New York: Uptown and Rockefeller Centre

Yellow cabs outside of Dakota Apartment

Weather still not great the next day, and the ticket for Hop On/Hop Off bus was still valid. So we decided to do the Uptown Loop that day. Pictures were not great due to rain and we were in the bus, with photos taken from window.

The Dakota Apartment in the picture above is best known as the place where former Beatle John Lennon was gunned down in December 1980. I reckon it would be a nice place to stay (if you are rich and do not mind the obvious history of killing) as it overlooks greenery - Central Park.

Also in the loop was Harlem.

Harlem is a neighbourhood in the New York City. Since 1920s, it has been a major African-American residential. I read that it was originally a Dutch Village and name after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. Now.. that kind of explains the Amsterdam Av then :P

Nestled in Harlem, one can find the Apollo Theatre, said to be one of the most famous music halls in the United States, especially for blacks. Appears that the late Michael Jackson had performances in this theatre previously.

We did got off the bus after this and walked, a good 40 blocks at least, and unfortunately in the rain. New York is not prettiest when wet, in my humble opinion. Anyway, walks do good in building up appetite :P

We went to see the Rockefeller Center before dinner, while waiting for friend's friend, N's husband (now my friend too!) to finish work.

Rockefeller Center is actually a commercial building, founded by Mr John D Rockefeller Jr and placed right in Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

One of the many shops was this.

Side note: Ohh.. Inside Man is a good movie ^_^