Look past the usual suspects…

I was recently showing a customer a gorgeous and charming corner of the city that most New Yorkers let fall off their radar screens — Tudor City Place. It’s an amazing collection of Pre War Fredrick French architecture built in the late 1920s. This cozy enclave is awash English Tudor Dynasty lore: The golden Age of Arts and Letters; gargoyles, lion, eagles, ornate ornamentation and stained glass abound.

The true gems are the Tudor City named buildings perched just above the United Nations and East River. Their detail is show stopping – each is crowned by magnificent pairs of 20 foot high Griffens protecting the rooftops. In fact, a many movies and TV shows have been shot in the area; producers love these few blocks for their refined look. Recently the new spy thriller “White Collar” show shot many of its exterior terrace scenes beneath a pair of the Griffens – with a backdrop breathtaking views of The Chrysler building and its Midtown compatriots – what a way to live!

All of this amazing brick and mortar is the setting for an almost block sized community park, planted with tulips and cherry trees which are magnificent in the spring, the specimen trees provide a shady glen in summer and a riot of color in the fall all enveloping a burbling lion’s head fountain. Just steps from midtown offices, it’s a lovely spot to grab a sandwich and have a quick picnic or a great place to read the Sunday paper.