A Year in Review: The Best of ESB

The year started off strong with a visit from K-pop group GHOST9 on Jan. 25. 

During their visit, GHOST9 filmed a dance video to their song “Control” on the building’s iconic 86th Floor. 

Empire State Building played most iconic NYFW host to Designer Christian Siriano’s Fall 2022 Show on Feb. 12, with celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Susan Sarandon, Alicia Silverstone, and MJ Rodriguez in attendance and models Coco Rocha and Karen Elson walking the runway. Afterwards, both celebrities and models took to the elevators to experience the Empire State Building’s museum-quality exhibits and unmatched views from the different Observatory decks. 

On Feb. 14, Sarah Jessica Parker graced the Empire State Building Observatory to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The star kicked off the holiday with a special lighting ceremony in partnership with Tiffany & Co. 

Mascots abound! The BIG EAST Conference brought their college mascots for an Observatory takeover that ended in a rooftop snowball fight on March 9. 

Norwegian singer-songwriter Sigrid took over the 80th floor of the Empire State Building to perform an intimate concert for fans on April 7 to promote her album, “It Gets Dark.” 

On April 21, President Bill Clinton, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Mayor Eric Adams joined ESRT’s Chairman, President, and CEO Anthony E. Malkin and SVP, Director of Sustainability, Energy, and ESG Dana Robbins Schneider at the Empire State Building to announce the publication of the groundbreaking “Empire Building Playbook: An Owner’s Guide to Low Carbon Retrofits,” co-developed by NYSERDA and ESRT.  

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, the number one and number two female boxers in the world, lit up the Empire State Building in their national flags before they took to the 86th Floor Observatory for their official face-off on April 26. Taylor and Serrano made sports history as the first female boxers to headline a match in Madison Square Garden’s 140-year history on April 30. See the lighting ceremony on YouTube. 

Veteran model Maye Musk learned she would grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in an interview at the top of the Empire State Building on May 11. 

ESB became #ESBiggie with a celebration for the Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th Birthday. On May 20, The Empire State Building hosted a lighting ceremony with Biggie’s family and close friends, which included his mother Voletta Wallace, his children T’yanna and Christopher Jr., Lil’ Kim, and Lil’ Cease. The building lit up in red and white with a crown and the number “50” spinning in the mast to honor his birthday on May 21. 

On May 26, the Empire State Building shared a “Stranger Things” themed experience with New Yorkers at its iconic Observatory, which included a first-of-its-kind, dynamic light show; a special appearance from the “Stranger Things” cast; and a life-size Demogorgon on the building’s 86th Floor. See more on YouTube! 

The Empire State Building was named #1 Attraction in the United States – and #3 worldwide – by Tripadvisor travelers in the 2022 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best in June. To celebrate its grand standing, the building’s tower lights lit up in Tripadvisor Green on June 15. 

To celebrate his new documentary and sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden, Machine Gun Kelly lit the Empire State Building and toured the iconic 86th and 102nd Floor Observatories on June 28. 

“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” star Joshua Basset celebrated the show’s season three premiere with a photo opp. on the Empire State Building’s exclusive 103rd floor. 

Hip hop legend LL Cool J lit the Empire State Building in light blue to honor the Rock the Bells festival on Aug. 5. 

Alessandra Ambrosio celebrated Brazil Day in a big way with a ceremonial lighting and tour of the Empire State Building Observatory on Sept. 7. 

Prior to stepping down, U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss visited the Empire State Building for her first media interviews on the 102nd Floor Observatory. 

Actress and activist Elizabeth Hurley lit the Empire State Building pink to honor the Estee Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign on Oct. 3. See the lighting ceremony on YouTube!

Nearly 400 runners sprinted up the 1,567 stairs in the 44th annual Empire State Building Run-Up on Oct. 6. ESRT rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the occasion, that featured a fun podium moment with the ESB Besties. 

Dutch DJ and Producer Martin Garrix claimed the top spot in DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs poll with a celebratory set at the top of the Empire State Building in late October. 

Performers from the Big Apple Circus treated guests to an impromptu side show at the Observatory Experience after lighting the building to celebrate the Big Apple Circus’ 45th Anniversary on Nov. 11. 

The Empire State Building hosted the team from the newly opened Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony with special guest Alicia Keys on Nov. 15. 

The Backstreet Boys lit up the Empire State Building and sat with fans for an exclusive Q&A at the Observatory Experience on Dec. 8. The annual Empire State Building Music-to-Light Spectacular featured songs from the boyband’s new Christmas album, “A Very Backstreet Christmas.” See highlights from the visit and the ESB Music-to-Light Spectacular on YouTube! 

Cheers to another great year at the World’s Most Famous Building!