Event Venues: March Madness leads to summer rooftop "Mad"ness

If you are sweating out your brackets, take a minute to chill out and think about rooftop "Madness" at your next corporate meeting.  It will be 63 degrees in Manhattan on Saturday - that's not a typo - and it's not too early or late to think about planning a corporate event on one of the newest and trendiest rooftop venues in New York.

In fact, there is one we are particularly "mad" about and it has nothing to do with the word being in its name.  It's part of a rooftop trend that has moved away from obsession over views and toward luxury and thematic experiences.  In 2014, we are also expecting more rooftop venues to expand menu choices, which in-turn creates opportunities for meeting planners to book full evening galas versus cocktail hours.

Ellis Island Re-opens Today

One year after Hurricane Sandy left Ellis Island with major damage, the iconic landmark will re-open today.  Shackman Associates New York has been closely following the repairs and can quickly add a customized trip to Ellis Island to your New York corporate meeting.

We have run multiple events and gala that have incorporated the historic elements into events at Liberty State Park, which connects Ellis Island to the mainland New Jersey.  These events have included period actors who greet meeting attendees when our chartered ferry lands.  

Major Events: Brooklyn continues to boom with Video Music Awards

With the Video Music Awards (VMA's) being held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on August 25, New York City is proving once again that it is a top destination for major events and conventions.  In fact, the Barclays Center is now the #2 grossing arena in the world. 

Shackman Associates has been accommodating increasing requests by corporate meeting and destination incentive groups to hold major components of their trip to New York in Brooklyn.  The borough has a rich history and culture that does not exist anywhere else.  When the Barclays Center first opened, the area surrounding it was still a little raw from the massive construction project.  What a difference a year makes!

Event attendees can choose from multiple shopping venues around the arena and we are seeing new restaurants and coffee shops popping up that provide the hipster look and feel people love about the borough.

Photo courtesy of Sports-Kings

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is Here!

Morning Mimosas at the Statue of Liberty

Cruising around the Statue of Liberty does not have to an evening-only event.  Destination corporate meeting and incentive attendees are choosing morning excursions that are equally spectacular and often sail through much calmer water on the Hudson River.

Shackman Associates New York can develop morning cruises that include extravagant breakfasts, amenities for business component or speakers, and even a mimosa or two. 

Harvesting Corporate Incentives

It’s harvest season in New York and that includes several wineries right here in Manhattan.  If you’re planning a 2012 meeting in New York and looking for a convenient teambuilding event, city wineries have become ideal venues.

You’re probably wondering where a winery could find acres of land in Manhattan to rival the valleys of California or North Fork of Long Island.  The wineries here are very different, but the varietals offered (or created by you) are quite refreshing!

For example, one venue in Manhattan offers classes that are fun for teambuilding and features a concert stage for exclusive corporate meeting galas.  Another venue in Brooklyn is more intimate, harvests award-winning house wines and we have relationships that can provide corporate groups an exciting event throughout the entire facility, including its outdoor component (perfect for food vendors) and renowned picture booth.

While many New York restaurants serve wine from Long Island’s multiple vineyards, your group can enjoy a unique experience by harvesting a Fall event for your company here at a city winery.

Shackman Finds Secret NYC Restaurants for Meeting Attendees

Travelers often associate a business trip to New York City with a meal at one of the city's high-profile eateries.

At Shackman Associates, we can help meeting attendees find Manhattan's "secret" restaurants, which dining experiences small business groups will remember.  Some venues are initimate enough  - like the Wine Cellar at 21 - to accomodate a private lunch or dinner meeting of association executives.  Others are located in quiet neighborhoods that are close enough to hotels and nightlife without being inundated with tourists. 

For example, one venue just 5 blocks from the Gansevoort Hotel in Chelsea offers a private upstairs party room that few people know about and a lively lounge downstairs to continue an after-event celebration.  These kinds of venues are perfect for small incentive groups.
Want to eat New York's world-class sushi and avoid the lines in Midtown?  We are familiar with several Upper West Side establishments who can accommodate groups with an incredibly fresh menu of creative plates.

Hoping Metrazur Finds a New Home!

In true New York spirit, our team bid one last fond farewell to a New York Landmark. Home to over a decade of some of the best food in such an iconic setting, Metrazur is closing its doors as of July 1^st.

As an ode to the restaurant, we each listed our favorite dishes from over the past 11 years:

Allison: Any of their Seasonal Soups – fresh & filling
Emily: Happy Hour Cosmopolitans!
Ilana: Hand Cut Ahi Tuna Tartare with Taro Root Chips
Javier: Seared Sea Scallops with Crab Meat, Frisee, Lemon, Scallion Smoked Paprika, and Red Pepper Sage
Jeff: The Raisin Bread!
Karen: Lobster Cobb Salad
Krista: The Nero Di Seppia Risotto with Wood Oven Prawns
Mayra: Dessert… The Warm Chocolate Chip & Banana Financier… Yum!

PS…We hear that Metrazur is looking for a new outpost – so stay in touch with us to find out where and when!