More

By Caitlin Nolan 4/08/11 8:13pm

Parties

Jon Stewart and Mario Batali Fête Food Bank in Chelsea

After quipping that the 2011 Can-Do Awards Gala was the nicest seder he had ever been to–and drawing attention to the especially “geometrical shape” of the Chelsea Piers banquet hall–guest Jon Stewart got serious.

“Four hundred thousand meals a day are served at the Food Bank,” Stewart said. “It really is a remarkable organization.”

The Read More

By Daniel D'Addario 3/22/11 5:35pm

Parties

Snob Hobnob: Russian Expats Talk Vertov Downtown

On Friday night, Snob magazine–the new print organ published by Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov so exclusive it’s only available in Russian–hosted a party at the Crosby Hotel. It was a classy affair, as befits a publication owned by a billionaire industrialist. The entertainment: a screening of the Dziga Vertov’s silent film Man With a Movie Read More

By Dan Duray 10/29/10 5:13pm

Parties

Rah Rah Rah! MSNBC Leans Forward

Last night when network execs, on-air personalities and hungry young producers stepped out of the elevator to the party celebrating MSNBC’s new slogan “Lean Forward” on the 49th floor of 7 World Trade Center, they were immediately blinded by yellow spotlights.

The entire space was encased on all sides by floor-to-ceiling windows offering an uptown-facing Read More