Grand Central District

Big Apple Greeter welcomes you to New York City!
www.bigapplegreeter.org
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to the
Grand Central District
conveniently located, the grand central district
is a destination for both local residents and visitors alike
with its vast array of shopping, dining, night life, entertainment
and cultural offerings. Spectacular architecture and
thriving crowds make this one of the most exciting areas in the city.
text by marianne gennari.
graphic design by joy makon.
photographs by paul katcher.
© 2011 Big Apple Greeter 4/2011
Big Apple Greeter
1 Centre Street
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-669-8159
Web: www.bigapplegreeter.org
to arrange a visit with a big apple greeter, please go to: http://www.bigapplegreeter.org
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to the
Grand Central District
12
11
13
16
12
13
grand central terminal
Where is the Grand Central District?
Located in Midtown Manhattan, the Grand Central
district is bordered on the south by 35th Street, on the
north by 54th Street, on the west by 5th Avenue and on
the east by 3rd Avenue.
16
14
17
About the Grand Central District
When Grand Central Depot opened in 1871, the
surrounding neighborhood consisted of breweries,
slaughterhouses, warehouses and tenement housing.
Squatters’ shacks, criminal gangs and herds of goats were
a part of this landscape. By the time the Beaux-Arts style
replaced the original building17
in
19
16Grand Central Terminal
1913, the neighborhood was already on the edge of
change. During the course of the 20th century, the
neighborhood surrounding the Terminal developed into
a place for busy commuters, including the iconic
Madison Avenue ad men, and a source of wonder for
visitors with its offerings of grand shopping, fine dining
entertainment.
18and all forms of20
chrysler building
Things to See and Do in the Grand Central District
1
7
grand central
at 42nd Street
4 terminal19
between Lexington and Vanderbilt Avenues is easily one
of the most recognized transportation hubs in the world.
It is also a venue18
for superb dining, unique shopping and
5
2
seasonal
fairs and celebrations
of all kinds. A designated
8
city and national landmark, its spectacular architecture
makes this a wonderful place to explore. Do not miss
seeing its beautiful domed ceiling with its astrological
19
20showcase the
symbols. The facility offers tours which
6
3
Terminal’s
famed architecture
and little know secret
spaces. To learn more about this special facility and to
arrange for a tour,18see the website
19 at http://www.
grandcentralterminal.
greeter’s secret
com/index.cfm.
The majestic eagle perched
Wednesday Municipal Arts
on the viaduct at East 42nd
20
Street and Vanderbilt
tours and official audio
11
Avenue
is actually
1 of the facility can also
7 a relic
4
tours
from the previous train
be arranged by calling
terminal which stood on this
212-464-8255.
spot until 1910.
9
12
5
2 the chrysler building
at 405 Lexington8 Avenue
at 42nd Street is an Art Deco skyscraper that for 11
months was the tallest building in the world until the
completion of the Empire State Building in 1931.
Considered
by many
10
13 architects to be one of the finest
3
buildings in the city, this6lovely structure is still being
used for its original purpose—housing business offices.
Recognized for its crown ornamentation, most of the
building is closed to the general public. But
16 be sure not
to11miss its elegant
14lobby and spectacular elevator doors.
It’s Easy to Get to the Grand Central District
by subway: 4, 5, 6, 7 or S trains to Grand Central.
M 6 train to 51st Street. E or M trains to Lexington
Avenue/53rd Street or 5th Avenue/53rd Street. 7 train to
5th Avenue. by bus: Bus lines that service the Grand
Central area include the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M10,
M42, M50, M101, M116, M102 and M103.
by metro-north: Grand Central Terminal is the
terminus for all Metro-North train lines. To learn more,
see the website at http://www.mta.info/mnr.
bigapplegreeter.org
17
15
14
2
the grand central district
11
18
21
12
14
17
12
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to the
Grand Central District
1
4
5
2
1
7
9
11
13
8
4 10
127
149
st. bart’s
11
st. pat’s
5
2
10
12
16
158
6
3 the chanin building at 122 East 42nd Street at
no cost. The Cathedral also hosts a Sunday organ concert
Lexington Avenue is a brick and terracotta skyscraper in
series. To learn more, see the website at
http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org.
the Art Deco style. Be sure to go inside for a quick look.
