2 "Raw" and "Racy" Ideas for Healthy Meetings and Incentives

Executives and meeting planners know that staying healthy on the road  helps attendees stay sharp in meetings.

Shackman Associates New York has 2 ideas to keep your meeting healthy and adventurous:

1. Healthy Menus.  We help develop menus for banquets and galas with a local flavor from produce growers and farmers.  New York is also the home to a boom in "raw food".  Restaurants with catering and event options have been popping up near hot, new boutique hotels and raw food - never cooked above 118 degrees Fahrenheit - has become a Manhattan gourmet delicacy with fans that include celebrities and former President Bill Clinton.  

2. Park races, active tours and scavenger hunts.   With more park space than any other major city, “active” eventsoptions are abundant throughout Manhattan.  Two attendee favorites are organized bike tours or races and scavenger hunts through Central and Riverside Parks.  During attendee downtime, there are numerous free options – including race walking  programs and 45-minute deep yoga sessions.  Several specialized yoga studios have opened in the Meatpacking District and many of Manhattan’s new hotels boasts state-of-the-art gyms.

Watch the Space Shuttle Arrive and Thrive at the USS Intrepid

On April 27, millions watched in awe as the Space Shuttle Enterprise flew up the Hudson River and over Manhattan on its way to JFK airport.  It will open on July 19 at the USS Intrepid Museum.

But the shuttle's journey isn't over.  Its final arrival is scheduled for sometime in June, and will involve another spectacle: The Enterprise will sail up the Hudson River and be hoisted, via crane, to the deck of the legendary carrier Intrepid.

The shuttle's "flight" over Manhattan lasted for seconds.  Its sailing will last hours and is a great idea for spending some downtime during your meeting. 

Shackman Associates New York has managed spectacular corporate events and galas on the USS Intrepid and the addition of the shuttle will make this a more attractive venue than ever. 

Photo courtesy of Wired.com

Meetings go Bump, Grind and Shimmy with Burlesque Events

Burlesque is making a huge comeback in movies, closets, fitness and mixology venues.  It can be also be a creative addition to your next corporate destination meeting.

Shackman Associates New York is on the cutting edge of this trend and your group can customize the burlesque experience.   This is an especially attractive option for spouses during incentive trips.  If you're not a performer, but if you want to learn to perform, burlesque classes help meeting attendees learn from some of the most experienced, fun-loving, and successful people in the industry.

Classes teach multiple forms of the art and your experience can end there or continue by watching your instructors perform live on stage later in the evening!

Corporate Incentive Shopping Experiences Evolve in NYC

Shackman Associates has coordinated special shopping experiences for incentive travel clients, and while a few glasses of champagne at Saks 5th Avenue remains popular, this is an experience that has become exponentially more imaginative throughout the city.

Want something funky?  Boutiques in the Lower East Side and SoHo are pushing the envelope with the latest designs from Italy and independent designers.

If you want to completely bypass the showroom, we recommend "Behind the Scenes Tours" with manufacturers in the Garment District.  You'll get the first crack at hot fashion before the retailers do and manufacturers are providing comfort at the level you'll see at any storefront on 5th Avenue.



Destination Incentive shopping tours today provide the shoes you'll wear at the beach this summer.



Private shopping tours are providing the same comfort you'll get at major retailers.

A Very "Cheesy" Meeting and Incentive

Many business travelers visiting New York make a point of trying the city's world famous pizza and bagels.  We have arranged pizza tours for meeting and incentive groups and they are wildly popular with attendees.

In 2011, business travelers sought food trucks for every occasion.

In 2012, a new dish might be surpassing all of them - Gourmet Mac and Cheese.  The New York Post recently reported thMac and Cheese is the #1 ordered food in Manhattan and some of New York's top Chefs are taking an old classic to new and delicious levels.   For example, if you haven’t tried NYC’s  buffalo chicken Mac and Cheese, we know who makes the most unique versions - perfect for extended meeting breaks, cocktail reception buffets  and working lunches.

The New "King" on Broadway

"The Lion King" has officially become the #1 all-time grossing production on Broadway, surpassing "Phantom of the Opera".  According to the show's producer, Lion King has taken in $853,846,062. It's an incredidle accomplishment because "The Lion King's" run on Broadway has been 10 years shorter than "Phantom."

Shackman Associates New York has provided corporate meetings and incentive travel groups up-close experiences for shows like "The Lion King" that includes theatre tours, backstage access and interaction with leading characters.

Magic and Bird: The Broadway Show the Guys in Your Meeting or Incentive Group Will Love

If your next destination business meeting is shaping up to be "guy-centric", Magic-Bird opens this Wednesday on Broadway and groups of men who have seen the preview together say it might be better than the product you'll see down 7th Avenue at Madison Square Garden.

The production is a celebration of one of basketball's storied rivalries between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.  Magic and Bird met in one of college basketball's most revered championship games, again 3 times as professionals in the NBA finals, and lastly as teammates for the first Olympic "Dream Team" in 1992.   

The show also covers Magic Johnson's stunning revelation that he had the HIV virus - and according to what we hear, it will send a tear down the face of the most hardened corporate CEO.

