Broadway Between 3rd St and Bleecker St

    

Running parallel to a bulk of NYU buildings, it often feels like a college campus down here. While a lot of the architecture begins to show signs of SoHo-influences, a few of these campus buildings sit like sore thumbs amongst them.

Being only a block from Houston, three blocks from Washington Square Park and two blocks from The Bowery, Broadway doesn't really feel like it's anywhere. Skirting so many major neighborhoods, the block doesn't have an identity of its own, but rather just has an over-abundance of retail to make up for any lacking character.

Broome St Between West Broadway and Greene St

   

Skirting through the southern half of SoHo, Broome Street still retains the strong retail presence which exists throughout the whole neighborhood. However. it also felt a bit less "happening" than some surrounding streets. The wider roadway plays as an entrance route to the Holland Tunnel, so increased automobile traffic could be playing as a factor for the lighter foot traffic.

Unfortunately as beautiful as the SoHo architecture was, it wasn't too enthralling to me. I took these photos on the day before Halloween so I was far more amused by the costumes I encountered while walking around. Apparently I can be easily distracted.

76th St Between York Ave and 1st Ave

With a school and a handful of doctor's offices, this block has quite a bit to offer when compared to its more residential neighbors. While not the most beautiful stretch of buildings by any measure, there is a good deal of variety to enjoy here – wether your tastes are more modern, more industrial, or more classic New York, there's a little bit to enjoy for everyone.

Having only walked down this street a few times before, I was startled to see a large bonze statue adorning the front of one of the newer apartment buildings. Fittingly named The Impala, the statue is of, of course, an impala – which is apparently some sort of antelope. The amount of good taste that goes into the planning and construction of something like that could probably only be measured in units known to microbiologists.

53rd St Between 1st Ave and York Ave

    

A major block if only because it marks the end of Sutton Place (York Avenue) on the east side, this segment of 53rd Street also acts as an exit ramp for the south bound FDR Drive. The street is mostly home to some pricier apartments and condominiums. Other than that, only a florist and an antique shop call this stretch home.

The primary beneficiaries of the FDR's exit here are perhaps the three competing parking garages. The one on the north side of the street has an ever-present attendant waving people into the bowels of his parking empire every morning. The other two seem a bit more laid back about their operation, content to let the remaining automobiles choose between them. Because God-forbid a person make it all the way to 1st Avenue without paying $45.00 to park first.

42nd St Between 3rd Ave and 2nd Ave

Featuring some beautiful examples of New York architecture, this segment of 42nd Street begins to show a calmer side of midtown. With fewer people venturing this far east, it becomes much easier and far more enjoyable to take your take and enjoy the surrounding sights. While not every building is necessarily pleasant (The New York Helmsley Hotel, I'm looking in your direction), others like The News Building stand as beacons of a time since passed.

If you ever have the opportunity to pass by The News Building (which sits on the south side of the block) I highly encourage you to step into its beautiful lobby. Reminiscent of old Superman Comics with the large, spinning globe sunken partially into the floor and the various weather devices and clocks on the wall. This space is a relic from a time when people may have actually used these devices to inform themselves about the world around them. Fortunately it remains as a protected landmark and is generally available to view to the public. Unfortunately, I wasn unable to get any photos during this visit.

34th St Between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave

   

Filled with cars and people, as is normal for 34th Street, this block has the traffic of midtown with the grit of downtown – and it's not a pleasant combination. Though there are some bright spots, such as the Clover Delicatessen sign on the corner of 2nd Avenue. However the remainder of the block seems to either be devoted to overpriced housing (a massive condo/apartment thing stretches for the majority of the south side of the street), or drinking.

Nearer to 3rd Avenue you'll find an exit street for the Queens Midtown Tunnel. I know I said it last time I encountered one of the tunnel's exits: but you really can see the two or three plots of real estate that they plowed through to make room for this road. You can just imagine some small tenements – similar to the ones which still stand adjacent to it – where the road is now.