I'm still standing

Magnet #107 - Top of the Rock, November 1946

So, Top of the Rock, Part Two.

Yeah, true to form, I couldn't make up my mind which historical image I wanted, and just went ahead and bought both.

Which is fine, because there are a just few other reasons to visit Top of the Rock.

• The somewhat interesting timeline of the Rockefellers and the building, wallpapering the walls of the waiting line.
  
• The really interesting introduction video that everyone else ignores when they blow through the waiting line.
  
• The always interesting and fun psychedelic lightshow during the elevator ride up and down.
  
• The weird Target light experience room. But don't get me started on the fact that Target is a corporate sponsor of 30 Rock. Target, which doesn't have an actual store in Manhattan. (Bah!)
  
• The fact that Swarovski, as another corporate sponsor, has supposedly hidden several tiny crystal figurines in the glasswork walls at the top. And, I've seen only 2 or 3 of them. Security likes to shoo you around, making it superhard to stare at every crevice along the wall. Of course, people look at you crazy when you start staring at every crevice along the wall, so maybe security's a good thing.
  
• The Swarovski crystal chandelier-esque recreation of an upside-down 30 Rock in the lobby.

Well, there's more but you'll have to come play tourist to find out.

Today, we played NYC tourists - always a fun thing to do. The Snapple Big Apple BBQ Festival is this weekend, so in the 90-plus-degree weather, we waited in line for some good old-fashioned BBQ sandwiches topped with proper, proper coleslaw. Yum!

Then, we did the Met, to see the Superheroes Fashion exhibit. Some of the fashions were a little weird, but it was pretty interesting. Plus, it gave me a giggle thinking what George Clooney thought when he saw the Batman section. Because for sure, he said two things: 1) I'm so glad I didn't kill the franchise with my crappy Batman movie. 2) Christian Bale's Batman costume from The Dark Knight is WAY better than mine!

I'm telling ya'll. NYC - best town in the world. Thirteen years running, and I still haven't run out of things to do here.

eta:
Incidentally. In less than a week, I've managed to acquire a dozen new magnets. Five from Asia, four from NY, one from West Virginia, and one other one that I can't remember. At this rate, my magnet mission of never running out of magnets will definitely be fulfilled. Heh.

Standing on top of the world...or rock, at least

Magnet #106 - Top of the Rock, April 1943

This weekend's supposed to be the first scorcher of the summer, so I'm going for a two-fer this weekend. No. Get your mind outta Swingtown for a sec. Today is Top of the Rock, Part One.

My most favorite place in the city is Top of the Rock, the recently revived observation deck at the top of 30 Rockefeller Center. I love this place soooo much. Let me count the ways.

1. Less of a wait than Empire State Building. Because TotR has only been around these last couple of years, less people know about it. And that means, less of wait, nicer facilities, and less people. I know it's odd, I get superimpatient with crowds, and I live in one of the top destination cities in the world.
2. Just as good a view as ESB. It's true. The view from upper Midtown is just as good, if not better than ESB. And, this way, you can take gorgeous photos of downtown (with ESB in the shot), and of uptown (with Central Park in the shot).
3. Both have amazing art deco detail. Although, ESB edges 30 Rock out a bit - I mean, Doctor Who didn't do a 1930s-centric episode centered on 30 Rockefeller Center.
   
4. Fab outdoor viewing. What I love about 30 Rock is that it's outdoors, on two different floors. It may not be as high, but here, you really feel like you're at the top of the world and it feels so open and free. When you're at ESB, you feel totally caged in, and in a parapet of sorts.

Need I say more?

(Yes. But that's why there's a part 2.)