TIMES SQUARE, The HEART of NEW YORK. FEEL the BEAT!!
Written: Oct 01 '03 (Updated Mar 31 '06)
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Pros: It lights up the world!!
Cons: can be crowded, but hey It's Times Square!!
The Bottom Line: Times Square is an amazing place to start your NYC tour from.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Times Square |
When people think of New York images, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center, Central Park, the South Street Seaport, World Trade Center's "Ground Zero" site and World Class Museumsall come to mind. All of these are on the outskirts of what to many people is the heart of New York City, Times Square.
Anybody who has rung in the new year with the television on has watched the ball drop from #1 Times Square. This is where the energy of New York is!! The ball dropping tradition started in 1907. Before that New Years were celebrated at the city hall down town. The celebration outgrew that venue and Times Square and New York City have never been the same since.
MANY HOTELS in the HEART of it ALL
The Times Square area is marked by the over 30 major hotels. This area, without any definitive lines, is basically marked as the streets of 41st up to 52nd with a western boarder eighth ave and east to not quite 6th Ave. The main strip is Broadway and Seventh Ave.
This area is the home of many hotel chains. Double Tree, Hilton, Sheraton, W, Marriot, Best Western, Comfort Inn, Howard Johnson are some. Other more local, yet well known, places like the Paramount, Edison, Hotel Carter, and Milford Plaza are also here. Prices vary considerably and the prices do not necessarily reflect the quality of the hotel. A little shopping can go a long way. Always ask about weekend specials, better prices are available if that meets you stay time.
Some of the hotels are old some are brand new. Some are simple and some are extremely glitzy like Marriot Marquis Hotel that has a Broadway theatre inside also has NYC's only revolving restaurant on top. Very cool, very expensive!
The THEATRE DISTRICT
Times Square is also home of New Yorks Theatre District. Over 40 theatres are here and show your Broadway plays. These include huge Disney Spectaculars to simple one man shows. Some of them are fantastic! There is always something for everyone. In the recent year or so my wife and I saw Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Beauty and the Beast. Over the years we have seen many shows. Too many to mention. We do miss Les Miserables. It was our all time favorite. We even went to see it in London. If they ever do a revival be sure to see it if you never have.
Whatever the venue or story, do be sure to join the over 25 million people who see Broadway Shows every year. Be sure to use discretion when going to a show with kids. Some are great for kids and others well.....
Always try to have tickets for at least one show before coming to NY. I'll discuss a few ways of getting same day tickets in a bit. Some even discounted at half price!!
One thing I ask you to do when going to a play is also to really observe your surroundings. Some of these theatres have been restored to their old glory and are well worth a good look.
Some people like to stick around the stage doors after a show and hope to meet some of the stars of the show.
42nd STREET
This is where so much is happening. Whether it's your first visit or a place you have been to many times before there is always something new and amazing to see.
The Epinions.com management has made it a point to try and get to know some of the writers for their site. Just last month they hosted what they call a "Meet and Greet". Some thirty writers and management got together on the corner of 42nd and Broadway. We had the meet in the ESPN ZONE. This is an action packed, more than just a mega sports bar. It also has a great interactive arcade on the top level.
If you look across the street from the ESPN Zone to 43rd and Broadway you can see the old muti-tiered Paramount Building. This is the oldest major building in Times Square. Look up, especially at night to see the huge clock and the white glass sphere on top. These were some of the first landmarks of NYC's Times Square.
This can easily be overlooked due to all the glitz and lights of Broadway and its surrounding area. Right within site of the Paramount is a giant 3D sculpture of a huge beanstalk climbing a building almost seven stories high with a castle up above the clouds.
Further up 42nd Street going toward 8th Ave is Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum facade with huge giant hands and an outside elevator where you see the people riding and they see you. This is a great destination.
The marques of many of the shows are a delight in themselves. Take a close look at the Ford Center's Modern Marque on the old building that houses the show. This is also where a Broadway show is staged. What better place than 42nd Street to house the show 42nd Street!!
Be sure to look at the design and work of the New Victory theatre right next door. They just don't make em like that anymore. Just across the street is McDonalds that marks its eatery with another huge marque. This street is amazing with all its shows and lights. Backtracking back to Broadway you will notice a few things.
SUBWAYS
One great way of getting uptown and downtown in NYC quickly is using its subway system. Though not as bright and clean looking as Washington DC and London's Underground, I still feel it's safe and relatively cheap.
