"Poised to reopen later this year after closing for renovations in 2017, I note the 47-story Art Deco Waldorf Astoria at 301 Park Avenue (East 50th Street) is a storied, Hilton-managed hotel that originally opened in 1931 and will return with just under 400 rooms after an extensive conversion that once reduced the original 1,400 rooms by converting part of the property into condos (studios starting at $1.8 million). I report that its ownership has shifted — Anbang bought it in 2014 for $1.9 billion, the Chinese government took control in 2018, and Beijing-based Dajia Insurance is now the owner — and that the hotel has hosted historic moments from the introduction of the LP record to presidential stays and a papal meeting; at the time of its 2017 closing its restaurants included La Chine (formerly Oscar’s Brasserie), Bull & Bear, Peacock Alley and Sir Harry’s Bar." - Melissa McCart