Introduction

During the 19th century, the construction of the elevated railroad helped transform Chelsea from farmland into a thriving commercial center. Carriages brought well-to-do women from around town to the stores which lined Broadway between Union Square and Madison Square, and it became known as "Ladies' Mile". As New York continued its expansion north, however, Chelsea was left behind as a warehouse district, while Herald Square and its new department store, Macy's, brought shoppers further uptown. Today, the retail industry has made a comeback in the area and you can now find national chains such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, (610 Sixth Avenue, 212.255.3500); Old Navy, (620 Sixth Avenue, 212.645.0663); and Barney's New York department stores.

On weekends, one of the best things to do in Chelsea is to visit the Annex Antiques Fair and Flea Market(Sixth Avenue, between 24th & 25th Streets). This gigantic outdoor market has vintage clothing, antiques, furniture and more. Nearby, the Chelsea Antiques Building(110 West 25th Street) has 12 floors of antiques and collectibles. On the eighth floor, Cafe Mozart(See Restaurants), is a good place for a light lunch after a day of antique and bargain hunting.

Recently, Chelsea has begun to acquire a reputation as an art center as more and more galleries are moving out of their longtime Soho homes and relocating into this less commercialized (and less expensive) area.

The Manhattan waterfront has recently been the focus of major development plans. In the abandoned docks, warehouses, and decrepit piers have given way to the Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex - a prime example of the potential for other waterfront development projects.

The Flatiron District

Rich in architectural detail, the triangular Flatiron Building was the tallest building in the world when it was finished in 1902. The best place to view it is from the traffic island a block north. From this angle, the building really does appear to be flat.

A short walk along Fifth Avenue will take you to the Empire State Building where you can go up to the Observatory for some of the best views of the city. On the second floor of the building you can try out the New York Skyride and take a cinematic sightseeing tour of New York City.
Located in a slightly shabby area, Madison Square Garden, better known by sports fan in New York as "the Garden", is home to the New York Knicks basketball team, and the Rangers NHL hockey team.

Ivy-covered 19th-century townhouses remain on Irving Place and some of its neighboring streets. Of particular charm and beauty are those surronding the private Grammercy Park. This area is rich with history of its literary and artistic past. Just south of the park, in Pete's Tavern on Irving Place, O. Henry wrote his ironic tale The Gift of the Magi. Edwin Booth's theatrical Players Club and the National Arts Club are located in Grammercy Park townhouses

You can visit one of the area's brownstone houses at Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace, which not only offers a glimpse of the former president's early childhood home, but also a chance to examine the architecture of these charming buildings up-close.

Empire State Building

Dominating the skyline of midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building rises to a height of 1,454 feet. Its fame began soon after talk of its construction, and it has since become a symbol of New York City which is recognized worldwide.

The building was completed on the site of the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1931, in only one year and forty-five days - an amazing feat at that time. Although it came in under budget, it soon ran into financial trouble. In its early years, the effect of the 1929 stock market crash and the ensuing depression made tenants hard to find, and for a while it was nicknamed the "Empty State Building".
Upon its completion, the Empire State Building became the world's tallest building, a title it retained until the World Trade Center was built in the 1970s. In 1955, the American Society of Civil Engineers honored the structure as one of the seven modern wonders of the western hemisphere.

The Empire State Building has appeared in more films that most Hollywood stars (over 100 in all) from King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle and Independence Day. In the 1960s, it was the subject of an Andy Warhol film which recorded the building for eight hours straight during which time the only thing that changed was the lighting.

The upper 30 floors of the building are illuminated nightly, from sunset to midnight, in a range of colors that reflect holidays and commemorate special events.

The Observatory offers panoramic views of Manhattan and beyond. High speed elevators whisk passengers to the 86th floor where there are glass-enclosed viewing areas, shops, a snack bar, and an outdoor promenade. There is also viewing from a second observatory on the 102nd floor.

With the whole city laid out beneath you, you can see up to 80 miles on a clear day. Famous sights like the Chrysler Building, Yankee Stadium, Central Park, the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty are all visible. You can also see the surronding boroughs and the bridges that link them to Manhattan.

At night, the city lights offer an entirely different experience from daytime viewing. If you have the time, one of the best things to do is to go up to the Observatory just before sunset, when the lights from the buildings are first visible, then leave after the sky is completely dark. The skyline at sunset is breathtaking, and many of the sights, the bridges in particular, look best at this time.

The New York Skyride, located on the Second floor of the Empire State Building, offers a state-of-the-art cinematic sightseeing tour of New York. Star Trek's James Doohan, better known as Scotty, and comedian Yakov Smirnoff are the pilots and guides on this 30-minute simulated flight through the city. The high-tech theater features a specially designed platform with hydraulic seats and wide screens which are synchronized to make you feel as if you are actually experiencing the ride.

