42nd Street New York City Attractions & Things to do

A historic hub of life in New York, Grand Central Terminal holds countless untold stories within its halls. From secret staircases to a onetime movie theater, there’s a lot more than meets the eye—and you’re about to discover it all firsthand. On this revealing experience, you’ll see a side of the world’s most famous train terminal that even the most frequent commuters never encounter. Get to know the colorful historic figures who brought Grand Central to life, and gain a new appreciation for its near-magical scale.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Midtown is more than just business, tourism, and big buildings.

Explore the hidden architectural details, strange stories, and world-class casual food of Midtown Manhattan in this compelling, stimulating, and delicious food tour.

The route we take changes from day, taking input from group, guide, and the city to create an experience that's memorable and unique.

While we might visit some of the bigger sites like Times Square, Bryant Park, and Grand Central Terminal, the stories we tell will go beyond the basic, diving into the deeper purpose and functions of these iconic locations.

But beyond the highlights, we'll also explore subtle details of the art, architecture and culture of Midtown, helping you see New York City with fresh eyes.

At the same time, we'll also drop by to sample good eats from 4-6 exceptional casual spots. You'll leave the tour feeling full - heart, mind, and stomach.

TOURS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE TOURS
Duration: 3 hours.

Manhattan's 42nd Street is home to some of the most acclaimed architecture from some of this country's greatest architects and designers. However, New York is not just a collection of tall buildings; it is a collection of neighborhoods that changed with a growing city. You will see how these changes will effect what would happen on its avenues over time. The mysteries of how and why a neighborhood will transform, how what once was and what would be will influence architects and their design choices, will be revealed and explained.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.

This 2.5 hour walking tour around the Midtown Manhattan shows-and-tells the fascinating stories of holdouts—the intriguing side effect of Manhattan's pressure cooker real estate industry: when a property owner (or lease holder) refused to sell to a developer, forced them to rework their plans, and forever changed the city streetscape. Stories, like the elderly lady who never knew any other home; or the poker player-like landlord who overplayed his hand; or the restauranteur whose long term lease (justifiably) demanded budget-busting sums, all add a human dimension to these transactional anomalies. And personal stories that were otherwise lost, are awesomely amplified by the everlasting impression left behind: seemingly ill-planned entrances for skyscrapers, odd shaped buildings, 20-story tall notches in office towers, are just some of the 16 examples of holdouts we'll see.

This tour is based on the book, Holdouts! By Alpern and Durst.
Duration: 2 to 3 hours.