TOP OF THE ROCK

February is traditionally the least busy time for tourism in the city, so I visited the newly reopened Observation Deck called TOP OF THE ROCK atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in the heart of midtown Manhattan (50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues). The Rockefeller Center is home to NBC studios, shops and restaurants, an outdoor ice-skating rink, and the Radio City Music Hall. Upon entry through 50th street side of the plaza, a dazzling crystal waterfall chandelier caught my attention at the lobby. The chandelier is made up of thousands of cascading crystals, and is about 35 feet in height. An exhibit at the mezzanine depicts the history of the Rockefeller Center. A high speed elevator takes visitors to the summit of the Rockefeller Plaza, 70 stories above NYC, 850 feet above sea level. The Observation Deck was first opened by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. 70 years ago, but closed for sometime. A massive crystal wall with custom glass and crystal panels adorns the first level of the observation deck. Panels of fully transparent, non-reflective safety glass allow unobstructed, open-air panoramic views of the entire city. Landmarks of the city could be clearly seen including Central Park, the northern half of Manhattan, Citigroup Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Hudson River, the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and even the Statue of Liberty. It was a thrilling experience to have a spectacular view of the city and appreciate the architecture, history, invention and development that has never stopped. More information at http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/