Each year, when December rolls around, New York’s real estate professionals let down their hair for a month of holiday parties at some of the city’s swankiest venues. This year was no exception, and The Real Deal went along for the ride, covering all the late-night dealmaking and elbow-rubbing.
The season kicked off with Madison Realty Capital’s bash at the top of the Standard Hotel. The event was jam-packed, with hosts Josh Zegen, Adam Tantleff and Brian Shatz drawing guests from all corners of the industry. It was Paul Massey of Cushman & Wakefield spent the evening surrounded by people asking him about his mayoral run.
Fried Frank’s holiday extravaganza once again brought together the who’s who of the industry at Cipriani in Midtown. Murray Hill Properties’ Norman Sturner, Related Companies’ Jeff Blau and JDS Development Group’s Michael Stern were among those trading intel and schmoozing amid the holiday lights.
Next up was Rosewood Realty Group’s shindig, which was held at The Gansevoort Park Avenue hotel. Guests indulged in Kosher meats, sushi and liquid nitrogen ice cream. TRD dropped by to chat with Stonehenge Partner’s Ofer Yardeni, who predicted a strong 2017 for the multifamily market. Steven Croman, who faces up to 25 years in prison for 20 felony charges, also made a brief appearance early in the evening.
Moinian Group pulled out all the stops for its soiree at Espace, which welcomed Vector Group’s Howard Lorber and former Million Dollar Listing New York star Luis Ortiz. Ortiz told TRD he’s out of the brokerage business for good after joining investment firm Empire Capital Holdings.
Town Residential’s annual party struck a slightly different tone this year thanks to a move from its regular venue (Tao Downtown) to Central Park’s Tavern on the Green. The Victorian building, dotted in fairy lights, teemed with agents, clients and hangers-on — all of whom took full advantage of the open bar and steak buffet.
Cooper-Horowitz stuck to its traditional mid-day holiday party at Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. in Grand Central Terminal. “It’s been a great year,” said Richard Horowitz, one of the hosts of the season’s matinee special. “I don’t know how many billions… I’ll have to check with my brother.”
And to cap off the holiday party circuit, JDS Development threw its event at premier sushi restaurant Morimoto, in Chelsea. Guests like Corcoran Group CEO Pam Liebman and Citi Habitats’ Gary Malin talked shop and enjoyed “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto’s renowned sea bass.