[KateW]

Okay, I'm working with memories from at least 15 years ago, but here goes.
Is there/was there a cafe and/or restaurant in NYC that serves hot chocolate and sold teddy bears? Odd, I know...it's almost like I'm mixing two memories but I swear that is what I remember. I think it was called Rumplemeyer's or something close to that.
If anyone could help me out it would really help.

[Suzanne]

You are 100% correct (except fo the spelling, big deal ). Good girl!! Rumpelmayer's was on Central Park South. It was a famous tea room/ice cream parlor. In On the Town in New York, discussing the early 1940s, Michael and Ariane Batterberry say:

Europeans accustomed to afternoon levity clustered around the elegant tea tables of Rosemarie de Paris and Rumpelmayer's, amidst a welter of beribboned bon-bon boxes, silver pastry trays, beady-eyed fox furs, and tiers of glass counters guarded by giant stuffed animals.

I'm not sure when it closed, but I think it was in one of the hotels that Donald Trump took over. I used to LOVE their "Coupe aux Marrons" -- vanilla ice cream with candied chestnuts in syrup, and whipped cream of top, of course.

[KateW]

Aww, thanks for the info. It's good to know my memory is right.

[shroomgirl]

Great place i ate there when touring NYC as a 20 year old!!! There was also a phenominal ice cream shop in SF 40ish years ago I went to as a small child....Blums??? anyone remember that one? I can remember dressing in crinolines (ouch) and white gloves and driving to SF from Sac to shop with my mom. Gloves....oh man I don't think they stayed white very long.
And I know the pettycoats hit the floor as I walked in the door.

[tigerwoman]

There's also a place on east 59th Street right by the bridge between 2nd and 3rd Avenue called Serindipity - they have hot chocolate and ice cream and cute high priced kitch for sale. Great place for an adult "kidz" party.

[Suzanne]

The weird thing that I've heard about Serendipity is that it is NOT a great place to take real kids! Not sure if it's the service, or the physical setup, or what. Rumpelmeyars was like a fantasy soda-fountain, especially with the stuffed animals. Yeah, Serendipity is fun, but as you say, more for "grownups."

BTW: they have a cookbook out; what more could be in it besides the famous "Frozen Hot Chocolate"???????

[momoreg]

Serendipity is fun!!

I remember as a kid, going to an ice cream parlor and antique clothing boutique called Agora, somewhere uptown (West side??) I don't even know if it's there anymore, but the memory is great. It was very upscale, as I recall.