New York Buildings

We had Manhattan-side seats as we flew into Newark Airport. The view is always spectacular, but this time there was one particular building that glowed brighter than any other--it was the new World Trade Center at Ground Zero. Unfortunately, we arrived too late in the evening to see the memorial fountain, but I did get a few shots of the new skyscraper pictured above and below.

More than 30 years ago, my parents recommended the Brasserie to us. Back then, the ambience was that of a French bistro; now it is new chic. We have always had a hard time finding this restaurant, too. It's in the basement of a building.

It turns out that it is in the basement of the Seagram Building that was designed by Mies van der Rohe, one of the most important mid-century skycrapers in America. Below is a picture of its plaza.

The next picture is looking up at the Seagram Building.

Down the street from the Seagram Building is this Episcopal Church.

You would think that I would understand how cranes "grow" to accommodate each new floor, but I don't and it's still a mystery to me.

We could see the next building from our hotel. Notice how all the balconies are located on the left side of the building.

Here's the front of the same building. Notice how the balconies at the top start on the left and at the bottom have worked their way over to the right. I think that's cool. It's also one very skinny building.

I still think the next picture should read Pan Am!

Here is Saks Fifth Avenue.

The array of American flags always reminds me of Monet's "La rue Montorgueil a Paris."

The next picture is St. Patrick's Cathedral. Bill lighted a candle for his dad there. The juxtaposition of the neo-Gothic with a skyscraper always jars me a little--must be the influence of my medievalist husband!

The next picture is of Lever House, built in the International Style, and the first curtain wall skyscraper in NYC. It's plaza is located off of the mezzanine.

The next shot was taken from Lever House looking at the Seagram Building. There was no mistake that the competing skyscrapers were built so close together. Their proximity makes you consider which is the more successful skyscraper. By the way, you can see Mies van der Rohe's principal that "less is more" in the Seagram Building.

Below is another view of the elevated plaza. We weren't allowed up there; it is private property now.

Finally, this is the corner from which I shot the picture of the Seagram Building.