New York Places

The first thing you need to know is that I have dreamt of going to New York City my whole life: to the point that the city had assumed somewhat epic proportions to me. I know; it doesn’t take that long to get there (from my home in the Midwest), it is pretty accessible to many travelers, and though expensive, is not completely out-of-reach. Well, since I didn’t realize how “easy” it was, it took me far too long to get there. When I was finally able to visit last summer, it would have been easy to be disappointed by my dream destination. I am happy to say that it lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations of the people, sights, and sounds. I can’t wait to go back again some day and explore more of this amazing city.


My husband and I somewhat randomly chose to stay at the Roosevelt Hotel for practical reasons–its central location (close to Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building) and its relatively reasonable cost. We did not know that it also has a storied history. With its close proximity (and an underground tunnel) to Grand Central, many newlywed military couples spent their honeymoons there before the husbands shipped out for duty. Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians performed Auld Lang Syne at the hotel for the New Year’s Eve radio broadcast, a tradition that lasted for many years. The lobby is grand and feels like an old school traditional hotel, like you have really traveled somewhere.



Grand Central Station’s importance is celebrated by the city’s faithful restoration of this landmark to its original classical state. You can almost hear the place speak as you view the history surrounding you. It has a powerful scale, like so many public spaces in New York, that creates a sense of awe due to the sheer size and engineering. This grand scale reinforces the building’s role as a gathering place for the larger community, while it also honors the significance and individuality of each person who enters. When you look at the original narrow wood doors with their worn brass handles, you cannot help but think about how many people have pushed through them over so many years. Since my husband and I are classic movie fans, we have watched many dramatic and melodramatic scenes played out in the lobby. They are so easy to imagine, surrounded by an immense public space with the intimacy of thousands of individual lives that have passed through it. The restoration of this incredible landmark underscores the importance the city of New York gives its important buildings.

If a person could fall in love with a building, I fell in love with Rockefeller Center, returning to it several times during our short stay. Though I already knew it was an icon, I have never seen a building with quite so much soul and spirit. The driving concept behind its design and construction emphasizes its spirit of purpose and function, and reinforces its classic beauty. The different mottoes integrated into the relief sculptures and decorative architectural details around the building create another inspirational design element. The WPA murals are incredibly beautiful, both as they stand today, and as a testament of the creative response to those tumultuous times. As a vibrant working building complex that houses NBC studios and many other institutions, it is amazing to me that it has kept its integrity all of these years.

These are just a few of the many places in New York that may give one pause, cause a chill, or even take one’s breath away. It is not too much to say that they embody the American spirit by honoring its history. Though completely in love with Rockefeller Center, I am still allowed a crush on Grand Central. I look forward to my many future relationships with other New York places.