May 15, 2007
High in the Sky: Rockefeller Center's pristine roofdecks
Rockefeller Center's GE Building is only just hanging onto its ranking among the Top 10 tallest skyscrapers in New York City, but it is currently the second highest with a publicly accessible perch.
And it's by far No. 1 when it comes to class.
Reopened to the public in November 2005 as Top of the Rock, a visit to the top decks is one of the easiest, quickest and low-stress touristy endeavors, as long as you're not worried about the 850-foot drop.
 You'll feel like you're eye-to-eye with the Empire State Building and you'll get good views of St. Patrick's Cathedral across the street, most of Central Park to the north and down to the Statue of Liberty in the harbor. However, the spire of the Chrysler is partly obscured. And if you position yourself just so on the east side of the building, you can see the private Rockefeller Center roof gardens along Fifth Avenue.
The main roof decks, which were first opened to the public in 1933, were designed to evoke the look and feel of an ocean liner in the sky. The original art deco ornamentation is still there -- including massive cast aluminum fleur-de-lis -- and you can get up close to the back of the GE sign.
 Time-specific Top of the Rock tickets, $17.50 for adults, can be purchased in advance online, although the walk-up line usually isn't a problem. With the time-entry ticket and the excellent organization and presentation of exhibits, visitors will never feel like they're stuck in lines.
Even if you linger on all the decks up top, you'll be in and out in under an hour.
The signage is great, the spaces are wide and clean, airport-style security is efficient and the employees are courteous and abundantly placed, often answering your questions before you speak. Once you enter and complete security, you emerge into a room that overlooks the Radio City Music Hall. You're free to move along to the elevators or linger here, where there is a model of Rockefeller Center and historical artifacts all over the walls. There's also a photo op where you can stand on what appears to be a construction beam balanced in the sky. From there, if your elevator isn't waiting, you're queued into a room with a series of video screens detailing more of the building's history. A few minutes later you're headed for the glass-topped elevator which becomes a screen so you get even more Rock Center images (Elvis, for one,) as the softly neon-lit elevator shaft whizzes by as well.
Visitors are allowed to move among the indoor and outdoor decks on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors. There is no place to eat or drink here, but there are a few chairs and gift shops.
Mill around as long as you like; you won't be told you've stayed too long. The crowds are far fewer than the Empire State Building because the deck isn't as popular, and it has more space to move around (a full 55,000 square feet.)
(All the pictures were taken April 7, 2007.)
Earlier: High in the Sky: Empire State Building's 102nd floor
2005 Remainders: Top of the Rock edition
Rockefeller roof decks reopen after 20-year hiatus
New Rockefeller Center roof decks offer a 360 of NYC
May 15, 2007 01:32 PM in Sightsology
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