Basketball has exploded in popularity around the globe and international meeting attendees are likely to recognize the main characters.  Even if they don't, Magic-Bird is riding a new trend of transformative Broadway productions that are making "catching a show" more popular than ever while in New York City.

Destination Downtown NYC: The New Conrad Hotel

BATTERY PARK CITY (BPC) is boasting a new arrival! Set to make its formal debut this week is The Conrad, a brand new incarnation of a former property strategically positioned to offer sweeping views of the Hudson River and beyond.

Considered to be a sophisticated sanctuary of modern elegance in the Financial District, this 16 story, 463-suite property with a dramatic lobby brings to the neighborhood approximately 30,000 sq.ft. of event and meeting space, and some pretty unique artwork which is dotted around the hotel. A rooftop terrace, opening later in the season, will provide 360 degree views of the New York City skyline and the Hudson River.

Just to add another dimension to this new area to explore, three restaurants owned by renowned restaurant, Danny Meyer, flank The Conrad – Blue Smoke, Shake Shack and North End Grill. So, if you need your fix in BPC, this is the place to go

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The Speakeasy meets Mixology: NYC's hottest new corporate meeting and incentive event

They are sexy, classy, warm, vintage, and just a touch mysterious.  Welcome to the world of the 2012 Speakeasy in New York City. 

In the 1920's, Speakeasies were born throughout New York as hidden sections of a respected  establishments that were used to illegally sell alcoholic beverages during Prohibition.  You don't need a password to gain admittance, but it's a good idea to plan ahead if you want to hold an event at one. 

Shackman Associates New York has tapped into the Speakeasy boom in New York and unlike their predecessors a century ago, today's Speakeasies are combining the world's best mixologists with top chefs, luxury, and jazz entertainment similar to what you would find in 1925. 

Here are 3 liquid reasons - attendee favorites - to consider a Speakeasy event for your next meeting:

1. Sloe Gin Ginger Sling, made of Beefeater Gin, Plymoth Sloe Gin, Cherry Heering, Orchard Apricot Liqueur, Fresh Lime Juice, Ginger Extract, Cane Extract and Chilled Perrier.

2. The Green Fairy, made of Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Marschino Liquer, Raw Egg and Nutmeg.
3. The Dark & Stormy, made of Goslings Black Seal Rum, Falernum, Fresh Lime Juice, Fresh Ginger Extract, Angostura Bitters, Cane Syrup and Chilled Perrier.

3 Big Changes at South Street Seaport

The South Street Seaport has been a hotspot of New York City visitors for 27 years, but the facility hasn't been looking so hot - until now.

3 big changes are coming to the Seaport's 90,000 sqaure-foot complex:

1. Windows, lots of them!  The Seaport looks like a barn right now, and that will be replaced with 3 levels of floor to ceiling windows, offering sweeping views of the East River.

2. A rooftop park.  Looks to be the East Side's version of the popular High Line.

3. New, high-end tenants.  While tourists have frequented the souvenier and T-shirt shops, the venue's top retailers - JCrew, Victoria's Secret and Express - have performed quite well and similar stores are coming soon.

 

Eat the Centerpiece too!

Edible centerpieces have become incredibly popular at corporate meetings and events.  A crowd-favorite here in New York City are cupcakes and we paired demand with the city’s first-ever Broadway-inspired cupcake! For example, we can develop a pistachio cupcake centerpiece based on the stage musical Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert's trademark dancing cupcake costumes. Pistachio meringue butter cream topped with a meringue kiss, bright edible confetti and iridescent "disco dust" also saves the environment!

Fashion Week Reinvents Major Trade Shows

Amid the debate about whether New York needs a massive convention center in Queens comes another successful February Fashion Week in 2012.

New York's Fashion Week is considered the premier event in its industry and has stayed on top by boldly evolving, improving the experience for visitors and attendees, and taking advantage of the hospitality venues that speak to its audience.  Manhattan has become a transformative hotel market and properties are continually opening that combine design, convenience, excitement, comfort, and technology. 

When Fashion Week organizers decided to move from makeshift tents at Bryant Park to the renovated elegance of Lincoln Center, they were met with some groans of nostalgia.  That was for an event held in September, which is widely considered the nicest weather month of the year in New York.  Despite a mild winter, the contrast between the February version built over grass that can get icy, cold and sloppy versus at an iconic venue with more controlled atmospheres is more pronounced. 

New York offers so any choices of venues for holding a show, it's not hard please specific attendees at one or multiple unique locations that suit their style, mobility, business requirements, and thirst for entertainment.  In our opinion, this is the true future of major events. 

And if you think New York's most conventional exposition venue - the Javits Center - has somehow lost its mojo, think again.  It's book solid for the next few years.

BROADWAY UPDATE: Catch Philip Seymour Hoffman for 16 Weeks

Philip Seymour Hoffman is headed to Broadway for 16 weeks as the star of Death of a Salesman.

Previews begin on February 13 and the supporting cast includes; Linda Emond, a Tony Award nominee and the actress who played opposite of Meryl Streep in "Julie and Julia"; and Andrew Garfield, who played "Eduardo" in the 2010 film, "The Social Network."

Shackman Associates regularly provides corporate meeting and incentive groups with exciting Broadway experiences that have included backstage tours and themed events based on popular productions. 