In the lobby, eight bronze reliefs designed by Rene Paul
15
6 st. bartholomew’s church at 325 Park Avenue
Chambellan perch above ornate bronze 3radiator grilles.
between 50th and 51st Streets is also a place to find
The bronze ornamentation continues in the waves on
12
13 the crowds. The Church
16
respite from
is not
the floor, mailboxes, and elevator doors
11
greeter’s secret
only
beloved
for
its
serene
beauty,
but
it is
extending the general Art Deco style from
Library Way on East 41st
the outside in. And make sure to study the Street between Park and 5th also a force in the musical life of the city.
Avenues displays 96 bronze St. Bart’s offers a Great Music series not to
building’s
exterior.
9
12 Its decorative bronze
sidewalk plaques featuring
be missed and
friezes are a reference to Darwin’s Theory
12largest pipe
13
11 contains the
literary-themed quotations.
organ
to
be
found
in
an
American
church.
of Evolution.
The Way leads directly
15 see the website17at
14 of the To learn more,
to the main entrance
13
11 York
beautiful New
7
4 church of the incarnation
at 9 9
http://www.stbarts.org.
12 with its famed
Public Library
209 Madison Avenue at 35th Street was
lion statutes.
9
11
1
10 in 1864 and
7 the seagram building
13 is on the National
4
at 375 Park
built
Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets 14
stands as one of
Register of Historic Places. This lovely house of worship
15
5
11aesthetic
1
7 finest examples14of9 the functionalist
410 David
18 and a 13
12the
19
8 members as Admiral
once had such prominent
masterpiece of corporate modernism. Its plaza is graced
Farragut and Eleanor Roosevelt. The Church also has
5
2
13 sculpture.10
12
lovely
stained
glass
windows
that
are
available
for
public
9
11 an Alexander
7
10
18 8 Calder
13
17 by
4
16
viewing.
To learn
11
14 more about the Church
5 and its hours,
2
14
8 lever house at10390 Park Avenue12
between
see the website at http://churchoftheincarnation.org.
1
16
15
6
52nd
19and 53rd Streets across
20 the street from21the Seagram
5 st. patrick’s cathedral
at
14
East
51st
Street
at
Building
is
the
quintessential
and seminal
glass box18
14
10
12
8
17
16
15
6
3
5th Avenue is a Neo-Gothic style building
International Style skyscraper according to the design
11 that serves as
14
19 Archdiocese of New 17 principles of18Ludwig Mies
15 home to the16Roman Catholic
19 van der Rohe.
the
15 Together with 16
6
3
York and is the largest Gothic-style Catholic cathedral in
the Seagram Building, Lever House set the architectural
19
2
the US. Located amid luxe shopping, the Cathedral offers
style for skyscrapers in the city for several decades.
20
16
12 city. This
13 plaza and lobby have
16 been used as a gallery for the
15
6
11
respite
to those seeking quietude
in a noisy
Its
is the perfect place to sit in quiet meditation
Lever 19
House Art Collection and have
15 or just stroll
16
19
17 included such18
12
20
the
works as those by
17 aisles to take18in the museum-quality artworks, all at
11 artists Jeff Koons and Keith Haring. 13
12
M
9
bigapplegreeter.org
14
12
17
12
18
3
11
12
the grand central district
15
13
20
17
16
13
1620
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to the
Grand Central District
1
4
5
2
1
6
9
15
8
7
2
9
11
13
8
10
12
14
9
13
11
4
7
5
16
15
6
3
1
7
4
7
9
8 the oyster bar 10
11
12
13
14
maggie’s place
Shopping
When It’s Time to Eat
No
street
on
earth
is
more
recognized
for
its
The lower level of Grand Central14
Terminal
5
10
92
10
12
8
window shopping opportunities than
contains
12an extensive food court
13 with a
11
16 16
15
3
5th avenue. Lined
with some of the6most luxe stores in
wide variety of choices available.
The oldest
11
12
13 a feast for the eyes, especially
the8 world, its windows
offer
restaurant there is the oyster bar & restaurant
16 stores turn their best
during the holiday season when the
renowned for having the freshest seafood in the city.
