April 14, 2005

Eloise moving to Paris, but don't ask management

As The Plaza passes its final weeks as one of the city's most legendary hotels, the union is stepping up attacks on the new owner's plan to turn the place into a condo and upscale shopping center. Regardless, New Yorkers near and far are heading to the Plaza to partake in the rituals while they can. Among them was Brooklyn resident Louise G. Crawford, who blogs at Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, who attended had tea at the hotel with her daughter. Her story:

My daughter is a great afficianado of the Eloise books so a trip to the Plaza to see the portrait of Eloise is always a treat. She is aware that the Plaza is closing and has decided that Eloise is moving to Paris, along with Skipperdee and Weannie, to be with her mother. She is, however, concerned about where Nanny and Mr. Salamone will relocate. In an Eloise sort of way, my daughter spent much of the tea collecting white plastic Plaza Hotel tea sandwich tooth picks (see photograph, above left).

When we arrived at the hotel, I asked one of the doormen if he'd seen Eloise. "I think she's around here somewhere," he said cheerfully. He then turned to another doorman and asked, "Have you seen Eloise?"

His willingness to go along with the game was very endearing. We then asked a managerial looking person if he knew where to find the hotel manager, Mr. Salomone. He looked at us like we were crazy and said he didn't know anyone by that name.

April 14, 2005 12:53 AM in Hotelology

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