Friday, May 11, 2012

Top Of The Rock

We Went to MoMA one day and bought the USD38 combo ticket for the museum (including the newer MoMA PS1) and Top Of The Rock. Top Of The Rock is the observation deck on the top floors of Rockefeller Center. RC was built in 9 years, from 1930 to 1939 by J. D. Rockefeller, the president of the US from the 30s to the mid 40s. You may have seen a famous photo of the workers taking a break, perched on a steel beam that stuck out hundreds of feet above ground.

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Not a Photoshopped picture; no Photoshop in 1932.

I chose Top Of The Rock instead of the more famous and taller (observation deck at 86th floor) Empire State Building (there are other combo tickets, such as Top Of The Rock and City Tour, and if you buy online, there's more savings) because I had no desire to line up for hours at the landmark Empire State Building. I'm glad I observed NYC from Top Of The Rock because it is the perfect place to see the Empire State Building! Also, the building is designed so that you get 360 degree view of the city. If I go to NYC city again, I'm going to do Top Of The Rock at night because New York City at night is the most beautiful of all cities I think. I had a glimpse of the NYC skyline when coming back from the Woodbury Outlet one night and the night skyline was even more beautiful than HK's. We were at The Rock on a cold and windy day (50 F) because we didn't have Internet access to weather report. It was terribly cold so we didn't spend much time at the 70th floor. Actually a lot of time is spent waiting to go up the building because of the procedures (15 minute intervals for each batch going up, long queues, security checks, elevator wait) so you need a morning or afternoon or night.

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While lining up at the security check point, I saw a queue on the street below. NYC has so many events  going on anytime of the year. Radio City Music Hall was giving away free tickets to a show; am not sure which performer was on. The Tribeca Film Festival was also on then.

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Majestic Empire State Building. Brooklyn Bridge in the distance on the left.

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Statue of Liberty is closed for repair/renovation. You can see it on the island on the right.

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Central Park in the middle of the concrete jungle.

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8 comments:

Michelle Chin said...

did you do the mbc studio tour?

Simon said...

Hey! You're back. Thoroughly enjoy your NY write-up.

the lunch guy said...

i have been so busy with work i have not had time to check in here. i did not even know you had gone to the USA.

so glad you liked it and rated it so highly, especially NYC.

as always your photos are tops and your comments a joy to read.

i expect to be going home in June and its too bad we could not have spent some time together there. i would have loved to have taken you and Yi to some of my favorite places - especially the Cuban/Chinese joints and of course for a Hot Pastrami Sandwich on 2nd Avenue.

next time.

Bee said...

It looks like you are having a wonderful time in NYC! I live in Boston now, but miss NYC desperately. My family still lives in Queens, so luckily, I still visit about once a month! Nothing beats NYC in the Spring! Have a wonderful trip! Looking forward to more pictures!

The Real Mother Hen said...

Oh cool! You really had a great trip and it was so fun to read your posts. You're right on, NYC is such a great place and I love every bit of it too. And I had a chuckle upon seeing the words Woodbury Outlet - you go girl! :) Oh suddenly I'm homesick, missing the States terribly, but I'm in London now so gotta make the most of the new life here :)

Scrappy Kid said...

"J. D. Rockefeller, the president of the US from the 30s to the mid 40s" - you are tooooo funny...!

Chocolate Cookies & Candies said...

The view from the top is just breathtaking. Hubby has been pestering me for years to visit NYC. So has my New Yorker friend. That's the next destination when I'm done with Europe.

Terri @ A Daily Obsession said...

michelle:mbc?
simon: read on simon! how r you guys?
lunchguy:as always you light up my day:) i shd've asked you for places to eat in ny!
bee:lucky you!really!
motherhen:u r in london? what r u doing there? oh the woodbury outlet is very very nice, better than gilroy in terms of scenery n layout.
scrappykid:......
ccc:you must finish europe quickly. be in nyc for the sales, such as the black friday sales n i think you'll want to move to the states after! i got a couple of things for 90% off. 90 freaking % off!

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