Elaine Was My Dating Coach

Ken Pliska

Ken Pliska moved to New York City from Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1987. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in architectural engineering, his early career was in the architecture and engineering field. In 2000, he started working in real estate development and consulting as an owner’s representative. Currently, he is partners in the firm Second River Station, LLC. His wife of eighteen years, Kimberly McGovern Pliska, passed away in 2008.

Ken made many friends at Elaine’s, from celebrities to the average local. He hung at the bar but also sat at tables. Because he was a middle-of-the-road kind of guy, he was able to start the “All the People that You Knew at Elaine’s” Facebook page and was invited to be on the board of the Table 4 Writers Foundation.

Elaine’s was a saloon he called home. It was a place that helped him heal during the most difficult period of his life. Elaine once informed him that he was “a slab of meat on a hook.” And so began her work as his dating coach.

MY FIRST STOP in Elaine’s was in 1987. I had just moved to NYC and was checking out restaurants and bars on Second Avenue. I knew nothing about Elaine or the place, but it looked fun and I popped in. I had a few drinks but it wasn’t near my apartment, so I didn’t make it back for a few years.

My wife and I moved to the Yorkville neighborhood in 1992. Elaine’s became our local spot for a special dinner. Since we were not regulars, we typically got seated in the rear of the restaurant. As the years passed, we went from one to two visits a year to about eight to ten. This was still not regular status, but Elaine knew our faces, as this went on for more than ten years.

In the fall of 2008, my wife had an accident and passed away. My dear friend, Joni Loeffler, was a regular who had been going to Elaine’s for decades. Joni insisted that I spend more time in Elaine’s. She said, “It will help you heal.”

I found myself in Elaine’s about four to five nights a week. Shortly after this change to my schedule, Elaine took notice and asked Gianni, the head waiter, “What’s the big guy’s story?” Gianni filled her in and she asked me to join her and tell my story. From that moment, Elaine and I were friends.

I did heal in Elaine’s. I met many new friends and Elaine was always on the lookout for the proper business and social connections. She was a master of the art of networking. After about a year, she also became my dating coach.

It was December 2009. I was sitting at the bar on a quiet evening. After Elaine came in and got settled, she joined me at the bar. In the middle of our conversation, she stopped and asked, “Are you ready yet?” I had no idea what she was talking about.

I said, “Ready for what?”

Elaine replied, “Are you ready to start dating again?”

I said “Sure, I guess so.”

Her response was, “Good, because you’re a slab of meat on a hook.” I guess this was an Elaine-styled compliment.

While I was a late part of the Elaine’s family, the last few years of the restaurant meant the world to me. I will forever miss the comfort of her saloon.