Tavern on the Green

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Tavern on the Green
Main entrance of Tavern on the Green
Main entrance of Tavern on the Green
Restaurant Information
Established October 1934
Head chef Brian Young
Street address Central Park West and West 67th Street - Manhattan
City New York City
State New York
Country United States
Website Tavern on the Green Official Website


Tavern on the Green is a restaurant located in Central Park, New York City, in the United States.

With 2007 gross revenues of $38 million, from more than 500,000 visitors, it is the second highest-grossing independently-owned restaurant in the United States (behind The Venetian's Tao restaurant in Las Vegas, at $67 million).[1][2] Of the several dining rooms, the most famous is the Crystal Room, which features windows overlooking the restaurant's adjacent garden in Central Park.[3]

Contents

[edit] History and location

The restaurant is located in New York City's Central Park at Central Park West and West 67th Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side. It was originally the Sheepfold that housed the sheep that grazed Sheep Meadow, built to a design by Calvert Vaux in 1870. It became a restaurant as part of a 1934 renovation of the park under Robert Moses, New York City's Commissioner of Parks. In 1974, Warner LeRoy took over the restaurant's lease and reopened it in 1976 after $10 million in renovations. Since LeRoy's death in 2001, it has been managed by his daughter, Jennifer Oz LeRoy.

Tavern on the Green is known for being frequented by numerous prominent actors, musicians, politicians, and writers.

[edit] Discrimination lawsuit

In June, 2008, Tavern on the Green agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a sexual and racial discrimination lawsuit over claims by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of "pervasive harassment" of women and minoritiy employees.[4]

[edit] New York City Marathon

Tavern on the Green is the finish line of the New York City Marathon. The Barilla Marathon Eve Dinner, an enormous pre-race pasta party on the eve of the marathon for 10,000 guests (including registrants, who attend for free), takes place at the Tavern. 6,800 pounds of pasta and 2,000 pounds of salad are served at the dinner, which also features live entertainment and fireworks. [5]

[edit] In popular culture

[edit] Broadway and films

Many Broadway shows have opening night festivities at the restaurant. The Tavern makes its way into popular culture in several movie appearances, including Ghostbusters, Made, Only When I Laugh, Stella, The Out-of-Towners and Wall Street and in television shows such as elimiDATE and Live with Regis and Kelly.[6][7][8]

[edit] Music

The musical title of show includes a line in the song "Part of it All": "Ducking out of the theatre before the show's finale to get to the opening night at Tavern on the Green!" The restaurant is also mentioned by the hip-hop group Nice & Smooth in the song "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow," on their album Ain't a Damn Thing Changed: "I go to Tavern on the Green and have a glass of wine..."

[edit] Wedding receptions

Tavern on the Green has hosted the wedding receptions of several prominent Americans, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler and film director Walter Hill.

[edit] Awards

Where Magazine named it the best restaurant on New York City's Upper West Side in 2006, and "best ambience" of any New York City restaurant in 2002. In 2003 and 2004, Wine Spectator named its wine list to its "Best of Award of Excellence."[9]

[edit] San Francisco location

In May 2008, the restaurant and the Westfield Group announced plans to open a second, 40,000 square foot location in the Metreon mall in downtown San Francisco, California, in the summer of 2009.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Special Report: Top 100 Independents", Restaurants & Institutions. 
  2. ^ Drape, Joe. "Setting Restaurant Records by Selling the Sizzle", The New York Times, July 22, 2007. Accessed October 15, 2007.
  3. ^ Central Park: Play: Tavern on the Green
  4. ^ Daniel Trotta. "Famed NY tavern to pay $2.2 million for discrimination", reuters, 2008-06-02. 
  5. ^ Barilla Hosts Marathon Eve Dinner
  6. ^ Central Park: Play: Tavern on the Green
  7. ^ Central Park Movie Locations
  8. ^ Bette Midler as a Selfless Mother in Tear-Inducing Stella
  9. ^ "Awards and Accomplishments" at Tavern on the Green Website.
  10. ^ James Temple. "Tavern on the Green coming to the Metreon", San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 

[edit] External links

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