Last night when Gayle and I talked about what to do on Friday we decided to get tickets to do Skylift at the Top of the Rock at noon. We got the tickets that included an escort that would make sure we skipped all lines.
We didn't hurry this morning. We left around 11 a.m. and walked to Breads Bakery across from Rockefeller Center. Gayle got a spinach quiche and I got a breakfast sandwich. It was a bustling place right next to a subway entrance/exit.
We entered under a large mosaic that depicts knowledge over ignorance. It is composed of over one million glass tiles in 250 different colors. I was struck by the image of those who descend into the fiery pit because of their ignorance.
People with VIP tickets to the Top of the Rock are ushered into a private lounge. We were brought warm towels to cleanse our hands and then a drink of our choice. We were shown a safety video. Our tour began along the mezzanine level. We learned about John D. Rockefeller, businessman who started the Standard Oil Company and his son, John Junior who inherited his father's money and strove to change the family's reputation from shady businessmen to generous philanthropists. It was John Jr.'s decision to build Rockefeller Center. John Jr.'s wife, Abigail, was a patron of modern art. She, along with two other women founded the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. She had a big hand regarding the art that graces Rockefeller Center.
At the front entrance of 30 Rock you are welcomed by this very large mural by Spanish artist, Jose Maria Sert entitled American Progress. It depicts the building of America over three centuries. You can see Abraham Lincoln towards the center of the mural.
This was not the original mural on this wall. The Rockefellers had commissioned Diego Rivera to do a piece called Man at the Crossroads. The piece was almost complete when John Jr. and his son noticed that Lenin was prominently displayed in the crossroad between capitalism and communism. They demanded that he paint over the figure of Lenin. Rivera refused and so he was fired and the mural was destroyed. Before it was destroyed Rivera took pictures and recreated the mural (along with the help of Frida Kahlo) in Mexico City and named it Man, Controller of the Universe. But in this rendition of the piece he added John Jr. drinking in a nightclub (he didn't drink) with a woman and above his head was dish of syphilis bacteria.
Our guide explained several other murals by Sert that grace the walls of 30 Rock. Conquest of Disease depicts people lining up to receive the smallpox vaccine.
Abolition of Bondage portrays some people still bound and others being freed of their shackles.
Abolition of War shows the elation people feel at the end of a war.
Our guide seemed delighted that we were interested in the art and not just eager to get to the top of the Rock. She escorted us to the front of the line for the elevator ride to the 67th floor. A video played on the ceiling of the elevator as we traveled to the top. We walked around the observation deck gazing out towards Central Park,,,,
and then around to the south to see the Empire Building with the Statue of Liberty just a small dot in the distance.
Next we took an elevator up to the 69th floor. Our VIP pass included a ride on the Beam. Ninety-one years ago photographers were taken photos of the construction of the Rockefeller Center. They took a photo of workers eating lunch on a beam high above the city. We were strapped onto a large beam and raised up above the city for an incredible view and a thrill.
Also included with our pass was a ride on the Skylift.
Gayle, the operator and I were the only ones on the Skylift. When it is fully extended you are 900 feet above the ground with an incredible unobstructed view of the city. You turn 360 degrees several times.
At that point we said good-bye to our lovely guide and headed down to the 67th floor. We were given digital copies of all the photos that were taken of us throughout the guided tour. We stopped in the cafe on that floor to get the champagne that also went with our VIP pass. We sat on the couches on the observation deck, toasted the experience and giggled at all the influencers working on their "perfect" photos.
We skipped to the front of the long line at the elevator and headed back down to the concourse level. When the elevator doors opened we found ourselves in the Top of the Rock gift store -- of course. By then we were completely whipped. We made our way outside, hailed a taxi and went back to the hotel to rest up for the evening.
We had reservations at Gallagher's Steakhouse for dinner. I got the reservations several weeks ago but the latest time slot I could get that still allowed us to make our evening show was 4:45 p.m. We assumed the restaurant would be deserted at that time. We were wrong. The place was packed with people eating full on meals. I have never seen so much staff. There were men (all the wait staff was male) hustling all around us pushing carts of dishes. We were seated where Gayle could see everything that was happening in the kitchen. She was enthralled. Gayle got grilled shrimp and a beet salad. I got filet mignon and a baked potato. We topped it off by sharing a slice of Key Lime pie. The food was so good and I can't remember any other food I've eaten this week....except for kouign amann, of course. (Rating 98)
We walked over to Broadway Theater to see The Great Gatsby.
I had read a review that said if you hate glitz and glamour and believe that less is more you will hate this show. We were excited for the over the top extravaganza we had been promised. We settled down into our great seats.
It was outstanding. The set was beyond description. There were even cars driving across the stage. There were so many set changes. They moved from scene to scene seamlessly. The choreography....all I can say is "Wow!" The costumes were incredible. The actors were amazing. When Nick Carraway sang his final song with tears running down his face I felt like crying with him. (Rating 98)
We walked back to our hotel talking about a day filled with stellar experiences.
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