Manhattanhenge in the City

There are two times a year when the city of New York witnesses the beauty that is the Manhattanhenge. Described by the American Museum of Natural History as the setting of the sun aligning precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across Manhattan’s brick and steel canyons and simultaneously illuminating both North and South sides of every cross street of the boroughs grid. This is a sight you do not want to miss.

While you may or may not have missed the first Manhattanhenge of this year on May 29, you will have another opportunity to snap a pic of this rare sighting when the sun sets on July 12.  Here are a few tips to ensure that you enjoy your last chance of the year to set your Instagram on fire with an awesome picture of the sunset!

Location, Location, Location
Now’s your chance to use that cool compass app on your iPhone — get familiar with cardinal directions, as the best place to catch Manhattanhenge is as far east in Manhattan as possible.  Traffic will not be closed, so be sure to grab a safe spot on a sidewalk on one of these major cross streets: 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th. (BTW, we’re just a few blocks away on 38th.)

Ready, aim, shoot
Grab a few friends and your camera and head over to one of the major cross streets to snap the perfect picture of the magical sunset. This would be the perfect time to catch the sun in your hands or a perfect halo courtesy of Mr. Sun himself. Have a little fun and throw in a bit of creativity — remember, these pictures have to last until next year’s Manhattenhenge!

Rooftop sunset views
If you don’t feel like braving the crowds or fighting traffic, you can catch a glimpse of Manhattanhenge from the Refinery Rooftop instead. Order up a cocktail just before sundown and grab a spot on our outdoor deck where you can see into the city. Granted, the view is not exactly the same, but we can guarantee you the sunset is just as breathtaking!