Soho House @ NYC ***

Dinner Buffet (House Sliders, Penne Pasta, Crispy Calamari, Greek Salad, Cheese Platter, Charcuterie, Hummus and Tzatzilki, and Fruit Platter)

It is often said that a liberal arts education has a lack of practical applications; I beg to differ. Of all the things I learned at college, entertaining large groups of people has been by far the the skill from which I derive the internal satisfaction and external affirmation. Who knew that years of re-filling chip bowls and being a designated driver could lead to great things?

Of late, my talents have been put to the test in organizing team building events for my colleagues. The challenges of planning a successful corporate event are manifold: a) concept (passive? interactive?), b) atmosphere (classy? laid back? wild?), and of course c) inclusiveness (time of day, day of the week, and type of activity are all factors that would affect one’s ability and inclination to attend). Although making sure that as many people as possible have as good a time as possible while staying within the allocated budget is a clear end-goal, the path to achieving this can be a rocky one. Despite the best laid plans and intentions, scheduling conflicts, dietary preferences, lifestyle preferences, any one or a combination of these can make someone feel excluded.

Although it is always fun to take part in unususal activities like paintballling, go-karting, etc. I am of the mind that the most inclusive events are those planned around the central assumption that people tend to enjoy eating, drinking, and talking to one another. This Halloween week, thirty of so of my colleagues were well-fed, plied with alcohol, and treated to a screening of the Spanish horror film “Rec.” For extreme professionalism, high-quality food, and tasteful surroundings, consider contacting the wonderful team at Soho House.

Details: 29 9th Ave (bet 13th & 14th) New York, NY‎ 10014 (+1-212-627-9800‎)