There's a reason the East Village is one of New York City's most iconic neighborhoods. Walking around the area, you can feel the air buzzing with a certain young, creative energy: residents, students, and tourists alike spill out of boutique shops, bustling
restaurants, and trendy bars.
Right in the heart of it all is The Standard, East Village, an equally iconic destination. Known for its sprawling views of Manhattan, the hotel has been the host of many high-profile events — including, most recently, Popsugar's 20th birthday party. We were very excited for the opportunity to partner with The Standard to bring our Y2K celebration to life at its beautiful Penthouse, an indoor-outdoor venue with panoramic views of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Several of our team members stayed overnight at The Standard as well, and we can attest to the fact that this is the perfect spot for your next marquee event or trip to Manhattan. To learn more about the hotel, keep reading.
About The Standard, East Village
What We Like About The Standard, East Village
We have to start with The Penthouse, where we hosted our Y2K-inspired birthday party. When we say that this was the ultimate venue for a special occasion like our party, it's a total understatement. As the elevator doors opened to the space, our guests audibly gasped: the views were simply breathtaking. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow the city itself to be the backdrop of any event, with unbelievable photo opps across the entire venue.
Speaking of, The Penthouse offers more than 1,300 feet of indoor space, where we were able to have separate areas for different aspects of the party: the main room, where our DJ spun beats; an area that housed the bar and charcuterie display; and another lounge area with seating and a photobooth. It was the perfect layout for about 150 guests to mingle, pick up their VIP gift bags, snap nostalgic photos, and dance.
On a beautiful summer evening, the wraparound outside space was also a crowd favorite: celebrities like Monique Coleman, Taryn Delanie Smith, and Kaylor Martin loved taking photos with their friends as the Empire State Building framed the background. Another note about hosting at The Penthouse: the entire staff at The Standard made sure guests were enjoying the cocktails, bites, and views, and were a pleasure to work with.
Our team also had the opportunity to stay overnight at the hotel. The rooms are comfortable and well-appointed, and the large windows — which look out over the city — make you feel like you have breathing space even amid all the hustle and bustle. We enjoyed working from and hanging out in The Garden, which was a tranquil reprieve from the concrete jungle.
And anyone who lives in or has visited New York knows that location is everything. The Standard couldn't be better situated — while it's on a relatively quiet street, it's right in the heart of downtown, just steps from SoHo shops, Washington Square Park, and all the fun bars in the Lower East Side. It'd be the perfect landing spot for someone who had never visited Manhattan before, as well as a seasoned visitor who loves being in the center of it all.
Ultimately, The Standard offers a quintessentially New York experience, with well-designed details (like a funky mirror inside the elevators) and unbeatable views of the entire city. When we say it's dreamlike, we're not exaggerating — any stay or event will make you feel like you're among the clouds.
Lena Felton (she/her) is a senior director of special projects at PS, where she oversees sponsored packages, tentpole projects, and editorial partnerships. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity. She has been working in journalism since 2017, during which time her focus has been feature writing and editing and elevating historically underrepresented voices. Lena has worked for The Atlantic, InStyle, So It Goes, and more.
