In the 1956 Harrison & Abramovitz designed Socony-Mobil Building on East 42nd Street (just east of Madison) --- formerly the only centrally air-conditioned building in the world and the first to be clad entirely in pleated stainless steel panels (and still the largest of that type in the world) --- resides the disgraced Wells Fargo Bank company.
Disgraced, because for more than a decade, until 2015, in order to boost the bank’s stock price, Wells Fargo’s top executives pressured low-level employees to secretly create more than two million unauthorized and false checking and credit-card accounts. Tried. Guilty. Fined 180 Million dollars.
Disgraced a second time because of ‘fraudulent’ loans and sales. Tried. Guilty again (2020). Fined 3 Billion dollars.
A truly unruly, wild west barroom type of scofflaw, Wells Fargo appears to be.
Anyway, in the lobby of this super New York skyscraper is, appropriately, a Wells Fargo stagecoach --- an original, the real thing --- in blood red livery with olive green velvet/velour upholstery, minus the dust and the four horses that pulled it, and the driver and shotgun armed escort --- Wyatt Earp was a Wells Fargo rider and maybe escorted this very coach.
For those to whom a Wells Fargo stage coach symbolizes the wild west and its Indian wars, this is a must see especially if you know John Ford's 1939 western 'Stagecoach', which introduced John Wayne to the world.
Worth a peak when you're sightseeing the Chrysler Building, Grand Central, the Chanin Building and environs like Library Way and ‘Alice and Olivia’.
East 42nd Street 150
US$
free
8008693557
Find your way with 304 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"Queens Bakehouse" in NYC was an instant hit with me. Their inventive twists on classics are what really stole my heart - the croissant loaf, for example.
by
When you step into "Rainey Park" in New York City, it feels like you have been welcomed into the shared backyard of Astoria residents. Compact & sunny!
by
"Malachy's Donegal Inn" is an Irish bar in New York city that's a survivor. There's an ingrained (or ingrown) sense of comfort, 'cares abandoned'...
by
"Utopia" is my neighborhood go-to breakfast joint. It's a real old-school kind of place; I go with my newspaper and am always served well and fast.
by
"Central Park Benches" in NYC (apart from their comfort) are known for their commemorative plaques. One of them is dedicated by the citizens of Liverpool...
by
You can find "BANKSY in New York" in the Upper West Side. 'Boy With a Hammer' is the only one of his pieces that hasn't been 'repurposed'...
by
"Silvana" is a large cafe, boutique, shawarma and falafel bar in NYC that also offers live music performances on their downstairs stage. Great acts!
by
The menu is simple: hamburgers, French fries & toppings. No over-the-top ingredients, no superfluous adjectives, and high-value food at rock-bottom prices.
by
"Elizabeth Street Garden" New York: formerly the site of a large, important school house, it was reclaimed in the '90s and turned into a sculpture garden.
by
One block away from a 21st century LinkNYC WiFi tower on Broadway sits one of three West End Avenue working telephone 'booths', the last in NYC...
by
After, "Anthony & Son" Panini Shoppe's Italian-style super-sandwiches, no regular New York sandwich will ever taste as good again...
by
"Dutch Kills" in New York isn't hiding it's one of the best bars in the city, but it isn't publicizing the fact, either. No password to enter, however!
by
304 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 304 Insider Tips