3 More Ways to "Heat" up Outdoor Corporate Events in the Winter

Shackman Associates New York recently published ideas on how to hold outdoor corporate events in the winter that included retractable roofs and sophisticated snuggies. 

In 2012, we're shedding the robes and focusing our eyes in the opposite direction:

1. Heated Floors.  Some of New York's top rooftop venues will keep you on your toes with spectacular views and keep them warm too with floors that automatically heat up when the temperature drops to 32 degrees Farenheit.

2. Fire Pits and Pitas.  It's no longer impossible to find a fire pit east of the Rockies!  Legal ones, that is.  "Porch" style venues are incorpating a touch of the wild west with other amenities like the ever-popular food truck.  If your event is in the evening, the city's numerous taco and greek food trucks can be added to a fire-side teambuilding chat.

3. Wind-resistant heated tents.  Heated tents aren't necessarily a revelation, but if you can erect one that withstands 100mph winds, now you're on to something.  Ok, New York City winter winds aren't that bad, but they can sure whip around a corner in January and February.  Event venues with heated, flapped tents are now offering a truly outdoor experience with wind-chill-supplanting room temperatures.

Still cold?  New York City's mixologists are creating new drinks in the New Year including ginger juleps, honey and tobacco-infused rum, tequila spiced with chili.

LED Events Illuminate 2012

LED is taking lighting and digital video anywhere for any kind of event.  Whether it is taking lighting under water to light flowers, lighting trees without needing wires, and even putting LED lighting in fabric  - do not worry about starting a fire, the possibilities are endless.   Here's an example of how far lighting has advanced – Shackman Associates New York organized a 10-boat flotilla a few years ago for 2,500 meeting attendees on the Hudson River with each boat lit in a different color.  This was an enormous, laborious project that would take a fraction of the time to pull off today.

Video lighting has advanced to the point where a meeting can feature paper-thin video screens and walls of steam for videos.  Events can replicate things in real life you used to only see in movies.  With enough creativity, events can do almost anything with lighting.

BROADWAY NEWS

“Spider-Man  Turn Off the Dark”  reigns supreme!.After it’s on again off again start, Spider-Man has now achieved the distinction of the highest single-week grossing show in Broadway history!  Nine shows during the Christmas/New Year period yielded almost $3 million dollars.  Who would have thought this show would have soared to such great heights after such a bumpy start!

“The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” is back on Broadway featuring the one and only Audra McDonald.  Ms. McDonald’s significant fan base can catch her in the title role stirring up a storm with Norm Lewis in this dramatic new staging of the classic musical.  Not to be missed!!

“Harry Potter” makes way for “GLEE” in “How to Success in Business Without Really Trying” .Or, should we say, Darren Criss (aka Blaine in “GLEE”) has taken over the role of  J. Pierrepont Finch from the venerable Daniel Radcliffe, who opened in the role of this new production.  Following in their footsteps (or dance shoes) is Nick Jonas (of The Jonas Brothers) who will take the stage on January 24.  As you can imagine, tickets are selling like hot cakes!

Happy New Year from SANY!

As Times Square 2011 winds down, we at SANY have been actively gearing up for the busy-ness of 2012. New York is proud to host the following annual events, and SANY is happy to be providing customized services for clients participating in many of these events.




Jan 15-18          Nat Retail Federation Annual Convention & Expo
Jan 28- Feb 2    New York International Gift Fair
Feb 9-16           New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012
Mar 2-4             New York Times Travel Show
Mar 22-25         International Vision Expo
Apr 6-15           New York International Auto Show
Apr 22-24         International Beauty Show
June 5-7           Book Expo America
June 16-24       Pride Week
July 4               Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular
Oct 11-14         New York Comic Con
Nov 4               ING New York City Marathon
Nov 22             Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

See you in New York in 2012!

90,000 Reasons Why Rooms Matter

Travel and Leisure Magazine recently released a survey of top US winter destinations, and while January New York City weather wasn’t ideal for some, the city is accomodating more groups and more major events regardless of the climate and hotel room capacity is a big reason why. 

New York City will reach a record 90,000 rooms by the end of 2011 and another 7,000 are on the way from 50 hotels that are expected to open in 2013.

Despite a global recession, New York City’s hotel rooms have increased by 24% since 2006 and occupancy rates have led the country at 85%.  These aren’t motels off an interstate exit – some of the world’s top boutique hotels are opening in all five boroughs and celebrity chefs are battling each other for restaurant space in each of these venues.

As a leading DMC, Shackman Associates New York has found that business meeting clients and corporate incentive groups love the design elements, technology and cuisine options at New York City's new breed of boutiques. 

More Apple in the Big Apple

Grand Central Station was the center of the tech universe this as Apple opened its newest store in the iconic transportation hub.

For anyone who loved the the location's previous venue - Metrazur - it's a bittersweet thing.  A site for multiple galas and meeting events, we're hoping Metrazur finds a new home in Manhattan and that other distinctly "New York" venues remain where they are for travelers from around the world to enjoy.

