One block east of Times Square , Bryant Park , Sixth Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets, is a lush grassy square block filled with slender trees and inviting green chairs. As well as free jazz in summer months and several outdoor eateries, there's also a rather aggressive happy hour singles scene at the Bryant Park Café . Just across from the park, at 40 W 40th St, the Radiator Building, designed in 1924 for the American Radiator Company, commands attention for its Gothic tower and polished black-granite facade.
In summer, free outdoor movies are shown in Bryant Park on Monday evenings (tel 212/768-4242, www.bryantpark.org ) .
Bryant Park forms the backyard of the New York Public Library (Mon & Thurs-Sat 10am-6pm, Wed 11am-7.30pm; tel 212/870-1630, www.nypl.org ), whose Fifth Avenue entrance is guarded by two majestic lion statues. The library boasts 88 miles of books, which are stored on eight levels of stacks - a collection that makes this the largest research library with a circulation system in the world. Tours of the building are available (Mon-Sat 11am & 2pm; free), the highlight of which is the large coffered Reading Room .
Copyright Rough Guides Ltd as trustee for its authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. The Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd.
Copyright © 2006 United States.biz
