Step aside, King Kong! In a major twist of cityscape rivalry, One Vanderbilt’s Summit has dethroned the Empire State Building’s Observatory, which has long ruled as New York City’s premier sky-high vantage point.

Remarkably, in just its fifth year, Summit generated more revenue in the first half of this year than the storied Empire State decks, according to financial disclosures from both properties’ public ownership.

During the initial six months of 2026, Summit amassed $55.651 million in operating revenue, marking a 3.9% upswing from the previous year’s $53.541 million. This financial boost was highlighted in a supplemental report accompanying SL Green’s earnings release for the second quarter.

Meanwhile, earnings from the Empire State Observatory nose-dived, dropping to $42.7 million for the first half of 2026 from $57 million in the same timeframe in 2025, as detailed in the Empire State Realty Trust’s quarterly earnings report.

Analyst John P. Kim from Bank of Montreal, based in Manhattan, acknowledged, “Indeed, Summit has outperformed the Empire State Observatory not only in the fourth quarter of 2025 but also throughout 2026 thus far.”

The shocking change of fortune came as Manhattan observation decks face more competition — there are a half-dozen today, compared with only two after 9/11. Moreover, the number of international travelers to the Big Apple — who comprise a large part of their business — has fallen by 8% since the pandemic.

Privately held companies own four of Manhattan’s observation decks — Tishman Speyer’s Top of the Rock, Related’s Edge, the Port Authority and Durst’s One World Observatory and Jamestown’s just-opened Times Square Skywalk — and aren’t required to divulge financial results.

There’s also the city’s newly opened, 36th-floor Centre 360 atop the Municipal Building at 1 Centre St. — and it’s free, although tickets must be booked well in advance.

“It’s the last thing that the pricey ones need,” a source said of the publicly funded competition.

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Kim, whose office overlooks the Skywalk, said: “The observatory pie is growing, but it’s affecting the Empire State Building the most.”

He added that in the intensified struggle for visitors, “Everyone offers something new and different.” 

There are “immersive” light-and-video installations, time-travel simulations and kaleidoscopic displays to entertain visitors en route to the observatories.

Summit is on One Vanderbilt’s 97th to 99th floors, while Empire State has viewing platforms on the 86th and 102nd floors.  

The latter have appeared in scores of movies, including “An Affair to Remember,” “The Producers,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and even “The Muppets Take Manhattan.”

The numbers of visitors can’t be extrapolated from revenue, because crazy-quilt admission prices vary wildly depending on which options customers choose. At Top of the Rock, for example, the cheapest ticket is $42 and the most expensive, for a “VIP pass,” is $185, with options in between.

Revenue is not the same as net operating income, which is also a function of expenses, taxes and other factors. But Empire State Observatory’s net operating income plunged $12.4 million in the second quarter compared to $24.2 million the previous year, while the number of visitors fell 28% year-over-year.

Chief Executive Tony Malkin told investors his company began “a total re-evaluation of our observatory business model and execution early in the first quarter.” That could mean less reliance on third-party sightseeing passes that bundle discounted admissions.

The setback caused Empire State Realty Trust to write down $166 million in value attached to  the observatory, which astonishingly accounts for nearly 25% of net operating income for the company’s entire, nearly 9 million square-foot office portfolio. (In comparison, SL Green holds interests in over 30 million square feet of properties).

The Empire State Observatory’s plight stands in contrast to the skyscraper’s  2.8 million square feet of offices, which are more than 96% leased at high rents. Powerhouse talent agency UTA recently signed for over 100,000 square feet, as The Post first reported. 

As the year began, Kendall Jenner seemed to fully embrace her single status, expressing joy in the freedom that comes without romantic ties.

“I enjoy the independence I have at this moment. I can pursue my interests freely,” she shared with Owen Thiele on the In Your Dreams podcast.

However, not long after, Jenner’s solitary lifestyle experienced a dramatic shift.

In a surprising turn later that month, the 30-year-old supermodel began a new romance with Jacob Elordi, 29, an Oscar-nominated actor and longtime friend.

