Visitor Center to Open in Manhattan

The New York Convention & Visitors Bureau will open a visitor center Friday with multilingual counselors, an ATM, a souvenir store and ticket sales for 25 attractions, including the Empire State Observatory. The center, known as the NYCVB Visitor Information Center, will be open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends, at 810 7th Ave., at 53rd Street; tel. (212) 484-1222. It will also have member services for American Express, which co-sponsors the center. Last fall, a group funded by Times Square businesses opened the Times Square Visitor Center several blocks away on Broadway, between 46th and 47th streets, with an ATM, transit information, Internet terminals and tickets for Broadway shows.