4 last-minute ideas for a corporate trip to the Super Bowl

It’s not too late to plan a last-minute corporate trip to the Super Bowl, especially if you get creative.

We have been bringing in concierge cars from as far away as Washington, DC and have pulled out all the stops on everything from gift bags to unusual corporate parties in the Big Apple.

Regardless of the weather, New York can accommodate events like Super Bowls better than any other city simply based on all the dining and entertainment options.

 4 last-minute Super Bowl week ideas for corporate groups:

1.     Be your own Super Bowl halftime show.  It’s a hot trend in corporate meetings where top musicians in Manhattan work with corporate groups in a recording studio.

2.     Ice skating – not roller derby.  Skip the overcrowded touristy ice rinks and opt for the covered outdoorLeFrak at Lakeside Park in Brooklyn.

3.     Go Off-Broadway for shows like “NEWSical the Musical”.

4.     Taste of New York City at Distilleries.  Still under the radar, these are laboratories that produce unique microbrands such as Uncouth Vermouth.  Tastings with samples no one has heard of makes this event idea more exclusive and experiential than ever!

Tavern on the Green to re-open in February

Tavern on the Green is about to re-open with new owners after a major renovation.  Although it will not exactly resemble its iconic predecessor, the venue still has one of the the best locations in Manhattan and will include 300 indoor seats, a bar and 300 more seats in its outdoor terrace when the weather gets warmer.

The new Tavern on the Green will also focus on sustainability as its menu by chef Katy Sparks will primarily come from locally sourced products.

Off-Broadway: "Real Housewives" star cameos with "NEWSical the Musical"

"NEWSical the Musical" is a hilarious spoof-centric Off-Broadway production that rips its ever-changing script from the headlines and makes fun of almost anyone and everyone who is "in the news".

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and reality television star Kandi Burruss has just joined the cast for a brief cameo that runs through January 26 and her appearance is just another reason why this Off-Broadway smash comedy is worth considering as an entertainment option for your corporate meeting group.

"NEWSical the Musical" has frequently attracted TV and music-industry stars as well as long-time Broadway actors who "take breaks" to appear in the production. There is no book to read or first production to compare it against, but we're guessing you can count on high-profile "train-wreck" stars being frequently spoofed!

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting, association convention and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway and Off-Broadway experiences that regularly include backstage tours and interaction with key performers.

Broadway: Hugh Jackman returns to the stage

Broadway's #1 all-time draw, Hugh Jackman, is set to return in 2015 as the lead in "The River".

Jackman will play a reclusive fisherman whose strange invitation creates a bizarre love triangle that includes some disturbing hobbies and a Gothic twist.  It's certainly not your typical "other woman" cliche, and with Jackman as the lead, we are expecting very high demand way out in front of the opening.

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting, association convention and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway experiences that regularly include backstage tours and interaction with key performers.

Food at Corporate Meetings: Say Cheese!

Chefs at top corporate meeting hotels in New York City are harnessing the complex flavors of their dishes with all kinds of cheese creations.  And there seems to be no limit to what qualifies, including sushi. 

That might be extreme for some palates, but the days of typical cheese plates or multi-cheese-only banquet offerings are certainly getting some very provocative newcomers. 

Here is one cheesy idea we never thought we would like, but did: Cheese on Ramen.

Think we are crazy? Try a smoked salmon mazeman for a lunch break idea, which is a ramen topped with lox and small balls of deep-fried cream cheese.  In a typical ramen soup, there is more broth. But in a mazeman, the broth is cooked until it’s thick, and then combined with butter, so the base of the noodle dish is already creamy and combining with the smoked fish.

If your attendees are checking out Koreatown or if you are planning a off-site authentic dining experience at new haute Korean dining venues throughout Manhattan, cheese is making its way into dishes.  Although dairy is not traditional in Korean cooking, one venue estimates that 70% of orders come from one dish where a mozzarella and cheddar cheese topping is added to a typically popular rice cake stewed in a spicy blend of pork and kimchi.

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Broadway Update: "Of Mice and Men" to open in April with James Franco

"Of Mice and Men" is coming to Longacre Theater on Broadway in April.  The cast features Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee James Franco from "127 Hours and Milk", Chris O’Dowd from "Bridesmaids" and "The IT Crowd", Leighton Meester from "Country Strong" and "Gossip Girl", and Tony Award winner Jim Norton from "The Seafarer".

Many of us remember "Of Mice and Men" as the ultra-depressing book we had to read in school.  It's about two migrant ranch hands during the Great Depression who strike up an unlikely friendship. James Franco will star as George, and O'Dowd as Lennie. a mentally disabled man who'll be played by Chris O'Dowd.  It is Meester who might have the most fascinating role as a beautiful but egotistical temptress. If you have watched "Gossip Girl", her character is kind of a Depression version of Blair Waldorf with a lot less privilege, no designer shoes and a very humble address. 

Loews Regency Manhattan Re-opens Today!