3 Ideas to Add Spice, Smiles and even a Soprano to Your Meeting Entertainment

You don’t have to send your entire meeting delegation to a off-site venue to get a flavor of New York’s most unique entertainment experience.  Shackman Associates New York is bringing some great entertainers right to the ballroom.  Here are 3 examples:

1.      Drag Queens as Event MCs.  While New York City boasts several very famous venues, getting a group into Lucky Chengs can take forever, and the quarters a bit cramped.  We recently brought an act to a large ballroom gala where hundreds of attendees were entertained without having to leave the meeting venue.

2.       Comedians.   New York City is the home to thousands of incredibly talented comedians, and the ratio of performers to venues is staggering.   Many young comedians are graduates of highly-ranked 4-year colleges and will take extra time to develop a clever gig that is customized toward your group.

3.      Opera singers.  You don’t need to visit Lincoln Center to hear great opera singing.  Opera singers are appearing at private venues throughout New York and can add an extra touch of class at a gala for your corporate meeting or destination incentive trip.

 

                                                            Photo Courtesy of Sodahead

Meetings Channel Your Inner Rockstar

Worried about what the entertainment at your meeting's gala will sound like? Why not become the entertainment!   Shackman Associates New York recently helped a destination corporate meeting client do just that. 

We can mix meeting groups of all sizes with local New York musicians who have toured with some of the biggest acts in the world and create, within one day, original music about the corporate conference - ok, it probably had to be amusing! - or about something the company is doing that is really cool.

It's not even remotely close to karaoke - instead, meeting attendees rehearse in a professional studio with band members one day and perform on-stage the next night.

Hugh Jackman Continues Parade of Big Stars Coming to Broadway

If your corporate meeting group is looking for a unique experience in New York, Shackman Associates New York is pleased to report that Hugh Jackman is bringing concert act to Broadway for an eight-week run. Previews begin October 25 at the Broadhurst Theatre. The limited run closes January 1.

Backed by an 18-piece orchestra, Tony Award winner Jackman will perform a selection of his favorite musical numbers, including tunes fromThe Boy from Oz.

Jackman's stage credits include Oklahoma! at Britain's National Theatre and award-winning work in Sunset Boulevard and Beauty & the Beast in his native Australia. Known for his film roles in the X-Men trilogy, Jackman will be seen in the film version of Les Miserables.

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.

QR Invades Fashion Week!

QR is about to become this year’s craze at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, which starts on Thursday.

No, it's not a designer - instead, QR (Quick Response) is a 2-D barcode that can be scanned by a smart phone's camera and transfer information. Based on the type of code it is, it might direct the viewer to a website, make a phone call, deliver a vCard, or view a map and picture.

Diesel just launched an innovative campaign where customers can scan a QR code on a product, and be redirected to the Fan Page where they can check out other looks and the content available on the page.

Thousands of bloggers who attend major shows like Fashion Week will incorporate QR codes they see at the tents into mobile blogging.  By incorporating Fashion GPS that was so successful last year, QR at designer booths, and mobile shared-image communities such as Instagram, bloggers will have more influence than ever!

New Luxury Signature and Boutique Hotels in Midtown Manhattan

Shackman Associates New York has reviewed exciting boutique hotels in Chelsea, Nolita, and Downtown that host meeting and corporate incentive groups.   This exciting trend has now reached Midtown with two properties – The Setai and Chatwal – that offer almost 5,000 square feet of corporate meeting space. 

The Setai offers meeting groups close proximity to Bryant Park and an event venue that directly overlooks Fifth Avenue.  The Chatwal’s modern amenities compliment an atmosphere that take meeting groups back in time to the heyday of New York’s famous Lamb’s Club, Built in 1905, this Stanford White-designed building was a clubhouse for The Lambs, America’s first professional theater club, and served as home away from home for its members such as Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, John Barrymore, Spencer Tracy and Fred Astaire. These infamous notables spent many a night in their “grill room” swapping tales, and breaking into song.

With luxury making a comeback at corporate meetings and incentives, New York City continues to roll-out spectacular hotels on iconic properties.

Photo courtesy of NYCGo

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.

Copacabana Re-Opens in Times Square!

The Copacabana is making its comeback in Times Square with their new 25,000 square foot restaurant and dance club. The Copa, which has been without a home since 2007, has taken over the former China Club space near Times Square. After undergoing a full renovation, the space will reopen as a restaurant and dance club, complete with a glass enclosed rooftop, nightly live music acts, a 16-seat bar and 125 varieties of rum.  Of course, the"retro-glamorous" Supper Club vibe is back too. The chef will be Alex Garcia, the Nuevo Latino fixture who opened Patria with Douglas Rodriguez before going on to launch Calle Ocho, and then Gaucho Staek Company and Carniceria in Brooklyn

The four story space officially opens to the public on July 12^th boasting the beloved Copa Dancers.

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!

Hold a Meeting at NYC's Most Intimate Museums and Iconic Venues

If you were attending an architectural conference in New York, how great would it be to enjoy a special lunch in what is considered one of the world’s “Great Buildings?”

And while it is not exactly a museum, how about a dinner for a financial meeting on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange?

