The Empire State Building

It’s a city within a city that dominates the skyline from the block of fifth and thirty third. The Empire State Building – in all of its 1,453 feet – remains a highlight for the hundreds of daily tourists willing to pay the adult price of $17.61 to take the elevators to the observatory deck on the 86 floor.
Known locally as the ESB, it offers a panorama scene of the city second to none, but for the locals and college students living down the block at the Herald Towers, Walgreens – located in the ESB on street level – is much more valuable. There isn’t a view in the world that matters much when midnight roles around, homework abounds, and a student’s belly growls and head begins to droop. Walgreen snacks and caffeine are the only remedy.
Like any good shop in NYC Walgreens never closes, but even more important for this city of eight million is a sign outside that reads, “For your convenience we speak the following languages: Spanish, Italian, Indian and Chinese.”
Ms. Barrientos, a Walgreens clerk with hablo espanol printed on her nametag said, “During the school year we get a lot of college students late at night.”
In its own small way Walgreens represents the wide array of languages found in New York City, yet even with their multilingual emphasis there are still a few things to avoid. For example, not a single soul in NYC – no matter which of the forty plus languages they speak – buys much from their “fresh produce” rack. The rack, in English, reads “Fresh Daily Produce,” but everybody in any language knows the only thing daily about that fruit is how many days it’s been sitting out.
The fruit is a no go, but the Krispy Kreme donuts sold in the corner behind the counter will melt in any mouth. There’s your big apple ESB advice of the day: avoid the fruit, buy the donuts, and speak some Spanish if you want.
Around the corner from Walgreens the Empire State Building houses the Heartland Brewery, a bar and restaurant good for a romantic night out for locals in love – like an endearing elderly man who kissed his wife’s cheek at a quaint window table for two – or tourists taking a break from the sights and sounds on 5 street. Heartland’s exterior is a long row of windows that wrap around the corner of the ESB allowing tourists and locals alike to enjoy watching a never ending stream of people and yellow taxi’s wiz and weave their way through traffic. For people who enjoy people watching there is no greater place.
While they aren’t the most popular places for the bountiful number of New York City tourists an authentic ESB experience won’t be found at the observatory deck, but instead will be made by staying up late and on street level, grabbing some coffee and candy from Walgreens and maybe a beer from the Heartland.