52nd St Between 5th Ave and Madison Ave

The same way Broadway slices through the Upper West Side, Madison Avenue follows suit and creates a series of small blocks out of normal-sized ones. The brevity of this particular stretch is a bit of a blessing since it doesn't seem to contribute too much to the surrounding neighborhood.  The major draw on the corner is the large Cartier store which feels imposing and cold – at least to someone like me who can't really understand jewelry of that sort.

The remainder of the block is a mixed bag of architectural styles ranging from international to modern to some sort of faux Dutch colonialism (I'm just inventing terms now). The most unique sight along the street is the main narrow, tapering tower that is the Austrian Cultural Forum. Completed in 2002, and only 24.5 ft wide, the building is a breath of fresh air for an area that's usually populated by gray boxes.