Most of my gallery of photos from the Top of the Rock were shot in "sunset" mode, one of 31 pre-set "scenes" that automate focus, saturation, shutter speed and more, depending on the situation. You'll notice the sunset part came out great; now I have to work on the rest.

Some notes on the Top of the Rock, whose entrance is on 50 Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues:

• The cost is $15, after tax. Another perfectly affordable yet memorable New York City experience.

• Purchase tickets online or in-person, reserving a spot at the time you wish to be whisked to the 70th floor. A quick line at the Empire State Building is around 30 minutes, but my 3:55 p.m. ticket got me to the TOTR right around 4 p.m. Righteous stuff.

• The staff, which is in only its second week on the job, was really friendly. Overly friendly, 'round these parts. Felt like I was in a T.G.I. Friday's. God love that tourism trade.

• You're basically there to get two must-have pictures: the Empire State Building (which, of course, cannot be shot from the ESB itself) and Central Park, which looks a lot nicer from this deck as opposed to the 86th-floor observatory at 34 Street and Fifth Avenue.

Contrastly, the view of the Chrysler Building is almost completely blocked by the Met Life Building, and I couldn't see Bryant Park, both of which are staples of the Empire State Building view.

• Rudy Giuliani stood atop the Rockefeller Center observatory deck, when it was closed from 1986-2005, for a famous TIME magazine Person of the Year cover photo.

• Just like at the ESB, you're not allowed to take a pee from the edge.

Previously: My photos from the Empire State Building.