Sky-High Views & Broadway Dreams

Audio By Carbonatix

Summit One Vanderbilt: Seeing NYC From a New Angle

The show takes listeners sky-high with a visit to Summit One Vanderbilt, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary and has become one of New York City’s top attractions. Nastasia Welter, Summit’s VP of Sales, explains how the attraction has set itself apart from traditional observation decks by combining spectacular city views with immersive, multisensory experiences, including mirrors, reflections and art created by Kenzo Digital. The three-floor experience also offers food, cocktails and event space, giving visitors plenty of reasons to linger after taking in the skyline.

World Photography Day at Summit

Nastasia also previews Summit One Vanderbilt’s annual World Photography Day sunrise event on August 19. Guests can arrive early, explore all three floors and photograph New York City as the sun rises over the skyline. The event is intentionally intimate, with a limited number of tickets available for photography enthusiasts looking for a memorable—and very Instagrammable—morning above Manhattan.

Meet Alejandro, NYC’s Next Young Singing Sensation

The hosts welcome 13-year-old Alejandro Christensen, winner of the Junior Starduster competition at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. Alejandro shares how singing during pandemic-era Zoom music classes led him to talent shows, cabarets and eventually the Junior Starduster competition. He talks about his love of pop, jazz and Broadway, and even performs part of his winning number, “I Like It” from A Bronx Tale, live on the show. He’ll perform at Ellen’s Stardust Diner during Broadway Kids’ Night Out on August 25.

Broadway’s Next Generation

The conversation also highlights the role of Kids’ Night on Broadway in introducing younger audiences to Broadway. The Junior Starduster competition gives aspiring young performers a chance to showcase their talents, while Kids’ Night on Broadway helps families experience live theater through special ticket offers. The hosts emphasize how programs like these help keep New York’s legendary performing-arts culture thriving for the next generation.

New York’s Observation-Deck Battle

Kevin and Cristyne discuss the increasingly crowded world of New York City observation decks. What was once essentially a two-player game involving the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock has expanded dramatically, with several newer attractions competing for visitors. They note that while the Empire State Building remains an essential piece of New York history, newer experiences such as Summit One Vanderbilt are changing what visitors expect from a skyline attraction.

A Hospitality Career Built Around New York

Nastasia shares the winding, international path that brought her to New York’s hospitality scene. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she began working in hotels before moving through luxury retail, Disney, hotel conference services, tour operations and the New York Pass. Her story is ultimately a love letter to hospitality—and to the unpredictable nature of working with travelers, where no two days or guests are exactly alike.

Why New York Still Has the Magic

Nastasia recalls seeing a magazine cover featuring Times Square as a child in Brazil and immediately becoming fascinated by New York. The lights, yellow taxis, double-decker buses and sheer human energy convinced her that she needed to visit someday. Her story leads to a broader conversation about Times Square as one of the places where visitors can feel connected to the enormous diversity and energy of New York City.

Your NYC Weekend Playbook

Cristyne closes out the show with a packed list of things to do around the city. Highlights include Yankee Stadium’s Old-Timers’ Day, the upcoming Subway Series and September 11 commemoration, Restaurant Week through August 16, Summer Streets across all five boroughs, Broadway in Bryant Park, and an Ice Bucket Challenge event at Empire City Casino. In other words, whether your ideal weekend involves baseball, Broadway, food, photography or simply wandering through a city that refuses to sit still, New York has you covered.