Plaza

Assouline: Designer Chic at the Plaza

Tucked away on the mezzanine level of New York's Plaza Hotel is a beauty of a boutique. Assouline,best-known for superb coffee table books that you actually want to read not just admire, is a treasure trove of art, design, fashion, and photography books. If you have ever wondered how Ralph Lauren, Donna Karen, and some 100 other top American designers live, new this fall from Assouline is American Fashion Designers at Home by Rima Suqi. Another stellar publication for fashionistas who yearn or own one of the best Swiss timepieces is Piaget by Franco Cologni. He documents why this Swiss watch company has maintained its pre-eminence since its founding in 1874.

Gallery: Assouline at The Plaza

Tags: assouline, AssoulinePublishing, fashion designers, house gifts, Marcel Proust, new york city real estate, new york city shopping, Oscar Niemeyer, plaza, plaza hotel, trend setters, wedding gifts

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The Plaza Hotel's Oak Room Relaunches March 18th

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

World renowned restaurant The Oak Room at New York City's Plaza Hotel is reopening March 18th with a brand new chef, Eric Hara (right).

The legendary Oak Room has an all new menu planned, featuring classic and modern American cuisine at "prices that are appropriate for today's economy." Entrees will run from just $22 - $35.

Eric Hara was most recently executive chef of David Burke Townhouse and Fishtail.

The Oak Room and adjacent Oak Bar have been redesigned by architect Annabelle Selldorf, bringing contemporary flourishes to the historic space which first opened in 1907. Be sure and visit the new Oak Room next time you are in New York!

Tags: eric hara, EricHara, new york, new york city, NewYork, ny, nyc, oak room, OakRoom, plaza, plaza hotel, PlazaHotel, restaurant, restaurants

2nd Buyer Sues Over Multimillion Dollar Plaza Penthouse

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Last week we reported that Russian billionaire Andrei Vavilov, who signed a $53.5 million contract sight unseen for an ultra-luxe penthouse at New York's famed Fifth Avenue hotel-turned-apartment building The Plaza (above), sued the developers claiming the finished product was an "attic-like" tenement. Now the Wall St. Journal reports that a second Plaza penthouse buyer has filed a claim on similar grounds, alleging fraud and misrepresentation on the part of the Plaza's developer El-Ad and its real estate agents. The buyer, who has not been identified, is demanding the return of a $6.5 million deposit plus legal fees of at least $350,000, according to the complaint filed in New York Supreme Court. In a statement, El-Ad dismissed the claims as vain attempts on the part of buyers with cold feet to "back out" of their deals.

UPDATE: El-Ad has now filed a counter-suit against Vavilov for libel, seeking $36 million in damages.

Tags: Andrei Vavilov, AndreiVavilov, Fifth Avenue, FifthAvenue, New York, NewYork, Penthouse, Plaza

Russian Billionaire Sues Over "Attic-Like" $50 Million Plaza Penthouse

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Russian billionaire Andrei Vavilov, who signed a $53.5 million contract sight unseen for an ultra-luxe penthouse at New York's famed Fifth Avenue hotel-turned-apartment building The Plaza (above), is suing the developers claiming the finished product is more like a tenement. Vavilov made the purchase prior to completion of the Plaza's $500 million renovations last year based on CAD models and a video presentation, which promised the residence would be the "epitome of luxury."

However, in a just-filed lawsuit, Vavilov accuses Plaza devloper El-Ad Properties and real estate agents Stribling & Associates of pulling a "bait-and-switch" in which they secretly made "unilateral and impermissible design changes" to the plans, the London Telegraph reports. He claims they made the apartment smaller, shrank the size of its windows and lowered the ceilings turning it into an "attic-like" garret instead of an elegant aerie.

Vavilov, who reportedly made $600 million six years ago when he sold his Russian oil company, Severnaya Neft, is demanding the return of the $10.7 million deposit he has already paid out and wants at least $20 million in damages for alleged breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trading practices and negligence. A lawyer for the defendants described his claims as "baseless".

Tags: Andrei Vavilov, AndreiVavilov, Fifth Avenue, FifthAvenue, New York, NewYork, Penthouse, Plaza, Russian billionaires, RussianBillionaires

The $2,500 Cognac Shot, or $80,000 for the Whole Bottle

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

A nice one-bedroom apartment in NYC rents for about $2,500/month. And for that same price you can get a shot -- yes, just a taste -- of Louis XIII Black Pearl Magnum cognac, a limited edition, natch, kept in a glass case and then offered exclusively at NYC's Rose Club at the Plaza hotel. The spirit, produced by Remy Martin, cannot be sampled anywhere else in the State of New York. The bottle, designed by Baccarat and hand-blown from black crystal, has not yet been uncorked since it was introduced in June. A recent Rose Club patron asked if he could buy the entire bottle, one of only 358 in the world. Rose Club manager Anthony Evangelista turned him down, and the man left without even tasting it. There are about 32 pours in the 1.75 liter bottle, meaning that the decanter contains $80,000 worth of cognac.

[Via New York Daily News]

Tags: Cognac, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NYC, Plaza, Plaza Hotel, PlazaHotel, Rose Club, RoseClub, shot, shots

The Plaza Re-Opens For Hotel Stays

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

After a two-year break, the Plaza in New York City is finally open for hotel stays once again after a $400 million. The hotel opened yesterday and now has 282 guestrooms including 102 suites with seven different designs and layouts that have a Louis XV, French decor style. Each bathroom has solid white marble vanities with 24-karat gold plated Sherle Wagner sinks and fixtures. The rooms also have a special guest services touch panel which provides access to personal butler and concierge assistance and a wide range of hotel and travel services. The Plaza's retail shops are opening in late Spring and an official grand opening ceremony is planned for late May.

