New York, New York, the Big Apple
The Big Apple! New York is one of the most famous cities in the world, with so many landmarks it is instantly recognisable, and its fame has been heightened by all the television and film based there, not to mention the various high profile events which have taken place throughout its history. It is the most populous city in the United States and is divided into the five boroughs of Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten and Manhattan. Not many travellers go to the US without visiting New York, it is a magnet for tourism with so much to do and see that nobody could possibly be disappointed with their trip.
My first trip in 1992 and second in 2001 are covered in my other New York page, both were pre-digital and it wasn’t until 2018 that I returned to get some halfway decent photos. We spent five nights staying at the classic art deco New Yorker Hotel opposite Madison Square Garden and managed to squeeze in Central Park, Liberty Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center and a concert at Radio City, amongst many other sights and flavours. By this stage I was recording steps, but even I was surprised that each day was at least 20,000 steps and sometimes over 30,000 tramped around town. We slept well.
Classic New York yellow cabs leave the digital electric wonderland of Times Square – the neon of the nineties had been mostly replaced by giant LED screens.
The ice rink at Rockefeller Center had recently got going for the winter season, although it was still t-shirt weather in the sunshine. The golden statue of Prometheus watches over the skaters.
My favourite building ever, the Empire State Building as seen from 34th street. The ultimate art deco tapered massing form, it was also a master class in project planning and procurement, being constructed in only 18 months from ground-breaking to opening.
A view up Broadway outside Macy’s at 34th Street, as it scythes its angular route through the gridiron streets of Manhattan. Several sections such as this are now pedestrianised with pavement cafes.
The interior of St Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue was well above my expectations. The glistening white exterior continues inside, with soaring vaulted ceilings and a peacefulness that belies the busy avenue outside.
Boating on a lake in Central Park by Bow Bridge: we stopped at this picture perfect spot while cycling a circuit of the whole park. The twin towers are The San Remo, 1930 Central Park West apartment building with many famous residents.
Looking south from Central Park and the terrapins to the changing skyline. 432 Park Avenue is one of several toothpick-style apartment towers that have sprung up in recent years along “Billionaire’s Row”. It offers huge 10×10 feet windows across all of its 85 floors, but to me is really not in keeping with the rest of the skyline.
Close up of Lady Liberty’s face. We didn’t book early enough to get tickets to climb up inside the statue, but were able to get inside the pedestal which holds a very interesting museum on its construction.
Looking back to lower Manhattan from Ellis Island, another stop on the Statue of Liberty cruises itinerary and point of entry for many millions to the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The new One World Trade Center dominates the skyline, with the Empire State Building visible in the distance.
The famous Wall Street Bull, as imitated by others I’ve seen in Frankfurt and Tanggu. The bull was difficult to photograph, with the crowds of gawkers hanging around. This was my best effort, but really, if you’re not looking at it or photographing it, get out of the way!
We spent an afternoon at the World Trade Center memorial and museum, all of which is really well presented and a fascinating if sobering experience. The fountains mark the footprints of the two towers, surrounded by the names of the victims of the September 11th attacks. It was all the more meaningful to me, having stood on top of the south tower in June 2001.
The new One World Trade Center rises above the new WTC station in the unmistakable style of Santiago Calatrava. The tower roof is the same height as the old twin towers, with the spire taking the total height to a symbolic 1,776 feet.
View from the top of one WTC looking back up Manhattan, with the overall shape of the island clearly visible. The Empire State Building can be picked out amongst the new toothpick towers around 59th Street, and the new Hudson Yards development in glass is on the left. The header photo of this page is zoomed in from the same vantage point.
We took the subway over to Brooklyn for the classic views back to Manhattan, including the double decker Manhattan Bridge as oft-photographed here from Washington Street in DUMBO. My composition deliberately eliminates the swathes of selfie-stick armed tourists flocking the street.
The Brooklyn Bridge was the first crossing built over the East River, opening in 1883 its towers at the time before the age of skyscrapers, eclipsed any construction on Manhattan itself. That has certainly changed since!
We took our time walking across, but it was certainly busy and we had to try to keep out of the cycle lane. Bikes were relocated to a designated lane on the road deck in 2021.
Classic brownstone apartment architecture of lower Manhattan. If this looks familiar, it was used for exterior shots of the “Friends” apartments.
Detail of the art deco spire of the Chrysler Building, another New York signature architectural style. The eight chrome eagle heads peer out in all directions across the city.
Grand Central Terminal concourse, with its painted skyscape and constellations on the ceiling. Strictly speaking it is not a railway station, as it is in fact the terminus of the lines to the north.
Exterior of Grand Central at night, with the MetLife and Chrysler buildings looming overhead. I took this as we left The Campbell, an opulent cocktail bar inside the station with cool live jazz.
Radio City Music Hall is perhaps New York’s most famous art deco theatre, opened in 1932 as part of the Rockefeller Center construction. I went on a tour of it in 1992 but this time we did it properly, by going to see an actual show! The spritely 84-year-old Frankie Valli happened to be playing, and we bought tickets a few weeks earlier.
View from our seats to the stage and the setting sun design of the main auditorium. With its 5,960 seat capacity, Radio City was the largest theatre in the world upon opening.
I had never been up the Rockefeller Center, so was especially keen this time to see the view of the Empire State Building, and what better way than over dinner at Bar SixtyFive, on the floor of the same number.
Detail of the carving “Wisdom” above the east entrance of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the centrepiece of the development. The building itself was the location of the famous “lunch atop a skyscraper” photo during its construction.
Created 2023
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