It is said that, during a jubilee year, one would receive a plenary indulgence by visiting all four major basilicas in Rome (nowadays, it seems you only have to visit one of them—pfft!).
During this Apple Jubilee of 2010, I have visited all four of the Major Apple Stores in New York City (my total Apple Store visit count is about 25 now) in two days... I didn't buy anything, so I might've missed one of the conditions of the plenary Apple-dulgence, but I did get my photo taken by an Apple employee!
Apple Store - Upper West Side
Entering into the Upper West Side Apple Store feels like entering a major train terminal or union station; the space is HUGE, with a ton of vertical space. It was fairly chilly inside, and I wonder how much money they spend on air conditioning and heating the place!
(Eek! Not very flattering, I know)...
Apple Store - West 14th Street
This was the most unique Apple Store experience I've had so far; not only is there an amazing glass spiral staircase, the building looks almost like an old printery or newspaper mill—very unlike most other Apple buiding façades.
Apple Store - Soho
This store is almost identical in layout to the Chicagoland Apple Store I visited a few months ago, except the back end of the store extends an additional 30 ft. or so.
Apple Store - 5th Avenue
The elevator at this store is unique in that it is driven only by a single piston, and has no cables on the top of the car. I can imagine there's quite a bit of weight on that metal piston! As usual, there is an overabundance of three-ply glass panels... everywhere.
Thanks especially to my fiancée, who encouraged me to enter into each Apple Store, even though I felt unworthy at times.