By Elise Knutsen 4/25/12 2:14pm

Shindigger

Bill Cunningham Receives Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence

Fits The Bill: Cunningham receives the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence at the Waldorf-Astoria

Stooped, toothy and lovely, Bill Cunningham is a rare bird.

Platonically adored by the city’s leading ladies for decades, the flash of Mr. Cunningham’s camera is worth more than any cocktail hour compliment, a thousand-fold. While women have tripped over their trains, desperate to impress him for decades, Mr. Cunningham has remained unaffected, the dogged archivist of New York city’s ceaseless uptown carnival.

Yesterday evening, Mr. Cunningham’s frequent subjects congregated at the Waldorf-Astoria for a night in honor of their beloved photographer, who was receiving the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence. Read More

By Matt Chaban 6/27/11 11:23am

Checking in

In need of a wall-to-Walldorf renovation. (Getty)

Waldorf-Astoria Getting a Ritzy Spritz

The Waldorf-Astoria has lost some of its Jazz Age luster, growing rumpled and maybe even a little racist in old age. The hotel was purchased four years ago by Blackstone for $572 million, part of a $26 billion deal to buy up the Hilton chain. Now the monolithic investment outfit is prepared to spruce up the Walfdorf-Astoria, the Post reports.

According to the tab, Blackstone plans to spend “hundreds of millions of dollars” renovating the hotel, once home to mobsters Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano and jazz singer Cole Porter, as well as the eponymous salad. Read More

By Nate Freeman 3/22/11 11:32pm

Nightlife

Waldorf Apocalypse! The Explorer's Club Dinner

One year, nine months and two days before the world will end, the Explorers Club paid homage to our demise with its 107th annual dinner. The theme was “Exploring 2012: The Maya Prophecy.”

For some light entertainment, the club ferried in men and women dressed as ancient shamans. In face paint and feather-heavy head Read More

By Nate Freeman 3/02/11 12:27am

Hijinks

Checking In, Sir? Booking a Room for Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen has a history with New York hotels. The latest round of jaw-dropping interviews (and the ensuing catchphrases) may have overshadowed that fateful weekend in October at the Plaza, but it remains a integral part of his legend.

Mr. Sheen booked the Eloise Suite and proceeded to orchestrate perhaps the ultimate hooker-laden, coke-fueled Read More

By Nate Freeman 2/09/11 1:22am

Shindigger

The Toast of Vienna Trots into the Waldorf

Of all the dignitaries, ambassadors and titled aristocracy to fly from foreign locales to attend the 56th Viennese Opera Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria last Friday, Sharon Bush may have traveled the farthest.

Just that afternoon, the ex-wife of George W. Bush’s brother Neil rushed from customs to make sure she had time to throw Read More

By Nate Freeman 12/30/10 6:09pm

Nightlife

The Luckiest Girls in the World: White Tie Endures at the International Debutante Ball

Last night the Waldorf-Astoria hosted the Fifty-Sixth Anniversary International Debutante Ball, and before the procession of girls in white dresses could begin, the master of ceremonies addressed the tuxedo-clad crowd.

“Please stand up if you have a relative who signed the Declaration of Independence,” he implored. There were cheers and, indeed, a smattering of guests Read More

By Tom Acitelli 11/26/07 1:53am

Waldorf-Astoria Part of $1.4 B. Trade (UPDATED)

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel has traded hands as part of one of the biggest property deals in New York City in 2007.

The Shareholders of Hilton Hotels Corporation turned over the hotel at 301 Park Avenue to BH Hotels LLC for $572,343,007, according to real property transfer tax records entered with the city on Nov. 21. Read More

By Staff 3/12/07 5:45pm

Events for March 13, 2007

7:30 a.m. Panel discussions on China’s growing industrial competitiveness, renewable resources and other topics will be held at the Basic Industrial Conference at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 301 Park Avenue.

8:15 a.m. The New York Law School’s Center for Real Estate Studies holds a breakfast forum on the future of city real estate at 47 Read More

By Staff 10/06/06 6:00pm

Events for October 7-9, 2006

On Saturday, a rally protesting illegal immigration will be held outside of the Mexican Consulate.

John Faso attends the Columbus Citizens Foundation Gala Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

The Astoria Frank Kenna Republican Club and the NY Young Republican Club will hold their final voter registration drive of the 2006 election season.

On Sunday, Read More

By Ben Smith 11/22/04 12:00am

Kaboom! MTA Plans Could Blow Up Midtown, Say Neighbors

Midtown property owners and their congresswoman are claiming that a planned Metropolitan Transportation Authority installation could turn into an explosive terrorist target with the potential to damage landmarks such as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

At the center of the controversy is a planned 16-story building on East 50th Street between Park Avenue Read More