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All of us at imbookin hope you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends! Now that the stress that comes with holiday planning is winding down, we want to help you relax and enjoy the end of 2012. It is not too late to plan a New Year’s Eve party or a small get together with close friends. Here are some NYC venues to keep in mind as you welcome 2013! Let us do the planning for you. Please feel free to input specific details and requests on imbookin to make sure your event is tailored perfectly to you and your guests.

 The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse is a flexible event and performance venue beautifully situated on the tenth floor where the glassed-in terrace offers a spectacular view of the Hudson River. The Penthouse is fully-equipped to meet entertainment needs – perfect for dinners and cocktails.

The lounge at Gizzi’s buzzes with warm, engaging energy and terrific live performances seven nights a week. Gizzi’s creates an intimate vibe with their banquette, a long stretch of seating divvied up into ever-so-slightly private nooks. It’s a detail that reminds you of the difference between a bar and a full-on lounge.

 Tonic East is conveniently located on 3rd Ave. corner of 29th St. The menu is eclectic with many choices. The 2nd Level offers private and cozy booths as well as a marble top bar area with comfortable stools and ample TV’s to watch the ball drop! At tonic you’re sure to find the scene and friends you’re searching for.

MetLife Stadium’s unique event spaces will provide your guests with an unparalleled experience that they will never forget. 

Spaces include a fireside lounge, or rustic wine bar. Check out all available spaces and packages and receive the attention and service that only a world class facility can provide.

 Duke’s Original Roadhouse gives New Yorkers a whole new idea of what Southern Hospitality is. With trivia cards on every table, flat-screen TVs, and walls covered in memorabilia, Duke’s is the perfect place for you and your guests of all ages. 

Duke’s prides itself on delicious huge-portioned meals and friendly and fast service in a relaxed atmosphere.

We wish you a safe and happy new year!

On the evening of November 7, 2012, imbookin and Liz King Events will host the fourth PlannerTech event technology showcase. Featuring ten showcase presenters and twenty event technology companies in total, this event looks to educate event professionals on the tools and products that can be used to enhance their events. This year, the organizers of PlannerTech have implemented a Selection Committee of leaders in the industry who have selected the ten showcase presenters.

Jim Alkon, Lori Cioffi, Liz King, France LaFlamme, Barbara Palmer, Debra Roth and James Spellos reviewed all of the applications and selected the ten organizations that were the most innovative and had appeal to the audience of 150+ event planners. Given only 4 minutes each, the selected companies will get the chance to introduce their product to attendees and showcase why they are so unique.

In addition to the showcase presenters, attendees will also have the chance to meet and mingle with IML Worldwide, Atendy, Bloodhound, BuzzBand, Eventbrite, Hubb, Maestro Market, NYC Photo Party, and SponsorHub.

A special thanks to PlannerTech sponsors Alive Entertainment, Attendly, Capsule, Hotel Pennsylvania, Nice Uplights, NYC Photo Party, and P&V Enterprises.

For more information:
http://www.plannertech.com
planningteam@plannertech.com
http://www.imbookin.com
http://www.lizkingevents.com
           

The Selected Showcase Presenters

The Selection Committee

A very special thanks to the Selection Committee, comprised of leaders in the event industry. These professionals evaluated the event technology companies who applied to attend and selected the organizations who will present at PlannerTech.

PlannerTech just announced!  In NYC this Fall (November 7, 2012).  Check out the details at www.plannertech.com

Summer is winding down but it isn’t over yet. Labor Day weekend marks the end of the season for most, giving the perfect reason for one last outdoor celebration. If you’re searching for a great way to spend Labor Day without the hassle of planning, there are plenty of venues on imbookin that will allow you to enjoy the weekend with your closest friends and family.

Here are just some of the fun, end-of-summer event venues found on imbookin.

Kick off your Labor Day celebration this year at Bar 13, a three-level bar/lounge and nightclub in the heart of the Union Square district. Enjoy the summer weather from the rooftop bar, one of New York’s hidden gems.

Celebrate the weekend by spending time with your kids before they head back to school. The Bronx Zoo has something for everyone. Mingle with your guests as the children linger among the lemurs of Madagascar or picnic with a flamingo flock. Sip cocktails beneath a canopy of leaves in the Congo Gorilla forest with a space rental package.

Whether your guests are visiting the city or are native New Yorkers, everyone is sure to enjoy sailing around the New York skyline on a Circle Line Yacht. Spend the long weekend relaxing over dinner and drinks while cruising the Hudson, or plan a themed dance party with a live DJ.

