Giuseppe Cipriani

Two of the city's top banquet behemoths were honored last night at the International Special Events Society's Annual Big Apple Awards at Cipriani Wall Street:

Michael Desiderio, chief operating officer of Tavern on the Green, and Joe Cozza, vice president of sales and marketing at Cipriani USA--both of whom are facing significant challenges these days in keeping their illustrious New York institutions afloat.

Tavern, for one, faces a potential bidding war to keep its sprawling 27,000-square-feet digs at Central Park. Cipriani, meanwhile, is struggling to hold onto its liquor licenses after CEO Giuseppe Cipriani pleaded guilty to tax charges last year.

I asked the friendly Mr.  read more »

A fierce standoff between two New York titans, both ranked on The Observer's recent 100 Most Powerful People In Real Estate, wrapped up an indecisive first-round yesterday.

Dapper restaurateur Giuseppe Cipriani (ranked No. 97) had offered up $500,000 to settle his dispute with the State Liquor Authority (S.L.A.).  read more »

He’s survived Spitzer, the unions, Morgenthau and Trump—can he beat the Toy Center’s landlord?  read more »

• How did the New York hotel market become "a haven" for foreign investment? "All the stars are aligned," suggests an executive at CB Richard Ellis. In other news, the average nightly room rate climbed from last year's $189 to $211. (The foreign tourists can thank the foreign investors.) (The New York Times)
• Last month, Giuseppe Cipriani was this close to transforming ancient Pier 57 (at West 15th Street) into the "Leonardo--a $300 million offshore Italian mini-theme-park." It seems that past involvement with a Gambino turncoat (in which some money may have been given to quiet some labor trouble at Mr. Cipriani's Rainbow Room) muddied the deal. (New York Magazine)
• Yaakov Goldfeder continues to thrive as "the city's No. 1 property tax deadbeat," but sadly it's only over $9.75 million in unpaid bills for a bland Brooklyn apartment building. "Believe me," Mr. Goldfeder implores, "I am the victim here." (New York Daily News)
• If The Times says prime Manhattan real estate can be traded for cute art, cosmetic surgery and colon hydrotherapy, then we must all become cute artists or colon hydrotherapists. (The New York Times)
• This summer, Greenpoint's McCarren Pool will complete the glorious transformation from a long-abandoned pit into a mecca for hipster rock. But can hipster rock stir up excitement (forty million dollars of excitement) about the renovation project? (New York Post)
- Max Abelson
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