Right on Broadway and 42nd is a huge entrance to the system. So many lines work there way to this destination. the A,C,E,Q,W,N,R,S,1,2,3,7,and 9 can be picked up here. Try and get a muli-ride Metro Pass if you plan to use the subway system. There are also many entrances to the system right on 42nd between 7th and eighth Ave too.
SAFETY
As in any major cities and destinations in the world common and good sense should prevail. Stay with the crowds. Stay in groups if possible. Be aware of your surroundings. You can easily be walking in a busy area only to cross a street and the environment changes drastically. If it looks that way to you, turn around and get back to where people are.
While I'm on the subject of safety notice that right on 43rd and Broadway is a huge police station. They are there to protect you and crime in the Times Square area is rare.
You may also see police on horse back. Many people try and make this a photo op. The horses are huge and the cops are friendly.
Just another short note. There is parking in Times Square. Avoid the hassel if possible. Do not rent a car in NYC. If you must park the prices are pretty stiff, maybe $40.00 or more a day. Also be sure the garage you leave it at is open all night if you plan on being out after midnight. Not many, but a few do close and are not open 24 hours.
MORE LIGHTS,MESSAGE and NEWS BOARDS, MARQUIS, and 3d SIGNS
Standing on Broadway on any of the streets in the forties you will be surrounded by lights. The wonderful thing is that the lights are so bright they can easily be seen in the day and at night the streets are as bright as day.
HSBC has a 45' full color sign that is amazingly crisp and clear. There is a huge Coca Cola sign that has occupied the same place that 5 other coke signs have been in the last 85 years!! You will see the giant news board constantly keeping you informed of the events of the world. There are just so many signs I can't even try to describe them all. It's dizzying looking up at them.
One of the relatively new guys on the block is Hershey's. They occupy the corner of 48th Street and is a special treat destination. But before you get in check out Broadways largest ever permanent sign that stands 215' tall and 60' wide. The Hershey people left their simple roots of Pennsylvania and came to the Big Apple in New York style. The facade has over 34 giant props like Hershey bars and lighted kisses. It makes use of every modern type of lighting available. Strobe lights, Led boards, 4,000 chase lights,and neon lights are part of the show.
All these things are reflective throughout the Times Square area. Did you ever think you could have your likeness up on one of the many huge screens overlooking Broadway? You can and it's free!! I recently wrote a review of the Times square Visitors Center. It is a must stop!
TIMES SQUARE VISITORS CENTER
A great place to start your Times Square adventures is in the Visitors Center itself. It's on Broadway between 47th and 48th Street. They offer a really great map of Times Square and on the other side of the map is NYC. The map is free. I'll quickly tell you what this one destination is and what it has.
They took an old 1925 Broadway Movie Theatre, brought it back to it's original Louis XV style and put some great things inside.
One wonderful thing is free bathrooms that are clean and open to the public. Ha, there is so much more.
In the center you can get free internet service, free video messages with Times Square backgrounds sent home, information on tours, a free tour on Fridays, get your metro cards, purchase tickets for same day Broadway Shows, send Mail from Times Square post office, get all kinds of citywide info, possible see a free show, and have your picture put up on the giant screen overlooking Broadway for free. They take your picture and five minutes later you are up in the lights of Broadway!! Be sure to have your camera ready so you can bring this moment home.
TKTS
Right across the street from the Times Square Visitors Center is the TKTS booth. This is where you can get same day tickets for some select Broadway shows at half price. This is now the only way I get tickets. There is another one downtown that opens a bit earlier but you'll have to read my review of TKTS for that info. I can tell you in just a few words that the Times Square booth posts the available shows, you wait on line for perhaps twenty minutes to an hour, and you pay half price, in CASH, for same day shows.
MUSIC
My son has a band and after he recorded his album in his own studio he had his album "Mastered" in NYC. Many of these studios are right in Times Square. Also just up the street from where the TKTS and Visitors center are, in what is known as Music Row. Every musician has to check out this area. It has store upon store of anything having to do with music. Some specialize. If you are looking for sheet music, vintage instruments, rentals, custom made instruments, and any kind of professional repairs or restoration this is the place.