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Tags: new york, new york city, plaza

The New Frontier Goes Down So The Plaza Can Go Up

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Another Las Vegas landmark has crumbled so that something new, larger and more luxurious can rise in its place. The New Frontier Hotel & Casino was imploded to make room for The Plaza, a Las Vegas version of the popular New York landmark. The New Frontier opened in 1942 and was the spot of Elvis Presley's first gig on the Las Vegas strip. The Plaza is estimated to be an $8 billion project and is expected to be completed in 2011. It will include a luxury hotel, private residences, retail, restaurants, a convention complex, entertainment, and of course, a casino.

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Tags: casino, frontier, hotel, las veas strip, las vegas, plaza

Rent The Plaza's Grand Ballroom

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

The Plaza's Grand Ballroom is part of the revamp of the entire building, which has already yielded some of New York's msot lavish private residences. Great Performances and Delaware North Companies have signed a 25-year lease with Elad properties, the owners of The Plaza. The ballroom is being restored to reflect the way it looked in 1929 when the architectural firm of Schultze & Weaver designed it to replace the smaller ballroom of 1907. The ballroom will have two elaborate chandeliers, a stage and balconies on the north and east sides. The room is a neoclassic confection in white and gold with six mural which have been cleaned and conserved. The ballroom opens in December. It is open for events starting in January 2008. Pricing varies depending on the catering options but rental alone for the Grand Ballroom, which seats 500, is in the $80,000 to $100,000 range.

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Tags: ballroom, events, new york, plaza

Versace Residences At The Plaza Sold

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Those black and white and fashionable all over Versace residences at the Plaza have joined the other residences that have snapped up in the revamped New York icon. New York magazine reports that the two apartments, a 1,212-square-foot one bedroom and a 2,656-square-foot two bedroom, have sold for $6.9 million and $12.5 million respectively. The purchasers didn't opt for Versace furnishings. I wonder where they will go, perhaps on to other apartments.

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Tags: condominiums, condos, new york, new york city, plaza, versace

Plaza Sets A New York Record

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

When I first started hearing about the plans to turn the Plaza Hotel into condos, the predictions that records would be set began to be bandied about. Now it looks that it has come to pass. The New York Observer is reporting that an apartment at the recently redone Plaza Hotel has gone to contract for at least $50 million, making it the biggest apartment sale in New York City. The Plaza will also be home to real estate kingpin Harry Macklowe, Bear Stearns C.E.O. James Cayne, race-car mogul Flavio Briatore, Tommy Hilfiger and Jocelyn Wildenstein. The big question is who is the buyer.

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Tags: apartments, housing, new york, NewYork, plaza, prices, real estate

Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia Remodels for Spring

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia, PA has just finished with $15 million dollars in remodeling projects, and is re-opening this Spring with a whole new look. All guest rooms will have Sleep Number beds (you can adjust bed's firmness to your particular taste), granite counter tops in the bathrooms, and 32" LCD televisions. But the penthouse suite is where the real luxury is, with 3 two-bedroom suites overlooking the city, several larger 42" LCD televisions, and plenty of spacious living areas for entertaining or just bumming around in.

Sounds dreamy.

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Tags: hotel, journey, PA, Philadelphia, plaza, radisson-warwick, resort, sleep number, SleepNumber, travel

A Peek at The Versace Residences at The Plaza

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Far be it from me to hate on Versace but I have to admit there is a certain sameness to their design styles. Whether they are doing planes, helicopters, Lamborghinis or residences the result is pretty predictable: black and white and sleek all over. Pictures of the first model private residences designed by Versace Home at the Plaza in New York have been revealed. The one- and two-bedroom model residences are on the 12th floor of the Plaza facing Central Park. The style of the rooms is meant to show an interplay between classic and modern styles, hence the mix of furnishings from a variety of eras. Also, it's Versace, so of course the Greek key motif figures in the designs. The black and white motif is for the two-bedroom homes; the one-bedroom condos have a romantic theme.

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Tags: condominium, decor, design, new york, NewYork, plaza, versace

Plaza Hotel Sale at Christie's

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Auctions

The sale of the remaining goods from the Plaza Hotel in New York will take place on March 15 in New York at Christie's. As we mentioned before, many of the less unique furnishings from the hotel were already sold but the choicest pieces were reserved for this auction. For the Plaza-sentimental there is everything from a pair of Eloise slippers to a bellman's uniform to this Louis XV-style, blue and clear chandelier that is estimated to sell for $5,000 to $8,000.

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Tags: furnishing, hotel sale, new york, plaza, plaza hotel, plaza hotel sale

Plaza Resort & Spa in Daytona Sells Remaining Suites

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Got a hankering for a hotel room of your own in Daytona Beach? Ocean Waters, owners of the Plaza Resort & Spa are selling off the last 70 resort-hotel suites at the resort hotel-condominium. The Plaza has 323 suite residences total. Suite types are available with oceanfront views, kitchenette, plasma televisions and high-speed Internet. There is also a 15,000-square-foot spa and fitness center on the first floor. The remaining suites sell for between $194,900 and $569,900. Owners can also put their suite in a rental program to earn additional money.

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Tags: co-tel, condo, daytona beach, florida, plaza, resort, vacation