Walkabout #3, Midtown Christmas

Times Square, Bryant Park, Avenue of the America’s, Radio City Music Hall, Wollman Rink(central park), Plaza Hotel Apple Flagship, Rockefeller Center, St Patricks Cathedral, NY Public Library, Empire State Building, Flatiron Building, Union Square Park

Walking Tour Google Map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sBRTX7enhYcpTKn66

Abstract:

This Walk is 4 miles and 1.5 hours if you don’t stop at anything.  It can take more than a day, more than a week really, if you really want to have a look at all of the sights.  During Christmas it has sights you won’t see like the massive Christmas displays in the canyon of skyscrapers up 6^th avenue.  Of course you can always reverse the walk, take detours to other points of interest and visit the “Tourist Attractions” along the way.

Details:

• We Start at Times Square and walk one avenue EAST/over to Bryant park. Times Square, aka “The Crossroads of The World” are the triangles formed when Broadway crosses 7th Avenue at West 45th Street. This forms two triangles, Father Duffy Square to the north, and One Times Square, where the ball drops on New Years, to the south.
• Bryant Park has an ice skating rink, winter market and food stalls, very popular Christmas market.
• Walk NORTH / UP 6^th Avenue (aka “Avenue of The Americas”). Look at all the gargantuan Christmas Decorations displayed by the Massive Skyscrapers.
• If you’re hungry just a few steps to the right on the North side of 44^th street is a real, authentic NYC Diner called the Red Flame.  I eat there often.
• At 50^th St you’ll see Radio City Music Hall. Local Note: This neighborhood is full of quality steakhouses.
• At 53^rd St, a few steps to the East/Right/over is MOMA – Museum of Modern Art.
• At 59^th Street you will reach Central Park South.  This is the southern border of Central Park, behind you and all around Central Park is some of the most expensive real estate in the city with unobstructed views of Central Park.  Central Park is Huge, you can not see it all in one day.  Continue into the park for another 5 minutes and you will reach The Wollman Skating Rink.
• Turn around and head SOUTH/Downtown and leave the park.
• When you get to CPS (Central Park South) go East/left and walk ALMOST to 5^th avenue.  When you get there you’ll understand why I said ‘almost’.  To your south is the Plaza Hotel, across the street is the General Motors Building (they used to have the latest models in the windows on the first floor when I was a kid back in the Stone Age).  In front of the GM Building is the Apple Flagship store.  It’s pretty interesting, I’d go in, just to “feel” the entrance.
• Continue heading SOUTH/Downtown and at 50^th street you’ll reach Saint Patricks Cathedral.  Across the street, pretty much, is Rockefeller Center – the sculpture of Atlas with the world on his shoulders is iconic.  So is the tree at Christmas and the “Top of The Rock.”
• Continue SOUTH/Downtown on 5^th Avenue and as you go through the high 40’s you’ll notice the neighborhood change – at least on the East/Left side of the Avenue, you are now in “The Diamond District.”  Looking for a wedding or engagement ring, this is the place to shop.
• Continue SOUTH/Downtown. on 5^th avenue and at 42^nd street you will come to THE NY Public Library.  There are many branches, this is the Main Branch.  It’s an Icon worldwide, The  Lions, Patience to the south and Fortitude to the North have stood guard at the entrance since May 23, 1911. They were named by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, his commentary on the great depression.  Each lion has a reading list available on line. https://www.nypl.org/125/lions
• • Not to be missed.  The mezzanine above the entrance has historical photos and artifacts about the construction.  Of course it’s free.  There are public bathrooms here as well.
  • Notice, if you walk 50 meters to the east you’ll be back in Bryant Park.  You’re on the same block you started at.
• Continue South/Downtown on 5^th avenue, you may notice the neighborhood change again, you are now in Korea Town(aka K-Town), and at 34^th street you will reach The Empire State Building.  Not to be missed: Go into the lobby and look at the amazing Art Deco Plaque, think about how utterly modern that must have felt like in 1933.
• Continue South/Downtown on 5^th Avenue.  At 26^th street you will find Madison Square Park (Madison Square Garden is nowhere near here, as “Madison Square Park” has nothing to do with “Madison Square Garden”.  You are at “Madison Square” right now.
• Continue South/Downtown on 5^th avenue this is where Broadway crosses 5^th avenue.  Broadway is NOT part of the grid, it’s a legacy street from old NY. Broadway dates from before the early 1800’s.  Everywhere Broadway crosses an avenue triangular parks are made.
• Eataly is on your right, The Flatiron Building is in front of you.  There are places to sit down on both sides of 23^rd street, the transverse (two way street).  You can get something to eat in Eataly, there’s a Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, or if you want to eat in a sandwich shop from the 1920’s (this is a strong suggestion) You’ll find Eisenbergs Sandwich Shop just south of 23^rd street, on 5^th avenue, on the West (right) side of the street.
• Bear left @ 23^rd street, Continue South/Downtown on Broadway as you pass by the Flatiron Building.
• Notice that you have changed neighborhoods once again.  This is a neighborhood in transition, it used to be full of small import companies.
• When you get to 19^th Street you will see a shop on the west/right side corner, Fishs Eddy (that is not a misspelling as you will see).  It is probably one of the most unique shops in The City.  Everyone knows about it.  Go in and have a look around.  If you came to NYC to go shopping, I’ll bet you’ll want to buy something.
• Continue South/Downtown on Broadway. Between 18^th and 17^th on the west/right side you will find Venchi’s flagship store.  Go in and marvel at the chocolate waterfall.  I love their frozen hot chocolate.
• Continue South/Downtown to Union Square Park.  On the North side of the park you’ll find an intense farmers market on Saturday Morning, and a lesser farmers market on Monday/Wednesday/Friday starting at 8am. On the south side of the park you’ll find a Christmas Winter market. Union Square South and 14^th street (really the same street) mark the northern boundary of Greenwich Village. Cross the street to the south and the neighborhood will change again bigtime!. {End of walkabout #3 midtown Christmas].