Concrete jungle where dreams are made, oh!

Spu and I met up in New York because he hasn't been there before, it's been a while since I caught up with him and Drs I-K (two years!), and it's fun to do stuff in NYC with companions.    And since Spu has basically been in G-town for the last 4 years while I was in Muenchen (which kinda feels like a village), we spent a bit of time enjoying being tourists amidst the bustle and buzzzzzzzzzz. First stops - Times Square and Rockefeller Centre!

Oh yeah, this was the view from our building.

It was around 8:30 am - emptiest I've ever seen Times Square but still quite a few people around!

Looking up the GE building at 30 Rock

The tropical garden opposite

As we went to buy tickets to go to the Top of the Rock, we were asked if we wanted to also go on a free tour explaining the history, art, and architecture of the complex. This was possibly one of the best decisions ever made because it was really interesting!

We waited for our guide (who was awesome) in the art deco foyer. Note the metal, geometric shapes, and shiny shiny metallic details.

The tour took us around the neighbourhood where the guide pointed out interesting trivia such as the neon lights on the Radio City Music Hall were installed later and that the font is Helvetica before it was known as such!

Tenants of the Rockefeller skyscrapers include Time-Life, McGraw-Hill, Fox/News Corp and Don Draper's office from Mad Men. Me and Spu were the only fans on the tour :P

The Magnolia Bakery, in congruously located in a teeny building on the 6th Ave. side of the centre was for a long time a bar, the owner of which refused to sell his building to JD Rockefeller Jnr. when the latter was buying up the land for the complex. Also, nice cupcakes *thumbs up*

Flags of the UN members at Rockfeller Plaza

The centre was built during the inter-war period after the 1929 stockmarket crash, and the art of the complex reflects the views of the different artists working at the time. Here's a very prominent hammer and sickle

While 5th avenue in the early 20th century was home to the wealthy, 6th was  trashy and the red-light district. Apparently these are two of the last surviving buildings of the time!

Atlas on 5th ave.

The GE building has two foyers. The 5th ave. foyer is shiny shiny and has some floor-rumbling 80 year old escalators!

Meanwhile, the Rockefeller Plaza side has a GIANT CROTCH as you walk in the revolving doors!

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Seriously, this was an interesting tour and I highly recommend it!

Following the tour, we eventually made it to the top of 30 Rock. Our guide had said that the elevators in the building are so efficient that you can make it to the observation deck located on the 70th floor in 40-something seconds. I think I counted to 45!

We admired the great view of the Empire State - in fact, the view is so great that the building blocks the Empire State's view of Central Park. HAHAHAHA

Spu admires Central Park

It's so schoen!

In the afternoon, we hung around 30Rock and took a tour of the NBC studios. Alas, no photography is allowed but we got to visit some of the studios including the one where SNL is filmed, before meeting up with Dr. Mikey and we got to discuss the loveliness that is a career in research.

Spu and I were pretty tired by the evening and after a short rest in our hotel, we headed off to Madison Square in the Flatiron District! As it was turning to dusk, the buildings were slowly being lit up and looking pleasant all-round.

The Flatiron building. Distinctive

The Met Life Building.

Hey, I know you hiding over there!

More to come!