Explore another side of Manhattan’s ever-busy Midtown neighborhood—and discover details that most visitors overlook—during this small-group walking tour. Choose between convenient morning or afternoon departure times, and find your guide at an accessible meeting point in Midtown East. As you explore, learn about the holdouts who refused to sell their properties to developers, and how their personal stories changed the layout of the city forever.

Discover another side of Midtown that most visitors overlook
Learn all about the history of the area and its real-estate holdouts
Admire the neighborhood’s one-of-a-kind architectural landmarks
A small-group tour offers an intimate way to explore the city

What To Expect

TPR Holdings

We start in lower lobby of this distinctive building where we’ll lay the groundwork for the tour, where we’ll go and what we’ll see. The building itself is the result of holdouts, and our first subject.
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lipstick Building

A fascinating ego building
• Admission Ticket Free

Citicorp Center

Not a holdout, but a fascinating story is associated with the construction of this building, whose main pillar supports are not in the corners, but in the middle of the side.
• Admission Ticket Free

Wollensky’s Grill

An old buggy whip factory, and a holdout.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Amster Yard

If this oases is open at the time of the tour, we stop in for a moment. A time capsule where histories clash and the city meets the suburbs – – a much earlier one!
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sparks Steak House

This notorious site of a mob hit is next door to an interesting holdout.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chrysler Building

Stunning views of this stunning landmark are had along here.
• Admission Ticket Free

United Nations Headquarters

We view the Secretariet Building down the block as we continue to pass and discuss holdouts and how they’ve influenced the streetscapes today.
• Admission Ticket Free

42nd Street

We end our downtown part of the walk at 42nd Street, where a single holdout survived history.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Central Terminal

As we make our way to the west side and the uptown portion of the tour we will pass through Grand Central. While not associated with a any holdouts, a mini-tour of this iconic landmark is very possible.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

One Vanderbilt

This city-in-a-building was still under construction at this writing.
• Admission Ticket Free

Brooks Brothers

This historic New York City institution had a holdout as a neighbor.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

One Bryant Park | Bank of America Tower

We view this crystal shard-iceberg mashup of a building from the side
• Admission Ticket Free

The Roosevelt Hotel

We pass by this sole survivor of Terminal City, from a time before air travel when Grand Central linked to three hotels to receive cross-country travelers.

We continue our tour passing fascinating ways holdouts have changed the look of the city.
• Admission Ticket Free

Diamond District

Worth noting the block where $440 million in diamonds are traded daily. The entrance a block to the north as we cross Fifth Avenue is flanked by 12′ diamond sculptures.
• Admission Ticket Free

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center’s rich history includes a number of interesting, thought provoking holdouts.
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Papillon Bistro & Bar

We end the tour here, one of the most compelling examples of a holdout, and is more appropriately a hold-IN. Here a restaurant proprietor negotiated additional square footage to expand his restaurant into the future skyscraper. You can enter the skyscraper today and stand within the walls of a 19th century brownstone.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Highlight

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Include

Professional guide

Exclude

Gratuities