Buddy (Will Ferrell) was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa's sack and ended up at the North Pole. Later, as an adult human who happened to be raised by elves, Santa allows him to go to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). Hobbs, on Santa's naughty list for being a heartless jerk, had no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy, meanwhile, experiences the delights of New York City (and human culture) as only an elf can. When Walter's relationship with Buddy interferes with his job, he is forced to reevaluate his priorities.

Empire State Building, 350 5th Avenue and West 34th Street, Manhattan.   The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark Art Deco skyscraper at the intersection of 5th Avenue and West 34th Street. It is 1,250 ft (381 meters) tall. Website: Official Empire State Building website

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark Art Deco skyscraper in New York City at the intersection of 5th Avenue and West 34th Street. It is 1,250 ft (381 meters) tall. Its name is derived from the nickname for New York, The Empire State. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than 40 years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building again became the tallest building in New York City.

The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and confirmed by the New York City Board of Estimate. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. In 2007, it was ranked number one on the List of America's Favorite Architecture according to the AIA. The building is owned and managed by W&H Properties. The Empire State Building is currently the third tallest skyscraper in the United States (after the Willis Tower and Trump International Hotel and Tower, both in Chicago), and the 15th tallest in the world. It is also the fourth tallest freestanding structure in the Americas. The Empire State Building is currently undergoing a $550 million renovation, with $120 million utilized in an effort to transform the building into a more energy efficient and eco-friendly structure.

otsoNY Comments: As you can see the Gimbel store does not exist and in fact the top part of this building on the corner of 5th Avenue and East 30th Street was computer generated to look like the original Gimbel department store. This is not uncmomon in the world of films as the apartment building roofs in Ghostbusters and The Devil's Advocate were also given the CGI treatment.

295, 5th Avenue and East 30th Street, Manhattan.

Park Avenue and East 38th Street, Manhattan.   Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east.

West 46th Street and 7th Avenue, Manhattan.

Broadway and East 22nd Street, Manhattan.

5th Avenue and East 23rd Street, Manhattan.

Subway, East 23rd Street and Broadway, Manhattan.

10 West 33rd Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan.

Walter Hobbs Apartment, 55 Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: This building was also used as Dana Barratt's apartment in Ghostbusters.

41 West 68th Street and Central Park West, Manhattan.

School, 40 West 68th Street and Central Park West, Manhattan.

Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue (btw 49th and 50th Streets) Manhattan.   Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres btw 48th and 51st streets. Website: Official Rockefeller website

Queensboro Bridge, East 59th Street (btw Manhattan and Queens).   The Queensboro Bridge is a cantilever bridge over the East River in New York City that was completed in 1909. It connects the neighbourhood of Long Island City in the borough of Queens with Manhattan, passing over Roosevelt Island.

Bethesda Terrace, (Mid-Park at 72nd Street) Central Park, Manhattan.   Bethesda Terrace has two levels. The upper terrace flanks the 72nd Street Cross Drive and the lower terrace provides a podium for viewing the Lake. The fountain is the central feature on the lower level of the terrace.