Shackman Associates New York has helped meeting groups hold unique events in both iconic and unique venues in Manhattan.  As summer tourists jam major museums, we recommend lesser-traveled venues with incredible exhibits and charm.  For example, New York City is home to museums where high-quality art can be viewed comfortably in two hours and features paintings from the great European artists most meeting attendees would recognize.  Some museums were originally private art collections in mansions, are presented to help visitors enjoy the artwork in the same manner as mansion-owner, and include ornate furniture and grand architecture that can be enjoyed as much as the exhibits themselves!

We recently held a dinner for an association at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendure exhibit with live performers.  Whether your meeting wants to think big or intimate, New York has plenty of venues to satisfy your thirst for a unique museum experience!   

Association Dinner at the Temple of Dendur

Celebrate America in Style at Your 2012 Meeting

New York City’s July 4^th Fireworks Show is returning to the Hudson River and is considered the one of the best in the world. 

With July 4^th landing in Mid-Week for 2012, piggybacking a destination meeting around the 4th could provide your attendees a unique experience, especially if your group is International.  For example, we are taking clients on a site inspection during this year’s Independence Day in anticipation for their 2012 meeting.   

While New Yorkers scramble to find rooftops and crowded piers to watch Fireworks, we suggest rooftop venues where we have close relationships with proprietors or better yet, a yacht cruise.  There are chartered yachts available for Hudson River cruises and if you want something more exclusive, we work closely with private yacht companies who can provide your meeting attendees with an unforgettable experience on the water.   

Meetings Go Flash Mob in New York

AT&T has been airing a brilliantly funny commercial featuring a Flash Mob - scheduled for Grand Central Station - that goes horribly south when one of the participants doesn’t get a text message postponing the event for 30 minutes.

Fortunately for meeting groups, “Oops Mobs” can be avoided with expert planning and close relationships DMC’s have with popular Mob venues. We’re organizing Flash Mobs throughout the city, including a recent one at Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.

Meeting attendees love the idea of showing up a landmark they want to see in a very unique way. It’s certainly not your average tour of New York and that’s what makes Flash Mobs so memorable. They are increasingly supplementing board rooms, ballrooms and conference rooms as the hot corporate and incentive teambuilding venue in New York City.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd8ppk0UCx8

Splish, Splash! Cool Off by New York's Spectacular Hotel Pools for Meetings, Incentives and Events

Manhattan offers meeting groups choices of poolside venues that would make any cul-de-sac subdivision in Arizona or Florida jealous. 

There are nine premier pools in New York that combine meeting elements by day with spectacular evening pool venues overlooking the city skyline.  Shackman Associates New York puts its relationships with hoteliers to work in creating unique summer pool experiences that locals often claim is one of the best reasons to live in Manhattan.

Unique Shows and Big Stars Take Broadway by Storm

We are fortunate to have top stars and writers leading a new breed of musicals and plays In New York City:
The House of Blue Leaves. While the production is not new, it now boasts stars Edie Falcofrom The Sopranos and Ben Stiller who has starred in multiple Hollywood box office hits including Meet the Parents.

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Starring comedian Robin Williams, the lives of two American Marines and an Iraqi translator are forever changed by an encounter with a quick-witted tiger who haunts the streets of war-torn Baghdad attempting to find meaning, forgiveness and redemption amidst the city’s ruins.

The Book of Mormon follows two young Missionaries, a go-getter and a nerd, who are sent to Uganda to convert citizens to the Mormon religion. Composed by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone with Avenue Q’s Robert Lopez, the production features the animated TV series’ signature brand of intelligent yet over-the-top humor.

Marie and Bruce. If you want to experience theater like a real New Yorker, Off-Broadway productions are featuring A-List talent. A remake of Marie and Bruce opened on April 7 and stars Oscar-winning actress Marissa Tomeiand Frank Whaley of Pulp Fiction.

ShackmanAssociates has close relationships with production companies throughout Manhattan and has worked with groups to secure unique theater experiences.

11 Ideas for NYC Meetings and Events in '11 - #1 Food Trucks!

Every New Yorker knows you really haven’t dined in Manhattan unless you sample the street food.  Food trucks and carts have become so competitive and unique, the city now holds a major competition every September with thousands of attendees. Even Iron Chef Bobby Flay couldn’t out-duel a curbside chef on a recent episode of “Throwdown".
Shackman Associates New York has incorporated food trucks into meetings and it’s getting rave reviews. Our favorite ideas include:
Welcome Trucks – try greeting meeting attendees on arrival with one of New York’s top trucks outside the hotel. We have used cupcake vendors.

Walk and Waffle – After a group walking tour of Central Park, we provided a Waffle Truck for attendees to refuel with tasty energy.

Hot Dogs in the Ballroom – New York is famous for its street dogs. If your meeting needs a quick break, we bring the hot dog cart to you with all the delicious fixings.

Spiderman Returns from the Dark

It’s baaaack. After taking a deep breath for a month and with some re-tooling, Spiderman Turn Off The Dark returned to the Foxwoods Theater last week for several preview performances for its second opening in June. We checked it out on Saturday. Among the notable changes is the new beginning that, quite frankly, makes more sense and returns the show to its comic book roots.


Although the show’s recent controversies have made it a hot ticket and its Playbill sometimes doubling as an injury report, Spiderman is still a must-see among a new breed of exciting Broadway production. After all, Bono is still the man behind the music!

