Say Sayonara To The Oak Room

July 28, 2011 at 12:30 PM | by ASchechter | Comments (0)

As promised, the Oak Room finally shut down for good last night. But that didn't stop patrons from squeezing into the Plaza Hotel's iconic bar for one last hurrah. Champagne flowed at a standing room-only bar, and the regularly-scheduled Wednesday night jazz band kept its slot one last time.

"Last call is usually around midnight. But tonight, we think it's going to go a little later," promised the hostess. "Basically, until people stop buying drinks." Sure enough, the room was so crowded, and the atmosphere so jolly, it was difficult to remember why exactly the hotel had chosen to pull the plug in the first place.

A four-piece jazz band�led by burlesque crooner Brian Newman�set up right in the middle of the floor, and quickly became the soundtrack to a bittersweet evening. Though the occupied tables didn't leave much room for dancing, a few happy-go-lucky patrons took the lead anyway, nearly crashing several times into nimble-footed waiters ducking by with trays full of cocktails.

In its 104 year history, the Oak Room's Everett Shinn Central Park murals has dazzled tourists, and its dark wooden interior has been used in several major Hollywood productions.

Who will be opening inside the now-empty space? How much will the drinks cost? And where will Lady Gaga now make her drunken late-night lounge lizard appearances?

So many questions, so mysterious a hotel bar.

[Photo: HotelChatter]

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