Buying the New Yorker 1986 - page 67

The Knickerbocker Chicago recently changed its name, as the ownership seems to have felt that the word "knickerbocker" might not have aged as well as they might have liked. The new name that will hopefully remain timeless for decades to come?

The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel

The Knickerbocker was built in 1927, which was an exciting time to have been in Chicago. The photo there, vague as it might be, certainly gives a sense of the atmosphere.

Now for the important bit. "Knickerbocker" was early New York City slang for the variety of button-legged pants that the Dutch residents wore. After a while, the name came to be used as a term of synonymity with the city itself (particularly in the sense of its history). Beers, clubs, sports teams, and even a hotel (which the Chicago hotel that we're ostensibly talking about is named after) were given the name. As an example, Washington Irving's satirical History of New York is narrated by a character named Diedrich Knickerbocker. When this book was printed in London, the illustrations (by George Cruikshank) made the button-legged pants look so similar to contemporary ladies underwear that they came to be called "knickers."

The answer to the other question that I just had to look up for this ad: So far as I can tell, nobody has ever been tommy-gunned by the mob in the Knickerbocker's parking garage. So much for atmosphere.

Winter Silks is no longer selling the Scandinavian Ski hat. I think that's wise of them. They do offer silk balaclavas and toe socks. There doesn't seem to be anything champagne colored, which is a pity as nothing says "special gift" like a pair of champagne colored toe socks.

There's lots of interesting stuff on Ladatco's website, but nothing about the mystery I was hoping to explore - what does "Ladatco" mean? The "Ancient Mystery" angle is being downplayed in favor of what they call "Pampered Adventure." Unlike most of these companies, the "Adventure" seems to actually take precedence over the "Pampered." Here's a couple of days out of the week-long "Offbeat Adventure in Nicaragua and El Salvador" package:

Monday - San Salvador Full day visit to the newly discovered (and currently under excavation) Joya de Ceren, a Maya village dating back to 1400 B.C. that was covered by volcanic ash and is the only Maya site found to date that reflects "village" daily life. Continue to Santa Ana for a visit to the San Andres ruins, once a Maya religious settlement. Lunch included today.
Thursday - Managua Another full day excursion; first, visit the impressive Masaya Volcano where you can stand right on the edge of the active crater. Then continue to the town of Masaya and its famed arts and crafts market, of special note are the hammocks and wood cravings. On to the colonial capital of Granada on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Founded in 1524, you will see many churches and convents that still preserve the historic legacy. Lunch included in Granada prior to a boat ride through some of the 365 "isletas" on Lake Nicaragua.

You can also go to the Falklands and see the penguins, but you'd best have a fondness for small aircraft and Land Rovers.