Touching Grass at the Andrew Yang Party

"The night is young in Flatiron. Finance bros with gray vests and backpacks and women in jeans and sweaters are still walking home from work. In the middle of 25th St, a man opens a red stanchion and ushers us toward a guard who stamps invisible ink on our wrists. We're each given a black plastic bag with a tear tab to lock our phones in for the night. We enter a silvery elevator, which takes us to the 38th floor."

"The flyer promised "nonstop energy, next-level vibes, and a crowd that's all about real connection." The monthly event series was launched earlier this year by Andrew Yang, the former presidential and New York mayoral candidate. Perhaps bruised by his losses, he's turned away from politics-except for the occasional Substack missive explaining why he hasn't endorsed Zohran Mamdani-and toward party promoting. I discovered the event through TikToks where he'd giddily wave around a Polaroid camera and brag about how he "got 700 people off their phones for"

An NYC rooftop party in Flatiron enforces a strict no-phone policy with attendees locking phones in black plastic bags and receiving invisible-ink wrist stamps. Guests ride a silvery elevator to the 38th floor, where a mixed crowd, including self-identified Yang supporters, gathers. The event, labeled OFFLINE, promotes in-person connection and energetic nightlife. Andrew Yang launched the monthly series after moving away from active politics. Yang uses TikTok and Polaroids to promote and celebrate getting people off their phones. The night features Conrad Taylor DJing hard techno, disco balls, a fake tree with sticky-note prompts, and a giant TV.

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