Steve Cuozzo

Steve Cuozzo

Business

Fried Frank holiday party returns in full force

The Fried, Frank annual holiday party at Cipriani 42nd Street is the one by which other real estate soirees  are judged — and the best informal barometer of the industryā€™s mood.

The bash returned in full force on Dec. 5 after three years of Covid-influenced shrinkage. Law firm real estate chairman Jon Mechanic, the ever-ebullient host, said, ā€œThere was real energy in the room. There was a sense of optimism about the resurgence of NewšŸ‰ York.

ā€œSome deals that were quiescent are back live. Thereā€™s more paper being traded, letters of intent and term sheets. And moąµ©re people are back inšŸƒ the office.ā€

Jonathan Mechanic with Empire State Realty Trust's Christina Chiu and Tony Malkin
Jonathan Mechanic with Empire State Realty Trust’s Christina Chiu and Tony Malkin Michael Priest Photography

Nearly  1,000  power players  filled the great į©šį©šį©šį©šį©šį©šā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©šā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©šā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©šš’€±į©šį©šį©šhall.  The development world was represented by  Bill Rudin and Michael Rudin, Vornadoā€™s Michael Franco, SL Greenā€™s Andy Levine, Harry Sitomer and Steve Durels, RXRā€™s Scott Rechler,    WatermanCLARKā€™s Ric Clark, Alexander Durst, George and Marian Klein, Empire State Building titan  Tony MalšŸ’œkin,  Joseph  Moinian, and Tom and Jake Elghanayan.

From the  investment-sale ranks were Eastdil legend Roy March and Branton Realty Sā™‰ervicesā€™ Woody Heller. Leasing dealmakers included  CBREā€™s Stephen Siegel and Mary Ann Tighe, retail whiz Jeff Sutton,  Cushman & Wakefieldā€™s John Cefaly and Bruce Mosler, and Newmarkā€™s Jimmy Kuhn.