Discreetly tucked at the edge of midtown along the Hudson River, Hudson Terrace is a spectacular haven of serene opulence that offers unforgettable venue amenities. Escape the crowds on the street and enjoy drinks with your guests on the private rooftop Terrace.

Patroon, another favorite outdoor venue, offers a number of beautiful and stylish rooms for private events including the open-air rooftop garden. Take in the last of the summer weather with cocktails on the rooftop before dining in an elegant private room.

Check out imbookin for a complete list of outdoor venues and packages. It’s not too late to properly enjoy the  Labor Day weekend!

Enjoy New York City this summer from a rooftop bar or outdoor patio! Whether you’re looking to plan a work event, shower, or party for friends, imbookin has the perfect summer venue for you. Cruise down the Hudson on a yacht or take in the Manhattan skyline from an outdoor venue in New Jersey. We have come up with a few suggestions for your next summer event, but be sure to explore all of your options on imbookin! 

Smooth Sailing Celebrations, based in Hoboken, has over 45 boats that sail year-round and are ideal for groups of 12 to 1200. Your guests will enjoy dining, dancing, mingling, and celebrating while sailing on the Hudson Harbor in the unique and festive atmosphere of a yacht. Smooth Sailing Celebrations specializes in corporate events, client entertainment, new product launches, vendor fairs, seminar events, retirement parties, banquets, and has experience in planning weddings, anniversaries, galas, fundraisers, graduations, and reunions.

Located in Queens, CityView Racquet Club incorporates the warmth and hospitality of a country club with a blend of sports and luxury. CityView specializes in tennis, squash, fitness and spa services, offering an elegant lounge and rooftop bar/deck. All amenities can be utilized when building custom designed events from intimate gatherings to grand parties. Perfect for corporate team building, tennis socials, cocktail parties, celebrations, and more. 

The Roger Smith Hotel’s NYC Meetings, Events and Conference Centers has the perfect atmosphere for your New York meetings, events, reunions, celebrations or conference. Various event spaces will transport you to a variety of room styles, from a 16th Floor Penthouse; classic, cozy and intimate to a modern, colorful and dynamic Starlight Loft.

Bookmarks Rooftop Lounge and Terrace is a design-forward space with a cozy indoor lounge and a private outdoor patio that offers breathtaking cityscape views from its wrap-around terrace. The rooftop bar features a glass-enclosed greenhouse with beautiful outdoor lounge furniture nestled among the expansive collection of classic literature by the likes of Dylan Thomas and Walt Whitman. 

Top of the Garden has 3400 square feet of sun filled loft space that is complimented by a 1000 square foot terrace. Top of the Garden is a versatile loft with 2 spaces that may be used individually or together. The space features In-house lounge furniture, North, South, West, East views and full amenities. TOTG is a perfect blank canvas for any corporate or private event.

Located in the heart of Union Square is the original Heartland Brewery – the one that started it all. With a downtown location, outdoor sidewalk seating, and views of Union Square Park from its mezzanine, it’s beloved by New Yorkers as a classic meeting spot for after-work drinks or for an elegant corporate event. Check out imbookin for other Heartland Brewery locations!

These are just some of the many outdoor venues available for booking events and packages on imbookin! Explore now and plan your next summer event stress-free!   

We decided to do a new blog series, imbookin’s Guide to Neighborhood Venues, which gives the reader some of our recommendations of various venues throughout the different Manhattan neighborhoods.

                The Lower East Side, commonly abbreviated LES, was traditionally an immigrant, working class neighborhood. Recently, it has become home to many upscale boutiques and several restaurants along Clinton Street’s Restaurant Row. The Lower East Side is bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway and Grand Street. The Lower East Side has been featured in numerous films including When Harry Met Sally, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, PS I Love You, Donnie Brasco and I Am Legend.

                Essex Restaurant is located in the historic Essex Street Market Building. It’s a loft-like multi-level space with contemporary cuisine inspired by the flavors of the Lower East Side. Essex is known for its weekday dinner and happy hour specials as well as its weekend dinner and bar scene. The expansive layout allows for intimate balcony and banquette seating as well as festive group dining and private parties.         

