Summer Streets shut down 7 miles in Manhattan yesterday, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue. The weather was perfect, and the streets were filled with runners, walkers, bikers and skaters. Come walk with me and cheer on the participants…and catch some unique views!
I originally came out of Grand Central to take a photo of 270 Park Ave’s construction. Michael Young at YIMBY took a gorgeous one of it with Grand Central and I wanted to see if I could duplicate it. I looked up onto the Pershing Square overpass and saw the runners and walkers streaming by. I couldn’t wait to join the fun.
The Chrysler Building was milky in the morning light, but I couldn’t resist taking a shot. It was about 9AM.
The Park Avenue Viaduct at Grand Central
The Park Ave Viaduct goes alongside Grand Central Terminal, the MetLife Building and then under the Helmsley Building. I was grateful to have the time and opportunity to really explore the fixtures and construction. And watch the people, of course.
I wish I were running today, too. It must have felt fantastic to come through the tunnel, and back into the sunlight and morning breeze on Park Avenue.
Naturally I stopped to snap a photo of the gorgeous New York Central Building, aka Helmsley Building. It was designed by the same architects of Grand Central Terminal, Warren and Wetmore. Imagine – in 1870, when the Grand Central Depot was being built nearby, this spot was a cow pasture, and a haven for squatters.
It was great to see how many young children and families participated in Summer Streets. It’s definitely worth a trip into the city to do. This view is looking north up Park Ave. My latest obsession, the construction of 270 Park Ave, is off to the left.
I swung around the Helmsley building and headed back south, to capture the other side of the viaduct.
I would have felt on top of the world to be this gal right now.
Just another Saturday morning on East 45th Street. The Helmsley Building is on the left.
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Some very beat up license plates someone picked up off of the road and placed on the ledge. I felt them, and the metal was worn so thin. Wonder how long they’ve been out here?
A very small part of the magnificent One Grand Central Place (originally the Lincoln Building, 1930) at 60 E. 42nd St., Midtown. The vestibule has a statue of Lincoln cast from Daniel Chester French’s original model for the Lincoln Memorial. I gotta get in there and see it.
The Roosevelt Hotel
The Roosevelt Hotel is a controversial site these days. The historic hotel is being used as an arrival center for migrants. This past week many were sleeping outside, as the mayor announced “There is no more room”. Security is stationed at each entrance.
The hotel, which was named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, opened on September 22, 1924 and closed in 2020. The last I read it’s now owned by Pakistan International Airlines, and there are rumors they may build a 100-story hotel in its place.
Back to the runners! Again, I’m thinking how wonderful it must be to run alongside Grand Central.
I love this view of the MetLife building. It’s so blocky and solid, but from this angle it looks ready to topple! Formerly the Pan Am Building, it’s appeared in the movies Armageddon, Godzilla and Catch Me if You Can.
I was amazed at how many runners there were today. Once I started to look online, I realized how many running clubs made the trip in to do Summer Streets.
Sandwiched as I am between skyscrapers, I couldn’t resist another photo. This is 335 Madison Ave (1983) with One Vanderbilt (2020) towering over it. Also known as 22 Vanderbilt, it’s got hospitality and amenities you can only dream of. Want to see? It’s here.
I get lost in the details of Grand Central Terminal. Throughout it’s design you can see acorns and oak leaves, which references the Vanderbilt family motto: “Great oaks from little acorns grow.”
Coming ’round the bend now, headed back towards Pershing Square. It’s a great view of the Pershing Square Building (1924), one of the residents of “Terminal City”, the area around Grand Central. This was the first tall office building to use textured brickwork and colored terra cotta.
One Vanderbilt – what a great place to take lunch! You can look over 42nd Street and Grand Central.
This fellow stopped for a moment and was happy to have his photo taken. Not as happy as I was!
The Eagle at Grand Central Terminal
This was my long-awaited opportunity to snap photos of the Vanderbilt Eagle. The original Grand Central Station (1898) had 12 of the eagles, 4 on each clock tower. Though they’re now spread throughout NY state, this one was returned to Grand Central by the Capuchin Franciscan friars in 2001, and now perches over the Vanderbilt Ave entrance.
The wingspan of the eagle is over 13 feet…and would you believe it weighs about 4,000 pounds? The eagle was restored for MTA Metro-North Railroad by the Architectural Iron Company and Evergreen Studios and erected in 2004.
Tea Around Town, NYC
There are 6 rest stops in the Manhattan Summer Streets, with sponsors providing beverages. This looks more my speed, though. I had no idea Tea Around Town existed. I looked online and can’t believe the wonderful tearoom they’ve created inside this bus. It’s so cool! You get a 90 minute ride and afternoon tea while checking out many midtown NYC landmarks. Pretty reasonable, too. You can check them out here.
A steady stream of runners pass in the shadow of Grand Central Terminal. Once a remote location, railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt bought 23 acres on 42nd Street in 1869, with a dream to create a “Terminal City”.
A pretty good view of Pershing Square Plaza. Named in honor of World War I hero General John J. Pershing (1860-1948), it’s a great place to sit and reflect before hopping the train home. I’ve never been in the Pershing Square Café, but hear that it’s typical American food, and the pancakes are supposed to be pretty good – they’re served all day.
There was a Dance Party here in Pershing Square later in the afternoon, and I came back hoping to see some action, but there were just a few folks nodding their heads to the 70’s and 80’s tunes. It’s ok, I was pretty beat by that time, too.
“The Commodore”, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Powerful women run past the statue of “the Commodore”, Cornelius Vanderbilt. The railroad tycoon and builder of Grand Central Depot (1871), he was the son of a farmer and quit school at age 11 to work on the waterfront. He made his first money in the ferry business, and turned his attention to the railroads after the 1849 gold rush.
I like this shot west up 42nd St. – you can see all the way to the Hudson River and Weehawken, NJ beyond. See those trees across the water? It’s the Weehawken Dueling Grounds, where Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton in 1804.
I hope the family is as happy with their photo as I am with mine. How clever to use the Summer Streets road closing to take photos! Their background is Grand Central Terminal. In my photo it’s the Pershing Square Building.
Looking down Park Ave, as the runners, walkers and bikers continue their parade south. It’s another 3 miles or so to the Brooklyn Bridge. I feel so fortunate to have joined them today!
There will be more Summer Streets in all 5 boroughs in August. If you’d like to run or walk in Summer Streets you can find out more about the locations here.
Thank you so much for reading and walking with me! Please take a moment to share your thoughts below.
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