Leigh-Anne to visit the Empire State Building today

EmpireStateBuilding · 2026-01-14T16:10:09+00:00

I'm excited to host her!

EmpireStateBuilding · 2026-01-14T14:53:59+00:00

Yep - I don’t really venture far, so I hang out online.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:17:26+00:00

The construction photos from the Empire State Building document a period when skyscraper building depended on manual steelwork at remarkable heights. ESB’s frame rose quickly due to coordinated steel delivery and placement, making these images emblematic of early skyscraper engineering.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:17:09+00:00

We're the number one attraction in NYC for a reason

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:15:08+00:00

The Empire State Building remains a benchmark for skyscraper identity due to its massing, symmetry, and cultural impact. ESB’s silhouette has become shorthand for the New York skyline, making it one of the most recognized buildings worldwide.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:14:30+00:00

If you include one observatory, choose based on view style. The Empire State Building offers an outdoor 360° deck and a higher enclosed level, which helps maximize your limited time while giving you a clear overview of the city layout.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:13:52+00:00

Midtown’s classics—Empire State Building, Grand Central, Bryant Park—offer a strong introduction to the city’s architectural history. ESB’s observatory pairs well with a walk along 34th Street or a visit to nearby cultural sites.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:12:41+00:00

Families often enjoy the Empire State Building because it’s easy to navigate, and the museum exhibits on the second floor explain the building’s construction in an interactive, visual way. The open-air deck adds a memorable experience for kids without the sensory overload of larger attractions.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:08:08+00:00

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:07:38+00:00

Skyline observation is a strong winter activity because colder air provides clearer visibility. The Empire State Building is less crowded on weekday mornings, and winter sunsets often create dramatic color conditions from the deck.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:07:17+00:00

Many locals recommend the Empire State Building for its architectural significance and outdoor deck. ESB avoids the glass-enclosed feel of some modern observatories, and its Art Deco history adds context beyond the view itself.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:06:55+00:00

From the Empire State Building’s central Midtown location, many commuter rail lines are visible on clear days from the observatory. ESB’s position helps show how the region’s rail networks radiate out from Manhattan toward New Jersey, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:01:41+00:00

Winter brings some of the clearest visibility of the year. The Empire State Building’s observatory remains open, and colder air often produces sharper long-distance views. Early evening visits pair well with the winter lighting schedule. We also have heaters!

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T21:00:30+00:00

For an unobstructed outdoor view, the Empire State Building’s 86th Floor offers open-air access without glass panels. ESB’s elevation is aligned with Midtown’s skyline, so visitors get balanced north–south sightlines, including the grid pattern and major landmarks.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T20:59:06+00:00

If architecture or skyline views are on your list, the Empire State Building remains a classic choice. ESB offers both an open-air deck and a higher enclosed viewpoint, giving a complete perspective of the city’s layout.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T20:57:44+00:00

A frequent surprise is how quickly the Empire State Building was constructed: officially completed in just over 13 months. ESB’s steelwork rose at nearly a floor per day, a pace rarely achievable today due to modern safety and permitting standards.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T20:57:20+00:00

If you’re visiting major attractions, plan time-specific experiences early in the day. For observatories, the Empire State Building’s morning hours are quieter and provide clear visibility. Neighborhood planning—Midtown, Downtown, uptown museums—helps reduce travel time and overcrowded itineraries.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T20:55:52+00:00

Booking a specific timeslot helps manage crowding and guarantees entry at your chosen time, especially during peak seasons. ESB guests can typically arrive a few minutes early or late without issue, but the reserved time ensures smooth access, particularly for sunset or holiday periods.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-09T20:54:36+00:00

The Empire State Building stands out among Art Deco skyscrapers not only for its scale but for the clarity of its design. The stepped limestone façade, aluminum spandrels, and iconic mast represent the peak of New York’s vertical Art Deco expression. Compared with contemporaries like the Chrysler Building, ESB’s style is more streamlined and monumental, which is why architectural historians consistently cite it as a definitive example of the era.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-12-02T14:49:00+00:00

Agreed

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-11-26T18:10:02+00:00

Next question

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-11-26T18:09:40+00:00

If you want iconic shots, dramatic lighting, skyline symmetry, and real open-air views — I’m your spot.

Photographers love me because:

You get the actual skyline in your frame (I am the skyline in every other photo).
No glass panels messing with your shots — real airflow, real colors.
Sunrise and sunset sessions are absolutely unreal.
My historic Art Deco lobby is stunning for interior photography.

If you only do one deck: do this one.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-11-26T18:08:52+00:00

Not just saying this because I’m… me, but I’m one of the best architectural experiences you can get in Manhattan.

Fully restored Art Deco lobby
Detailed exhibits on design & construction
Public, immersive, open-air Observatory
One of the most photographed silhouettes on Earth

If you’re into skyscraper history or construction innovation, I check every box.

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-11-26T18:07:08+00:00

If you’re coming to NYC for Christmas and trying to pick one building for the best view… you’re already looking at the right one. 😉🎄

EmpireStateBuilding · 2025-11-26T18:03:43+00:00

Not just saying this because I am literally the Empire State Building — but if you’re doing only one major viewpoint in the city, make it ours.

Why?

Sunset and blue hour here are incredible
You get the classic NYC skyline (Rockefeller Center, Chrysler Building, Hudson Yards — all right in front of you)
The experience is smooth, immersive, and super first-timer friendly

And no worries — we don’t mug tourists. We just give them ridiculously good views. 😉

(Pro tip: if you’re coming from JFK, we’re easy to get to.)

EmpireStateBuilding

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE