NYC ’s icon reimagined

New York City’s iconic Empire State Building has debuted the second phase of its top-to-bottom reimagined Observatory Experience, opening to the public last month. The US$165 million project sees the museum as the only in NYC that almost never sleeps, remaining open seven days a week from 8am to 2am.

The 3,000m2 galleries invite guests on a journey from the building’s construction to its current place in pop culture.

One of the exhibit’s highlights is the construction display, where visitors can experience the sights and sounds of the building of the icon.

The museum also features a King Kong display with the famous ape’s fingers bursting through the walls of a 1930s office.

Qantas recently announced the commencement of flights from Brisbane to Chicago and San Francisco, taking the airline’s Us-direct flights from the Queensland capital from one to three. The new routes will be operated by Qantas’ 787-9 Dreamliner and followed on from the US Department of Transportation greenlighting QF’S joint business with American Airlines. Brisbane-san Francisco flights will begin 9 February next year and operate three times a week, while the Chicago operation will commence 20 April with four flights a week to the Illinois capital.