Boot Camps, Latin Beats and Bike Lanes - 3 Warm Weather Ideas to Keep Your Meeting Fit and Fun

We are constantly being asked by meeting groups to ensure hotels have fitness facilities for attendees. Many of them, especially the properties that have recently opened, do. But isn’t spending a free hour or two isolated in a hotel gym a drag when it’s absolutely beautiful outside?


Here are 3 fit and fun-loving group ideas to keep your meeting attendees active.

1. Central Park Fitness Boot Camps – Tired of step-classes in a sweaty gym? New York’s top personal trainers like Duke Diet model Josh Margolis conduct “Boot Camps” for corporate groups in green pastures with spectacular views of Manhattan’s skyline.

Photos Courtesy of Josh Margolis - Mind over Matter NYC

2. Salsa, Anyone? - While it’s not hard to find a restaurant or club that offers Salsa lessons, it’s even better to hold a group Summer Salsa Night in Riverside Park with the cool breezes of the Hudson River. This venue idea offers a great evening of music and more views of the skyline with the backdrop of the George Washington Bridge and Palisades Mountains to the north.

3. New York now a Biker’s Paradise – We have arranged many bike tours of Central Park and with the Mayor’s enthusiastic expansion of designated bikes lanes, we can help your meeting map out diverse and exciting routes throughout Manhattan.

UPDATE: We have just organized a 100-meeting-attendee bike tour of the West Side along the Hudson River which then routes our cyclists across lower Manhattan and over the Brooklyn Bridge!

Raptors and Ribs in New York

In a city where people think big, it's no surprise that the world's largest dinosaurs also liked Manhattan. 

While we are a few million years removed from the days when a pack T-Rexes moved at the speed of a cabbie down Broadway, The American Museum of Natural History's newest special exhibit offers your group the next best close encounter with the World's Largest Dinosaurs.  The exhibition features life-size bones and cutting-edge research on gigantic Sauropods, including the Mamenchisaurus, which was thought to be the largest living creature to ever exist on earth. 

Pre-historic Manhattan residents that size were probably hungry often - too bad they didn't have a venue like Dinosaur Barb-B-Que to satisfy their appetite.  Your group, however, does!  Considered by locals as the best wings and barbecued ribs on the East Coast, Dinosaur Barb-B-Que offers a unique, fun flavor of New York your meeting or incentive group will savor.

Dora Will Explore Times Square One More Time

With the Macy's flower show in full bloom, it should be noted that the store's biggest event - The Thanksgiving Day Parade - will stay on its current route down Broadway for one more year. In 2012, however, that may change.


Parade organizers have discussed moving the parade to 6th Avenue, which may create great uncertainty for any visitors looking for a top viewing location.. Over the years, SANY has helped meeting groups, especially those traveling from international destinations who have extended events into Thanksgiving, obtain great indoor venues from which to view the parade.

2011 may be a once-in-a-lifetime last chance to witness the Macy's Parade along its most revered and iconic route. Otherwise, be sure that we will be looking for new venues along the new parade route – wherever that may be.

Parks and Recreation (Not the TV Show!): NYC Gets Greener

Did you realize that New York City has more miles of waterfront than Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Portland combined?

It also has the highest percentage of land used for parks - 19.5% than any other high-density in the US. If you want the great outdoors as a important component of your corporate meeting, things are about to get even better in the Big Apple.

Mayor Bloomberg just announced 20-year, $700 million capital funding project that will help acquire 50 acres of new waterfront parks, expand and improve 10 existing parks and develop 14 new greenways and esplanades. New boat launches are under consideration as well as integrating city heliports into parks for showing weekly movies during the summer.

One of the most unusual outdoor marvels in New York - High Line Park – will open Phase II this Spring. Built on an elevated platform and running 1.54 miles through Manhattan’s trendy Chelsea section, High Line is a sustainable-living success story because it replaced rotting rail tracks that were once an eye-sore and potentially, a long-term environmental hazard.

Want to learn exactly how green New York is? Check this out:

Lights, Not Dark, Briefly Turned Off for Spider Man - Consumers Remain Turned On

One of the most technically elaborate and controversial Broadway musicals of all time, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark is ironically turning off the lights for a brief hiatus.  We expect demand to continue and will facilitate meeting planner requests as production resumes. 

Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark brings the Manhattan skyline to life on stage and features incredible aerial stunts as Spider-Man flies over the audience to fight his foes.  The musical features a rock score penned by famed U2 musicians Bono and the Edge.

Current cancellation dates are as follows:

All performances from April 19, 2011 to May 11, 2011 have been cancelled. Preview performances will resume on May 12, 2011.



Photo courtesy of http://www.broadway.com/

Additionally, performances on June 12, 14 and 15 have been cancelled. 

Spice up Your Meeting with Dancing Desserts, Cult Wines and Seductive Lambs

Remember when the typical choice for meeting food was “the chicken” or “the beef”?

Menus have become more interesting. Much more interesting! New York City is home to some of the world’s most unique venues for usual food and beverage pairings. Here are three we recommend for your next business trip or corporate meeting:

1. The Priscilla, Queen of Broadway Cupcakes – We’ve been known to score exclusive backstage passes at Broadway shows for meeting groups and now they can be paired with the city’s first-ever Broadway-inspired cupcake! The Rockefeller Center’s Magnolia Bakery recently teamed up with Academy Award-winning designers Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner's to develop a pistachio cupcake based on the stage musical’s trademark dancing cupcake costumes. Pistachio meringue butter cream is topped with a meringue kiss, bright edible confetti and iridescent "disco dust!"

