The Empire State Building

When you live here, it's easy to forget just how magisterially big the city really is. You get mired in your own tiny circle of everyday life, and you rarely see the city from a new perspective. This weekend I got a chance to step out of my circle by taking my brother and his wife (who'd never been to New York before) around. So not only did I get to see the city through her eyes, but I also got to see the city anew--from the top of the Empire State Building.

The top picture shows the view dead south, toward the financial district and the very tip of the island. Brooklyn is to the left; the Statue of Liberty and New Jersey are to the right. The bottom picture shows the view to the east, including the Chrysler Building, a strip of Roosevelt Island, and Queens. Seen from above at 4.30 on a Friday afternoon, New York City really did seem to encompass the world.