(HOLLYWOOD PRESS CORPS) — Not long ago, I caught an interview with Debi Mazar where she mentioned Friends From New York (FFNY), a creative collective she said she loves linking up with when she’s in the city.
I signed up for the newsletter and decided to check it out their New Year’s Eve party.
I’m glad I did.
New Year’s Eve in New York City is usually sold as Times Square chaos, but for anyone who prefers a room that feels like a real room, FFNY has quietly become a locals’ ritual.
As we rang in 2026, their party landed as the alternative I actually wanted: high-energy, stylish, and strangely intimate for a city that rarely slows down. The kind of gathering that feels instantly alive, like everyone in the room got the same memo: show up for your friends, show up for the music, and let the city do what it does best. At its core, FFNY is community over commercialism. It’s nightlife with heart.
It’s a creative collective that pulls together the people who make the city feel like the city, not for clout, but for connection.
The New Year’s Eve celebration at Shinsen Bowery transformed the minimalist, neon-soaked sushi haunt into a high-energy subterranean restaurant club where the pulse of music echoed off the sleek tiled walls.
Beneath the glow its lights, a stylish crowd surged toward the dance floor, their silhouettes blurring against the backdrop of the street-level windows.
As midnight approached, the usual dining room gave way to a joyous, champagne-fueled frenzy, with guests maneuvering between plush banquettes and the long marble bar to toast the arrival of 2026.
The atmosphere was an electric blend of gritty Bowery cool and polished celebration, culminating in a collective roar that signaled the start of a new year in the heart of the Lower East Side.
With Ani Quinn and Mighty Mi on deck, the soundtrack was pure downtown electricity: the kind of set that keeps a dance floor full, keeps the room smiling, and makes you forget whatever “resolution” you were supposed to have by January 1st.
And when the clock tipped into 2026, the roar wasn’t just for the year. It was for the fact that we were all there, together, in a city that still knows how to make magic when the right people decide to gather.
Shinsen (on Bowery) set the scene perfectly: a minimalist, neon-lit Lower East Side / Chinatown hideaway that knows how to turn into a party without trying too hard.
Founded by one of the original streetwear founders, designer Tony Bo Chan, Shinsen has that insider New York feeling, equal parts restaurant, late-night lounge, and quietly iconic.
FFNY leans into what actually makes a night feel like New York: a dialed-in soundtrack, a stylish crowd that doesn’t feel performative, and an atmosphere that’s inclusive in a real way.
Elevated, but never stiff. Sophisticated, but never try-hard. It feels like being invited into the city instead of being sold the city. And when the clock tipped into 2026, the roar wasn’t just for the year. It was for the fact that we were all there, together, in a city that still knows how to make magic when the right people decide to gather.
Hidden behind Shinsen’s main dining and lounge is a Japanese speakeasy known as “The Tokyo Sake Club”: an exclusive room with a vibrant, entertainment-focused atmosphere.
This elevated space features private karaoke, dining or even a game room where guests can enjoy handcrafted cocktails and an extensive sake and Japanese whisky selection. With its dark and secret speakeasy energy, it serves as a dynamic social hub for private parties and late-night celebrations.
The area seamlessly blends modern Lower East Side cool with the playful spirit of a Japanese lounge.
Reservations for private karaoke events in the Tokyo Sake Club lounge are primarily handled through their official website via website via the “Contact” or “Tokyo Sake Club” inquiry forms.
Shinsen Bowery
(347) 688-5404
44 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
Instagram: @shinsenbowery
Friends From New York (FFNY)
Instagram: @friendsfromnewyork
https://friendsfromnewyork.com
Djs
Mighty Mi: @djmightymi
Ani Quinn: @aniquinn
Art
FAUST: https://www.faustnewyork.com
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