Courtesy of http://www.broadway.com/
2. Suds and Seduction at Jimmy’s 43 – If you have visited the Delirium Café in Belguim, Jimmy’s is its US brother without the overwhelming feeling of having to pick from one of 2,000 beers. Jimmy’s also has perhaps the best slow-roasted lamb riblets on either continent. They are “Marvin Gaye of meats” the wait staff will tell you! Jimmy's selection of lamb plates comes from 3-Corner Field Farm, a renowned producer of grass-fed lamb. For meeting groups, we recommend pairing the riblets, rich lamb tongue, creamy fried brains and veal cheeks with a tasting of the venue's renowned foamy IPA's.

3. Chambers Street Wines – The owners describe their selections as “cult wines” partially because every item in the store is made from low-sulfur US wineries and bottled without pesticides or herbicides. Chambers Street works with groups to organize wine tastings at the store or on location at your meeting.

Mondrian New York: A Fusion of Style, Simplicity, Fantasy and Reality

New York's growing supply of "hot hotels" just got even warmer with the opening of the Mondrian SOHO. 

The 270-room hotel, whose original opened on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood,  unites a deeply rooted appreciation of the outdoors and a relaxed, casual living atmosphere with a pervasive sense of magic, glamour and excitement.  For example, the Mondrian New York features indoor-outdoor bar and dining venues that include lush enchanted gardens and informal social seating. Executive Chef Sam Talbot, formerly of Top Chef renowned healthy cuisine guru, is offering guests a spectacular menu of modern day east coast seafood.

The Mondrian also features over 4,700 square feet of meeting space including the following options keeping with the hotel's overall theme:  The Gallery, The Gallery Terrace, The Penthouse, and The Penthouse Terrace.

Shackman Associates New York recently had the opportunity to take a pre-opening tour of the property and it is truly a special venue!

4 Ideas to Enjoy a Glimpse of Yesteryear in NYC

In the spirit of Presidents' Day, we've come up with four ideas to help your corporate meeting group  experience a slice of history in New York and America - one of which tastes as good as it sounds!

Ellis Island Comes to Life!

From April 16 through Labor Day Weekend, An exciting new30-minute LIVE theatrical production in the intimate Ellis Island Living Theatre will features Lady Liberty’s 125th Anniversary and the immigrant experience.  Professional actors provide a multi-cultural experience by including contemporary immigrants in the storyline.

New York’s Historical Society gets a Facelift

Fresh from a $65 million renovation, the New York Historical Society is re-opening on November 11 and will be surrounded by exciting events and four centuries of New York history.  One of the highlights will be the Civil Rights Gallery on the second floor. The first exhibition will be photographs of African Americans who were leaders in the fight for civil rights in the 20th century by British photographer Platon.

Also on the second floor will be a new gallery featuring some of Peter Marie's collection of miniatures of the beautiful women of Gilded Age society next to their photographs from the famous Vanderbilt Ball of 1883. And throughout the rest of the second floor are the Revolutions! exhibit and Big City Views, featuring large-scale views of American cities, including maps, prints and photographs.

Speaking of Revolutions...

Although the Boston Tea Party is commonly associated with the first American tax revolt, the REAL work to fight “Taxation Without Representation” was done at Federal Hall in downtown Manhattan. Rebuilt as a Customs House at its Wall Street location, Federal Hall is the birthplace of American government. George Washington took the oath of office as our first President at Federal Hall, and this site was home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices. The Bill of Rights was written here too!

“Consume” history

Pete’s Tavern first opened its doors in 1864 and this achievement makes Pete's Tavern both an official historical landmark and the longest continuously operating bar and restaurant in New York City. It even stayed open during Prohibition...disguised as a flower shop! Pete's Tavern is proud of its history and steadfastly maintains its traditions. It still looks as exactly as it did when its most celebrated regular O. Henry wrote the classic Gift of The Magi at his favorite booth by the front doors in 1902. Pete's Tavern also continues to serve much of its original-recipe Italian-American cuisine and its highly prized 1864 Original Ale.

Been there, done that? 3 Ideas to Keep Your New York Meeting Fresh!

Even if your company is meeting in New York for the first time, there’s a good chance your attendees have been there before in some capacity.

Here are 3 unique ideas to keep the wow factor alive in the city that never sleeps:

#1 - Enhanced Orientations

We have developed the sightseeing component into a different dimension that allows guests to explore areas which are not necessarily on "the beaten path". Your hotel might be well-known, but the tour stops don’t have to be! Venues include the Cloisters and more “local” sights north and south of Midtown Manhattan. We like to include fantastic lunches at neighborhood venues not usually frequented by tourists. On one occasion, our client required a final night “wow” event to keep with their standing in the industry. An exclusive event at The Metropolitan Museum was the ideal solution. The cocktail reception was held in the Charles Englehard Court and to further personalize the event, we added an element of iconic ‘living statues’ – great for pictures – to the ones already in place.

