Results tagged “cipriani”

The gang from Sesame Street was out walking the red carpet last night for their 7th Annual Gala benefiting the Sesame Workshop. Held far away from their Astoria home at Cipriani on 42nd Street, the muppets (friends of the First Lady) greeted some bold-face names, and Sheryl Crow even performed a duet with Elmo. Here are some of your Sesame faves (glad to see Grover made it out!) with the likes of Mayor Bloomberg, Brian Williams and Al Roker. Why do you think muppets hate Al Roker so much; maybe he didn't deliver enough "sunny days" to the street?

With the recession only getting worse, now a guy doesn't even have anywhere to turn to get a $40 bowl of pasta while taking in the best view of Manhattan. The Rainbow Room has announced that while times are tough, it will close its doors on the restaurant portion of the 65th floor landmark, the Rainbow Grill. Operators of the Rainbow Room, the Cipriani family, told WNBC, "We are currently planning on temporarily closing the Rainbow Grill, which will operate as a bar only...due to the current economic crisis in New York and around the world, on top of an ongoing dispute with our landlord.” The Ciprianis applied for landmark status for the Rainbow Room back in August for fears that their landlord Tishman Speyer could try to transform it into office space. A source connected to the Ciprianis recently was quoted saying that Tishman Speyer has been disgusted with the shabby state of the Rainbow Room since the Ciprianis took over. The historic club that sits on "Top of the Rock" above Rockefeller Center turns 75 this year.

Carl Andrews, former state senator from Brooklyn, has resigned from his $171,000-a-year job as aide to Governor Paterson in the midst of allegations that he illegally pressured the State Liquor Authority to renew liquor licenses for the Cipriani restaurants in Manhattan. After SLA Chairman Daniel Boyle (a Republican appointee) told the Post that Andrews tried to "intimidate" him into voting for the renewal, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launched a criminal investigation.

As the New York State inspector general looks into allegations of intimidation leveled by State Liquor Authority chairman Daniel Boyle against Governor Paterson's office, sources in the SLA tell the Post that the two other SLA commissioners were given the use of cars as a perk for voting to renew liquor licenses for the embattled Cipriani restaurant empire. The investigation was launched after Boyle told the Post that Carl Andrews, an aide to Paterson, pressured him (unsuccessfully) to vote for Cipriani's license renewal.

The head of the State Liquor Authority is telling the Post that an aide to Governor Paterson tried to intimidate him last summer into voting to renew liquor licenses for nine restaurants owned by the Ciprianis. You'll recall that the Cipriani empire—which includes the Rainbow Room—was jeopardized earlier this year when patriarch Arrigo Capriani and his son Giuseppe pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Felons are prohibited from holding liquor licenses in New York State, but the SLA voted 2-1 for renewal, with Chairman Daniel Boyle casting the lone dissent. Now he's come forward to say, "There's no question there was an attempt to intimidate me," made by Paterson's aide (and former state Senator) Carl Andrews, who allegedly told Boyle, "People here [in the Governor's office] are who you answer to."

They may have mob ties and a history of tax evasion, but the Ciprianis have been allowed to hold onto their liquor license after the omnipotent State Liquor Authority accepted a settlement offer from the family, who operate luxurious restaurants and catering halls in Manhattan. One of Cipriani's owners, Arrigo Cipriani, previously pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion charges, and state law prohibits convicted felons from obtaining liquor licenses.

Society swells attending glamorous events at Cipriani Dolci may soon have to develop a taste for Shirley Temples. The State Liquor Authority [SLA] is threatening to revoke the liquor licenses at all the swank restaurants and catering halls run by the Cipriani family – including the Rainbow Room and Socialista. The SLA says operators Giuseppe Cipriani and his father, Arrigo Cipriani, have illegally let their licenses be used by unauthorized relatives and companies.

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Harry Cipriani in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel, awards the restaurant no stars. Finds “service so confused and food so undistinguished it wouldn’t pass muster at half the cost.” Says prices at the restaurant ridiculous. The restaurant was last reviewed in 1991, when Bryan Miller gave it two stars. The one positive? “The people-watching is nonpareil." Peter Meehan visits Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, for tacos. Likes Epocas...