York Ave Between 68th St and 66th St

Wide open and quiet, this part of York Avenue sits in the middle of a whole line of institutions which include Rockefeller University, New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. With handsome buildings lining three blocks, the Rockefeller University has always felt a bit like a mystery to me. The oddest structure by far is the Caspary Auditorium, an Epcot-like dome which sits right next to the sidewalk. Looking like nothing more than a glorified greenhouse, it's actually a finely-tuned performance space which the university uses as their main lecture hall. 

The rest of the block is rather calm. Traffic can get a bit heavy since there are several on and off ramps for the FDR drive just south of here. The views of the Queensboro Bridge are rather nice, if not a bit ominous. If you're lucky, you can catch a glimpse of the Roosevelt Island Tram crossing your path in the distance.

Comments

[Derry]

I walked by that collection of toys in the shrubbery all the time. Someone cleaned it all up. There are a few things, but that is a shot of history.