Short Midtown Tour with Lee

On our walk from Central Synagogue downtown, we had a short midtown tour. Some of the highlights were:

-Seagram Building known for its architecture and famous residents over the years is also the first in NYC, privately owned urban green space that is open public space.

-St Bartholomew (St Barts), a landmark in NY and a Park Avenue Church among all the skyscrapers, is famous for the moving the original 1902 three arch façade (designed by Stanford White) from its 1835 downtown location to this new location. It is a French Romanesque Rival portal made from bronze and depicting scenes from the Bible.
It also was the scene in one of my favorite 1981 movies, Arthur, where he is married.

-JP Morgan building is the first totally environmentally electric building made from 98% of the 98% of materials reused from the demolition of last building, that was in its place. Also, its base was done in a tripod for the first time in construction of a skyscraper, so they didn’t disrupt Grand Central Station underneath and to create strongest possible base.

-Grand Central Terminal (since trains terminate there) is one of the most famous and busiest train stations in the world with over a quarter million daily commuters. Its distinctive architecture is a landmark and its main concourse and ceiling is an art exhibit in itself with much history, stories and beauty.Read more