From a wedding guest point of view…read more Wedding was right before the December Storm. This is rated as one of the most expensive venues in NYC. Yes, the views are amazing, however the weather has to be just perfect. Especially if you plan to use the outdoor patio. Which, why wouldn't you? The space itself is not for large groups, wedding party size approximately 50. Plus the wait, bar & other service staff. The location is prime, if you plan to take a car, remember this is NYC & traffic is bad. You can probably walk faster than a cab or car service. Especially during the month of December. NYC gets more visitors in December than all year long. The venue has 2 bathrooms for women which is not good, however worked for this crowd. Think of this location as a once in a lifetime, only if you have the funds for this location. As guests we were thrilled to be invited to such a lavish wedding!

Thinking of getting married at 620 Loft and Garden? Here's a short review from a wedding…read morephotographer's point of view: If budget isn't an issue, this place is simply magical! Rooftop wedding in the heart of Manhattan with incredible views of St. Patrick's Cathedral & Rockefeller Center. What more could you ask for? It's makes for one incredible experience for not just the bride and groom, but for all of the guests who are always completely blown away. As close as it is to being perfect, there are few things to keep in mind: 1. If the weather doesn't cooperate (as it didn't during the wedding I shot there, when it rained right before the ceremony), the main garden does get quite soggy. It got bad enough that the bride had to walk around the guests via the outer walkway instead of through the middle. Definitely not the ideal way to make an entrance. 2. The inside is as simple as it gets, so it's really up to you(r planner) to make it something amazing. Basically, picture a clean, white room; a blank slate. If minimalism is your thing (as is with me), then you'll love it. Otherwise, plan to get creative! 3. Space. It's definitely not for large events. Even for smaller weddings, the cocktail hour gets quite cramped. But if you're planning on getting married here, you know that already. From a solely photographer's perspective, while it does make possible some absolutely stunning shots (one of my favorite images was taken here, which you can see in the Photos section), the size of the venue as well as the blank indoor space does limit how creative you can get. If you're looking to get a wide variety of photos, I'd highly suggest you stop by another location for or after the First Look and get portraits before heading to 620 Loft and Garden. If you're set on getting married here, a gallery of a real wedding from 620 Loft and Garden is up on my site, so feel free to check it out for some wedding ideas!

It's a Sunday and all the Art Galleries are closed. You want something different to do besides the…read moreusual shopping, brunch/lunch/high tea... What do you do? Why, stop by the Holiday Home of course!! Held in a historical mansion on the Upper East Side of New York City, come prepared to be inspired and enchanted as you walk through the house, each room designed by a different interior designer, to a different holiday theme (think, New Year's Eve, St Pattys, Christmas etc) or special moment in life. Every single room here is SO gorgeous, with furniture from some of the most luxurious brands in the world. As I walked through the rooms, I imagined what it would be like to live in a house like this, a life of luxury, with cocktails at 3 and constant dinner parties. And if you're one of the lucky few who can actually afford to live in a house like this, then the Holiday Home would serve as a life sized inspiration board for you... You get a catalog at the entrance and it serves as a reference to any piece of furniture displayed in the house. The designers themselves are also there in their respective rooms and are more than happy to talk to you about their work / offer to come design your house (if that's what you're looking for). It is a $35 entrance fee that goes towards the Breast Cancer Foundation, though, even if it didn't, so worth it getting to spend an afternoon in the shoes of an Upper East Sider. Lastly, everyone's so incredibly nice (you'd expect them to be snooty but there are absolutely no airs here), though, I would dress nice and perhaps not show up in sweats if I was gonna go. Haha. There is also an adorable little heated courtyard cafe that serves up ready made sandwiches, teas and (not so yummy) macaroons. But very nice and pretty to sit at. All in all, one of my favorite things we did in New York this past trip! Perfect for getting into the holiday mood (:

Fifty Four is an event venue in the midtown east area with a full bar and catering options. I went…read morefor a holiday work event and enjoyed my time there! In particular I really liked their drinks and DJ. They offered all the standard open bar drinks and I liked their tequila sunrise, Paloma, and French 75. Cocktails were sweet as expected but didnt overpower the alcohol. My colleague had asked for something sweet with gin and got this gin-based elderflower drink with citrus notes. It was so good! Food was alright but I appreciated the range of flatbread, pasta, fried rice, and noodles. Didn't get a chance to try their desserts but it looked solid from a caterer. The space was quite nice because they had two floors. First was the entrance with a photo booth and bar area. Second was a bunch of velvet couches with a mini dance floor. Music was loud enough and they have the ability to change the lights/lighting. Coat check area in the front along with a staff member to check IDs. I had a great time at this venue!

We had a great party here! The room was beautiful and our party planner transformed the space! Its…read morereally a great canvas for youre events. The bartenders were also great!

