A dimly lit stairway leads down into a New York City subway station on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Aging infrastructure and exposed piping are visible along the tiled walls.

A neon sign for Angelo’s Pizza glows against the brick facade of a building in Midtown Manhattan. The Italian restaurant, located near the Ed Sullivan Theater, adds to the neighborhood’s mix of nightlife and dining spots illuminated after dark.

A Connecticut state seal is displayed on the side of a Metro-North Railroad train car, operated in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The red-and-silver exterior includes safety instructions and signage, highlighting the regional rail system that connects commuters between New York and Connecticut.

An eagle statue perched on a globe stands outside Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The bronze sculpture, one of several around the historic landmark, looks out over Midtown with the glass facade of the MetLife Building rising in the background.

The Lower Plaza at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan is seen with the golden statue of Prometheus overlooking the outdoor dining area. Rows of international flags line the upper concourse, while crowds gather around the landmark complex that is home to shops, offices, and seasonal attractions.

The neon marquee of NBC Studios glows outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. The sign, also advertising the Rainbow Room and the building’s observation deck, marks the entrance to the historic headquarters of the television network.

A dense vertical corridor of advertising light and architecture defines Times Square, seen here at 47th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. Towering LED billboards and commercial facades—featuring brands from Levi’s to Samsung—create one of the world’s most iconic visual environments. Once a gritty crossroads of theaters and print media, the area was redeveloped in the late 20th century into a symbol of global commerce and digital spectacle, blending entertainment, marketing, and architecture into a single overwhelming urban experience.

Pedestrians crowd the sidewalks around a subway entrance in Times Square, Manhattan. The 42nd Street–Times Square station, one of the busiest in New York City, connects multiple subway lines beneath the bright billboards, storefronts, and heavy traffic of the theater district.

Manhattan as seen from across the East River.

High rises in Long Island City, NY.