Page 142 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

140  NE W Y ORK CIT Y AREA B Y AREA

hosts its famous Christmas and
Easter shows, and Rockefeller
Plaza features a winter ice-
skating rink and world-
renowned Christmas tree.
The Top of the Rock, an
observatory on the 67th, 69th
and 70th floors of the center,
offers a dizzying 360-degree
panoramic view of the city. On
the 67th and 69th floors, the
outdoor terraces feature
transparent safety glass for
stunning views downwards.
2 Diamond District
47th St, between 5th and 6th Aves.
Map 12 F5. q 47th-50th Sts. See
Shopping p322. ∑ nycdiamond
district.com
Most shop windows on 47th
Street glitter with gold and
diamonds. The buildings are
filled with booths and work-
A Christmas tree stands above the Rockefeller Plaza skating rink for the holiday season shops where jewelers vie for
customers, while, upstairs, vast
1 Rockefeller John D. Rockefeller, Jr., as sums of money change hands.
Center an ideal central home for an The Diamond District was born
opera house. When the 1929 in the 1930s, when the Jewish
Map 12 F5. q 47th-50th Sts. Depression scuttled these plans, dia mond cutters of Antwerp
Tel (212) 332-6868 (information). Rockefeller, stuck with a long and Ams terdam fled to the US
7 0 - 8 NBC, Rockefeller lease, went ahead with his own to escape Nazism. Today, Jewish
Center, daily. Tel (212) 664-7174 development. The 14 buildings dealers still pre domi nate.
(reservations advised). Radio City erected between 1931 and Although mainly a wholesale
Music Hall, daily. Tel (212) 247-4777. 1940 provided jobs for up to district, individual customers
Top of the Rock, daily. Tel (212) 698-
2000. ∑ rockefellercenter.com 225,000 people during the are wel come. Bring cash,
∑ nbc.com ∑ radiocity.com Depression; by 1973, there compare prices, haggle, and
∑ topoftherocknyc.com were 19 buildings. stay away if you know nothing
The center is a go-to about the value of diamonds.
When the New York City destination for the holiday
Landmarks Preservation seasons. Radio City Music Hall,
Commission unanimously voted which moved here in 1932, 3 Lyceum Theatre
to declare Rockefeller 149 W 45th St. Map 12 E5. Tel Tele-
Center a landmark in charge (212) 239-6200. q 42nd St,
1985, they rightly called it 47th St, 49th St. See Entertainment
“the heart of New York . . . p339. ∑ lyceum-theatre.com
a great unifying presence
in the chaotic core of The oldest active New York
midtown Manhattan.” theater is a frilly, Baroque-style
It is the largest bandbox. This 1903 triumph
privately owned complex was the first theater by Herts
of its kind. The Art Deco and Tallant, later renowned for
design was by a team their extravagant style. The
of top architects headed Lyceum made history
by Raymond Hood. with a record run of 1,600
Works by 30 artists performances of the comedy
can be found in foyers, Born Yesterday. It was the first
on facades, and in the theater to be designated a
gardens. The site, once historic landmark, and, though
a botanic garden owned the Theater District has shifted
by Columbia University, westward, there are still
was leased in 1928 by Wisdom by Lee Lawrie, Rockefeller Center many shows here.

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