To state the obvious: New York is back, baby. And with its triumphant return comes the city’s trademark nightlife. Last night, to celebrate Día de los Muertos, hospitality veterans Matt Kleigman, Carlos Quirarte, and Matthew Charles hosted the opening of the latest, greatest venue Manhattan has to offer. It’s called the Georgia Room, located inside the Freehand Hotel. And it’s chic.
Taking inspiration from the American Southwest and artist George O’Keefe, the sprawling 8,000-square-foot space references architectural cues from the 1930s and utilizes a color palette of warm reds, as a nod to the late artist’s penchant for the shade. There’s even a disco ball-shaped chandelier, like the one prominently featured at Andy Warhol’s Factory, to beckon you to dance. HBFIT founder Hannah Bronfman, Gossip Girl star Eli Brown, model Carlotta Kohl, and dancer Violetta Komyshan all partook in the festivities, proving that spooky season isn’t over until the powers that be say it is.
Guests sipped on Agua Màgica, who co-hosted the event and flew in décor from Mexico, while a daring few sprung for a full face of sugar skull makeup at a face-painting station, a common tradition during the holiday. Around 11 p.m., following a rousing performance by electro group Sotomayor, a makeshift taco stand served up Mexican street food like mini nachos and corn salad—a satisfyingly delicious end to the evening.
Claire Stern is the Deputy Editor of ELLE.com. Previously, she served as Editor at Bergdorf Goodman. Her interests include fashion, food, travel, music, Peloton, and The Hills—not necessarily in that order. She used to have a Harriet the Spy notebook and isn’t ashamed to admit it.
