May 14 — five NYC rooms that can take a 14-top on a Wednesday and not lose the kitchen. This is what May does in New York: the calendar offers a frame, the city fills it. Below: 5 rooms across the boroughs, each one a different reason to be out tonight.
Your Plan, Stop by Stop
1. Congee Village → 2. Metrograph Commissary → 3. The Corner Store → 4. Culture → 5. Cheli
1. Congee Village — round tables, big lanterns, cantonese rice bowls landing fast
Congee Village sits at 100 Allen St. Lazy susan, family-style, the room that absorbs 14. Round tables, big lanterns, cantonese rice bowls landing fast. The room reads the assignment without leaning on it: warm, unfussy, the right pace for the kind of night you're building.
- What to order: Lazy Susan, family-style, the room that absorbs 14
- Best for: Round tables, big lanterns, Cantonese rice bowls landing fast
- Where: Lower East Side · 100 Allen St
2. Metrograph Commissary — where the post-ceremony group can actually sit and breathe
Metrograph Commissary sits at 7 Ludlow St. Cinema-cafe upstairs, big enough to spread out. Where the post-ceremony group can actually sit and breathe. The room reads the assignment without leaning on it: warm, unfussy, the right pace for the kind of night you're building.
- What to order: Cinema-cafe upstairs, big enough to spread out
- Best for: Where the post-ceremony group can actually sit and breathe
- Where: Lower East Side · 7 Ludlow St
3. The Corner Store — big banquettes, fried chicken, the relatives all stop arguing
The Corner Store sits at 331 W Broadway. Rotating american family-style menu. Big banquettes, fried chicken, the relatives all stop arguing. The room reads the assignment without leaning on it: warm, unfussy, the right pace for the kind of night you're building.
- What to order: Rotating American family-style menu
- Best for: Big banquettes, fried chicken, the relatives all stop arguing
- Where: SoHo · 331 W Broadway
4. Culture — the wednesday night where 14 people actually fit
Culture sits at Manhattan. Big-plate sit-down, group-friendly. The wednesday night where 14 people actually fit. The room reads the assignment without leaning on it: warm, unfussy, the right pace for the kind of night you're building.
- What to order: Big-plate sit-down, group-friendly
- Best for: The Wednesday night where 14 people actually fit
- Where: Manhattan
5. Cheli — lazy susans built for grandparents and 21-year-olds in caps and gowns
Cheli sits at 124 W 28th St. Shanghainese hot pot + family banquet. Lazy susans built for grandparents and 21-year-olds in caps and gowns. The room reads the assignment without leaning on it: warm, unfussy, the right pace for the kind of night you're building.
- What to order: Shanghainese hot pot + family banquet
- Best for: Lazy Susans built for grandparents and 21-year-olds in caps and gowns
- Where: Flatiron · 124 W 28th St
How to actually use this
- Each room takes walk-ins or has a counter — bookmark, don't book the wrong one.
- All 5 stops are in NYC, mapped on the calendar above.
- If one's full, the next two are 10 minutes by foot or train.
- Photos via Instagram (handles credited on each card).
Vol. 17 of Karpo NYC. The calendar offers the date — the rooms above offer the night.
#KarpoNYC #May2026
Sources consulted: Photos: @congeevillage on Instagram · Photos: @metrographnyc on Instagram · Photos: @thecornerstore on Instagram · Photos: @cultureny on Instagram · Photos: @cheli.nyc on Instagram
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Vol. 17 · pull this calendar at karpo.ai/scenarios/nyc-nyu-graduation-wednesday-feeding-fourteen-relatives
