Monday, September 10, 2007

Day 10: Gold at Radio City

Rockefeller Center
I never actually thought that a building could be made of gold, literally. Of course, that was me before I saw Radio City (wiki). Radio City is an extravagant music hall that's also home to the Rockettes.

Radio City
The lobby roof is made gold plates! Not gold electroplated plates but gold plates! Everywhere you walk inside Radio City, there will be this constant shimmering gold. It's a gold mine, well, almost!

Radio City
This is the hydralics that raises the stage above it. It has virtually no weight limit, as told by the seemingly estactic Radio City tour guide. The same set of hydralics were borrowed by the US Navy for their aircraft carriers!

Radio City
This is dome shaped Music hall. As you can see, my camera lens isn't even wide enough, at 28mm, to capture the whole scene. It's nothing short of spectacular.

Radio City
By the way, the curtains are sewn together with gold thread. They have only been washed once since the 30s during the restoration. Restoration was done on Radio City to remove the nicotine and smoke stains that have, over the years, accumulated. Radio City now is a non smoking hall.

Radio City
Some 5 layers of nicotine were removed from the painting in the grand lobby. I can't remember how much those chandelier cost but of course they are expensive.

Radio City
Art deco fills the room.

Rockefeller Center
Oh, did I mention that Radio City was built by Rockefeller too? Stand in front of Rockefeller Center and make a 360 degrees turn. All the gray limestone buildings were built by John D Rockefeller.

Rockefeller Center
This is the front of Rockefeller Center. That's where the ice ring is supposed to be during winter.

Rockefeller Center
Walk inside to see the world's first escalator. Yes, first.

Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Everywhere in all the buildings are filled with timeless art pieces. Empire State Building might be the icon of New York City, but after the Rockefeller Center tour, you'll think otherwise. If Rockefeller built his buildings in gold, you'll probably have King Kong climbing them instead.

Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
Several shots of Brooklyn Bridge.

Street Performer at Pier 17
Pier 17
Went down to Pier 17 again. Not as happening as the other since it's Sunday evening. I guess people do need to work.

Brooklyn Night
That's the moon over Brooklyn.

All the days in New York City:
Day 7: Yatta! New York Time Square
Day 8: Getting To The Top of the Empire State Building
Day 9: A Day At The Museum
Day 10: Gold at Radio City
Day 11: New York Public Library is Grand

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