Leisure

Fear Factor

The City’s Most Intimidating Meeting Spots

Intimidation: when used creatively and appropriately, it’ll get your business taken care of. Herewith, five intimidating-as-hell meeting spots—organized by inspiration—that’ll advance your agenda. Hard.

THE SCARFACE

Blade to the Hamptons

The Plan: Call an emergency Hamptons summit. Book a last-minute flight and bring along a colleague with a fear of flying for a little presummit sidebar. Discreetly inform the pilot that you prefer corkscrew landings.
The Cold-Blooded Line: “These things almost never go down.”

THE GODFATHER II

The Water Table

The Plan: Set up a powwow on this East River–based dinner vessel. It’s got lobster rolls from a Gramercy Tavern vet and an outdoor deck, and it’s completely surrounded by a river notorious as a dumping ground for mobsters.
The Cold-Blooded Line: “I hear a lot of people fall into this particular river.”

THE THIRD MAN

The Thunderbolt at Luna Park

The Plan: Invite a subordinate to a “trust exercise” at this new version of the hallowed Coney Island coaster. Let them get firmly ~~captive~~ buckled in and start discussing proper business etiquette and the art of the 65 mph, 90-degree vertical drop.
The Cold-Blooded Line: “You’ve got 48 seconds.”

THE DON DRAPER

Bar 54 in Midtown

The Plan: An all-hands morale session after work on this 54th-floor roof deck. Get the team cocktails; get yourself water. Stand atop one of the balcony sofas, peering over the ledge, a picture of control.
The Cold-Blooded Line: “The vertigo is perfectly natural.”

THE... WELL, THIS IS NEW

Bowery Bliss on the LES

The Plan: Assure your clients you’re taking them out for a good old-fashioned night on the town. Then wordlessly lead them to one of the canopy-bed lounges here, and introduce them to Gina, Veronica, Viv, Agnes and Steve. Slowly unbuckle your belt.
The Cold-Blooded Line: “Let’s get started, shall we?”