Photo of The Cloisters courtesy of Washington College

#2 - Manhattan in a Room

If the right venue is chosen, three major, yet thematically diverse evening events at a host hotel can accommodate numbers, budgets and thirsts for an authentic New York flavor. We have transformed the same ballroom into something very unique so guests would not feel that they were in the same space on three consecutive nights. On Night One at one meeting, we recreated the Manhattan skyline with the building tops functioning as performance stages on which we featured a cross-cultural snapshot of the city relating to a variety of dance styles, music and performance art. Night Two was awards night which required very formal elegant gold tones with heavy use of floral design and candelabras reflecting the seriousness of the evening. Night Three was “let your hair down time” and, since we were in Times Square, the theme was reminiscent of a big Times Square dance party replete with neon, glitter and confetti and two fun bands.

#3 - New York without 11 million people

We recently worked with a flooring association convention where afterwards, we arranged for the association's corporate executives to meet at the Mohonk Mountain retreat in upstate New York. Only two hours from Manhattan, Mohonk is a spectacular business meeting venue that offers privacy and a host of amenities for spouses and the executives themselves (on an after-meeting-hours basis). Our effort to combine the convention and retreat into one trip not only made sense economically, we also helped key association members get away from frantic pace and lights of the big city into a location that helped them think clearly and develop strategic initiatives that the association reports is helping the industry as a whole emerge strongly from recession.

3 "Tasty" NYC Corporate Incentives

The Bravo TV network recently aired an episode of Top Chef Season 3 in which the remaining competitors were awakened by internationally acclaimed cookbook author Padma Lakshmi and asked to make breakfast for her in a hotel meeting room. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it?

If you’re on a Corporate Incentive trip to New York, think again. You could soon be served a pajama-clad breakfast by one of the best chefs in America. Or other meals too.

Here are three 3 ways to incorporate “I” for Iron Chef in your next “I” for incentive trip:

Chef Incoming! – New York hotels are leading a new trend of contracting with celebrity chefs to provide meals as extravagant as room service for select guests. While that may be beyond most meeting budgets, importing a chef for a luncheon or dinner is a win-win for everyone. For attendees – great food. For the chef – more access to a high-end audience who increasingly shares culinary recommendations with others and online.

Workin’ Out, Eatin’ out – We recommend scheduling activities such as bike tours of Central Park that are followed by a meal at a celebrity-chef restaurant. Many of these venues love mid-day incentive groups and let’s face it, a healthy bike ride through Central Park’s hills will work up a hearty appetite!

Deliciously Raw – If you haven’t noticed, raw food has come a long way from a carrot on a stick. Venues such as Pure Food and Wine are quickly becoming business travel favorites and let’s face it – if former burger-lover Bill Clinton eats there, they must be onto something!

3 Tech Trends Not Named iPhone Take NYC Business Meetings by Storm

If Verizon is going to eat $5 billion to get their version of the iPhone in as many hands as possible, it’s a safe bet business travelers will have plenty of opportunities to try out more gadgets than ever in 2011.

Manhattan, the site of Verizon’s iPhone announcement, has always been the most fertile ground for tech launches. We recently blogged that technology companies are sponsoring, breakfasts cocktail hours and special demos for meeting attendees.

Here are more 4 tech trends, especially attractive in Manhattan, to keep an eye on this year:

1. “Grown-up” Social Media – Have you noticed that tweeting the play-by-play at a meeting or conference has lost some of its cache? Attendees at large meetings in New York - often located at multiple hotels - are using now social media to prepare for the meeting, learn more about other attendees, and schedule one-on-one time off-site. Utilizing sites such Pathable helps DMC’s like ours plan more of the after-hours activities that are poised to make a major comeback in 2011.

2. Mobile Itineraries – Verizon and AT&T may be jockeying for iPhone supremacy, but the real battle in New York for business travelers is among consumer-originating itinerary providers like Dopplr, TripIt and WorldMate. Furthermore, potential sponsors including Amadeus, Concur, Rearden Commerce, Sabre, Travelport TRX, are putting their mobile development and marketing dollars into what has been coined as traveler-centric buyer.

3. Event GPS -  New York’s September 2010 Fashion Week ushered in Fashion GPS and the technology was massive success. Event GPS provides a web-based platform that electronically tracks and manages exhibitor locations, guest lists and invitations in real time. I expect GPS to continue its emergence as a renovated Javits Center hosts larger EXPOs going forward.

4. Apps for International Meetings – With the emergency of TelePresence at New York hotels and conference centers, meeting attendees may need to simultaneously communicate in a virtual setting with colleagues in multiple languages. Mobile Apps such as iTranslate, which offers quick and easy translations for over a dozen different languages, will emerge as great tools for getting business done during meeting like a finance conference at the Downtown W. They are even better for international business travelers who don’t want to stuff their bags with pocket dictionaries!

New Year – New Mascot!

Team Shackman is welcoming the newest member to our family.

Meet Mocha

Coming in at 3.2 pounds, this little bundle of fluff has been dubbed “The Distractor” for his incredible ability to put all things to a halt when he comes walking by. We know his passion for events is already developing and we look forward to Mocha being the lap warming member of our team.