12 Stunning Reasons New Yorkers Should <em>Look Up</em>

12 Stunning Reasons New Yorkers Should

Life moves fast, especially for all you New Yorkers out there. On your average commute to the office, between the train delays, the pushy pedestrians, the strangely long line at the bagel place, we're not surprised you're not exactly drinking up the scenery.

But then again, rush your way through New York City and you'll miss one of the many reasons you moved there in the first place. No matter how fast you're trying to get from Point A to Point B, we highly recommend taking one, small moment to pause and look up.

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Below, you'll see 12 gorgeous reasons why. We've captured a selection of New York buildings that, head on, look like nothing special. But take a moment, crane your neck and you'll see the mundane ground floors morph into something different altogether, their highest levels emitting a magnificence we'd never suspect.

Scroll down and watch your average-looking Duane Reade or Pret A Manger blossom into glorious architectural feats. Whether flaunting Greco-Roman columns, Baroque ornamentation or futuristic geometry, the following buildings really couldn't say it much clearer: Look up, New York!

This is what we see while turning a corner in NYC.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: The E. V. Haughwout Building in Soho is located at 488-492 Broadway in New York, Monday March 24, 2013. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
And this is what we're missing.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: The E. V. Haughwout Building in Soho is located at 488-492 Broadway in New York, Monday March 24, 2013. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
What looks like a simple Le Pain Quotidien...
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: The Bayard-Condict Building located at 65 Bleeker Street in New York, Monday March 24, 2013. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
Has this atop it.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: The Bayard-Condict Building located at 65 Bleeker Street in New York, Monday March 24, 2013. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
Just a Pret A Manger?
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Chanin Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 122 E 42nd St in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
Think again.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Chanin Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 122 E 42nd St in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
What seems like a standard store...
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Scribner Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 597 Fifth Avenue in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
Explodes into an ornate design.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Scribner Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 597 Fifth Avenue in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
Stop at the ground level...
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Crown Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 730 Fifth Avenue in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
And you'd never see the towering beauty just above it.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Crown Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 730 Fifth Avenue in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
This might not be anything to write home about.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Chrysler Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 405 Lexington Ave in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
And then you realize it's the Chrysler Building.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The Chrysler Building in Midtown Manhattan is located at 405 Lexington Ave in New York, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
Recognize this famous hotel?
NEW YORK, NY - May 12: The Ace Hotel located at 20 West 29th Street can be seen in New York, Monday May 12, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
How about now?
NEW YORK, NY - May 12: The Ace Hotel located at 20 West 29th Street can be seen in New York, Monday May 12, 2014. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post)
Don't be fooled by the CVS logo.
NEW YORK, NY - May 18: The East River Savings Bank located at 743 Amsterdam Avenue can be seen in New York, Sunday May 18, 2014. (Photo by Marc Janks, Huffington Post)
The East River Savings Bank building is stunning.
NEW YORK, NY - May 18: The East River Savings Bank located at 743 Amsterdam Avenue can be seen in New York, Sunday May 18, 2014. (Photo by Marc Janks, Huffington Post)
If you don't look past the door...
NEW YORK, NY - May 18: The The Sutherland building located at 611 West 158th Street can be seen in New York, Sunday May 18, 2014. (Photo by Marc Janks, Huffington Post)
This goes unnoticed.
NEW YORK, NY - May 18: The The Sutherland building located at 611 West 158th Street can be seen in New York, Sunday May 18, 2014. (Photo by Marc Janks, Huffington Post)
Ansonia Cleaners is on the first floor...
NEW YORK, NY - May 18: The Ansonia Hotel located at 2109 Broadway can be seen in New York, Sunday May 18, 2014. (Photo by Marc Janks, Huffington Post)
And this breathtaking design takes over the rest.
NEW YORK, NY - May 18: The Ansonia Hotel located at 2109 Broadway can be seen in New York, Sunday May 18, 2014. (Photo by Marc Janks, Huffington Post)
Don't stop at the gold lettering.
NEW YORK, NY - May 20: The Trump Building located at 40 Wall Street can be seen in New York, Tuesday May 20, 2014. (Photo by Wendy George, Huffington Post)
The Trump Building reaches for the sky.
NEW YORK, NY - May 20: The Trump Building located at 40 Wall Street can be seen in New York, Tuesday May 20, 2014. (Photo by Wendy George, Huffington Post)
Have we convinced you yet?
NEW YORK, NY - May 20: The the old Woolworth Building located at 233 Broadway can be seen in New York, Tuesday May 20, 2014. (Photo by Wendy George, Huffington Post)
It's worth it to look up.
NEW YORK, NY - May 20: The the old Woolworth Building located at 233 Broadway can be seen in New York, Tuesday May 20, 2014. (Photo by Wendy George, Huffington Post)

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