"rainbow room" news and stories

Does the end of the Rainbow Room signal the end of an era? Just yesterday, MSNBC reported that the Rainbow Room, the renowned Manhattan landmark and restaurant, is going to shut down. John Higgins, the Chief Operating Officer of Cipriani, announced that the close is due to the current economic crisis and an ongoing dispute with their landlord, Tishman Speyer. Our sister blog, Luxist, explains that despite the definitive close on January 12th, they will continue to operate the bar, banquet space, and the weekend dinner-dancing sessions on the 65th floor.

The Rainbow Room opened on October 3, 1934 and quickly became a NYC icon associated with high-culture and style. The likes of Fred Astaire waltzed on its floor. Marlene Dietrich dined there, and famous musicians, such as organist Ray Bohr, performed there. The restaurant which opened during the Great Depression is now ironically closing during a new economic crisis. You can view images of the Rainbow Room's cultural peak at Gawker and feel the nostalgia of a past glamour.