East 47th St, Midtown

East 47th is like most of midtown east: boring. But, there are still some cool historical things to see that I would advise seeing before they're eventually torn down too.
The original Ritz Carlton was at 47th and Madison. I always get sad when things like that are moved or torn down. I think it would have been so cool to go to the original: like you're in the Great Gatsby or something. The North East corner of 47th and Park is where the bachelor pad of Lawrence Seldon in The House of Mirth was. If you're a book nerd, like myself, you will probably appreciate that.
The corner of 47th and 3rd houses the Buchanan Apartments where a lost of very wealthy socialites lived in the '30's. And, exactly one block east, at 2nd, was the original Warhol Factory. He made his first few films here before moving downtown. He hadn't ruined Edie Sedgwick just yet when he was living here.
The Embassy House at 2nd Avenue isn't a particularly interesting apartment building. But, it is built on the site of a church that had a crazy scandal. In 1913, a woman was murdered and dismembered. An assistant priest, Father Schmidt confessed and said that St Elizabeth told him to do it. He later, admitted that he was posing as a priest, the girl was his lover, and her death was due to a botched abortion. He was executed shortly thereafter. I don't think I'd really want to live at that apartment building. It would totally creep me out. The far side of the same block boasts the tallest residential building in the world. I think living in that building would scare me equally but for different reasons.
The UN headquarters is located at the East River and that's pretty uneventful. But, there is a fantastic sculpture in the north garden. It's called Cast the Sleeping Elephant. It's a massive elephant with a massive erection that was donated as a gift. The UN couldn't refuse it so they grew bushes up around the nether regions in an attempt to cover it up. I think that is hilarious.