grand ballroom – Downtown Magazine

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment is partnering with The Bowery Presents — AEG Presents’ regional partner — to acquire the operating rights and assets to Webster Hall, the legendary music and entertainment venue located in Manhattan’s East Village. The parties will assume the long-term lease to the building, which will continue to be owned by current owner, Unity Gallega.

Webster Hall — which has operated as a venue since 1886 — includes the Grand Ballroom, The Studio and The Marlin Room live entertainment spaces. The officially-designated New York City landmark has served an integral role in the development of many artists’ careers and was named 2016 Nightclub of the Year at the annual awards of Pollstar Magazine. The magazine currently ranks Webster Hall as the No. 2 club venue worldwide for ticket sales.

“We are excited to build on the iconic history of Webster Hall,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “Webster Hall provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to connect with artists early in their careers and expands BSE’s venue footprint into Manhattan. We appreciate all that the Ballinger family has done to make Webster Hall an industry leading venue and we are looking forward to working with them, The Bowery Presents and AEG Presents to make it an even greater destination for live music.”

“Partnering with The Bowery Presents and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment to program and operate this iconic live facility will continue to enhance Webster Hall’s worldwide reputation as one of the industry’s most important venues,” said Jay Marciano, Chairman and CEO, AEG Presents.

Webster Hall has undergone several waves of transformation throughout the past century. In the 1920’s, Webster Hall notoriously held masquerade balls and was nicknamed “the Devil’s Playhouse.” RCA Records purchased Webster Hall in 1954 and renovated the venue to include a state-of-the-art acoustically-treated ballroom. Notable artists who recorded in Webster Hall’s studio during this time included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan (his recording debut), Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, and Julie Andrews.

Beginning in the 1980’s, Webster Hall reemerged as a leading rock venue in the City, hosting artists such as Eric Clapton with Keith Richards, U2 (the band’s first-ever U.S. show), Tina Turner, The Beastie Boys, Prince, Sting, Metallica, Aerosmith, KISS, B.B. King and Guns N’ Roses. The Ballinger family began running the venue in 1989.

LEMTOSH SMART_Black_Yellow_Front Left — Photo: Courtesy of MOSCOT.box.com

MOSCOT Eyewear, the praised iconic luxury eyewear line, recently celebrated its 100th year anniversary at the Grand Ballroom of the Jane Hotel.

“The celebration welcomed a diverse range of loyal clients, that included hip New Yorkers, free spirited artists, fresh looking businessmen, celebrities, intellectuals, musicians, writers, so on and so forth, with endless glasses of wine and hors d’oeuvres circulating the ballroom like clockwork.” – Haley Newman

MOSCOT may be a well-established global brand, however its charming design ethos remains a neighborhood optical shop at heart. The brand is known to carry three main lines including The MOSCOT Originals Collection, The MOSCOT Spirit Collection, and The MOSCOT Sun Collection. These groups include ranges of dramatic, sleek, modern, playful, and technologically innovative looks that celebrate the sophisticated yet relaxed feeling of summer all year long.

In honor of its big year, The MOSCOT 100 Year Anniversary Collection features three new Special Edition LEMTOSH styles that honor the past, with the future in mind: The LEMTOSH WOOD, LEMTOSH FOLD, and LEMTOSH Smart.

The LEMTOSH WOOD style features real wood inlayed in acetate – to synthesize both the old and the new. The LEMTOSH FOLD folds to be pocket-sized, making the pair of glasses fit perfectly into a clutch or suit pocket.

The LEMTOSH Smart Drive Package includes three different Clip-on Lens combinations for optimum optics for driving, for over cast conditions, and for stronger night vision, all compiled into a tri-fold case.

The combination of sophistication and innovative design elements reflects what MOSCOT hopes to portray as a brand identity. Harvey Moscot, owner of MOSCOT says, “The LEMTOSH has always held a special place in our heart, so we’re excited to inaugurate our 100 Year celebration with the launch of this very special Collection.”

MOSCOT worked to embrace and celebrate the timeless charm of “old” and the fearlessness of “new” in honor of their 100th birthday. These special editions feature the MOSCOT 100 Year Anniversary Silver Emblem on the temple tip, and are placed in a Special Edition 100 Year Anniversary MOSCOT tote bag, chamois, and case. MOSCOT offers lines for every kind of eyewear fanatic. Here’s to 100 more years of form, function, and style.

-Collaborative piece by Haley Newman and Deirdre McAndrew