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New Book Reinvents Eloise As A Williamsburg Hotel Hipster
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 16, 2015
Modified Jan 16, 2015
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 16, 2015
Modified Jan 16, 2015
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The children's book series featuring Eloise, a character created by Kay Thompson in the 1950s, has received the hipster update we never wanted, courtesy of author Mallory Kasdan. In this new series, titled Ella, the 6-year-old protagonist doesn't live in the Plaza Hotel, she lives at the Local Hotel, which is based on the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg. It's being marketed as a "fun, hip, re-imagining of Thompson's timeless classic... for hipsters of all ages." Here's some more bullshit from the press release:
"The book... tells the story of a spunky six year-old girl who lives in a hotel-but if you think you know the story, think again. Ella has a nanny called Manny. He has tattoos for sleeves and he might go in with some guys to buy a grilled cheese truck. Artsy, of course, she weaves purses out of Ziploc bags and reclaimed twine. She has a dog named Stacie and a fish named Rasta. Altogether she has been to 62 events (including that Hillary Clinton fundraiser)."
Ella is described as a "trendsetter," who interacts with everyone from the hipster clientele to the bouncer of the rooftop bar to Topher, the hotel's Artist in Residence. We will say, illustrator Marcos Chin did a beautiful job creating her world...

Both Kasdan and Chin will be at PowerHouse Arena on January 25th to celebrate the launch of the book.
Tagged
ella
hipster eloise
mallory kasdan
marcos chin
not eloise
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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