New York City's five boroughs are home to some of the world's most recognizable, cherished landmarks and attractions...
One of the main reasons for visiting NYC in the next few days is of course the New York Fashion Week, which is sponsored by Mercedes Benz. All the newest collections of clothes and accessories will be shown here and it is the most important fashion event of the year!
From Times Square and Central Park to the Empire State Building and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the island of Manhattan packs more legendary icons into one compact area than any other place on Earth; and that's to say nothing of the City's four other boroughs—The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island—each of which contains its own roster of must-see destinations.
New York City's skyline is truly awe-inspiring. The iconic skyscrapers, bridges, waterways, islands and monuments create a breathtaking panorama that is instantly recognizable worldwide. While you can feel the immensity of these surroundings from anywhere in the City, the grandeur of the cityscape is best viewed from above. Take an elevator ride up 1,050 feet to the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building; New York City's second-tallest structure (after One World Trade Center), this soaring art deco masterpiece offers a completely unobstructed, 360-degree view of the city below. For a spectacular vista that includes the Empire State Building itself, head up to the Top of the Rock, located on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (home of NBC studios). Both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock are open late, so don't miss the chance to see the City lights shimmer after dark.
Spanning 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is one of the world's greatest urban oases, encompassing a diverse landscape of rolling fields, walking trails and tranquil bodies of water—all sculpted by human hands. Designed in the mid–19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park today is the centerpiece of the City's public parks system. Among its attractions are the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle and the Friedsam Memorial Carousel (which, weather permitting, operates seven days a week from April through October and intermittently the rest of the year). Sheep Meadow and theGreat Lawn offer sprawling expanses where visitors can relax and enjoy the outdoors. In the winter, there's ice-skating at Wollman Rink, which provides a picturesque backdrop for that classic cold-weather pastime. In the summer, the Delacorte Theater hosts Shakespeare in the Park, outdoor performances of the Bard's work. Elsewhere, Rumsey Playfield serves as the primary home for SummerStage, a citywide free performing-arts festival featuring music, dance, theater and more. Notably, Rumsey hosts Metropolitan Opera recitals featuring singers and a pianist from the famed opera company.
The Statue of Liberty is New York City's most recognizable landmark, a gleaming beacon for generations of immigrants seeking a better life in America. The nearby Ellis Island Immigration Museum is closed for the duration of 2013. When it reopens, visitors will be able access the building that served as the first port of entry in the United States for approximately 12 million immigrants, as well as to search ship manifests for passenger names in the American Family Immigration History Center.
For the true NYC experience, it's essential to go out after dark. While it's a fool's endeavor to attempt a summary of the City's nightlife offerings in just a few words, we can make some recommendations: be sure to spend some time in Harlem, where the Apollo Theater stages its famous Amateur Night—over the years, the Apollo has hosted performances by such stars as Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, The Strokes and comedian Tracy Morgan. Beyond Harlem, the City is also home to countless other concert venues. B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, the Highline Ballroom, Irving Plaza and many more all host both rising and multiplatinum artists. The Lower East Side, meanwhile, is one of many neighborhoods that's full of bars running the gamut from classy joints to gritty dives to dancing dens. The five boroughs are also a humor mecca—NYC's comedy clubs host headliners and rising stars every night of the week, and sometimes a big name will make an unexpected late-night appearance at one of the smaller venues.