This unusual tour of Manhattan includes simulated experiences such as a freefall off the top of the Empire State Building, a high speed ride between and over sights such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty and a chance to dodge traffic in Times Square - without leaving your seat.

Chelsea Piers

Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex is a 30-acre-waterfront sports village encompassing a golf driving range, sports and fitness club, athletic facilities, ice and roller skating rinks and a marina. It is also the location of Silver Screen Studios, where popular television series such as Law and Order, and major motion pictures such as City Hall with Al Pacino have been filmed here.

The Golf Club is Manhattan's only year-round, outdoor driving range. It has 52 covered and heated driving stalls in which overlook Hudson River. Every golf ball is mechanically retrieved and lifted to its tee - ready to be hit onto a 200 yard farway.

The Sports Center offers unparalleled opportunities in a variety of sports and has training facilities which include the world's longest indoor running track. You can take cross-training to new heights, literally, on the largest rock climbing wall in the northeastern U.S. An indoor arena contains facilities for basketball, soccer, baseball plus more unusual events like indoor sand volleyball. There is also a 6-lane swimming pool, a boxing ring, an outdoor roller hockey rink!, and locker facilities which include saunas, steam and massage rooms.

Sky Rink has the only year-round indoor ice skating facilities in Manhattan. Although it features two rinks, it is often unavailable for public skating in the evenings because of the many hockey leagues and professional organizations that practice here.

In warm weather, the massive outdoor sun-deck at the Sports Center is perfect for sunbathing and relaxing. From the Chelsea Piers promenade there are great views of the Hudson River.

Other Attractions

Madison Square Garden is home to the New York Knicks basketball team and the New York Rangers hockey team. The 20,000-seat arena also hosts many other sporting and non-sporting events, including major rock concerts, circuses, and award shows.

Housed in a former Art Deco cinema, the Joyce Theater is a well-respected center for dance. Performances cover a tremendous range of styles from ballet to ballroom and everything in between.
Location: 175 Eighth Avenue.

Located in a Grammercy Park townhouse, Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace has been reconstructed to represent the boyhood home of the 26th U.S. president. A national historic site, it includes period rooms, galleries and the largest selection of Teddy Roosevelt memorabilia anywhere. On Saturdays at 2pm, you can listen to chamber music concerts at no additional charge.
Location:28 East 20th Street.

Cushman Row, in the heart of the Chelsea Historic District, offers a glimpse of the mid-19th-century village that predated today's modern neighborhood. Built in the years 1839-1840 by banker Don Alonzo Cushman, these rowhouses are some of the best surviving examples of New York City architecture in the Greek Revival style. Evidence of the craftsmanship with which they were constructed is displayed in the intricate details of their facades.
Location: 406-18 West 20th Street.

The General Post Office was created by the legendary New York architectural from McKim, Mead and White in 1913. The colossal building is two city blocks long and is easily recognizable by its sweeping staircase and immense Corinthian columns.
Location:421 Eighth Avenue.

The Roman Catholic St. John the Baptist Church was founded in 1940 for German immigrants. The appearance of the exterior has become a little shabby, but the interior holds a variety of Gothic-style treasures, including marble arches and stained-glass windows.
Location: 211 West 30th Street.

Open Spaces

The enormous sun-deck at Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex is a great place to soak up the sun in warm weather. A stroll along the piers themselves are another good way to enjoy the Manhattan waterfront.

Union Square Park is a busy, open space wedged between Broadway and Fourth Avenues, just above 14th Street. Most of its daytime visitors are local workers who come here to eat their deli-bought lunches on the park benches. On the streets around the park, there are a variety of good restaurants and outdoor cafes, including Barocco Kitchen.

Union Square is at its best, however, on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the Union Square Greenmarket brings regional farmers to the park to peddle their harvests.

Once a busy entertainment district and the site of P.T. Barnum's Hippodrome, Madison Square is now a tranquil park where, despite the nearby traffic, you can enjoy a little peace and quiet. A pleasant half hour can be spent examining the 19th-century statues and monuments situated throughout the grounds, and enjoying the view of the nearby Flatiron Building. Surrounding the park, other early 20th-century buildings, such as the New York Life Insurance Company & Met Life Insurance Company, add to the scenery. At night, the buildings are lit in a variety of colors which change with the seasons.

Modeled after a London square, Grammercy Park is one of the quietest, most peaceful places in the city. The surrounding townhouses are stately and beautiful, but (to the dismay of everyone else) their residents are the only ones who possess keys to this private oasis.