East 57th St, Midtown

57th starts off in Midtown at Kenneth Cole shoes which is really uneventful considering that it's a somewhat eventful block. Next to Kenneth Cole is a boutique hotel called Hotel 57. And, next to that is a gallery which used to be where Bertol Brecht lived. The majority of this side of the block, however, is taken up by Universal Pictures and a massive luxury building where Phil Collins used to live. BLT Steak is on the ground floor which I've never tried because I don't like the offshoots but it's supposed to be really good. Across from Universal is the Ritz Tower which was the first residential skyscraper. William Randolph Hearst, Greta Garbo and Marion Davies have all lived in this building which is now, sadly, commercial. The building next door is a slightly newer luxury building. It's the building where Eric Clapton's son fell out of the 53rd story window. He wrote Tears in Heaven about his son's death.
Across Park Avenue, you get into super fancy town with the Four Seasons Hotel and some really high end shopping. Jacob the Jeweler, Christian LaCriox, and Frank Muller are all on this block along with a number of other jewelry stores and a couple of high end antique shops. There are also a few art galleries that remain on this block from the era that they all used to be right around here. It's a really pretty block and there is plenty to do and see right here which is rare for midtown but not so rare on the streets approaching up town such as this one.
The high end continues across Madison with shops such as Burberry, Chanel, Dior and Furla. People think all of the big shopping is on 5th Ave but it's actually on the streets crossing 5th Ave and this is one of the majors. If you like designer shopping, this is the street to hit. Yves St Laurent and Tiffany's (the one from Breakfast at Tiffany's) round out the block just as 57th finishes its run through midtown proper. I wouldn't want to live on this street because of the traffic, noise and tourists. But, there's something magical about walking down this street and looking into all of these beautiful shops in beautiful buildings.