6½ Avenue in Manhattan
Tourists visiting New York are often told not to look up as it is a dead giveaway that they are tourists, which is a piece of advice I am happy to ignore as there is so much to see and experience just looking up in New York! But then again I am often told that I do behave like a tourist even in my own City, so I am probably not the best person to be wrighing in on this.
A few years ago, looking up as I do while walking, I noticed a sign that said 6½ Avenue, which is an Avenue I had no idea even existed! Finding 6½ Avenue to me was as surprising as discovering that there is a 4th Avenue in Manhattan, which runs from 8th to 14th Street.
I have learn since that 6½ Avenue dates back to 2012, and runs from 51st Street to 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. It is made up of a series of connected pedestrian passageways that cut across the avenues and buildings with some interesting art and restaurants in them.
The restaurants in this passageway tend to be busy, a couple with an after work crown for happy hour.
And there is some interesting art to be experienced on 6½ Avenue –
If you’re ever on the West side between 6th and 7th Avenue in the fifties, it is worth taking a stroll through 6½ Avenue, though keep in mind that some of the blocks on on 6½ Avenue are closed off at night.
#gottalovenewyork
Thanks for offering this wonderful nugget of knowledge. You are correct, this pedestrian-only avenue is a one-quarter-mile corridor of privately owned public spaces, such as open-access lobbies and canopied spaces, which are open during the day.
Thank you! It is great that you are familiar with this! I love walking through this space, it is a great way to beat pedestrian traffic and soak in all the art, activities and restaurants in it.