East 53 St, Midtown

East 53rd starts off with the Rolex building and the site of the former Stork Club -- so, needless to say this area has been chi chi for a very long time. The Stork Club is now a park, go figure, but it used to be the Speakeasy of all speakeasys. It was supposed to be incredibly glamourous and exclusive. The Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, Hemingway and Sinatra are just a few of the people that frequented the spot. It was the place to be until the 60's when it closed: now it is a park for people to escape the tourists. Go figure.
The corner of 53rd and Park houses a building called the Lever House. It's supposed to be one of the most influential Modernist buildings in the city. I'm not a huge fan of modernist architecture but if you're into that thing, this building is the thing to see. Diagonally across the street is probably the second most influential buildings in that form of architecture. The Seagrams building is pretty hard to miss and it has a massive plaza that changed New York city zoning laws. It's a really business oriented part of town around here so I find it interesting that the intersection of 53rd and 3rd is renowned for being the center of male prostitution. I guess a lot of those suits have some interesting extra curricular behaviors. So, if you're ever trying to take a peek at the Lipstick Building at this intersection, just make sure you don't get too friendly with the neighborhood lurkers.
There is a building on the south side of the street between 1st and 2nd that is really cool because it's one of the few landmark buildings that is made of wood. There aren't many wood buildings in NYC that have remained.
As you get further east, you are in Sutton Place territory, which is one of the most expensive and elite neighborhoods in New York. It's all really exclusive apartments and mansions but it actually does have somewhat of a real neighborhood feel to it. I'm assuming because it's so quiet and no one really goes there unless they live there.

Though this street isn't really all that interesting, there is something so great that it needs to be visited.

The Museum of Modern Art is one of the many cultural treasures New York City has to offer. Really, Manhattan is unrivaled in its wealth of art, music, and culture all packed on this wonderful island. MoMA as it so-called, is filled with optic treasures, pop art, and classics (original Jackson Pollack and Salvador Dali hang in the prestigious halls). When you come to New York, or even if you're a resident, you must visit this museum.

I went alone last Fall and spent five hours wandering through, amazed at the expression man can make in art.

On this street you'll also find a great restaraunt for dinner after feeding your mind at MoMA. Solera is a wonderful tapas restaraunt with great food and sangria for all!


E 53rd Street is close to the F,V trains at 53rd St and is close to many buses. Foot traffic is light and I recommend the street to EVERYONE!

Great spot to visit, BUT NOT TO LIVE…. There are a few well known bars here, namely inside the Hotel Regis, King Cole bar which is overpriced and full of sleazy middle aged men looking for a polish or russian working girl…. But aside from this they make a mean Manhattan and a great bloody Mary… It’s a good tourist area because there are shops galore and St Pat’s Cathedral is around the corner. A lovely cathedral, though for me overrated with other cathedrals around the world. It is perfectly positioned for a Trump conversion though – a converted church loft apartment anyone?