From experience, which informed me on more than one occasion that “I should have known better”, I have not much sympathy for bad experiences of people trying to go places in Manhattan where so many tourists want to go.
Symbols like the Empire State Building reflect very little of what Manhattan as whole is really like, for living or otherwise. Yes the view is great, but its better and more worth the expense from a helicopter tour.
I always tell visiting tourists that to see and enjoy Manhattan well, simply avoid anything, other than Broadway Shows, if it’s located between 34th & 59th Street and between 9th and 5th Avenue. Not even a single one of the best restaurants in town are located there.
At least I was able to talk them out of the Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty tour.