the money shot
But, continuing the sex metaphor, getting there was at least half the fun.
Last Sunday Barry and I went to the top of the old RCA Building in Rockefeller Center. We went because we wanted to see what the restored observation deck looked like, at least as much as for the anticipated views.
We weren't disappointed, once we managed to get by the hype of the obligatory, very flashy presentation the owners have installed on the street and mezzanine levels of this dignified, classy building. Their very distracting "trailer" even continued through the short elevator ride itself, but all this unnecessary glitz was forgotten once we walked out in front of the world which opened up outside the enclosed 67th floor.
There we found there were two still higher, much more open levels, including the actual roof itself, where nothing but the original, roughly waist-high parapet of the building stood between us and all of New York and much of New Jersey.
We did regret missing out on the comfy chairs which can be seen in pictures of the original deck, and we might have enjoyed something like the Metropolitan Museum's simple roof cafe while we were up there (a glass of bubbly would have been perfect). In fact however we were so clear of the building's basic structures and services that even the water lines stopped somewhere under our feet. The last WC we had passed that afternoon was 65 floors below. At least that meant plenty of room at the top for the view.
The outlook from a certain tower to the south of Rockefeller Center still has a lot to recommend it, but you just can't see the Empire State Building from the top of the Empire State Building.
These pictures are arranged in the order in which we ascended after getting off the elevator.
like the roof deck of a dirigible