After 57 years as an upscale Manhattan institution, The Four Seasons shutters its doors this week… but not before playing host to a creative who’s who to celebrate the opening of ADC Young Guns 2016 and its exciting new direction.

Hosted by PAPER Co-Founder and Editor Kim Hastreiter and sponsored by artist management agency Levine/Leavitt — now in their third year as ADC Young Guns Partner — the gathering simultaneously said goodbye to one of the world’s most iconic dining spaces, and hello to a revamped program for creative professionals 30 years of age and younger. Holding court that evening was advertising and design legend George Lois (also an ADC Hall of Fame laureate and past president), and guests included fashion powerhouses Isabel and Ruben Toledo; MoMA Senior Curator and ADC Hall of Fame laureate Paola Antonelli; and renowned designer and inaugural ADC Young Guns winner Stefan Sagmeister.

Photo credits: Aurora Rose / Rex/ Shutterstock

Antonelli and Sagmeister joined us again the following evening for an exclusive screening of Stefan’s cinematic debut, The Happy Film, held at NeueHouse Madison Square. Following the screening, the duo engaged in a lively Q&A before a capacity audience. Afterwards, guests were treated to performances by Brooklyn electronic group WOLVVES, as well as a DJ set from Xia Xia Technique and Psychoflower MC.

It’s full steam ahead for ADC Young Guns 2016, with the traditional ceremony and party set to take place on September 22. The Four Seasons won’t be around then, but as you’ll be sure to see that evening, sometimes new is better.

Photo credits: Aurora Rose / Rex/ Shutterstock