The Plaza Hotel and Midtown

At the south-east corner of Central Park is the Plaza Hotel, perhaps the definitive upscale hotel in New York. The Plaza Hotel demarcates the point where we enter midtown proper, and the giant buildings of the metropolis begin to sprout all around. Just north of the Plaza is Manhattan's Grand Army Plaza. It's one of the few things in Mahattan that is less famous than its equivalent across the river in Brooklyn.

Across Fifth Avenue from the Plaza Hotel is the former GM building, now festooned with the ubiquitous moniker of the real estate developer who is often called "The Donald", but whom I prefer to think of as the "Chump". In the GM building is the gigantic landmark toy store, FAO Schwarz.

Looking downtown along this stretch of 5th avenue, the "wall of buildings" grows to incredible heights. Looking back uptown, we can see that grand icon of the luxurious 1920s: the Sherry Netherland hotel.

In this section of 5th avenue, glitz reaches its apex with the Trump Tower. There is acutally nothing architecturally distinguised about the Trump Tower. However, that's not the point . . . .

Return to the Upper East Side. Continue with the M4 bus tour.


At the south-east corner of Central Park is the Plaza Hotel, perhaps the definitive upscale hotel in New York. The Plaza Hotel demarcates the point where we enter midtown proper, and the giant buildings of the metropolis begin to sprout all around.	Just north of the Plaza is Manhattan's Grand Army Plaza. It's one of the few things in Mahattan that is less famous than its equivalent across the river in Brooklyn.


Across Fifth Avenue from the Plaza Hotel is the former GM building, now festooned with the ubiquitous moniker of the real estate developer who is often called "The Donald", but whom I prefer to think of as the "Chump".	In the GM building is the gigantic landmark toy store, FAO Schwarz.


Looking downtown along this stretch of 5th avenue, the "wall of buildings" grows to incredible heights.	Looking back uptown, we can see that grand icon of the luxurious 1920s: the Sherry Netherland hotel.


In this section of 5th avenue, glitz reaches its apex with the Trump Tower.	There is acutally nothing architecturally distinguised about the Trump Tower. However, that's not the point . . . .