Plaza Hotel items go on auction

First it was the Rainbow Room, which has, thank goodness, been re-opened to the public. Then it was the Russian Tea Room. And now, you can bid on a doorknob from the Plaza Hotel, if you can stand to.

The Plaza, where this little girl (based on this little girl) lived, was closed last summer so that it could be converted into a combination hotel/retail/condominium site. If this keeps it in business, then I suppose I must be thankful, but it is nevertheless very sad to know that people are buying bellmen's uniforms, bar stools, and who knows what else from the Christie's auction.

Robert Smith had a good feature today on NPR about the auction house's re-enactment of Truman Capote's Black and White Ball.

I have never stayed at the Plaza, but have enjoyed strolling through and around it on several occasions, and have also enjoyed tea and cocktails there. I have no idea why all of these wonderful its and pieces must be auctioned, and prefer not to dwell very long on the possible reasons.