Stunning Architecture of New York: Part 1

Maybe it’s just me, but I think a trip to the top of the Empire State Building is quite worth the lines and money. It sits in the middle of town, and thus, you get a good view of compact Manhattan in all directions, with all those annoying people only showing up as ants and taxis appearing noiseless.

The ESB is included in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ “Seven Wonders of the Modern World” list and is also a National Historic Landmark. See, others are impressed too!

Did you know this popular icon is actually named “Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World”? It’s true! I guess we couldn’t handle all those big words?

Since 9/11, certain parts of the Statue have been closed off to the public. Which makes me feel SO lucky that I got to climb up all the way to the top as a kid. The downside? The crown is incredibly small; as a short person, even I had to duck down as I walked through. It also felt like being in the subway in July: HOT!

I still drag most visitors here if they haven’t been already. Maybe that’s 10 years of Catholic School education drawing me back, or maybe it’s because Saint Patrick’s is stunning and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Most likely the latter!

Keepin’ it local, the Cathedral is made up of marble native to this area and a couple of altars were designed by none other than Tiffany & Co. Might as well use the best…for GOD!

I still remember rumbling on down Amsterdam Avenue on a Greyhound bus from Massachusetts and seeing this massive church for the first time. WOW. It’s the largest Cathedral in the world, and you’ll believe it upon first sight! It feels even grander in scale walking around inside.

There are various events held here annually, and by far my favorite is the “Ghosts and Ghouls Parade.” Around Halloween time, costumed humans parade around the church to the sound of creepy music. Beforehand a black and white film from yesteryear is shown, accompanied by live organ-playing. $10 well-spent!

Rarely does the outside of a museum strike you as much, or more than what’s actually inside, but Frank Lloyd Wright’s cultural masterpiece most definitely does. Its “cylindrical stack” design is a far cry from the the common boxy museum found everywhere.

The design is really conducive to the museum experience in that, you aren’t climbing steps each time you get to another floor, but rather following the winding shape around and around till you get to the top.

Culled from a dump referred to as “a valley of ashes” in The Great Gatsby, Flushing Meadows is now the 2nd largest park in NYC, but it being the site of the World’s Fair is what makes it of architectural interest.

Those observation towers in Men in Black? The Unisphere date on Flight of the Conchords? The new Grand Theft Auto? All feature some part of the World’s Fair futuristic leftovers.