The Empire State Building lights up with different colors every night to represent an event or organization, etc. You can look up this information on their website. During the Olympics each side was lit differently to represent various countries' colors.

Reading Places

 

 If you find a good spot to read at your leisure in this town, you have to make note of it. This little shop called CommuniTea in Long Island City is one of those.

I took my newspaper (everyone else had laptops, but, hey, I'm old school) here yesterday. I was able to sit and eat my lunch (a mushroom "burger") for a good long while, and no one from the staff even glanced my way to indicate I'd been there too long. You may say, "How would you know, if you were reading your newspaper?" Good point. Let's just say that the place was busy, but I didn't feel rushed at any time. Mind you, I do not linger in restaurants or coffee shops if tables aren't available for new customers.

So, CommuniTea, I recommend you as a place to hang out. It's a good place to go and be around people, but still take your time. I'll be posting on more good places to read in the city.