Fifth Avenue Shopping District
Fifth Avenue (5th Ave) is a major street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Between 49th Street and 60th Street is where the shopping takes place. There are many prominent shops located along 5th Avenue making it one the most expensive shopping streets in the world. APA, the American Planning Association is an organization committed to supporting flourishing communities. In 2012, the APA compiled a list of the greatest places in America which included Fifth Avenue. Fifth Avenue is also home to historic NYC landmarks, museums, parks and luxury apartments.
In 1896 the first department store was B. Altman and Company erected by Benjamin Altman. This was the beginning of a new era for 5th Avenue. The street soon became the preexistence of what is today. High-end shops began to bloom and this in turn attracted the fashionable and upscale. The famously known street will be sure to satisfy everyone’s shopping taste because there is a widespread of retailers.
Fifth Avenue is the perfect destination in New York for women who absolutely love to shop. Some women favorites are Versace, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and Ferragamo to name just a few. There are also some men favorites such as the NBA Store, Bergdorf Men and the famous Apple Store which not only attract men, but all technology savvy individuals. You will also find several jewelry shops on Fifth Avenue. Located on 5th Ave. is the boutique jewelry store Tiffany and Company, Cartier, Bulgari, Fortunoff, Van Cleef, Arpels and Harry Winston known as jeweler to the stars. For the kids, no other place compares to one the largest toy stores in the world, FAO Schwartz.
Further down Fifth Avenue towards Central Park the street becomes a residential area with several remarkable New York City museums. All of the museums on 5th Ave. are a part of Museum Mile. Museums that make up Museum Mile, New York City are:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (82nd St.)
Goethe-Institut New York/German Cultural Center (83rd St.)
Neue Galerie New York (86th St.)
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (88th St.)
National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts (89th St.)
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (91st St.)
The Jewish Museum (92nd Street)
Museum of the City of New York (103rd St.)
El Museo del Barrio (105th St.)
Museum for African Art (110th St.)
In additions to shops, museums and prestigious residential communities are other NYC landmarks and historic structures. Along Fifth Avenue is also St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The cathedral has a new aged gothic structure and is home to the Archbishop of New York. Across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the Rockefeller Center, a complex of 19 commercial buildings. The Plaza Hotel, one of New York’s most popular hotels is too located along 5th Ave. It has been the resting spot for many public figures such as The Beatles and United States presidents. Other New York attractions located on Fifth Ave. are the Trump Tower, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building and the main New York City Public Library.
As being one of the most expensive streets, 5th Ave is a touring destination New York City tourist should definitely visit. If you are lucky, you could just happen to visit New York at the right time during one of the many traditional parades that takes place on Fifth Avenue. Most parades are on Sundays and require New York City authorities to close the street to public vehicular traffic. The longest running parade on 5th Ave is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade which is in March. Some other parades include the “Canyon of Heroes” ticker-tape parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the LGBT Pride March and the Puerto Rican Day Parade.