Majestic

Inspired by the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the Art Deco style Majestic (1930-31, Irwin Chanin, Jacques Delamarre) is one of Central Park West's four great twin-towered apartment buildings, its presence contributing to the streetscape and characteristic skyline of the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District. Along with the Century, San Remo and Eldorado, the 29-story Majestic symbolizes the high quality of residential design of New York's Upper West Side.

Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts

Originally the Ansche Chesed Synagogue (built 1849, architect Alexander Saeltzer), the landmark Gothic Revival style building was purchased in 1986 by sculptor Angel Orensanz and converted into the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts.

Its interior spaces house exhibitions, performances and educational and artistic projects from independent artists as well as institutions--MoMA PS1, the Goethe Institute, the Whitney Museum, the Italian Cultural Institute, New York University, Columbia University, Princeton University, the National Russian Museum of St. Petersburg, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts, 172 Norfolk Street at East Houston Street, Lower East Side; www.orensanz.org.

Strawberry Fields

A memorial to the songwriter, singer and peace activist John Lennon, Central Park's Strawberry Fields (Central Park West at 72nd Street) was designed by Yoko Ono in collaboration with landscape architect Bruce Kelly and the Central Park Conservancy. Dedicated in 1985, the 2.5-acre site features the Imagine mosaic, bordered on the east by the Garden of Peace, filled with plants and trees contributed by 150 nations.

Ansonia

One of the grand Upper West Side buildings, the Parisian-inspired, Beaux Arts style Ansonia (1904, Graves & Duboy), now an apartment building, originally opened as one of the largest residential hotels in existence, part of the phenomenal skyscraper architecture being built during the first decade of the twentieth century along Broadway. Past residents include conductor Arturo Toscanini, tenor Enrico Caruso and composer Igor Stravinsky.

High Line

Formerly the elevated New York Central freight line built in the '30s, the railway was renovated in 2009 to form the 1.5 mile High Line linear park, which weaves through buildings, factories and warehouses from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues. Designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and planting designer Piet Oudolf.

The 10th Avenue Square (above) features steps and ramps cut into an elevated square over 10th Avenue. Replacing steel with glass provides a view up 10th Avenue and reveals High Line visitors to those on the street level.

The 23rd Street Lawn is High Line's only lawn, a central gathering space widening at 23rd Street, providing crosstown views of the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River.

Access points from street level located every few blocks, open daily 7am to 10pm; www.thehighline.org.