 Lord
and Taylor, New York City, New York:
Lord and Taylor, located along New York City’s Ladies’ Mile of
department stores, between Eighth and Twenty-third Streets and between
Broadway and Sixth Avenue, reigned for a generation before it was replaced
farther uptown. Stores like New York's Lord and Taylor catered to the
wealthier patronage of the New York "carriage trade."
Lord and Taylor began in New York in 1826 as a small dry goods store. Samuel
Lord and his cousin George Washington Taylor, immigrants to New York,
located their first Lord and Taylor store near the North River waterfront in New York’s
Greenwich Village.
After many years, they succeeded in establishing their Lord and Taylor
store as one of the most respected fashion establishments along New
York’s opulent Ladies’ Mile. In 1872, Lord and Taylor moved to a
grandiose cast-iron building capped by a tall mansard roof. New York's
Lord and Taylor became a destination for not only shopping, but a place
that women went for entertainment. In 1914, the Lord and Taylor store moved to 38th Street
and Fifth Avenue in New York City. For many decades, New York City
department stores such as Lord and Taylor, promoted everything from Thanksgiving Day parades and
patriotic lectures to Art exhibits. |
The Plaza Hotel, one of the most
famous New York City hotels, opened its doors on October 1, 1907. This 19
story landmark was built in 1905-07 according to the designs of
Henry Hardenburgh, architect of Manhattan's Dakota Apartments. No
expense was spared in the construction of The Plaza
Hotel and as a result the Plaza Hotel was considered the
crown jewel of New York City hotels on Fifth Avenue. The Plaza Hotel had the
privileged location on New York City’s Central Park South. 
From its debut, the Plaza Hotel has reigned as the most famous, the most
opulent, and the most celebrated of New York City hotels.
The Plaza's public rooms are lavish representations of Edwardian
architecture. The Plaza Hotel has marble lobbies, solid mahogany doors, over 1500 crystal chandeliers
and gold edged china. The Oak Room, the hotel's oldest intact
interior, remains virtually unchanged from its opening day in 1907. The
restaurant boasts 20-foot ceilings with imposing paneling of sable-dyed
English oak with regal frescos of whimsical Rhine castles. The adjoining
Oak Bar is decorated with large murals by American painter Everett Shinn.
The Plaza
Hotel's ultimate
luxury and indulgent service lured the most aristocratic socialites and
notorious clientele of the 20th Century to its palatial ornate
ballrooms, lavish suites, and sumptuous restaurants. The Plaza Hotel
has appeared in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and
in the much loved children's book series of Eloise by Kay Thompson.
Truman Capote held his infamous masked black-and-white ball in the Plaza's
ballroom in 1966.
In August 2004, the Plaza Hotel was purchased for $675 million by
Elad Properties, a Manhattan-based development company. Sadly,
the new owners plan to close the Plaza on April 30, 2005. The
historic 805 room Plaza Hotel will be remodeled and renovated to accommodate
200 opulent condominium residences, plus 150 hotel rooms. |
