New York City, New York, United States of America
So many movies have been made with the Empire State Building in them that we all have one tucked away in our memories that fills us with nostalgia. Think of Sleepless in Seattle, An Affair To Remember, Finian’s Rainbow, Annie Hall, Guy’s & Dolls, and The Empire State Building serving as a perch for King Kong! In fact, there are over 50 movies the skyscraper has featured in and countless more where it is in a background shot. So it has, in a way, become a movie icon and a part of Hollywood history.
The Observation Deck is famous for romance, thanks in part to so many of these movies. So a visit there can hold special significance if you bring a ring with you. The Deck enhances your opportunity for holding hands on Thursday through Saturday evenings from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the morning when they add live jazz to the already dazzling ambiance of city lights. The musicians even take song requests!
The art deco Empire State Building is also well loved for its ever changing display of colors at night at the very top of the building. On Valentine’s Day: reds and pinks. On the 4th of July: red, white, and blue. On Christmas: green and red. And on every other night of the year, special colors appear to commemorate wins by local sports teams or to celebrate city events.
Fantastic Views from the Observation Deck
NYC can seem an overpowering mass of large buildings to an out-of-town tourist not used to living among skyscrapers. From the Observation Deck of the Empire State Building suddenly I was able to see the layout of the city and how it all fitted together. My advice to anyone would be to go to the Observation Deck first as it's the best unobstructed overview of the city you can get!