                If you’re looking for something a little bit different for an event, why not look into the Pizza a Casa Pizza School? Pizza a Casa Pizza School offers fun, memorable, hands-on pizza-making workshops in a cozy, pizza-themed classroom. Pizza a Casa Pizza School is perfect for entertaining clients, corporate team-building events, birthdays, family celebrations, and gathering friends. In the one of a kind class, you’ll learn how to make dough from scratch, special stretching techniques, how to dress your pie for success, secrets of sauce making, and much more. According to the Pizza a Casa Pizza website, “You’ll feast, you’ll party, you’ll be totally entertained and, best of all, everything you’ll learn from Chef/Owner Mark Bello will translate directly to your own home kitchen.” To book you’re one of a kind pizza party, head on over to Pizza a Casa Pizza School’s venue page on imbookin!

                The Village Pourhouse is both a neighborhood watering hole and tech savvy event space with unlimited choices. It specializes in company meetings, happy hours, corporate events, and private parties. The Pourhouse Front Bar conveys an old New York feel.  All spaces within The Village Pourhouse have access to an extensive food and drink menu featuring homemade American fare. In addition, the Pourhouse has three other spaces to accommodate events. The Red Light room is a meeting space for groups up to 75. The Dugout is a 30 person private booth, equipped with TV’s, private sound and private self service draught lines and kegs. Finally, the Vegas Rooms is posh enough for the most lavish events and comes complete with a private garden and wood burning fire place. For deals within the Village Pourhouse, check imbookin.com

                El Maguey y La Tuna is a family style Mexican Restaurant on the Lower East Side which prides itself not only on its Mole Sauces, but also on treating each guest as if they were family.  El maguey y La Tuna is also a suitable restaurant for those looking to kick back and relax with a couple Margaritas or a pitcher of strong Sangria.  To find amazing drink and appetizer deals, check imbookin, you won’t b disappointed!

All it took was a tour through the beautiful Incognito Italian Bistro guided by Adriana Moretti, and we were instantly hooked. The restaurant, with large windows, has a bright and vibrant atmosphere. With a private room in back, it is also the perfect space for a more cozy and intimate event. The management of this establishment was more than welcoming and is extremely accommodating when it comes to having events. Be sure to keep Incognito in mind for your next event, whether it be an intimate dinner for 12 or a party for 70, and book it on imbookin.com!

We decided to do a new blog series, imbookin’s Guide to Neighborhood Venues, which gives the reader some of our recommendations of various venues throughout the different Manhattan neighborhoods.

The next neighborhoods in Manhattan we hit were SOHO, Tribeca and the Financial District. SOHO is located in lower Manhattan and is noted for being a location for many artists’ lofts, galleries and more recently a major shopping hub with store ranging from boutiques to international chains.  Interestingly, SOHO refers to the area South of Houston street and its boundaries are as follows Houston Street on the northern side, Lafayette Street and Centre Street on the east, Canal Street on the south, and West Broadway on the west.  Tribeca refers to a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, and is an acronym for Triangle Below Canal Street. Tribeca is bounded by Canal Street, West Street, Broadway, and Vesey Street. The final neighborhood hit in this post, is the Financial District. The Financial District is located in the southernmost tip of Manhattan and is home to the city’s major financial institutions. The corner of Wall Street and Broad Street is considered the heart of the Financial District.

First up on this venue tour is the Mae Mae Cafe. Mae Mae Cafe is located at 68 Vandam Street in Hudson Square in SOHO.  It is powered by the catering company Great Performances and is in the European style of Enoteca di Vino, meaning wine of wine. The Cafe features from homemade specialty dishes and an outstanding selection of wines. Mae Mae Cafe’s hours are Monday-Friday from 11:30-4:00 and on Wednesdays open for dinner until 9:00 pm in which the Cafe features live music. If you’re looking for a quaint space for a lunch get together with friends you should check out Mae Mae Cafe!

If a cafe setting is too casual for your planned event and you would rather focus on the drinks rather than the food then you should check out the Bubble Lounge.  The Bubble Lounge is located at 228 W. Broadway in Tribeca. It has over 300 types of champagnes and wines as well as fine spirits and an array of hors d’oeuvres. With is exposed brick interior and plush red lounge seating, the Bubble Lounge offers an elegant and relaxed atmosphere perfect for a girls or guys night out. If interested in this spot check imbookin.com for more details.

This next venue brings a little bit of my hometown to New York, UNO Chicago Grill on South Street in the Financial District. Uno’s prides itself on being the healthiest food chain restaurant. It is known for its pastas, salads and of course Chicago’s signature deep dish pizza. UNO’s Chicago Grill on South Street is located on the waterfront. If you’re looking for a casual atmosphere with superb views and delicious food UNO Chicago Grill is your place.

