Rockefeller Center
On Wednesday, I went to the Rockefeller Center to see where the big acts play when in town, catch some views of New York City and see where Tina Fey hangs out on a Saturday night.
The Rockefeller Center is the ‘city within a city’ vision of John D Rockefeller Jr. Construction occurred during the Great Depression, employing over 40,000 people. Since it’s opening in the early 1930s the Rockefeller Center has become the home of many New York City attractions and traditions like the Rainbow Room, lighting of the Christmas Tree, NBC Studios, Radio City Music Hall and the Sunken Plaza that doubles as a skating rink in Winter. The original Rockefeller buildings are now National Historic Landmarks.
First stop on my agenda was a tour of Radio City Music Hall. Originally intended for live shows, Radio City also became the host of many motion picture premiers and screenings during the Golden Age of Hollywood. A distinctive part of Radio City’s entertainment was the inclusion of Rockettes – a chorus line of lovely singing ladies. Touring performers and other important events have been hosted at Radio City and the annual Christmas Spectacular has been a sell-out for the last 70 years.
The tour guide looked about as old as Radio City itself but she knew her stuff and didn’t let the non-stop chatter of some rude Asian moles slow her down. After a squiz in the Grand Foyer, tour guide took us to view the auditorium designed so that every seat in the house is a good seat. Everything from the carpet to the lights to the enormous stage were meticulously planned and built. The Great Stage is made up of three sections that are powered by hydraulic elevators allowing for dynamic set creation. Tour guide takes us backstage to see for ourselves the nuts and bolts of the Great Stage, considered by engineers to be the most technically perfect in the world and were even copied by the US Navy in designing their war vessels. How about that. Tour guide then takes us to meet a real-life Rockette who relays her rehearsed informative speech perfectly. After a tinkle in the retro restrooms and a perve at the exclusive Roxy Suite (where Elton John enjoys a pre-show dinner with select guests when in town) tour guide bids us farewell.
Across the road from Radio City is the entrance to the Top of the Rock. The Top of the Rock is an observation deck on the top floors of the GE Building. After a bit of light reading on the history of the Rockfeller Center, I get on the glass-ceilinged elevator for a swift ride to the observation deck. There is a few people about but there is plenty of room for some photos between the safety glass of the city, which I have included for your viewing pleasure.
After a bit of wandering around the Center and getting a tad lost, off for a tour of NBC Studios. So special is this tour, there are two tour guides – let’s call them Occasionally-Funny and Not-Funny-At-All. Not-Funny-At-All seems to wear the pants in this dynamic duo and has her rehearsed tour information, including try-hard witty whims down to a t. The tour itself is a little ho-hum – yeah you get to see some stuff and marvel at fancy photography tricks and how small the sets are compared to how they look on tv but apart from that it is fairly lacklustre. Occasionally-Funny shows us around the news room, while Not-Funny-At-All takes us to the Saturday Night Live set (where Tina Fey hangs out on Saturday night doing comedy skits in case you were wondering). The tour conveniently ends in the crappy gift shop but I don’t stick around to blow money on Seinfield and Friends.
Last stop is Magnolia Bakery. Although this wasn’t originally part of my Rockefeller Center itinerary, I happened to stumble upon the shop while I was lost and trying to work out how to get inside NBC Studios. Magnolia Bakery was made famous after Carrie Bradshaw chowed down on one of their cupcakes during an episode of Sex and the City. I purchase two cupcakes and pinch a menu as a souvenir before heading off to see if I can find the subway to take my weary self back to the hostel. On the way, I am accosted by a woman who thrusts a flyer at me and insists on giving me an on-the-spot psychic love reading. Apparently, there are two men in my life that I can’t choose between - one that deeply loves me and wants to marry me, and another that cares dearly for me but there is another woman preventing us from being together. Oh my, I didn’t realise my love life was so complicated. She tries to swindle me into a ‘proper’ reading (at the special price of $10) but I tell her I can’t as I’m running late for an important appointment. Reluctantly she lets me go, but in my haste to get away from her I end up going in completely the wrong direction and end up having to walk past her again twice trying to find the subway. How embarrassing.
Peace out.
Your photos from the top of the Rockefeller Center are so clear. Is there no pollution? Or were you just lucky? Great escape line even if you got somewhat disorientated.