In the dog-eat-dog streets of New York, we eat our low-carb bagels on the go as we dodge taxis, strollers, suits, and madmen. We live the lyrics, “If you can make it here, you’ll make it anywhere,” and discard the sentimental idea that “life’s about the journey, not the destination.” We’re on the clock. Of course, it’s about the destination. We’ve got places to be, people to see, and if we’re not there, someone else will elbow our opportunity. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., once said, “I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.” And so, at 6:20 in the morning, I woke up to the opportunity to make a living in the very place Rockefeller’s words are displayed: Rockefeller Plaza.

At 6:21 my head was back on the pillow. Battling a cold and an onslaught of assignments that have kept me out late, my body waged a war against my will. I walk the streets of New York every day. Did I really need to see New York from the Top of the Rock? More out of duty than desire, I grudgingly brushed my teeth (but not my hair) and got on the bus.

As a bridge-and-tunnel kid, I get a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline twice a day. Ever since 9/11, I’ve instinctually turned by head toward the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building each time I round the bend from Jersey. I’m not sure if I do it out of paranoia that I’ll see a plane flying towards one of them, or if it’s out of appreciation of their beauty.

It therefore beguiles me that after twenty years of being closed, the Top of the Rock is once again open to the general public, particularly since you still can’t enter the Statue of Liberty’s crown. Needless to say, I freaked out when the elevator started shaking and rattling on its way up to the 67th floor. I was the only person on the elevator and was by no means expecting a Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure-esque ride that hurdled to the top of the skyscraper. I grabbed the side of the elevator as a frenetic display of “Saturday Night Live” scenes whipped through the portal.

I came out of the elevator as if in other world. All was serene. It was a sleepy 8:30 by then, and I was the only person on the tour. The whole city opened up to my eyes, as I stepped out onto the terrace. The sun glinted off of buildings, waking up the world. But for a little while, it seemed as if I had New York all to myself.

Top of the Rock is open from 8 AM till 11 PM, and while I’m sure it’s heartbreakingly beautiful at sunset or in the pitch black night, there is something special about being one of the first people to the top. The view, admittedly, isn’t all that grand during the day if you’ve ever done anything remotely similar. The Empire State Building commands sole attention, but no other building stands out. You can barely see the Chrysler Building and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Even 30 Rockefeller Plaza itself doesn’t seem to stand up to its legacy. The website boasts of architect Michael Gabellini’s reimagined observation desk. In reality, the observation deck’s modern look serves its purpose–unobstructed views of Manhattan–butcomes across as rather bland, particularly when you’ve heard about its 1933 look:

The Observation Deck’s original design was inspired by the decks of the great ocean liners of the era - complete with deck chairs, gooseneck fixtures and vents inspired by a ship’s stacks. A trip to the Observation Deck was like setting sail in the heart of the world’s most dynamic city.

Rockefeller Center has such a rich history, definitely worth researching and exploring. Spending the exhorbinant $17.50 to see the Top of the Rock isn’t really going to give you any more of a New York experience than you get from watching NBC’s sitcom “30 Rock.” Both place New York at an intangible distance. You need to get out and walk in the shadows of the skyscrapers to truly understand New York.