If you enjoy a minimalist lifestyle, the next venue is up your ally. Located at 70 Mercer Street in Soho, Cafe Kristall is a reflection of the Kurt Gutenbrunner style. The restaurant offers classic European dishes with a modern interpretation and twist. In addition, Cafe Kristall’s dining room features an assortment of one-of-a-kind Swarovski Crystal light fixtures as well as art work by Hermann Nitsch, Albert Oehlen and Alejandro Garmendia. While most restaurants just offer food, Cafe Kristall offers an experience. More information on how you can experience Cafe Kristall is located on imbookin.

The Final venue offers some good ol’ American cuisine. Bobby Van’s Steakhouse and Grill is located on 25 Broad Street. Bobby Van’s is located right across the street from the New York Stock Exchange and as a result the dining room uses the original 1898 structure to create dining rooms filled with dark wood, cream walls and elegant chandeliers. Interestingly, the Vault Grill on the lower floor was originally JP Morgan’s original bank vault which was installed in 1902. If you’re looking for a restaurant with great food with a little bit of history, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse and Grill is definitely your place!

As always please keep in mind that the abovementioned venues are only a snap shot of the venues that SOHO, Tribeca and the Financial District have to offer. For more venue options and details search imbookin.com, you won’t be disappointed.

We decided to do a new blog series, imbookin’s Guide to Neighborhood Venues, which gives the reader some of our recommendations of various venues throughout the different Manhattan neighborhoods.

            The Upper West Side is in Manhattan between Central Park and the Hudson River and between west 59^th and west 110^th streets. The Upper West side is upscale and a more residential area with many of its residents working in commercial midtown and downtown Manhattan.  The Upper West side is known as Manhattan’s cultural and artistic center and is home to New York institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln Center as well and The Julliard School of Music. The Upper West Side has been the set of various films as well, including American Psycho, Ghostbusters, Night at the Museum, You’ve Got Mail and West Side Story.

 First up is Fusha West, a restaurant located at 75^th west and Amsterdam. Fusha West describes itself as a restaurant with classic Asian styling, mixed with modern industrial flare. It has an eclectic arrangement of music and intimate lighting. A cocktail bar which is trendy and relaxed and offers a delectable menu of wines, sakes and house created signature drinks. While the Sushi and Kitchen Chefs are trained in Asian cuisine, they do not hesitate to add their own modern flare to each dish. If Fusha West has your taste buds tingling, don’t hesitate to check their page on imbookin for food and drink packages everyone can salivate over.

Next up on imbookin’s venue tour of the upper west side, is Susan Eley Fine Art. This Gallery space is situated in an Upper West Side Townhouse that offers an intimate, personal viewing experience in contrast to a more formal presentation in a typical white box gallery. Susan Eley Fine Art provides gallerygoers with a fresh, alternative way to enjoy art. The Gallery also offers a working fire place, kitchen and bathrooms. If you’re looking to hold your event or exhibition don’t hesitate to check imbookin for details.

 Transitioning from a Gallery space to a restaurant, next up is Pasha. Pasha serves authentic Turkish cuisine in a chic atmosphere. Visitors to Pasha are those seeking, “a ‘magic carpet ride’ to Istanbul in a very elegant and comfortable ambience.” In addition, Pasha also boasts a warm and friendly service. Although located on the Upper West Side, those looking to transport themselves to another place should visit imbookin, as their journey awaits you.

 The next venue on our list happens to be Lansky’s, a quintessential Modern Classic Jewish Deli. Located on Columbus Avenue, Lansky’s will make you feel as though you are on Columbus Avenue in the 1920’s. Lansky’s has an antique stain glass ceiling imported from Argentina and made in the 1930’s, wallpaper from England and an open kitchen to allow diners to watch their meal being made. If Pasha wasn’t you’re type of Mediterranean food, then check imbookin, because Lansky’s might just be.

Our last venue suggestion for this edition of imbookin’s Guide to Neighborhood Venues, is Alice Tully Hall. Alice Tully Hall is an ideal venue for chamber music, small orchestras and soloists. The Hall offers upgraded stage equipment, state of the art capabilities and performer support. Alice Tully Hall is known for its excellent acoustics, comfort and intimate scale. If you would like to hold a performance at Alice Tully Hall, check the imbookin page for details.

This guide is just a small snapshot of the amount of venues located on New York’s Upper West Side. For even more venues and details about these venues just search on imbookin! We have all types of venues that ensure that you’re event will be exactly as you imagined it.