April 28, 2005
Pre-condo Plaza -- only three nights to go
In these final days of pre-condo Plaza, New York magazine puts together a photo montage of the (almost) century-old hotel -- ranging from Richard Burton adorned with an Elizabeth Taylor dressed like a snow bunny with thigh-high white boots to the closed-off, water-damaged Room 1011, with chunks of ceiling littering the carpeted floor in front of a fireplace.
Little quote snippets tell the story from the mouths of employees, guests, owners with names like Trump, Vanderbilt, Bogdanovich and Simmons, (as in Gene Simmons of Kiss.) But my favorite bit comes from Jerry Dimitratos, bell captain for 27 years. I served room service to King Hassan of Morocco. This man brought ten trucks full of food, rugs and his own mattresses. He was the only king I've seen that traveled like that. He took a minimum of three floors. Something about a bell captain being able to use the line "he was the only king I've seen that ..." Strangely, his comment is in the print edition of the magazine, but not online. Also missing is the comment from housekeeper Brenda Williams who said the King of Morocco left a TV for the staff to use in their cafeteria.
And since readers got a bit giddy last week over eBay's Plaza offerings, here are a few more current ones: a glass ashtray with The Plaza logo, (at $10.50;) a Plaza hotel restaurant china celery plate, (at $9.99;) stationery, ($8.49;) a "Gene" Doll Tea Time at the Plaza (at $20;) a burlap wine bag, (at $9.99;) and nine Plaza matchbooks, (at $2.25.) And finally, nothing says class like a pink rubber coin purse from The Plaza, (now at $6.49.)
All rooms at The Plaza are already sold out for the final nights. This Saturday night is the last night guests can spend overnight in the hotel before it closes for a year and a half of massive renovations.
April 28, 2005 12:20 PM in History, Hotelology, Midtown
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