9
12
faces
make sure to visit
Its menu includes up to1525 varieties of fish,1630 varieties
6browsing,
3 7 to the world. While
14
15
the belle dame of department stores, saks f ifth avenue of oysters and 80 wines by the glass. Don’t forget to
17
at 611 5th Avenue between East 49th and 50th Streets.
try the world famous
14 oyster stew. To learn15more, see
12
13
16
Offering gracious service and select merchandise
11the website at http://www.oysterbarny.com.
in a lovely setting, this is the place to find that special
maggie’s place at 21 East 47th Street between
gift. To learn more,
10 see the website
13 at
17
16
15
5th and Madison
food
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Entry.jsp.
9
12
12
13 Avenues offers good
16
11
and good service in a warm setting.
The
Irish
18
19
grand central terminal offers a wealth
specialties are a must and the Prix Fixe dinner menu is a
10
17
14 more, see the website15at
of shopping opportunities, all away from the
bargain. To learn
18
17
16
9
12 While wandering through the
outdoor
elements.
http://www.maggiesnyc.com.
1113
14
11
12
shopping passages,
be sure to drop in at cursive to
13 and writing
Nightlife
find exquisite10
hand-made
16 paper
17
14
1938th15Street between 5th
21
20 and
japas 38
at
9
E.
instruments, as well as jewelry and gift items. To
15
14
13
14
15
19 leading karaoke18
Madison Avenues is one of the city’s
learn more, see the website at
night spots.17In addition to taking
http://www.cursivenewyork.com/shpro.cfm.
19
15
16
19 to sing one of
18 the stage
10
13
18 the over 100,000 titles
17
16
greeter’s secret14
greeter’s secret
available, you can
11
18 also order
19
Outside of the Oyster Bar is the famed
One of the great advantages of being
20
21 menu
22
from their inventive
Whispering Gallery—groin vaults that carry
located in the very center of Midtown
17sounds across the ceiling and
16whispered
of sushi. Singing
begins at 21
Manhattan is that the Grand Central
19
20
18
17
16
5 PM and Happy Hour
down to a listener17at the opposite18
groin vault.
district is so close to so many wonderful
11 learn more about
14 the Whispering Gallery 20
To
attractions. Be sure to take some
starts at 4 PM and runs to
and the other15treasures to be16
found within19
time to stroll down 42nd
16 Street17toward 18 7 PM.19To learn more, see
Grand Central Terminal, see the website
the East River to visit the United Nations.
M
19
21
20 the website at http://
at http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/
To arrange a visit, see the website at
www.japas38.com.
info/walkingtour.cfm.
http://visit.un.org/wcm/content.
20
21
22
19
15
16
19
17
18
17
18
bigapplegreeter.org
20
4 the grand central district
20
21
22
11
12
10
14
12
9
9
11
16
15
Grand
Central
District
10
10
14
12
1014
13
15
12
14
12
12
9
13
11
The Big Apple
Greeter Guide to the
13
11
12
13
scandinavia house
16 16
15
16
15
13
14
13
17
16
grand central’s
grand staircase
16
the campbell
16balcony of Grand Central Terminal
15apartment on the
15
18 Once the home of 1920s
is the perfect place for 19
an evening nightcap.
tycoon John W. Campbell, this beautiful space has17been reborn as one of the
15
14
18 lounges in the city. Access to the Apartment can also be
17chicest cocktail
17
15
obtained by the entrance
at 15 Vanderbilt
Avenue. To learn more, see the
14
website at http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/go/fb/guide/store.cf
m?StoreInstanceID=2138781609&StoreID=2137026178.
19
20
12
13
16 21
15
14
13
19 Street between18
o’casey’s at 22 East 41st
5th and Madison Avenues
15
4
18the heart of the city. Offering good food,
authentic
19
16
19Irish bar in
17 is an18
18 a full bar including a large number of imported beers on
17 service and
friendly
tap,18this is a fine place to spend a few hours relaxing hours. To learn more, see
20
21
22
the website at http://www.ocaseysnyc.com.
17
greeter’s secret
15
14
19
21
20
A good source of
Culture
information about Grand
19
21
20
Central district is the
scandinavia house at 58 Park Avenue
Grand
Central Partnership.
