ISSUE NO. 4 | DECEMBER 14, 2020

Dear 555 Community, We want to wish you and your family wonderful holidays. May the season bring you joy, merriment, peace – and a bit of fun. After a long and difficult year, let’s ring in a brighter 2021! In this edition, The Elie Wiesel Foundation is our tenant in the spotlight. Also, we catch up with our glorious florist Charles Terhout who has decked our halls for the season, and we share some New York shopping gems and a recipe to make your celebrations a bit sweeter (and spicier). Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to come. The Management Team Rodney Corporation Please note: while we send this update to our designated tenant contact, we encourage you to share this newsletter and all issues with your entire staff so we can keep our community connected and informed.

TENANT SPOTLIGHT The Work Is Never Done

Professor Wiesel’s Desk at 555

In 1986, professor, political activist, writer, humanitarian and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. Wiesel and his wife Marion – who translated his books – promptly took those prize funds and used them to establish The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity to advance the work to which they had dedicated their lives. The Foundation’s mission, rooted in the memory of the Holocaust, is to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality. Its activities are varied, from staging international conferences to operating after-school programs in Israel serving the Ethiopian-Jewish community. Annually, the foundation hosts an ethics essay scholarship contest for juniors and seniors – a coveted prize won by a young Rachel Maddow in the 1990s. Submissions for the 2021 competition are open until January 19th. For more than a decade, the Foundation’s headquarters have been at 555 Madison Avenue. Before his death in 2016, Professor Wiesel’s office in 555 was where he met with world leaders, dignitaries and artists to further dialogues of understanding and the betterment of mankind. “Mr. Wiesel had a superstition. He thought if you cleaned your desk, you’d die the next day because that meant your work was done. He’d never let me clean his desk,” explains Marissa Poock, the Foundation’s Program Coordinator. “We’ve left it just the way it was, all his papers in place. His work and his legacy continue. It’s not done. I am never packing up that office and it would be very hard to ever leave 555 Madison because of how much that office meant to Professor Wiesel and how much it means to us.” It’s a beautiful tribute from the small team that remains dedicated to continuing the important work Professor and Marion Wiesel began. “I’ve been with the Foundation for seven years now. I had worked for other nonprofits before but there’s been nothing like this,” says Poock. “This has been a unique and life changing opportunity. To be able to witness the love for Professor and Mrs. Wiesel and to see the impact and the difference they have been able to make in the world is incredible.” The team is currently planning for a January 27th fundraiser honoring Mrs. Wiesel’s life’s work on the occasion of her 90th birthday. In a sign of the times, the event will be virtual and include special performances, tributes and remarks by Mrs. Wiesel herself. All funds raised from the event will provide operational support for the Foundation’s after-school programs in Israel that serve more than 1,000 children. Tenants at 555 Madison are encouraged to attend and can visit beittzipora.org for details. “We would be thrilled to have our neighbors participate. Whether they can donate or just want to learn more, we hope they come,” says Poock. “Our work is not done and the more people we engage in it the better.”

OUR FLORIST Charles Terhout

Our seasonal décor, which features two 9-foot holiday trees decorated in silver, white and grey, was created by Belgian florist Charles Terhout. Terhout has been our building florist for years and he says he enjoys working for 555 Madison because “the team trusts me, and they let me get very creative but will tell me if it’s too crazy.” In light of what a particularly rough year it’s been, Terhout says he really tried to step up his game. “I wanted the work to put smiles on people’s faces and make them happy. We all need joy.”  In addition to our building, Charles creates stunning arrangements for designers and events at Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co. and Patek Philippe as well as for building lobbies and tenants on Park and Fifth Avenues. While he could not pick a favorite holiday display from his career, saying that would be “as hard as picking a favorite flower,” he did say they all come with their own memories, creative expressions and uniqueness. One year he did completely black holiday trees with black ribbons and clear ornaments. This year in another building, he created a village of tiny mice inhabiting the snow piles amongst the trees. Charles favors deep, jewel tone colors and has a passion for selecting unusual flowers to create his classic, elegant designs. He trained for many years in Brussels before arriving in New York more than 20 years ago to set up his own studio. Charles is creative and collaborative and believes the best way to satisfy the client is to listen carefully to their ideas so that their vision shines through his work. Follow Charles on Instagram @CharlesTerhout.

