empire state building.

The night before we trekked the Brooklyn Bridge, Mom, John, Nick and I went to the top of the Empire State Building - something I had been wanting to do since I first moved here. Somehow there were no lines and it was a crystal clear night, making a perfect recipe for this little bucket list number. While the view up there is spectacular for anyone who dares to ride the elevator so high, I think it might be a little more special for people who actually know the city. Half the fun for me and Nick was being able to pinpoint where everything was - his office building, the park near our apartment, our old neighborhood, etc. Down on the ground, you only enjoy the city a few blocks at a time and that alone can be overwhelming. Up on the observation deck, you really take it all in and remember what a wonderful and magic city you live in.

The East Side of Manhattan, the East River, and Queens

Times Square madness

Downtown (Hudson River on the right)

An unfortunately blurry picture of my favorite building in the city - the Chrysler Building

NYC residents

Good-looking visitors