I don't think I mentioned that not too far from here in Times Square is also the Virgin records Mega Store. It's noted to be the largest music and entertainment center IN THE WORLD!! On their web site I read they have 600 listening posts and 100 video viewing stations. This is in a three story building.
WE HAVE TOURED ENOUGH, LET'S EAT!!
Now you have just about every type of food available in the world available to you in just a few city blocks. I went through a booklet that I received for free at the Visitors Center. They listed approximately, 50 American, 3 Thai, 40 Italian, 3 Indian, 5 Mexican, 2 bar-b-que, 3 Russian, 11 Japanese, 2 southern, 6 Irish, 8 Steakhouses,12 French and a mix of Turkish, Chilean, Tex Mex, Moroccan, French Kosher, Greek, Mediterranean, Brazilian, Afghani, Cuban, Caribbean and other kinds of offerings. You can add to this some pizza places, deli's, street vendors and the like. As long as you have some money you will definitely find some kind of food you enjoy.
In this mix are many chain restaurants. Look for Applebees, TGI Fridays, Houlihan's, Planet Hollywood, and Howard Johnson's to name a few.
Many celebs also have their places in Times Square. Do you recognize the names BB King, Barrymore's, Broadway Joes, Joe Franklin's, or maybe Shula's?
Other big name and popular places include Sardi's Carmine's, Lundy's, Carolines, Ruth's Chris Steak house, Rosie O'Grady's and more.
Two inexpensive and quick places to eat before or after a show are Ollies Chinese, and Manhattan Chili Co.
We have gone to a place by the name of Ellen's Stardust Diner a number of times. In this 1950's diner atmosphere the wait staff take turns picking up the microphone and entertaining the dining crowd. And don't forget the ESPN Zone I noted earlier.
THE TIMES SQUARE FEEL
I mentioned that Times Square is the heart of NY. I find this true in many ways. The sites, hotels, theatres, music, and restaurants I talked about are the most obvious, however there is much more to it. I find a special feeling in the sounds of Times Square. You first hear the honking horns and emergency vehicles. Be sure to listen to the music coming from many store fronts. There are also street entertainers that dot the corners with hats in front of them. Also sharing the corners are guys and gals hawking pamphlets to some good and some not so good "entertainment" venues. Under your feet you will feel the rumbling of the subways running through the subterranean of Times Square. What I truly enjoy is laughter and wonder in the voices of the tourists.
Whether you live in New York City or are visiting from out of town, be a tourist. Come to this midtown destination. Have a good time, laugh, enjoy, adventure and marvel at its wonders. You must also be sure to listen to its sounds and feel the beat of New York City's heart, Times Square.
NEW YORK CITY, take a tour right here.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
NYC reviews by Popsrocks
Times Square Visitors Center
The Empire State Building
Radio City Music Hall A Spectacular place to see a show!
Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
The INTREPID Sea-Air-Space MUSEUM It's a good one!
Museum of Natural History
TKTS half price tickets to Broadway
Aida, the Broadway Play Great show at half price
Thoroughly Modern Millie A 6 Tony award winner Broadway Play
Central Park
Bryant Park An oasis just around the corner from Times Square and Grand Central Station.
NYC eats
Stardust DinerA great place for before a show in Times Square. Aspiring actors are here.
The Manhattan Chili Company good quick eats before a show.
ESPN Zone A sports bar, arcade, and MORE!
TGI Friday's Times Square Location.
Pig'n'Whistle, a great Times Square Pub
Ollies, Broadway
Tavern On the Green Romantic dining in Central Park
Sylvia's, a southern soul restaurant in Harlem
Fraunce's Tavern Lower Manhattan. GW ate here.
Grand Hyatt, NYC
Something is Missing A Tribute to the good people and the twin towers that were lost on 9/11 http://www.epinions.com/content_3161628804
Downtown Manhattan reviews by Popsrocks
The Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Castle Clinton National Memorial
Battery Park Home of the temporary 9/11 memorial.
SOUTH STREET SEAPORT
NY WATERWAY Tour NYC by boat.
Federal Hall National Historic SiteDowntown across from Wall Street, our first Capitol Building was there.
Fraunce's Tavern George Washington ate here. You can too!
Jewish Heritage Museum
St Paul's ChapelA living Memorial to 9/11
Greenwich VillageIt's Hip and Happening
Millenium Hilton., directly across from ground zero. They have reopened!A great location to all that is downtown
9/11 Memorials in Manhattan
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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