STL DPB IN NEW YORK - INFINITE REGRESSION

 

Back at The Summit, the all-mirrored observation areas on the 91st to 93rd floors of One Vanderbilt, the newish mega-tall structure that blocks the afternoon light on the western side of Grand Central Station. The 92nd floor is something of a mezzanine, not reaching to the broad southern windows and overlooking the full-size floor below. The eastern and western side of the 92nd have mirrored circular tubes through the floor, with mirrors above, below and beside. As if there wasn’t enough vertigo.                       

STL DPB IN NEW YORK - I’M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES

 

One of the spaces at The Summit, I think on the 92nd floor, is full of silver mylar balloons that - quite literally - reflect the mirrored interior surfaces. Blowers around the edges push them up to the cieling. Then they slowly, randomly settle. If I was younger, I’d think it was pretty trippy.             

STL DPB IN NEW YORK - IF I CAN MAKE IT THERE...

 

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York, New York

I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps
And find I'm A Number One, top of the list
King of the hill, A Number One.

Nice to be back in my home town, particularly with granddaughter Ellie, who is having a blast. She thinks she is almost a subway riding expert because she can stand in a moving car without holding the pole (mostly). Still needs some guidance about where to go. I was riding the subway by myself at 12 or 13. It was normal.

This is the view to the south from the 91st floor observation area at The Summit, the newish super-tall building over Grand Central Station.                

NYC - REVIEW AND PREVIEW

 

The family arrives in New York this afternoon and Ellie is pumped. This is a picture I took two years ago at the observation floor of The Summit, one of  the city’s newer mega-tall towers, this one next to Grand Central Station. The special thing is that the walls, floors and ceilings are all mirrored.  You have to wear special booties over your shoes so you don’t scratch the floor. We are booked for a visit on Monday.          

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - STILL WAY UP THERE

I'm permitting myself one more of these from the observation deck at The Summit. The multi-level deign is stunning.          

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - OPTICS

Much of The Summit observation deck is spread over three levels, most of it mirrored except for the windows. There are openings between the levels, some right-angled, some, like here, cylindrical. It is very hard to figure out just what you are looking at.            

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - BALLOONS IN THE SKY

Room full of silver mylar balloons, The Summit Observation deck, NYC.       

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - IF I CAN MAKE IT THERE...

Maybe I should say if I can pay for it there, I can pay for it anywhere. What the hell, I'm retired. This money only has to last me for the rest of my life. 

Visitors to New York have several options for sky high observation decks these days. When I was a kid everyone went to the Empire State Building, seen here on the right. Yesterday we went to a new one called, appropriately enough, The Summit, at a gigantic building next to Grand Central Station, One Vanderbilt Place. (Yes, the same Vanderbilt as in the Monopoly game. Anyway, see https://summitov.com/). I must say that I was impressed. We will probably see more of this.