230 Fifth Rooftop Garden
After a long and brutal winter, it's finally warming up. Sure, the trees bloomed a few weeks ago, and I haven't had to whip out the winter coat for a while, but it was only relatively warmer, it wasn't quite nice enough yet. Now skirt and tank top weather is starting up, and personally, it's my favorite time of year.
Last Wednesday, Sabrina suggested we go to the Rooftop Garden Bar at 230 Fifth. Seems there was some type of happy hour with a NY Wine Group. I remember seeing this rooftop last year, when Nate and I were atop the Empire State. We were looking at the city below us, in awe of it's sheer size and structural beauty, and we spotted a roof top nearby full of teeny tiny people who looked like were having a great summer evening. At the time, I dismissed it as a private location, a hotel or health club, and put it out of my mind. I really shouldn't have, because it turns out it's just a bar, open to all so long as you are well dressed.
Last Wednesday, Sabrina suggested we go to the Rooftop Garden Bar at 230 Fifth. Seems there was some type of happy hour with a NY Wine Group. I remember seeing this rooftop last year, when Nate and I were atop the Empire State. We were looking at the city below us, in awe of it's sheer size and structural beauty, and we spotted a roof top nearby full of teeny tiny people who looked like were having a great summer evening. At the time, I dismissed it as a private location, a hotel or health club, and put it out of my mind. I really shouldn't have, because it turns out it's just a bar, open to all so long as you are well dressed.
The Wine Group turned out to be a bit of a letdown, as they had no specials or freebies. They had just reserved a gigantic area of the bar, and we were free to sit where we pleased. The thing is, no one checked our ID or confirmed that we were affiliated with the group, so I'm not sure if it made any difference that we went on that specific Wednesday as opposed to any other day.Nate and I were the first from our friends to arrive, and since we were relatively early, we were able to get a table with reclining chairs. It was still daylight out, the sun was shining, we had white wine, and we just relaxed for a while. Good times. Also, because our friends hadn't arrived yet, we were free to geek out and look at the buildings.
It's interesting, one gets used to the constant presence of tall structures in Manhattan - they are everywhere except Central Park. But here we were, on top of a 20-story building, and when we looked up, we could see the sky uninterrupted by buildings. I don't think I had realized just how used I've become to the sight of skyscrapers. The only buildings that were still visible were the true high rises. Like the ones in the picture above, which Nate and I have helpfully nicknamed "The Aldo Rossi Building", because it looks like it was designed by Aldo Rossi, and the "scary super skinny building" because it looks like a structural impossibility. I'm sure they have real names, but we like our nicknames better.
It's interesting, one gets used to the constant presence of tall structures in Manhattan - they are everywhere except Central Park. But here we were, on top of a 20-story building, and when we looked up, we could see the sky uninterrupted by buildings. I don't think I had realized just how used I've become to the sight of skyscrapers. The only buildings that were still visible were the true high rises. Like the ones in the picture above, which Nate and I have helpfully nicknamed "The Aldo Rossi Building", because it looks like it was designed by Aldo Rossi, and the "scary super skinny building" because it looks like a structural impossibility. I'm sure they have real names, but we like our nicknames better.
Eventually, Sabrina, Jen and Jae showed up, and we stayed on the roof garden until dark. Service was terrible at 230 Fifth, but I get the sense that with that view, they are not at risk of loosing customers anytime soon. The crowd wasn't my scene; too many Wall Street types in expensive suits, but we had a good time. It was pretty windy though, my hair was at serious risk of becoming a fro.
The most amazing sight from the rooftop: The Empire State Building. This is the best view I've had of it yet. Usually we see it from the ground, where you can't even see the spire. Or, to have a complete view, you have to get so far away that you lose all sense of detail. Here we could see it, all evening, up close, and watch the light change on its facade.
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