East Midtown:See & Do Don't miss two of the City's finest houses of worship during your East Midtown visit. Central Synagogue (123 East 55th Street) is the oldest building in continuous use as a synagogue in New York City. The sanctuary is a national and New York City historic landmark. Equally stunning is Christ Church at 520 Park Avenue. This 1933 'Romanesque-Byzantine' was designed by Ralphe Adams Cram and has an interior sanctuary decorated with a glittering array of seven million Venetian mosaic tiles, covering 14,000 square feet, and 34 varieties of marble-work that is said to be equal to the finest Byzantine art in any museum.
Going on a date? Bypass the standard dinner and a movie routine and instead hit the The ImaginAsian (239 East 59th Street), a theater devoted to Asian cinema--you'll even find Asian inspired movie treats here like wasabi peas, samosas and green tea cupcakes! Chat about the flick later at Whisky Blue (541 Lexington Avenue), a hip lounge attracting both a young crowd and more established visitors, or Fitzer's, a clubby Irish restaurant and pub with old-world charm at the Fitzpatrick Hotel (687 Lexington Avenue).
Architects and Designers (A&D) Building 150 East 58th Street, 212-644-6555 www.adbuilding.com The Architects and Designers Building is one of the major international centers for the design profession anchoring the Decorative Arts District. The 200,000 square feet of showrooms in the A&D Building are open to the public.
Central Synagogue 123 E. 55th Street www.centralsynagogue.org Erected in 1872, Central Synagogue is the oldest building in continuous use as a synagogue in New York City. The sanctuary is a national and New York City historic landmark, done in late-19th Century American synagogue architecture. Tours are available each Wednesday.
Christ Church 520 Park Avenue, 212-838-3036 www.christchurchnyc.org This 1933 building designed by Ralph Adams Cram has been described as 'Romanesque-Byzantine.' The sanctuary interior is decorated with a glittering array of seven million tiles of Venetian mosaics, covering 14,000 square feet and 34 varieties of marble. This work is said to be equal to the finest Byzantine art in any museum. Open to the public.
Decoration and Design Building 979 Third Avenue One of the anchoring buildings of the Decorative Arts District, this building is open only to the design trade, although visitors can access Charlie Palmer's restaurant, Astra, through the lobby.
Friars Club 57 E. 55th Street www.friarsclub.com George M. Cohan, Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny, Irving Berlin, George Burns…the elite of American entertainment made themselves comfortable in the Friars Club's cozy building tucked on East 55th Street, and they still do. The Friars have been located at this address since 1957. The club is for members only, although its doors are opened to community events.
Lipstick Building 885 Third Avenue Designed by renowned architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, the unique, elliptical Lipstick Building's distinct shape and color make it instantly recognizable. Built in 1986.
One Beacon Court 731 Lexington Avenue This building, best known as the headquarters of Bloomberg LP, was completed in 2005, making it one of the newest additions to the City's skyline.
Ritz Tower 109 E. 57th Street This residential building was built by the architects Emery Ross and Sons and Thomas Hastings in 1926. At one time the City's most elegant apartment hotel, its residents have included Greta Garbo, William Randolph Hearst, and playwright Neal Simon.
Roosevelt Island Tram E. 59th Street The signature red swiss-made tram has transported visitors from East Midtown across the East River at heights of up to 250 ft. since 1976. The only aerial tram to be used for mass transit in North America, the tram has been featured in several movies, including Spiderman and Dark Water.
Sony Building 550 Madison Avenue Built by renowned architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee in 1984. With its Chippendale-inspired façade, the 37-story "post-Modern" Sony Building became an eye-catching addition to the Midtown skyline.
Waldorf Astoria 301 Park Avenue, 212-355-3000 www.waldorf.com The Waldorf-Astoria dates back on this site to 1893, with the current Art Deco building opening in 1931. This New York 'home away from home' for American presidents and visiting heads of state counts, among its many firsts, the introduction of room service to the hotel industry.
59e59 Theater 59 E. 59th Street, 212-753-5959 www.59e59.org This off-Broadway house provides exciting and innovative theater through Primary Stages, its resident theater company. Features performers such as Nathan Lane and playwrights like Terrence McNally.
Feinstein's at the Regency 540 Park Avenue, 212-339-4095 www.feinsteinsattheregency.com In Michael Feinstein’s eponymous performance space in the Regency Hotel, you can take in the best of New York cabaret.
Primary Stages 131 45th Street, 212-840-9705 www.primarystages.com Founded in 1984 with the mission to produce new plays and nurture the development of emerging writers, Primary Stages continues to foster an environment where writers are encouraged to explore the scope of their creative vision. Instrumental in developing the skills of hundreds of young artists as well as adding over 90 new plays to the library of American theatre.
The ImaginAsian 239 E. 59th Street, 212-371-6682 www.theimaginasian.com New York's premier Asian-American theater, dedicated to showcasing the exciting world of Asian and Asian-American cinema and culture.
