Truly Elevated Nightlife
The latest installment in Tao Group Hospitality’s ‘Marquee Skydeck’ event series came in the form of a ‘pop-up’ headlined by rising UKG star Riordan. Despite a few logistical challenges, the panoramic view over the entirety of New York City and a standout set made for an unforgettable combo. There’s a lot to discuss from the highest outdoor party in the world—here’s what stood out.
The Experience
As perhaps the least surprising part of the night, Riordan played an incredible set from 12:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. While the sound wasn’t on par with that of a dedicated venue, it was still completely adequate to create an atmosphere for dancing. However, while the bass was booming, so too was the clamor of a Manhattan crowd—fan clacking and dance floor conversations were impossible to ignore. Escaping this was an easy fix, though; few people were willing to spend more than a few seconds on the transparent glass tiles overhanging 10th Avenue, providing ample space to dance. Of course, he rinsed his own tracks, such as Disco Tetris, Two Step, and Straight from the Underground; however, the track highlight of the night is a tossup between Dirty Minds by Gaskin roughly halfway through the set or I Just Can’t Get Enough by Herd & Fitz (feat. Abigail Bailey) toward the end of the performance. Booking Riordan was a no-brainer for Tao—not just because of his meteoric rise and name recognition, but because his blend of UKG, tech house, and disco house was perfect for an open-air set at the start of summer in NYC.
The Venue
The Edge has immense potential as a venue in NYC, but there are undoubtedly opportunities for improvement. I definitely advise arriving early, as entry hinges on a single 100-floor elevator and a confusing series of checkpoints. Additionally, while I’ll concede that there is a water fountain, $10 for a water bottle is extreme—especially during summer in New York. As is to be expected from a collab between Tao and a tourist attraction, drinks are also marked up significantly. More logistical cracks begin to show with the restrooms—a single set of gender-separated bathrooms had an excruciatingly long line all night. At the end of the day, The Edge is not a dance music venue—you’ll just have to appreciate the novelty while accepting the tradeoffs of being at the highest outdoor party in the world.
Conclusion
Overall, a dance event at The Edge is an experience like no other. Dancing to a world-class DJ on the highest outdoor party space in the world brings with it an intangible feeling of exclusivity. Sure, there are a few tradeoffs compared to the usual terrestrial venue; however, whether you’re just visiting NYC or if you’re a local who’s yet to take in the view, Marquee Skydeck at The Edge is absolutely worth the ascent.