It's
always been a city of superlatives: largest, tallest, trendiest,
best. Sadly, it's also linked to a different kind of top billing:
deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history.
Without question, the destruction of the World Trade Center
changed New
York City. Yet it also offered the world a new look at
New Yorkers. The city's millions of residents showed the kind
of character, determination and resilience that has made New
York into the amazing place that it is today. Rest
assured that the city still has plenty to see and do. In
fact, there's more than you'll ever be able to experience
in one visit. A few attractions remain shuttered, but some
stunning new ones have opened. New York continues to offer
the finest selection of entertainment, museums and restaurants
in the world. As for landmarks, it probably still has more
world-famous icons than any other city -- the Empire State
Building, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty,
the Flatiron Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. But, like
a missing family member, it's that absent part of the skyline
that many visitors will long to see.
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Central Park
Right
in the heart of Manhattan stands this oasis of rolling pastures
and gardens, stretching from Midtown to Harlem. It was created
in 1857 by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. These
days walkers, rollerbladers, bikers and joggers compete
for space. Lovers meet at Bethseda Fountain on Bethseda
Terrace. To the north, others wonder at the mystery of Belvedere
Castle. Nearby is the Delacorte Theater, where you can watch
plays in the summer. Across the park lies a charming zoo,
and children of all ages love the restored carousel.
Times Square
Named
after the New York Times, which moved here in 1924, Times
Square is a vibrant, neon-lit area in the heart of the Theater
District. Once populated by peep shows and sex shops, it
has undergone a complete image overhaul. Hotels, office
towers and commercial businesses have sprung up. Disney
has moved in, as well as Conde Nast. Megastores and theme
restaurants have also set up shop. Times Square remains
the city's favorite venue for New Year's Eve, where a huge
street party is highlighted by a glitter ball dropped from
Times Tower.
Greenwich Village
The
zigzagging streets and charming brownstones of the West
Village have a far more laid back atmosphere than most neighborhoods
in the city. The center of New York's gay and student communities
lies here, with a variety of funky shopping and nightlife
including jazz, rock and dance clubs, restaurants, bars
and cafes. By the early 1900s, the Village had fully established
itself as the center of radical thinking in the United States.
Famous reformers, artists and intellectuals all gathered
here, and many still do. Do not miss a visit to Washington
Square Park.
Statue of Liberty
(Lady
Liberty has been closed due to repairs. It is scheduled
to be reopened in the summer 2004.) The famous Statue of
Liberty represents freedom and democracy around the world.
With a torch and a book in her hands, Lady Liberty has welcomed
immigrants and visitors for over a century. Created by Frenchmen
Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue was a gift from France
to the United States. Liberty Island grounds only are currently
open; the statue, museum and crown are closed—with
no immediate reopening date.
Chinatown
New
York's Chinatown is a cultural haven full of ancient and
exotic traditions, and a huge amount of restaurants. This
bustling and crowded neighborhood is home to over half of
the city's Chinese population. In the grocery stores and
fruit stands, you will find many food items available nowhere
else in the city—from exotic fruit and vegetables
to live snails and dried shrimp. In recent years, excellent
Thai, Vietnamese and Korean restaurants have joined the
mix.
Empire State Building
The
majestic Empire State Building was completed in 1931 as
the world's tallest building. While not the tallest, it
remains as impressive as ever. At night the building is
lit up, with special colors displayed on holidays. Tickets
can be purchased online through the Empire State Building's
website or in the building's lobby.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
This
massive cathedral, situated across from Rockefeller Center
on Fifth Avenue, is the largest Catholic cathedral in the
United States. With its two soaring 330-foot spires, it
is also one of the city's most spectacular architectural
sights. Construction on the neo-gothic structure was begun
in 1850 and completed in 1878. Inside, it boasts a seating
capacity of 2,500, numerous altars and stained glass windows,
and a giant organ with over 7,300 pipes. Services are held
throughout the day, and many New Yorkers stop in for a moment
of serenity in their otherwise hectic days.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Any
visitor to New York should spend at least a couple of hours
at this vast museum. Built by Richard Morris Hunt in 1895,
it has more than 1.5 million square feet of exhibition space.
European paintings on display include works by Monet, Degas,
Van Gogh and Vermeer. The Egyptian gallery is unparalleled.
Asian art, sculpture, armory and photography also vie for
your attention. During warm weather, the open-air roof garden
displays contemporary sculpture.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
MOMA
is considered by many to be one of the best modern art museums
in the world; and with a major renovation and expansion
in the works, it can only get better. The galleries are
filled with paintings, drawings, prints, illustrations and
photographs. Besides Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe and Pablo
Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, there are plenty of
other classics to view. There is also a restaurant and a
museum shop.
American Museum of Natural History
This
popular attraction is the largest Natural History Museum
in the world. It is bursting with artifacts, displays and
exhibits, all geared to the explanation of the natural world.
The visit begins with dinosaurs, which welcome you as you
enter the main hall. Other points of interest include the
Hall of Human Biology and Evolution, the Hall of Meteorites,
a vast collection of gemstones, an IMAX theater and the
Rose Center for Earth and Space planetarium shows (at extra
cost), as well as a research library.
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