What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
I organize transportation for large groups on buses and stretch SUVs and can arrange dinner meetings at well-known restaurants like Seafire Grill, Benjamin’s Steakhouse, and Maloney & Porcelli, all of which can accommodate private dinner meeting space.
Another service I arrange for groups is getting them preferred group seating at Broadway shows (including Book of Mormon, Phantom of the Opera, and Jersey Boys), where they all can sit together; we work closely with the shows' box offices.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
1Oak, No. 8, Beauty & Essex, Avenue, Lavo, and Marquee. These are all hotspots and great nightclubs to visit while in New York.
Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
A great place to take a stroll would be the Highline Park. It is an elevated park that starts on 30th Street and goes all the way down to 12th Street along 10th Avenue. It has a great view of the Hudson River, as well as shops and markets along the way.
One of my personal favorite places to take stroll is Sakura Park. It is located on the Upper West Side, between Riverside Drive and the Westside Highway. You have an amazing view of the New Jersey skyline, and it also features a floral garden which is amazing in the spring. This is a great place to relax in the busy city.
Are there any quirky places we should check out?
There is this store in Soho called Evolutions. It is landmark in Manhattan's SoHo art district since 1993. The Evolution Store is NYC's premiere retail destination for science and natural history collectibles, artifacts, gifts, and home furnishings. The store offers a museum-quality atmosphere and an intimate shopping experience.
What is an unusual request from a group you’ve had?
One unusual request I had was to arrange a group picnic at Central Park to include wine, fruit, and a variety of cheese, blankets, and picnic baskets, all on a nice spot on the Great Lawn in Central Park. I arranged this for a party of 11 guests.
A party of 12 wants to have dinner right away. What restaurant can accommodate last-minute requests of this size?
I have relationships with the maître ‘d’s at Del Frisco’s, Benjamin’s, Le Perigord, Seafire Grill, TAO, to name a few, and would be able to set up a last minute reservation for a party of this size. Many high-end restaurants set aside a few tables each night for the concierges, so that we can accommodate our hotel guests.
What’s a unique event that has taken place at your property?
We are getting ready for the opening of our new restaurant, Juni. It officially opens on August 19th under the culinary direction of Executive Chef Shaun Hergatt, a two-Michelin starred chef.
To discover more eye-opening insights from top concierges, just visit our Concierge Insights section!
