Short term parking near 42nd and 12th?

I’ve been and driven through nyc 3 or 4 times, I understand why they say not to drive into it, I’ve gotten stuck on a bridge for 2 hours, lost, etc.. I need to drop a passport off at the chinese embassy a weekday morning. It shouldn’t take long but let’s say 2 hour max. If I arrived 2 or 3 hours early, around 5 or 6 am, would I be able to park around 42nd and wait in the car for 2 hours and leave the car from 1 to 2 hours?

If I can find a spot is street parking legal? Be better to arrive earlier, middle of the night, or walk a few blocks?

Google map, little farther down from the intersection