Antonio “Nino” Vendome, Chairman of Vendome Development LLC, will be honored at the 2017 Chita Rivera Awards, an evening in tribute to celebrate dance and choreographic excellence on September 11, 2017 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, located at 302 West 45th Street. The evening will be hosted by two time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth.

“I’m thrilled to be receiving the Chita Rivera Award. My passion and support of the arts has spanned decades and it’s a distinct privilege to be in the company of performers of extraordinary talent who are recognized for their achievements in dance and choreography,” said Mr. Vendome.

Antonio “Nino” Vendome started his long career in 1973 on Spring Street in New York City’s Hudson Square neighborhood with a simple sandwich shop, which grew into a successful chain of restaurants, then to a significant real estate portfolio. Once established in New York City real estate, an opportunity presented itself to Antonio that led to an unprecedented collaboration with the iconic Architect/Artist Philip Johnson that yielded a revolutionary concept, one that seeks to redefine globally the public presentation of architecture primarily as a visual art; as sculpture. The embodiment of this ideal, according to Johnson himself, yielded one of his finest works, The Habitable Sculpture, a 26 story sculpture with residential use such that it becomes “sculpture you can live in.” Through Antonio’s efforts and with this inaugural structure, Philip Johnson will become the first architect formally recognized as an artist with the intent that architecture itself be formally recognized as a branch of the fine arts.

During the intense planning with Johnson to make The Habitable Sculpture a reality in downtown Manhattan, the extraordinary events of September 11, 2001 took place within blocks of one of Antonio’s restaurants on Canal Street. As people from all over the country flocked to the site to ease their shock and grief through direct action, it became apparent there were few facilities to provide food, drink, and respite for these dedicated workers. Antonio, witnessing this untenable situation, opened the doors to his restaurant gratis 24/7, then led the community in establishing a “commando cooking operation” that eventually took over the entire four lanes of Canal Street between Varick and Hudson Streets and engaged 10,000 volunteers who served a million meals over a year’s time during the most extreme phase of the clearing of debris.

Antonio has a deep appreciation for the arts and is a long time and dedicated patron. For years he's operated his fine arts gallery in lower Manhattan, Studio Vendome, has invested in Broadway and Off Broadway productions and has documentary and feature film projects in development.

Tickets for the Chita Rivera Awards are currently on sale and can be purchased at www.ChitaRiveraAwards.com. Ticket prices are as follow: $100 for the Awards show only, $500 for the Awards show and VIP after-party at Sardi’s, and $5,000 for Awards show and table of ten at the VIP after-party at Sardi’s.

About Antonio Vendome

Antonio Vendome’s achievements have been recognized by many organizations while artworks, including sculptures, as well as items and memorabilia relating to his efforts during 9/11 are represented and displayed in the collections of major cultural institutions such as The Smithsonian, MOMA, The Getty, The New York State Museum, The New York Historical Society, The New York City Fire Department Museum, The Kreeger Museum and The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum. He’s received the New York Post’s Liberty Medal; the Congress of Racial Equality Outstanding Citizenship Award; Ellis Island Medal of Honor; Italian-American Achievement Award from the City Council of New York; United States Tennis Association Salute to Heroes; Columbia Association NYC Fire Department 2002 Italian-American of the Year; Distinguished Service Award from the Office of the New York City Comptroller; and he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane letters from Centenary College.