16
19
17
18
between 37th and 38th Streets serves as
Events and locations may be
leading
and cultural link between
15 education
19
17 14 the 18
found at http://www.
18
19
the U.S. and Denmark, Finland,
Iceland,
Norway,
grandcentralpartnership.
20
21
22
org/home.asp.
and Sweden. Offering programs that include the
20
21
22
18literature
17 visual arts,
and music, this is the place
for connecting with all things Nordic. There is even a Scandinavian restaurant
on the premises in case you work up an appetite. To learn more, see the
website
at http://www.scandinaviahouse.org.
19
21
20
3
16
14
the morgan library & museum at 225 Madison Avenue at
17
18 Street,19former mansion of financier J.P. Morgan, houses one
36th
of the world’s greatest collections of artistic, literary, and musical works, from
ancient times to the20
modern
In addition, the Library is also a lovely
21day.22
venue for concerts and lectures, including a free Friday night concert series.
To learn more, see the website at http://www.themorgan.org/home.asp.
bigapplegreeter.org
5
About Big Apple Greeter
Founded in 1992, Big Apple Greeter’s mission is to enhance
New York City’s worldwide image while enriching the city
experience for its visitors. Connecting with business and
leisure travelers from all over the US and the world, Greeters
take visitors on informal, unscripted walks through one or
more neighborhoods in any of the five boroughs, promote
tourism throughout the city, and help visitors discover the
ease of using public transportation. Over 300 volunteer
Greeters speak collectively almost 25 languages and enjoy
giving their time and energy back to their hometown. Since
its founding, Big Apple Greeter—a free public service—has
welcomed over 100,000 visitors and been featured in thousands of newspapers, magazines, and television and radio
programs all over the world, reaching an audience of over
one billion potential visitors to New York City. Big Apple
Greeter is proud to partner with NYC & Company, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Metro New York.
About the Global Greeter Network
Big Apple Greeter is proud to be part of
the Global Greeter Network, a voluntary
association of welcoming programs
around the world, all based on the Big
Apple Greeter model: free and open to
all visitors; offer greeter services as an individual or very
small group experience (no more than 6 visitors); and are
characterized by enthusiastic, local residents who love their
home city, love to meet people from around the world, and
volunteer to conduct these visits.
The Global Greeter Network currently spans seven countries on four continents and includes the following members: Cicerones de Buenos Aires in Argentina; Adelaide
Greeters and Melbourne Greeter Service in Australia; Tap in
TO! (Toronto) in Canada; VisitBrighton Greeters and Kent
Greeters in England; Paris Greeter, Les Greeters de Nantes,
Greeters62 (Pas-de-Calais), Lyon City Greeters and Marseille
Provence Greeters in France; Den Haag Greeters in the Netherlands; Big Apple Greeter (New York City), Chicago Greeter,
and Houston Greeters in the United States.
You may learn more about Big Apple Greeter and its
many services on our website:
www.bigapplegreeter.org or by emailing us at
[email protected]
the grand central district
E 53rd St
W 49th St
E 49th St
E 48th St
W 47th St
E 47th St
E 45th St
11
W 45th St
E 46th St
14
W 44th St
E 43rd St
M
M
M
W 42nd St
M
M
10
3
1
W 43rd St
E 44th St
2
W 46th St
Park Ave
12
Vanderbilt Ave
W 48th St
E 42nd St
E 37th St
E 36th St
M
ay
adw
o
r
B
4
W 36th St
W 35th St
E 35th St
W 34th St
E 34th St
3rd Ave
E 38th St
17
W 37th St
16
W 38th St
Lexington Ave
E 39th St
Park Ave
W 39th St
Madison Ave
E 40th St
13
W 40th St
5th Ave
Avenue of the Americas
15
E 41st St
2nd Ave
E 50th St
Grand Central District
6
5
Lexington Ave M
9
W 50th St
3rd Ave
7
E 51st St
Park Ave
W 51st St
Madison Ave
E 52nd St
5th Ave
W 52nd St
M
W 53rd St
8
E 54th St
© 2011 Big Apple Greeter 4/2011
15
8
16 8
11
12
13
21
M Avenue of the Americas

W 54th St