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At Reborn Plaza Hotel, a Party to Mark 100 Years

One hundred years ago today, the first guest checked into the Plaza Hotel, signing the register with a flourish. He was Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, the heir to a famous fortune.

His arrival was orchestrated by the Plaza’s first manager, who wanted the new hotel to open with a splashy, attention-getting stunt.

The Plaza will celebrate its anniversary tonight with another stunt, a party in its front yard — Grand Army Plaza, on Fifth Avenue at Central Park South — as this storied New York institution enters its second century with a new look and fresh challenges.
Read entire article at NYT