The Plaza: The Secret Life of America's Most Famous Hotel

There is more to the Plaza Hotel than Kay Thompson's famous character Eloise, although she remains one of its most well-known residents. Over its 111-year history, the Plaza has had multiple owners, even passing through Donald Trump's hands before he lost it in a bankruptcy filing in 1992. Of course, there have also been myriad celebrated guests, starting with Alfred Vanderbilt (Guest No. 1) and continuing on through the Beatles, Truman Capote, and various princesses. In this debut, journalist Satow brings it all to light, combing through newspaper articles to regale readers with stories not only of the rich and famous but also those of the union workers who built and run the hotel, the exotic pets that have lived there with their owners, the prostitutes and bomb threats in the 1970s, and the string of international scandals that have befallen recent owners. In its current rendition, there are more condominiums and storefronts, but it still stands as a landmark luxury hotel.