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| Rockefeller
Center 47th - 51st Streets
between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Manhattan
(212) 632-3975
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Click for full size
Map
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Summary:
Striking Art Deco office building complex
consisting of 19 buildings and scores of
upscale shops and restaurants
connected by underground corridors. Tours
of the NBC studios and Radio City Music
Hall are recommended, as are a stroll
through the Channel Gardens. In the
winter months, strap on your skates for a
spin around the world's most famous ice
skating rink. Go at off-peak times, since
the rink can get VERY crowded.
Rockefeller Center is
busiest during the winter holidays, when
crowds flock to see the Christmas Show at
Radio City Music Hall and then to skate
and admire THE Christmas tree. But we
recommend a visit at other times of the
year, too, since there is always plenty
to do and see.
Top of the Rock
The Top of the Rock observation
deck -- recently reopened after a 20-year
closure -- offers magnificent New York
City views (including the nearby spires
of the Empire
State Building
and the Chrysler
Building). Go during the
day to see the splendor of the city
unfold beneath you, or better yet, go at
night and see the city sparkle.
Channel Gardens
In nice weather, the Channel Gardens (so
called because they lie in the space
between La Maison Francaise and the
British Empire Building) are a nice place
to relax for a few moments. Join the
office workers catching a few rays of sun
on the benches throughout the gardens and
watch the throngs of tourists and
shoppers scurrying by. The area is always
attractively planted -- even in the midst
of winter you will find something pretty
in the gardens here.
Shops &
Restaurants
For an extra treat as you explore the
Channel Gardens, drop into nearby
Teuscher Chocolates and try one of their
Swiss truffles. If you like to shop, you
will find that Rockefeller Center has
plenty of other treats in store for you.
There are shops selling everything from
Japanese books to Italian leather goods
to Russian folk art. We especially like
to pop into the Metropolitan
Museum of Art
store (One Rockefeller Plaza) since it is
a good source for special gifts and is
usually much less crowded than the museum
shop uptown.
Without a doubt, the most
famous restaurant in the complex is the
Rainbow Room, located on the 65th floor
of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (same building as
Top of the Rock). Unfortunately, these
days the elegant art deco atmosphere are
available mostly for private functions.
But there are other good spots for a
meal. We like the rinkside restaurants
Sea Grill (elegant and expensive) and the
Rock Center Cafe (more family friendly --
sit outside if weather permits). Nearby,
we recommend the casual dining spot Cafe
Europa (6th Avenue at 46th St.).
Radio
City Music Hall
The venerable Radio City Music Hall has
been through some tough times, and was
even, at one point, close to the
destructive touch of the wrecking ball.
But true to the spirit of New York City,
it has emerged triumphant, with an
historic landmark designation and an
impressive 7 month, $70 million
renovation, completed in the fall of
1999. Twice a year, the leggy,
high-kicking Rockettes rule Radio City:
during spring in the Easter Show and
during winter in the Christmas
Spectacular.
If you can't make it to one
of these shows, you can still meet one of
the Rockettes by taking the fabulous
behind the scenes tour. You will see how
the parts of the stage move, view some of
the sets, hear about Radio City's
history, and yes, you will actually meet,
live and in person, one of the famous
Rockettes, who will tell you all about
the rigors of rehearsals, three shows a
day, and worldwide travel. The tour lasts
about an hour; phone (212) 632-4041 for
further details.
NBC Studios
NBC is headquartered at 30 Rockefeller
Plaza, the 70-story tower situated behind
the Prometheus statue (also home to Top
of the Rock and the Rainbow Room). To
learn more about the studio tours (which
are popular and are sold on a first come,
first served basis), see our related
article.
The
Today Show,
another member of the NBC family, does
more than just offer tours. Their studio,
behind sidewalk-level showcase windows at
10 Rockefeller Plaza, is basically open
for public viewing. Today broadcasts
often feature the faces of tourists
pressed against the glass, and from time
to time, Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer
will actually go out and speak to the
crowd. You might get a chance at your 15
seconds of television fame to by showing
up outside the Today studio as the show
is recorded each weekday morning from 7
am to 9 am.
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(30K)
Catacombs
One of the benefits for people who work
at Rockefeller Center is the series of
underground corridors that connect the
complex's 14 main buildings. These
tunnels, known officially as the
Underground Concourse, and referred to by
others as the Catacombs, provide access
to the nearby subway lines as well as to
fast food and other dining
establishments, cards stores, clothing
boutiques and a myriad of other shops and
services.
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