Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - (Page 32) New York City Incentives Edited by William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com Escape from New York tony past is very much present at the zoo’s newly restored Schiff Family Great Hall. Once the main Outer-borough incentive trips prove there’s more to NYC than just Manhattan lion house, it now houses a conference room and a broad terrace overlooking the park for sunset “I’ll take Manhattan,” goes the old song. But for It’s not immediately apparent, but some of the cocktails. inventive incentive planners, there can be Brook- Big Apple’s most unspoiled natural environIncentive groups can book private tours with lyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, too. ments are in the Bronx, a mere 30 minutes from rangers and docents of the adjacent “MadagasMulticultural diversity, cost-efficient venues, and Midtown. In the 1890s, when the Bronx Zoo was car!” exhibit or any public area of the park. Also a fresh new view of New York City await the built, the borough was New York City’s country available to incentive groups is the Flaherty intrepid meetings professional. backyard and the upper crust’s playground. That Learning Center in the “Congo” exhibit, which has a view of gorillas. Coney Island’s famous roller coaster is just a Two Manhattan Icons Breathe New Life, Entertain Meetings stone’s throw away from another great Brooklyn New York’s Plaza Hotel and 2 Columbus Circle, upscale shopping center and allowed a number attraction—the New York Aquarium. While its now the Museum of Art and Design, have weath- of rooms to continue as hotel accommodations shark exhibit safely keeps the predators in tanks, ered controversies and are offering planners (most rooms have become condominiums or the aquarium offers a guided tour with a resident condo-hotel rooms). shark expert. Groups can tour the tanks, as well meeting spaces in the heart of the city. When it reopened last year, the Plaza Hotel The Plaza’s famed ballrooms have been as other non-public areas, with docents and was something of a miracle. Slated to be mauled painstakingly restored to the tune of $15 million divers who can interact with the fish in front of (“malled,” specifically) inside and out, the hotel and are managed separately from the hotel and attendees. If asked nicely, they may even scoop was a cause celebre finally taken up by mayor condo. Originally, some design pundits feared up a handful of shark teeth as souvenirs. Afterward, book your group a table or two at Michael Bloomberg, who brokered a last-minute that the goal of restoring the more muted colors deal that saved its lobby from becoming an of the hotel’s original glory would strip some of nearby “Little Odessa,” the Russian enclave in the ballrooms’ “Trumpery.” Not so, said Steve Brighton Beach. Primorski is one of the most Museum of Art and Design Rice, VP and GM: “There’s still lots of gold, and famous Russian/Georgian restaurants in the neighborhood, with live music every night and now it looks beautiful.” The Plaza now offers 18,000 sf of space for space for 200 seated guests. events. “We added a state-of-the-art kitchen. . . A short drive from the Staten Island Ferry, the and cocktail space,” explained Rice. “In the ball- Jacques Marchais Institute for Tibetan Art offers rooms, everything is original. We are very aware a fascinating view of the little-known world of that we are working with a part of New York’s his- Tibetan art. It presents artifacts in a tranquil settory. In fact, we’ve even hired author Curtis Gath- ting that feels very far from the city. The institute je (At the Plaza) to be our resident historian.” can arrange private yoga, meditation, or stressNearby at 2 Columbus Circle, the Museum of reduction sessions for small incentive groups (less Art and Design is settling into its new home and than 50 winners), along with guided private tours. brushing off the fallout from the building’s renAbout 60 years ago, Queens was famous for its ovation. When building planners changed the stables and country riding lanes. One of the last original 1964 facade, landmark societies cried remaining working stables in New York City, foul, and celebrity critics like author Tom Wolfe Lynne’s Riding School, in Forest Hills, continues mourned its loss. the tradition. Groups of up to 25 can take lessons Now, critics are hailing the museum’s loving in the riding ring with the school’s horses, and recreation of the original building’s 1960s theater they can take group trail rides in nearby Forest space, which is available for meetings of up to 145 Park. people. The theater’s bronze doors and goldPost-equestrian events may involve old-fashencrusted tiled floors herald the city’s golden ’60s. ioned egg cremes—yes, someone still makes Further, planners can have cocktail parties for them—at nearby Eddie’s Sweet Shop on Metro100 in the lobby or use meetings areas across politan Ave., one of the city’s last authentic ice seven floors. Gallery floors can be rented after- cream parlors. The shop has a 75-year-old interihours, and lectures and tours—which include or that will make incentive winners think they that of the Tiffany Jewelry Collection—can be stepped into the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. r privatized, too. —Section written by Gretchen Kelly 32 MeetingNews September 22, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com
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