Vibe: As every movie about high school reunions has taught us, a reunion party should emulate all of quirks of your high school as it was when you were there. And that means ditching the after-work cocktail crowd, and finding a spot that is all about you and your guests, and specifically a spot that doesn’t shoot dirty looks when you start reviving the cheesy radio hits that used to fuel your underage drinking. Enter 49 Grove, an upscale lounge that brings a perfect mix of class, style, intimacy and revelry to the New York party scene. Voted Best Lounge of 2008 By
Vibe: Owned and operated by a publicist and 2 designers, The Anchor can make your reunion celebration even cooler than you were in high school (which, judging by the pictures, may not be too difficult). Voted New York City’s best bar/lounge of 2007 by Paper Magazine, The Anchor is an ideal setting for your reunion to mix and mingle with some of SoHo’s most appealing clientele. Spot: Decorated in a somewhat nautical, somewhat hunting-lodge theme (complete with antler chandeliers and wood details), don’t be fooled by the
Vibe: Aspen Social Club channels the same lodge-like atmosphere of its Flatiron sister establishment (Aspen), with a bit more flair for eye-catching. Midtown’s version of the Rockies, Aspen Social Club is a perfect spot to pretend your reunion finds all the friends of years past in a mountain hideaway. Luckily, you can also step straight back into New York once you realize why you lost touch with all these people in the first place. Spot: This futuristic snowy-white and wood cabin in the forest-themed restaurant/lounge in Vikram Chatwal’s new
Vibe: A reunion is a perfect opportunity to remember the good, the bad, and the wonderfully embarrassing (don’t think people forgot you used to drink Smirnoff Ice before there anyone was “icing” anyone else). Bar 13 is the perfect place for your reunion to celebrate the future while paying homage to your eclectic past. Whether you want to jam to reggae, groove to ’60s rock, or bounce to the Jigga himself, Bar 13 has you covered. Dance parties, live bands, poetry slams, just a night of laid-back blackout drinking with old friends and
Vibe: Your reunion is sure to find your old crew in many stages of life, from the corporate all-stars to the still-starving artists, and everything in between. Luckily, Bar 29 finds a better-than-average middle ground that's ideal for an NYC reunion that's no-nonsense and contemporary without being obnoxiously swanky or pretentiously lo-fi (the artsy folks will bring plenty of pretention anyway). Spot: Obviously, the party starts and ends at Bar 29's 25-foot bar. Dark wood abounds and well-placed low lighting gives the space a classy yet
Vibe: You would never insult your team by catching only their Sportcenter highlights, and you know the majority of the folks coming to the reunion feel the same (less those band kids, but then history tends to say no one is listening to their opinions anyway). So what’s the solution when your reunion needs to center around the sports-centric? New York City’s Bar Twelve, where you get sports, big beats, and, of course, a good drinking atmosphere (beer pong encouraged), all under one roof (this is finally a chance to settle that great pong rivalry from yesteryear).
Vibe: Ah, childhood memories under the big top: the colorful wardrobes, the big personalities, the, uh... weird excess of “little people.” Well, they aren’t all great memories, but Carnival found a way to recollect only the good ones. With their signature Dunk Tank drink (2 gallons of Rum, Vodka, Gin and Fruit Juice- meant to be shared!), waitresses splashing around in an actual Dunk Tank, and over a dozen boardwalk games; a reunion at Carnival will take you back to the old days (except now you can legally consume alcohol, of course).
Vibe: Yes, it’s called “Cellar,” but don’t jump to conclusions; your New York City reunion won’t resemble those high school days of sneaking cases of cheap beer and Apple Pucker into your buddy’s basement. On the contrary: Cellar Bar is a sure spot to make your reunion legendary, even by NYC standards, replacing those days of sneaky basement partying with a posh spot to do your binge drinking with (hopefully) no need to run from cops.Spot: Located in the epically fashionable Bryant Park Hotel, a stylish crowd of hotel
Vibe: Although it is fairly certain your reunion in New York City will end in a hazy mix of hard liquor, flirtatious reminiscing, and prophylactics, this doesn’t mean you can’t keep it classy along the way. Choice is poised to keep your reunion’s road to legendary inebriation at the level of style that’s far past those ridiculous spiky-haired frosted tips you used sport.Spot: Murray Hill’s chic alternative to the usual frat star hangouts, Choice is a beautiful blend of exposed brick, vaulted ceilings, the Island Bar (perfect for
Vibe: The view from your parties back in the day usually ended with flashing red and blue lights in a field or a basement. Sure, that was definitely prime material for teenage bonding and stories you will never tell your grandchildren, but a reunion doesn’t have to emulate too much of the past. Enter Empire Rooftop, where your reunion gets the New York City view it deserves. Unlike the Empire Hotel’s Pooldeck, the Rooftop is completely open to the stylish-leaning public, and it’s a great spot for your reunion to show that you’ve all (mostly) grown up.