The Loews Regency is back!  This iconic hotel destination Manhattan is bigger and better than ever after $100 million in renovations and major transformation in style by Rottet Studio.  The property now has 379 rooms that are brighter and bigger and feature Frette linens and bathrobes, smart televisions and complimentary high-speed internet access.  Amenities include a hair salon by Julien Farel and multiple restaurants by Dan Silverman, who is best known for the Standard Grill and the Union Square Cafe.

The Loews features over 4,100 square feet of meeting space, with its largest meeting room providing attendees with 1,728 square feet of meeting space.

And the famous "Power Breakfast" is making a return as well! From 7:00 am to 10:00 am, on any given weekday morning, black cars with their drivers waiting line up three deep outside the hotel.  Inside, the tables fill with New York’s upper echelon — movers and shakers from the worlds of Wall Street, business, media and politics.  It's a 35-year morning ritual!

What's Brewing and Mooing: NYC taprooms add great food to their menus

New York breweries have already been booming as venues for corporate meeting groups.  Creating menus that pair great food with home-grown beer is making them even more delicious as an option.

One venue in Manhattan combines its very lengthy menu of rare beers with a "feast" for groups of 8-40 people from its own butcher. This includes three courses  of 10-12 preparations out of the animal including every bit from head to tail.

For groups that have both beer enthusiasts and attendees who know nothing about it, we have found a great option in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  Your group can enjoy creatively-named selections such the EvilTwin/Avery collaboration brewed with Tequila.  Other samplings like Viking Blod (19% ABV) will certainly loosen up your group, but new breweries are changing beers all the time, so if you book a destination meetings for as early as Spring 2014, there is a good chance you will see something different.  But just as good.

Broadway Review: Carole King musical rescues the book

Having written or co-written 118 songs that appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, Carole King is considered one of the most influential music artists of the last 50 years.  It's no surprise that the Broadway musical about her would be incredibly satisfying to the ears.  King's career began in the 1960s when she, along with her former husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote dozens of chart hits for numerous artists, many of which have become standards.  She had her first number 1 hit as a songwriter in 1960 at age 18, with "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow".

King became a major performer in her own right in the 1970s, when she would sing her own songs, accompanying herself on the piano. Her breakthough album, Tapestry. topped the U.S. chart for 15 weeks in 1971 and remained on the charts for more than six years.

While the book that is the basis for the music is not known as exceptional, the production is fortunate to have the talents of Jessie Mueller, who as Carole King, delivers a spectacular performance on the piano and with vocals as she works her way through familiar favorites from the composer's career.

Shackman Associates New York regularly provides corporate meeting, association convention and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway experiences that have includes backstage tours and interaction with key performers.
 

Corporate Teambuilding: Heaven on Ice in Brooklyn

As you might have heard, it has been quite cold this week in New York City and Shackman Associates has an  “icy” idea when planning a winter-time corporate meeting.  Go skating!  While Manhattan has three popular ice rinks, they get very busy with tourists and are not a great option for corporate meeting groups.

We suggest considering the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. This new facility replaces the late Wollman Rink, which has become an eyesore along with its parking lot that was out of place.  This is the first major venue added to the park since the end of the nineteenth century, and the architects went retro in the design to create a nostalgic atmosphere one would find in the early 20^th Century.  It’s rectangular roof also makes it the only partially covered skating facility in New York City.

The LeFrak center is only minutes from new boutique hotels that have opened recently in Brooklyn and is just blocks from hot dining establishments in Park Slope.  It is further proof that the Borough is providing more options than ever for corporate meeting and destination incentive groups.  

A new way to "90-Proof" After-hours Events at NYC Corporate Meetings

Looking for a new twist for a corporate meeting cocktail hour? New York City is one of the few destinations where distilleries are exploding in growth.  It's a great idea for a tasting event in 2014.

In 2007, New York introduced a special farm license that allowed manufacturers who used at least 75 percent of local grain to produce small quantities of alcohol and sell it directly to consumers as distilleries. 
Many of these distilleries have opened in places where you might expect them - Flatiron, East Village, and of, course, Brooklyn.  In some cases, they are teaming with chefs to produce an entire farm-to-table experience.

Distilleries are different than speakeasies because most of the "mixology" takes place before a bartender ever grabs the bottle to pour.  In Manhattan, they have become laboratories that now produce microbrands such as Uncouth Vermouth.  Tastings with samples no one has heard of makes this event idea more exclusive and experiential than ever!

Event Venues: The grass is much greener for Randall's Island in 2014

Located where the East and Harlem Rivers merge, Randall's Island is the site of many huge concerts and via Icahn Stadium, sporting events.  Using water taxis from Midtown East, the journey there can be half the fun.  This unique combined experience is why meeting planners frequently consider Randall's Island as a venue for major corporate events and galas.

Until recently, it has also been a venue for unwanted water.  Lots of it.

During this year’s Governors Ball, torrential rains and three days of music destroyed the grass fields of Randall’s Island, leaving the grounds in a state of disrepair.  Afterward, Governors Ball organizers helped restore the grounds to a substantially better condition than they were before record setting rains and thousands of fans turned the island into a mud pit. Working with the NYC Department of Parks, organizers laid down over nine acres of brand new grass and made important infrastructure improvements to prevent future flooding.

