Legendary New York Nights
With end-of-year celebrations around the corner, we revisit the most iconic parties New York has ever known—past, present and future.
Step behind the velvet rope of New York’s most iconic club nights where celebrities, style icons, eccentrics and downtown artists danced side by side. From Studio 54’s monumental opening night to Paradise Garage’s last hurrah and everything in between–these are the nights to remember.
Soul Night at The Mudd Club, February 17, 1980
Mudd Club’s former doorman and author of The Mudd Club book, Richard Boch revisits Soul Night at the club. “The night was far out and right-on with more than a hint of political incorrectness: pimps and hookers or anyone dressed like either species was admitted free. Blaxploitation black light posters set the mood. The Ohio Players and Parliament-Funkadelic kept the dance floor moving until Clarence Carter and eventually Percy Sledge took the stage. A round king-size fur-covered bed was set for the perfect photo-op. Fried chicken from Sylvia’s Harlem restaurant was served. That was the Mudd Club Soul Party.”
Paradise Garage Closing Party, 1987
End of an era; as disco gave way to hip-hop and house music, Paradise Garage—the fabled downtown discotheque located in a garage on King Street—threw one last bash to celebrate the nightclub that played a major part in the development of modern dance and pop music. While the club served neither food nor liquor, it was one of the hottest dance spots in the world during its prime. The farewell party for this iconic dance factory lasted five days and saw the likes of Diana Ross, Madonna and Keith Haring, while DJ Larry Levan kept the dancefloor moving with back-to-back grooves.
Studio 54 Opening Night, 1977
“All of us knew that night that we weren’t at the opening of a discotheque but the opening of something historical, that was going to change the shape of the way people lived or played… There were no rules. Sodom and Gomorrah met the High Street that night,” remembers reporter and socialite Anthony Haden Guest. The opening party was hedonism at its most potent. With a high-profile guest list including Cher, Dolly Parton, Diana Vreeland, Halston—this was the hottest ticket in town and will be talked about for decades to come.
The New York Night Train Soul Clap Anniversary Party, 2017
For the past decade, Jonathan Toubin has been keeping the party going with his all-vinyl dance parties with a tracklist of rare 45s from the 1950s and ’60s. What started as an underground party for those in the know has become a staple of New York’s nightlife scene. The 10th anniversary brought together all the usual elements and included an all-star roundup of Toubin’s favorite musicians: Archie Bell, Joe Bataan, Maxine Brown, Young Jessie, and Ural Thomas, all artists with classic hits from the ’50s and ’60s, joined by a few other, slightly newer acts, among them David Johansen, of the New York Dolls.
CBGB
Opened in December ’73, at the intersection of Bleeker and Bowery in Manhattan’s East Village, CBGB was the breeding ground for the 1970s New York City rock scene. Here, every night was legendary with new acts breaking through on the regular. From the Ramone’s first public appearance on 16 August, 1974 to Patti Smith performing with Television on 23 March, 1975—which also marked Richard Hell’s last appearance as bassist for scene-leading art-rockers Television—CBGB was the place to see the future of music.
New York New York 2025
Inspired by the grit and glam of New York in the early ’70s, The Roxy is throwing a New Year’s Eve party for the books. Champagne will be flowing all night long in addition to a premium bar from 9pm to 1am for all guests. For those seated, enjoy tiers of hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and bottles of choice. Iconic photographs by Dustin Pittman chronicling the untamed corners of New York City’s nightlife scene will adorn the walls. Think Madonna, Grace Jones, and Jerry Hall. What to wear? Dress to the nines, we’re going old-school glam—hint, you should too.
Embrace the ’70s New York spirit. Secure your ticket—here.
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