New York City has many famous streets: Broadway, of course, which runs the full length of Manhattan and into the Bronx; Madison Avenue, synonymous with advertising; Fifth Avenue, home to high-end shopping and the Empire State Building; and on and on. One of the most famous is 42nd Street, the eastern terminus of the first road across the United States and home to the southern edge of Times Square and the Theatre District, the United Nations (at First Avenue), the Chrysler Building (at Lexington Avenue), and Grand Central Terminal (at Park Avenue). In fact, you could spend an entire day in the city without stepping off of it; here are some of the great places you’ll find along the thoroughfare made famous by the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name.

An urban oasis in the middle of Manhattan lies just south of 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, behind the beautiful, Beaux Arts main branch of the New York Public Library: Bryant Park (212-768-4242; bryantpark.org). Bryant Park hosts a multitude of events during the summer, including the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival (Mondays at sunset, beginning 6/21 with Sean Conney in Goldfinger); Broadway in Bryant Park (Thursdays, 12:30-1:30pm, beginning 7/8); the Word for Word authors series; and the Bryant Park After Work Music Series (every Wednesday, 6-7pm); as well as birding tours, and classes in yoga, tai chi, fencing, knitting, and more. Visit their website for a complete schedule of events.

Excited about the arrival of Sex and the City 2? Head inside The HBO Shop, home to the latest items from their Sex and the City line. A full line of The Sopranos memorabilia also awaits, as well as collectibles from HBO’s latest megahit, True Blood, showcasing items inspired by the show, including T-shirts, Merlotte’s coffee mugs and aprons, bottle openers, posters, and more. There’s also a full line of DVD sets, t-shirts, and more from all of HBO’s their top shows, including Big Love, Entourage, and The Pacific. 1100 Ave. of the Americas (42nd St. & Sixth Ave.), 212-512-SHOP; hboshop.com.

Get up close and personal with the world’s biggest legends and celebrities at Madame Tussauds New York, home to masterfully crafted, life-size wax figures that seem so real, they’ll feel like they’ve met some of their favorite celebrities. Recent additions to the Madame T pantheon include Twilight’s Robert Pattinson, Sean “Diddy” Combs, the Jonas Brothers, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Zac Efron, and many others. At the American Idol Cafe, you can audition before a wax likeness of the show’s toughest judge, Simon Cowell, and purchase a DVD of your performance. 234 W. 42nd St. btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., 800-246-8872; madametussauds.com/newyork.

Not an art museum, not a science museum, and not a circus sideshow, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square showcases the oddities in life and delivers the ultimate in shockingly odd, true stories. The exhibits include Ripley’s collection of 24 shrunken heads that were the spoils of war for the Jivaro Indians of Ecuador; a 3,197-lb. meteorite that fell to earth in China during the Ming Dynasty in 1529; a collection of Olympic torches; and human and animal oddities. 234 W. 42nd St. btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., 212-398-3133; ripleysnewyork.com.

A throwback to the fabled days of New York nightclubs -- and celebrating its 10th anniversary in June with performances by music legends Patti LaBelle and Chuck Berry -- B.B. King Blues Club & Grill features top-caliber music stars and an American Continental menu with a Southern flair. The Showcase Room has video screens and state-of-the-art sound, table seating, a bar where you can snack and listen, and a dance floor. There’s also the Beatles Brunch offered every Saturday afternoon at noon (doors open at 11am) and Lucille’s Grill (named after B.B.’s famed guitar), located next door, features the full menu and free live music every night at 8pm. Visit bbkingblues.com for a list of upcoming shows. 237 W. 42nd St. btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., 212-997-4144.