Woody Allen

Legendary Restaurateur Elaine Kaufman Dies

Filed under: Dining

Elaine Kaufman, the legendary restaurateur and owner of her namesake restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan died today. Kaufman, 81, died from complications due to emphysema.

Elaine's was a gathering place popular among journalists, writers, and other artistic types, and where you would regularly spot such luminaries as Woody Allen. I had dinner there only a few weeks ago with two artist friends. Elaine was sitting in one of her usual spots, not far from the front door. She was firmly planted in a seat, surrounded by half a dozen admirers. I noticed how each patron would stop by her table to pay tribute as they came in to the restaurant or on their way out. She really seemed to be in her element.

Tags: Elaine Kaufman, Elaines, restaurant, Woody Allen

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The Classicist: At The Carlyle Hotel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Classicist

When Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week hits New York City this Friday, the hip downtown hotels will of course be flooded with fashionistas. The ones who value refinement and elegance over mere trendiness however will head to the Upper East Side's Carlyle Hotel, a luxurious landmark since it first opened in 1930 and one of our favorite places to stay in the world.

French Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld recently declared that the Carlyle is her favorite hotel as well, and with the addition of a luxe new spa next month, with its "sleek palette of slate, charcoal and black complemented by finishes in nickel, chrome and glass and rich molding," others are sure to follow suit. Not that the Carlyle lacks for high-profile guests; since it opened nearly 80 years ago, the hotel has played host to an endless procession of movie stars, millionaires and high society.

The Art Deco masterpiece was the perfect setting for both stylish philanderer John F. Kennedy, who owned an apartment on the 34th floor, and legendary cabaret singer Bobby Short, who hung his top hat at the swank Café Carlyle for decades (Woody Allen has also been known to hoist a clarinet there on occasion).

Gallery: The Carlyle Hotel