555 Madison Avenue

555 Madison Avenue

Terhout’s Mice Village

Shop Locally This Holiday Season Support local New York City businesses this holiday season. Here are some go-to New York businesses we recommend when looking for a special gift for that hard to please person on your list. OBJECTS & DESIGN: Support New York commerce and culture by shopping at the gift shops at our great cultural institutions. MoMA Museum Store at 11 West 53rd Street and MoMA Design Store at 44 West 53rd Street have big ticket items, wonderful puzzles and clever toys for stocking stuffers. Shop online at www.store.moma.org. BOOKS: West Village stalwart Three Lives & Company has been selling a wonderfully curated selection of hard-cover and paperback books since 1968 from its cozy location at 238 West 10th Street (and at www.threelives.com). Known for miles and miles of books (23 and counting), The Strand now has two locations – one off Union Square and one on the Upper West Side. Online shopping is also available at www.strandbooks.com. For the book lover (or perhaps just someone who loves a well-appointed desk), Goods for the Study (two locations or online at www.goodsforthestudy.com) has endless unique gifts and is owned by the proprietress of McNally Jackson bookstores. GAMES:  New York City’s adventure game headquarters is The Compleat Strategist at 11 East 33rd Street. It has a huge selection of classic board games, role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and new-to-market amusements. Shop online at www.thecompleatstrategist.com.

FROM THE PANTRY Spicy Brownies For those who believe in the classic combination of sugar and spice! ·      8 ounces of bittersweet chocolate ·      2 ounces of unsweetened chocolate ·      1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper ·      1/8 teaspoon of chili powder ·      1.5 sticks of butter ·      1.5 cups of sugar ·      4 eggs ·      2 teaspoon of vanilla ·      1 cup of flour ·      1/4 teaspoon salt Melt both chocolates, butter, chili powder and cayenne in a shallow metal bowl over a pot of boiling water. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm. Add in sugar and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add eggs one at a time. Add flour and salt.  Pour into shallow pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 23 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting. 

CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF SERVICE Sal Fazzolari

Sal Fazzolari is celebrating 22 years of service at 555 Madison Avenue this month. We are tremendously grateful to Sal for his dedication to our community. When Sal began his tenure as Lobby Director at 555 Madison, there was a rotary phone at the front desk. Please join us in wishing Sal a happy work anniversary! And, enjoy this throwback photo of Sal provided by his wife.

Covid-19 Protocols

Please let your visitors know in advance that our building has strict COVID-19 protocols. Please share our COVID-19 protocols with visitors in advance. Here is a link: www.555madison.com/covid-19.

AVAILABLE SPACE AT 555 In response to COVID-19, we are working with tenants to offer flexible, built-out space as needed on a short-term basis to help accommodate social distancing needs in the workplace. This could be a few private offices or an entire unit. Tell us what you need and we are happy to help.

Need more permanent space? Here’s what’s available: 11th Floor 5,908 RSF, Pre-built C – Available Immediately (Furnished and wired option available)  19th floor 9,733 RSF, Full-floor white box – Available Immediately If you are interested in any of our available spaces or if you would like us to keep you in mind for future openings, please give us a call. We’re always happy to chat!

Ask Aleisa You have questions. Aleisa has answers. Write to Aleisa for guidance on any concern you have or anything you are simply curious about related to 555 Madison. Write to Aleisa Sulaman with the subject line: Ask Aleisa at aleisa.sulaman@rodneycorporation.com. Here’s a recent letter from a colleague and neighbor. Aleisa Sulaman Dear Aleisa, I’m excited and can’t wait for the new elevator features coming to 555. However, I have no experience with Destination Dispatch and would like to understand more. Is there a tutorial I can watch on how Destination Dispatch works? Sincerely, Reaching New Heights Dear Reaching New Heights, Yes, once the system is operational, attendants in the lobby will explain the system to tenants and visitors. We will also circulate a video overview. Best, Aleisa 

NEWS TIPS: We also are eager to hear and share your news. Please send story tips and news items about your company and employees for consideration for this newsletter to newsletter@rodneycorporation.com. Thank you! 

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