Step behind the velvet rope of New York’s most iconic club nights where celebrities, style icons, eccentrics and downtown artists danced side by side. From Studio 54’s monumental opening night to Paradise Garage’s last hurrah and everything in between–these are the nights to remember.

Soul Night at The Mudd Club, February 17, 1980

Mudd Club’s former doorman and The Mudd Club author, Richard Boch, looks back on one of the club’s most unforgettable nights.

“The night was far-out and right-on, laced with a heavy dose of political incorrectness. Pimps and hookers—or anyone dressed like either—got in free. Blaxploitation black-light posters set the mood. The Ohio Players and Parliament-Funkadelic kept the dance floor in constant motion until Clarence Carter, and later Percy Sledge, took the stage. A round, king-size, fur-covered bed waited for the perfect photo op. Fried chicken from Sylvia’s in Harlem was served. That was the Mudd Club Soul Party.”

Paradise Garage Closing Party, 1987 

It was the end of an era. As disco faded and hip-hop and house surged forward, Paradise Garage—the legendary King Street discotheque that helped shape the sound of modern dance and pop music—threw one final blowout. Despite serving neither food nor alcohol, the Garage reigned as one of the world’s most influential dance floors, a sanctuary for music lovers and night-world misfits alike.

Its farewell celebration stretched an astonishing five days, drawing icons like Diana Ross, Madonna, and Keith Haring, while DJ Larry Levan delivered nonstop, soul-shaking sets that kept the floor alive until the very last beat.

Studio 54 Opening Night, 1977 

“All of us knew, that night, that we weren’t at the opening of a discotheque but the opening of something historical—something that was going to change the way people lived and played… There were no rules. Sodom and Gomorrah met the High Street that night,” recalls reporter and socialite Anthony Haden-Guest.

The opening party was hedonism at its most distilled: a fever dream of glitter, glamour, and unrestrained indulgence. With a guest list that included Cher, Dolly Parton, Diana Vreeland, and Halston, it was the hottest ticket in town—a night destined to be talked about for decades.

The New York Night Train Soul Clap Anniversary Party, 2017 

For the past decade, Jonathan Toubin has kept New York dancing with his all-vinyl parties, spinning rare 45s from the 1950s and ’60s. What began as an underground gathering for those in the know has since become a fixture of the city’s nightlife.

The 10th-anniversary celebration brought together all the signature elements—plus an all-star lineup of Toubin’s favorite performers: Archie Bell, Joe Bataan, Maxine Brown, Young Jessie, and Ural Thomas, joined by a few newer additions, including David Johansen of the New York Dolls.

CBGB

Opened in December ’73 at the intersection of Bleecker and Bowery in Manhattan’s East Village, CBGB quickly became the crucible of New York’s 1970s rock scene. Night after night, history was made as new acts stepped onto the stage and altered the city’s musical DNA.

From the Ramones’ first public appearance on August 16, 1974, to Patti Smith joining Television on March 23, 1975—a performance that also marked Richard Hell’s final show as the band’s bassist—CBGB was the place to witness the future of music as it was being invented in real time.

New York New York 2026 

This New Year’s Eve, The Roxy channels the grit, glamour, and electric energy of early ’70s New York for a night destined to become legend. Champagne flows freely, with a premium open bar from 9 pm to 1 am for all. Seated guests get the star treatment with towers of hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails, and bottles of their choice.

Hosting the night are downtown icons Sienna, Dustin Pittman, and Richard Boch, while Disco Bambino, Nina Tarr, and Harkness Granger keep the room moving from the first toast to the final countdown. What to wear? Dress to the nines. We’re going full old-school glam—and you should too.

Step into the spirit of ’70s New York. Secure your ticket—here. 

 

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PHOTOGRAPHY: (L-R) Editor Bob Colacello, model Jerry Hall, artist/publisher Andy Warhol, singer Debbie Harry, writer Truman Capote and jewelry designer Paloma Picasso at a Studio 54 party for INTERVIEW magazine and Harry’s appearance on the cover by Robin Platzer/Getty Images