Industry Insiders: Adam Alpert, Party Maestro

Adam Alpert, director of promotions for white-hot nightclub 1Oak (“1 Of A Kind”), is a true New York City party boy. From trips to St. Tropez in diapers to managing events at Manhattan restaurants and clubs, Alpert doesn’t know the meaning of a night off. Sushi Samba, Butter, and Pop Burger are among the notches on his belt, not to mention more in the Hamptons and those infamous New Year's Eve parties in South Beach. Still, the med school student turned nightlife aficionado took a minute to talk with us about parties, Darwin, and those curious 1Oak paintings.

Point of Origin: “Born and raised on the Upper East Side. Went to Horace Mann high school in the Bronx. Went to collage at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I was pre-med. The summer after my junior yr of college, right before I started studying for the MCATS, I came home for the summer and started going out to night clubs and enjoying myself. After a few weeks, people were calling me, begging me to come, giving me drinks for free, and I became immersed in this culture, and entranced by this, and how all the different industries come together at night, and I loved it

“I knew I wanted to be in the hospitality business. Both my parents are interior designers and they always loved throwing parties and events when I was growing up, so it was something that was in my nature. It was just something I was always interested in. I think growing up in the city sets me apart a little bit, my social network, my friends, a lot of them are all born and raised New Yorkers.”

Occupations: “I started off just promoting events with my friends, and after I decided I didn’t want to be a doctor, and I wanted to be in the nightlife/restaurant business, I sought out who everyone thought of as the king of NYC night life, Steve Lewis (Studio 54, Danceteria). He was running a place called Spa, and at the time [2001], Scott Sartiano was the director. I worked for them that summer. And I’ve been working on and off with Scott on all his projects ever since (Butter, G Spa & Lounge in the Hotel Gansevoort, 1Oak).”

Case History: “One company I started is called Get There PR [in 2004]. It’s a private events company, and we’re most known for our events in the Hamptons, where I spent my summers growing up at our family home. Our most notable event is the Hamptons Golf Classic, which just had its 4th year, two weeks ago. Most events are charity based, but we like to tie in companies and people from all different industries. Another company I founded is called Pocket Change, which is an online company that highlights the most expensive items in NYC. They send an email weekly: “most expensive hamburger in NYC, most expensive dry cleaners,” and they have alternatives, and why this is the most expensive one, and how outrageous it is.”

Current Biz: What places do you own and/or frequent?
“I work for 1Oak and Butter. I love Mary’s Fish Camp, I love Otto, Mario Batali’s pizza place. Growing up in NYC, the staples, Mr. Chow’s, Cipriani, Peter Luger, Nobu. I loved J.G. Melon, PJ Clarke’s, the luncheonette on 82nd and Lex has the best eggs in NYC.”

“My parents are huge travelers so since birth I’ve been traveling. We have a family home in St. Tropez, so I’ve been to St. Tropez every summer since I was born. I also love St. Barthes. Dune is by far the best nightclub in the Hamptons” title="Hamptons">Hamptons. Favorite restaurant there is the Palm. They have the best green salad in the world.”

What gives you the most pleasure or satisfaction in your daily life? “Introducing people. I love making connections between different people. One of the best things about this business is that I get to interact with people from all different industries: fashion, music, film, TV, Wall Street, charities. Connecting people and seeing how they can help each other and seeing people benefit from it gives me the greatest pleasure in the world.”

Known Associates: “Scott Sartiano, Richie Akiva, Jeffrey Jah, Ronnie Madras. Let’s stick with those.”

Who do you respect and admire? “Steve Lewis, Ian Schrager, Steven Starr, Keith McNally, Danny Meyer. Because those guys are all dedicated and on the job 24/7. They won’t put anything out unless it’s great.”

Projections: “I’d like to open my own restaurant with nightlife elements similar to Butter. That’s really my passion. I’d like to have a couple more 1Oak” title="1Oak’s">1Oak’s open around the world.”

What are you doing tonight? “I’m going to the 10-year anniversary of Milk Studios. They’re having an outdoor barbecue, and then we have the after party here [at 1Oak]”.

What’s the deal with the paintings above the banquettes at 1Oak? I’ve heard about a million different explanations. “The two paintings were painted by the guy who designed this place, Roy Nachum. They were really his inspiration. His theme for the place is ‘Magic Kingdom’. The writing on the wall [above the bar] is actually Darwin’s Origin of Species carved into the wall”.

Is everything intertwined or is it just a mishmash of décor? “I’d like to think that it’s intertwined into one motif. There’s animals, there’s carved wood. It’s very Noah’s-Ark-meets-Darwin-meets-fantasy. It’s a ‘one of a kind’ experience.”

Prime Movers interviews A-listers from the business and leisure realms of nightlife, restaurants, hotels, and more.