Their budding relationship quickly garnered public attention as they were spotted together at an Oscar party in March and shared a kiss at Coachella in April. The couple soon embarked on travels together, visiting destinations like Hawaii, Tokyo, Australia, and Idaho.

Next came a string of dates – most recently they were seen stopping by a Japanese barbecue restaurant on Tuesday.

But their speedy romance, which comes after Elordi previously romanced Jenner’s pal and fellow model, Kaia Gerber, has some people concerned.

‘Some of Kendall’s family members think she is spending too much time with Jacob and catering to him too much,’ a source told the Daily Mail. ‘They are totally inseparable. She plans all their expensive trips, she has the big houses, she books the private jets, she has the connections.’

Indeed, Elordi has already made himself comfortable in her Beverly Hills and Montecito homes in California.

And he has spent time with her closest VIP friends like Hailey and Justin Bieber, and gotten tight with her sister Kylie Jenner and her beau Timothee Chalamet. He has also met Kendall’s lesser-known friends such as Renell Medrano and Lauren Perez.

Jenner’s famous family is happy for her but also worried, said the source. 

Khloe Kardashian, in particular, has told her half-sister to be cautious: ‘Khloe is a sweetheart and acts like she is Kendall’s mom sometimes. She is super supportive to all her siblings, so warm, and generous and kind, but sometimes also like a helicopter parent, so it’s only natural for Khloe to tell Kendall to be careful.’

Khloe’s own painful track record with men has made her so suspicious that she has sworn off dating for the past five years.

‘Khloe has been burned so many times. I mean, look at what Lamar [Odom] and Tristan [Thompson] did to her, so it’s understandable she is wary of men,’ added the source. ‘She doesn’t want to scare Kendall, she has just told her sister to keep one eye open.’

Kylie, on the other hand, has told her older sister to go for it and jump headfirst into the new relationship. ‘Kylie was the one who told Kendall and Jacob to date each other in the first place, so she is not saying slow down, she is saying enjoy it!’

Another source, however, said there are red flags, insisting that Elordi is in part dating Jenner for the headlines. 

‘This is absolutely everything that Jacob wants as he loves every minute of his celebrity and Kendall is only providing him with more – it’s like a drug to his ego,’ said the second source.

Jenner has a history of dating famous people – Bad Bunny, Devin Booker, Ben Simmons and Blake Griffin are some examples – but none have had as much of a reputation as a womanizer as Elordi.

Elordi has already dated a string of beautiful, famous women including Joey King, Zendaya, Kaia Gerber and Olivia Jade Giannulli during his six years of fame.

‘Friends worry Jacob will break Kendall’s heart because he has dated so many women before and he tends to not stay in a relationship for too long. It is cause for concern,’ added the source.

Pals have urged the cover girl, who has said on Keeping Up With The Kardashians that she battles anxiety, to slow down the romance a bit to take care of herself. 

‘Her friends have suggested she spend more time with her horses and with passion projects like home design, and more nights out with her friends,’ shared the source.

Indeed, she has been with her horses and dogs – which she reminds her fans of with her Instagram photos. But Elordi seems to never be far away, as his Golden Retriever Layla can be spied in her images.

But the reality TV star thinks spending so much time with a Hollywood heartthrob is fine. ‘Kendall says they are doing great, and he is a good person, so why mess with a good thing?’ said the source.

‘Kendall has a glow, she is totally in love, and thinks Jacob could be the one. Who knows, she could end up Kendall Elordi,’ shared the source.

Jenner has never married, though earlier this year she told Vogue France that children are in her future. When asked if she planned to have kids, she replied: ‘Yes, of course. I want to have them, but not right now. I want to make sure I can dedicate a lot of time to them, and for the moment, I’m still too busy.’

As far as Elordi, he wants little ones as well. When the Wall Street Journal asked him last year if he wants to have children, he said: ‘Very much so.’ He also shared that becoming a dad would make him ‘the happiest person in the world.’

So far there have been no signs that Elordi plans to ditch the beauty. ‘Jacob has been super sweet, he is a nice guy, so no one can say he is a bad influence or a jerk,’ said the source.