There might not be much green to look at on Randall's Island in December, but your outdoor event will have plenty of it there to enjoy in a few short months!

Broadway Update: Neil Patrick Harris goes transgender in 2014

The gritty rock musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is coming to Broadway.  Starring Neil Patrick Harris as a transgender German singer, the production will open performances March 29, 2014 at the Belasco Theatre. Directed by Michael Mayer, the new production features Emmy-nominated choreographer Spencer Liff from "So You Think You Can Dance."

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a musical comedy about a fictional rock 'n' roll band, fronted by Harris' character, Hedwig, a transgender woman and "internationally ignored song stylist" from East Berlin. The score includes memorable tunes "Tear Me Down," "Wig in a Box," "Wicked Little Town" and "Angry Inch."

Shackman Associates regularly provides association meeting, destination incentive and corporate meeting groups with unique Broadway experiences that have included backstage tours and interaction with key performers.

Corporate Events: Your logo and attendees mingle with U.S. Presidents

The New York Historical Society doesn't get the same headlines as The Museum of Natural History - its neighbor across the street - but it offers corporate meeting planners a very unique backdrop of American history with companion exhibit technology that can be customized for events.

The Historical Society also has opened a funky new restaurant - Caffe Storico - which features a robust Italian menu for private events by Steven Starr.

As we have said many times, destination meetings in New York do not have to settle for "the chicken" or "the beef" when planners can choose delicious options like Starr's antipasti and artisanal pastas.  However, our favorite is the slightly cheesy and creamy and extremely flavorful lobster!

 

Take a dip in a 107-degree Roman Bath with 25 of your meeting attendees

Destination corporate meetings are helping attendees take some serious stress away with an idea that is as old as Julius Caesar.

The new Russian- and Roman-inspired baths that have popped up in Manhattan are more luxurious and sexier than their predecessors. It's huge departure from the tech-driven team-building games, but why work so hard when your meeting can opt for some old fashioned hedonism?  We recently found a 16,000-foot underground brick-and-glass den in New York City's TriBeCa. Options include vast electricity-free villas to bathing coaches that hand-pour olive oil, red wine, or cava upon request. The hottest dipping pools are 107 degrees and the cold plunges are quite refreshing icy at 50 degrees. Also included are gauzy curtains, heated marble floors, terra-cotta lanterns and a no-talking policy that transforms turn a pretty basic thing like floating in water into a ridiculous pleasure.

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Speakeasy 3.0: Drinks are no longer the only draw

It's no secret that speakeasies are a huge trend for destination corporate meeting groups.  And just when you thought they might get stale, new venues are reinventing old formats into different kinds of speakeasies that do more than please your creative tastes.

These new venues are often incorporating supper club components, going all-out in wardrobe, bringing in old-school jazz performers, and in some cases, even importing steam that looks like smoke.  Your attendees will feel like they are living in Boardwalk Empire!

"X-Men" stars take on "superhero" schedule with two Broadway productions

Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart - both no strangers to superhero roles that include Gandolf in "Lord of the Rings", Magneto and Professor Charles Xavier in "X-Men", and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation", are working a "superhero" schedule on Broadway and starring together in simultaneous productions of Harold Pinter's "No Man's Land" and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."

The plays, directed by Sean Mathias, have a revolving Broadway schedule. For

The plays, directed by Sean Mathias, have a revolving Broadway schedule. For example, "No Man's Land" plays Wednesday evenings through a Saturday matinee option, while "Waiting for Godot" runs from Saturday evenings through a Wednesday afternoons.

While the plots behind both plays are mysterious and delightfully absurd, the gold here is watching two distinguished actors in action.  In our opinion, McKellan and Stewart could be reading the classifieds and you'd still be captivated!

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting, destination incentive and association meeting groups with unique Broadway experiences that regularly include backstage tours an interaction with key performers.

Corporate Events in Harlem: Chowing down in Uptown

Harlem's renaissance as a destination for foodies is leading corporate meeting groups to try some of the newest and coolest dining and event options in the neighborhood.  It is also an attracting intriguing venue owners such as former Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons. 

From cinnamon-scented fried Guinea hen to oxtail dumplings, Harlem is coming up with new twists on the cuisines of Africa and Asia.  And now, venues are leveraging their unique cuisines to launch other kinds of experiences such as jazz clubs that are located next door.

According to meeting planners, "We love jazz, and European visitors in particular have always had a very romantic perspective about Harlem."

Warrm up to afternoon tea at your next New York corporate meeting

It's about to get really cold soon in New York and as many of our friends in the UK can attest, nothing beats hot afternoon tea to warm the body and soul.

Meetings venues here in Manhattan have taken notice and are incorporating afternoon tea breaks in to their packages for corporate destination travel groups.  And we're not just talking about green tea.  Offerings are becoming more exotic and complex and meeting groups are often treated to "fusion" tea menus.  Popular flavors include pomegranate, grey vanilla creme, bubble tea and even "mojitea".  Combine this with one of New York City's many options for macaroons and you will have a meeting group that is feeling great just when it might be that time of day to hibernate!