The Plaza is Back

On our ventures around town this weekend, we couldn’t help but be drawn in by the hundreds of tourists and New Yorker’s alike flocking to the reopening of the famed Plaza Hotel. Two years after closing its doors for renovation, the $400 million project is leaving people with something to talk about. One of the highlights of the restoration – an 1,800 square foot stained-glass ceiling in the Palm Court dining room, portraying a backlit yellow and green geometric design trimmed with roses.
The new renovations have also added something modern to the hotels old-fashioned opulence. Included in each room is a flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, and digital touch screens, but they have kept in the true name of the Plaza with 24-karat gold plated faucets, crystal chandeliers and mosaic tiled bathroom floors.
Although the Plaza looked more like the latest tourist attraction than a five star hotel this weekend, the true Grand Opening is not set until May 10. By then, the famous Oak Bar will be running, as well as a new lounge called the Rose Club. And for our inner-fashionista’s, over 160,000 square feet of high-end retail space will be in place.