I've never been inside the Flatiron Building. But one doesn't need to enter in order to experience it.

BACKGROUND: Before the invention of electric steam irons, clothes irons were called flatirons. And here in NYC, when two roads cross at acute angles, triangular sidewalk islands were also nicknamed 'flatirons.' A big one stretched south from the sharp angle of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, from 23rd Street. The Fuller Company (not Fuller Brush) built an office building in the flatiron, so the Fuller Building became known as the Flatiron Building. It opened in 1903.

Another, smaller 'flatiron' is directly across 23rd Street, to the north. Go stand on it and admire the Flatiron Building. Maybe you'll lean against the 1895 streetlamp to make photos. That streetlamp not only predates the Flatiron Building, but it's kind of 'city famous' being one of the world's oldest electric streetlamps! All the others were replaced long ago.

IN FICTION The headquarters of The Boys (TV show) is on the top floor. And every Spider-Man fan knows that The Daily Bugle newspaper is in the Flatiron! In fact, a car crash was staged outside Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop across Fifth, for one of the movies. John Wick was NOT filmed here. The Continental Hotel is shaped like the Flatiron, but it's at that five-way intersection near Wall & Pearl streets. And where is the hotel roof, on which John spoke to the owner? Why, it's on one of the Rockefeller Center buildings, some five miles north!

And in fiction that's been franchised, New York's Harry Potter Store is on Broadway just across 22nd Street from The Flatiron.

Oh, wait, there's a nearby fictional location. Just halfway down the block on west 23rd from the Flatiron Building is a big white cast-iron gem marked Home Depot. Nowadays it's a hardware store. But back in 1988, Tom Hanks, got a job there - it was a toy company - in Big! Why would filmmakers choose that particular building in which to film? Well for one thing, it's cast iron, built before electric lights. That means plenty of natural sunlight. And large spaces. Even the [bunk]bedroom scene was filmed there.

The other reason that building was chosen was that it was then the HQ of Mattel Toys. Barbie! This area was the Toy District. Marx, Kenner, Ideal, Schaper, Wham-o, they were all here too.

Eataly, a food palazzio, is right on the corner of 23rd & Fifth. But do yourself a favor if you arrive at lunchtime. Enter at the 23rd Street side. Much less crowded.

If you're in the mood for simpler fare, the original Shake Shack is located just inside the south end of Madison Square, across 23rd from The Flatiron.

If you'd like to take a walking tour of this and the Ladies Mile, I know some excellent guides who will astound you.