And he has been there when she needed him.

‘When her grandmother MJ died she was really sad, and Jacob was there to wipe away the tears. He is very close to his family so he knows how important family is,’ said the source. 

It also looks like they could grow even closer, according to the second source. ‘He didn’t think it was going to be anything big, but it is now, and as active as his career is right now, he’s putting time into his relationship. It’s going way better than anyone including themselves thought it would be.’

And he is not getting any advice from his family to slow down. ‘His family is starting to accept that it is Jacob’s way or the highway. Right now his family is OK with it, or at least acting like they’re OK with it.’

As far as their future, Elordi and Jenner will continue trying to keep a low profile. 

‘There is no way he is going to appear on her family’s show The Kardashians, that is out of the question,’ said the first source. ‘But they may work together down the road on a fashion campaign. He likes to model so it could happen.’

Elordi has so far modeled for the brands Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Chanel (as the face of Bleu de Chanel), Cartier and TAG Heuer.

‘Maybe he will do some sexy Calvin Klein ad with his lady love? A little cheesy but fans would go wild,’ said the source. 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) — A potential relocation of the Chicago Bears’ stadium hinges on the approval of 75% of NFL team owners, placing considerable authority in the hands of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. His latest remarks have captured attention due to their apparent contrast with the Bears’ leadership’s public statements about their stadium plans.

A fortnight ago, Bears Chairman George McCaskey pointed to Hammond as the team’s singular stadium focus, refraining from clarifying Arlington Heights’ role in the team’s future plans.

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On August 13, when questioned about his optimism regarding Arlington Heights as the site for the Bears’ new stadium, McCaskey turned to the commissioner’s viewpoint.

“Well, somebody mentioned the commissioner. He has said to us many times in league meetings hope is not a strategy,” McCaskey noted.

Two weeks later, Goodell suggested that Arlington Heights remains a candidate for the new stadium, alongside potential sites in Indiana.

“We want to make sure that Arlington Heights and Illinois have an opportunity as well as Indiana to put their best foot forward,” Goodell said.

Goodell’s remarks came as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker confirmed he recently spoke with the commissioner.

“Yes, I have spoken with Commissioner Goodell,” Pritzker said. “I have not had the sense that Commissioner Goodell has a dog in the hunt, as they say, and that he’s chosen some, one state or another or a place for the Bears.”

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Others interpreted Goodell’s comments as a challenge to the message the Bears have been conveying about their stadium search.

“Roger Goodell’s comments make clear that the NFL knows that the most valuable location is in Arlington Heights,” said Ernie Rose of Touchdown Arlington.

Rick Telander, a longtime Chicago sports columnist and author, said the commissioner’s remarks undercut the Bears recent messaging.

“If you’re the Bears … you see this as being a bit of an embarrassment, another little mini slap in the face of what we’re trying to do, which at this point, I’m not sure anybody really knows,” Telander said.

Telander also emphasized Goodell’s influence within the league.

“Roger Goodell is the commissioner. If you had a king of the NFL, he would be the guy,” Telander said. “If Goodell is saying, hey listen, don’t cross that border. If that’s what he really means, don’t move to Indiana, the Bears have to listen.”

The Bears declined to comment on Goodell’s statement.

On Thursday, tensions escalated as Russia issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom, threatening to target British military sites both within Ukraine and beyond. This warning follows concerns that Kyiv might launch British-supplied long-range cruise missiles to attack Russian territory, according to various reports.

The announcement came the day after Moscow asserted that Ukraine had struck a shopping center in the Russian-occupied region of Donetsk. The attack, allegedly using British-made Storm Shadow missiles, reportedly caused injuries to civilians, including children. This accusation has further strained the already tense relations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, speaking on Thursday, delivered a stern message: Britain is on the brink of being deemed legally involved in acts she labeled as terrorism targeting civilians. She warned that continuing on this path could lead to dire repercussions, describing the potential fallout as “catastrophic.” This report was highlighted by Reuters.

