While some reports have been declaring that Charlie Sheen is off the hook for his hooker, coke and booze-fueled adventures at the Plaza Hotel in October, new reports suggest that the investigation is still open. Yesterday TMZ said authorities don't believe Sheen engaged in any criminal conduct—you know, even though he was escorted from his suite frothing, naked and with a hooker locked in the bathroom. Just a typical family vacation! more ›

The Plaza hotel, in all its French Renaissance château-style glory, opened in 1907, and since then has become a National Historic Landmark. The Beatles stayed there, Truman Capote hosted his Black & White Ball in its Grand Ballroom... so of course the next logical move is to get Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino on board as some sort of face for the iconic building. more ›

Just days after we tried to console forlorn Atlantic Yards hater Rick Moody by reminding him about all the unused empty space surrounding the boondoggle, the project's designer released these flashy new renderings showing what they have in mind. Though the Municipal Art Society had envisioned a dreary vacant lot around the Barclays Center Nets arena, it seems SHoP Architects have bigger things in mind. Like a plaza! And lush plant life native to the Northern Hemisphere. And, best of all, an Oculus. (Eat your heart out, Shelbyville.) more ›

Because his House Ethics violations are scaring away invitees to his big birthday party-fundraiser at the Plaza next week, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) has taken to calling his guest list to prod them to come. Actually, he's making robo-calls: Capitol Tonight has audio of the call, which has Rangel saying, "Hi. This is Charlie Rangel. I’m sorry I missed you, but I’m calling to let you know that there’s a birthday party..." more ›

gives a preview of the refurnished and refurbished tea room (no more "silly" throne chairs, brighter lighting, live piano and violin), as well as some historical context for the iconic but under-appreciated landmark. Of course, it wasn't too long ago when Cuozzo gave his damning take-down of the last incarnation of the Palm, when it reopened in 2008: "After a gazillion-dollar reopening...the Palm Court is goofier, gloomier and only slightly more appetizing than it was before. Even the harp sounds depressing." (That downer harp will not return.) more ›

Andrea Peyser isn't the only tabloid columnist with a deep disdain for the new car-free sections of Broadway; Mike Lupica at the Daily News is now pouring out the Haterade with an article dismissing what he calls "Bloomberg Beach" as "Bloomberg's revenge." In his eyes, the whole thing is just Bloomberg's petulant way of bending New York's traffic patterns to his will after his congestion pricing plan got sandbagged by Albany. Which, yeah, Bloomberg's a little prince who throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way, but Lupica's determined to toss the baby out with the bath water. more ›

Originally designed by Plaza Hotel architect Henry Hardenbergh in 1907 as a men’s bar, The Oak Room closed during Prohibition and re-opened in 1934 as a full-service restaurant. The interior is a city Landmark, as is the Plaza Hotel, which reopened in March (after extensive renovations) as a hotel and luxury condominium, where some tenants complain of loneliness. The Palm Court, that other famous eatery in The Plaza, also reopened in March to derisive reviews from Bloomberg News and the Post. more ›

Who knew the word "plaza" would come to be so coveted? After a three week trial, a jury has ruled that the low-budget downtown Vegas Plaza Hotel and Casino has not adequately protected its trademark, clearing the way for the El-Ad Group, the owners of the Plaza Hotel in New York, to build a $5 billion, seven-tower, 6,700-unit "Plaza Hotel and Casino" on the Strip. The jury ruled that the Vegas Plaza had simply gone by too many names over the years, including the Union Plaza and Jackie Gaughan’s Plaza Downtown. A lawyer for the Vegas owners tells the Times, "We’re somewhat stunned and in disbelief." And with good reason; is El-Ad seriously going to roll the dice on a multi-billion dollar hotel resort hotel development at this particular time? more ›

Arthur Emil, the man behind the late Windows on the World and The Rainbow Room, has won the coveted contract to operate the famous Oak Room and Oak Bar (pictured) in the Plaza Hotel, which is near the end of a three-year, $400 million makeover. The 18 story landmark building opened in 1907 and operated as a hotel until 2005, after being sold for $675 million. After delays blamed on “red tape”, the Plaza is expected to open by the end of March as an upscale condominium with retail space and a smaller hotel. more ›