Empire State Building

Where: New York City, New York
When: March 21, 2007 (first time to the top)
With: Courtney, Jen-Jen, Rachel, Erin / Steve & Chris

During my first stint living in New York, the Empire State Building was my most iconic neighbor. Living on 34th Street, it was the first thing I saw every day when I turned right out of my building to walk to work. And the funny thing is, it never really got old (as evidenced by the many random pictures I snapped of it at various times just because it looked amazing on any given day).

Depending on the day or holiday, it is always lit up differently. And when approaching on foot, it can look completely different depending on the angle: sometimes, almost fat and squat, and sometimes, so tall and impossibly skinny. While it was occasionally hard to place walking the streets of New York, there was no mistaking that spire on top that was added to both ensure this would be the tallest building in the world when completed (it was in direct competition for said title with the Chrysler Building being constructed a few blocks away) and to anchor dirigibles (which were thought to be the way of the future).

When completed in 1931, it did indeed hold the title of "tallest buidling in the world" until the 1970s when the World Trade Center towers were contructed. As of 2019, it is the 45th-tallest in the world, but is still no less iconic. It has been featured in tons of movies (most famously, King Kong and also my personal favorite, Sleepless in Seattle), and is one of New York's number one tourist attractions with guests being able to ride to the top and visit the lookout on the roof. 

It surprisingly took me quite a long time to actually visit the building. The first time I went to New York, I was six and we were just on a mission to visit the Museum of Natural History. But as we drove out of the Lincoln Tunnel and turned north towards the museum, I snuck this picture out the car window. It was quite a moment for me - perhaps the first time I'd seen any iconic landmark up close!

Since then, I have made two visits to the top: one with my FSU dance team girls and one time with my FSU friends, Chris & Steve. The lobby is exactly how it looks in the movies, with its golden hued lighting and imprinted art deco silhouette of the building. 

But that's where the similarities to the "movies" end. Instead of simply hopping an elevator to the top, there are hordes of tourists, heavy ticket prices, and long roped off lines. At least around Christmas time, they keep their guests entertained with some beautiful decorations during the wait. 

Once at the top, it is cold! At least, both times I went, it was pretty chilly. The views can be tough as there are so many gates and protective barriers to prevent any jumpers. And while the one thing missing in the iconic view of the NYC skyline is the very building on which you stand, it is still pretty cool to know you're up there. Oh, and it's also very, very windy. 

In fact, for the best views of the skyline AND of the Empire State Building itself, Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center can provide both. So with that I leave this post with that view of the iconic landmark instead, one in which the skyline of NYC would not be complete without.