Walking Among Skyscrapers: New York in Breezy April

When imagining New York, the first thing that comes to mind is the dizzying skyline of soaring skyscrapers. On April 23, 2023, when I finally arrived, a cool and refreshing spring breeze was blowing through the streets of Manhattan. New York in April and May, said to be the best time to travel, felt like a maze where visual stimuli endlessly rushed in just by walking aimlessly along the streets. The forest of cold glass and concrete buildings, the engine sounds of yellow cabs filling the streets, and the lingering light pouring from giant billboards. My steps naturally led from the bustling Fifth Avenue to the red square of Times Square, and then to the Summit observation deck, often called the mirror temple in the sky.

1. Walking Along the Southern End of Central Park: Skyscrapers and Waves of American Flags

Entering the Fifth Avenue entrance at the south end of Central Park, towering skyscrapers that made my eyes ache filled the sky beyond the transparent glass Apple Store. It was only when I looked vertically far up that I could see the tops of the buildings touching the clouds. Looking at the thousands, even tens of thousands, of windows embedded vertically in those dizzying outer walls, I suddenly got a strange chill. How on earth did people install each of those countless windows by hand? As someone who normally has a fear of heights, it was a task hard to even imagine, and the thought naturally came to mind: "That is a job I could never have in my entire life."

There was another unique scene on the streets of New York. Since there are many historic older skyscrapers, maintenance work was constantly underway on almost every block. To prevent pedestrians from being injured by falling objects from overhead, sturdy steel sidewalk canopies stretched endlessly along the shopping streets. Walking under these structures, which looked like dark underpasses, I had a small, practical thought: they would be absolutely perfect for taking shelter in the city without an umbrella if a sudden shower started.

As it passed 1:30 PM, the sunlight grew softer. April and May are truly the best seasons to travel to New York, with the cool breeze and warm sun in perfect harmony. Walking along Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue, a pink ice cream truck was parked with a cute melody playing, and on the outer walls of the luxury brand stores lining the street, American flags—the symbol of the United States—fluttered vividly against the blue sky.

Walking further down the block, St. Patrick's Cathedral appeared, soaring majestically in Neo-Gothic style among the skyscrapers. Its heavy stone exterior walls and sharp spires stood in striking contrast with the modern glass buildings of the city. Built starting in the mid-19th century, this grand cathedral has quietly kept its place while the surrounding skyline has constantly changed.

Passing the cathedral and reaching the corner of the Saks Fifth Avenue department store, large American flags were hanging tier upon tier along the entire exterior wall of the building. When I saw the red and white stripes catching the sunlight and fluttering in the wind, it finally hit me that I had truly walked into the real New York that I had only seen in movies and media.

2. Skipping Sweets for Chipotle and the Melodies of Times Square

Around the time hunger began to strike, I passed by the famous Magnolia Bakery nearby. People were waiting in a long line for cupcakes, but since I do not particularly like sweet food, I just took a quick look near the entrance and turned away.

Instead, my choice for lunch was the famous Chipotle. An oval paper bowl filled with rice, beans, meat, a generous dollop of green guacamole, romaine lettuce, and cheese all mixed together. When I mixed it up and took a big bite, the tangy, spicy sauce and savory guacamole burst in my mouth. To me, it was a delicious and "expensive American-style bibimbap."

After a satisfying meal, I headed to the heart of Times Square. As I approached this red square where Broadway and 7th Avenue meet, the beat of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" thundered along with the cheers of street buskers. The intense hip-hop sound hitting my ears and the massive digital billboards covering every corner overwhelmed my eyes and ears all at once.

In the ocean of colorful billboards, the first thing that caught my eye was the LG billboard in the shape of a vivid red flower. Seeing the name of a Korean company shining proudly right in the middle of Times Square, where the most expensive billboards in the world are gathered, made me feel incredibly glad and proud.

The streets were painted yellow with yellow cabs constantly coming and going. The honking of horns, travelers of countless nationalities, and busy New Yorkers crossing the crosswalks all mingled together, exuding the immense energy of New York.

3. A Shimmering Castle of Mirrors: Summit One Vanderbilt

Past 3:00 PM, I walked toward Vanderbilt Avenue near Bryant Park to head to the observation deck I had booked. Above the stone walls of the classic Grand Central Terminal, the silver spire of the Chrysler Building, a symbol of Art Deco, elegantly peeked out.

My destination was "Summit One Vanderbilt," a super-tall observation deck said to be the trendiest spot for New Yorkers. Seeing the logo sign carved into the stylish marble wall at the entrance got my anticipation soaring even before going up.

The presentation of the high-speed elevator going up to the observation deck was overwhelming from the start. The entire walls and ceiling were made of a mirror structure reflecting in all directions, giving an optical illusion as if being sucked into a four-dimensional space through time and space while the elevator was moving.

When the elevator doors opened, the space I entered was "Air," where the entire midtown Manhattan could be seen at a glance through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Directly in front of the window, the Empire State Building, the eternal symbol of New York, stood in its solid form. The sunlight filtering through the clouds and the skyline across the East River came clearly into view.

The highlight of Summit was definitely the main Ballroom, where the floor and ceiling were completely finished with mirrors. Even the city scenery and people were reflected underfoot, creating a dizzying yet fantastic atmosphere. People were busy lying down or squatting on the mirrored floor, playing "find me" while taking photos of their own reflections overlapping in all directions. I heard it is highly popular to visit at sunset to see the fantastic evening glow, but because that time slot was booked up early, I visited during the day, which was still fully miraculous.

In the following "Affinity" room, silver balloons were floating in the air of the mirrored space. The blue sky of New York stretching outside the windows matched strangely well with the silver balloons.

People laughed as if they had returned to their childhood while tapping the balloons, and they enjoyed seeing their faces reflected on the smooth surfaces of the silver spheres. It felt as if I were playing with balloons while levitating in the air.

4. An Unfamiliar Peace and the Last Billboard: New York, Already Missed

After finishing the exploration of the observation deck and coming down to the ground, I encountered a strange and warm sight in a corner of the busy street. It was a booth of a person performing a street animal show under the sign "Noah Live Love Boat," where white pigeons, parrots, rabbits, and a cat were all lying down quietly together. Seeing the animals sitting in sweet harmony despite the noise of the passing crowd, I couldn't help but chuckle, thinking they were such good animal family members who seemed to listen much better than I do.

Walking back toward Times Square, a large LED American flag installation on the exterior wall of the Armed Forces Recruiting Station caught my eye. In front of the intensely glowing flag lights, numerous travelers were taking photos.

As the sun slowly began to set, a bluish shade started to cover the sky. I finished today's journey by looking one last time at the Samsung billboard shining clearly high up in Times Square. The dizziness felt under the giant skyscrapers, the waves of American flags filling Fifth Avenue, the spicy taste of Chipotle, and the mysterious mirror world encountered at Summit One Vanderbilt. Though the day in the forest of skyscrapers was short, it was intense. Sometime in the far future, whenever I get tired of life, I think I will deeply miss the streets of New York in April, which were filled with bright billboards and energetic noise.