I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the PLAHZA! (in the words of Eloise, New Yorks’ most famous and favorite 6 year old)
Eloise Book Cover
Eloise, the precocious, french speaking, frou frou dressing, millionairess and 6 year old Plaza resident who poured Perrier water down the Plaza’s mail chute, is alive and kicking (quite literally:) at THE PLAZA!
The Plaza at Night - New York City
Eloise first came to life in the mind of Kay Thompson, who penned her creative & loveable ideas of a wealthy six-year-old living in the Plaza during the 1950’s. Hilary Knight beautifully illustrated the child and brought her into 3D on the pages of Kay Thompson’s Eloise books.
Plaza Entrance *Picture taken from The Plaza's Website
The first children’s book was published in 1955 while Kay Thompson was a resident at The Plaza. There has been some speculation that the books were inspired by Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland‘s daughter, who was a resident at The Plaza during the same time period that Kay was writing the Eloise Books.
A young Liza Minnelli with mom, Judy Garland
I tend to believe the persistent rumors that have caused speculation for years – Kay Thompson was a close friend of Judy Garland, and after Judy’s death, she took charge of Liza, and in fact even lived the last 10 years in Liza’s penthouse on East 69th St. One of the most telling facts that lends truth to the Liza/Eloise connection, is the charge Kay gave Liza, shortly before her death (it would be the last things Kay ever said to Liza). “Take care of Eloise”.
Kay & Eloise - 1969
Little girls have been visiting The Plaza for years now, hoping for a glimpse of Eloise running through the hallways with her pets, Weenie (the pug puppy) and Skipperdee (the turtle) and her faithful and “mostly companion”, Nanny chasing her down. Raphael Pallais, concierge of The Plaza, has said that, “Little girls ask for Eloise, and often their parents will ask them to ask us.”
Edwin Trinka, Plaza doorman since 1963, retired this year-I bet he has many Eloise stories to tell his grandkids! *Update-Mr Trinka is now the doorman for the Plaza Residences
Eloise has multigenerational appeal, and our fondness and nostalgic love of her, has been passed down from Grandmother to daughter, to granddaughter throughout the last 60 years.
- Eloise at the Plaza – Movie
Finally, after reading of her life in the picture books, and seeing the loveable and enjoyable child come alive on the big screen, we finally have a place to go and experience the life of Eloise!
- Eloise Reading Room
On December 1st, 2009, The Plaza opened her doors to the world of Eloise, in the form of a 2,100 sq.ft. gift shop, with the warmth and feel of a giant playhouse complete with a fantasy pink tea party room, beauty salon, reading room, and mirrored dress up nook.
- Eloise Tea Party Room
- Gift Shop-full size
The gift shop offers everything Eloise-even Madame Alexander’s Eloise dolls.
Madame Alexander's soft 18in. "Eloise" doll
Now, in 2010, The Plaza has announced its newest Eloise fantasy development, and it has been creating quite a bit of buzz from little girls and their mommies everywhere. The Plaza is now offering the first ever, Eloise’s Suite, room 1832, on the 18th floor.
Eloise Suite
The fantasy of any little girl, the posh and adequately frou frou suite has been decorated by none other than our favorite pink designer, Betsey Johnson.
Betsey Johnson in Eloise Suite
The closet is fully stocked with fluffy and elaborate, Eloise approved, dress up clothes-just in case you forgot your own. Many girls will be dreaming of this suite, but alas, since this is THE PLAZA, all this beautiful Eloiseness will of course cost you a pretty penny. Starting at $995.00 a night, this suite welcomes pets under 25 lbs, and comes with a $100.00 gift card for the Eloise gift shop down below. Oh well, after all, it IS “THE PLAZA”.
Seeing all the excitement surrounding Eloise, and her new “diggs” at The Plaza, makes me pause and think; Why has this uber michevious and confident 6-year-old captivated girls across the world for the last 60 years? Maybe, because deep down, we all have a bit of “Eloise” in all of us. I know I do. Sometimes I just want to Sklonk around, have Dior make a dress for me, live at The Plaza, be a city child, travel the world at the drop of a hat-saying “Charge it, please” everywhere, and tell people that my mother knows Coco Chanel. Yes, and sometimes I even want to pour a bottle of Perrier down the mail chute because I have so much to do and I just feel like being bad, bad, bad. “Oh my Lord!”
Forever Your Eloise
P.S. From one “Eloise” to another, and the mother of a 3 year old “Eloise”, I wanted to let you know that I found quite a selection of Madame Alexander’s soft body 18″Eloise dolls on ebay.com
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- Betsey Johnson Designs the ‘Eloise Suite’ at the Plaza Hotel (stylelist.com)
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