Zakharova reiterated at a Moscow briefing, “We have consistently warned that any British military facilities and their equipment, whether located in Ukraine or elsewhere, may become targets. This would be in direct response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian regions facilitated by British arms.”

She urged British leaders to “immediately, in the most resolute and unequivocal manner, abandon the hostile, aggressive line” to prevent the conflict from escalating to an “entirely new level.”

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Ukraine Aug. 24 for Independence Day, when he announced that a defense contractor could release classified information about British components used in the long-range SCALP cruise missile as Ukraine and France seek to establish assembly lines in Ukraine, according to the U.K. government.

The SCALP missile, the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow, can strike targets more than 155 miles away.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the U.K. was “participating in the war” and “pouring fuel on the fire.”

A spokesperson for Britain’s Ministry of Defense told Reuters London stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine and was committed to providing the equipment that Kyiv needed “to defend itself against (President Vladimir) Putin’s illegal invasion.”

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“Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this government to stand against Russian aggression in Ukraine and against the U.K. and our allies,” the spokesperson said.

During his Kyiv visit, Burnham also hit back at Moscow, condemning Russia’s “outrageous threats” and asserting that Britain’s support for Ukraine would not waver.

Russia also warned Britain Aug. 17 that it would pay a “price” after The Times reported Aug. 15 that British-made drones supplied to Ukraine were used to strike military and industrial targets inside Russia for the very first time.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense did not confirm whether British drones had been used in the strikes.

Zakharova made the remarks as President Donald Trump downplayed concerns about a broader war, telling Axios in a phone interview Thursday he was not concerned Russia would attack a NATO member.

Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, known as the SVR, confirmed Thursday that he met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Moscow earlier this week, Reuters reported.

Naryshkin characterized the meeting as routine, saying they discussed issues within the scope of their intelligence services, according to Reuters.

Trump similarly described Ratcliffe’s trip as “semi-routine,” according to Axios.

News Media has reached out to 10 Downing Street for comment.

The intrigue of sewer exploration continues to capture attention this summer.

In an adventurous overnight escapade on Thursday, five individuals, often referred to as “mole people,” descended through a manhole, exploring the drainage systems of Long Island. This incident comes hot on the heels of a similar escapade in New York City involving another group last week.

These mystery explorers made their way into the underbelly of Wantagh at around 1 a.m., choosing the storm drain located at the junction of Wantagh Avenue and Jerusalem Avenue, as reported by WABC.

Security footage unveiled their coordinated effort as they pried open the manhole cover, with precision and speed, in order to slide into the subterranean passageways below, all within moments.

Clad in black attire, the group slipped into the narrow entrance and secured the cover behind them, disappearing into the intricate network beneath the streets, which is surrounded by various shopping centers.

Two witnesses had watched the night crawlers and called the Nassau County Police, the outlet reported.

Investigators went down into the sewer but came up empty-handed in their search for the wannabe Ninja Turtles.

Residents of the Long Island neighborhood questioned the potential motives behind the midnight adventures.

“It’s kind of dangerous; I don’t know what they have in mind,” one resident told the outlet.

“There’s a level of concern, but you can’t stop people from doing what they want to do,” a man said.

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“It’s kind of crazy to be honest with you. I have seen it on the news recently,” a third added.

Thursday’s sewer break-in comes a week after a trio was seen climbing up from a manhole outside Penn Station and Madison Square Garden in Manhattan around 4:20 a.m. on Aug. 18.

The viral TikTok video captured the headlamp-wearing men emerging from underground near the intersection of 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue — just feet from the main entrance to Penn Station.

The trio has not been captured, officials said.

NYPD detectives were using surveillance footage and facial recognition technology to try to identify and track the men down.

The Big Apple has had several reports of large groups of men entering or emerging from the city’s sewage systems, including in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, back in May.

Authorities cautioned against the bizarre adventure, warning potential divers of the dangers in the sewage system.

“Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces,” the DEP said in a statement. “For these reasons, members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall.”

Officials believe the NYC incidents may have involved migrants searching for valuables lost underneath the big city, WABC reported.