Even in nightlife, it's important to respect those who came before you. The clubs, bars, restaurants and parties we have now are born out of the successes of an earlier generation of nightlife. In the early 2000s, where to go, eat, see people and be seen by people came to a Noho sushi place: BondST. On Wednesday night, the iconic nightlife spot celebrated 25 years in business by bringing all of its patrons and friends to its new Hudson Yards location.
Groups entered past a large “25” ice sculpture to the restaurant team past sushi and lychee martinis. Tuna tartar tacos, crab rolls, oysters, salmon sashimi and crab shooters (and more) floated around the room between three open bars. The panoramic views of the sunset overlooking the Hudson acted as a gravitational force to draw people to the back of the venue. People mingled around the standing tables as true favorites and early regulars claimed some of the big round tables. At one o'clock, talk show host Graham Norton was chatting with “I May Destroy You” creator and star Michaela Coel.
The crowd, like the restaurant, is bigger now. In a 1999 episode of Sex and the City, Miranda confesses to Carrie and Charlotte about Will Arnett's Jack: “We did it in the BondST bathroom.” Today, bathrooms have baby changing stations that are actually used for their intended purposes. Anyone in attendance looks like they could have seriously screwed up Carrie's week in 2002. Last night, the best dressed award went to one of her ten-year-old sons, who was eating a tuna roll in an oversized jacket. Candace Bushnell herself was also floating from group to group last night, catching up with pals in a sequined, leopard-print dress.
The party, however, was no less lively. In the early evening, I took the elevator up to the restaurant on the fifth floor with a woman in her 60s carrying a small dog named “Majorelle” in her purse. Almost three hours later, Majorelle and two friends were jumping and dancing in the DJ booth. Seeing this, Dorinda Medley, also in leopard print, started to take the stage. In an instant, the Real Housewife had climbed the booth and was dancing with the two DJs. These are still the people who wear sunglasses inside a party, the only difference is that now they are prescription sunglasses. And yet, it still draws the starry crowd it always has; Last summer, Taylor Swift hosted a girls' night out there with Selena Gomez, Sophie Turner, Brittany Mahomes, Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne.
BondST owner and founder Jonathan Morr has been a significant influence and mentor to the next generation of nightlife owners. Thatcher Shultz, the man behind clubs like The Garrett, Make Believe, Her Name Was Carmen and many others, cites Morr as an early career mentor.
“All the 'who's' of New York are here,” Shultz said NYLON. “It's a great atmosphere, everything is decked out. What could be better?”
The night culminated in two celebratory events, a birthday cake that was cut and passed around, and the “breaking of the barrel.” In Japanese culture, opening a sake barrel symbolizes new beginnings and fostering community. Surrounded by friends, regulars, the long-time diners who have made BondST so successful, it's easy to imagine doing it all again in another 25 years.
