Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Diamond District
Jewels glisten in every window of this block, the center of the city's retail and whole-
sale trade. It handles 80 percent of the diamonds coming into the U.S. Developed
largelybyOrthodoxJews,thedistrictgrewinimportanceduringWorldWarIIwhen
thousands fled the diamond centers of Antwerp and Amsterdam to settle in New
York. Above the shops are offices and workshops where the stones are cut and set.
• 47th St, between 5th & 6th Aves
Carnegie Hall
NewYorkalmostlostitsmostfamousconcerthallwhentheNewYorkPhilharmonic
moved to the newly built Lincoln Center in the 1950s. However, a coalition, led by
violinist Isaac Stern, successfully fought to save the building from demolition. It was
boughtbythecity in 1960 and became aNational Historic Landmark in 1964. Ama-
jor 1986 renovation restored much of the original appearance while updating tech-
nical facilities and preserving the hall's famous acoustics. Musical memorabilia fills
the halls and the Rose Museum (For further details see
Carnegie Hall
). Tours are
available for a fee.
• West 57th St at 7th Ave
• Museum open 11am-4:30pm daily
• Free
A Day Exploring Midtown
Morning
Start at the
Morgan Library & Museum
and see Morgan's opulent study, then proceed to 42nd
Street and turn east for a tour through
Grand Central Terminal
. Continue east on 42nd Street,
stopping to look at the outstanding lobbies of the
Chrysler Building
, the
Daily News Building
,
and the
Ford Foundation
, and climbing the stairs to see the
Tudor City
complex.
End the morning with a tour of the
United Nations HQ
. If you reserve ahead, you can have lunch
in the very special U.N. delegate's dining room (
212 963 7625
).
Afternoon
Take the 42nd Street crosstown bus back to 5th Avenue and visit the
New York Public Library
.
Walk uptown to 47th Street and turn west for the
Diamond District
, then pay a quick visit to the
Paley Center For Media
on 52nd Street between 5th and 6th avenues. Head to the
Museum of
