On a December evening, music and chatter upped decibel levels at packed Amali on East 60th Street. But up a flight of stairs in the back, a more intimate space, illuminated by a fireplace, played host to a group of 65 guests who enjoyed their own open bar and lavish spread, along with a mentalist and tarot card reader hired to entertain.
“Nobody even knows that space is there,” said Steven Levine, the plastic surgeon who threw the party. “My office relies on everyone being amazing and they needed to be thanked, so we found a very controlled environment.”
A professional photographer set up a booth, but he was the only one allowed to take pictures, so there was no fear of having it show up on Instagram.
Still, Levine was delighted when some high-profile invitees whose names he wouldn’t reveal showed up. “I was surprised they were OK to be at a party,” he said.
Scores of places have shut due to the most recent wave of COVID-19 cases, and even the White House has canceled its Christmas party, but that hasn’t stopped many New Yorkers from carrying on with their holiday soirees. Rather than shout it from the rafters, though, they are seeking special, secluded spaces, and keeping events discreet to avoid extra attendees and unwelcome criticism from those who believe gatherings are risky now that the Omicron variant is rapidly spreading.
Mathias Van Leyden owns Chelsea bistro Loulou and its sister bar, a speakeasy that’s camouflaged behind a vintage Coca-Cola machine. It’s also still booked every night through Christmas. ”People like that it’s on the DL, so they are not judged for having parties during COVID,’’ he said.
Richard Chang, a 37-year-old Chelsea resident and chief growth officer for a medical company, had found the hidden gem and helped plan a bash this past Sunday, complete with balloons, decorations and a video to celebrate the holiday and his brother’s 50th birthday.
“We arranged this before things exploded and considered canceling, but instead we asked that everyone get a COVID test prior to coming and not post anything on social media,” said Chang.
At Room 52, a private-event space on the third floor of a small building on East 52nd Street, party organizers ensured that nothing would be posted. “Everyone’s phone cameras were taped over when they entered,’’ said Eric Kovar, who owns the space.
For many determined to keep the seasonal spirit, money is no object — particularly if it guarantees exclusivity for guests. Billionaire John Catsimatidis wanted to go all out for his Red Apple Group, so he planned a Rat Pack-themed sit-down dinner on Frank Sinatra’s birthday, Dec. 12, in a private room at the crooner’s favorite Midtown spot, Patsy’s. Champagne flowed and Joe Piscopo did his best imitation of Ol’ Blue Eyes.
“Do you know how expensive it is to get that [room] upstairs on Sinatra’s birthday?” said Catsimatidis. “It’s like renting Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve! But we wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Venture capitalist and Tribeca resident Bo Peabody, 50, and his college buddies planned a seven-course dinner in the private room of West Village restaurant Hancock St. “If you are vaccinated, you are supposed to go on with life. But we didn’t want to be the source of any spread and didn’t want to make people uncomfortable because we were a large group,” he said of getting the private space. “I won’t tell you what the bill was, but that room allowed us to do what we want.”
If it weren’t for the secret entrance to Keys & Heels, whose facade is that of an Upper East Side combination locksmith-cobbler, Andrea Van Melkebeke, 25, wouldn’t have held her party at all.
“It was because of the space we decided to have the party,” said Van Melkebeke, who works for a coffee manufacturer. “It’s very ’80s-lounge sexy, and we didn’t want to be at a bar with other people. We were able to keep the list down, we knew everyone was vaccinated and there were no strangers.’’
As a health care worker, Diny Sanchez felt strongly about finding a private room and settled on one at Mediterranean restaurant Isabelle’s in the Flatiron District.
“Last year we didn’t have a holiday party and some team members were very disappointed,” said the 38-year-old Brooklynite, who manages a dental office in Murray Hill.
“They are at high risk and it’s the one time they get to bond with their colleagues. We went above and beyond with temperature readings and served a beautiful dinner of steak, fish and chicken.’’
Unfortunately, not everyone feasted. “Some people couldn’t eat,” she said with a sigh. “They didn’t feel comfortable removing their masks.”
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