Recently here for a company event. The venue allows for different set up, great for a large…read moreaudience. Great venue for events. The staff is attentive professional and friendly. From the doormen to checking in / picking up your coat and wait staff who notice details - all adding up to a grand experience. Food isn't the best but it's good. The most negative aspect is the location 42nd Street has become so crowded and traffic patterns can't be predicted. However, public transportation is right across the street - Grand Central, you have the subway and MetroNorth and walk 15min west to Port Authority. Otherwise I suggest a cab to the area to avoid the guaranteed over priced parking garages. For the restaurant area on - head over next door for grand treatment as well.

My company recently had it's holiday gala here. The team at Cipriani did an excellent job all…read morearound. We were greeted warmly at the door, quickly and efficiently checked in and handed off our coats. This was important as there were hundreds of us all showing up around the same time. Before I knew it, I had a drink in my hand. The bars were well stocked and well staffed and they turned around drink orders quickly - we never waited long to get a drink. They didn't cheap out on the furniture either. The seats were comfortable and the flatware was very nice, with the Cipriani logo along the top of the plates. The food was excellent. This is usually where almost all banquet halls breakdown somewhere. Whether it is pasta, sides, meat or fish, something just doesn't work. Not the case here, as you would expect from Cipriani. The food was excellent across the board. The pastas, vegetables, potatoes and the meat were excellent. The beef was exceptional for banquet-style dining. Desserts were very good, too. On top of all of this, their staff was swarming around, clearing plates, offering to refill waters, keeping the place clean, etc. - they were very attentive. Cipriani really did an excellent job running our holiday party. I highly recommend them.

Spin is very fun place to hang out and play ping pong ! Great food and drinks ! Servers are very…read morefriendly and very fast. Definitely recommend to come and enjoy it!

It was really fun! The place has such a good vibe. In addition to ping pong, they have darts and…read moreother stuff too to play. We had a company team event here and everyone had a good time. Service was very good! I wish there were more interesting food options though.

A good spot for private event, hosting parties, team building, or event wedding reception, right on…read morethe property of the Kimton Hotel Eventi, to the left side of the hotel entrance! Walk in and second floor, voila! We were here for the Côte Du Rhône Festival, and it was a good spot! Some afternoon sun did get a little too warm for the wine and the food! But if it's on an evening, i think it would be alright or not on a hot day! Simple space, an oval bar in the middle for setting up drinks/foods. It looks like it used to be a restaurant space here before!

Beautiful venue for an event. Staff was very attentive. This place is worth looking into if you're…read morehosting an event!

Stopped at Interlude after a show to have a snack. This bar only serves cold food such a cheese or…read moremeat plates. The views, however, are killer and the ambiance is fun!

Cute and amazing vibes at this chill rooftop bar at the hotel we were staying at. After a long day…read moreof walking and sightseeing, we walked upstairs to have a couple drinks before going into our room. We really didn't try the food, but the service and the atmosphere was great. Music was chill, very mellow so you're able to have a good convo without the music, overpowering the moment. I highly recommended if you are looking for a chill spot after a day of exploring the city.

Amazing staff!!! Room was super clean and comfortable…read more It was my birthday and our anniversary and they made special accommodations for us which was extremely special. We hope to return!

On the top floor, the room was terribly cold. We kept the doors closed from the balcony, but it was…read morefreezing. Then at the end of our party before the last song was finished they turned the lights up bright and it felt like my Cinderella moment was over. My coach became a pumpkin.

Beautiful rooftop bar on the west side. It's dark and cozy inside; invites intimate conversation…read more The cocktail selection is great, a wide range of tart and tangy to sweet and smooth. The service at Dear Irving is top notch, they are reliable and quick. They understand the difference between providing privacy and providing assistance. Great date night spot.

As I've said previously, I try to avoid midtown. It's congested and touristy and the restaurants…read moreare usually just not that great. But Irving on Hudson is an exception. The view is gorgeous and sweeping. The service is attentive and professional. The drinks are sophisticated. I ended up here because I saw a video about their gin and tonic. Sounds simple, but it's one of my favorite drinks, and I'm always looking for someone who can do it well. I ordered their "dear G&T" and it was a fruity, complex riff on my old favorite. I also got the foreign forage, "a bourbon smash with a mint zing." It was also a delicious take on a classic. They have several types of cocktails, all broken down by spirit and flavor profile. They also offer a lot of spirits made in New York State. They have cocktails with earthy notes, fruity notes, fancy martinis, and a section boasting limited edition and special spirits, if you're "feeling fancy" and wanna cough up 35 bucks instead of 20 or 25! They have a bar snacks menu (sliders, nuts, and the like). I had their thick cut fries and they were light, seasoned, and tasty. I couldn't stop eating them. Midtown or not, I highly recommend this spot, which also has a couple other locations, including Gramercy.